of Canterburie with the Abbey of Christes-church of saint Augustines Shrewesburie Coggeshall and Saint Osiris 20000. markes by the yere In the Sea of Durham and other abbeyes there 20000. markes In the Sea of Yorke and other abbeyes there as much In the Sea of Winchester and abbeyes there as much In the Sea of London and abbeyes there and other houses as much In the Sea of Lincolne with the abbeies of Peterborow Ramsey and other as much In the Sea of Norwich and abbey of Burie other as much In the Sea of Elie Spalding as much In the sea of Bath with the abbey of Okinburn other as much In the sea of Worcester with the abbey of Euesam Abingdon and others as much In the sea of Chester with the precinct of the same and the seas of S Dauid Salisburie Exceter with their precincts as much with many other abbeyes bishopricks c. Moreouer they alledged that diuers in Englād possessed so many temporalties as might suffice to find yerely 15000. priestes clarkes euery priest to be allowed vij markes by the yere To this bil no answere was made but that the K. would take some aduisemēt deliberatiō Anno 1413 Henrie the 4. died in a chamber at Westminster called Ierusalem and was buried at Canterburie by the tombe of Thomas Becket After him succéeded his sonne Henrie the fift and not long after his coronation a Parlement was holden after Easter at Westminster an 1413. At which time Tho. Arundel Archbishop of Canterburie collected in Paules church at London an vniuersal Sinode of al the bishops and clergie in England In which Sinode among other matters it was determined that the day of S. George and of saint Dunstan shoulde be double feast Now the Popish feastes are thus deuided either they be double feastes or simple The double feast is subdiuided into principall double The kindes of popish feastes greater double lesser double and inferior or lower double To the principall double feast belonged eight dayes in the yere so the greater double had geuen vnto him in this Conuocation the day of Saint George and of S. Dunstan And albeit it was so decréed yet by custom it was not so vsed Notes of principall soules feast The principal double and the greater double were knowen from al other by 4. notes By seruice in the kitchen by seruice in the church both the which were double by ringing in the stéeple with double peale by copes in the quire and censing of the altar For in these two great and principall double feastes the vij the viij and ix lessons must be read with silken copes and at the saide feasts in the time of the Lessons the altars must be censed likewise the lesser double and inferior double had their peculiar seruice to them belonging And thus much of their double feasts The simple is also deuided into ether triple inuitorie or double inuitorie or else single Of the which moreouer some haue thrée lessons some haue 9. c. And thus much of popish feastes The chiefe cause of the Synode was to oppresse the Gospel as recordeth the chronicle of S. Albōs And to withstād the Noble and worthy Lord Cobham The noble and worthy Lord Cobham who principally mainteyned and receiued the preachers and set them vp to preach whom the Bishop had not licensed which was against a constitution principall of theirs In the meane time as they were talking and conspiring against the Lord Cobham there resorted vnto them 12. Inquisitors for heresie whom they appoynted at Oxford the yéere before to search out for Heretikes with all Wickliffes bookes who brought 246. conclusions which they had collected as heresies out of the said bookes The names of the Inquisitors were these Iohn Witnā Inquisitors for heresie a maister in new colledge Iohn Langdom monke of Christ church in Canterb. William Vfford regent of the Carmelits Thomas Clayton regēt of the Dominicks Robert Gilbert Richard Enthisdale Iohn Luck Richard Sindishame Richard Fleming Thomas Rotborn Robert Rowberry Richard Grafdale who all cōcluded that the chiefe fauourers were first to be dealt against there present the noble knight sir Iohn Oldcastle L. Cobham was complained of by the generall proctors to be the chiefe principall and a mighty mainteiner of suspected preachers in the dioces of London Rochester and Hereford cōtrary to the mind of the ordinaries and to haue assisted them by force of armes And last of all they accused him to be far otherwise in beliefe of the sacrament of the altar of penance of pilgrimage of image worshipping and of the ecclesiasticall power then the holy Church of Rome had taught many yéeres before Vpon this it was concluded among them that without any further delay processe should be awarded out agaynst him Processes against the Lord Cobham as against a most pernitious heretike and because they considered his great birth and the fauour he was in with the K. counsell was giuen they were aduised first to know his pleasure who thē remained at Keningstone which they did Who although he too much yéelded to them yet required thē in respect of his Noble stocke and Knighthood that they would if it were possible without rigour reduce him again to the vnitie of the Church and promised them also that in case they were not contented to take some deliberation himselfe would seriously common the matter with him which he anon after accordingly did and sent for the L. Cobham whē he was come he called him secretly admonishing him betwixt him himself to submit himselfe to his mother the holy church as an obedient child to acknowledge himselfe culpable The answere of L. Cobham to the king vnto whom the Christiā knight made this answer You most worthy prince saith he I am alwaies prompt ready to obey for asmuch as I know you a christian prince the minister of God bearing the sword to the punishment of euill doers safegard of them that are vertuous vnto you next vnto my eternall God owe I most reuerēce submit therevnto as I haue doone euer all that I haue either of fortune or nature ready at all times to fulfil whatsoeuer you in that Lord cōmaund me But as touching the pope his spiritualtie I owe them neither suit nor seruice for somuch as I know him by the scriptures to be the great Antichrist The Pope knowne by the scriptures to be the great Antichrist the sonne of perdition the open aduersary of God and the abhomination standing in the holy place When the King had heard this with such like sentences more hée would talke no longer with him but left him vtterly and the archbishop resorting againe vnto him The L. Cobham forsaken of the king he gaue him full authority to cite him examine him punish him according to their diuelish decrées wherevpon after a priuate citatiō by one Iohn Butler the archbishops somner
contrary wil mainteyn defend the law of our Lord Iesu Christ and the deuout hūble and constant preachers thereof euen to the shedding of our blood dated at Sternberg ann 1415. c. Round about the same letters were 54 seales hāging and the names of them whose seales they were 54. seales to the letter subscribed An. 1414. by Henry Chichley Archb. of Cāterbury much was the affliction and trouble of good men here in England which cruelty Iohn Claydon Iohn Claydon currier of London Richard Turming Rich. Turming first tasted of The 17. day of August an 1415. Iohn Claydon did personally appeare arrested by the mayor of London for suspition of heresie before Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury in Paules Church who being demaunded Constancy denied it not but frankly confessed that for 20. yéeres space he had bin suspected therof for which also he had suffered 2. yéeres imprisonment at Conuey thrée yéeres in the Fléete out of which prison he in the raigne of king Henrie the fourth was brought before L. Iohn Scarle then Chancelour to the king and there did abiure all heresie and errour And being demanded of the Archbishop confessed that since his abiuration he had in his house written English bookes of religion and had frequented the company of diuers godly mē Which confession being made the Archb. did command the bookes to be deliuered to maister Robert Gilbert Doctor of diuinity William Lindwood Doct. of both lawes and other Clearkes to bee examined And in the meane time Dauid Beare Alexander Phillip and Balthasar Mero were taken for witnesses against him and were committed to bee examined to maister Iohn Escourt general examiner of Cāterbury This done the Archb. continued his session til munday next in the same place which was the 20. day of the same moneth and maister Escourt publikely exhibited the witnesses which being read there were after that read diuers tractations found in his house out of which especially out of a booke called the Lantern of light The Lanterne of light that Claidon at his owne costs caused to be written by one called Ioh. Grime being examined diuers points were gathered and noted for heresie Articles First that the Pope was Antichrist and the enimy that sowed tares among the lawes of Christ That the Archbishops and Bishops speaking indifferently are the seats of the Beast Antichrist That the Bishoppes license for a man to preach the worde of God is the Character of the Beast That the Court of Rome is the head of Antichrist and the Bishoppes the bodie That no reprobate is a member of the Church That Christ did neuer plant priuate religions That the materiall Churche shoulde not bée decked with golde The causes of persecution That Priestes vnlawfully kéeping temporall goodes and vnsatiable begging of Friers were the twoo chiefe causes of the persecution of Christians That almes were to be giuen to the honour of GOD onely of goodes iustly gotten to bée giuen to one that is in charitie and to those that haue néede That often singing in the Church is not founded on the scripture That bread and wine remaine in the Sacrament That all Ecclesiasticall suffrages doe profite all godly persons indifferently That the Popes Indulgences bee vnprofitable That the Laytie is not bound to obey the prelates in what so euer they command except the prelates doe watch to geue God a iust accompt of their soules That Images are not to bée sought to by pilgrimages For these articles the archb with the rest did condemne and burne I. Claydons bookes and procéeded to a definitiue sentence of condemnation against him and shortly after hée was had to Smithfield where méekly he was made a burnt offering vnto the Lord an 1415. R. Fabian addeth that Richard Turning Baker was the same time also burned in Smithfield The next yere 1416. the archb of Canterburie in his Conuocation holden at London maketh sharper constitutitions then were before Sharper constitutions then before against the Lollards During the time of which Conuocation two priestes noted for Heretikes were brought before the Bishops the one Iohn Barton and the other Robert Chappel Iohn Barton Robert Chappell Barton because he had béene excommunicated and so stoode 6. or 7. yeres before vpon articles of religion yet sought no reconciliation which being proued against him he was committed to Philip B. of Lincoln to be kept in prison til otherwise it were determined R. Chappel otherwise Holbech sometime chaplen to the L. Cobham because he being vnder excōmunication 3. or 4. yeres did yet in contēpt of the keyes continue saying masse preaching sought no reconciliation So the session brake vp for the time which was about the end of May 1416. The 12. of Iulie next following Chappel submitteth Chappel appeared againe and submitting himselfe with much a doe receiued pardon and was in stead of penance enioyned certayne articles to publish at Paules Crosse As Articles enioyned Chappel that Prelates might lawfullie holde Temporall Lawes That it were vniust and vnlawfull for temporall men vpon any occasion to take away the Prelates temporalties notwithstanding the abuses of them That peregrinations are auaileable to the remission of sinnes That to worship Images doth profite Christians That auricular confession is necessarie That though a priest be in mortall sinne yet may he make the body of Christ That Priestes ought not to preach without the Bishoppes licence That priuate religions are profitable to the vniuersall Church That hee woulde promise and sweare neuer to holde any thing against the premisses Diuers caused to abiure After the setting out of the constitutions of H. Chichesly Archb. of Canterburie diuers godly men were sore vexed and caused outwardly to abiure as Iohn Tayler of the parish of S. Maries at Querne William Iames Master of art and Phisitian who had long time remayned in prison also Iohn Duerfer Iohn Gourdeley of Lincolnshire wel commended for his learning Katherin Dertford a Spinster the Parson of Hyggley in Lincolnshire named M. Robert William Henrie of Tenderden Iohn Gall a Priest of London Richard Monke Vicar of Chesham in Lincolnshire with other mo Collection for the P. to war against the Bohemians During the time of the Conuocation prouinciall Pope Martin had sent down to the cleargie of England for a subsidie to be gathered of the Church to mainteine the Popes warre against the Lollards of Bohemia Also another subsidie was demanded to persecute William Clarke master of arte in Oxford who sayling out of England was at the councell of Basill disputing on the Bohemians side and thirdly another subsidie was also required W. Clarke W. Russel to persecute William Russel which was Wardē of the Gray Friers in London who the same time was fledde and there escaped out of prison Among the rest which were at this time troubled for their faith was Radulph Mungin R Mungin priest against whom it was articulated at
of those bookes and condemned them Within foure moneths after this proclamation comming out in August the king deceassed in the beginning of Ianuarie in the 38. yéere of his reigne Anno 1547. 1547 The king dieth leauing behinde him king Edwarde Queene Marie and Quéene Elizabeth Persecution in Scotland Not onely in England but also in Scotland there was great persecution for the trueth And anno 1540. was Sir Iohn Brothwicke knight called captaine Brothwicke cited for heresie not appearing but escaping out of their hands was condemned for the same though hée were absent by the sentence of Dauid Beaton Archbishop of S. Andrewes and other prelates of Scotland Ten articles against Sir Iohn Brothwicke They obiected against him x. Articles 1. That the Pope hath no more authoritie then another Bishop 2. That the Popes indulgences and pardons are of no force 3. That the Pope is an open vser of Symonie sellyng the giftes of spiritualtie 4. That he perswaded many to imbrace heresies in England 5. That hee saide that the Cleargy of Scotland was blinde 6. Hée condemned the counsell of Constance 7. Hée perswaded the king to appropriate vnto himselfe the goodes of the Church 8. Hée desired that the Churche of Scotland were in the same estate that the Churche of England 9. That the canons were of no force 10. He perswaded against the religion of Scotland c. To all which articles he made a learned and large answere the Papistes condemned him being absent and openly burned his picture in token of his condemnation without all hope of pardon Not long after the burning of Dauid Stratton and maister Gurley in the dayes of Dauid Beaton B. and Cardinal of Saint Andrewes and George Treighton Bishoppe of Dunkelden a Chanon of Saint Colines and Vicar of Dolone called Deane Thomas Ferret Tho. Ferret was condemned to death without any place of recantation for preaching euery Sundaye to his Parishioners and with him two blacke Friers one called Iohn Relowe the other called Beuerage a priest of Striueling called Duncan Simons and one Gentleman called Robert Foster in Striueling with other thrée or foure of the same Towne of Striueling because they were chiefe Heretickes and especiallye bycause many of them were at the Bridall and mariage of a priest who was vicar of Twilodie beside Striueling and did eate flesh in the Lent at the same brydall And so they were altogether burnt vpon the Castle hill of Edenburgh where constantly they endured to the end one comforting another Anno 1543. Robert Lamb William Anderson Iames Hunter Iames Raueleson Iames Founteson and Helen Stirke his wife were put to death for the testimonie of the truth against the romish church William Anderson Robert with Iames Raueleson were accused for hanging vp the Image of S. Frauncis in a corde S. Francis homely vsed nayling of rammes hornes to his head and a Cowes rumpe to his taile and for eating of a goose on alhallow eue Iames Hunter because he vsed the suspect company of the rest the woman for that in her childebed shée was not accustomed to call on the Virgin Marie and that shée saide no merite of the Virgin but Gods frée mercie procured her the honour to be made the mother of Christ Iames Raueleson for building an house and setting vppon the rounde of his fourth staire the thrée crowned diademe of Peter with the Cardinalles booke as done in mockage of his Cardinals hat These persons on the morow after Saint Paules day were condemned vpon the Act against conferring and reasoning of the Scriptures The woman aforesaid Helen Stirke Helen Stirke a notable martir desired to die with her husbād and greatly encouraged him parting with him at the stake with a kisse saide this was the ioyfullest day that euer she had and said she would not bid him good night for said she we shall sodeinly méet with ioy in the kingdom of heauen and so she was taken away drowned although she had a childe sucking on her Dauid Beaton Bishop and Cardinal of S. Andrewes was the chiefe doer in this persecution In this yeare 1543. Iohn Chartnons being Prouost of S. Iohnston alias Pereth was deposed for fauouring of the trueth Anno 1546. The first of March master George Wiseheart 1533. George Wiseheart suffered martirdome for the faith of Iesus Christ at Saint Andrewes in Scotland anno 1543. He was a Student in Cambridge in Bennet Colledge where he was a speciall patterne of godlines and learning Afterwarde in Scotland he was apprehended and charged to haue preached notwithstanding he were forbidden and to haue spokē against the masse and the fiue odde Sacraments against auricular confession against the sacrament of the altar against vnction holiwater against the power of the Pope frée will distinction of meates against prayer to Saintes purgatory against vowes and the vse of popish superstitions to which as they would for furie geue him leaue George Wisehart The meeke death of George Wiseheart made a sufficient and Christian answere When he came to the place of execution and the Executioner prayed him of pardon he said come hether and kissed him and saide lo here a token that I forgeue thée My heart do thine office and so méekely he ended and constantly gaue testimony to the trueth of Iesus the people piteously mourning for his death It was not long after but the Cardinall was slaine by the handes of one Lech and other Gentlemen who sodeinly brake in vpon him and slewe him Gods iudgement after which he lay seuen moneths vnburied at the least and at last like carrion was buried in a dunghill After Beaton succéeded Iohn Hambleton Archbishop of saint Andrewes 1549. who the next yere folowing burned Adam Wallace for the matter of the Sacrament He was burned on the Castle hil of Edenburgh Before his execution they had taken frō him all his bookes which might serue for his comfort but that he had learned by heart all Dauids Psalter Adam Wallace had learned all Dauids psalter by heart and supplyed comfort that way When the fire was prepared he himself asked one of the Officers that stoode by if the fire were making redy who told him it was He answered as it pleaseth God I am ready soone or late as it pleaseth him so brought to the stake he ended with constancie and patience and gaue testimonie to the trueth first exhorting the people not to be offended at his suffering for the trueths sake Anno 1551. After that Richard Marshall doctor of Diuinitie and prior of the black Friers at Newcastle in England had declared in his preachings at Saint Andrewes in Scotland that the Lords prayer commonly called the Pater noster should be said onely to God and not to Saints neither to any other creature The Doctors of diuinitie of S. Andrewes together with the black Friers who had long ago taught the people to say the Pater noster to Saints had great
of September and was committed to the tower close prisoner hauing his seruant Austine to attend vpon him The same day the Archbishop of Canterbury appearing before the Counsell was commaunded to appeare againe the next day at after noone in the starre chamber where hauing charged him with treason and spreading abroade seditious libels Cranmer to the Tower he was committed from thence to the tower there to remaine till farther iustice at the Quéenes pleasure The 15. of September there was a letter sent to maister Horne Deane of Durham for his appearance and another the 7. of October for his spéedy appearance The 16. of Septem there were letters sent to the maiors of Douer and Rye to suffer all French protestants to passe out of this Realme French protestants suffered to passe hence except such whose names should be signified to them by the French Ambassadour The first day of October Quéene Marie Mary crowned was crowned at Westminster and the tenth day of the same moneth beganne the Parlament A parlement with a solemne masse of the holie Ghost in the pallace of Westminster To the which among other Lords should come the Bishops which yet remained vndeposed which were the Archbishoppe of Yorke Doctor Taylor of Lincolne Iohn Harley Bishop of Hereford of the Bishops Doctor Taylor and maister Harley presenting themselues according to their duetie and taking their place amongest the Lordes after they sawe the masse beginne not abiding the sight thereof withdrew themselues from the companie for the which cause the Bishop of Lincolne béeing examined and protesting his faith was vpon the same commanded to attend Who not long after at Anker wicke by sicknesse departed Maister Harley because he was married was excluded both from the Parlement and from his Bishopricke This statute repealed Statutes repealed all the statutes made in the time king Henrie the viij for Premunire and statutes made in king Edward the vj. time for the administration of common bread and the Sacraments in the English tongue In this meane while many men were forward in erecting of Altars and Masses in Churches and such as would sticke to the Lawes made in K. Edwards time till other were established some of them were marked and some presently apprehēded Among whom sir Iames Hales Sir I Hales of kent apprehended and imprisoned a knight in kent and Iustice in the common place was one Who notwithstanding he had ventured his life in Q. Maries cause yet for that he did at a Quarter Sessions geue charge vpon the statutes made in king Edwards time and Henrie the eight for the supremacie and religion he was imprisoned in the Marshalsea Counter and Fléet and so cruelly handled and put in feare by talke that he thought to ridde himselfe out of his life by wounding him selfe with a knife and afterward was contented to say what they willed him Whereupon he was discharged but after that he neuer rested The lamentable end of Sir Iames Hales till he had drowned him selfe in a Riuer halfe a mile from his house in Kent During the time of the parlament the Cleargie had also their Conuocation with a disputation appointed by the Q. commaundement at Paules about the 18. of October In which Conuocation Harpsfield preached and D. Weston Deane of Westminster was chosen Prolocutor The disputation continued vj. dayes Disputation of vi dayes about the matter of the Sacrament wherein D. Weston was chéefe on the popes part The first day D. Weston inueyeth against the Catechisme and booke of Common prayer of king Edward and signified that on Friday next the xx of October it should be lawful for all men fréely to speake their consciences in matters of Religion The Friday being come in steade of disputation the Prolocutor exhibited two seuerall Billes vnto the House the one of the naturall presence of Christ in the sacrament and the other that the Catechisme was not set out by the houses consent requiring all to subscribe to these Billes as he himselfe had done To which motion all did assent sauing the Deane of Rochester the Dean of Exceter the Archdeacon of Winchester the Archdeacon of Hertforde and the Archdeacon of Stow and one other And while the rest were subscribing Iohn Philpot stoode vp and declared that the Catechisme was set out by the assent of the house and as touching the poynt of naturall presence that it was against reason that men should subscribe before the matter were discussed and withall desired the Prolocutor that he would be a meane to the Counsell that some of those that were the setters out of the same catechisme might be brought into the house to shew their learning that moued them to set forth the same and that D. Ridley M. Rogers with two or thrée more might be licensed to be present at this disputation and to be associated with them The bishops made answere it was not for them to cal such persons vnto the house since some of them were prisoners but they would be Petitioners in this behalfe to the Counsell and in case that any were absent that ought to be of the house they willed them to be taken in vnto them if they listed After this they minding to haue entered into disputation worde was geuen that the Lorde great Master and the Earle of Deuonshire woulde be present at the Disputation and therefore the Prolocutor deferred the same till the next Mundaye at one of the Clocke at after Noone At which time many Nobles being assembled to heare the Disputation the Prolocutor sayde that they of the house had appointed this Disputation not to call the trueth in doubt the which they had all subscribed sauing fiue or sixe but that those gainesayers might be resolued Then hée demaunded of Master Haddon whether hée woulde reason against the questions proposed To whome he answered hée would seing the request for those learned men to assist would not bée graunted and so aunswered M. Elmer and said that little or nothing it might auaile for the trueth since now all they were determined to the contrarie After this he demaunded of Maister Cheney who allowed of the presence but denied the transubstantiation Master Cheney answered he would gladly haue his doubts resolued on that point and so propounding his doubts the Prolocutor assigned M. Mooreman to aunswere By this meanes Maister Elmer was driuen to stand vp and so M. Philpot who reasoned against M. Mooreman and grauelled him Then stood vp the deane of Rochester M. Philpot who disputed of the real presence whom Weston answered and Watson tooke his parte Vpon whome Philpot replieth againe and in the end the disputation grew to be confused The disputation confused by reason many would take vpon them to answere On Wednesday the xxv of October Iohn Philpot according to the appointment was ready to dispute about the reall presence and was ready to enter into a Latine oration made to interpret the question this the Prolocutor
fayth in Christ shall ouercome them c. In fine Chadsey perswaded him to consider of himselfe and to be wel aduised To whom M. Philpot said he would his burning day were to morow for this delay said he is euery day to die yet not to be dead So for that time they dismissed him The 12. examination was on Wednesday the fourth of December before the Bishop of London Worcester Bangor After Masse the Byshop called him before him into his Chappell and recited the Articles which often tymes he had done before with depositions of witnesses of whom some were not examined Philpot againe refused him for Iudge So he was had away and anone after he was called for to come before him the Byshop of Bangor Who being before them they cauilled with him where his religion was an hundreth yeare ago accusing him of singularitie c. and so dismissed him til after noone At which time he appeared againe and after reasoning with him touching the reall presence they againe dismissed him till Thursday after which was the 13. examination On which day he appeared before the Archb. of Yorke and other Bishops as the bishop of Chichester Bathe London c they reasoned with him touching the true Church and the authority thereof and vniuersality But being not able to deale or preuayle with him in strength of argument nor verity of their cause they departed The same day at night againe Boner called for him and required him to say directly whether he would be conformable or not To whom he answered that he required a sure proofe of that Church whereto Boner called him which when Boner could not prooue they gaue him ouer vntil the xiij or xiiij daye of December On which dayes the Bishop sitting iudicially in his Consistorie at Paules caused him to be brought thither before him and others and obiected vnto him 3. articles 1. That he refused to be reconciled to the Church 2. That he had blasphemed the masse Articles against M. Philpot. and called it Idolatrie 3. That he denied the reall presence And exhorted him to recant and to returne to his Romish Church Whereto when M. Philpot had shewed that he was not out of the church that he had not spoken against the masse nor sacrament of the Altar He was once againe dismissed till the sixtéenth day of the same moneth on which day when neither threatninges nor faire allurementes could mooue him The B. after he had brought foorth a certaine instrument containing articles and questions agréed vppon both in Oxforde and Cambridge and had exhibited two bookes in print the one the Catechisme made in King Edwardes dayes anno 1552. The other concerning the true reporte of the disputation in the Conuocation house which Philpot acknowledged to bée his penning without any iust cause he could pretend against him by forme of lawe Boner condemneth Philpot procéeded to his tyrannical sentence of condemnation so commited him to the Sheriffe whose officers led him away And in Pater noster row his seruaunt méeting him lamented to whom Philpot said content thy selfe I shal do well ynough thou shalt sée me againe So the officers had maister Philpot to Newgate whom Alexander the kéeper vsed very rigorously and would not strike off his yrons vnder foure pound but put him in Limbo Whereof the Sheriffe vnderstanding caused Alexander to vse him more gently Vpon Tuesday at supper being the 17. of December he had worde from the Sheriffe to prepare himselfe for the next day he should be burned Maister Philpot answered and said I am readie God graunt me strength and a ioyfull resurrection In the morning the sherifes came about viij of the clocke and called for him and hee most ioyfully came down vnto them When he was entred into Smithfield because the way was foule two Officers tooke him vp to bear him to the stake To whom he said merily what will you make me a Pope I am content to goe vnto my Iourneyes ende on my feete But first comming to Smithfielde M. Philpot payeth his vowes in Smithfield hée there knéeled downe vpon his knées saying with a loude voice these wordes I wil pay my vowes in thée O Smithfield When he was come to the place where he should suffer he kissed the stake and said Shal I disdaine to suffer at this stake séeing my Redéemer did not refuse to suffer most vile death on the crosse for me Then méekely he said the 10. 107. and 108. Psalmes The fire being put vnto him hee yelded his soule vnto God whose trueth he had witnessed the eyghtéenth day of December He wrote many fruitfull Letters Anno. 1556. 1556 Seuen persons burned together in Smithfield To beginne the new yere withall about the xxvij of Ianuarie were burned in Smithfield these seuē persons following Thomas Whittle Priest Bartlet Green Gentleman Iohn Tudson Artificer Iohn Went Artificer Thomas Browne Elizabeth Foster wife Ioane Warren alias Lashford maide all together in one fire The Articles obiected against them were touching the seuen Sacramēts the Sacrifice of the Masse the Sea of Rome c. Thomas Whittle was apprehended by one Edmund Alabaster and caried to the Bishop of Winchester lying sick hoping to be preferred for his diligence but the Bishop repulsed him So he was had to Boner who did beate buffet him and cast him into prison D. Harpsfielde offered him a Bill to subscribe vnto consisting of generall tearmes the rather to deceiue Whittle So he subscribed but afterwarde felt such horror in his conscience that he could not be in quiet till he had gotten his bill againe T. Whittle repenteth and is condemned T. Whittles Letters and rent away his name from it So the Bishoppe condemned him after many perswasions to haue made him recant and committed him to the Secular power He wrote diuers Letters of comforte and exhortation The next day after was Bartlet Greene condemned He had béene Student in Oxford and there by hearing the lectures of Peter Martir hee came to haue knowledge of the trueth Afterward he was Student of the common lawes in the Temple The cause of his first trouble was an answere to a letter of Master Goodmans banished at that time beyonde the Seas Wherein hee wrote that Quéene Marie was not dead whereof Master Goodman desired to bee satisfied These Letters came into the Counsels handes and they would haue made treason thereof if the lawes would haue serued But after they had long deteyned him in the tower and elswhere they sent him to Bishop Boner to be ordered after their Ecclesiasticall manner Against whom Sir Iohn Bourne then Secretarie to the Quéene was a principall dooer The xvij of Nouember at two of the clock in the after noone he was presented before the Bishop of London and two other Bishops Master Deane M. Roper M. Welch Doctor Harpsfielde D. Dale Master George Mordant and Master Dee Before whom after he had shewed the cause
him martyred in the way of Appius first beyng beaten with plumbats Eusebius saith he sat two yéeres in another place he saith thrée yéeres Damasus giueth him onely two yéeres Vnder this tyrant suffered as Cyprian reporteth two yoong men the one Aurelius Aurelius who was twise tormented the other Mappalicus Mappalicus who in the middest of his torments sayd to the Proconsull to morrow you shall sée the running for a wager meaning his martyrdome which he constantly did suffer Decius death This Decius raigned but two yéeres and with his sonne was slaine of the Barbarians Pomponius affirming that he warring against the Gothians to auoid their hands ran into an whyrlepit where hée was drowned and his body neuer found Immediatly after the death of Decius God sent a plague tenne yéeres together A plague of ten yeeres which made diuerse places of the world desolate especially where the persecution most raged Where might appeare great difference betwéene the Christians and Gentils one comforting and ministring to the necessities of their brethren the other forsaking their neighbours and friends left them destitute Cyprian de mortalitate and voyd of succour Vpon this plague Cypr. wrote his book de mortalitate After the death of Decius succeded Vibias Vibias Gallus Gallus Volusian Volusianus his son both by treasō about the yéere 255. cōtinued 2. yéers Gallus at the first was quiet The teachers of Christianity banished but anon after published edicts against the Christians which was chiefly of banishmēt of the guides of the church In whose time Cyprian B. of Carthage was banished Other were condemned to the mynes as Nemesianus Nemesianus Felix Felix Lucius Lucius with their bish priests deacons to whom Cyprian wrote cōsolatory epistles He wrote also consolatory Epistles to Seagrius Seagrius Rogatianus Rogatianus being then in bonds for the trueth In the time of this Gallus was Lucius B. of Rome sent into banishment who next succéeded Cornelius in the yéere 256. wherin he continued but a while and returned to his Church Lucius sate but 8. moneths as saith Eusebius Damasus Marianus Scotus and Nauclerus say he sate 3. yéeres and was beheaded the second yéere of Valerian and Galienus After Lucius came Stephanus Stephanus sate 7. yéers 5. months died a martir as saith Damasus Platina Sabellicus Eusebius Volateranus giue him which is more likely but 2. yeres Betwixt this Stephanus and Cyprian fell a contention Contention about rebaptising of heretikes Next to the former Emperors succéeded Emilianus Emilianus who slue the former and succéeded himself After that he had reigned but thrée moneths he also was slaine Next Valerianus and Galienus Valerianus Galienus his sonne were aduaunced to the Empire and succéeded Emilianus Valerianus thrée or foure yéeres was so curteous and gentle to the Christians as no Emperour before him no not such as professed Christ so that his Court was full of Christians But being seduced by an Egyptian magician Valerianus seduced who was hindred by the Christians from practising his charms he fell to idols and sacrificed young infantes and raised the eight persecution The eight Persecution THe chief ministers of this persecution were Emilianus President of Egypt Paternus and Galerius maximus Proconsuls in Africa Paternus Vicegerent in Rome Perennius Nicetus and Claudius Presidents Disordered life of Christians The cause of this persecution besides the Egyptian aboue mentioned was the dissention and disordered life of Christians euen of those that had béen confessors as Cyprian in his fourth booke and fourth Epistle doeth declare to whom it was shewed in a vision of the Lord before it came There was a certaine aged man sitting A Vision at whose right hande sate a young man very sadde and pensiue as one with an indignation sorowfull holding his hande vppon his breast his countenance heauie and vnchéerefull On the left hand sate another person hauing in his hand a nette which hee threatned to lay to catche the people that stoode about and saide vnto him the young man whom thou séest sad sorowful is for that his precepts bee not obserued but he on the left hand daunceth and is merrie for that occasion is giuen him to haue power of the aged father to afflict men Cyprians Apologie for Christians Cyprian doth defend the Christians and confute the false accusations laid against them as among the rest to be the causes of all calamities that happened of warre or plague whatsoeuer writing contra Demetrium as Tertullian had before writing contra Capulam Cyprian was an African borne in Carthage and first was an idolater Cyprian once a Magician altogether giuen to the practise of magical artes and a worthie Rhetorician He was conuerted to the saith by Cecil a priest whose name after hee bare through occasion of hearing the history of the Prophet Ionas Cecilius conuerteth Cypr. And immediatly vpon his conuersion he distributed all his substance to the poore and being ordayned a Priest was not long after made Bishop of Carthage But whether hée succéeded Agrippinus Agrippinus which was the first author of rebaptization it is vncertaine Such were his giftes and vertues that he had the gouernment of the whole East Church and Church of Spaine and was called the Bishop of Christian men He was much geuen to reade Tertullian and called him his master In the time of Decius and Gallus he was first banished Cyprian banished and after returning againe out of exile in the time of Valerianus he was also the second time banished by Paternus the Proconsull of Africke into the Citie of Thurbin or into a Citie called Furabilitana or Curabilitana But when Paternus the Proconsul was dead Galienus Maximus succéeded him who finding Cyprian in a Garden caused him to be apprehended and after many raging words his head to be stricken of Xistus being then Bishop of Rome Cyprian beheaded in the yere 259. It is to be noted that there were more Cyprians Diuers Cyprians one of whom Nazianzen writeth to be a Citizen of Antioch and afterward Bishop of that Citie and martired vnder Dioclesian There was also a third Cyprian in the time of Iulianus Apostata long after both the former About this time vnder the same Valerianus suffered Xistus or Sixtus the second of that name Bishop of Rome who with vi of his Deacons Sixtus with six of his deacons Nemesius being one was beheaded At which time also one Laurence a Deacon séeing the Bishop led to execution cried out vnto him saying O deare father whither goest thou without the companie of thy deare sonne meaning himselfe To whom he answered with a fatherly discourse that within thrée dayes hee should suffer after a more painfull manner which in déede followed according as he had said for Laurence hauing distributed of the goods of the poore by the
should extend ouer them of Britaine The ninth containeth diuers points whether a woman with child ought to be baptized after she hath had a childe whether she ought to enter the Churche c To which all Gregorie maketh answere with resolution Nowe Gregory after he had sent these resolutions sendeth mo coadiutors and helpers as Mellitus Iustus Paulinus and Ruffianus with bookes and such other things as he thought necessary for the Church He sendeth also to Austen a Pall with letters A Pall from Rome containing an order betwéen the two Metropolitane seates of London and Yorke Notwithstāding he graunteth to Austen during his life to be the onely chiefe Archbishop in all the lande and after his time that to returne againe to London and Yorke Hee sendeth also another letter to Mellitus willing him to let the Idolatrous temple stand and alter the vse He admonisheth Austen also not to be puffed vp with pride for his working of miracles Moreouer he wrote to king Ethelbert willing him to continue constant and sendeth him presents Now Austen of a monke being made an Archbishop after he had baptized a great part of Kent made two Archbishops by the commandement of Gregorie Mellitus Mellitus was specially sent to the East Saxons in the prouince of Essex where afterward he was made B. of London vnder Sigebert K. of Essex which Sigebert together with his vncle Ethelbert first built the Church of S. Paul in London and appointed it to Mellitus for his Bishops seat Austen associate with this Mellitus and Iustus through the helpe of Ethelbert assembled the Doct. of Britain in a place which taking the name of Austen is called Austens oake Austens oake In which assembly he charged the Bishops to preach with him to the English men the word of God to baptise after the maner of Rome Brittains and Scots refuse the Easter of Rome kéep Easter after the same maner which the Britains Scots refused to doe Then he gathered another synode to the which came 7. bish of Britons with the wisest men of that famous abbey of Bangor Abbey of Bangor who first taking counsel of an holy wise mā were aduised that if he were humble thē to agrée vnto him Austens pride offendeth the Britains as the seruant of God The B. thus counselled entred into the counsel Austen after the Romane manner kepeth his chaire of pride wherat after some heat of words the Brittains disdaining departed To whō thē Austen spake and said that if they woulde not take peace with their brethren they should receiue warres of their enimie c. 1100. monks of Bangor slaine Which not long after fell out according as he had said for Ethelfride being yet a pagane slue 1100. monks of the Abbey of Bangor which consisted of 2100. monkes that liued with the sweat of their brows that came to Chester praied and fasted thrée daies for the good successe of Brockmayl against the Saxons Whereat Ethelfride being offēded slue 1100 only 50. fled away They came to their chiefe Gouernour one named Dinoe Dinoe This Ethelfride was afterwarde slaine of the christian king Edwin who succéeded him as he had slaine the Christians before which was 610. Austen after that he had baptised a thousand Christians of Saxons in one day in the West riuer that is called Swold beside Yorke on Christmas day hee perceyuing his ende to drawe neere Gregorie dieth ordained Laurentius Laurentius to rule after him the Archb. Sea of Canterbury In the meane season about this time died Gregorie of whom it is said that of all the Bish that were afore him he was the basest of al that came after him the best About which time died also in Wales Dauid Archb. of Kaerleion who then translated the sea frō thēce to Meuenia therfore is called Dauid of Wales Not long after this also died Austen Austen dieth after he had set 15. or 16. yéeres This Gregory denied any B. to be lawfully called vniuersal bish declaring that he that shold take that vpon him is the forerunner of Antichrist For this matter hee had much adoo with the Emperour and Patriarch of Constantinople who was extolled by Mauricius to the Patriarchie of Alexandria and would be called vniuersall Patriarke of Alexandria would be vniuersall Patriarch Strife about Primacy requiring the Emperour that hée would obtaine Gregories consent herein but Gregory refused so to doo wherevpon grewe greate troubles to Gregory that purchased thereby the displeasure of the Emperour This Gregory brought in the title among the Romaine bishops to be called Seruus seruorum Dei The title Seruus seruorum Dei Sabinianus first vniuersall Bishop After Gregory succéeded Sabinianus a malitious detractor of Gregory and his workes He continued scarse two yéeres after whome succéeded Bonifacius the third who raigned but one yere yet did much hurt he obtained of Phocas the wicked Emperour that he and his succcessos Phocas giueth first title of vniuersal bishop should be called vniuersal Bishops and head of the rest This Phocas to obtaine the empire killed his maister Mauritius and his children but he was rewarded thereafter For hauing his hands and féete cut of by Heraclius that succeded him he was cast into the sea King Ethelbert did many Christian actes Ethelb dieth and died when he had raigned 56. yéeres ann 616. whom stories say to be slaine in a fight betwéene him and Ethelfride the king of the North Saxons who also after he had raigned foure and twentie yéeres was slaine in the field of Edwin that sucded in Northumberland after him This Edwin the sonne of Alba was conuerted by Paulinus and was the first christian K. of Northumberland although his wife were a Christian woman K. Ethelbertes daughter Who although he was much laboured with by his wife yet was he hard to be woon to the faith till a certaine trouble fell vpon him which was the cause of his calling for his death being conspired by the K. of Westsaxons Quincelinus with Kinegilsus his brother he was woūded by one that was suborned to kill him About whitsontide after the K. assēbled his host entended to make war against them vowed to Christ if he would giue him victory that he would be christened and in token therof caused his daughter borne of Edelburgh the same Easterday when he was wounded named Eufled to be baptized with twelue other of his familie by Paulinus So he obtained the victory and yet with much adoo forsooke his Mahometrie at the preaching of Paulinus and denied to be christened till a time after This Edwin before he maried the daughter of Ethelbert fell into some displeasure with him and fled to Redwald king of the East Angles which Redwald being corrupted intended to betray him wherefore being pensiue and not hauing whether to fly there appeared suddenly to him a straunger who said vnto him with other spéeches wilt
rather then of the Clergie and councelled him to lay downe that apparell and to enter in with his owne habite till he had his election by them which he did confessing his fault and was called Leo the ninth By him Hildebrand Hildebrand was made a Cardinal and put in great authoritie Vnder this Pope were twoo councels one kept at Vercellis A councell at Vercellis A councell at Laterane where the doctrine of Berengarius touching the real presence was first condemned although Berengarius as yet recanted not but afterward in the councel of Laterane vnder Nicholas 2. Anno 1060. The other was kept at Maguntia where was enacted that Priests should be excluded vtterly from marriage Priests may not marrie and that no lay man shoulde giue benefice or any spirituall promotion This Leo being at Wormes with the Emperour on Christmas day did excommunicate the subdeacon because in reading the Epistle he did it not in the Roman tune hee being there present The Archbishop moued therewith departed from the Altar being at masse saying The pope and Archb. fal out at masse he would not procéed in his seruice vnlesse his Subdeacon were restored Whereupon the Pope commanded him to be released and so they went forward in their seruice Brazutus the poysoner After the death of Leo whom Brazutus poysoned the first yere of his Popedome Theophilactus did striue to be pope But Hildebrande to defeate him went to the Emperor that assigned another a German Victor 2. Who hauing a Councell at Florence depriued many bishops for Simony and fornication that is for being maried In the second yéere of his popedome he was also poysoned by Brazutus thorough the procurement of Hildebrand and his Maister After him succéeded Stephen the 9. by the election of the Clergie of Rome contrary to their othe made to the Emperour By this Stephen the Church of Millain was first brought vnder the subiection of the Romish Church and shamed not to accuse the Emperour of heresie for minishing the authoritie of the Romane sea and at that time it was counted simonie to enioy any spirituall liuing at a temporall mans hand Which Stephen hearing to raigne in diuerse churches especially of Burgundie and Italy sent foorth the Cardinall Hildebrand to reforme the matter hée himselfe also earnest therein In the meane while Stephanus tasting of Brazutus cup fell sicke whereof Hildebrand hearing hasted to Rome assembling the orders of the Clergie together made them sweare that they should admit none bishop but such as should be by the consent of all This doone Hildebrand taketh his iourney to Florence belike to fetch the B. of Florence to enstall him the clergy hauing sworne vnto him that none should be chosen B. before his returne but the people in his absence elected one of their owne citie called Benedictus the 10. Whereof Hildebrand hearing was greatly offended returning without Gerardus B. of Florence caused the clergy to procéed to a new election whervpon they being afraid to doo it at Rome went to Sene and there elected Gerardus bishop of Florence named Nicolaus 2. who holding a councell at Sutriū through the helpe of duke Godfride and Gilbert and other bishops in Italie deposed the other Pope Benedictus vnderstanding himselfe to be set against by Hildebrād vnpoped himselfe and went and dwelt at Velitras Nicholas being thus set vp against the mind of the Emperour or consent of the people of Rome after his fellow Pope was driuen away brake vp the Synod of Sutrium and came to Rome where he assembled another Councell called Lateranum in which first was sette forth the terrible sentence of Excommunication The terrible sentence of excōmunication mentioned in the decrées and beginning In nomine Domini nostri c. The effecte of the Councell was that a few Cardinals and certaine Catholike persons might choose the Pope without the Emperour The Pope to be elected only by the cardinall Secondly against these that créepe into the seate of Peter by simonie without consent of the Cardinals In the same Councell also Berengarius Andeuangensis Berengarius recanteth an Archdeacon was driuen to recant his doctrine agaynst the reall presence In the same Councell was also hatched the new found tearme of transubstantiation Transubstantiatiō hatched This Pope made Robert Guichard displacing the right heire Duke of Apulia Calabria Sycilia and Captaine generall of Saint Peters landes that through his force hee might subdue those that rebelled against him At length hee met with Brazutus cup after hee had set thrée yéeres and an halfe Anno 1062. At the beginning of this Nicholas or somewhat before An. 1057. was Henricus 4. made Emperour after Henricus the third and raigned fiftie yéeres In the raigne of this Nicholas An. 1060. Alredus bishop of Worcester after the decease of Knisius his predecessor should be made archbishop of Yorke who comming to Rome with Toctius Earle of Northumberland for his pall was depriued till the Pope beyng threatned by Toctius The Pope threatned by Toctius with the losse of S. Peters tribute was cōtent to send home Aldredus with his pall After the death of Nicholas the Lombards being oppressed before of him desired to haue a Bishop of their company and so elected the bishop Parmen called Cadolus to be Pope with the Emp. licence to whom they sent concerning the same Hildebrādus hearing this setteth vp another Anselmus afterward called Alexander the 2. so that the two popes met fought together Two Popes fight Alexander getting the vpper hand The Emp. hearing of this sēt his Embassador Otho Archb. of Collen to Rome who did chide the pope for taking so vpon him without the emperors leaue Against whō Hilbrand on the other side very stoutly behaued himselfe in the maintenance of the cleargy so that Otho was content to be perswaded onely requiring in the Emperors name a counsel to be had to decide the matter whereat the Emperour should bee present himselfe and so hee was In which Councel kept at Mantua Alexander was declared Pope and the other had his pardon granted him In this Councel it was concluded that priests should haue no wiues such as had Concubines to say no masse priests children not to be secluded from holy orders no benefices to be sold for money Alleluia to be suspended out of the Church in time of Lent c. It was also decréed that no spiritual man should enter into any Church by a secular man and that the pope should be elected onely by the Cardinals Benno Cardinalis writeth that Alexander being at masse hauing perceiued the fraudes of Hildebrand as he was preaching told him hée would not sit in that seat without the licence of the Emperour Wherevpon after masse Hildebrand by force had him into a chamber and pummelled the pope with his fistes The pope pummeled by Hildebrand rating him for that he would séeke fauour of the Emperour Thus he was kept in
William of York Hée was poysoned in his chalis Archb. poysoned in his chalice by his Chaplains In the xvi yere of the reigne of this king Theobaldus Archbishoppe of Canterburie and Legate to the Pope held a Councell at London wherein was concluded appellations from Councels to the Pope found out by Henry Bishop of Winchester In the time of King Steeuen died Gracianus a Monke of Bononia who compiled the booke called The Popes decrées also his brother Petrus Lombardus Petrus Lombardus Bishop of Paris Maister of Sentences wrote his foure bookes of Sentences These two were the greatest doers in finding out that the similitude onely of bread and wine remained in the sacramentes Some write that Petrus Comestor Petrus Comestor the writer of the Scholasticall history was the third brother In this time also liued Hildegard the Nunne and prophetisse Hildegard the nunne and prophetisse in Almaigne By this K. was builded the abbey of Feuersham where his sonne and he were buried He builded the monasterie of Finerneys and of Fomitance Much about the same time came vp the order of the Gilbertines Gilbertines by one Gilbert sonne to Iacoline a knight of Lincolnshire Theobald Priests no rulers in worldly matters the Archb. of Canterb. among other matters decréed that priests should not be rulers of worldly matters and that they should teach the Lords praier Créed in english Mattheus Parisiensis writeth how Stephen K. of England reserued to himselfe the bestowing of spiritual liuings and inuesting of prelats ann 1133. At which time also Lotharius the Emperour began to doe the like had not Bernardus giuen him contrary councel Then came into the Church the manner of cursing with booke bell and candle Booke bel and candle deuised in the Councell at London holden by William B. of Winchester vnder P. Celestinus who succéeded after Innocentius an 1142. Also Lotharius who succéeded after Innocentius an 1142. Also Lotharius succéeded in the Empire Conradus the nenew of Henricus 5. an 1138. Who onely among the Emperors is founde not to haue receaued the Crowne at the popes hand In the dayes of this Emperour who reigned fiftéene yeares were diuers Popes as Celestinus 2. Lucius 2. Eugenius 3. Betwixt P. Lucius Lucius and the Romanes was great strife for the Romanes would haue recouered their auncient libertie in choosing their consuls and Pope Lucius in the fight was well beaten and liued not long after Pope Eugenius Eugenius after him followed the same course An. 1145. and compelled them to abolish their consuls and to take such Senators as he should assigne Then followed Anastasius Anastasius the 4. And after him Adrianus the 4. an Englishman Adrianus pope an Englishmā by his name called Breake speare belonging once to S. Albons He likewise kept great stur preuailed against the Romanes for the former causes and thundered against Fredericus the Emperour Hildegardis a Nunne and as many iudged euen the papistes themselues a Prophetisse liued anno 1146. and prophecied against the whole rowte of Romish prelats and of the fal of that Church especially against the senior Friers and such other bellies of the same In a certain place she hath these wordes And now is the law neglected among the spirituall people Hildegard prophecieth against the kingdome of the Pope which neglect to teach and to doe good things The maister likewise and the Prelates doe sleepe despising iustice and laying it aside c. And in another place Then shall the crowne of Apostolicall honour be deuided because there shal be no religion among the Apostolicall order and for that cause shall they despise the dignitie of that name shall set ouer them other men and other Archbishops In so much that the Apostolike sea of that time by the diminution of his honor shall haue scarce Rome and a fewe other Countreyes thereabout vnder his dominion And these things shall come to passe partly by incursiō of warres and partly by a common Councell Iustice flourish when the Pope is ouerthrowen and consent of the Spirituall and Secular persons Then shall Iustice flourish so that in those dayes men shall honestly applie themselues to the ancient customes and discipline of auncient men and shal obserue them as men in times past haue done c. Shee prophecied also of the Friers In those dayes shall rise a senselesse people proud gréedie without faith and subtill which shall eate the sinnes of the people holding a certain order of foolish deuotion vnder the fained cloke of beggery c. But this order shall be accursed of all wise men and faithfull Christians they shall cease from all labour and giue themselues ouer to idlenesse choosing rather to liue by flattery and begging hauing familiaritie with women teaching them how to deceiue their husbandes by their flattery and deceitfull wordes and to robbe for them for they will take all these stolen euill gotten goods and say giue it vnto vs we will pray for you so that they beyng curious to hide other mens faults do vtterly forget their owne And alas they will receiue all things of rouers pickers spoilers théeues sacrilegious persons vsurers adulterers heretikes schismatikes apostataes whores and bawdes of noblemen periurers merchants false iudges souldiers tyrants princes of such as liue contrary to the law and of many peruerse and wicked men following the perswasion of the Diuell the swéetnesse of sinne a delicate and transitorie life and fulnes euen vnto eternall damnation c. Henry the 2. sonne of Ieffrey Plantagenet and of Mawd the Empresse and daughter of king Henry the first raigned after Stephen and continued 35. yéeres Within a yéere or twaine after the entry of his raigne he made Thomas Becket Thomas Becket Lord Chauncellor of England About the yéere of our Lord 1158. Gerhardus and Dulcinus Nauarrensis did earnestly preach agaynst the Church of Rome mainteyning Gerhardus against the church of Rome that prayer is not more holie in one place then in another that the Pope is Antichrist Pope Antichrist that the Clergie and Prelates of Rome were reiect and the very whore of Babilon Whore of Babilon prefigured in the Apocalips c. These two Anno one thousand one hundred and fiftie eight brought with them thirtie into England who by the king and prelates were burned in the forehead and so sent out of the realme And after as Illyricus writeth were put to death by the Pope Put to death by the Pope The Emperour Fredericus successor to Conradus marched vp to Italy to subdue there certaine rebels The Pope hearing thereof came to méet him with his Cardinals at Sutrium the Emperour seing the Bishop alighted of his horse to receyue him The Emp. holdeth the popes stirrop on the wrong side holding the stirrop on the left side whereat the Pope shewed himselfe somewhat agréeued but the next day with holding the right stirrop
certaine souldiers thereto appointed who did execute the contents accordingly so that the Italians throughout the land were spoiled their corne fruites bestowed on the poor commons of the land Italians spoyled throughout the land This comming to the knowledge of Roger B. of London he with the assistance of other bishops procéedeth to excommunication against them and such as had forged the kings letters Yet for al that the same yéere about Easter next following all the Barnes in Englande that were in the handes of any Romane or Italian were likewise wasted who for feare were fayne to hide themselues in monasteries and celles The Authors and workers of this feat were foure score armed souldiers of whom the principall Captaine was one naming himselfe William Withers William Withers surnamed Twynge The Pope hearing of this sendeth his letters to the king vpon the same threatning him with excommunication to search out the doers of the fact to punish them accordingly likewise he sent the same charge to Peter bishop of Winchester and to the Abbot of Saint Edmunds to inquire in the South partes to the bishop of Durham and the Archb. of Yorke and to Master Iohn Chanon of Yorke a Romane to inquire in the North partes for the said malefactors So that earnest inquisition being made diuers were found fauourers and diuers euen of the cleargy but the chiefe author was supposed to be Hugo de Burge L. chiefe iustice who both with the kings letters his own fortified the doers therof that no man durst interrupt them Moreouer in the same society was R. Twinge who of his owne voluntary accord came to the king and protested himselfe to be the Author of the fact because that by the sentence of the B. of Rome and fraudulent circumuention of the Italians he was bereaued of the patronage of his benefices hauing no more to giue but that one Then the king and other executors of the Popes commandement counselled him to offer himselfe to the pope to be absolued and there to make declaration of his cause The king also wrote letters in the behalfe of his Souldiers requiring fauourable audience At the request whereof P. Gregorie both released him of the sentēce and restored him to his Patronage But the grudge against Hubert did not so ende for the Bishops conspired against him and first commeth Peter B. of Winchester to the K. with gréeuous complaints and so preuayled with him that he caused the Lord Hubert to be put from his office and procured Steeuen Segraue to be placed in his roome And afterward the K. was more more kindled against him and called him to account for old matters whereof he had the hand of the king to shew for his discharge which notwithstanding was not accepted the bishop of Winchester replying that the charter of king Iohn had no force after his death but that ye may now said hée be called to reckoning of this king for the same The iniuries also damages wrought against the clarks of Rome and the Italians and the Popes Legates were obiected against him with diuerse other crimes concerning the estate c. Wherevnto he was required to answere by order of law Hubert then seing himselfe in such a straight refused to answere presently but required respite because the matters were waighty which the king obiected vnto him which was graunted til the 14. day of September but in the meane time L. Hubert destitute on euery side fearing the king he fled from London to the priory of Merton and was destitute on euery side sauing onely that Lucas Archb. of Dublin with instant praiers teares laboured to the king for him When the day was come that Hubert must appeare kéeping amōgst the monks of Merton he durst not shewe himselfe whereat the King being offended directed his letters in all hast to the mayor of London commaunding him to muster and take vp all that could beare harnesse in London and by force of armes to bring him Hubert either quicke or dead out of Merton which was accomplished The Londoners hate Hubert And on the next morow the Londiners who hated Hubert issued out with twenty thousand men and set forward toward the Abbey of Merton where Hubert was prostrate before the Altar commending himselfe to God In the meane season while the Citizens were on their iournie it was suggested to the king by Radolph Bishop of Chichester and Lord Chancellour that it was dangerous to raise vp the rude multitude for feare of sedition Moreouer what shal be said quoth he among the Frenchmen other Nations but thus iestingly and in mockerie see what a kinde birde is this young king of England that séeketh to deuoure his olde Nurse vnder whose winges he hath béene brought vp in his youth With which words the king being moued sent in all hast after the armie willing them to retire One of the Messengers for he sent two made great spéede and shewed the kings pleasure in good time the other desiring the destruction of Hubert lingred in his way and notwithstanding he rode but a soft pace fel of his horse that by chance stumbled and brake his neck After this the Archb. of Dublin with great suite intreated and obteyned of the K. to graunt Hubert respite till the xij of Ianuary to prouide him of his answere Whereupon Hubert taking some confidence and as it were comming to himselfe tooke his iourney to S. Edmondsburie where his wife was and passing through Essex inned at a certayne Towne belonging to the B. of Norwich Whereof when the king was certified fearing least he should make some commotion in the Realme sendeth in hastie anger after him Sir Godfrey Crancombe knight with 300. men commanding them vnder paine of hanging that they shoulde bring him to the Tower of London Which commandemēt was accomplished in hast Hubert hauing intelligence of their comming rose out of his bed naked as he was ran to the Chappell néere to the Inne where he was and there with one hand holdeth the crosse and with the other the sacrament of the Lordes bodie Godfrey entering the Chappell with his armed Souldiers and taking the Crosse and Sacrament out of his hands L. Hubert brought to Tower bound him fast with Fetters and Giues vnder the horse bellie and brought him to the Tower Whereat the king hauing tarryed vp watching for him greatly reioyced and went merrilye to his bed The next morrow following Roger Bishoppe of London had knowledge after what sort he was taken out of the Chappel He commeth to the King blaming him boldly for violating the peace of holy Church and protested that vnlesse the partie were losed againe and sent to the Chappell from whence he was taken he would enter into sentence of Excommunication against the déede doers L. Hubert sent back againe Whereupon the king sendeth him back againe to the Chappel by the same Souldiers that brought him out before and geueth charge
and the Duke of Glocester to encroch themselues royall power and to iudge to death Symon Burley and sir Iohn Barnes without the Kings consent wherevpon it was decréed that hée should be banished his temporalties seised his lands and goods forfaited The King further prescribed that he should take his passing on Friday within six wéekes of Michelmas at Douer toward the partes of Fraunce King deposed Anno 1399. K. Richard was deposed from his crowne by common consent after whom succéeded Henry the 4. who returned out of France with Thomas Arundell the Archbishop before exiled and by him was led to the seat royall This was anno 1399. The next after an 1400. followed a parlement holden at Westminster in which parlement one William Sawtree Williā Sawtre priest desiring to be heard for the commoditie of the whole realme and the matter beyng smelt before of the Bishops they obteined that the matter should be referred to the conuocation house which it was and the conuocation beyng differred till Saturday next the twelfth of February so was his audience also where at the day appoynted hée appéering the Archbishop Thomas Arundell obiected that hée had fallen into certaine hereticall Articles abiured before the Bishop of Norwich and caused certaine Articles vnabiured to be read and obiected against him by Robert Hall Chancellour to the B. thus sir William Charles otherwise called Sawtree Obiections against Sawtree parish priest of the Church of Saint Sith the virgin in London publickly and priuely doth hold these conclusions vnder written 1. That hée will not worship the crosse 2. That hée would sooner worship a temporall King 3. That he would sooner worship the bodies of Saints 4. That he would rather worship a man truly contrite 5. That he is bound rather to worship a man predestinate then an Angell of God 6. That a man is not bound to his vow of visiting the monuments of Saints but that he may distribute the expences of his vow to the poore 7. That euery Priest or Deacon is more bounde to preach then to say the Canonicall houres 8. That after the wordes of consecration the substaunce of bread remaineth still To which articles he in the Charterhouse before the bishoppe and his Councell exhibited a scroll of answeares mainteyning the same after which answeares publikely read by maister Robert Hal the Archbishop inquired of the saide William whether he had abiured these heresies before the Bishop of Norwich or not as was alledged against him whereto he answered no. Then he specially examined him of the sacrament of the altar who answered that after the words of consecration there remained bread wherevppon the Archbishop gaue sentence of heresie against him The same prouincial Councel being continued vntill the 24. day of the same moneth of February the Bishop of Norwich presented a certain processe vnto William Sawtre wherein he had abiured the articles laide against him which béeyng declared it was demanded of William Sawtre otherwise called Chatris why he might not be pronounced a man fallen into heresie and to be disgraded Whereunto he answered nothing then the Archbishoppe and the whole Councell gaue sentence he should be taken for a relaps Relaps and disgraded so committed to the secular power His proceeding in his degradation after that he had put on the apparel was in this sort as followeth In nomine patris filii spiritus sancti The maner of disgrading Amen We Thomas by Gods permission Archbish of Cāterbury primate of all England and Legate of the Apostolike Sea doe denounce thée William Sawtry otherwise called Chawtris Chaplaine fained in the habite and apparell of a Priest as an heretike and as one refallen into heresie by this our sentence definitiue by counsell consent autoritie to be condemned and by conclusion also of all our fellow brethren fellow Bishops Prelates Councell prouinciall and of the whole Cleargie doe degrade and depriue thée of all thy priestly orders and in signe of degradation and actuall deposition from thy priestly dignitie for thine incorrigibility and want of amendement wee take from thée the Patent and Chalice and doe depriue thée of all power of celebrating masse and also wée pull of thy backe the casule and take from thée the vestiment and depriue thée of all priestly honour and so procéeded they in taking away the vestiment and stoole of a Deacon and and the albe of a subdeacon and maniple and candlesticke taper and cruet of an Acolouth the holy water bucket of an exorcist the Legend booke of a Reader in the Church the Surplise of a Sexton The surplesse of a Sexton the crowne of Ecclesiasticall dignity to bée shauen and the Priestes cappe taken away and a Lay mans cappe put on that they might fauourably receiue the saide William thus vnto them committed This done by their solliciting the king directed a terrible decrée against him for his spéedy execution to the Mayor and sheriffes of London which was perfourmed accordingly Anno 1400. The time of Henry the 4. The time of Henrie 4. was full of trouble blood misery He was the first of the kings of England that put out his hand to the shedding of the blood of Saints since the conquest After the burning of this godly man the rest of the companie beganne to holde themselues more close for feare of the King who was altogether bent to hold with the Popes prelacie Anno 1405. by the Archbish of Yorke named Richard Scroop with the L. Mowbery marshall of England which both conspired against the king ten articles were set vpon Churchdoores against the king wherein he was charged to be a traitor periured a murderer a breaker of the orders of the church a tyrant a miss-gouernor of the commonwealth an oppressor c. But they with their adherents were apprehended and put to death Anno 1409. Thomas Badby 1409 Thomas Badby martyr a taylor and lay man was by Thomas Arundell archbishop of Canterbury brought to condemnation for the testimony of the truth His Articles were 1. That the sacrament of the Altar is not the reall body of Christ and that after consecration it remaineth bread still 2. That it was vnpossible that any priest could make the body of Christ 3. That he said Iacke Baker of Bristow had as much power to make the like body of Christ as any priest had He was pronounced an Hereticke first by the B. of Worcester in the chappell Caluary of S. Thomas martyr nigh the cathedrall Church of Worcester which was afterward approued by the archbishop of Canterbury Archb. of York London Winchester Chichester Norwich the prince Edmund Duke of York being also by c. and he condemned in Paules Church in London Crocodiles teares and so was deliuered to the secular power to be burned which when they had done like false hypocrits they desired the tēporall Lords present very instantly that they would not put the saide Iohn Badby to death
the Bishops conuocation First Articles that it should not be lawfull for any Christian to fight against the Heretickes of Bohemia That hée should kéepe companie with Maister Clarke aforesaid That hée should disperse certaine bookes of Wicklifs as Trialogus c. That he spake against the Popes Indulgences which points he refused to abiure and therefore by the Archbishop was condemned to perpetuall prison after whose condemnation the Sunday next folowing the recantation of Thomas Granter Recantation and Richard Monke priestes aboue mentioned was read openly at Paules church after which Granter was put to seuen yéeres imprisonment vnder the custody and charge of the Bishop of London Edmund Frith also recanted who was the butler of Sir Iohn Oldcastell Besides these many other who likewise for religion were greatly vexed especially in the Dioces of Kent in the townes of Rumney Tenterden Woodchurch Kent well affected Cranbrooke Staplehurst Beninden Halden Roylnenden and others where as whole housholdes both man and wife were driuen to forsake their houses and townes for daunger of persecution Among whom in the certificate of Burboth the Archbishoppes officiall these are named William White priest Thomas Grensted priest Bartholmew Chronemonger Iohn Waddon Ioan his wife Thomas Euerden William Euerden Steuen Robin William Chineling Iohn Tame Iohn Facolin William Somer Marian his wife Iohn Abrahā Robert Munden Laurence Cooke which persons because they would not appéere were excōmunicated by the Archbishop and what hapned after vnto them it doth not appéere but like it is they were at length forced to submit themselues About the yéere 1417. the L. Cobham hauing now béene in Wales the space of foure yéeres the King proclaiming a great summe of mony to him that could take sir Iohn Oldcastle either quicke or dead the L. Powes brought him vp to London The L. Powes taketh the lord Oldcastle in Wales about the moneth of Decēber At which time there was a Parlement assembled at London for the reléefe of mony to be sent to the K. whom the bishops had set to worke to fight in France the records of which parlement doo thus say that on tuesday the 14. of December and the 20 of the parlement sir Iohn Oldcastell of Cowling being outlawed in the Kings bench and excommunicated before the Archb. of Canterburie for heresie was brought before the Lords and hauing heard his said conuictions answered not thereto in his excuse vpon which record and processe it was adiudged that he should be taken as a traytor to the king and caried to the Tower of London The lord Cobham condēned and from thence drawne thorough the citie vnto the new gallowes in S. Giles without temple barre and there hanged and burned hanging After the martirdome of sir I. Oldcastle motiō was made in the parlement that the L. Powes might be thāked worthily rewarded for his great labour in apprehending him All mischiefe imputed to the Lollards In this time all horrible mischiefs and facts if any were doone were imputed to the poore Lollardes The nobles of Boheme which before wrote vnto the councell of Constance Bohemians cited to the councell of Constance were therfore cited vp to the councel The letter of Sigismund answereth in the name of the whole councell excusing himselfe of Husses death Secondly he requireth them to be quiet and to cōforme themselues peaceably vnto the orders of the Romish church Also the Councell hearing and fearing some stir to arise among the Bohemians did make lawes to bridle them to the number of 24. 24. lawes to bridle the Bohemians As that the king of Bohemia should bée sworne to giue obedience and defend the liberties of the church of Rome That all Masters Doctors Priests shall be sworne to abiure the doctrine of Wickliffe and Husse in that councell condemned the rest being of like sorte The Bohemians notwithstanding these cruell articles contemning the vaine deuises of the Prelates Fathers of the councell ceased not to procéede in their league purpose begun ioyning themselues more strongly together This yere after the deposing of Pope Iohn The Popes goods 75000. li. spoiling of his goods which came to 75. thousand pounds of golde and siluer Pope Martin was elected Now the Pope comming vppon his palfry trapped with scarlet down to the ground and the Emperour on the right side and the Prince Elector on the left playing the footmen and holding the horses bridle vnto the market place there the Iewes according to the manner offered vnto him their lawes and ceremonies which the Pope receiuing cast them behind him The Iewes offer their ceremonies to the Pope saying Recedant vetera noua sunt omnia that is Let olde things passe euery thing is new Ex histor Alba. Ex Paralip Vrsperg The Pope now confirmed threateneth very grieuously the Bohemians both with apostolicall and secular arme Pope thretneth the Bohemians A solemne yearly memoriall of the death of Husse and Ierome Monasteries suppressed Captaine Nicholas but the Bohemians nothing moued therewith assembled together and first agréed to celebrate a solemne memoriall of the death of Iohn Husse and Hierome decréeing the same to be celebrated yéerely and afterward obtained certayne Churches of the king where they might fréely preach minister the sacraments vnto the congregatiō This done they suppressed diuers monasteries beginning first with the great monastery of the blacke friers 7. miles distant from Prage driuing the vitious priests and monkes out of them and so their number encreased vnder their Captaine called Nicholas Their number encreasing now more and more they went vnto their K requiring to haue more ample churches the king séemed willingly to giue eare vnto Nicholas intreating for the people and commanded them to come again the next day The people being departed the king turned himselfe to Nicholas remayning stil behind said The King thretneth Nicholas Thou hast begun a web to put me out of my kingdome but I will make a rope of it to hang thée Whervppon the K. presently departed into the Castle of Visegarde and within a while after entred into a new castle which he himselfe had builded 5. stones cast from thence sending Embassadors to his brother to require ayde These protestants being assēbled in the town of Prage holding their conuentions the king sent forth his chamberlain with thrée hundred horsemen to run vpon them but he hauing respect vnto himself fled Whē the news was brought vnto the king his cupbearer standing by said I knew these things would thus come to passe for which words the king would haue slaine him with his dagger had not they which stood by disswaded him with much adoe Immediatly the K. being taken with a palsey fell sicke and within 18. daies daies after hauing marked the names of them whom hée woulde haue put to death The kings cruel determination disappointed by his own departed his life before the Princes vnto whome hee had
of the realm committed the matter to the hearing of the Bishop of London and two other Bishops there present or to thrée of them The xxvij of Nouember in the yéere aforesaide the B. of Londō with the B. of Ely Rochester came into the B. of Norwiches house wheras likewise ex officio they did swere certaine witnesses against M T. Arthur in like sort as before against M. Bilney warned him on his oath he should not reueale his examinatiōs nor answeres nor any part of thē The second day of December the B. of London with other Bishops assembling in the place aforesaid after that Bilney had denied vtterly to returne to the church of Rome the B. of London did exhibite into the Notaries in the presence of M. Bilney v. Epistles with one schedule in one of the Epistles conteining his articles answeres folded therein another epistle folded in maner of a booke with vj. leaues which al he cōmanded to be registred the originals to bée deliuered vnto him againe bound the Notaries with an oath for the safe kéeping of the copies The Interrogatories were concerning Ecclesiasticall constitutions Luthers doctrine the church Images a thirde place Images fasting dayes prayer to Saints faith without woorks prayer in an vnknowen tongue c. to the number of 34. Whereto Bilney 34. Articles against Bilney made such answere as the Prelates were nothing satisfied The iiij day of December the Bishop of London with other Bishops his assistants assembled againe at the Chapter house of Westminster whither Master Bilney was also brought who being often and earnestly required to submit himselfe answered diuers times Fiat iustitia iudicium in nomine Domini Then the Bishoppe after deliberation putting off his cappe said In nomine patris c. And making a crosse on his forhead and on his breast gaue sentence against M. Bilney there present in this manner I by the consent and counsell of my brethren here present doe pronounce thée Thomas Bilney Sentence of condemnation against Bilney who hast béene accused of diuers articles to be conuict of heresie and for the rest of the sentence we take deliberation till to morrow The v. day of December the Bishoppes assembled there againe and exhorted Bilney diuers times to returne to their Church and permitted him to goe into some secrete place there to consult with his friends till one of the clock at after noone of the same day At after noone the Bishop of London againe asked him whether he would returne and acknowledge his heresies But Bilney required to bring in witnesses to cléere him which would not be graunted him And when they vrged him againe he said he would geue no other answere than he had If they should prooue that he was sufficiently conuict he woulde submitte himselfe and desired againe to haue time and space to bring in his refused witnesses After great instancie on the Bishops parte with Bilney to recant or els the sentence must be read he required the Bishoppe to geue him licence till the next morrow to deliberate with himselfe whether he might abiure the heresies wherewith he was defamed or no Whereto the Bishop at the last graunted and gaue him two nightes respite to deliberate that is till Saterday at nine of the Clocke in the forenoone The vij day of December in the yeare and place aforesaid the Bishop of London with the other Bishops being assembled Bilney also personally appeared and being demaunded whether he would now recant Bilney recanteth he answered he was perswaded by Master Dankaster other of his friends so to doe and so there openly read his abiuration and subscribed to it and deliuered it to the Bishoppe who then did absolue him and enioyned him penance that he shoulde abide in prison appoynted by the Cardinall till he were by him released And moreouer the next day he should goe before the Procession in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul bare headed with a fagotte on his shoulder and should stand before the Preacher at Paules Crosse all the sermon time The space of two yeres after his abiuration that is from the yere 1529. to the yere 1531. Bilney liued in great anguish of minde Bilney in great anguish of mind for his recantation and halfe in despaire for his gréeuous facte and at length by Gods grace and good counsel he came to some quiet of minde and conscience and fully resolued to geue ouer his life for the confession of that trueth which hee before had renounced And thus being fully determined he tooke his leaue at tenne of the clocke at night of certaine of his friends and said that he woulde go to Ierusalem alluding to the wordes of Christ what time he was appoynted to suffer his passion So from thence he departed into Norfolke where he preached in priuate housholdes and confirmed an Anchres whom he had conuerted to Christ Then preached he openly in the fieldes confessing his facte Bilney repenteth and preached publikely the doctrine which hee before abiured And at Norwich he was apprehended and carried to prison there to remaine til blinde Bishop Nixe sent vp for a wryt to burne him Who after his examination and condemnation before Doctor Pells Doctor of law and Chauncellour first was degraded by Suffragane Vnderwood according to their popish manner by the assistaunce of all the Friers and Doctors of the same suite Which doone hée was immediatly committed to the laie power and to the two Shiriffes of whome Thomas Necton was one Bilneys especiall good friend After this the Friday following at night which was before the daie of execution he bare himselfe very chéerefully among his friendes to their greate comfort The Saterday next following he was brought forth to execution without the cittie gate called Bishops gate in a lowe valley called the Lollards pit vnder Saint Leonards hill accompanied with Doctor Warner his old acquaintaunce parson of Winterton Goyng to execution he was comforted secréetly by one of his acquaintaunce that willed him to stande sure and constant to whome he aunswered that whatsoeuer stormes he passed in this venture yet shortly after saied he my ship shall be in hauen and desired him to helpe him with his prayer Before his going to the stake he confessed his faith and after that went to it and praied which doone he stoode vpon the ledge of the stake made for him to the end he might be the better séene and the chaine was cast aboute him and standing thereon Doctor Warner came to him to bid him farewell whiche spake but fewe woordes for wéeping vpon whom Thomas Bilney did gently smile Bilney smileth at the stake and inclined his bodie to speake with him a fewe woordes of thankes and the laste were these O Maister doctor féede your flocke Féede your flocke that when the Lord commeth he may finde you so dooing and farewell good maister Doctor and pray for mée While he stood thus vpō the
home where he had scarce abode a moneth but he bewayled his fact and was neuer quiet in conscience til he had asked God and the world forgeuenesse before the congregation in those dayes in a warehouse in Bowe lane And immediatly the next Sunday after he came to S. Austines with the new Testament in his hand in English and the obedience of a Christian man in his bosome and stoode vp there before the people in his pewe and there declared which wéeping teares that he had denied God and prayed the people to forgeue and to beware of his weakenes Besides hée wrote certaine letters to the Bishop to his brother and to others so that shortly after he was apprehended and committed to the Tower of London and after thrée appearanrances the 19. of April the 20. and the 26. of the same moneth before Master Iohn Foxforde Vicar generall of the Bishoppe of London in the presence of Mathew Grifton Register Nicholas Wilson and William Phillips c hée was condemned to be burned and so was hée deliuered to sir R. Gresham shiriffe then being present who caused him by his officers to be carried to Newgate Iames Baynā burned was burned in Smithfield the last day of Aprill at iij. of the clocke in the afternoone After he had indured great torments stockes and irons in prison before as he was in the middest of the flaming fire and his armes and legges halfe consumed therewith The courage of a worthy martyr he spake these wordes Oh ye papists behold ye looke for myracles here now may yée sée a myracle for in this fire I féele no more paine then if I were in a bed of downe but it is as swéete to mée as a bedde of roses About this present time or not long before Iohn Benet Iohn Benet a tailor dwelling in a village called Vrchuant was burned in the towne of Deuies within the Countie of Wiltshire for the denying of the Sacrament of the Altar And much about the same time was one Traxnell burned in a towne called Brodford within the same County The same yéere 1532. Robert King Nicholas Marsh and Robert Garner men of Dedham Robert Debnam of Estbergholt had ouerthrowne and burned the roode of Douercourt The Idoll of Douercourt ten miles of Dedhā of which Idoll a brute was blowne that no man had power to shut the doore where hée stood wherefore the doore was alwaies kept open for which fact halfe a yéere after they were hanged in chaines Kinge in Dedham at Burchet Debnam at Cattawaie Cawsie Marshe at Douercourt Gardiner escaped and fledde The same yéere and yéere before many Images were caste downe and destroyed in many places Many images cast downe as the Crucifixe by Cogshall in the highwaie Saint Petronell in the Church of great Horksleigh S. Christopher by Sudbury S. Petronell in a Chappell by Ipswich also Iohn Seward of Dedham ouerthrew a crosse in Stoke parke and tooke two Images out of a chappell in the same parke and cast them into the water An. 1533. Iohn Frith was first a student in Cambridge and after one of those whome Cardinall Wolsey gathered together of the choise learned men to furnish his Colledge which he gaue the name of Saint Frideswide nowe called Christes Colledge He that yere the xx day of Iune Christes Colledge in Oxford was condemned by the Bishop of London to be burned and the sentence read he was deliuered to Sir Steeuen Peacock Mayor of London and the Sheriffes of the same Citie and the fourth day of Iulie was burned in Smithfield who at the stake chearefully embraced the Fagottes and fire which was put vnto him and seemed to reioyce for his fellowe that was burned with him Iohn Frith burned rather than to bee carefull for himselfe though by reason the winde bare awaye the flame from him hee was somewhat long in burning After the death of certaine whom the Cardinall had before imprisoned in the caue of his Colledge where Saltfish was vsed to be layde Frith with other were dismissed vppon condition not to passe aboue tenne miles out of Oxforde But Frith after the hearing of the examination of Dalaber and Garret which bare the fagottes went ouer Sea and after two yeres came againe for exhibition of the Prior of Reading as is thought and had the Prior ouer with him Being at Reading he was there taken for a vagabonde and was set in the stockes and through the meanes of one Leonarde Coxe Scholemaster of the Towne who woondered at his excellent learning was againe set at libertie but his safetie continued not long Sir Thomas Moore Sir T. Moore pursueth Frith then Lorde Chauncellour did so deadly pursue him both by Lande and Sea And at last being traiterouslie taken he was sent to the Tower of London Where he had many conflictes with the Bishops but especially in writing with Sir T. Moore The occasion wherof was a Treatise which he made and communicated it with W. Holte a Taylor of Londō that caried it to Moore the chācellor who endeuoured to confute it The pointes of Frithes treatise Frithes treatise were First that the controuersie of the Sacrament is no necessarie Article of fayth vnder paine of damnation 2. That Christ is not in two places at once 3. that Christes woordes in the institution of the Sacrament are to bee vnderstoode according to the phrase of speech comparing phrase with phrase according to the analogie of Scripture 4. That the order and institution of Christ is to be reteined although the order of the priestes doe neuer so much differ from it The copie of which answere Frith got by meanes of friends and answered A treatise of these poyntes Frith did write and it was carried by Holt vnto Moore which hee answered him againe out of prison omitting nothing belonging to the perfect handling of the matter Hée wrote also a Treatise of Purgatorie in which quarrell hee withstood the violence of the moste obstinate enemies Rochester Moore and Rastall and conuerted Rastall to his part who was Moores sonne in lawe After he had sufficiently contended in writing with those men he was at last carried to Lambith first before the Bishop of Canterburie and after vnto Croydon before Winchester and last of all before a common assembly of Byshoppes at London where continuing constant in his righteous cause was condemned With Frith Frith condemned was Andrewe Hewet Andrew Hewet burned hee was borne at Feuersham in the Countie of Kent of the age of foure and twentie yeeres and was apprentice with one Maister Warren Taylor in Watlingstréet he was betraied by the false Iudas William Holt and cast into prison in the Bishoppes house from whence hauing fyled off his yrons hée escaped but was bewrayed againe by one Withers a false hypocrite as Holt was and with him were taken Iohn Tibauld who was banished from his owne house by an iniunction and had béene foure times in prison for
Shortly after the ouerthrowe of the Pope by little and little began the ruine of the Abbeys and Religious houses and the same yéere in the moneth of October the king hauing then Thomas Cromwell of his counsell sent Doctor Lee to visit the Abbeies Priories and Nunneries in all England and to set at libertie all such religious persons as desired to be frée and all other that were vnder the age of xxiiij yéeres prouiding withall that such Moonkes Chanons and Friers as were dismissed shoulde haue giuen them by the Abbot or Prior in stéede of their habite a secular priestes gowne and xl shillings of money and likewise the Nunnes to haue such apparell as secular women did then commonly vse and suffered to goe where they woulde At which time also from the saide Abbeies and monasteries were taken the chiefe Iewels and and reliques Chiefe iewels and reliques taken from the Abeies After these things done of the king against the Pope hée endeuoured by al meanes to entertaine the fauour friendship of other princes as the Emperour the king of France the king of Scottes to whom hee purgeth himselfe concerning his diuorce and lawfulnesse of his marriage with the Ladie Anne and declareth the manifolde iniuries which the Pope had done vnto him and how hée deferred the cause of his diuorce and second marriage which he did fearing the malice of the Pope and prelates least they shoulde stirre them vp to warre against him which they laboured by all meanes to bring to passe especially Cardinall Poole plaied his part therein Anno 1536. Wil. Tindall 1536 Wil. Tindall burned who translated the new Testament in English and the fiue bookes of Moses with many other godlie woorkes was burned at the towne of Filforde in Flaunders by vertue of the Emperors decrée made in the assembly at Auspurgh He was first strangled and after consumed with fire At the stake he cried with a feruent zeale and lowde voice Lord open the king of Englands eies Tindall was borne aboute the borders of Wales and brought vp from a child in the Vniuersitie of Oxford where he increased in knowledge of artes and tongues From thence he went to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge where hauing abode a while hée departed and resorted to one Maister Welch a knight of Glocestershire and was there Schoolemaister to his children where he so behaued himselfe boldly in disputing with Abbots Deanes Archdeacons c. that he was faine to depart that coūtrie Such was the grudge of the priests against him especially after they perceiued by his means that they were not so welcome to M. Welches house as in times past From master Welche Tindall commeth vp to London sought to serue Tunstall B. of London but being refused of him he aboad notwithstanding in London the space almost of a yéere finding no place in England to translate the New testament hauing some aid prouision ministred vnto him of Humfrey Monmouth certaine other godly men Tindall takes in hand the translation of the New testament he departed into Germanie and there tooke in hand the translation of the New testament which he finished first Anno 1527. After he had continued a while in Germanie as in Saxonie where he had conference with Luther and other learned men he came downe into the Low countries and had his moste abiding in the towne of Antwerpe vntill the time of his apprehension whiche was about one whole yéere in the house of Thomas Poynes an Englishman who kepte an house of English merchants Aboute which time came thither one out of England whose name was Henry Phillips his Father beyng customer of Poole This Phillips grewe into acquaintance with Tindall and pretended much fauour vnto him After this Phillips goeth from Antwerpe to the court of Bruxels which is from thence xxiiij English miles the King hauing then no Ambassadour there and procured to bring from thence with him to Antwerpe that procurour generall which is the Emperours atturney with other certaine officers Within a while after Poynes siting at his doore Phillips man came vnto him and asked whether M. Tindall were there and said his maister would come to him and so departed Poines within iij. or iiij daies being departed out of the towne to Barrow xviij miles from Antwerp Phillips cōmeth again to Poines wife asketh for M. Tindall and what good chéere there was in the house whether he would dine with him that doone he goeth out to prouide and set the officers which he had brought from Bruxels in the stréete and about the doore Then about noone he came againe went to M. Tindall and said he had lost his purse and praied him to lend him xl s̄ which M. Tindall did Then saied Phillips to M. Tindall you shall be my guest here this day No saied M. Tindall I go foorth this day you shall go with me and be my guest where you shall be welcome So when it was dinner time M. Tindall went out with Phillips and at the going foorth of Poines house Maister Tindall would haue put Phillips before him but Phillips would in no wise pretending a shewe of great humanitie so M. Tindall went before him He had set officers on either side the doore vpon seates to whome Phillips pointed with his finger ouer M. Tindals head that the officers might sée it was he so should apprehend him Who there tooke him brought him to the Emperors atturney the procuror generall where he dined Frō whence he was had to the castle of Filford xviij miles from Antwerpe where he remained til he was put to death Poines labouring for the release of M. Tindall with letters directed out of England by the Lord Cromwell other to the court of Bruxels Then the Lord of Barowe was also clapt in prison after long imprisonment was faine to escape by flight But good Maister Tindall could not escape but was put to death for the testimonie of the trueth Of whome the Emperours Atturney left this testimonie that he was a learned good Tindals protestation touching his trāslation and godly man Concerning his translation of the new testament thus himselfe protested I call God to record against the day in which I shal appeare before the Lord Iesus to giue a reckoning of my doings that I neuer altered one syllable of Gods word against my conscience nor would do this day if all that is in earth whether it be honour riches or pleasure might be giuen me The same yéere that Tindall was burned Anno 1536. In the beginning of the yéere first died Ladie Katherine Princesse dowager in the moneth of Ianuarie after whom the same yéere in the moneth of May next following Quéen Anne who had nowe béene married to the king the space of thrée yéeres was put to death Queene Anne put to death very likely by the practises of the prelates against her who was an earnest fauourer of Gods people and
also was put to death for incontinency with Tho. Culpeper The same yéere in the moneth of August 1541 sixe were executed at Tiborne for the matter of supremacie Sixe put to death for the supremacie The Prior of Dancaster Giles Horne a monke of the Charterhouse of London Thomas Epsame a monke of Westminster who was the last in king Henries daies that ware a monks wéede the fourth one Philpot the fift one Carew the sixt was a Frier The king after the death of his first wife now more and more he missed his olde Counsellour Cromwell The king misseth Cromwell and partly smelling the waies of Winchester beganne a little to set his foote in the cause of religion and now the want of Cromwell did more mightely knit his affection to Cranmer whō he alwaies before loued wel And in the same yéere the moneth of October after the execution of this Quéene the king vnderstanding some abuses yet to remaine vnreformed namely about pilgrimages and idolatrie c. directed his letters to the Archb. of Canterburie for spéedy redresse of the same this was Anno 1542. The yeere 1543. 1543. Whitemeates permitted in Lent in the moneth of Februarie followed another Proclamation giuen out by the Kinges authoritie whereby whitemeates were permitted to be eaten in Lent Anno 1544. Anthony Parson priest Henrie Filmer Iohn Marbeck were sent from London to Windsor by the Sheriffes men the Saterday before S. Iames day and laid fast in the towne gaole Robert Testwood who had kept his bed was brought out of his house vpon crowches and laide with them Robert Bennet was the fourth apprehended with them and being sicke of the pestilence and a great sore running vpon him he was left behind in the Bishop of Londons gaole whereby he escaped the fire Now these being brought to Windsor there was a session specially procured to be holden the Thursday after which was S. Agnes day Against which sessions by the counsell of Doctour London and Simons a cruell Persecutour were all the Farmers belonging to the Colledge of Windsor warned to appeare to be the iurers The Iudges were these Doctor Capon bishop of Salisbury sir William Essex knight sir Thomas Bridges knight sir Humfrey Foster knight Franckelen Deane of Windsore and Fachell of Readyng Robert Ockam occupied the clarke of peaces roume who called Anthony Parson and read his indictement whiche was preachyng agaynst the reall presence Thomas Testwood whom they alleadged against that hée mocked the Priest at the lifting c. Next Filmer whome his owne brother accused for the matter of the reall presence there being none but his owne brother to witnes against him whom Doctor London flattered and entertayned in his owne house to that ende Lastly Iohn Marbecke béeyng called was charged to haue resembled the lifting vp of the Sacrament to the setting vp of Ieroboams calues and for speaking agaynst the Masse In which Articles they were founde guiltye by the Quest one Hyde dwelling beside Abington in a Lordeshippe belonging to the Colledge of Windsor spake in the mouth of the rest Then the Iudges beholding the prisoners a good while some with waterie eyes made curtesie who shoulde giue iudgement which when Fachell that was the lowest in the benche perceyued if no man will doe it then will I said Fachell and so gaue iudgement So were they had away who with comforting one another prepared themselues to die the next day All the night till dead sléepe tooke them they continued still calling on the name of the Lord and praying for their persecutors On the next morowe which was Friday as the prisoners were all preparing themselues to suffer the Bishop of Sarum and others had sent a letter by one of the Sherifes Gentlemen called master Frost to the bishop of Winchester the Court being then at Oking in the fauour of Marbecke Marbecke pardoned at the sight of which letter the Bishop straight way went to the king and obtained his pardon which was to the end he might betray others On the Saturday morning the other thrée were had to suffer and all thrée beyng bound to the post a certaine yong man of Filmers acquaintance brought him a pot of drinke asking him if he would drinke Yea quoth Filmer I thanke you and so they encouraging themselues drancke one to another Filmer reioycing in the Lord said be merie my brethren and lift vp your hearts to God for after this sharpe breakefast I trust we shall haue a good dinner in the kingdome of Christ our Lord and redéemer Filmer Testwood Porson burned at which wordes Testwood lifting vp his hands and eies to heauen desired the Lord aboue to receiue his spirite And Anthonie Parson pulling the strawe vnto him laide a good deale thereof vpon the toppe of his head saying This is Gods hatte nowe am I dressed like a true souldier of Christ by whose merites only I trust this day to enter into his ioy Notable martyrs and so they yéelded vp their soules vnto the Lord with such patience as it was marueilous to the beholders The meaning of Gardiner was after this to haue dealt with great personages had not the Lord preuented his cruell practises On the Munday after the men were burnt it was determined by the Bishoppe of Salisburie that Robert Ockam should go to the Bishop of Winchester with the whole processe done at the Sessions the thursday before And also had writings of those that were priuilie endicted whereof one of the Quéenes men named Fulke hauing knowledge gat to the Court before and tolde Sir Thomas Cardine and other of the priuie Chamber how all the matter stoode Whereupon Ockam was laide for passing the stréetes by the Earle of Bedfordes lodging was pulled in by the sleeue and kept secrete at my Lorde priuie Seales till certaine of the priuie Counsel had perused all his writings Among which they found certaine of the priuie Chamber endicted with other the kings Officers and their wiues That is to say Sir Thomas Cardine Sir Philip Hobbie with both their Ladies Master Edmund Harmon Master Th. Weldowe with Snowball and his wife All these they had endicted by the force of the vi articles as ayders helpers and mainteyners of Anthonie Parson And besides them they had endicted of heresie a great number mo of the kings true and faithfull Subiectes Whereof the kings Maiestie being certified gaue vnto them his gratious pardon The king pardoneth And so had Benet a discharge withall and being certified of the sheriffe and Sir Humfrey Foster of the death of the poore men at Windsor the king turning from them to depart sayde Alas poore Innocents And after this withdrew his fauour from Winchester caused Doctor London Winchester cast out of fauour and Simons the Lawier and a fierce persecutor of them to be apprehended and brought before the Counsell and examined vpon their oath of alleigeance who for denying their wicked fact were found periured and were
indignation that their olde doctrine should be impugned and stirred vp a Gray fryer called Frier Toyttes to teach the people to pray yet to Saints A controuersie in Scotland whether the Lords prayer should be said to Saints or not Whereupon fel such a schisme that not only the Cleargie but also the people were deuided among themselues for the matter in so much that there rose a prouerbe to whom say you your Pater noster And the cleargie for to decide the same controuersie to put the people out of doubt assembled thēselues yet notwithstanding it so depended that it was thought good to call a principal coūsel to decide the matter which being assēbled at Edēburgh the papists wāting reason brast out into vnséemly spéech as frier Toyt being asked to whom he should say his pater noster The Fryer biddeth say the pater noster to the deuil answered say it to the deuil knaue In the end they that were called churchmē were deuided for some of the bishops and diuines consented that it should be said to saints but the B. of S. Andrewes Caitenes and Athenies refused vtterly to subscribe to the same Finally it was declared vnto the people that it should be said vnto God with certeine restrictions and so by little and little the bruite ceassed Anno 1558. W Mill 1539. Walter Mill. was the last that was burned in Scotland for the doctrine of the gospel the xx day of April before the B. of S. Andrewes Murray Brechin a number of other prelates He was brought to the metropolitane church where he was put in a pulpet before the bishops to be accused his weakenes partly of age ill vsage being such as it was thought he should not be able to be heard speake But when he began to speake he made the church ring sound againe to the confusion of the aduersaries and comfort of the godly And being long in his praiers sir Andrew Oliphant one of the Bishops priests called him sir Walter Mill arise and answeare to the Articles for you hold my Lord here ouer long In déede said he I haue béene ouer long one of the Popes knights for he had béene before a Papist but I am called Walter and not Sir When neither threates nor allurements could preuaile they condemned him for the article of Priestes marriages the seuen Sacraments the sacrament of the Altar pilgrimage Before sentence was pronounced Oliphant asked him wilt thou not recant thine erroneous opinions and if thou wilt not I will pronounce sentence against thée I am accused of my life saide hée againe I knowe I must die once friend therfore as Christ said to Iudas doe it quickly yée shall knowe that I will not recant the truth for I am corne I am no chaffe I wil not be blown away with the wind nor burst with the flaile but I wil abide both A notable speech of the martyr Such was his maruellous boldnesse constancie which did so moue the hearts of many that the B. steward of his regaltie prouost of the towne called Patrike Learmend refused to be his temporal Iudge to whom it appertained Also the Bishoppes Chamberlaine being therewith charged would in no wise take vpon him so vngodly an office Yea the whole town was so offended with his vniust condemnation that the bishops seruāts could not get for their money so much as one corde to tie him to the stake or Tarre barrell to burne him but were constrayned to cut the cords of their masters owne Pauilion to serue their turne So being tied to the stake hauing exhorted the people and praied fire being put vnto him he ended in the Lord with such chéerfulnes and constancie enduring his martyrdome that he was the last martyr in Scotland this was in the time of Mary Longawale Quéene regent of Scotland and Iohn Hamelton bishop of Saint Andrewes and primate of Scotland Anno 1511. Vnder William Warrham Archb. of Canturburie certaine martyrs that were omitted whiche suffered at that time with him because they are not to be forgotten are to be referred to that yéere They suffered for deniyng the Sacrament of the Altar c for auricular confession the extréeme vnction images pilgrimages prayer to saints holy bread holy water c. They denie all that they had vttered any thing against those popishe pointes yet witnesses who had partly abiured before and others against nature as the husband against the wife and children against the mother being brought forth they were condemned and put to death Their names were William Carder of Tenderden Weauer Agnes Grebill of the same towne of thréescore yéere old Robert Lawson of Halden of the age 60. Iohn Browne of Ashford Edward Walker of Maidston Cutler who all notwithstanding they promised to submitte themselues yet were they condemned The cause why the good woman so stood as she did to the deniall of those articles obiected against her was for that she neuer thought that her husband and her owne children who only were priuie of her religion would haue testified against her which when she perceiued she repented the time that euer she bare those children of her bodie So notwithstanding that she offered conformitie she was condemned and put to death Her husbandes name was Iohn Grebill her sonnes Christopher and Iohn Besides these which were put to death a number vnder Warren were forced to abiure the trueth against the reall presence confession sacrament of matrimony vnction pilgrimages Images Saintes holie water holie bread c. Also omitted before anno 1539. Iohn a Painter and Giles Germaine who were accused and condemned for heresie at London before the Bishop and other Iudges where by chaunce comming in one of the kings seruaunts named Lancelot a very tall man and séeming by his countenance and gesture to fauour the cause of the poore men was also examined and condemned with them and the next day at fiue a clocke in the morning was carried with them into Saint Giles fieldes and there burned Also about the latter end of Tonstals time bishop of London one Stile was burned in Smithfield with the Apocalips whereon he vsed to read about his necke Stile burned with the Apocalips about his necke Which booke when he saw fastened to the stake with him hée lifted vp his voice and said O blessed Apocalips how happie am I that I shall be burned with thée and so with the booke was he consumed with fire Also ouerpassed before about the second yéere of the raigne of king Henry the eight Iohn Browne of Ashford after xl daies imprisonment when the Archbishop and Doctor Fisher had burned his féete with hote coles to the stumps to make him recant On Friday before Whitsunday he was sent to Ashford where he dwelt the next day to be burned and a yoong maide of his house espying him in the stockes told hir mistresse who ranne and sat by him also all night to whome hée gaue exhortation and declared
how hée had béene tossed to make him denie his Master which he would not doo for all their tormentes The cause of his death was because he said to a Priest bragging hée was a soule Priest where finde you the soule when you go to Masse and where doo you leaue it when you go from Masse when the Priest said he could not tell how can you then saue the soule said he For this hée was complayned of to William Warham Archbishop of Canturburie and suddainely was taken in his owne house the same day when his wife was churched as he was bringing in a messe of pottage to the borde seruing in his guestes and his féete bound vnder his owne horses belly was caried away to Canterbury neither hée nor any of his friends knowing whether he went where after he had continued in prison fortie daies from Low-sunday till Friday before Whitsontide he was sent to Ashford and there put to death as hath béene declared comfortably and chéerefully giuing testimonie to the truth The end of the eight Booke The ninth Booke AFter the death of king Henry succéeded king Edward King Edward reigneth his sonne being of the age of 9. yeres He began his reigne the 28. day of Ianuary a most happy patrone of the Gospel In his daies Carolus the Emperor made request to the king his counsel to permit Lady Mary to haue masse in her house without preiudice of the law Wherto the king being required by his counsel to giue his consent woulde in no case yéelde to it The K. refused the Emperors suite to permit Lady Mary to haue masse notwithstanding they laide before him what danger might insue to him by breach of amity with the Emperour they being more vrgent vpon him the King séeing their importunate sute in the ende his tender heart bursting out into bitter wéeping and sobbing desired them to be content and so refused to yéelde vnto the Emperours request in that behalfe Because he was young and of tender age he was committed to xvi Gouernours amongst whom especially the L. Edward Seimer the Duke of Somerset his vncle was assigned vnto him protector by whose endeuour the vi articles were abolished Sixe articles abolished whereby the practises of Winchester began to decay This king restored the holy Scriptures in the mother tongue masses he abolished Religion restored and such as were banished were receiued home he chaunged the most part of Bishops of dioces and Churches and compelled the dumbe dogges to giue place to those that would preach Besides other also out of forrein countries were sent for entertained Peter Martyr at Oxford Bucer Paulus Phagius at Cambridge as Peter Martyr who taught at Oxford Martin Bucer Paulus Phagius at Cambridge The old Bishops who were obstinate were committed toward Boner to the Marshalsea Gardiner Tonstal to the tower where they remained thrée yéeres together In this kings time all persecution ceassed and the professors of the Gospel were in all places relieued Only one Thomas Dobbe Tho. Dobbe a student master of artes of Cambridge of S. Iohns Colledge in the beginning of this kings reign was cast in prison for speaking against the masse died in the Counter in Londō being thither committed by the Archbishop of Canterburie whose pardon notwithstanding was obtained by the Lord protector and should haue béene brought him if he had continued The king vntill such time as by consent of the whole estate of parlament hee might establish a more perfect order of religion purposed by the aduise of his counsel of his owne authority somewhat to prosecute his godly purpose Whervpon he chose out certaine wise and learned men to bée his commissioners Commissioners in that behalfe and so diuiding them into seuerall dioces to bée visited appointing likewise vnto euery companie one or two godly learned preachers who all euery session should instruct the people in the true doctrine of the Gospell To those Commissioners were deliuered certaine Iniunctions and Ecclesiastical lawes the which they should both inquire of and also command in his maiesties name or behalfe all tending to the abolishing of popish superstition and establishing of the trueth of the Gospel besides which generall Iniunctions for the estate of the whole Realme there were also certaine others particularly appointed for the Bishops only whereby they were inioyned to sée the other put in due execution besides others which did more particularly confirme them During the time that those Commissioners were occupied abroad the king desiring a farther reformation appointed a parlament the 4. of Nouember in the first yéere of his reigne Ann. 1547. 1547. A Parlament which continued vnto the 24. day of December next following wherein al Acts made before that tended against the Professors of the Gospel were abrogated In the same parlament also it was decréed that the Sacrament should be ministred to all vnder both kindes then also were candles on Candlemas day forbidden ashes on Ashwednesday About the same time also al Images were vtterly taken away and anno 1548. one vniforme order of prayer was instituted in the second yere of his reigne at a Parlament holden the fourth of Nouember that lasted till the fourtéenth of March next ensuing At the same parlamēt was it lawfull also for priests to haue wiues To all these at the first Bonner séemed to yelde but at length bewraied himselfe by suffering dayly to be song the Apostles masse and our Ladies masse c. in diuers of his chappels in Pauls cloking them with the names of the apostles and our ladies communions whereof the Counsell being enfourmed caused him to reforme the abuse To al these good orders diuers priests and popish Iustices shewed themselues vntoward so that the cōmon praier booke was long after the publishing of it either not knowen at all or els very vnreuerently vsed throughout the realm for which the king with his Counsel prouided redresse Bonner yet séeming not to dislike openly of these godly procéedings yet his minde appeared by his negligent putting in execution of those Iniunctions in his owne Dioces Wherupon the xj day of August anno 1549. he was called for before the Counsel and rebuked according to his offence and enioyned to preach at Paules Crosse on the Sunday thrée wéekes ensuing There were deliuered also vnto him Articles whereon he should entreate as they thought most méete with priuate Iniunctions for himselfe to obserue as to preach once a quarter at the Crosse and to be present himselfe at all the Sermons made there to celebrate himselfe the Cōmunion and to administer the same c. About this time through the setting on of the popish Priestes diuers quarters of the Land rebelled as in Cornwall and Deuonshire Rebellion and Yorkshire for their popish religion which were all suppressed The Scots also and French king attempted against the land and were also ouerthrowen The Scots at Muskelborough field and the
returneth to the yéere before 1553. vpon Friday the iiij of August Doctor Day was deliuered out of the Fléete The v. day Boner was deliuered out of the Marshalsea and one M. Edward Vnderhil cōmitted to Newgate Also the same day at night Doctor Cockes was committed to the Marshalsea And the same day Doctor Tonstall and Stephen Gardiner were deliuered out of the Tower and Gardiner receiued to the Quéenes priuie Counsell and made Lord Chancellor The xvj day of August M. Bradford M. Beacon and M. Veron were committed to the Tower Bradford Beacon and Veron to the Tower with whom also M. Sampson should haue béene cōmitted but was not found being diligently sought for at M. Elsenges house in Fléet-stréet where M. Bradford was taken Vpon the xix of August a letter was sent vnto sir Henry Tyrrell Anthony Browne and Edmund Brown Esquires praying them to commit to warde all such as shoulde contemne the Quéenes order of religion and did kéepe themselues from Church Vpon Sunday the xx of August Doctor Watson Winchesters Chaplaine preached at Paules and two hundred of the garde were there with their Halbards least the people should make a sturre against the preacher The xxj of August the Quéene set foorth a proclamation signifying that shée could not any longer hide the religion which she from her infancie had professed inhibiting in the same proclamation printing and preaching Vpon Sunday the xxvij of August the B. of Canterbury Sir Thomas Smith and the Deane of Paules were cited to to appeare the wéeke following before the Quéenes Commissioners in the Bishops consistory in Paules In the meane time it was falsly noysed abroad that the Archbishop to currie fauour with the Quéene should promisse to say Dirge Masse after the old custome for king Edward that he had already said masse at Canterbury A false rumor of the Archb. To stop these rumors the 7. of Sept. the Archb. set forth a letter which was also printed in purgation of himself The 13. of September Hugh Latimer was committed to the Tower The next day after that the Archb. was committed to the tower The first day of October which was the day of her coronation the Quéene gaue general pardon out of which were excepted all the prisoners in the Tower and in the Fléete and 62. more of which number maister Whitchurch and maister Grafton were two Vpon the 4. of October the Archbishop of Yorke was committed to the Tower The fift of October the Bishop of Lincolne Hereford and Westchester were discharged from the Parlement and Conuocation The 15. of October Laurence Saunders preacher at alhallowes in Bredstréete in the morning declared the abhominablenes of the masse about noone the same day hée was sent for by the Bishop of London and from thence committed to the Marshalsea The 26. of October the Vicechauncellour of Cambridge displaced D. Madew of the maistership of Clarehal because he was married and placed maister Swinborne The 28. of October the Papistes in the Kinges Colledge in Cambridge Kings Colledge Papists very forward not tarrying the making of any law had their seruice againe in the Latine tongue contrary to the law then in force About the last of December a priest at Canterbury said masse on the one day and the next day after he came into the pulpit and desired the people to forgiue him for he saide hée had betraied Christ and there made a long Sermon against the masse Vpon Saterday being the 13. of Ianuary D. Crome was committed to the Fléet and one maister Addington to the Tower The 20. of Ianuarie the court of first fruits and tenths were dissolued The 26. of Ianuary Iustice Halles was committed to the marshalsea and maister Rogers to Newgate About the 24. 25. of February such priestes within the dioces of London as were married were diuorced from their liuings and commanded to bring in their wiues within a fortnight that they might also be diuorced from them This the Bishop did of his owne power The 27. of February certain Gentlemen of Kent were sent downe to be executed among whom there were two of the Mantels the elder of which at his casting of the ladder brake the rope Then they would haue had him recant and receiue the sacrament of the altar and then they said he should haue the Quéenes pardon but he refused so to doe and chose rather to die Vpon the 18. day of March the Lady Elizabeth the Quéenes sister was brought to the Tower Ladie Elizabeth to the Tower In the moneth of May it was bruted that a disputation should be holden at Cambridge betwéene M. Bradford M. Saunders M Rogers and others of that side and the Doctors of both vniuersities on the other side like as had béene in Oxforde before This the godlye Preachers that were prisoners did accept so that the disputation might bee before the Queene or before the Counsell or before the Parlement houses or els if they might dispute by writing remembring the disorder at Oxford And they directed out of prison a declaration of their mindes by writing the seuenth day of May exhorting the people to submitte themselues with all patience and humilitie c. Anno 1554. Their names were Robert Menauen aliâs Robert Ferrar Rowlande Taylor Iohn Philpot Iohn Bradforde Iohn Wigorne and Gloce. Episcopus Iohn Hooper Edward Crome Iohn Rogers Laurence Saunders Edmunde Laurence I. P. T. M. Miles Couerdale agréeing also with them The xix of the same Moneth the Lady Elizabeth Sister to the Quéen was brought out of the Tower and committed to the custodie of sir I. Williams after Lord Williams of Thame who gently entreated her Lady Elizabeth sent to Woodstock and afterwarde she was had to Woodstocke and there committed to the kéeping of Sir Henrie Benefield who excéeded in harde dealing with her About the fifth of October and within a fortnight following there were about sixtye imprisoned in London for hauing and selling certain bookes which were sent ouer by Preachers that fledde beyond the Seas among whome was M. Brown a Goldsmith M. Sparke a Draper Randall Diuer a Stationer M. Beston a Marchant with many other The ninth of Nouember M. Barlowe late B. of Bathe and M. Cardmaker Barlowe and Cardmaker to the Fleete were brought before the Counsell in the Starrechamber and after communication commanded to the Fléete In this moneth or the moneth before Against writing of Scriptures on church walles Boner directeth his precepts against al writings of scripture on church walles About this time in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge and also of Oxforde many good wittes and learned men departed the Vniuersities because of the alteration of religion 24. places void together in S. Iohns colledge in Cambridge Of whō some of their owne accord gaue ouer some were thrust out of their Felowships some were miserably handled In so much that in Cambridge in the Colledge of saint Iohns there were 24. places voyde
together The xxj of Nouember being Wednesday Cardinall Poole landeth Cardinall Poole landed at Douer and the xxviij day he made an Oration in the Parlement house exhorting them to returne to the Sea Apostolicke and to abrogate such lawes as had disioyned them from the same The next day after the Lordes and Commons exhibited a Supplication wherein they desired pardon and absolution for that which had passed against the Apostolik Sea Vpon this Supplication Cardinall Poole in the name of Pope Iulius the third geueth them absolution Absolution geuen to the Lords and Commūs Wherof the king and the Cardinall sent spéedie report to Rome to the great ioy of the Pope and his c. About the second of December a Poste was sent from the whole Parlement to the Pope to desire him to confirme the sale of Abbey landes Purchases of Abbey lands to be confirmed by the Pope and Chaunterie landes For the Lordes and the Parlement would not graunt any thing in the Popes behalfe before their Purchases were fully confirmed The vj. day of December all the whole Conuocation with Bishops and other were sent for to Lambeth to the Cardinall who the same day forgaue them all their periurations schismes heresies and all they knéeled downe and receiued his absolution Vpon New yeres day at night certaine honest men and women of the Citie to the number of thirtie and a minister with them named Master Rose were taken as they were in a house in Bowchurchyarde at the Communion and the same night were committed to prison and on the Thursday following being the thirde of Ianuarie M. Rose M. Rose sent to the Tower was before the Bishoppe of Winchester being Lord Chauncellor and thence the same day he was by him committed to the Tower The Act of the Popes Supremacie Queen Marie with childe The same day the Act of Supremacie passed in the Parlement house About this time there was a certaine opinion that the Quéen was great with childe many prayers were made in diuers places for her and for the childe that it might be a male childe wel fauoured and wittie And the xix of Ianuarie the lower House of the Parlement with the Speaker came to White hall to the king and there offered vnto him the gouernement of the Realme and of the issue if the in the Quéene should faile which was confirmed by act of Parlement within ix daies after In this Parlement among other thinges the Bishop of Rome was established and all such Lawes as were made against him since the twentith yéere of King Henry the viij were repealed and also Cardinall Poole Bishop Pates Lilly and other were restored to their blood Also in this Parlement thrée statutes were reuiued for triall of Heresie One made in the fifth yéere of Richard the second and another in the second yéere of Henry the fourth the thirde in the second yéere of Henry the fifth Also the doings of Maister Rose and the other that were with him was communed of in this Parlement and vpon that occasion an act was made that certaine euill prayers should bée treason The prayers of these men were these Certaine euill praiers to be treason God turne the heart of Quéene Mary from Idolatrie or else shorten her dayes The two and twentith of Ianuary all the preachers that were in pryson were called before the Bishop of Winchester Lord Chancellor and certaine other at his house in S. Mary Oueries from whence after they had refused to conforme themselues they were committed to straighter pryson then before with charge that no man should speake with them amongst whom one Iames George died in prison Iames George and was buried in the field The eight and twentith of Ianuary the bishop of Winchester by vertue of Commission from the Cardinall in S. Mary Oueries church called before him and certaine of the Counsell Maister Hooper Maister Rogers and Maister Cardmaker of which Cardmaker Cardmaker submitteth that day submitted himselfe the other were returned to pryson till the next day The xxx of Ianuarie Doctor Taylor Doctor Crome M. Bradford M. Saunders and Doctor Farrar sometime bishop of S. Dauies were before Winchester of which number Taylor Saunders and Bradford were excommunicated and sentence pronounced against them Sentence pronounced against Taylor Saunders and Bradford and so committed to the Shiriffes Doctor Crome according to his desire had two moneths respite and M. Farrar was againe committed to prison till another time After examination and condemnation of these good men Commissioners and Inquisitors were sent abroad into all partes of the Realme to the afflicting of a great number of godly persones especially in Kent Essex Northfolke and Suffolke The preachers before had put vp a supplication to the king and parlement requiring indifferencie in their cause but all in vaine The end of the tenth Booke The eleuenth Booke THe fourth day of February suffered maister Iohn Rogers M. Iohn Rogers martyr he was of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge from whence at length hee was chosen to bee Chaplaine to the marchantes at Antwerpe in Brabant where hée fell in companie with maister William Tindall and with Miles Couerdale by conference with whom he came to great knowledge in the Gospel and cast off poperie and ioyned himself with them as in the translating of the Bible intituled the translation of Thomas Mathew After he was married hée went to Wittenberge in Saxonie where he so profited in knowledge and in the Duitch tongue that the charge of a Congregation was committed vnto him In which ministerie he faithfully serued till the time of king Edwarde And béeyng orderly called he returned into Englande againe without certayntie of any condition of liuing where he preached diligently Then Nicholas Ridley Bishop of London gaue him a Prebend in Paules M. Rogers diuinity reader in Paules Church and the Deane and Chapter therechose him to reade the diuinity Lecture In which place hée remayned till the time of Quéene Marie After the Quéen was come to the Tower of London he being orderly called therevnto made a vehement sermon at Paules crosse confirming the doctrine taught in king Edwardes time and exhorting the people to constancie For which he was called into question and made such answere as for that time he was cléerly dismissed But after the proclamation which prohibited true preaching the Counsell quarrelled with him concerning his doctrine and commanded him as prisoner to keepe his owne house where he remained a long time and might haue escaped if hee would At length by Boners procurement hée was put among the théeues and murtherers in Newgate for a great space He was first examined the 22. of Ianuary by Winchester Rogers condemned with the rest of the cōmissioners Then again the 28. 29. of the same moneth in the end they read the sentence of condemnation against him mentioning there but 2. articles First that he affirmed the church of Rome
to Sir Nicholas Hare and sir Thomas Cornewallis willing them to examine Maister Flowre alias Branch what hée meant to were about his necke written Deum time Vitium fuge Deum time Vitium fuge and whom else he knew to weare the like praying them also to speake to Boner B. of London spéedely to procéede agaynst him for his Religion according to the Lawes and that the Iustices of peace of Middlesex should likewise procéede against him for shedding of bloud in the Church according to the Statute so as if hée continue in his opinion hee might be executed at the farthest by the latter end of this wéeke and that his right hand the day before his execution or the same day might be stricken of The two and twentith of Aprill there was a letter sent to the Iustices of peace of Middlesex with a writ for the execution of the said Flower M. Flower The xxix of Aprill Maister Robert Hornbye seruaunt then to the Ladie Elizabeth was conuented before the Counsell for his religion and constantly standing thereto was commited to the Marshalsea Anno 1555. the xxiiij of Aprill George Marsh George Marsh suffered most constantly at Winchester for the testimonie of the truth For a while he was Curate to Laurence Saunders in which condition he continued for a space But at length by detection of certaine aduersaries hée was apprehended and kept in close pryson by George Cotes then Bishop of Chester in straight prison in Chester in the bishops house about the space of foure moneths beyng not permitted to haue reléefe and comfort of his fréends The Wednesday before Palmesunday he voluntarily presented himselfe being sought for before Master Barton who sent him the next day before the Earle of Darbie and his Counsell at Lathā Where appearing before them and not answering to their contentment touching the Sacrament of the Altar he was committed to ward in a cold wide stone house where he lay two nights without any bed sauing a few canuasse tentclothes and a paire of shéets without woollen clothes and so continued he till Palmesunday beyng occupied in prayer and godly meditation On Palmsunday at after dinner he appeared again and comming with the Vicar of Prescot the Vicar made report to the Earle that the answer which he made was sufficient for a beginner vnto such time as he should learne farther Wherewith the Earle was very well pleased and so after few words commanded he should haue a bed with fire and liberty to go among his seruants so he would not hurt them with his communication Thus he departed more troubled then before because he had not with more boldnes confessed Christ but in such sort as the aduersaries thought they might preuaile against him So he praied to God for more strength And after a day or two confessed more plainly and more boldly in such sort as the Vicar was not well pleased After which within a day or two came to him againe M. Moore bringing with him certaine articles whervnto Doctor Crome had subscribed in the daies of king Henrie the viij requiring him also to subscribe whereto he would in no sort agrée and so he departed Within a short space after on shrouethurseday the Vicar sent for him againe saying my Lord would be at a short point with him if he woulde not subscribe to 4. articles wherof thrée tended to the masse and the fourth touching confession These articles he denied to subscribe vnto and was committed to the Porters ward where he continued till Low-sunday On which day after dinner his kéeper Richard Scot signified vnto him that 2. young men came to carrie him to Lancaster And so was he carried thither by them and appeared at the sessions among malefactors and was thrise arraigned among théeues with yrons on his féete and with boldnes confessed Christ Within few daies after Marsh was remoued from Lācaster and comming to Chester was sent for of D. Cotes the B. to appeare before him in his hall no body being present but they twaine Where the B. communed with him and laboured to peruert him but all in vaine And after he had taken his pleasure in punishing him and reuiling him he caused him to be brought forth into a chappel in the Cathedrall church in Chester called our Ladies Chappel before him at two of the clocke in the after noone who was there placed in a chaire for that purpose and Fulke Dutton maior of that citie D. Wall and other priests assisting him And after they had caused him to take an othe they ministred articles vnto him To which he answered according to the doctrine taught in king Edwards daies which being registred he was returned againe to his prison Within thrée wéekes after he appeared againe and after many vain perswasions to recant he receiued sentence of condemnation and was carried away and put into a darke prison where he had smal comfort of any creature til his death Yet some of the citizens that feared God would comfort him at a hole in a wall of the citie and giue him money When the day appointed came that he should suffer the sheriffes of the city Amry Cooper with their officers tooke him out of the Northgate where he was prisoner who came with thē most méekly with a locke on his foot being at the place of his death he refused the pardon of the Quéen which was offred him if he would recant Which he said he would gladly accept but forasmuch as it tended to plucke him frō God he would not receiue it vpon such condition So after he had praied he put off his clothes to his shirt being fastned to the post by reason the fire was vnskilfully made he suffered with great patience grieuous torment So that when he had a long time bin tormented in the fire without mouing hauing his flesh so broyled and puft vp that it couered the chaine wherwith he was fastned hee therefore was supposed to be dead Notwithstanding sodainly he spread abroade his armes George Marsh of great patience saying Father of heauen haue mercy on me so yelded Vpon this the people said he was a martyr And the Bish to quiet them shortly after made a sermon affirming that he was an Heretike c. and a firebrand in hell Whom in recompence not long after the hand of God did so strike that hee dyed as it was thought burned of an Harlotte This Martir did write diuers and sundrie bookes out of prison The xxiiij of Aprill William Flower sometime a Monke of Ely and a Priest but afterward being married liued by teaching of children was put to death for the testimony of the trueth and had his hand first stricken of for striking a Priest saying masse Comming from Lambeth where he dwelt about tenne or eleuen of the clocke in the forenoone into Saint Margarets Church at Westminster where he finding and séeing a priest called Iohn Cheltam ministring the Sacrament of the Altar to
Wats went and praied priuatly to himselfe Tho. Wats martyr and afterward came to his wife and sixe children being there two of which company offered to burne with him and comforted him and when he had kissed them all was carried to the fire Where he hauing kissed the stake said vnto my Lord Rich beware my Lord beware for you do against your cōscience c. And so patiently he ended in the Lords quarrell In the beginning of this moneto of Iune the time was thought to be nigh of Quéene Maries Queen Mary proued not with child trauaile but their expectation was deceiued and the Prelates and their fauourers confounded so that they dealt with one Isabell Mault dwelling in Aldersgate stréete in Horne Alley to helpe the matter Who before witnesses made this declaration that she being deliuered of a man childe vpon Whitsunday in the morning the xj of Iune there came to her the L. North and another Lord to her vnknowen dwelling about Olde Fishstréete Who demaunded of her if she would part from her childe and would sweare that she neuer had nor knew any such childe Which if she would her sonne should they said be wel prouided for and she should take no care for it With many faire offers if she would parte with her child After that came other women also of whom one she said should haue béene the Rocker T. Mault should haue bin Queene Maries childe but she would not part with her Sonne who was at the writing of this History aliue of the age of xiij yeres and vpward and called Timothie Mault About this time came out a Booke called a Caueat for England A Caueat for England giuing warning to Englishmen of the practises of the Spaniardes and restoring of Abbey lands Wherupon came foorth a straite Proclamation against any booke or writing that should empaire the Popes dignitie whereby great peril grew vnto diuers people With Thomas Haukes were sent downe thrée other to be burned for the testimonie of the trueth Nicholas Chamberlaine Nicholas Chāberlaine at Colchester the xiiij of Iune Thomas Sommer Th. Sommer at Maningtrée the xv of Iune William Bamforde W. Bamford alias Butler at Norwich the same xv of the Moneth of Iune All which men patiently and constantly endured the torment for his names sake Within iij. dayes after that Master Bradforde had saued M. Bourne who preached a seditious Sermon at Paules Crosse he was sent for to the Tower where the Quéene was then to appeare there before the Counsell Where he was charged with the acte of sauing Bourne which act they called seditious and also obiected against him for preaching and so by them he was committed first to the Tower and afterwardes to the Kinges Bench and after his condemnation to the Counter He was a man of singular pietie and great learning and a speciall patterne of all vertue where he became Bishoppe Farrar being in the kinges Bench after much labouring with had promised the Papistes to receiue the Sacrament of the Altar with them at Easter in one kinde Then it happened by Gods prouidence on Easter euen the day before he should do it that M. Bradforde was brought to the kings Bench prisoner Where he reclaimed M. Farrar that he did not satisfie the Papistes in receiuing as hée had purposed When the Kéepers wife had brought him worde he should on the morow be had to newgate and so to be burned he put off his cap and lifted vp his eyes to heauen and sayde Bradford reioyceth at the newes of his Martirdome I thanke God for it for I haue looked for the same a long time and therefore it commeth now vnto me not sodainely but as a thing wayted for euery day and euery hower and the Lorde make me woorthie thereof And so thanking her he departed vp into his Chamber and went secretelie him selfe and prayed a long time aboue and spent the euening in prayer and other good exercises with his friendes The time they carried him to Newgate was about xi or xij of the clocke in the night for feare of the people And the next morning at nine of the clock he was brought into Smithfield whither as he went there came to him a brother in law of his called R. Beswicke and tooke M. Bradford by the hand Which when Woodrooffe being Sheriffe did behold he came and brake M. Beswickes head that the bloud ranne about his shoulders Being come to the place of execution hee fell flatte to the grounde secretely making his prayers to almightie God Then rising vp againe and putting off his clothes vnto his shirte he went to the stake and holding vp his handes and casting his countenance to heauen said thus O Englande Englande repent thée of thy sinnes beware of Idolatrie beware of false Christes take héede they doe not deceiue you With which words the sheriffe was greatly offended So hauing comforted I. Leafe that suffered at the same Stake with him embracing the Réedes he sayd thus Straight is the way and narrowe is the Gate that leadeth to eternall saluation and fewe there be that finde it M. Bradfords words at the stake And so constantly he ended this mortall life Hee remayned in the Tower of London before his remoouing to other Prisons from the Moneth of August in the yere of our Lorde one thousand fiue hundred fiftie thrée to the 22. of Ianuary Anno 1555. vpon which day he was called out to examination before Stephen Gardiner and other commissioners before whom he appeared thrée times and had great reasoning touching the reall presence with him with Boner Worcester and at the last was condemned by Winchester the last of Ianuarie Which sentence beyng pronounced he fell downe on his knées and hartily thanked God that he counted him worthie to suffer for his sake After condemnation diuerse conferred with him as Boner Willerton Creswell Harding Harpsfielde and other mo as Doctor Heath archbishop of Yorke Day Bishoppe of Chichester Alphonso the Kinges confessor and another Spanish Frier Doctor Weston Doctor Pendleton c. With maister Bradford was burned one Iohn Lease Iohn Leafe 19. yeere old burned with Bradford an apprentice of the age of ninetéen yéeres Who when two billes were sent vnto him into the Counter the one contayning a recantation and the other his confession to know to which of them he woulde put his hand to First hearing the byll of recantation read vnto him because hée coulde not reade nor write himselfe that hée refused and when the other was read vnto him which he well liked of instéede of a penne he tooke a pinne and so pricking his hand sprinkled the bloud vpon the same bill willing the Reader thereof to shew the B. that he had sealed the same with his bloud already And so being condemned Iohn Leafe a notable young man a martir he suffered patiently with M. Bradford Within halfe a yere after God did so strike the forenamed
trueth he feruently embraced the same and suffered with patiēce many conflictes therefore He had especiall enemies in Cambridge a black Frier one Doctor Buckeman Prouost of the house and another Frier an outlandish man called Doctor Venetus besides all the rabble of the Heades and Doctors as Doctor Watson Master of Christes Colledge whose Scholer Latimer had béene before D. Notaries Master of Clare Hall Doctor Phili Master of Michael house D. Medcalfe Master of S. Iohns D. Blithe of the kings hal D. Bullock Master of the Quéenes Colledge Doctor Cliffe of Clement house Doctor Downes of Iesus Colledge D. Palmes master of S Nicholas Hostel c. At the last came D. West Bishop of Ely who preaching against Latimer at Barnewel Abbey forbad him to preach any more within the churches of the Vniuersitie Notwithstanding D. Barnes Prior of the Augustine Friers did licence Master Latimer to preach in his Church of the Augustine Friers and he himselfe preached at the Church by called Saint Edwardes which was the first Sermon of the Gospel that D. Barnes preached being vpon Christmasse euen vpon a Sunday Whereupon Articles were gathered out against him by M. Tirrel Felow of the Kings Hall and presented to the Cardinall Notwithstanding the enemies that Latimer had in Cambridge hee continued preaching there thrée yeres and kept conference with Master Bilney So that the place where they vsed most to walke in the fields was commonly called the Heretikes hill After he had trauelled in preaching thrée yeres in Cambridge at length he was called vp to the Cardinall for heresie being contented to subscribe to such Articles as they propounded vnto him was dismissed After this by the meanes of Doctor Buttes a great fauourer of good men D. Buttes a fauourer of good men he was among the number of those that laboured in the Kinges Supremacie and went to the Court where after a space hee obteined a Benefice in Wiltshire in a towne called Westkington So he left the Court there kept residence There he also found enemies as in the Vniuersitie that drew articles against him As that he should preach against our Ladie Saintes Auemaries c. His chéefe enemies besides the Priestes of the Countrey were Doctor Powel of Salesburie Doctor Wilson sometime of Cambridge Master Hubberden and Doctor Sherewood By whose meanes he was cited vp to W. Warham Archb. of Canterburie and Iohn Stokeseley B of London an 1531. the xxix of Ianuarie euery wéeke for a space thrise Being called before them in the end he was dismissed on what condition it is vncertain At length through the procurement of D. Buttes Cromwell he was aduaunced by the king to be B. of Worcester Who whē holy bread and holy water should be ministred caused these verses to be pronounced to the people in his dioces Verses of Latimer at the giuing of holy bread and holie water Remember your promise in baptising Christ his mercie and bloudsheading By whose most holy sprinkling Of all your sinnes you haue full pardoning At the geuing of holy bread these verses following Of Christes body this is a token which on the crosse for our sinnes was broken Wherefore of your sinnes you must be forsakers If of Christes death you wil be partakers In his Bishoprick also he suffered much trouble for wel doing but the king greatly fauoured him He continued in his bishoprick til the time of the vi articles At which time of his own accord he resigned it At which time also Shaxtō B. of Salisburie resigned his bishoprick So they kept silēce til the time of K. Edward And comming vp to London for cure of a bruise which he receiued by a fall from a Trée hée was molested and cast into the Tower til the time of king Ed. In whose dayes he was set frée and preached againe with great fruite and edification of the people He being 67. yeres of age preached euery sunday twise for the most part and both winter and summer about ij of the clock in the morning he would be at his booke most diligently He euer affirmed that the preaching of the Gospel would coste him his life and perswaded himselfe that Winchester was kept in the Tower for the same purpose as the Euent did truly prooue For after the death of K. Edward he was sent for by a purseuant of whose comming he had intelligence by Iohn Careles prepared himself before to go with him The purseuant when he had deliuered his letters to him departed affirming that he had commandement not to tarrie for him whereby it should appeare they would haue had him fledde the realme but he cōmeth vp to London passing through Smithfield where merely hée said that Smithfield had long groaned for him Smithfield had long groaned for M. Latimer was brought before the Counsel Of whom he was againe cast into the Tower where he was hardly vsed yet bare it cherefully for when the Lieftenāts man vpon a time came to him the aged father kept without fire in frosty weather welnigh sterued for cold he merily had the man tel his master that if he did not looke the better to him perchance he would deceiue him Which when the Lieftenant heard fearing he should make escape M. Latimer almost sterued for cold in the tower chargeth him with his words Yea M. Lieftenant saith he so I saide for you look I think that I should burne but I am like here to sterue for cold Thus passing a long time in the tower from thence hée was transported to Oxford with Ridley and Cranmer to dispute as hath béene aforesaid He wrote diuers and sundrie letters Among other enemies to Latimer Latimers sundry letters at Oxford there was one Hubberden who riding by a Church side where the youth of the Parishe were daunsing came into the Church and caused the bell to be tolled and there made to the people a Sermon of daunsing A Sermon of piping and daunsing In which Sermon hée made the Doctors of the Church to answere to his call and to sing after his time for the probation of the Sacrament of the Altar against Latimer Frith c and all Heretikes At the last as he had made them sing so after he maketh them daunce also And first he calleth out Christ and his twelue Apostles then the auncient Doctors of the church as in a round ring all to daunce together with pipe vp Hubberdē Now daunce Christ now daunce Peter now Paule c. And in conclusiō such a dauncing kept Hubberdin that the pulpet fell and downe falleth Hubberdine and brake his leg and died not long after The people refused to repaire the pulpet saying it was not for dauncers M. Latimer to the king for restoring of the Scriptures M. Latimer also wrote to king Henry the viij for the restoring of the frée reading of holy Scriptures which was inhibited Anno 1531. and Anno 1546. For the which Letter hée receiued
rather thankes then displeasure of the King and not long after that hee was aduanced to be a Bishop Amongst other memorable acts of Latimer this was one worthy to be remembred that being B. of Worcester whē others gaue newyeeres gifts of golde and siluer c. hee presented the king with a new Testament for a new yéers gift M. Latimers newyeeres gift to the king and a napkin hauing this poesie about it Fonicatores adulteros iudicabit Dominus Anno 1555. In the month of October Ridley Latimer were both brought forth to their finall examination and execution the Commissioners wherof were maister White Bishop of Lincolne maister Brookes Bishop of Glocester with others Vpon the 20. of September was sent downe a commission to Oxforde from Cardinall Poole to the parties aforesaide to procéede against Ridley in iudgement and Latimer except they would recant So the last of September they were cited to appeare before the Lordes in the Diuinitie Schoole at Oxford at viij of the clocke Where first appeared Master Ridley and then Latimer M. Ridley while the Commission was read standing bare before when he heard the Popes holines named Ridley couereth his head at the name of the Pope and the Cardinal put on his cap and being thrise admonished woulde not by putting it off geue signe of reuerence vnto the Pope or his Legate At the last the Bishop of Lincolne commanded one of the Bedles to pluck his cap from his head Master Ridley bowing his head to the officer gentlie permitted him to take away his cappe After that Lincolne perswaded him with a long oration to recant to which Rydley maketh answere confuting the vsurped supremacie of the Pope c. In the ende they obiected articles whereto presently they required answere but they said such as should not be preiudiciall to that he should say to morrow So they tooke his answeres and appointed him againe the next morrow at eight of the clocke willing the Maior he should haue penne yncke and paper c. So dismissing Maister Rydley they sent for maister Latimer To whom after exhortation to recant and other conference they propounded the same articles to him which they propounded to maister Rydley Whereto he answered presently and was assigned to appeare on the morrow againe which maister Latimer was loth to do willing them to make spéed in that they would do So the Maior being charged with him they brake vp for the day their sessiō The next day following which was the first of October maister Rydley appeared againe and because he would not reuerence them his cap was snatched hastely off his head After the articles were read he required to answeare maister Rydley tooke a shéet of paper out of his bosome and began to read that which he had writtē but the B. of Lincolne commaunded the Beadle to take it from him To whom Rydley sayd why my Lord wil you require my answeare and not suffer me to publish it I beséech you c. so maister Rydley Ridley not suffered to make his answere séeing no remedy deliuered it to an officer that immediatly deliuered it to the B. of Lincolne who after he had secretly communicated it to other two Byshops declared the sence but would not reade it saying it contained words of blasphemie Master Rydley on the other syde would make no other answere then was contained in his writinges which being recorded by the register the B. of Glocester fel to perswade master Rydley to recant To whō maister Ridley taking in hand to answere the B. of Glocester interrupted him The B. of Lincolne with his cap in his hand desired him to returne to the vnity of their Church which intrratie when he saw it moued not the constant seruant of God He pocéeded to sentence of condemnation against him which being published M. Ridley was committed to the maior M. Latimer called for who also constantly standing to the defence of the truth Ridley and Latimer condemned receiued sentence of condemnation and was committed to the maior and continued in durance till the 16. day of October Vpon the fiftéenth day of October the B. of Glocester D. Brookes and the Vicechancelour of Oxford D Marshall came to maister Irishes house then maior of Oxford where M. Ridley Ridley refuseth his pardō lay and offered him the Quéenes pardon if hée would recant Which he refusing to do they procéeded to disgrade him would haue had him put on the surplice himself but he would not and while he spake against that Romish apparel as he called it one Edridge the reader of the gréek lecture gaue counsel he should be gagged Nether would M. Ridley hold the chalice in his hands but one was appointed to hold it in his hands His degradation ended D. Brookes called the Bailiffes deliuered to them maister Ridley with charge to kéep him safe from any mans speaking with him and that he should be brought to the place of execution when they were commaunded The night before he suffered his beard was washed and his legges And as he sate at supper the same night at M. Irishes who was his kéeper he bad his hostes and the rest at the boorde to his marriage for to morrow said he I must be married and so shewed himselfe as merrie as at any time before When they arose from the table his brother offered all night to watch with him but said he no no that shall you not for I minde God willing to sléepe as quietly tonight as euer I did in my life When euery thing was readie for their execution in the ditch ouer against Baily Colledge they were brought foorth by the maior and bayliffes Maister Ridley had a faire black gowne furred and faced with Foynes such as he was wont to weare béeing B and a tippet of Veluet furred likewise about his necke a veluet nightcap vpon his head and a corner cappe vpon the same going in a paire of slippers to the stake After him came Maister Latimer in a poore Bristow frize frocke all worne with his buttened cappe The behauiour of Ridley and Latimer at the place of execution and a kerchiefe on his head a new long shrowd hanging ouer his hose downe to the foote which at the first sight stirred mens hearts to rue vpon them Maister Ridley looking backe espied maister Latimer comming after vnto whom he sayd Oh bée you there Yea sayd maister Latimer haue after as fast as I can follow First maister Ridley entering the place marueilous earnestly holding vp both his hands loked towards heauen then shortly after espying maister Latimer with a woonderfull chéerefull looke ranne vnto him and embraced him and kissed him and as they that stoode neere reported comforted him saying be of good heart brother for God will either asswage the furie of the flame or els strengthen vs to abide it With that went hee to the stake kneeled downe by it kyssed it and most effectually prayed
singing and reioycing To whom M. Philpot answered that they sang Psalmes and that hée trusted he would not be offended therewith since S. Paul saith If a man be of an vpright minde Mē of vpright mindes let him sing and we therefore said he to testify that wee are of an vpright mynd to God though we be in miserie do sing So he was had againe to the Colehouse where he had other sixe companions of the same affliction He was examined in all 14. seuerall times the fourth time in the Archdeacons house of London in the moneth of October before the Byshops of London Bath Worcester and Glocester with whom after dispute of the church of Rome and authoritie therof he was againe dismissed The Byshops rose vp and consulted together and caused a writing to be made whertoo they put their handes So he was againe carried to his Colehouse M. Philpot thought then they conspired his death The 5. examination was before the Byshops of London Rochester Couentrie saint Asses with another Doctor Storie Curtop Doctor Sauerson Doctor Pendleton with other Chaplens and gentlemen of the Quéenes Chamber and others in the Gallerie of the B. of Londons pallace Where Boner because he said hee minded on the morrow to sit in iudgement on him exhorted him to play the wise mans part and to conforme himselfe To whom Philpot answered he was glad iudgement was so nigh but refused Boner as not being his ordinarie After much dispute of the Romish church and reuilings of Doctor Storie against Maister Philpot he was had againe to the Colehouse the Byshop of London promising him fauour and that he had in his hands to do him good To whō Philpot answered my Lord the pleasure that I will require of you is to hasten my iudgment and so to dispatch me out of this miserable world vnto my eternall rest To hasten iudgement a pleasure to the Martyr The B. for all his faire promises performed no kinde of curtesie vnto him for a whole fortnight after he had neither fire nor candell nor good lodging The sixt examination was before the Lord Chāberlaine the vicont Hereford the L. Ritch the L.S. Iohns the Lord Windsore the L. Shandoys sir Iohn Brydges lieftenant of the Tower with the B of London and Doctor Chadsey The sixt of Nouember Anno 1555. Before whom he was reasoned with touching the Romish Church and of the Sacrament of the Altar The Lordes temporall being halfe amazed at that which they heard and not giuing M. Philpot an euill word The vij examination was had the xix of Nouember before the B of London and Rochester the Chauncellor of Litchfield and Doctor Chadsey The next morning Boner sent for maister Philpot to come to Masse A sharpe answere to Boners message To whose messenger he answered his stomacke was too weake to digest such raw meates of flesh blood and bone The next day the B. sent againe for him and ministred false articles against him and could bring no witnesse but would haue had his prison fellows sworne against him Which because they refused they were put in the stockes and also M. Philpot with them where they sate from morning till night The Sunday after at night betwixt 8. and 9. the Byshop came to the Colehouse himselfe and caused maister Philpot to be had into another place of imprisonment and there caused him to be searched but the searcher missed of his last examination which he had written yet tooke two Letters from him whiche were of no greate importaunce The viij examination was before the B. of London of Saint Dauis maister Mordant and others in the B. chappel where the B. would haue had him answered onely yea or nay to certaine Articles Which Philpot would not but made his appeale which the Bishop said he would stay in his owne handes So was he had againe to the colehouse The 9. time he was examined of the B. alone with his Chaplains the next day after in the Wardrope Where maister Philpot woulde not heare so much as Articles read against him refusing Boner as béeing not his ordinary At the last they fell to reason of the Sacrament of the altar and the masse the Bishop and diuers of his Chaplaines setting vpon maister Philpot. To whom hée gaue no place nor cause of triumph but sufficiently mainteined the trueth therein So for that time he was dismissed to his prison againe And the next day the tenth time was examined of the B his register and others and charged with the booke of Catechisme made in king Edwards daies and certain conclusions agréed vpon both in Oxford and Cambridge c. But M. Philpot refused him for ordinary would not answere but appealed to him that was in place of the Archbishopricke of Canterbury because he knew not of his imprisonment who was then Archbishop The 11. examination was on S. Andrewes day before the Bish of Duresme of Chichester of Bath of London the Prolocutor maister Christophorson Doctor Chadsey maister Morgan of Oxford maister Hussey of the Arches Doctor Weston Doctor Harpesfield maister Coosins maister Iohnson register to the B. of London these disputed against maister Philpot touching the true Church and of the Sacrament of the Altar and of the antiquity of the religion which maister Philpot professed Of which companie maister Morgan behaued himselfe aboue all the rest most insolently against him who asked maister Philpot howe hée knew that hée had the spirite of GOD scoffingly To whome Philpot aunswered by the faith of Christ which is in mée Ah by faith doe you so sayth Morgan I weene it bee the spirite of the buttery which your fellowes haue had which haue beene burned before you who were drunken the night before they went to their death and I weene went drunke vnto it To whome Maister Philpot aunswered It appeareth by your communication that you are better acquaynted with the spirite of the the butterie M. Philpots zeale against Morgan then with the spirite of God Wherefore I must needes tell thee thou paynted wall and Hypocrite In the name of the liuing GOD whose trueth I haue tolde thee that God shall raigne fire and brimstone vppon suche scorners of his worde and Blasphemers of his trueth as thou art Morgan What you rage nowe Philpot. Thy foolishe blasphemies haue compelled the spirite of God which is in mée to speake that which I haue saide vnto thee thou enemie of all righteousnesse By thine owne wordes doe I iudge thée thou blinde and blasphemous Doctour for as it is written By thy words thou shalt be iustified by thy wordes thou shalt be condemned I haue spoken on Gods behalfe and nowe haue I done with thée Morgan Why then I tell thée Philpot thou art an heretike and shalt bée burned for thine heresie and afterwarde goe to hell fire Philpot I tell thee thou hypocrite I passe not this for thy fire and fagot neyther I thanke GOD my Lorde stande in feare of the same my
of his imprisonment to haue beene his Letter written vnto Master Goodman Doctor Chadsey being sent for reported that in the presence of Master Moseley and the Lieftenant of the Tower he should speake against the Reall presence and Sacrifice of the masse that their Church was Antichristian This Master Greene confessed that he had sayde So after some talke with other Master Welche desired of the Bishoppe that hée might haue licence geuen him to talke with him aparte and then with flattering behauiour and faire wordes he laboured to peruert him and reasoned with him touching the marks of the church Wherein Master Greene shewed himselfe able sufficientlye to answere that which he did obiect Afterwarde he had priuate conference with Boner in his bedchamber who also laboured him all he might but the spirite of God was of more power and M. Greene notwithstanding continued constant in his holy profession In the ende the B. perceiuing himselfe not able to alter his constant minde the xxviij of Nouember he examined him vpon certayne poyntes of Christian Religion and and out of his answeres drew articles whereto Maister Greene set to his hand The fiftéenth day of Ianuary in his Consistorie at Paules accompanyed with Fecknam and other of his Chapleins after he had condemned the other sixe hée called for maister Greene M. Greene condemned and asked him if hée would recant Which when he denyed the Byshop procéeded in sentence and condemned him and committed him to the Shiriffes of London to bee carried to Newgate where he continued in prayer and godly meditation till the 28. of Ianuary At which time he with the rest were carried to the place of execution Whither going by the way as also at the stake M. Greene at the stake he vttered often times Latine verses Christe Deus sine te spes est mihi nulla salutis Te duce vera sequor te duce falsa nego He confessed himselfe to to one Maister Cotton of the temple his friend that he had béene scourged with roddes of Boner but else for modestye sake kept it secrete Hee was of nature most milde and gentle Hée wrote diuerse Letters and exhortations Thomas Browne borne in the parish of Byston within the dioces of Ely came afterward to London Tho Browne where hee dwelled in the parish of S. Brides in Fléetstréete a maried man of the age of 37. Who because he came not to his parish Church was presented to Boner by the Constable When Boner laboured to perswade him and séeing himself not able to preuayle by the worde to ouerthrowe him procéedeth to his cruell Sentence and so committeth him to the Secular power So hee abode the cruel fire amongest the rest The same daye also was Iohn Tudson Iohn Tudson borne in Ipswich condemned Who being complayned of to sir Roger Chomley and Doctor Storie was sent to Boner And after much perswasion to recant according to his māner he pronounced sentence against him Iohn Went borne in Langham in Essex Iohn Went. within the dioces of London of the age of 27. yeares examined by Doctor Story vpon the sacrament of the popish Masse because they disagréed with him in the reall presence was sent to Boner and of him condemned for the profession of the truth With the fiue aboue recited were condemned two women Isabell Foster Isabell Foster a wife and the other a maide called Ioan Warne alias Lashford Isabell was married to one Iohn Foster Cutler of the parrish of saint Brides in Fléetstréet being of the age of 55. yeares She was sent to Boner for not comming to the church and constantly mainteining the truth of her profession was of him condemned Ioan Lashforde Ioan Lashford borne in the parrish of litle Alhallowes in Thames stréete was the daughter of one Robert Lashford Cutler and of Elizabeth who afterward was married to Iohn Warne Vpholster who was persecuted for the Gospel of God to the burning fire and after him his wife and after her this Ioan Lashford their daughter after she had remained prisoner in the Counter 5. weekes and certaine moneths in Newgate After these 7. aboue rehearsed shortly after in the same moneth the 31. of Ianuary 4. women and one man were burned at Canterbury at one fire Their names were Iohn Lomas a yong man Anne Albright Ioan Catmer Agnes Snoth widow Ioan Sole wife Lomas was condemned the xviij of Ianuary Snoth the xxxi Albright alias Chamixes the xviij Sole the xxxi and at the same time Ioane Catmer all fiue at one fire Fiue martirs sing a psalme in the flaming fire Who when the fire was flaming about their eares sang Psalmes At the sight whereof sir I. Norton Knight wept bitterly The Iudges and the other Assistantes which sate vpon them were Richarde Faucet Iohn Warren Iohn Milles Robert Collins and Iohn Baker the Mayor The Historie of Thomas Cranmer Archyshop of Canterburie burned for the truth Anno 1556. THomas Cranmer Thomas Crāmer Archb. of Canterburie was first of Iesus Colledge in Cambridge a Master of Arts and fellow of the Colledge afterward he marryed and gaue ouer his fellowship and became reader in Buckingham Colledge Whiles he was reader in that Colledge his wife dyed he was receiued againe to be fellow of Iesus Colledge where he grew in knowledge in such sort that he became Doctor of Diuinitie and was appointed one of the heads to examine such as yearly were to commence Bachelers or Doctors of Diuinitie Who neuer would admit any to procéede in Diuinitie vnlesse they were substancially séene in the story of the Bible whereby diuerse Fryers and other religious persons were reiected of him He was greatly sollicited by Doctor Capon to be one of the fellowes in the foundation of Cardinall Wolseys Colledge in Oxford but could not be drawen thereunto Whiles he continued in Cambridge the matter of the kinges diuorce with the Lady Catherin was in question now two or thrée yeares among the Canonistes who could not resolue vpon the matter Now by reason the plague was in Cambridge Doctor Cranmer remoued to Waltham crosse with two of his pupills to M. Cresseys house where Doctor Steuens secretarie and Doctor Foxe Almosiner finding him conferred with him about that matter of the kinges diuorce Hée gaue them counsaile rather to cause it to be discussed among the Diuines M. Cranmers aduice touching the disputation for the K. diuorce whether by the worde of God a man may marrie his brothers wife or not for the satisfying of the Kinges conscience and that done to referre it to iudgement how lawfull the diuorce might bée c. This discourse they declared vnto the king who caused Cranmer immediatly to be sent for Cranmer sent for to the king and after talke with him concerning the matter he appointed him to be chiefe doer in the dispute and conference and commaunded him to set downe his minde fully in the case and willed the Earle of Wiltshire
nothing said vnto them till Doctor Heath was chosen Chauncellour to whom foure of these prisoners made their supplication requiring fauour and deliuerance Vpon the receipt hereof Syr Richard Reade knight one of the officers of the Court of Chauncery was sent the sixtéeen of Ianuary vnto the marshalsea to examine those foure Richard Spurge Thomas Spurge George Ambrose Iohn Cauell The effect of which was that they were complayned vpon for not comming to the Church by the parson of Barking vnto the L. Rich which they confessed to be true and declared what moued them to absent themselues About the iiij day of March next after Robert Drakes Parson of Thundersley in Essex was also examined In Quéene Maries dayes there were two sermons preached in Master Tirrels Wooddes the one named Plumborowe-woodde and the other Bechers-wood and an hundred at once were at the Sermons The Sermons were preached by Master Timmes Deacon and Curate of Hocley in Essex This preaching the saide Master Tirrell tooke for a hainous matter charged one Gye which was his heardman that frequented Sermons and the societie of the godly to fetch M. Timmes vnto him Who made excuse and saide he could not finde him Then stepped foorth another of his men one Richard Shierife that with the Constable went and fetcht him to M. Tirrel Who had talke with him alone thrée houres together and ended his talke with Master Timmes A short answer of master Timmes in a heate calling him traytorly knaue Why said Timmes in king Edwards daies you did affirme the trueth as I doe now Affirme quoth Tirrel Nay by Gods bodie I neuer thought it with my heart Wel saide Tim. then I pray you M. Tirrel beare with me for I haue béene a traytor but a while but you haue béene a traytor vj. yeares After this he was sent to the B. of London and from him to the B. of Winchester and so to the kings Bench. When he came to the Bishop of London there was with him the B. of Bangor before whom he behaued him selfe in such sorte as the Constables that brought him reported that they neuer heard the like In the Kings bench he was mightely strengthned by the good men which he found there with the other fiue The xxi of March hee was brought to publike examination First in the Bishops Pallace at London where hée enquired of him touching the Sacrament of the Altar Whereunto he answered contrarie to the Popish doctrine and was reasoned with of the B. Chaplens with no great authoritie of scriptures or fathers The xxiij day of the same moneth next after the Bishop sent againe for Timmes and Drakes and ex officio obiected articles And on the xxvi day of the same moneth he ministred also the same Articles to the other foure To which Popish articles they answered negatiuely And in conclusion the xxviij of March they were all brought particularly to the Consistorie before the Bishoppe of London to bée condemned for heresie Where when he required Timmes and the rest to recant he replyed vnto him that he himselfe had written against the vsurped power of the Bishoppe of Rome hauing prefixed his Preface to Winchesters booke De vera obedientia After much debate partly of Bishop Boner and partly of one Doctor Cooke Doctor Pendleton to peruerte the constant Professour of Iesus Christ when they could not preuaile against him they condemned him as an Heretike to be burned And procéeded against the other v godly men fellow Prisoners with M. Timmes who all together the xiiij of Aprill suffered for witnessing to the trueth About this time or somewhat before came down certain Commissioners assigned by the Quéene and Counsell into Norfolke and Suffolke Commissioners into Norfolk and Suff. to enquire of matters of Religion Vnto which Commissioners there was a Supplication put vp by some well disposed men in those quarters praying them to haue pitie and compassion praying God to moue the Queenes heart according to the examples of Darius Assuerus Traianus Theodosius c. to call back those commandementes and Commissions which had passed against the Saints of God The first day of April this present yere Iohn Harpoole Iohn Harpool of the Parish of Saint Nicholas in Rochester and Ioane Beates Ioan Beats widowe were condemned by Maurice the Bishop of Rochester and suffered death by fire in the same Towne for the testimonie of Iesus Christ against the Sacrifice of the Popish Altar Next after these ensued the death of Master Iohn Hullier Iohn Hullier Conduct in the kings Colledge at Cambridge who suffered vnder Doctor Thurlebie bishop of Elie and his Chancellour for the sincere setting forth of Gods Gospell the second of April Not long after the death of Robert Drakes and William Timmes and the other Essex martirs vi other blessed martirs suffered al at one fire in the towne of Colchester whose names were these Christopher Lister Sixe martirs at one fire in Colchester Chr. Lyster of Dagneham husbandman Iohn Mace Iohn Mace of Colchester Apothecary Iohn Spēser Iohn Spenser of Colechester weauer Iohn Hammon Iohn Hammō of Colchester Tanner Symō Iaine Symon Iayne sawier Richard Nicholas Richard Nicholas of Colchester weauer With these 6. was also ioyned another named Roger Grasbrooke but he submitted himselfe Of these that B. made a quicke dispatch for soone after they were deliuered to one Iohn Kingstone bacheler of the ciuill Law and then commissary to the B. by the Earle of Oxf. other commissioners and by him sent vp to his Lord and M. The B. caused them to be brought vnto his house at Fulham where in the open church were ministred vnto them articles touching the Romish church the masse transubstantiation and other the Popes trumperie To which when they answered according to the veritie of the Gospell they were of him condemned and sent to Colchester where the 28. of April most chéerefully they suffered to the great encouragement of others for the testimonie of Iesus The sixtéenth day of Maye Hugh Lauerock Hugh Lauore of 68 yeeres of the parish of Barking painter of the age of sixtie eight a lame creeple and Iohn Ap Price Iohn ap Price a blinde man were burned at Stratford Bow for the constant profession of the Gospell against the superstition of Antechrist being condemned by Boner At their death Hugh Lauerocke Lauerock comforteth his felow after he was chained casting away his crooch and comforting Iohn Ap Price his felow Martir said vnto him Be of good comfort brother for my Lord of London is a good Phisition he will heale vs both shortly Thée of thy blindnes and me of my lamenes And so patiently they suffered together The next day after the martirdome of these two there suffered in the fire in Smithfield iiij womē Katherin Hut of Barking widow Ioane Hornes of Bellerica maide Elizabeth Thackuis of great Burstead maide Margaret Ellis of Billerica maide