others because they fauored not the true religion and agayn the good hap and prosperitie of the Queenes highnes because shee fauored the true religion thereby gathering the one to be good and of God and the other to be wicked and of the deuill said that the Duke of Northumberland confessed so playnely ¶ George Marsh to the Reader FOr asmuch as not onely when I was at Latham but also since I departed thence I heare that there be diuers and sondry reportes and opinions of the cause of mine imprisonment as wel at Latham as at Lācaster as by credible persons I am informed some saying it was onely because I would not do open penance and some because I could not agree with my Lord and his councell concerning the sacrament of Christes body and bloud and the maner of Christes presence there some because I woulde not graunt it sufficient and according to Christes institution the lay people to receaue the sayd sacrament vnder the one kinde onely I thought it good dearely beloued in Christe and my bounden duetie to certifie you by mine owne hand writing of mine examination and handling at Latham and to tell you the trueth as neare as I could to quyet your minde in this behalfe and therfore I haue here written with myne owne hand the certaynty of those thinges as neare as I could here aboue expressed not omitting any thing at al concerning Religion wherof they did examine me howbeit I perceiue in some thinges I keepe not the same order in writing that thing which was asked by them and answered by me afore or after as it was in very deed in al points sauing this telling the truth as neare as I can desiring you to accept in good worth this my good will and to pray for me and all them that be in bondes that God would assist vs with hys holy spirite that wee may with boldnes confesse his holye name and that Christ may be magnified in our bodyes that wee may stand full and perfect in all the will of God to whome be all honor and glory world without end Amen And thus you haue heard all the whole trouble which George Marsh susteyned both at Lathum also at Lancaster testified and written with hys owne hand wherto he addeth moreouer and sayth While I was sayth he in Ward at Lathum diuers at sundry times came vnto me Some sayd vnto me that all my fellowes had recanted and were gone home where as in deede that was not so for I saw diuers of them dyuers times after Other sayd that it was reported amongest my Lordes houshold that I had consented and agreed in all things with my Lord and his counsell Furthermore while I was at Lancaster at this Sessiō time many came to me to talke with me some of good will towardes me but without knowledge gaue mee such like counsel as Peter gaue Christ as he went vp to Ierusalem when he tooke hym aside and began to rebuke him Peters counsell to Christ to saue himselfe saying maister fauour thy selfe this thing shall not be vnto thee But I answered with Christes sharpe answere vnto Peter agayne who turned about and sayd vnto Peter come after me Sathan and perceiuing that they were an hinderaunce vnto mee and that they fauoured not the thinges which are of God but the thinges that are of men I made them playne answere that I neither could ne would follow their counsell but that by Gods grace I woulde both liue and dye with a pure conscience and according as hetherto I had beleeued and professed For wee ought in no wise to flatter and beare with them G. Marsh followeth Christe◠aunswere to Peter though they loue vs neuer so well which go about to pluck vs away from the obedience that wee owe vnto God and to hys worde but after Christes example sharpely to rebuke them for theyr counsell Some others yea euen straungers also came to mee far vnlike to these who after sober communication hadde consented with mee in all thinges lamenting muche my troublous estate geuing me comfortable wordes some money to and resorted to me often tymes for the space of two three or foure dayes There came also many Priestes to me by 2.3.4.5 or 6. at once Priestes not alwayes the greatest Clarkes whose mouthes it was a thing easy enough to stopp for the Priests which is much to be lamēted be not alwayes greatest clarkes best learned in y e lawe of God At theyr departing they eyther consented w t me or els had nothing to say agaynst me saying they could finde no fault with my wordes My communication with them was about the Sacrament There came also into y e prison to me mayster Westby Mayster Ashton of Hyll M. Ashton of Chatertō many moe both gentlemen and others to my great comfort Unto whom I had good occasion to vtter a great parte of my conscience for God so strengthen me with his spirite of boldnes according to my humble request and prayer before euerlastyng thankes be geuen him therfore that I was nothing afraid to speake to any that came to me no not euen to Iudges G. Marsh strengthened in prison with the boldnes of Gods spirite themselues before whome I was thrise arraygned at the barre amongest the theeues wyth yrons on my feete and put vp my hād as other did but yet with boldnes I spake vnto them so long as they would suffer me They also sent for me the fourth tyme into their chamber where amongest other thinges they layd it straitly to my charge y t I had reported that I knewe an whole messe of good gentlemen in Lancashyre of myne opinion and straightly charged me vppon payne of allegiaunce to the Queenes grace to shew who they were But I denyed that I had spoken any suche thinge as it was in deede a false forged lye of some wicked wretches After that they threatned and rebuked me for my preaching to the people out of the prison as they called it and for my praying and reading so loud that the people in the streets might heare Warbarton fellow prisoner with Marsh. The truth is I and my prison fellow Warbarton euerye day kneeling on our knees did read morning and euening prayer with the english Letany euery day twise both before noone and after with other praiers moe also read euery day certain chapters of the Bible cōmonly towards night and we read all these thinges with so high loude a voyce G. Marsh reproued for his loud praying reading in prisō y t the people without in the streetes might heare vs and would often times namely in y e eueninges come and sit down in our sightes vnder the windowes heare vs read wherwith others being offended complayned All this while George Marshe was not yet brought before the bishop whose name was Doctour Cotes placed the same time in the Bishopricke of Chester Of whose comming then vnto
in the litle children also which feruently called vpō God threw stones at their enemies and gaue courage also vnto the men So did also the wemen and the vulgare sort that is to say God geueth victorye by the handes of a fewe those which were meete for no feates of warre remaining vppon the mountaine and beholding these furious combates kneeling vpon the ground and hauing their faces lifted vp towards heauen with teares and gronings they cried Lord helpe vs. Who heard their praiers After that these three assaults were geuen there came one vnto them crying Be of good courage God hath sent those of Angrongne to succour vs hee meant that they of Angrongne were fighting for them in an other place that is to say towardes Tailleret where the thirde parte of the army was The people perceiuing y t they of Angrongne were come to that place to succour them began to cry blessed be God who hathe sent vs succour they of Angrongne be here they of Angrongne be here to succour vs. The enemies 〈◊〉 The ennemies hearing thys were astonished and sodenly blew a retreit and retired into the plaine That troupe whith was gone towards Tailleret deuided themselues into three companies The first marched by the side of the mountaine burning many houses The Angronians helpe their fellowes ioyned with the maine armie The seconde companie whyche was of seuen score marched hygher thinking to take the people at vnwares But they were by seuen men strongly resisted and driuen backe The third company attained the toppe of the mountain thinking to enclose the people but as God woulde they of Angrongne which came to succor them encountred with them wyth great force put them to flight They of Uillars of whom mention is made before after they had refreshed them selues with a little breade and wine for the most part of them had eaten nothing all that day chased their enemies til it was almost night so fiersly that the maister of the campe was faine to send to the Lord of Trinitie whiche was at Toure for succoure or else all would haue bene lost Which he did and immediately hee roade with all speede to Luserne to saue him selfe hearing the alarme which was geuen at S. Iohn by those of Angrongne fearing least the way should haue ben stopped The armye retired with great difficultie notwithstanding the newe aide whiche was sent them and wyth great losse of their men The persecutors put to flight One of their captaines confessed since that if they had bene pursued any further they had fledde all that night longe Since that time they neuer returned againe into the valley of Luserne On Monday being the 17. day of Marche next folowing the Lorde of Trinitie to be reuenged of those of the medow of Tour assembled al the force that he could make with the Gentlemen of the Countrey In so muche that whereas before his army was commonly but foure thousand it was nowe betweene sixe and seuen thousande and secretly in the night season he encamped with parte of hys army in the middest of Angrongne from whence the poore inhabitants were fled before The next morning after the Sermon and praiers were ended they perceiued the other parte of the army to be encamped at the foote of the mountaine of Angrongne on the East side Sone after they perceiued how both partes of the army coasted the hilles side the one towards the other being such a multitude so glittering in their harnesse marching in such araye that the pore people at the first were astonished therat Notwythstanding the assemble fell downe vpon their knees 3. or 4. times crying Help vs O Lord beseching him to haue regarde to the glory of his holy name The Angroniās fall to prayer to staye the effusion of bloud if it were his good pleasure to turne the hearts of their enemies to the trueth of his holy Gospell These two partes of the army ioyned together nere to the bulwarks of the medow of Toure gaue the assault in three seuerall places One of the bands mounted secretly by the rockes thinking to haue enclosed the people in their Bulwarkes But assoone as they which kept the bulwarke be lowe had espied them they forsooke their place and marched straight towardes them as they marched they met with the aide which was sent vnto them from the vally of Luserne very luckily and comming as it were from heauen whych ioyning together sone discomfited their enemies w t stones and harquebushes They pursued them fiersly in y e rockes and vexed them woonderfully because the rockes are so steepe that no man can ascende or descende without great paine and difficultie The Captaine of this band was named Bastian of Uergil a man very expert in the affaires of warre The proud threates of Amman Hee at his going out of his lodging threatned y t he would do great terrible things that day His hostesse hearing that said vnto him Monsieur if our religiō be better then theirs you shall haue the victorie but if theyrs be better then ours you shall not preuaile Shortly after the captaine was brought againe into his Inne so wounded and so feeble that he was not like to liue Then sayde hys hostesse vnto him Monsieur it is nowe wel seene that their religion is better then oures There was also an other bande that kept the top of the hill to assault the bulwarkes from thence The middlemost bulwarke was then assaulted in the which were very fewe to defend the same the which seeing the number of their enemies retired backe leauing therein but 5. onely to defend it There was a huge cocke not farre from the foresayd bulwarke behinde the same a great number of the enemies were hid And anone there issued out two ensigns assuring them selues to winne the bulwarke but immediately one of their ensigne bearers was wounded to death Whereupon many reculed backe The other set vp his ensigne vpon the bulwarke They which were wythin had neither halbard nor any other long weapon but only one Pike The Bulwarke manfully defended and the same without an yron the which one of the 5. tooke and threw downe the ensigne and manfully beate backe the sealers and threwe them downe to the grounde Diuers of the enemies were entred into the bulwarke by a doore belowe and slue one of the fiue which kept y e middle parte of the bulwarke The other foure looked to be destroyed out of hande Then one of the foure chased awaye those which had entred belowe with stones and the other three leauing their handguns defended themselues likewise with great stones and perceiuing the bande whych was on the rockes to flee they tooke courage and w tstoode their enemies valiantly til their companions were returned from the chase In the meane time the Bulwarke which was vppon the side of the mountaine was furiously assailed by the one halfe of the armie Those that were within
the which Martin Luther first to stand against the Pope was a great miracle to preuaile against the Pope a greater so to die vntouched may seme greatest of all especially hauing so many enemies as he had Againe neither is it any thing lesse miraculous to consider what manifold dangers he escaped besides as when a certeine Iewe was appointed to come to destroy him by poison yet was it so the will of God that Luther had warning thereof before and the face of the Iewe sent to him by picture whereby he knew him and auoided the perill Another time as he was sitting in a certaine place vpon his stoole M. Luther miraculously preserued a great stone there was in the vault ouer hys head where he did sit which being stayd miraculously so long as he was sitting as soone as he was vp immediatly fell vpon the place where he sate able to haue crushed him all in peeces if it had light vpon him And what should I speake of his praiers which were so ardent vnto Christ that as Melancthon writeth they which stoode vnder his windowe where he stood prayeng might see his teares falling and dropping downe Againe with such power he prayed that he as himselfe confesseth had obteined of the Lord that so long as he liued the Pope should not preuaile in his countrey after his death sayd he let them pray who could M. Luther vehemeÌ„t mighty in prayer And as touching the maruelous workes of the Lorde wrought heere by men if it be true which is credibly reported by the learned what miracle can be more miraculous then that whiche is declared of a yong man aboute Wittenberge who being kept bare and needy by his father was tempted by way of sorcery to bargaine with the Diuell or a familiare as they call him to yeeld hymselfe body and soule into the Diuels power A miraculous worke of the Lorde in deliuering a young man out of the deuils daunger by Christian prayer vpon condition to haue his wish satisfied with money So that vpon the same an obligation was made by the yong man written with his owne bloud and geuen to the Diuell This case you see how horrible it was and how damnable now heare what followed Upon the sodeine wealth and alteration of this yong man the matter first being noted began afterward more more to be suspected and at length after long and great admiration was brought vnto Martin Luther to be examined The yong man whether for shame or feare long denied to confesse and woulde bee knowne of nothing Yet God so wrought being stronger then the Diuell that he vttered vnto Luther the whole substance of the case as well touching the money as the obligation Luther vnderstanding the matter and pitiing the lamentable state of the man willed the whole congregation to pray and he himselfe ceased not with hys praiers to labour so that the Diuell was compelled at the last to throw in his obligation at the window and bade him take it againe vnto him Which narration if it be so true as certeinely it is of him reported I see not the contrary but that this may well seeme comparable wyth the greatest miracle in Christes Church that was since the Apostles time Furthermore as he was mighty in his prayers so in his Sermons God gaue him such a grace that when hee preached they which heard him thought euery one hys owne temptations seuerally to be noted and touched Whereof when signification was geuen vnto him by hys frends and he demaunded how that could be mine owne manifold temptations said he and experiences are the cause thereof Ex Phill Melanct in orat funebri Ex Hierony Wellero For this thou must vnderstand good reader that Luther from his tender yeares was much beaten and exercised with spirituall conflicts as Melancthon in describing of his life doth testifie Also Hieronymus Wellerus scholer and disciple of the sayd Martin Luther recordeth that he oftentimes heard Luther his maister thus reporte of himselfe that he had bene assaulted and vexed with all kindes of temptations sauing onely one Luther â—â—â—uer in all his life tempted with coueteousneâ—s M. Luther how long he liued â— taught which was with couetousnes With this vice he was neuer said he in all his life troubled nor once tempted And hetherto concerning the life of Martin Luther who liued to the yeare of his age 63. He continued writing and preachyng about 29. yeares As touching the order of his death the words of Melancthon be these In the yeare of our Lord 1546. and the 17. of February Doctour Martin Luther sickened a little before supper of his accustomed maladie to wyt of the oppression of humours in the orifice or opening of his stomacke whereof I remember I haue seene him oft diseasid in this place The sickneâ— of Luther This sickenes tooke him after supper with the which he vehemently contending required secesse into a bye chamber and there he rested on his bed two houres all whych time his paynes encreased And as Doctor Ionas was lieng in his chamber Luther awaked and praied him to rise and to call vp Ambrose his childrens scholemaister to make fire in another chamber Into the which when he was newly entred Albert Earle of Mansfield The quiet death of Luther with hys wife and diuers other whose names in these letters for haste were not expressed at that instant came into hys chamber Finally feeling his fatall houre to approche before nine of the clocke in y e morning the xviij of February he coÌ„mended himselfe to God with this deuour praier ¶ The Prayer of Luther at his death MY heauenly father eternall and mercifull God thou hast manifested vnto me thy deare sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ. The prayer of Luther 〈◊〉 his death I haue taught him I haue knowne him I loue him as my life my health and my redemption whome the wicked haue persecuted maligned and with iniurie afflicted Draw my soule to thee After this he sayd as ensueth thryse I commend my spirit into thy hands thou hast redeemed me O God of truth GOD so loued the world that he gaue his only sonne that all those that beleeue in him shoulde haue life euerlasting Iohn iij Hauing repeated oftentimes his prayers he was called to God vnto whome so faithfully he commended his spirit to enioy no doubt the blessed societie of the Patriarks Prophets and Apostles in the kingdome of God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Let vs now loue the memory of this man and the doctrine that he hath taught Let vs learne to be modest and meeke Let vs consider the wretched calamities and marueilous chaunges that shall follow this mishap and dolefull chance I beseech thee O sonne of God crucified for vs and resuscitated Emanuell gouerne coÌ„serue and defend thy Church Haec Melancthon Fridericus Prince Electour died long before Luther in the yeare of our Lord 1525. leauing no issue
Gospell not w tout great fruit and effect in places as he went As he was thus labouring it so fell out that he was apprehended againe Faninus againe imprisoned an 1547. in a place called Bagnacauallo where also he was condemned to be burned but he said his houre was not yet come and the same to be but the beginning of his doctrine and so it was for shortly after he was remoued vnto Ferraria where he was deteined ij yeares At last y e Inquisitours of the popes heresies condemned hym to death an 1549. and yet his tyme beyng not come he remayned after that to the moneth of September an 1550. In the meane time many faythfull and good men came to visite him for the which the pope commanded him to be inclosed in straiter custody wherin he suffered great tormentes y e space of 18. monthes and yet had suffered greater if the Dominick Friers might haue got him into their house as they went about Thus Faninus remoued from prison to prisoÌ„ many times chaunged his place but neuer altered hys constancy At length he was brought into a prison where were diuers great Lordes Captaynes and noble personages there committed for stirring vp commotions and factions as the country of Italy is ful of such who at first hearing him speake beganne to set him at light and to deride him supposing that it was but a melancholy humor that trobled his brain wherupon such as seemed more sage amongst them began to exhort him to leaue hys opinion to lyue with men as other men do and not to vexe his mind but to suspend hys iudgement till the matter were decided in a generall Councell To whome Faninus agayne first geuing them thankes for their friendly good willes wherwith they seemed to respecte hys well doyng modestly and quietly declared vnto theÌ„ how the doctrine which he professed was no humore nor opinion of mans brayne but the pure veritie of God founded in hys worde and reuealed to men in the Gospell of Iesus Christ and especially nowe in these dayes restored whiche veritie he had fully determined in his minde neuer to renye to beleeue the lying phantasies of men And as in his soule The modest answere of Faninus to his felow prisoners whiche was redeemed by the bloud of the sonne of God hee was free from all bondage so likewise as touchyng Counsels he looked for no other sentence nor authority he sayd but that onely whiche hee knewe to be declared to vs by Christ Iesus in hys Gospel whiche both he preached wyth hys word and confirmed with hys bloud c. With these and such other words he so moued theyr myndes that they were cleane altered vnto a new kynde of lyfe hauing hym nowe in admiration whom they had before in derision and recounted hym for an holye person To whome hee proceeded still to preach the word of grace declaring and confessing hymselfe to be a miserable sinner but by the fayth of the Lorde Iesus through the grace onely of hym he was fully perswaded and well assured hys sinnes to be forgeuen like as al theyr sinnes also shal be remitted to theÌ„ through their fayth onely in Christ beleuing hys Gospell There were other also besides these who hauing vsed before a more delicate kinde of lyfe coulde not well away w t the sharpenes and hardnes of y e prison These also receaued such comfort by the sayde Faninus that not onely they were quietly contented Prisoners conuerted by Faninus but also reioysed in this theyr captiuitie by the occasion wherof they had receaued and learned a better libertie then euer they knew before When the prisonment of thys Faninus was knowne to hys parentes and kinsfolke hys wyfe sister came to hym with weeping perswasions to moue hym to consider and care for hys poore family To whom he aunswered agayn that hys Lord and mayster had coÌ„manded him not to deny hym for lookyng to his family and that it was enough for them that he had once for theyr sakes fallen into y e cowardlines whiche they knew Wherefore he desired them to depart in peace and sollicite hym no more therein for hys end he sayd he knew to drawe neare and so he commended them vnto the Lord. About the same tyme dyed Pope Paulus the 3. and after hym succeeded Iulius the 3. whiche then sent letters and commaundement Pope Iulius the thiâ—d that Faninus shuld be executed Wherof wheÌ„ one of y e magistrates officers brought hym word the next day he reioysed therat and gaue the messenger thankes and began to preache a long sermon to them that were aboute hym of the felicitie and beatitude of the life to come Then the messeÌ„ger exhorted hym y t in case he would change hys opinion he should saue both thys lyfe enioy that to come An other asked hym in what case he should leaue his little children and hys wyfe or what stay should they be at he so leauing theÌ„ wherfore he desired hym to haue respect both to hymselfe and to them Faninus aunswered y t he had left them with an ouerseer which woulde see vnto them sufficiently And being asked who he was the Lorde Iesus Christ sayd he a faythfull keeper and a conseruer of all y t is committed to hym Christ preferred before wife and children After that the messenger was thus departed from Faninus all full of teares and sorrow the next daye following he was remoued into the common prison and deliuered to the secular magistrate Who in all his wayes hys wordes hys gestures and countenaunce declared such constancy of faith such modesty of manners and tranquillitie of mynde that they which before were extreme agaynst hym thinking hym rather to haue a deuill began nowe fauourably to harken to hym and to commend hym With such grace and sweetenes he calâ—ed euer speaking of the worde of God that diuers of the Magistrates wyues in hearyng him could not abstayne from weeping The executioner also wept himself One of the publicke Scribes then came to hym and sayd that if he woulde relent from his opinion the Popes pleasure was that he should be saued but that he refused This was marueilous Life refused that he hauing but small skill in the Latine yet recited so many and sondry places of the Scripture without booke and that so truely and promptly as though he had studyed nothing els One seyng him so iocound and mery goyng to hys death asked why he was so mery at his death seing Christ himselfe sweat bloud and water before his passion Christ sayd he sustayned in hys body How Christ feared death himselfe yet hath he taken away the feare of death from others all y e sorowes and conflictes with hell and death due vnto vs by whose suffering we are deliuered from sorrowe and feare of them all Finally early in the morning hee was brought forth where he should suffer Who after his prayers moste earnestlye made vnto the
retired sodenly After that the Lorde of Trinitie sent 2. Gentlemen of the Ualley of Luserne to them of Angrongne to fele them if they would come to any agreement To whom answere was made y t they would stand to their first answer From that time he sent very often to entreate of the agreement but what his meaning was it myght well appeare For when the pore people hoped for some agrement Note the practise of Papistes they were most furiously assaulted Upon this there was a day assigned in the valley of Luserne to confer touching the agreement w t certaine men pertaining to the Lord of Raconis and the safe conduct was promised and graunted The night afore the ministers rulers of Angrongne should take their iourny they perceiued a company of soldioures going vp a hill Behoulde how this traiterous Trynitye whiles he pretendeth an agreement goeth about to destroy these poore men by the which they of Angrongne should passe hid them in houses on the wayes side thinking to take at vnwares them of Angrongne which were sent to treat of the agrement But they hauing intelligence of this conspiracy watched and warded It was an easie matter as diuers thought that night to haue taken the L. of Trinity and haue spoiled his whole campe But they of Angrongne and Luserne woulde not execute thys enterprise Dauid spareth king Saule least thereby they shoulde offende God and passe the boundes of their vocation taking vpon them no more but to defend themselues At that time a pitifull case happened in the Medowe of Tour. The Lorde of Raconis seeming to be sorie for thys warre sent into y e medow of Tour an honest man of Briqueras named Fraunces of Billes to take aduise what meanes were best to further the agreement Who hauing consulted with the ministers and rulers returned homeward that day according to his maisters commandement and hauing sent backe one whiche conducted hym was murdered soone after at the foote of Angrongne by two of Angrongne which otherwise seemed to be honest and of good parentage Soone after one of the two which had cōmitted this facte entred into the Medowe of Toure and was immediately apprehended and boūd He confessed the fact without any further delay Immediately the other also was taken The Waldoys were maruelously troubled agreeued with this fact and wrote to y e Lorde of Raconis declaring vnto him the whole circumstance of the facte and that they had the offenders in warde and that if it would please him to send certaine to examine the matter they for theyr part wold so execute iustice in y e punishment of them that theyr innocency to all men shuld appeare The lord of Raconis wrote vnto them y t they should deliuer vnto hym y e offenders and that he would do such iustice vppon them as the cause required To the which they of Angrongne aunswered that vpon three conditions they shoulde be deliuered according to his request First that the prisoners should be compelled to do nothing against their consciences The iust dealing of the Angrongnians and as touching religion nothing shuld be spokē vnto them but out of the word of God Secondly that speedy and sharpe iustice should be executed vpon them and y t heereafter this should be no preiudice to y e liberties and priuiledges of the people of Angrongne The third that the execution of thē should be vpon the borders of Angrongne for an example to all other This being accorded with one assent yea w tout contradiction of their parents they sent them prisonners accompanied with 60. gunners to the cōfines of Luserne and there deliuered them into the hands of the Lord of Raconis This redounded to the great commendation of them of Angrongne After this the lord of Trinitie hauing left certaine garrisons about Angrongne and the valley of Luserne went to Perouse nere to the valley of S. Martine to succour the garrison there being in great danger and there remained a moneth During which time they of Angrongne and of the valley of Luserne liued in more quietnesse then afore but yet they were so afflicted by reason of the scarcitie of vitailes which sore pressed them and namely those of the medowe of Toure for they were spoyled of theyr vitailes Scarsenes of vitaile among the Angrōgnians Gods mercy toward his people This poore people liued with milke and with herbes hauing very litle breade But afterwardes when they were euen like to be famished God of his goodnesse sent them better succour both of corne breade then they had before The enemies thought to haue taken the medow of Toure by famine for they toke away the vitailes that were to be had in all places round about Euery houshold was suffered to haue no more then should sustein them that day and that also was very litle to the ende that they shuld not succour this poore people After that the Lorde of Trinitie being returned from Perouse to Luserne Note how thys bloudy wretch protending agreement peace and quietnes immedyatly seeketh the destruction of this poore people The people of Tailleret cruelly murdered of the Spanyardes The trumpetts of the Waldoys sent certaine to entreate of an agreement and required to common with some of the people Then they began to consulte and deuise by al meanes how they might come to some good agreement But one Monday being the 17. day of Aprill by breake of day he sent certaine bandes of Spaniardes which he had there with the Garrison of Toure to the mountaine of Tailleret by the way which leadeth to the medow of Tour on the South-side They murdered men wemen and children of Tailleret whome they founde in their beddes Then they marched on along vpon the mountaine towardes the medow of Tour. Anone after the people perceiued 2. other companies of souldiours marching by Angrongne by 2. seuerall wayes to assault the Medow of Toure In the morning assoone as they rose they blewe their hornes for they sawe the Spaniards already entred When they had made theyr prayers euery man ranne to meete the enemyes some on the East side and the other on the Southe They whyche firste resisted the Spaniardes who were already paste the bulwarkes were in the beginning but 12. Gunners and a few other whom they caused to go vp to the hil and rolle downe great stones These 12. hauing founde a fitte place for their purpose to stay the Spanyardes began to shoote of their harquebushes at them The Spanyardes seeing themselues so sore assailed both aboue and beneathe The Spanyardes beaten backe the place so narrow and so straight reculed backe and retyred as fast as they coulde by the same way by the whiche they came If they had taried a little longer they had ben enclosed betweene the two mountaines whyche place was so strait that they coulde not haue escaped The people chased them vnto their campe which was at Toure God
Smithfield and so Pointz said to him howbeit sayd he what so euer the crime was if his Lordship or any other noble manne had wrytten requiring to haue had them he thought they should not haue bene denied Well sayde he I haue no leisure to wryte for the Princesse is ready to ride Then sayde Pointz if it shall please your Lordship I will attēd vpon you vnto y e next baiting place which was at Mastright If you so doe sayde the Lorde I will aduise my self by the way what to write So Pointz folowed him from Akon to Mastright the which are 15. English miles asonder there he receiued letters of him Letters frō the Lord o◠Barrow to the Lord Cromwell concerning M. Tindall one to the coūsel there an other to the company of the marchants aduēturers an other also to the Lord Cromwell in Englād So Pointz roade from thence to Bruxels and then and there deliuered to the counsail the letters out of England wyth the Lord of Barrowes letters also and receiued eftsoones answer into England of the same by letters which he brought to Antwerpe to the English marchantes who required him to goe with them into England and he very desirous to haue M. Tindal out of prisone Poyntz sent with letters frō Bruxels to England lette not for to take paines with losse of time in his owne busines and occupying but diligently followed with y e said letters which he there deliuered to the counsell and was commanded by them to tary vntil he had other letters of the which he was not dispatched thēce in a month after At length the letters being deliuered him he returned againe deliuered them to the Emperors counsell at Bruxels and there taryed for answere of the same When the sayd Pointz had taried 3. or 4. dayes it was tolde him of one that belonged to the Chauncerie that M. Tindall shoulde haue bene deliuered to him accordinge to the tenour of the letters But Phillippes being there followed the suite against maister Tindall and hearing that hee should be deliuered to Pointz The suite of Philips agaynst M. and doubting leaste hee shuld be put from his purpose he knew none other remedy but to accuse Pointz saying that hee was a dweller in the towne of Antwerpe and there had bene a succourer of Tindal and was one of the same opinion and that all this was onely his owne labour and sute to haue M. Tindall at libertie and no mans els Thus vppon hys information and accusation Tindall Poyntz attached by Philips Pointz was attached by the Procurour generall the Emperours Attorny and deliuered to the keping of two Sergeants of armes and the same euening was sent to hym one of the Chancery with the Procuror generall who ministred vnto hym an othe that he should truely make answere to all suche things as shoulde be inquired of hym thinking they would haue had no other examinations of hym but of hys Message Pointz examined The next day likewise they came againe and had him in examination and so fiue or sixe daies one after an other vppon not so fewe as an hundreth Articles as well of the kings affaires as of the message concerning Tindal of his aiders and of his religion Out of the which examinations the Procurer general drew 23. or 24. articles and declared the same against the said Pointz the copy wherof he deliuered to him to make answer therunto and permitted him to haue an Aduocate and Proctour that is a doctour and Proctor in the lawe and order was taken that 8. dayes after he should deliuer vnto them his aunswer and from 8. daies to 8. daies to procede til the processe were ended Also that he should send no Messenger to Antwerpe where as hys house was beyng 24. Engiishe miles from Bruxels where he was prisonner nor to any other place but by the poste of the towne of Bruxels nor to sende any letters nor any to be deliuered to him but writtē in dutch and the Procurour generall who was party against him to reade them to peruse to examine them thorowly contrary to all right and equitie before they were sent or deliuered Neither might any be suffred to speake or talke w t Pointz in any other tongue or lāguage except only in the Dutch tongue so that his keepers who were Dutchmen might vnderstand what the contents of the letters or talk should be sauing that at one certaine time the Prouinciall of the white friers came to dinner where Pointz was prisoner and brought with him a yong Nouice being an englishman whom the Prouinciall after dinner of his owne accord did bid to talke with the sayde Pointz and so wyth him he was licenced to talk The purpose and great pollicy therin was easie to be perceiued Betwene Pointz the Nouice was much prety talke as of sir Tho. More Talke betweene Poyntz and a Nouice and of y e bishop of Rochester and of their putting to death whose death he seemed greatly to lament especially dyeng in such a quarell worthy as he said to be accounted for Martirs with other noble doctrine and deepe learning in diuinitie meete to feede swine withall Such blindnes then in those dayes raigned amongst them After this Pointz deliuered vp his aunswer to the Procurour generall and then after at the dayes appointed went foorth with replication duplicke with other aunswers eche to other in writing what they could Poyntz troubled for M. Tindall As the Commissioners came to Pointz Philips the traytour accompanied them to the dore in following the processe against him as he also did against M. Tindall for so they that had Pointz in keeping shewed hym Thus Pointz for Maister Tyndall was sore troubled and long kept in prison but at length when he saw no other remedie by night he made his escape and auoyded their hands But good Tyndall could not escape their handes but remayned in prison still who being brought vnto his aunswere was offered to haue an aduocate and a proctor for in any criminall cause there it shall be permitted to haue counsaile to make aunswere in the lawe But he refused to haue any such sayeng that he would aunswere for himselfe and so he did At last after muche reasoning when no reason woulde serue although he deserued no death The condēnatiō of M. Tindall The Martirdom of W. Tindall he was condemned by vertue of the Emperours decree made in the assemble at Ausbrough as is before signified and vpon the same brought forth to the place of execution Anno 1536 was there tied to y e stake and then strangled first by the hangman and afterward with fire consumed in the morning at the towne of Filford an 1536. crieng thus at the stake with a feruente zeale and a loud voyce Lord open the King of Englands eyes The prayer of M. Tindall· ¶ The Martyrdome and burning of mayster William Tyndall in Flaunders by Filford Castle
the one nor the other And as for tumult none could reasonably be feared of any thing spoken agreable to the kings maiesties lawes as there did folow none nor the people or any man did offer my person any wrong or make tumult against me not withstanding players iesters rimers ballademakers did signify me to be of the true catholike faith Winchesâ—â—â— agaynst Players 〈◊〉 bâ—llademâ—â—kers which I according to my dutie declared to the kings maiesty from whoÌ„ I may hide no truth that I thinke expedient for hym to know And as the name of God cannot be vsed of any creture agaynst God no more can the kings name beyng vsed of any subiect against his highnes Wherfore seyng the abuse of this holy sacrament hath in it a danger assured by scripture of body soule whosoeuer is perswaded in y e catholike faith as I am findeth himself so burdened to vtter that vnto his maiesty as no worldly losse caÌ„ let him to do his duty in that behalfe and much lesse my Lordes priuate letters written without other of the counsails hands The 11. Article Item that after the premisses viz. in the month of May or Iune or one of them in the 3. yeare of his hyghnes raigne 11. 〈◊〉 his maiestye sent eftsoones vnto you to know your conformitie towards hys sayd reformations and specially touchyng the booke of common prayer then lately set foorth by hys maiestie whereunto you at the same tyme refused to shew your selfe conformable Winchester To the xi article for answer and declaration thereof he sayd The next day at after noone after he had preached Answeâ—â— the 11. 〈◊〉 when he looked for no such matter came to his house the right worshipfull Sir Anthony Wingfield and Sir Rafe Sadler knights accompanied wyth a great nomber of the gard and vsed themselues for their part according to theyr worships and I doubt not as they were appoynted Sir Rafe Sadler begaÌ„ thus w t me My L. said he ye preached yesterday obedience but ye did not obey your selfe went forth w t his message very soberly as he can and discretely I asked him wherein I obeied not He sayde touching my L. of Somersets letter Maister Sadler quoth I I pray you say to my Lords grace I would he neuer made mention of that letter for the loue I beare him And yet quoth I I haue not broken that letter I was mineded quoth I to haue wrytten to my L. vpon the receipt of it and loe quoth I ye may see how I begaÌ„ and shewed him because we were then in my study the beginning of my letter and reasoned with him for declaration of my selfe and told him therwith I wil not spend quoth I many wordes w t you for I caÌ„ not alter this determination And yet in good faith quoth I my maner to you and this declaration may haue this effecte that I be gently handled in the prisone and for that purpose I pray you make sute on my behalfe Wynchester 〈◊〉 Wynchester committed 〈◊〉 the tower Maister Wingfield laide his hand on my shoulder and arested me in y e kings name for disobedience I asked them whether I shoulde They sayde to the Tower Finally I desired them that I might be spoken wyth shortly heard what I could say for my selfe and praied them to be suters in it and so they saide they would After y t I was once in the tower vntill it was within 6. dayes of one whole yere I could heare no maner word message comfort or relief sauing once when I was sicke and me thought some extremity towardes me my Chaplaine had licence to come to me for one time then denied againe being aunswered that my feuer was but a tertian which my said Chaplaine tolde me when he came to me at the Easter followinge and there beinge wyth me from the morning till night on Easter day departed and for no suâ—e could neuer haue him since To M. Lieftenant I made diuers sutes to prouoke the duke of Somersets grace to hear me And if I might haue the liberty of an English man I would plainly declare I had neither offended law statute acte proclamation nor his own letter neither but al wold not help I shal report me to M. LieftenaÌ„t whether in al this time I maligned grudged or vsed any vnsemely wordes euer demanding iustice to be heard according to iustice When I had bene thus in the tower one whole yeare within 6. daies or 7. as I remember The Lord Chauncellour and Secretary Peter commeth to Wynchester in the tower came to the Tower the Lord Chancellor of England now being the L. Treasurer and master Secretarye Peter who calling me vnto them as I remember entred this They sayde they hadde brought with them a booke passed by the parlament which they would I should looke on and say my minde to it and vpon my conformitie in it my Lord of Somerset would be suter to the kings maiestie for mercy to be ministred to me Wherunto I answered that I trusted if I might be heard the kings Maiesties iustice would releue me which I had longsued for and could not be heard And to sue for mercy quoth I when I haue not in my conscience offended and also to sue out of thys place Wynchester denyeth to sue for mercy wher asking of mercy emploieth a further suspition then I woulde be for all the worlde touched in it were not expedient And therefore quoth I not guiltie is and hath bene allowed a good plee for a prisoner Then my Lord sayd why quoth he were ye not commaunded to preache of the kings authoritie in his younge age yet did not I told him I was not commaunded Is not quoth he that Article in the papers yee had deliuered you I assured him no. And after communication of the kings Maiesties authority wherein was no disagrement Take betweene the Lord ChauÌ„cellour and Wynchester in the tower then my lord Chancellor said I had disobeied my Lordes graces letter I told him I thought not and if the matter came to iudgement it should appeare And then I sayd to him my Lord howe many open iniunctions vnder Seale and in open Courte haue bene broken in this Realme the punishment wherof hath not ben handled after this sort yet I would stande in defence y t I had not broken his letter waying the words of the letter wherein I reasoned with M. Peter Secretarie what a controuersie was and some part what I could say further But what so euer I canne saye quoth I you must iudge it and for the passion of God do it and then let me sue for mercy when the nature of the offence is known if I will haue it Wynchester will acknowledge no offence But when I am quoth I declared an offender I will with humilitie of suffering make amendes to the kings Maiestie so farre as I am able for I shoulde neuer
others to be brought before the honourable Earle of Darby to be examined in matters of Religion c. I knowing by this relatioÌ„ of diuers of my frends was diuersly affected my mother and other my frendes aduertising me to flee and to auoid the perill which thing I had intended afore after a weeke then nexte ensuing if thys in the meane while had not chaunced seeing that if I were takeÌ„ and would not recant in matters of religion as they thought I would not and as God strengthening and assisting me with his holy spirit I neuer wyll it woulde not onely haue put theÌ„ to great sorow heauines losses with costes and charges to theyr shame rebuke in this world but also mine owne selfe after troubles and paynfull prisonment vnto shamefull death This considered G. Marsâ— in a peâ—plexitye whether flye or to tarry they aduised me couÌ„selled me to depart flie y e couÌ„try as I had entended to haue done if this had not happened To whose couÌ„sel my weak flesh would gladly haue coÌ„sented but my spirit did not fully agree thinking and saying thus to my selfe that if I fled so away it would be thought reported and sayd that I did not onely flie the countrey and my nearest and dearest frendes but much rather from Christes holy worde according as these yeares past I had with my hart or at least with mine ouâ—ward liuing professed and with my mouth word taught according to the small talent geuen me of the Lord. I being thus with theyr aduise couÌ„sell and the cogitations counselles of mine owne minde drawne as it were diuers wayes went trom my mothers house saying I woulde come agayne at euening In the meane time I ceased not by earnest prayer to aske and seeke counsell of God who is the geuer of al good gyftes and of other my frendes whose godly iudgemeÌ„tes and knowledge I much trusted vnto After this I mette with one of my sayd frends on Deane Moore about sunne goyng downe and after we had consulted together of my busines not without harty prayer kneeling on our knees we departed I not fully determinyng what to doe but taking my leaue with my frende sayde I doubted not but God according as our prayer and trust was would geue me such wisedome and counsell as should be most to hys honor and glory the profite of my neighbors and brethren in the worlde and obâ—eining of mine eternall saluation by Christ in heauen This done I returned to my mothers house agayne where had bene diuers of M. Bartons seruantes seekyng after me who when they could not finde me G. Marsh consulted with 〈◊〉 straitly charged my brother and William Marsh to seek me that night and to bring me to Smethehilles the next day who beyng so charged were gone to seeke me in Adderton or elswhere I know not Thus intending afore to haue bene all night with my mother but theÌ„ coÌ„sidering that my tarying there would disquiet her with her householde I departed from thence 〈◊〉 â—â—ethren â—â—arged to 〈◊〉 him â—he marueâ—â—â—â— prouiâ—ence of 〈…〉 and went beyond Deane Church and there taried all night with an old frend of mine taking ill rest and consulting much with my selfe of my trouble So at my first awaking one came to me from a faythfull frend of mine with letters which I neuer read nor yet looked on who sayd this My frendes aduise was that I should in no wise flie but abide boldly confesse the fayth of Iesus Christ. At whose wordes I was so confirmed established in my conscience that from thenceforth I consulted no more whether was better to flie or to tarye but was at a poynt with my selfe that I woulde not flye but go to maister Barton who did seeke for me and there present my selfe and paciently beare suche crosse as it shoulde please God to lay vpon my shoulders WherupoÌ„ my mind and conscience afore being much vnquieted and troubled was now mery and in quiet estate So betimes in the morning I arose and after I had sayd the English Letany as my custome was with other prayers kneeling on my knees by my frendes beddeside I prepared my selfe to goe towarde Smethehilles and as I was going thitherward I went into the houses of Harry Widdowes G. Marsh 〈◊〉 his leaue of his 〈◊〉 of my mother in law of Rafe Yeton and of the wife of Thomas Richardsonne desiring them to pray for me and haue me commended to all my frendes and to comfort my mother and be good to my litle children for as I supposed they should not see my face any more before y e last day so tooke my leaue of theÌ„ not without teares shed on both parties G. Marsh of his owne voluntary minde offereth himself to his enemies and came to Smethehilles about 9. of the clocke presented my selfe afore M. Barton who shewed me a letter from the Earle of Darby wherin he was commaunded to send me with others to Lathum Wherupon he charged my brother and William Marsh to bring and deliuer me the next day by x. of the clocke before the sayd Earle or his Counsell I made earnest sute with other speciall frendes which I had there at the same time to M. Barton that he woulde take some one of them or them all bound by recognisaunce or otherwise for mine appearing before the sayd Earle or his sayd Counsell that my brother William Marsh might be at home because it was the chiefest time of seding their ploughes could not go if they wer not at home but nothing could be obteined G. Marsh taketh his leaue of his mother So we went to my mothers and there I dyned shifted part of my clothes and so praying took my leaue of my mother the wife of Richard Marsh and both theyr householdes they and I both weping so departed from them and went toward Lathum and were al night a mile and a halfe on this side Lathum So the next daye whiche was Wednesday we arose prayd came to Lathum betimes and taryed there till foure of the clocke at afternoone TheÌ„ was I called by Roger Mckinson to come to my Lord and his counsell so I was brought into the chamber of presence where was present Syr William Nores Syr Pierce Alee G. Marsh brought before the Earle of Darby Mayster Shereburne the Parson of Grapenhall mayster More with others Where when I had taryed a litle while my Lord turned him toward me and asked what was my name I aunswered Marsh. Then he asked whether I was one of those that sowed euill seed and dissention amongest the people Which thing I denied desiring to know mine accusers and what could be layd agaynst me G. Marsh examined before the Earle of Darby but that I could not know Then sayd he he would with his counsell examine me themselues asked me whether I was a priest I sayd no. Then he asked me what
promise to returne agayne that night to go into London without any keeper to visite one that was sicke lying by the Stilyard Neither did he fayle his promise but returned vnto his prison againe rather preuenting his houre then breaking his fidelitie so constant was he in word in deede Of personage he was somewhat tall and slēder spare of body of a faint sanguine colour w t an Awburne beard He slept not commonly aboue foure houres in the night in his bedde till sleep came his booke went not out of his hand His chief recreation was in no gaming or other pastime but onely in honest company comely talke wherin he would spend a little time after dinner at the bourde and so to prayer and his booke agayne He counted that houre not well spent wherin he did not some good Bradford visited the theeues pickpurses c. either with his pen study or in exhorting of others c. He was no niggard of his purse but would liberally participate y t he had to hys fellowe prisoners And commonly once a weeke he visited the theeues pickpurses and such others that were with him in the prison where he lay on the other side vnto whō he would geue godly exhortation to learne the amendment of their liues by their troubles and after that so done distribute among them some portion of money to theyr comfort By the way this I thought not to conceale While he was in the kinges Bench The meeting conference betwene Laurence Saunders and Iohn Bradford and Mayster Saunders in the Marshalsey both prisoners on the backside of those two prisons they mette many times and conferred together when they would so mercifully did the Lorde worke for them euen in the middest of theyr troubles and the sayde Bradford was so trusted with his keeper Bradford refusing to escape out of prison though be mighte and had such libertie in the backeside that there was no day but that he might haue easily escaped away if he would but that the Lord had an other worke to doe for him In the sommer tyme while he was in the sayd Kinges Benche he had libertie of his keeper to ryde into Oxfordshyre to a Marchauntes house of his acquayntaunce and horse and all thinges prepared for him for that iourney and the partie in a readines that should ride with him but God preuented him by sicknes that he went not at all One of his old friends and acquaintaunce came vnto him whilest he was prisoner and asked hym if he sited to get hym out what then he would do or whether he would go Unto whom he made answer as not caring whether he went out or no but if he did he said hee would marry Bradford would not flye out of England though he mighte and abyde still in England secretly teaching the people as the tyme would suffer him and occupy himselfe that way He was had in so great reuerence and admiration wyth all good men that a multitude which neuer knew him but by fame greatly lamented his death yea Bradford beleued and a number also of the Papistes themselues wished hartily hys lyfe There were fewe dayes in which he was thought not to spend some tears before he went to bed Bradfordes teares neyther was there euer any prisoner with hym but by his company he greatly profited as all they will yet witnes and haue confessed of hym no lesse to the glory of God whose societie he frequented as among many one speciall thyng I thought to note which is this Bishop Farrer beyng in the kynges Bench prisoner as before you haue hard was trauailed withall of the Papists in the end of Lent to receiue the sacrament at Easter in one kind who after much perswading yelded to them Byshop Farrat confirmed in the truth by Iohn Bradford and promised so to do Then so it happened by gods prouidence the Easter euen the day before hee should haue done it was Bradford brought to the Kings Benche prisoner where the Lord making him his instrument Bradford only was the meane that the said B. Farrer reuoked his promise and word and would neuer after yeeld to bee spotted with that papisticall pitch so effectually the Lord wrought by this worthy seruaunt of his Such an instrument was he in gods church that few or none there were that knew him but estemed him as a precious iewell and Gods true messenger Bradford dreameth of his burning according as it came to passe The night before he was had to Newgate which was the saterday night he was sore troubled diuers tymes in his sleepe by dreams how the chaine for his burning was brought to the Counter gate and how the next day beyng Sonday he should be had to Newgate and on the Monday after burned in Smithfield as in deed it came to passe accordingly which hereafter shal be shewed Now he beyng vexed so often tymes in this sort with these dreames about 3. of the clocke in the morning hee waked hym that lay with hym and told him his vnquiet sleepe what he was troubled withall Then after a little talke Maister Bradford rose out of the bed and gaue hymselfe to his olde exercise of readyng and prayer as alwayes he had vsed before and at dinner according to his accustomed maner he did eat his meat and was very mery no body being with hym from mornyng till night but he that lay with hym with whom he had many tymes on that day communication of death of the kingdome of heauen and of the ripenes of sinne in that tyme. In the after noone they two walking together in the keepers chamber sodainly the keepers wife came vp as one halfe amazed Bradford hath word of his burning seeming much troubled beyng almost wyndles said Oh M. Bradford I come to bring you heauy newes What is that said he Marry quoth she to morow you must be burned your chaine is now a buying soone you must go to Newgate With that M. Bradford put of his cap and lifting vp his eyes to heauen sayd I thanke God for it I haue looked for the same a long time and therfore it commeth not now to me sodainly but as a thing waited for euery day and houre the Lord make me worthy therof so thanking her for her gentlenes departed vp into his chamber and called his friend with hym who when he came thither he went secretly himselfe alone a long tyme and prayed Which done he came agayne to him that was in his chamber and tooke him diuers writings and papers shewed him his mind in those things what he would haue done and after they had spent the after noone till night in many and sundry such things at last came to him halfe a dosen of his friends more with whom all the euening he spent the tyme in prayer and other good exercises so wonderfully that it was meruailous to heare and see his doyngs A
religion set vp amongest vs agayne but come away come away as the Angell crieth from amongst them in their idolatrous seruice Apoca. 18. lest you be partakers of their iniquitie Harken to your preachers as the Thessalonians did to Paule that is conferre their sayings with the scriptures if they sound not thereafter the morning light shall not shyne vpon them Esay 8. Vse much and hearty prayer for the spirite of wisedome knowledge humblenes meekenes sobrietie and repentaunce which we haue great need of because our sinnes haue thus prouoked the Lordes anger against vs but let vs beare his anger and acknowledge our faultes with bitter teares and sorowfull sighes and doubtles he will be mercifull to vs after his wonted mercy The which thyng he vouchsafe to do for his holy names sake in Christ Iesu our Lord to whome with the father and the holy ghost be all honour glory prayse and euerlastyng thankes from this tyme forth for euermore Amen Out of prison by yours in the Lord to commaund Iohn Bradford ¶ A letter to M. George Eaton ALmighty God our heauenly Father recompence aboundantly into your bosome my dearely beloued here and eternally A letter aâ— M. Bradford to M. George Eaton the good which froÌ„ him by you I haue continually receiued sithen my comming into prison Otherwyse can I neuer be able to requite your louing kindnesse here then by praying for you and after this lyfe by witnessing your fayth declared to me by your fruits wheÌ„ we shall come and appeare together before the throne of our Sauiour Iesus Christ whether I thanke God I am euen now a goyng euer looking when officers wyll come satisfie the precept of the Prelates wherof though I can not complayne because I haue iustly deserued an hundreth thousand deaths at gods hands by reason of my sinnes yet I may and must reioyce because the Prâ—lates do not persecute in me myne iniquities but Christ Iesus his veritie so that they persecute not me they hate not me but they persecute Christ they hate Christ. And because they can do hym no hurt for he sitteth in heauen The Prelates persecute and hate the Martirs not for their iniquities but for hatred of Christ of his veritye in them and laugheth them and their deuises to scorne as one day they shall feele therfore they turne their rage vpoÌ„ his poore sheepe as Herode their father did vpon the infants Math. 2. Great cause therefore haue I to reioyce that my dere Sauiour Christ wil vouchsafe amongst many to chuse me to be a vessel of grace to suffer in me which haue deserued so often iustly to suffer for my sinnes that I might be most assured I shall be a vessell of honour in whom he will be glorified Therfore my right deare brother in the Lord reioice with me geue thankes for me and cease not to pray that God for his mercies sake would make perfect the good he hath begun in me And as for the doctrine which I haue professed and preached I do confesse vnto you in writing as to the whole world I shortly shall by gods grace in suffering Iohn Bradford geueth testimony of his doctrine that it is the very true doctrine of Iesus Christ of his Church of his Prophets Apostles and all good men so that if an Angell should come from heauen and preach otherwise the same were accursed Therefore wauer not deare hart in the Lord but be confirmed in it and as your vocation requireth wheÌ„ God so will confesse it though it be perillous so to do The end shall euidently shew an other maner of pleasure for so doyng then tong can tell Bee diligent in prayer and watch therein Use reuerent readyng of Gods worde Set the shortnesse of this tyme before your eyes and let not the eternitie that is to come depart out of your memory Practise in doing that you learne by reading and hearing Decline from euill and pursue good Remember them that be in bondes especially for the Lordes cause as members of your body and fellow heires of grace Forget not the afflictions of Syon and the oppression of Ierusalem and God our Father shall geue you hys continuall blessyng thorough Christ our Lorde who guide vs as hys deare children for euer Amen And thus I take my Vale and farewell with you deare brother for euer in this present lyfe till wee shall meete in eternall blisse whether our good God and Father bryng vs shortly Amen God blesse all your babes for euer Amen Out of pryson this viij of February Your afflicted brother for the Lordes cause Iohn Bradford ¶ An other Letter to Maistresse Anne Warcuppe ALmighty God our heauenly father for his Christes sake encrease in vs fayth An 〈◊〉 letter Mistreâ— Anne 〈◊〉 by which we may more more see what glory and honour is reposed and safely kept in heauen for all theÌ„ that beleeue with the hart and confesse Christ his truth wyth the mouth Amen My dearely beloued I remember that once heretofore I wrote vnto you a Vale or a farewell vpon coniecture but now I write my farewel to you in this lyfe in deed vpon certaine knowledge My staffe standeth at the dore I continually looke for the shiriffe to come for me and I thanke God I am ready for him Now goe I to practise that which I haue preached Now am I climing vp the hill it wil cause me to puffe and blow before I come to the cliffe The hill is steepe and high my breath is short and my strength is feeble pray therfore to the Lord for me that as I haue now thorough his goodnes euen almost come to the toppe I may by his grace be strengthened not to rest till I come where I should bee Oh louing Lord put out thy hand and drawe me vnto thee for no man commeth but he whoÌ„ the father draweth See my derely beloued Gods louing mercy he knoweth my short breath great weakenes As he sent for Helias in a firy chariot so sendeth he for me for by fire my drosse must be purified that I may bee fine gold in his sight Oh vnthankfull wretch that I am Lord do thou forgeue me myne vnthankfulnes In deed I confesse right deare to me in the Lord that my sinnes haue deserued hell fire much more then this fire But loe so louyng is my Lord God 〈◊〉 the â—â—â—serued 〈◊〉 death of his to a gloâ—â—â—ous testiâ—â—â—niall of his truth that he conuerteth the remedy for my sins the punishment for my transgressions into a testimoniall of his truth and a testification of his veritie which the Prelates do persecute in me not my sinnes therfore they persecute not me but Christ in me which I doubt not will take my part vnto the very end Amen Oh that I had so open an hart as could so receiue as I should do this great benefite and vnspeakeable dignitie which God my father offreth to me Now
you for your geÌ„tle letters And to satisfy your mynd as coÌ„cernyng the troubles wherof you haue heard these shal both declare vnto you all my vexations that haue chaunced me since ye were with me and also since I receiued your last letters God keepe you euer Your sonne Iohn Bland FIrst the 3. of Sept. beyng Sonday after seruice ended Declaration of the troubles of M. Bland 〈◊〉 and by who he was apprehended brought to his condemnation Iohn AusteÌ„ persecutor Iohn AusteÌ„ offended with the Communion table Note the vncharitable spirit of this Papist and so commonly of them all M. Isaac â— good Iustice The Comâ—munion tâ—â—â—ble set vp â—â—gayne ere I had put of my surplice Iohn Austen came to the table commonly called the Lords table layed both hys hands vpon it saying Who set this here againe Nowe they say they tooke y e table downe the sonday before which I knew not neither do I know who set it vp again The Clerke answered that he knew not Then Austen said he is a knaue that set it here I was then goyng downe the church maruellyng what he ment and said Good maÌ„ Austen the Queenes highnes hath set forth a proclamation that ye may mooue no sedition And ere I could speake any more he said thou art a knaue And I said well goodman Austen that I haue said I haue said By gods soule quoth he thou art a very knaue Then my clarke spake to hym but what I am not sure But he said ye are both heretike knaues haue deceiued vs with this fashion too long if he say any seruice here againe I wil lay the table on hys face in that rage he with other tooke vp the table layd it on a chest in the Chancel set the trestles by it Wherefore I rode by by to M. Isaac shewed him the cause both how sediciously he had spoken performed it with a like deed M. Isaac directed a warrant to the Constable or Bosholder which was incontineÌ„tly serued so that he was brought before him the same night was bound by recognisance with sureties to appeare if he were called But we agreed so well then that it was neuer called for the table was brought downe and I was permitted as before The 26. of Nouember being sonday Rich. Austen and his brother Thomas came to the foresaid Table after the communion was done as I was goyng by them Richard said vnto me M. parson we haue to speake to you And I said what is your wil And he said you know that you tooke down the tabernacle or seeling wherin the roode did hang such other things we would know what recompence you will make vs. For the Queens procedings are as you know that such must vp againe Quoth I I know no such proceedinges as yet as for all that I did I did it by commandement No said Tho. Austen ye wil not know the Queenes proceedings Yes said I I refuse not to know them Then said Rich. ye are against the Queenes proceedings for you say Thomas Austen and Richcard Auâ—â—eÌ„ pickâ— matter agaynst M. Bland that there are abominable vses diuelishnes in the masse Goodman Austen said I if I so said I wil say it again and God willing stand to the proofe of it Maisters all quoth Rich. Austen beare record of these words and went his way Quoth Tho. Austen M Bland charged foâ— speaâ—ing agaynst the Masse thou wilt as soone eat this booke as stand to them No quoth I not so soone Tell vs quoth he what that diuelishnes is that is in the masse I haue often preached it vnto you said I ye haue not beleued it nor borne it away nor wil now neither though I should tell you Thou quoth he hast told vs alwayes like an heretike as thou art Now ye lie goodmaÌ„ Austen quoth I by your leaue Mary quoth he thou liest And I sayd and you lye for I haue taught you Christ and his truth Quoth he thou art an heretike and hast taught vs nothing but heresie for thou canst say nothing that is true Yes goodmaÌ„ AusteÌ„ I caÌ„ say that God is in heaueÌ„ ye wil say I trow y t it is true so haue I taught you truly Quoth he thou hast taught vs like an hereticke hast sayd that there is no deuill in hell Well sayd I lie on me think ye can say litle truth Many other tauntes he gaue too long to write And at the last he sayd ye pulled downe the aultar will ye build it again No quoth I except I be commaunded for I was commaunded to do that I did Well if you will not sayde he then will I. For I am Churchwarden I charge you sayd I that you do not except you haue authority I will sayd he not let for your charge For wee will haue a masse here on sonday and a preacher that shall proue thee an hereticke if thou dare abide his comming Yes quoth I God willing I will abide heare him for sure I am that he can not disproue any doctrine that I haue preached Yes quoth he and that thou shalt heare if thou run not away ere then No good man Austen I will not run away Mary quoth he I cannot tell thou art as like yea as nay with many other words we came out of the Church dore and so departed When the sonday came I looked for our preacher at the time of morning prayer I sayd to the clerke why do ye not ring ye forget that we shal haue a sermon to day No quoth he M. Mils seruant hath bene here this morning sayd his mayster hath letters froÌ„ my L. Chancelor that he must go to LoÌ„doÌ„ caÌ„ not come That day I did preach to theÌ„ a sermoÌ„ in his stead Now haue they slaundered me that I had prepared a coÌ„pany from diuers places to haue troubled him 〈◊〉 slaunâ—er agaynst â— Bland but they agreed not in theyr lye For some sayd I had them at Adesham that Richard Austen had knowledge sent for the kings Constable to see the peace kept which is found a lye Other sayd I had theÌ„ lying in wayt for him betwene Canterbury Adesham other sayd I had theÌ„ in both places y t if the one mist the other should not God forgeue them all Now vpon these two matters they crake that they sent two bils of complaynt to y e counsell Wherfore by the counsell of frendes I made this testimony and sent it vp by mayster Wiseman ¶ The behauiour of Iohn Bland Parson of Adesham in the County of Kent the sonday the 3. day of December last past conteyning the wordes which he there spake vnto the people M. Bland Parson of Adeâ—ham â—eaâ—eth â—imâ—eâ—fe of the slaunâ—er WHereas vpon certaine coÌ„munication had betwene y e sayd parson Rich. Austen Tho. AusteÌ„ in the preseÌ„ce of al y t parish of