that they should in no wise pray for them no more then they would for a Dog whereat Frith smiling desired the Lord to forgiue him and so departed About this time High Latimer was inhiâ—ited by the Bishop of London to preach in his Dioces and yet after he preached in the Precinâ—t of the Fryers Augustines of London The Lady Anne of Bullen although she was not yet married to King Henry yet she was in great fauour and daily she inclined the Kings mind more more against the Papists so that the same yeare the King and certaine of his Lords came into the Parliament house and he complained of the Cleargy that they were but halfe his Subiects yea and scarse our Subiects for their oath to the Pope at their consecration is cleane contrary to that which they make to vs and he deliuâ—râ—d to the Parliament the coppies of both their oaths These Oaths being thus receiued and â—pened to the people were the occasion that the Pope lost al his iurisdiction in England shortly after The matter falling out more and more against the Pope Sir Thomas Moore a great maintainer of the Pope was driuen to resigne his Chancelorship â— deliuer vp the great seale into the Kings hands After whom succéeded Sir Thomas Audley kéeper of the great seale a great fauorer of Christs Religion Lady ANNE of Bullen WIthin short time after the King married the Lady Anne Bullen Mother to Quéene Elizabeth who was the secret ayder and comforter of al the Professors of the Gospell and her almes shewed her life was accordingly which was a hundred gownes wéekly and other apparell yearely before she was married both to men women she also gaue much priuate almes to the widdowes and poore hoâ—sholders continually vntill she was apprehended And she euer gaue thrée or foure pounds at a time to them to buy them Kine and sent her Sub-almner about to the Townes where she lay that the Parisheners should make a bâ—ll of all the poore housholders in thâ—ir parish and some parishes receiued 7. 8. or 10. pounds to buy Kine withall Also she maintained many lâ—arned men in Cambridge so did the Earle of Wiltshirâ— her Father and the Lord Roch her Brothâ—r and she brought them in fauour with â—ing Henry She caried alwaies about her a little purse out of which she was wont daily to scatter abroad some almes to the needy thinking no day well spent wherein none had fared the better for her She kept her Maids and such as were about her imployed in making shirts and smocks for the poore but the Lady Dowager beeing deuorced made the Pope to curse the King and interdict the realme In the meane time Queene Anne beinâ— great with child in the next yeare following was crowned with high solemnity at Westminster and not long after brought to â—ed at Greenewich of the faire Lady Elizabeth The Lord Maior of London and his Brethren with forty cheefe Cittizens were commanded to be present with all the Nobles and Gentlemen The Kings Palace and all the wals to the Fryers were hanged with Arras â—â—d the Friers Church The Font war of Siluer and stood in the midst of the Church thrée steps high which was couered with fine linnen and diuers Gentlemen with aprones and towels about their necks gaue attendance about it Ouer the Font hung a faire Canopy of Crimson Sattin fringed with Gold The holy Maid of Kent CErtaine Monkes put into the heads of many of the Kings Subiects that they had Râ—uelation of God and his Saints that he was highly displeased with king Henry for the diuorcement of the Lady Katherine and surmised that God had reuealed vnto a Nun called Elizabeth Barton whom they called the Holy Maid of Kent that if the King did diuorce her he should not be King of this Realme one month after and not one day nor houre in Gods fauour She would shew marueilous alteration of her visage and body as if she had béene wrapt in a trance and inspired of God She spoke against sinne and reprooued the Gospell which she called heresies and spoke diuers things to the reproach of the King and Quéene and to the establishing of Idolatry Pilgrimage and derogation of Gods glory The Archbishop the Lord Cromwell and Maister Hugh Latimer with great labour found out her naughtinesse and condemned her and put her to death with certaine of her councell VVILLIAM TRACY Esquire A Little before this time William Tracy of Todington in Gloster-shire made his Will that he would haue no funerall pomp at his burying nor Masse and said that he trusted in God only and hoped by him to be saued and not by any Saint His Executor brought the Will to the Bishop of Canterbury that then was to proue it which he shewed to the Conuocation and they iudged him to be taken vp and burned as an heretick and sent a commisson to Doctor Parker Chancelor of Worcester to execute their sentence who accomplished the same The King hearing thereof sent for the Chancelor who laid the fault on the Bishop yet it cost him three hundred pount erâ— he could haue a pardon The storie of twenty foure burned at Paris IN this yearâ— were diuers writings set vp in Paris vpon the Porches and gates against the Masse and other papisticall superstitions whereupon many were apprehended and cast into prison but twenty foure were executed in seuerall places of the Citie of Paris The bearer of the Popes curse and interdictment against King Henrie and the Realme durst not come into the Realme with it but set it vp in Dunkerk in Flanders the king hearing thereof took great displeasure against the said Princesse Dowager and so stomacked the matter that the next yeare he called a Parliament and caused it to be prouided by sufficient Acts that the Pope should be vtterly abolâ—sht and himselfe to be establisht supreme head of the Church at which thing Sir Thomas Moore the Bishop of Rochester grudged and would not consent vnto it but openly resisted the same wherefore they were condemned of treason and headed at Tower-hill Likewise three Charter-Monks were hanged drawne and quartred at Tyburne for speaking trayterous words against the Kings Maiestie This yere the King set forth a Proclamation for the abolishing of the vsurped power and iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome wherein is declared that not onely the secular men granted him this iurisdiction but all the spiritualty in the Conuocation house vnder their seales wherin also he signified that he had addressed Letters vn-the Bishops of the Diocesse straitly commanding them that forthwith the sincere word of God should be preached euery Sonday and Holy-day vnto the people and Our stile and iurisdiction of supreme head appertayning onely to our Crowne and Dignity royall to be publisht and that the Popes vsurped name should be put out of all prayers masses or other books except it be to his reproach The life and storie of M. William Tindall FIrst he
proposition is mine and confirmed by the saying of Saint Augustine vpon S. Iohn 2 Saint Paul was neuer a member of the Diuell though he did many things like the malignant Church nor Saint Peter though he horribly sinned in periury and denying his Master Answere It was by Gods permission that they might more stedfastly rise againe and be confirmed I answere according to S. Augustine that it is expedient that the Elect should offend there be two separations from the Church the Elect are diuided from the Church but not to perdition the second is to perdition by the which certaine Heretieks are through there deadly sinne diuided from the Church 3 No member of the Church doth at any time fall away from the body because the Charitie of Predestination which is the bond of the same doth neuer fall Answere this is proued by 1. Cor. 13. Rom. 8. All things turne to good to them that loue God Also I am certaine that neither death nor life can seperate vs from the loue of God c. 4 The Prâ—destinate although he be not in the state of Grace according to present Iustice yet he is alwaies a member of the Church Answere I declared in my booke that there be diuers manners of being in the Church there be some in the Church according to a mishapen Faith and some according to Predestination which are now in sinne but shall returne to grace 5 No degree of dignitie nor election of man nor any sensible signe can make a man a member of the Church Answere I say Predestination maketh vs members of the Church and prepareth for vs grace heere and glory in the world to come and not degree of dignitie nor the election of a man nor sensible signe for Iudas though Christ elected him an Apostle and gaue him Temporall Graces and that he was so reputed of men yet was he a Woolfe in a sheeps-skin as Saint Augustine saith 6 A Reprobate man is neuer no member of the Church Answere It is in my Booke with sufficient long probation of the Psalme 26. and the 5. Ephes. and by Saint Bernards saying the Church of Christ is more plainely his body then the body that was crucified the Church is the flower of the Lord in which is corne and chaffe the Elect and Reprobate 7 Iudas was no true Disciple of Christ Answere This I confesse S. Augustine in his Booke of penance where he expounds 1. Iohn 2. They came out from vs but were not of vs Christ knew from the beginning who should beleeue and him that should betray him and said none commeth to mee except it be giuen him of my Father from that time many departed from him though they were called by the Gospell they were no true Disciples because they did not continue in the word of Christ as it is said if you remaine in my word you bee my Disciples it is euident that Iudas could not be the Disciple of Christ by meanes of his couetousnes For Christ saith except a man forsake that hee hath he cannot be my Disciple therefore because Iudas was a Theefe Iohn 12. and a Diuell Iohn 6. It is euident that Iudas was no true but a fained Disciple Saint Augustine vpon Saint Iohn that Christs sheepe heare his voice saith what manner of hearers were his sheepe Iudas heard him but was a Woolfe yet he followed the shepheard but being clothed in a sheep-skin he laid waite for the shepheard 8 The predestinate whether they bee in the state of grace or no according to there present Iustice is the same Church which hath neither wrinkle nor spot but is holy and vndefiled which Christ calleth his owne Answer In the fift to the Ephesians Christ so loued his Church that he offered himselfe for it I pray you then is there any faithfull man that doubteth that the Church doth not signifie all the Elect the glorious spouse of Christ holy and without spot This is an Article of faith which we ought firmely to beleeue 9 Peter neuer was nor is the vniuersall head of the Church Answere All men agree that Peter receiued of Christ which is the Rock of the Church humility stedfastnesse and blessednes When Christ said vpon this Rock I will build my church he did not meane that he would build euery Militant Church vpon Peter but vpon Christ which is the Rock from whom Peter receiued his Faith for he is the head and foundation of euery Church and not Peter 10 If he that is called the Uicar of Christ follow Christ in his life then he is his true Uicar otherwise he is the messenger of Antichrist the enemy of Peter and Christ and the Uicar of Iudas Answere For this cause Saint Bernard in his fourth Booke did write vnto Pope Eâ—genius thou delightest to walke in great pride being gorgeously arrayed what fruit doth the flooke receiue by thee If I durst say it these be rather the pastures of the Diuels then of sheepe Saint Peter and Saint Paul did not so thou séemest to succéede Constantine and not Peter It followeth in my Booke if thy life be contrary to Peters or giuen to auarice then he is the Uicar of Iudas which loued the reward of iniquity and sold the Lord As soone as they reade the same the Rulers of the Councell looked one vpon another and making mockes and moes nodded their heads at him 11 Priests that vse Symony and liue desolutely haue an vntrue opinion of seuen Sacraments as Bastards and not Children not knowing the Oâ—â—ice of the Keyes of Censures neither of the rights of Cerimonies and seruice of the Church nor of worship of Relikes nor of Orders of the Church nor of indulgences and pardons Answere It is in this manner in my Booke the authoritie is abused by such as sell Orders and get riches by Symony making markets of holy Sacraments liuing voluptuously desolutely a filthy villanous kind of life They pollute the Ecclesiasticall estate and though they professe they know God they deny him indéede and beléeue not in him but as vnbeléeuing Bastards hold a contrary opinion as aforesaid to whom Malachy in his first Chapter saith Vnto you Priests be it spoken which despise my name 12 The papall dignity hath his originall from the Emperors of Rome Answer This is proued by the 96. distinction for Constantine granted this priuiledge to the Byshop of Rome and others after confirmed the same that as Augustus is counted the most high King aboue all others so the Bishop of Rome shall be called the principall Father aboue other Bishops then a Cardinall said in Constantines time there was a generall councell at Nice in which the highest place in the Church was giuen to the Byshop of Rome why did you not then say it tooke his dignity rather from the Councell 13 No Man with reason without reuelation can affirme that hee or any other is head of any particular Church Answere I confesse it but it followeth that he ought to hope
through his good liuing that he is a member of the Spouse of Christ. 14 No man ought to beleeue that the Pope is head of any Church Answere confesse it for the Church was deceiued by Agnes a Woman Pope as it appâ—areth by Saint Augustine and it so being deceiued Christian Faith should bee depraued 15 The Popes power as Uicar is nothing worth if he liue not according to Christ and follow the manners of Peter Iohn Hus confessed this and said before the Councell I vnderstand the power of such a Pope as doth not represent the manners of Christ is void 16 The Pope is most holy not because he supplieth the place of Peter but because he hath great reuenues my words be mutilated Thus it is written he is not holie because he is Uicar of Peter nor for his great possessions but if he follow Christ in humilitâ— patience labour and perfect loue 17 The Cardinals are not the true Successors of the Apostles if they liue not after the fashion of the Apostles keeping the ordinances of Christ. Answere I confesse it for if they enter not in at the doore which is Christ they be Theeues and Robbers 18 An Hereticke ought not to be committed to the secular power to be put to death it is sufficient that he suffer the Ecclesiasticall censure Answer These are my words that they might be ashamed of their false iudgement for Christ would not condemne such to bodily death The first point appeareth in the 12. of Luke The second by the Woman taken in Adultery and in the 18. Chapter of Mathew If thy Brother haue offended thee c. therefore an Hereticke ought first to be instructed with Christian loue by reasons drawne out of holy Scriptures as Saint Augustine and others haue done disputing against Heretickes but if for all this they will not leaue their errors they ought to suffer corporall punishments The Iudges had read in Iohn Husses Booke where hee greeuously inueyed against them which deliuered an Heretike vnto the Secular power not being conuicted of Heresie and compared them vnto the High-Priests Scribes and Pharises which told Pilate it was not lawfull for them to put any man to death and deliuered Christ vnto him but Christ told Pilate they were greater murderers then he which deliuered him vnto him then the Cardinals and Bishops made a great noyse saying Who are they that thou dost asimule vnto the Pharisies And he said All that deliuer any that is innocent vnto the ciuill sword 19 The Nobles of the World ought to compell the Ministers of the Church to kéepe the Commaundements of Christ. Answere These be my words the Militant Church consisteth of these parts Ministers of the Church which should kéepe purely the Ordinances of Christ and the Nobles of the World which should compell them to keepe his Commaundements and of the common people seruing to both parties 20 The Ecclesiasticall obedience as the Priests and Monkes haue deuised it hath no authority in the Scripture Answer I confesse it there be three obediences the Spirituall Secular and Ecclesiasticall the Spirituall which is onely according to the ordinances of God in which Christ and his Apostles liued and all Christians ought to liue in the Secular obedience is due according to ciuill ordinance the Ecclesiasticall obedience is such as the Priests haue inuented without any expresse authority of Scripture 21 He that is excommunicate of the Pope and apealeth vnto Christ the curses of the Pope cannot annoy him Answere I acknowledge not this but I did make complaint in my Booke that they had done mee and such as fauoured mee great wrong and they would not heare me in the Popes Court and after the death of one Pope I apealed to his successors and it profited not and to apeals to the Councell it were to long therfore at laâ—â— I apealed to the head of the Church Christ Iesus Then said a Cardinall wilt thou presume aboue Saint Paul who apealed to the Emperor and not to Iesus and they mocked him the tenor of his apeale was nothing but an earnest Prayer to Christ to be his refuge and helpe when all kelâ—es fayled and that he did appeale before God for his greefe from the wicked sentence and excommunication determined by the Byâ—â—ops Scribes and Pharisies as Iohn Chrysostome did twice from the Councel of the Bishops And Andrew Bishop of Prage and Robert Bishop of Lincolne apealed vnto Christ who is not defiled with cruelty nor corrupted with gifts nor deceiued by false witnesses 22 A vitious man liueth naughtily and a vertuous man liueth godly Answere My words are these All humane workes are deuided into two parts they be either vertuous or vitâ—aus therefore if a man bee vertuous that he doth he doth vertuously and if a man be naught that which he doth is naught for as vice infecteth all the deeds of the Subiect so vertue quickens all the doings of the vertuous whiâ—h is proued by many places in the Scriptures 23 The Minister of Christ liuing according to his Lawes and hauing knowledge of the Scriptures and an earnest desire to edifie the people ought to preach notwithstanding the excommunication of the Pope and such a Minister ought not to obay any forbidding of him to preach I Answer We ought rather to obay God thâ—n man for a Minister to preach and a rich man to giue Almes are duties commaunded of God and if the Pope or any other commaund a Minister not to preach and a rich man not to giue Almes they ought not to obay him I cal that an vniust excommunication which is giuen contrary to Gods law for such a one a Preacher ought not to leaue preaching nor feare damnation then they obiâ—cted that he had said that such excommunications were blessings euen so say I now againe as the Prophet saith They shall curse but thou O Lord shalt blesse 24 Euery man admitted to the Ministry hath thereby authority to preach and ought so to doâ— notwithstanding the excommunication or forbidding of the Pope or any other Answere I doe confesse this and that no Christian ought to doubt but he that is sufficientlie instructed in learning to instruct the ignorant and to tell the vnruly of their sinnes then for to do any other worke of mercy 25 Ecclesiastical Censures are Antichristian such as the Cleargy hath inuented for their owne preferment to defend their malice and multiply their couetousnesse It is not thus in my Booke but I confesse it in substance 26 There ought to be no interdictment vnto the people Answer For Christ the High Bishop neither for the iniury done vnto Iohn Baptist nor for any other iniurie did make any interdictment I complained that for one mans fault a whole Land shall be interdicted and all the good cease to praise God but Christ notwithstanding Iohn Baptist was imprisoned then whom there was no greater amongst the Children of men did not giue any curse no not when Herod beheaded him neither
by the Scriptures that the faithfull haue the Iâ—dgment of their soules as soone as they die and are in Heauen and that we are bound to obay Magistrates as Parents and that the people should haue the Lords prayer and the Créed in their owne tongue that their denotion might bee furthered by their vnderstanding of it and might be more expert in their faith I hauâ— heard many say they neuer heard any speake of their resurrection and by the knowledge thereof became more ready to goodnes and fearefull to doe euill and he would wish that the Scripture were in our owne tongâ—e for St. Paule sath hee would rather haue fiue words in a tongue that is knowne c. that the Church may be edified and Châ—isostome bad his hearers looke vpon bookes that they may the better remember that which they had heard and Bead translated the gospell of St. Iohn into English and where it is obiected it is daungerous for Heresâ—e hee said good Pastors might easily helpe the matter by adding the interpretation of the hard places in the margent touching pardons he said it were better that they should bee restrainâ—d then any longer to be vsed as they haue béene to the iniury of Christs passion Further these things were deposed against him that he should preach at Ipswich Christ is our Meadiator betwixt vs and the Father why then should wee séeke to any Saint for remedy and to make petition to Saints is great iniury and blasphemie to Christ and that man is so imperfect of himselfe that hee cannot merit by his owne deedes that it was great iniury vnto our Sauiour Christ to teach that to bâ— buried in Saint Francis Coull should remit foure parts of penance what is then left to Christ which taketh away the sinnes of the world This I will iustifie to bee great blasphemie And that it was great folly to goâ— in pilgrimage and that preachers in times past haue been Antichrists and now it hath pleased God somewhat to shew their errors and that the myracles done in Walsingham Canterbury and Ipswich were done by the Diuell by the sufferance of God to blind the people and that the pope hath not the Keyes that Peter had except hee follow Peter in liuing and that it was deposed against him that hee was twice pulled out of the Pulpit by the Fryers in the Dioces of Norwich And that hee â—xhorted the people to put away their Gods of Siluer and Gold and leaue offering vnto them because it hath often béen knowne that those things offered haue after been giuen to Whoores of the Stewes And that Iewes and Sarazens would haue becâ—me Christians long agoe had it not bin for the Idolatry of the Christians in offering Candles Wax and mony to stockes and stones In a Dialogue betwixt him and Fryer Iohn Brusierd hee proueth thrée points Firsâ— that there is but one Mediator of God and Men which is Christ Then our Lady S. Peter and other Saints be no Mediators and whatsoeuer wee aske the Father in Christs Name we shall haue and God saith not in any other name therfore let vs aske in his name least at the day of Iudgement it be said to vs hetherto haue you asked nothing in my name To which the Fryâ—r answered I would Maister Bilney that you would search the first Origen of the Rogation daies which were ordained by Pope Gregory with Fastings Prayers and holy Processions against the Pestilence by the infeâ—tion of the ayre in which time of Procession an Image like our Lady Painted by S. Luke went before them About which Image Angels did sing Regina coeli letare To the which the Pope ioined Ora pro nobis Domine c. Therefore beeing the Angels did honour the Image of the Uirgine And Pope Gregory with all the Clergy did pray to her It appeareth maniâ—estly we ought to pray to Saints that they may say like for vs which the Disciples said in the Gospell serue them and send them away because they cry after vs. Secondly he proueth the Pope to be Antichrist in that he exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God For the Pope imposeth but a small punishment vpon them that break any of the â—en Commandements But he that shall violate the popes constitutions he is guilty of death What is this but the Pope to sit and to raigne in the Temple of God that is mans conscience as God and the popish miracles are not of God but illusions of Satan who as the Scriptâ—res witnes haue been loosed this fiue hundred yeares As it is written that Satan should bee loosed after a thousand yeares and they are illusions because they make them put thâ—ir Faith in our Lady and othâ—r Saints and not in God alone The third is that no Saint though his suffering were neuer so great and his life most pure deserued any thing for vs with God as you may sée by the answer of the wise Uirgins vnto the foolish Uirgins when they craued oyle of them No say they least peraduenture we haue not sufficient for our selues and you get you rather to them that sell and buy where be then the merits of Saints whereby they may deserue for themselues and others After he was brought againe before the Bishops at the Charter-house afore said where he was admonished to abiure and recant who answered he would stand to his Conscience but being many times sent for and perswaded he did abiure But God not willing to loose such a worthy instrument of his Church raised him againe after his fall as hâ—re followeth to be seene These Articles were obiected against GEFFREY LON for which he was abiured FIrst for hauing and dispersing abroad bookes of Luther for affirming and beleeuing that Faith onely iustifieth and that men be not boâ—nd to obserue the constitutions of the Church That we should pray onely to God not to Saints That pilgrimages are not profitable to mans soule That we should not offer nor set vp lights to Images That no man is bound to keep the Fasts of the Church That Popes pardons profit not a man and Thomas Garnet Master of Art Curat of all Hallowes in Hony Lane for hauing and distributing Luthers Bookes and them of that sect For affirming Faith onely iustifieth That Pardons profit neither the dead nor liuing That the Constitutions of the Church binde vs not for calling Bishops Pharisies That fasting daies are not to bee obserued That euery man that is able may preach the Word and no Law to the contrarie for thesâ— and such like he was abiured before Cutbert Bishop of London But the aforesaid Bilney notwithstanding his recantation Hee abated not any part of his desire study to preach but was the more vehement against the Bishops corrupt life but whilst he was occupied in that godly enterprise to allure all men to saluation Thomas Moore and Richard Nickes the blind Bishop of Norwich who was as blind in body as Soule they laid hands on him and
her touching the said Articles deuised against her and gaue her warning of that mischiefe which hanged ouer her head beséeching her to be secret and to conforme her selfe to the Kings minde and no doubt she should finde him gracious After the King came to her himselfe vnto whom after she had vttered her griefe how it was for feare his Maiestie had forsaken her hee so refreshed her with comfortable words that she began to recouer Then shee commanded her Ladies to conuay away her Bookes which were against the Law and then she went to the King he courteously welcomed her and entred into talke of Religion séeming desirous to be resolued of the Queene of certaine doubts The Queene perceiuing to what purpose this his talke tended your Maiestie doth well know quoth shee and I am not ignorant of what great weaknesse by our first Creation is allotted to vs women to bee subiect vnto man as our head from which head all our direction must proceed and as God made man after his own Image that being indued with more speciall gifts of perfection might bee stirred to meditate heauenly things and obay his commandements so he made woman of man of whom and by whom she is to bee commanded and gouerned whose womanly weaknesse ought to bee tolerated and ayded that by his wisedome such things as be lacking in her might be supplied Therefore your Maiestie being so excellent in ornaments of wisedome and I so much inferiour in all respects of Nature Why doth your Maiestie in such defuse causes of Religion require my Iudgement which when I haue vttered said what I can yet I must and will referre my Iudgement in this and all causes to your Maiesties wisedome as my onely Anker supreme head and the gouernor heere in earth next vnto God Not so by Saint Mary said the King you are become a Doctor late to instruct vs. Shee answered your Maiestie hath much mistaken mee who haue euer thought it preposterous for the woman to instruct her husband but rather to learn of him and where I haue beene bold to hold talke with your Maiestie wherein there hath seemed some difference in opinion I haue not done it to maintaine opinion but to minister talke that your Maiestie might with lesse griefe passe the paine of your infirmitie being attentiue to your talke and that I might receiue some profit by your Maiesties learned Discourse wherein I haue not missed any part of my desire alwaies referring my selfe in such matters to your Maiestie â—hen said the King tendeth your Argument to no worse end then wee are now as perfect friends as euere we were and he imbraced her and kissed her saying it did him more good to heare these words then if he had heard newes of a hundred thousand pound fallen to him On the day that was appointed for the aforesaid Tragedy the King went into his Garden whether the Queene being sent for came onely the three Ladies aboue named waiting on her with whom the King was as pleasant as euer hee was in his life In the middest of his mirth the houre appointed being come the Lord Chancelor commeth into the Garden with forty of the Kings guard at his heâ—les with purpose to take the Queene with the three Ladies to the the Tower whom the King sternely beholding called him to him who on his knees whispered to the King the King cal'd him knaue arrant knaue and beastly foole and commanded him to auant out of his presence which words the Quéene heard though they were low spoken then he departed with his traine the whole mould of his deuice broken The Queene seeing the King so chaâ—ed spoke for the Lord Chancellor Ah poore soule quoth hee thou little knowest how euill hee deserueth this grace at thy hands he hath been towards thee sweet heart an arrant knaue and so let him goe If King Henry had liued hee and the French King had been at this point within halfe a yeere after to haue changed the Masse in both their Realmes into a Communion as wee now vse it and also vtterly to haue extirped the Popes vsurped power out of both their Realmes and they ment to exhort the Emperour to doe the like in Flanders and his other countreyes or else to breake off from him and herein quoth the Archbishop Cranmer the King willed mee to pen a forme thereof to be sent to the French King but that it was letten by the death of King Henry When the Bishops had brought ANNE ASKEVV and her fellow Martyrs to death being now in their triumph as the Pharisies were when they had killed Christ they deuised how to euer read the truth for euer wherevpon they made a strait Procâ—amation authorised by the Kings 〈◊〉 for abolishing of the Scripture and all other English Bookes which miâ—ht gâ—â—e light to the setting forth of Gods Word and the grace of the Gospell which thou maist see in the Booke at large which no doubt had done much hurt in the Church amongst the godly in bringing them to danger or keeping 〈◊〉 in blindnes had not the shortnes of the Kings daies stopped the malignant purposes of the Prâ—latâ—s causing the King to leaue that to the people by his death which by his life he would not grant for within foure monethes after the proclamation he deceased the eight and thirty yeare of his raigne The History touching the Persecutions in Scotland Deane Thomas Forret THis Deane Thomas Forret preached euery Sunday in his parish vpon the Epistle and Gospell which was nouelâ—y in Scotland to see any preach but the Black Friâ—r or the Gray Wherefore the Friers enuied him and accused him to the Bishop of Donkelden as an heretick which shewed the mysteries of the Scripture vnto the vulgar people to make the Clergy detestable The Bishop sending for him said my Ioy Deane Thomas I leue you well â— am informed you preach the Epistle and Gospel euery Sunday and that you take not the Cow for mortuarie nor the vpper Cloth for Crisome of your parishioners which is very preiudiciall to the Church men My ioy Deane Thomas take your Cow and your vpper Cloth and preach not euery Sunday for in so doing you will make the people thinke we should preach likewise But when you finde a good Epistle or a good Gospell that setteth forth the lâ—bertie of the Church preach that and let the rest be Thomas answered my parishioners pay me my duetiâ—s willingly and wâ—e agree well and where your Lordship saith it is too much â—o preach euery Sonday I thinke it too little and also would wish that your Lordship would doe the like nay nay we are not ordained to preach M. Forret and where your Lordship speaketh of a good and an euill Epistle I could neuer finde none but good Then spake my Lord I thanke God I neuer knew what the Old New Testament ment Wherevpon grew a prouerb you are like the Bishop of Dunkelden that knâ—w neither new
nor old Law therefore said the Bishop I will know nothing but my portous and my pontificall if you forgoe not these fantasies you shall repent it Thomas said my cause is iust before God and I passe not what followeth thereon After he was summoned by the Cardinall of Saint Andrewes and the said Bishop of Dunkelden and with him were summoned Frier Iohn Kellow Frier Beuarage Duncane Simson Priest Robert Foster a Gentleman with thrée or foure other men of Striueling who at theiâ— day of apparance were condemned to death without any place of recantation because they were chiefe hereticks and teachers of heresies and because many of them were at the marriage of the Priest of Twybody and eate flesh in Lent at their Bridall and they were all together burnâ—d vpon the Castle Hill of Edenbrough where they comforted one another merueilously The Persecution of certaine in the towne of Perth THere was an Act of Parliament in the gouernment of the Earle of Arrai giuing priuilege to reade the scriptures in their mother tongue but secluding al conference thereof wherby y â— eyes of the elect of God were opened to sée the truâ—h and abhorre Papisticall abhominations at which time Fryer Spencer preached that Prayers made to Saints were necessary and without it no hope of saluation Then Robert Lambe a Burges of Perth accused him opâ—nlâ— in the Church of erronious Doctrine and adiured him in Gods name to vtter the truth whereupon trouble and tumulâ— of people arose so that the said Robert with great danger of his life escaped euen the Women addressed themselues to great cruelty against him Shortly after the Cardinall and the Earle of Argile sat about the matter before these persons were brought Robert Lambe William Anderson Iames Hunter Iames Rauelson Iames Fouleson and Hellen Sirke his Wife and the next day were condemned to death by an Assize for violating the foresaid Act of Parliment by conferring together of the Scripture and for that the said Robert Lambe William Anderson and Iames Raueleson hanged the Image of Saint Francis in a cord nayling Rammes hornes to his head and a Cowes rump to his taâ—le and for eating a Goose of Alhollow Eue and Iames Hunter for kéeping company with thâ—m Heâ—len Sirke for saying Mary merited not by workes to be the Mother of Christ and to be preferred before other Women but Gods free mercy â—xalted her to that estate Iohn Raueleson for setting vp in his house a triple Crowne of Saint Peter which the Cardinaâ—l tooke to be done in mockage of his Cardâ—nals haâ— At the place of execution Robert Lambe exhorted the people to feare God and to leaue the leauen of Papisticall abhominations and prophesied of the ruine of the Cardinall which after came to passe and comforting one another that they should sup together in the Kingdome of heauen The Woman desired to die with her Husband but was not suffered then she kissed him saying We haue liued together ioyfull daies but this day is most ioyful because we must haue ioy for euer I will not bid you God night for we shall all this night méete with ioy in heauen The condemnation of GEORGE VVISHARD Gentleman and his Articles before the Cardinall of Scotland and others 1 TOuching Preaching when he was forbidden hee answered I haue read in the Acts of the Apostles that it is not lawfull to desist from preaching the Gospell for menaces of men therefore it is written wee must rather obey God then men and I beléeue that the Lord will turne your cursings of mee vnto blessings and as in the second of Malachy I will curse your blessings blessâ— your cursings 2 He affirmed the mouing of the body outward of the Priest at Masse without the inward mouing of the heart is but the playing of an ape and not the seruing of God who must be honored in spirit and verity 3 That auriculer confession hath no promise of the Euangell and therefore it cannot be a Sacrament but there are many testimonies of confession made to God 4 As none will make marchandise with one of a strange Language except that he doe vnderstand the promise made by the Stranger So I would that we vnderstood what wee promise in the Name of the Infant to GOD in Baptisme then saide one Bleiter a Chaplaine Theâ— hast the Deuill and Spirit of errour then said a Child the Deuill cannot speake such words as he doth 5 The lawfull vse of the Sacraments is most acceptable vnto God but the great abuse is very detestable vnto him I once met with a Iew as I was sayling on the Sea I inquired of him what was the cause of his pertinacy that he did not beléeue the true Messias was come being that he saw the prophesies of him fulfilled and the Prophesies and the Scepter of Iuda was likewise takâ—n away He answered me When the Messias commeth he shall restore all things and he shall not abrogate the Law giuen vnto our fore-fathers as yee doe for we sée the poore almost ready to perish for hunger amongst you and you pitty them not and amongst vs Iewes though we are poore there are no beggars found And it is forbidden by the Law to faine an Image of any thing in Heauen or Earth but onely to honour God but your Churches are full of Idols and ye adore a péece of Bread baked vpon the ashes and that it is your God then the Bishops shooke their heads and spitted on the earth 6 He reproued coniurings and exorcismes of holy Water and said that they were contrary to Gods word 7 Saint Peter saith God hath made vs Kings and Priests and againe hee hath made vs a kinglie Priest-hood therefore I affirme that any man cunning in the Word of GOD and the Faith of Christ he hath power from God by the Word of God to binde and lose and a man that is not conuersant in Gods Word nor constant in Faith what estate or order soeuer he be of hath no power to binde or lose being he wanteth the word of God the instrument to binde and lose with 8 Touching fréewill he said as many as firmely beléeue in Christ haue liberty as in the 8. of Iohn If the Sonne make you free then verily shall you be free but as many as beleeue not in Christ are bond seruants of sinne he that sinneth is bond to sinne 9 Touching praying to Saints he said it is certaine in Scripture that we should worship and honour one God but for honouring of Saints it is doubtfull whether they heare our inuocation made to them therefore I exhort all men that they would leaue the vnsure way and follow that way which our Maister Christ taught vs He is our onely Mediator and maketh intercession for vs hee is the doore he that entreth not in by this doore but climbeth in another way is a Theefe and a Murderer he is the verity and life he that goeth out of this way is fallen into the mire 10