went to Wesell for the cause of religion Who being desirous to drawe hys Wyfe and Chyldren from Dornic to Wesell came thryse from thence to perswade with her to goe with hym thither When shee in no wise coulde be entreated hee remaynyng a few dayes at home set hys house in order and desyred his Wife and his Brother to pray that God woulde stablishe him in hys enterprise that he went aboute That done he went vpon Christenmas daye to the hygh Churche of Dornic where hee tooke the cake out of the Priestes handes as he would haue lyft it ouer hys heade at Masse and stampt it vnder his feet saying that he did it to shew the glory of that God and what litle power he hath with other wordes moe to the people to perswade them that the cake or fragment of breade was not Iesus theyr Sauiour At the sight hereof the people beyng stroken with a maruelous damp stood all amazed At length such a styrre therupon folowed that Bertrand could hardely escape with life It was not long but the noyse of this was caryed to the Baylife of Henegow and gouernour of the Castle of Dornic which lay sicke the same time of the gowte at Biesy Who like a madde man cried out that euer God would or could be so pacient to suffer that contumely so to be troden vnder the foote of such a myser adding moreouer that he would reuenge his cause in such sorte as it shoulde be an example for euer to all posterity and forthwith the furyous tyraunt commaunded himselfe to be caried to y e Castle of Dornic Bertrand being brought before him was asked whether hee repented of hys fact or whether he would so doe if it were to be done agayne Who aunswered that if he were an hundreth tymes to be done he woulde doe it and if he had an hundreth liues he would geue them in that quarrell Then was he thrise put to the pynebanke Bertrand thrise tormented tormented most miserably to vtter his setters on whiche he would neuer do Then proceded they to the sentence more like tyrauntes then Christen men By the tenour of which sentence this was his punishment First he was drawne from the Castle of Dornic to the market place The miserable and tragicall haÌ„dling of Bertrand hauing a balle of yron put in hys mouth Then he was sette vpon a stage where hys right hand wherwith he tooke the hoste was crushed and pressed betwene two hoate yrons with sharp yron edges fyry redde till the forme fashion of hys hand was misshaped The right hand foote of Bertrand pressed of with hoate yrons The tounge of Bertrand cut of In like manner they brought other like yrons for hys righte foote made fyre hoat whereunto of his owne accorde he put hys foot to suffer as his hand had done before with maruellous constancy and firmenesse of minde That done they tooke the balle of yron out of his mouth and cutte of hys toung who notwithstanding with continuall crying ceased not to call vpon GOD whereby the hartes of the people were greatly moued WherupoÌ„ the tormentours thrust in the yron balle into hys mouth agayne From thence they brought him down to y e lower stage he goyng to the same no lesse chearfully and quietly The burning and martyrdom of Bertrand then if no part of his body had bene hurt There his legges and hys handes were bound behinde hym with an yron cheyne goyng aboute his body and so he was ledde downe flat vpon the fyre whom the foresayd gouernour there standing by and looking vpon caused to be let vp agayne so downe and vp agayne till at last the whole body was spent to ashes which he commaunded to be cast into the riuer when this was done the Chappell where thys Massegod was so entreated was lockt vppe and the bord whereupon the Priest stood was burnt y e marble stone whereupon the hoste did light was broken in peeces And finally for so much as the sayde Bertrand had receiued his doctrine at wessell commaundement was geuen that no person out of that countrey should go to Wesel or there occupy vnder incurring the daunger of the Emperours Placard Ex Crisp. Pantal. et Adriano  Two hundreth Ministers of Bohemia An. 1555. The same yeare 2. hundreth Ministers and Preachers of the Gospell Persecution in Bohemia were banished out of Bohemia for preaching agaynst the superstition of the Bishoppe of Rome and extolling the glorye of Christ. Ex CoÌ„ment IoaÌ„ Sled lib. 25.  The preachers of Locrane Locarne is a place beyonde the Alpes Persecution in Locarne yet subiecte to the Heluetians When these also had receiued the gospell and the fiue Pages of the Heluetians aboue mentioned were not well pleased therewith but woulde haue them punished and great contention was among the Heluetians about y e same it was concluded at length that the Ministers should be exiled Whom the Tygurines did receiue Ex. Pantal.  Fraunces Warlut AlexaÌ„der Dayken Martyrs Fraunces Warlut Alexander Dayken At Dornic An. 1562. After these two good meÌ„ being borne in the lower partes of Germany had bene coÌ„uersaunt in diuers reformed churches in other countryes at last for coÌ„science sake they returned home agayn to do good in theyr owne countrey of Dornic there about So vpon a time as the people there resorted to a backe fielde or wood without the city with a certayne preacher to heare the word of God and to pray the aduersaryes hauing thereof some intelligence so pursued them that they tooke of them aboue 30. of whom these 2. among the rest were apprehended and thinking no lesse but that they should be burned they began to sing psalmes At leÌ„gth being broght forth first one then the other they were both beheaded And where the iudges had inteÌ„ded to quarter their bodies and to set theÌ„ vp by the high wayes yet was it so prouided GOD working in the hartes of the people that they were both committed to sepulture Ex Lud. Rab. Earle of Lalain The father with his two sonnes and his daughter martyred Gillotus Viuer Iames Faber his father in law Michaell Faber sonne of Iames. Anna wife of Gillotus and daughter of Iames Faber These in the cause of the Gospell suffered at Ualence Iames Faber being an olde man sayd that although he could not aunswere or satisfye them in reasoning yet he would constantly abide in the truth of the Gospell Anna hys daughter being with childe was respited after she was deliuered she folowed her husbaÌ„d and father in the like Martyrdome  〈◊〉 wife 〈◊〉 Clerk â—â—â—tyr Michella Caignoucle At Vallence An. 1550. Michella wyfe of Iames Clerke which was before burned when she was offered to be maryed and to bee caryed out of the country to some reformed church 〈◊〉 Iames 〈◊〉 before was burned refused so to doe but woulde abide the aduenture of her vocation Godfride a Taylor martyr and so
touched the sayd Cardinall thys foresayd M. Fish tooke vpon him to do it wherupon great displeasure ensued agaynst him vpon the Cardinals part In so much as he being pursued by the sayd Cardinall Ex certa relatione 〈…〉 propriae ipsius coniugis the same night that this Tragedy was playd was compelled of force to voyd his owne house so fled ouer the Sea vnto Tindall vpon occasion wherof the next yeare folowing this booke was made being about the yeare .1527 and so not long after in the yeare as I suppose 1528. was sent ouer to the Lady Anne Buileyne who then lay at a place not farre from the Court. Which book her brother seing in her hand tooke it and read it gaue it her agayne willing her earnestly to geue it to the king which thing she so dyd This was as I gather about the yeare of our Lord. 1528. The booke of the supplication of beggars geueÌ„ to the king The king after he had receiued the booke demaunded of her who made it Wherunto she aunswered and said a certayne subiect of his one Fish who was fled out of the Realme for feare of the Cardinall After the king had kept the booke in his bosome 3. or 4. dayes as is credibly reported such knowledge was geuen by the kinges seruaunts to the wife of the sayd Simon Fish that she might boldely send for her husband without all perill or daunger Whervpon she therby being incouraged came first made sute to the king for the safe returne of her husband Who vnderstanding whose wife she was shewed a maruellous geÌ„tle chearefull countenance towardes her asking where her husband was She answered if it like your grace not farre of Then sayth he fetch him and he shall come and goe safe without perill no man shal do him harme saying moreouer that he had much wrong that he was from her so loÌ„g who had bene absent now the space of two yeares and a halfe In the which meane time the Cardinall was deposed as is aforeshewed and M. More set in his place of the Chauncellorship Thus Fishes wife being emboldened by the kinges words M. Fiâ—he brought and gently entertayned of the king went immediatly to her husband being lately come ouer and lying priuily within a myle of the Courte and brought him to the king which appeareth to be about the yeare of our Lord 1530. When the king saw him and vnderstood he was the author of the booke he came and embraced him with louing countenance who after long talke for the space of 3. or 4. houres as they were riding together on hunting at length dimitted him and bad him take home his wife for she had takeÌ„ great paynes for him Who aunswered the king agayne and said he durst not so do for â—â—are of Syr Thomas More then Chauncellour Stoksley then Bishop of London This seemeth to be about the yeare of our Lord. 1530. The king taking his signet of his finger wylled hym to haue him recommended to the Lord Chauncellor M. Fishe rescued by the king charging him not to be so hardy to worke him any harme M. Fish receiuing the kinges signet went and declared hys message to the Lord Chauncellour who tooke it as sufficient for his owne discharge but he asked him if he had any thing for the discharge of his wife for she a litle before had by chaunce displeased the Friers for not suffering them to say theyr Gospels in Latine in her house as they did in others vnlesse they would say it in English Whereupon the Lord Chauncellor though he had discharged the man yet leauing not his grudge towardes the wife Syr Thomas More persecuteth M. Fishes wâ—â—e the next morning sent his man for her to appeare before him who had it not bene for her young daughter which then lay sicke of the plague had bene like to come to much trouble Of the which plague her husband the sayd M. Fish deceasing w t in halfe a yeare M. Fishe dyeth oâ— the Plague she afterward maryed to one M. Iames Baynham Syr Alexander Baynhams sonne a worshypfull knight of glostershyre The which foresaid M. Iames Baynham not long after was burned as incontinently after in the processe of this story shall appeare And thus much concerning Symon Fishe the author of the booke of beggars The summe of the Scripture traâ—â—lated by M. Fyshe who also translated a booke called the Summe of the Scripture out of the Dutch Now commeth an other note of one Edmund Moddys the kinges footman touching the same matter This M. Moddys being with the king in talke of religion and of the new bookes that were come from beyond the seas sayd if it might please his grace to pardon hym such as he would bring to his grace M. Moddys the kinges â—ooâ—man he shoulde see such a booke as was maruell to heare of The king demaunded what they were He sayd two of your Marchauntes George Elyot George RobinsoÌ„ The king poynted a time to speake with them WheÌ„ they came afore his presence in a priuy closet he demauÌ„ded what they had to say or to shew him One of theÌ„ said y t there was a book come to their hâ—â—s which they had there to shew his grace When he saw it he demaunded if any of them could read it Yea sayd George Elyot if it please your grace to heare it I thought so sayd the king for if need were thou canst say it without booke The whole booke being read out the king made a long pause then sayd if a man should pull downe an old stone wall and begin at the lower part the vpper part thereof might chaunce to fall vpon his head and then he tooke the book and â—ut it into his deske and commaunded them vpon theyr allegiance that they should not tell to any man that he had seene the booke c. The Copy of the foresayde booke intituled of the Beggars here ensueth ¶ A certaine Libell or booke intituled the Supplication of Beggars throwne and scattered at the procession in Westminster on Candlemas day before king Henry the 8. for him to read and peruse made compiled by M. Fish ¶ To the king our Soueraigne Lord. MOst lamentably coÌ„playneth theyr wofull misery vnto your highnes A libell oâ—â—led the â—â—â—plication 〈◊〉 beggars your poore daily bedemen the wretched hydious monsters on whoÌ„ scarsely for horror any eye dare looke the soule vnhappy sort of lepers and other sore people needy impotent blind lame and sick that liue only by almes how that their nuÌ„ber is dayly so sore increased that all the almes of all the well disposed people of this your realme is not halfe enough for to susteine them but that for very constraint they dye for hunger And this most pestilent mischiefe is come vpon your sayd poore bedemen by the reason y t there is in the times of your noble predecessors passed
pensions censes portions and Peterpence wont to be paide to the sea of Rome should vtterly surcease and neuer more to be leuied so that the king with his honorable counsaile should haue power and authoritie from time to time for the ordering redresse and reformation of all manner of indulgences priuileges c. within this realme Where is to be noted by the way as touching these PeterpeÌ„ce aforesaide that the same were first brought in and imposed by K. Iua about the yere of our Lord. 720. Which Iua K. of the WestsaxoÌ„s Peter pence how they came how long they continnued Vide supra pag. 127. Vide supra pag. 114. caused through al his dominioÌ„ in euery house hauing a chimny a peny to be collected paid to the B. of Rome in the name of S. Peter therof were they called PeterpeÌ„ce vide supra pag. 127. The same likewise did Offa K. of MerciaÌ„s after him about the yere of our Lord. 794. vide pag. 114. And these Peterpence euer since or for the most part haue vsed of a long custome to be gathered and summoned by the Popes collectors here in England froÌ„ the time of Iua aforesaide to this present Parlament An. 1533. Finally by the authority of the Parlament it was consulted and considered coÌ„cerning the legalitie of the lawfull succession vnto the crowne in ratifying and inhabling the heires of the kings body and Quene Anne In the whych parliament moreouer the degrees of mariage plainly and clerely were explaned and set forth such as be expresly prohibited by Gods lawes as in this Table may appeare A Table of degrees prohibited by Gods lawe to marrie The sonne not to mary the mother nor stepmother The brother not to mary the sister Statut. an 25 Reg. Hen. 8. The father not to mary his sonnes daughter nor his daughters daughter The sonne not to mary his fathers daughter gotten by hys stepmother The sonne not to mary his aunte being either his fathers or his mothers sister Degrees prohibited to marrye The sonne not to mary his vncles wife The father not to mary his sonnes wife The brother not to mary his brothers wife No man to mary his wiues daughter No man to mary his wiues sonnes daughter No man to mary his wiues daughters daughter No man to mary his wiues sister All these degrees be prohibited by the scripture All these things thus being defined and determined in this foresaide Parliament and also being in the same Parliamente concluded that no man of what estate degree or condition soeuer Seperation betweene the king and the Lady Catherine by acte of Parlyament hath any power to dispense wyth Gods lawes it was therfore by the authoritie aforesayd agreing with the authoritie of Gods word assented that the maryage aforetime solemnised betwene the kyng and the Ladie Katherine being before wife to prince Arthur the kynges brother and carnally known by him as is aboue proued should be absolutely demed and adiudged to be vnlawfull and against the law of God and also reputed and taken to be of no value nor effect and that the separation thereof by Thomas Cranmer Archb. of Cant. should stand good and effectuall to all intents and also that the lawful matrimony betwene the king and the Lady Anne his wife shoulde be established approoued and ratified for good and consonant to the lawes of almightye God The mariage betwene the king and Queene Anne approued by publicke Parlyament 〈◊〉 heyres â—f K. Henry and Queene Anne ratified by Parliament And further also for the establishing of thys kinges lawfull succession it was fully by the sayd parliament adiudged that the inheritance of the crowne shuld remaine to the heirs of their two bodies that is of the King and Queene Anne his wife During the time of this Parliament before the mariage of Queene Anne there was one Temse in the Common house which mooued the Commons to sue to the king to take the Queene againe into hys companie declaring certaine great mischiefes like to insue therof as in bastarding the Ladie Marie the kings onely childe and diuers other inconueniences which being reported to the kings eares he sent immediately to syr Thomas Audley Speaker then of the Parliament expressing vnto hym amongest other matters that he marueiled muche why one of the Parlament did so openly speake of the absence of the Queene from him which matter was not to be determined there for it touched sayde hee hys soule The kinges wordes to Syr Tho. Audley speaker of the Parliament and wished the Matrimonie were good for then hadde he neuer bene so vexed in conscience But the Doctors of Uniuersities said he haue determined the mariage to be voide and detestable before God which grudge of conscience hee sayde caused hym to abstaine from her companie and no foolishe nor wanton appetite For I am sayde he 41. yeare olde at whyche age the lust of man is not so quicke as it is in youthe And sauing in Spaine and Portugale it hath not bene seene that one manne hath maried two sisters the one being carnally knowen before but the brother to mary the brothers wife was so abhorred amongest al nations that I neuer heard it that any christian man so did but my selfe Wherefore ye see my conscience troubled and so I pray you report And so the Speaker departing declared to the Commons the kings saying Not long after that the Kinge perceiuing belyke the mindes of the Cleargy not much fauouring his cause sent for the Speaker againe and 12. of the Common house The kinges workes to certaine of the coÌ„mon house hauing with him 8. Lordes and sayde to them Well beloued subiects we had thought the Clergy of our realme had ben our subiects wholye but nowe we haue well perceyued that they be but halfe oure Subiectes yea and scarce oure subiectes For all the Prelates at their consecration make an othe to the Pope cleane contrarye to the othe that they make vnto vs so that they seeme to be hys subiectes and not ours and so the King deliuering to them the Copie of both the othes required them to inuent some order that he might not thus be deluded of his spirituall subiects The spirituaâ—â— men the Popes subiectes 〈◊〉 then the king 〈◊〉 The Speaker thus departed and caused the othes to be read in the Common house the very tenor wherof here ensueth The othe of the Clergie to the Pope I Iohn Bishop or Abbot of A. from this houre forwarde shall be faithfull and obedient to S. Peter to the holy church of Rome and to my Lorde the Pope and his successours Canonically entring I shall not be of counsaile nor consent The othe which the Clergye commoÌ„ly geueth to the Pope that they shall loose either life or member or shall be taken or suffer anye violence or any wronge by any meanes Their counsaile to me credited by them their messengers or letters I shall not
THE seconde Volume OF THE ECCLEsiasticall Historie conteining the ACTS AND MONVMENTS of Martyrs with a Generall discourse of these latter Persecutions horrible troubles and tumultes stirred vp by Romish Prelates in the Church with diuers other things incident especially to this Realme of Englande and Scotland is partly also to all other forreine nations appertaining from the time of Kâ—ng HENRY the VIII to Queene ELIZABETH our gracious Ladie nowe raigning Newly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 IOHN FOXE 15â—â— AT LONDON Printed by Iohn Day dwelling ouer Aldergate Cum 〈…〉 ⧠Here folovveth the second Volume AND THE VII BOOKE BEGINNING WITH THE REIGNE OF KING HENRYE THE EIGHT Anno. 1509. AS touching the ciuil state and administration of the Common wealth and likewise of the state of the Churche vnder the raign of king Henry 7. how he entred first in possession of y e crowne how the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster were in hym conioyned through marriage with Elizabeth the eldest daughter to King Edwarde 4. by the prudent counsail of Iohn Morton then Bishop of Ely Notes summarely collected and repeated of things done in the tyme of K. Henry the seueÌ„th after Archbishop of Canterbury and Cardinall howe long the sayd King reigned and what persecution was in his time for lacke of searche and knowledge of Gods word both in the diocesse of Lincolne vnder bishop Smith who was erector of the house of Brasen nose in Oxforde as also in the diocesse of Couentrie and other places moe and further what punishment and alteration God commonly sendeth vpon cities and realmes publique for neglecting the safety of his flocke sufficiently in the former booke hath bene alredy specified Wherin many things more amply might haue ben added incideÌ„t in the raigne of this Prince which we haue for breuitie pretermitted For hee that studieth to comprehend in story all things which the common course vse of life may offer to the wryter may sooner finde matter to occupye himselfe then to profite other Otherwise I myght haue inferred mention of the seditions tumult of Perkin Werbecke wyth his retinue Anno 1494. also of Blackheath field by the Blacke smith An. 1496. Perkin Werbeck which fained himself to be K. Edwards sonne I myght also haue recited the glorious commendation of Georgius Lilius in his Latine Chronicle testifying of King Henrie 7. howe hee sent three solemne Oratours to Pope Iulius 2. to yeelde his obedience to the sea of Rome An. 1506. and likewise howe Pope Alexander 9. Pius 3. and Iulius 2. sent to the sayde king Henry 7. three sundrie famous Ambassadours whith tree swordes and three cappes of maintenance Blacke heathe fielde electing and admitting hym to be the chiefe defendor of the faith The commendation of which facte howe glorious it is in the eyes of Georgius Lilius and Fabian that I leaue to them This I suppose that when Kyng Henry sent to Pope Iulius three Orators wyth obedience if he had sent him thre thousand harquebuziers to furnish his fielde against the French king fighting at Rauenna hee had pleased pope Iulius much better If Georgius Lilius had bene disposed to illustrate his story with notes this had bene more worthy the noting Ex Masseo lib. 20. howe Ludouike 12. French king calling his Parliament moued this question against Pope Iulius whether a Pope might inuade any Prince by warlike force wythout cause and whether the prince might withdraw hys obedience from that Pope or not And it was concluded in the same Parliament wyth the king against the Pope Also it was concluded the same time which was in the raigne of this king Henry 7 that the * Pragmatica sanctio was a practising or a determination of a certaine parliament in Fraunce against the Bishop of Rome in defeÌ„ce of certaine matters of religion concluded in the couÌ„cel of Basill Pragmatical sanction should be receiued in ful force and effect through all the realme of Fraunce And for so muche as wee are fallen into the mention of Georgius Lilius this in hym is to be found not vnworthy noting howe after the burning of Thomas Norice aboue mentioned pag. 775. at the citie of Norwich that the same yeare followed such a fire in Norwich that the whole Citie well neare was therewith consumed Ex Geor. Lilio Like as also after the burning of the foresayde good aged father in Smithfield A note of Gods plagues folowing the burning of his people the same yeare which was 1500. we reade in the Chronicle of Fabian a great plague to fall vppon the Citie of London to the great destruction of the inhabitantes therof Wherein agayne is to be noted as is aforesayd that according to the state of the church the disposition of the common wealth commonly is guided eyther to be wyth aduersitie afflicted or els in prosperitie to flourish But after these notes of King Henry 7. nowe to the storie of king Henry 8. This king Henry 7. finishing his course in the yeare abouesayd which was 1509. had by Elizabeth hys wife aboue named The children ofspring of king Henry .7 foure men children and of women children as many Of whome 3. onely suruiued to wit prince Henry Lady Margarete and Lady Mary Of whome King Henry the eight after hys father succeded Lady Margaret was marryed to Iames the fourth king of Scottes Lady Margaret maried to king Iames 4. of Scotland Lady Margaret maried to the K. of Castile Prince Arthur maried to Lady Katherine daughter to the Spanishe king The death of Prince Arthur K. Henry marieth Lady Katherine his brothers wyfe Ladie Mary was affied to Charles king of Castile Not long before the death of king Henry prince Arthur his elder sonne had espoused Lady Katherine daughter to Ferdinandus being of the age of 15. yeares and shee about the age of 17. and shortly after hys mariage wythin 5. monethes departed at Ludlowe and was buried at Worcester After whose decease the succession of the Crowne fell next to king Henry the 8. being of the age of 18. yeres who entred hys raigne the yeare of our Lorde 1509. and shortly after maried with the foresayde Katherine his late brother Prince Arthurs wife to the end that her dowry being great shoulde not be transported out of the lande In the which his marriage being more politique then Scripture like he was dispensed wyth by pope Iulius at the request of Ferdinandus her father The raigne of this king continued with great noblenes and fame Blind dispeÌ„satioÌ„s of the Pope the space of 38. yeres During whose time and raigne was greate alteration of things as well to the ciuile state of the Realme as especially to the state Ecclesiasticall and matters of the Church appertaining For by him was exiled and abolyshed out of the Realme the vsurped power of the Byshop of Rome Idolatrye and superstition somewhat repressed Images and pilgrimages defared Abbeys and monasteries pulled downe Sectes of religion
knowe whether hee shall be saued c.  Marian Morden his own sister Also that shee dyd not worship Images And after these little thynges he intended to teache her of the Sacrament  W. Afrike or Littlepage Iohn Afrike or Litlepage Emme Harding or Afrike Iohn Fip Phisition ¶ To thys Iames Morden with other moe abiurers it was enioyned by Bishoppe Smith for seuen yeares to visite the church of Lincolne twise a yeare from Amersham And when diuers had gotte licence of the Bishoppe for length of the iourny to visite the Image of our Ladie of Missenden for the space of v. yeares thys Iames Morden when hee coulde not obtaine licence so to doe yet notwithstandyng for the tediousnesse of the way went with them to the same Image and thereuppon was charged for violatyng the Bishops iniunction Also because to get his liuing hee wrought halfe a yeare out of the dioces when he had bene inioyned by the Bishop not to goe out of the diocesse of Buckingham Fol. 11. This Iam. Morden confessed y t he vsed his Pater noster and Creede so much in English that he had forgot many words therof in Latin and therefore was inioyned by bishop Smith to say it no more in English but only in Latine and because he kept not this iniunction he fell therefore in relaps Roger Benet by like compulsion of his othe was caused to detect these following to be knowne persons W. Rogers Tyler and his wife W. Harding Rog. Harding Ioane Ienynges George seruaunt to Tho. Tochel Th. Gray seruant of Roger Benet Agnes Franke. Ioane Colyngworth W. Smith The wife of Iohn Milsent Rob. Stampe and his wife The wife of Rob. Bartlet The wife of Dauid Lewys of Henley Ioh. Frier seruant to M. Penne. Iohn Tracher  Ioh. Mordens wife Rich. Ashford Wil. Litlâ—page prentise sometime of Iohn Scriuener Emme his wife Ioh. Scriuener Isabel Morwyn For teaching Coplands wyfe her errors Thom Halfaker sworne vpon his othe did detect these names here folowing Ioh. Milsent his wife Rog. Harding and his wife Th. Bernard Th. Afrike his wife W. Rogers W. Harding and his wife Kat. Bartlet the mother of Rob. and Ric. Barlet Th. Harding his wife W. Franke and Agnes his wife This great abiuraâ—ion was anno 1511. Because these comming to the Church and especiallye at the eleuatioÌ„ time would say no prayers but did sitte mumme as hee tearmed it lyke beastes Because Katherine Bartlette beyng of good health came but seldome to the Church but fained her selfe sicke and because William Franke maried Agnes hys wife shee beyng before abiured  Rob. Pope Because hee fled away when the great abiuration was at Amersham Also for hauing certaine English bokes fol. 16.  Emme Affrike alias Emme Harding I. Affricke Henry Milner Hernes wife now the wife of Waiuer William Tilseworth Emme Tilseworth of London Thomas Tilseworth and his wife The wife of Robert Tilseworth William Glasbroke Christopher Glasbroke Milner Thomas Groue and Ioane his wife Thomas Man by Bristow Tho. Holms detected Hen. Miller Counted for a great heretike and learned in the Scripture  Iohn Schepard The wife of Iohn Schepard of Dorney The elder daughter of Rog Harding of Amersham Nich. Stokely Couper and his wife of Henley Iohn Clerke Tho. Wilbey of Henley W. Stokeley Hobs with his sonnes of Hychenden The wife of Iohn Scriuener Smith of Owborne Thomas Clerke the elder Thomas Clerke the younger Wigmer fermer of Hychenden Robert Carder weiuer Iohn-Frier seruant to M. Pen. Iohn Morwen and Isabel his wife Elizabeth Houer wife of Henry Houer of little Missenden Rich. White Fuller of Beckinsfield  Andr. Randal and his wife of Ricmansworth Because they receyued into theyr House Thomas Manne flying for persecution and for reading Wickleffs Wicket  The father of Andrewe Randall Benet Ward Fuller Thys Benet Warde was also denounced by Iohn Merstonne for saying that it booteth no manne to pray to oure Ladie nor to no Sainte nor aungell in Heauen but to God only for they haue no power of mans soule  The wife of Benet Ward and her dâ—ughter For saying that Thomas Pope was the deuoutest manne that euer came in their house for he woulde sitte readyng in his booke to midnight many times The foresayd Tho. Holmes detected Tho. Tailour and his wife of Vxbridge Rob. Quicke Rob. Cosine Tho. Clarke and his wife of Ware One Gâ—ldener about Herford Iohn Bay and Wil. Say his sonne of little Missenden The wife of Iohn Wellys of Amersham Ioane Glasbroke sister to Wil. Glasbroke of Harow on the Hill Tho. Susan Wheler Iohnâ— Lee Smith Iohn Austy Sherman Iohn Frier Edmund Harding Ioh. Heron Carpenter of Hambeldon Henry Miller  Iohn Phips Hee was very ripe in Scriptures  Emme wife of Rich. Tilsworth  Iohn Phip He was a reader or rehearser to the other  Iohn Say of Missenden William Stokeley  Rog. Squire For saying to Holmes Thys is one of them that maketh all this businesse in oure Towne wyth the Byshoppe I pray GOD teare al the bones of him  Roger Herne A certaine Tanner  Ioh. Butler Carpenter Rich. Butler W. King of Vxbridge These three sate vp all the night in the house of Durdant of Iuencourte by Stanes For reading the Scripture in Englishe readinge all the nighte of a Booke of Scripture  Iohn Muklyf Weauer For speaking againste holy bread and holy water  Tho. Man For saying that Christ was not substantially in the Sacrament  Thomas 〈…〉 Butler For receiuing an English booke geuen hym by Carder his father who after his abiuration don before bishop Smith fel sieke and died  Rich Vulford of Riselip Hackar Thomas King  Ione Cocks The wife of Rob. Wywood husbandman For desiring of Durdant her maister that he being a knowen a man woulde teache her some knowledge of gods law and desiring the same also of the Butlers Rob. Carder of Iuer weuer detected these Nic. DurdaÌ„t of Stanes Dauy Durdant of Ankerwike The wife of old DurdaÌ„t The wife of Nich. Durdant These were detected for that olde Durdant of Euyncourte at dinner sitting with his children their wiues bidding a boy there staÌ„ding to departe out of y e house that he should not heare and tel did recite certain places vnto them out of the Epistles of S. Paule of the Gospels  Ric. White Father in law to Benet Ward of Bekinsfield He was detected to be a knowen man because after the death of bishop Smith he was heard to say these words my L. that dead is was a good man and diuers known men were called before him he seÌ„t them home againe bidding them y t they should liue among their neighbors as good Christen men should do And now saide he there is a new Byshop which is called a blessed man and if he bee as he is named hee wil not trouble the seruants of God but wil let them be in quiet
Wicket the Gospell of Sainct Iohn the Epistles of Sainct Paule Iames and Peter in English an exposition of the Apocalips a booke of our Ladies mattens in english a booke of Salomon in english a booke called the pricke of conscience  Iohn Edmundes of Burford Taylor The crime againste Iohn Edmundes for hauing a certain english book of y e cōmandemēts The foresayd Robert Colyns being sworne vpon the Euangelists did detecte these persons Iohn Harrys The crime againste Iohn Harrys For communing with hym of the first Chapter of Sainct Iohns Gospel For speaking against Idolatry In the beginning was the word and the word was wyth God and God c. Also for communing of a Chapter in Mathew of the viij beatitudes  Thomas Hall Item for counsaylyng hym not to go on pilgrimage to Saincts because they were Idols  Rob. Lyuord William Lyuord Bruges Ioanne his wife Harrys his wife Rich. Colyns All these were detected for that they beeing together in Bruges house at Burford were reading together in the booke of the exposition of the Apocalyps and communed concerning the matter of opening the booke with seauen claspes c.  Iohn Ledisdall or Edon of Hungerford Iohn Colyns of Burford Iohn Colyns and his wife of Asthall Iohn Clerke of Claufield The wife of Richard Colyns of Ginge  Thom. Colyns and his wife of Gynge This Thomas was charged for hauyng a booke of Paul Iames in English  William Colyns Robert Pope of Henred Hakker of Colmanstreete in London  Stacy brickmaker of Colmōstreete For hauing the booke of the Apocalypse  Tho Phillip Laurence Wharfar of London For readyng the Epistle of Sainct Peter in English in the house of Roberte Colyns at Asthall  Ioanne Colyns his owne sister of Asthall Thomas Colyns hys cousen of Asthall Maistres Bristow of London Iohn Colyns sonne of Richard Colyns of Gynge Ioanne Colyns daughter of Richard Colyns of Gynge Henry Stacy sonne of Stacy of Colmanstreete Thomas Steuenton of Charney in Barkeshyre Iohn Brabant in Stanlake Iohn Baker weauer of Wytney  Richard Colyns The wordes of Richarde Colyns were these That the Sacramente was not the true bodye of Christ in flesh and bloud but yet it ought to be reuerenced albeit not so as the true body of christ  Thom. Colins of Gynge hys owne naturall Father The crime agaynste Thomas Colins For that eight yeares past this Thomas Colins his Father had taught this Iohn his sonne in the presence of hys Mother the x. Commaundementes and namely that he should haue but one GOD and shoulde worshyp nothing but GOD alone The sonne accuseth the father and that to worship Sayntes and to go on pilgrimage was Idolatry Also that he should not worshippe the Sacrament of the aulter as God for that it was but a token of the Lordes bodye Which thing so muche discontented this Iohn Colyns that he sayd he would disclose his Fathers errours and make him to be burned but his Mother entreated him not so to doe  Rob. Colins of Asthall The crime against Rob. Colyns That this Robert readde to him in a certaine thick booke of Scripture in English Iohn Colins of Burford appeached to the Byshop these persons her named Iohn Edmundes and his wife The crime layd to Ioh. Edmundes For that hee readde to this Iohn the x. Commaūdementes tolde him that Iohn Baptiste sayd that one shoulde come after him whose buckle of his shoo he was not worthye to vndoe  Alice wife of Gunne of Wytney  Iohn Hakker and his sonne of London This Iohn Hakker of London comming to Burford brought a book speaking of the x. plagues of Pharao Also after that an other booke entreatyng of the seauen Sacramentes  Laurence Taylor of Shordich Thomas Philip of London Philip seruaunt of Richard Colins Waunsell fishmonger of the Vise Ioane Robert Burges wife Iohn Boyes and his brother a Monke of Burford Thomas Baker Father to Gunnes wife of Whatley Agnes daughter of Iohn Edmundes The Mother of Iohn Boyes of Sedbery Edward Red Scholemayster of Burford Robert Hichman of Lechelade  Elynor Hegges of Burford This Elynor was charged that she shold burne the Sacrament in an Ouen  Iohn Through of the Priory of Burford The Mother of Robert Burges wife Roger Dods of Burford by his othe was cōpelled to vtter these persons here named Syr Iohn Drury Vicare of Windrish in Worcetershyre The crime against this Syr Iohn Drury was for that when Roger Doddes came first to him to bee hys seruaunte hee sware him vppon a booke to keepe his counsels in all thinges and after that he shewed hym a certayne woman in his house whome hee sayde to bee hys wife counselling moreouer the sayd Roger Dods vpon an embring day to suppe with bread cheese sayinge that whiche goeth into a mannes body defileth not a mans soule but that whiche goeth out of the body defileth both body and soule Also that the sayde Uicare taught him the A.B. C. to the intent he shoulde haue vnderstanding in the Apocalips wherein he sayde that he shoulde perceiue all the falsehood of the world and all the trueth He said farthermore vnto him when he had bene at the Ladye of Worcester at the bloud of hayles which had cost him xviij pence that he had done as an ill husbande that had ploughed his lande and sowen it but nothing to the purpose For he hadde worshipped mans handye worke and cast away his money which had bene better geuen to the poore for he should worship but one God and no handye worke of man Item when the people would offer candles where hee was Uicare to Mary Magdalene he would take thē away say they were fooles y t brought them thether  Elizabeth More of Easthenred Robert Pope of Westhenred  Henry Miller or Tucke by Ware This Henrye dyd shew to Roger Dods a certain story of a woman in the Apocalips riding vpō a red beast The sayd Henry was twise abiured  Iohn Fyppe of Hychenden For reading vnto the said Roger Dods a certayne Gospell in English  W. Fyppe of Hychenden and Henry his sonne This William had exhorted Roger Dods that he should worship no Images nor commit no Idolatrye but worship one God and tolde the same Roger that it was good for a man to be mery wise meaning that he shold keepe close that was tolde him for els strait punishement woulde folow  Roger Parker of Hichenhen This Parker sayd to Iohn Fyppe for burning of his bookes that he was fowle to blame for they were worth a hūdreth markes To whom Iohn aunsweared that hee had rather burne his bookes then that hys bookes shoulde burne hym  The wife of Thomas Wydemore daughter of Roger House of Hychenden Olde Wydmores wife sister to Iohn Phip of Hychenden  Iohn Ledisdall of Hungerford For reading the Bible in Englishe For reading of the bible in Robert Burges ouse at
be in a great choler some he beat and some things also of a smal value he caused to be restored but all the rest was kept backe and caryed away Two womeÌ„ the mother and the daughter Martyrs The same day two women the mother and the daughter were found in a caue in the mountaine wounded to death by the souldiers and died immediatly after So likewise a blinde man a hundreth yeares of age which was fled into a caue with his sonnes daughter being eighteene yeares olde whych fed him was slaine by the enemies The grandfather hys nyce dyed Martyrs and as they would haue forced the mayden she escaped from them and fell from the top of the mountaine and dyed At that tyme also a great company of women of Tailleret Uillars were taken as they fled with their goodes and brought to the campe and sent away emptye There was at the same tyme a certaine souldier whiche promised the Lord of Trinitie to find out the minister of Tailleret and to deliuer him into his owne hands And to bring his purpose to passe he neuer ceased vntill he had founde him and after that he pursued hym a long time But as he was pursuing and chasing him A wicked persecuter killed with stones certaine at vnwares comming out of the mountaine rescued the poore minister and killed the souldier with stones But this especially is to be noted that duryng these troubles diuers of the Papistes had sent their daughters into the mountaines vnto the Waldoys to be kept fearing least they should haue ben rauished by the souldiers being wholy geuen ouer as to all crueltie and rauine so to all villany and abhomination by whome they were before threatned to be so abused All this being done the sayd Lord of Trinitie caused the head officers and chiefest of y e people to assemble together and declared vnto them that the mainteining of the army was a greate charge vnto the Duke and that it was meete that they should beare the one halfe of the charges For this cause he demaunded of them twentie thousande crownes But by the meanes of his Secretarie Gastaut who was promised a hundreth crownes for hys wyne that is to say for a bribe foure thousand of those twenty were abated The poore Waldoys pressed at 16. thousaÌ„d crownes so that they graunted vnto him xvj thousand of the which summe the Duke released the one halfe Then the Lord of Trinitie pressed this poore people to deliuer the eight thousand out of hand to pay the souldyers their wages as he sayde and so to withdraw his armye The yeare before corne was exceeding deare for a sacke was commonly sold for sixe crownes yea and some for eight crownes and also they had very litle corne growing vpon their mountaines wherefore they were now verye bare of money But they being in this perplexitie and desiring nothing more then to liue in peace and quietnes went about to sell their cattell to pay this money But the Lord of Trinitie had geuen out a commandement y t none should buy any cattell of the Waldoys The Papists false of promise without his liceÌ„ce Then licence was geuen out to certaine to buy great store of cattell and that for a small price and the common brute was that he had part of the gaine When this money was payd yet the army notwithstanding retyred not After this the Lord of Trinitie commaunded the Waldoys to surrender vp al their armour to furnish y e Dukes fortes otherwise he threatned to sende his souldyers amongest them and in deede he constrained many so to do Then he demanded moreouer the eight thousand crownes whiche the Duke had remitted and constrayned them to promise the payment thereof After that he commaunded that the ministers should be sent awaye vntill the matter were determined before the Duke otherwise he woulde send his souldiers to dislodge them out of hand whereuppon with one common assent and accord they determined that their ministers shoulde withdrawe themselues for a space vntill the army were retired which was not done without marueilous sighes lamentation and teares At that season there fell such abundance of snowe that the like had not bene seene of a long time before so that the people were constrained to make a way with great trauaile and paine through the top of the mountayne of S. Martin for their ministers to passe Now thought the Lord of Trinitie so to haue enclosed them he keeping the plaine and the mountaynes beyng couered so thicke with snowe that by no meanes they shoulde haue escaped his handes But the people caused theÌ„ to passe the top of the mountayne and at their departure The care of the Waldois for their ministers there flocked out of euery quarter greate multitudes to the village of Boby and came together into a secrete place there called le Puis not withoute greate griefe and sorowe For they found theÌ„ altogether in teares and mourning that their ministers should so be taken froÌ„ them and they now leaft as lambes amongst wolues The armye was aduertised that the ministers were assembled together and incontinent a greate troupe of harquebushes were at hand whiche sought them euen to the very top of the mountaine in so much that if they had remained there but one houre longer they had bene all taken From that time for certaine dayes after they dyd nothing but raunge about in all places Gods prouidence for his ministers seeking for the ministers and there was no house chamber caue nor secrete corner into the whiche they dyd not enter vnder pretence to seeke the Ministers There was neither chest nor any thing else so strong but they brake it open saying that the ministers were hidden therein and by that meanes they tooke spoyled and caried away whatsoeuer they would The Lorde of Trinitie promised often tymes that although it were forbidden to all the Ministers to preache yet the Minister of Angrongne shoulde be excepted and furthermore sent the sayd Minister word that if he would demaunde any thyng of the Duke it shoulde be graunted hym Whereupon the sayde Minister made thys request that the poore people might liue peaceably in their religioÌ„ A while after he sent for the saide Minister to confer wyth him priuately vpoÌ„ certaine points of religion The minister went vnto him hauing therto the coÌ„sent of the people The Lord of Trinitie propounded vnto him three points Marke here the faire pretence trayterous meaning of the Lord of Trynitye which by by after seeâ—â—th the death of this good Minister The first concerning the supremacie of the Pope the other concerned transubstantiation Of the whyche two points the minister then immediatly declared his opinioÌ„ and he seemed to agree thereunto and required him to put the same in writing The last which was his whole drift was to perswade the minister to go to the Dukes Court and there to defend the cause of the people
and his two daughters Edmond Tibold and his wife Henry Butcher and his wife William Butcher and his wife George Preston and his wife Ioane Smith widow Robert Smith her sonne Richard Smith her sonne Margaret Smith her daughter Elizabeth Smith her daughter Rob. Hempstede and his wife Tho. Hempstede and his wife Iohn Hempstede his sonne Robert fayre William Chatwals Ioane Smith widow otherwise called Agnes widow Iohn her sonne Thomas her sonne Christopher her sonne Alyce her daughter Ioane her daughter Iohn Wiggen Nicholas Holdens wife Alyce Shypwright Henry Browne Iohn Craneford ¶ All these were of the Towne of Bumstede who being detected by Syr Richard Foxe their Curate and partly by Tibold were brought vp to the Byshop of London and all put together in one house to the number of xxxv to be examined and abiured by the sayd Byshop Moreouer in other townes about Suffolke and Essex other also were detected as in the towne of Byrbroke these following Isabell Choote widow Men women of Essex Suffolke troubled for the Gospell Iohn Choote her sonne William Choote her sonne Christopher Choote her sonne Robert Choote her sonne Margeret Choote her daughter Katherine her mayde Thomas Choote and his wife Haruy and his wife Agnes his daughter Thomas his sonne Bateman and his wife Iohn Smith and his wife Thomas Butcher and his wife Robert Catlyn a spone maker Christmas and his wife William Bechwith his wife and his two sonnes Iohn Pickas and his wife William Pickas his brother Girling his wife his daughter Mathewes wife Iohnson his wife and his son Thomas Hilles Roger Tanner Christopher Rauen and his wife Iohn Chapman his seruant Richard Chapman his seruant and brother to Iohn Chapman Iohn Chapman Who remaineth yet aliue hath bene of a long time a great harberour of many good men women that were in trouble distresse receiued theÌ„ to his house as Tho. Bate Simon Smith the Priests wife Roger Tanner with a nuÌ„ber mo which ye may see reade in our first edition pa. 419. ¶ Touching this Richard Chapman this by the way is to be noted that as he was in his coate and shyrt enioyned bare head Rich. Chapman bare foote and bare legge to go before the procession and to kneele vpon the cold steps in the Church all the Sermon time Cruelty shewed for mercy a little ladde seeing him kneele vpon the cold stone with his bare knees hauing pitie on him came to him and hauing nothing else to geue him brought him his cap to kneele vpon For the which the boy immediatly was taken into the Uestry and there vnmercifully beaten for his mercy shewed to the poore penitent Besides these diuers other were about London Colchester and other places also partakers of the same Crosse and affliction for the like cause of the Gospell in whiche number commeth in these which hereafter follow Peter Fenne Priest Iohn Turke Robert Best William Raylond of Colchester Henry Raylond his sonne Marion Mathew or Westden This Parker was abiured 24. yeares before this Dorothe Long. Thomas Parker Alyce Gardiner Iohn Tomson of Colchester Ioh. Bradley and his wife PersoÌ„s abiured of Colchester Anno. 1532. Iohn Hubert of Estdoneland and his wife M. Forman Bacheler of Diuitie Parson of Hony lane Robert Necton Katherine Swane Master Cowbrige of Colchester Wydow Denby Robert Hedill of Colchester William Butcher whose fathers graundfather was burned for the same Religion Abraham Water of Colchester Robert Wygge of London William Bull. of London George Cooper of London Iohn Toy All these in this table were troubled abiured an 1527. 1528. of S. Fayth of London Richard Foster of London Sebastian Harrys Curate of Kensington Ex Regist. Lond. ¶ All these in this table conteined were troubled and abiured an 1527. and 1528. Ioh. Wyly the elder Catherine Wyly his wife Io. Wyly his sonne Christian Wyly his wife W. Wyly his sonne Margaret Wyly his wife Lucy Wyly Agnes Wyly two yong gyrles An. 1532. These eight persons were accused an 1532. for eating potage and fleshmeate fiue yeares before vpon S. Iames euen Also another time vpon S. Peters euen as Catherine Wyly dyd lye in childbed the other wiues with the two gyrles were found eating altogether of a brothe made with the fore part of a racke of Mutton Item the foresayd Iohn Wyly the elder had a Primmer in English in his house and other bookes Also he had a yong daughter of tenne yeares olde which coulde render by hart the most part of the 24. Chapter of S. Mathewe Also could rehearse without booke the disputation betweene the clarke and the Frier Item the sayde Iohn Wyly had in hys house a treatise of William Thorpe and Syr Iohn Oldcastle ¶ A note of Richard Bayfilde aboue mentioned MEntion was made before of Richard Bayfild Monke of Bury pag 1024. who in these perillous dayes amongst other good Saincts of God suffered death as yee haue heard but how and by whome he was detected hath not bene shewed which nowe in searching out of Registers as we haue found so we thought good heere to adioyne y e same with the words confession of the same Edmund Peerson which detected him in maner as foloweth * The accusation of Edmund Peerson agaynst Bayfilde The accusation of Edmund Pâ—â—rson agaynst Râ—â—h Bayfilde THe xiij day of September at iiij of the clocke at after noone the yeare of our Lord. 1527. Sir Richard Bayfilde sayd that my Lord of Londons Commissary was a playne Pharisey wherfore he would speake with him and by his wholesome doctrine he trusted in God hee shoulde make him a perfect Christen man and me also for I was a Pharisey as yet he sayd Also he sayde that he cared not and if the Commissary and the Chauncellour heard him both for the Chauncellour he sayd was also a Pharisey and trusted to make him a Christen man Also he sayd he was entreated by his frends and in maner constrayned to abyde in the Citie agaynst hys will to make the Chauncellour and many moe perfect Christen men for as yet many were Phariseis and knewe not the perfect declaration of the Scripture Also he sayde that M. Arthur and Bilney were and be more pure and more perfecter in their liuing to God then was or is the Commissary the Chauncellour my Lord of London or my Lord Cardinall Also he sayde that if Arthur and Bilney suffer death in the quarels and opinions that they be in or hold they shal be Martyrs before God in heauen Commendation of Bilney and Arthur Also he sayd after Arthur and Bilney were put cruelly to death yet should there be hundreths of men that should preach the same that they haue preached Also he sayd that he would fauour Arthur and Bilney he knew their liuing to be so good for they did weare no shyrtes of linnen cloth but shyrts of heare and euer were fasting prayeng or doing some
men of his Realme were sore agreeued with the cruell demainour of the Prelates Ordinaries which touched theyr bodies and goodes so neare that they of necessitie were inforced to make their humble sute by their speaker vnto hys grace to take such order and redresse in the case as to his high wisedome myghte seeme most conuenient c. Unto this request of the commons although the King at that time gaue no present graunt but suspended them with a delay yet notwythstanding this sufficiently declared the grudging mindes of the temporal men against the spiritualtie lacking nothing but Gods helping hande to woorke in the kings heart for reformation of suche things whych all they did see to be out of frame Neyther did the Lordes diuine prouidence faile in time of neede Gods helping hand in time of neede but eftsones ministred a ready remedy in time expedient He saw the pride and cruelty of the spirituall clergy grown to such an height as was intollerable He sawe againe and heard the groning hearts the bitter afflictions of hys oppressed flocke his truth decaied his religion prophaned the glorie of his sonne defaced his church lamentably wasted wherfore it was high time for his high Maiestie to looke vppon the matter as he did in deede by a straunge wonderous meanes whych was through the kings diuorsement from Lady Katherine Dowager and marying with lady Anne Bullen in this present yeare which was the first occasion and beginning of all this publike reformation which hath followed since in this Churche of England to thys present day according as ye shall heare The mariage betwene king Henry VIII and Queene Anne Bullen and Queene Katherine diuorced IN the first entrie of this kings raigne yee hearde before pag. 800. howe after the death of Prince Arthur Queene Annâ— maryed and Lady Katherine diâ—orced the Ladie Katherine Princes Dowager and wife to Prince Arthur by the consent bothe of her father and of his and also by the aduise of the nobles of thys realme to the ende her downe might remaine stil within the realme was espoused after the decease of her husbande to hys nexte brother which was this king Henrie K. Henry maryeth his brothers wife This mariage seemed very straunge and hard for one brother to marie the wife of an other But what can be in thys earth so harde or difficulte wherewyth the Pope the omnipotent Uicare of Christe can not by fauour dispense if it please him The pope which then ruled at Rome was Pope Iulius the second by whose dispensation The Pope dispenseth for the brother to mary the brothers wife thys mariage which neither sense or nature wold admit nor Gods lawe woulde beare was concluded approoued and ratified and so continued as lawfull without any dout or scruple the space neare of 20. yeares till about the time that a certaine doubt began first to be mooued by the Spanyards themselues of the Emperours counsaile An. 1523. at what time Charles the Emperour being here in England promised to marye the Lady Mary daughter to the Kynge of England with the which promise the Spanyardes themselues were not well contented The Spaniardeâ— first doubted of the kings mariage obiecting this among many other causes that the saide Ladie Marie was begotten of the king of England by his brothers wife Wherupon the Emperour forsaking that mariage did couple himself with Lady Isabel daughter to king Emanuell of Portugall Which Mariage was done in the yere of our Lorde 1526. After thys Mariage of the Emperour the next yeare following King Henrie being disappoynted thus of the Emperour entred talke or rather was laboured too by the French Ambassadours for the sayde Lady Mary to be maried to the Frenche kinges sonne Duke of Orliance Upon the talke whereof after long debating at length the matter was put of by a certaine doubt of the President of Paris casting the like obiection as the Spanyardes had done before that was The secoÌ„d doubt whether the Lady Mary was rightly borne whether the Maryage betwene the king the mother of this Lady Mary which had bene his brothers wife before were good or no. And so the mariage twise vnluckely attempted in like sorte brake of againe and was reiected whych happened in the yere of our Lord. 1527. The king vpon the occasion hereof casting many things in his minde began to consider the cause more depely first with himselfe after with certaine of hys nearest counsaile Two perplexityes in the kings minde wherein two things there were which chiefly pricked hys minde wherof the one touched his conscience the other coÌ„cerned the state of his Realme For if that Mariage wyth his brothers wife stode vnlawfull by the law of God then neither was his conscience cleare in reteining the mother nor yet the state of the realme firme by succession of the daughter Cardinall Wolsey a helper to the kinges diuorce It happened the same tyme that the Cardinall which was then nearest about the king had falleÌ„ out with the Emperour for not helping him to y e Papacy as ye before haue heard for the which cause he helped to set the matter forward by all practise he might Thus the king perplexed in his conscience and carefull for y e common wealth and partly also incited by the Cardinall coulde not so rest but inquired further to feel what the word of God learning woulde say vnto it Neither was the case so hard after it began once to come in publicke question but that by the worde of God and the iudgements of the best learned clerkes and also by the censure of the chiefe Uniuersities of all Christendome to the number of .x. and moe it was soone discussed to be vnlawfull All these censures The iudgements of 10. or 12. Vniuersityes agaynst the kinges maryage Orleance Paris Tolouse Angiewe Bononye Padua The facultye of Paris Bytures Oxforde Cambridge bookes and writinges of so manye Doctors Clerks and Uniuersities sent from all quarters of Christendome to the king albeit they might suffice to haue full resolued and did in deede resolue the kinges conscieÌ„ce touching this scruple of his mariage yet would not he streight way vse that aduauntage whiche learning dyd geue him vnles hee had withall the assent as well of the Pope as also the Emperour wherein he perceaued no litle difficultie For the Pope he thought seing the mariage was authorised before by the dispensation of his predecessour would hardly turne hys keyes about to vndoe that which the Pope before him had locked much lesse would he suffer those keyes to be foyled or to come in anye doubt which was like to come if that mariage were prooued vndispensable by Gods woorde which his predecessour thorough his plenary power had licenced before Againe the Emperour he thought would be no lesse hard for his part on the other side for as much as the sayd Lady Katherine was the Emperours neare aunt and a Spaniarde
with them the Lord Cromwell to dyne with him at Lambeth as is afore declared and within few dayes also vpon the same required that he would geue a note of all his doings and reasonynges in the sayd Parlament whiche the sayd Cranmer eftsoones accomplished accordyngly Cranmers reasons and allegations against the 6. articles writteÌ„ to the king drawyng out his reasoÌ„s allegations the copy wherof beyng fayre written out by his Secretary was sent and deliuered vnto the kyng and there remayned Now after these thynges thus discussed as touchyng the vi wicked Articles it foloweth next in returnyng to the order of our story agayne to declare those thynges which after the settyng out of these Articles ensued commyng now to the tyme and story of the Lord Cromwell a man whose worthy fame and deedes are worthy to lyue renowmed in perpetuall memory ¶ The history concernyng the lyfe actes and death of the famous and worthy Counsailour Lord Thomas Cromwell Earle of Essex THomas Cromwell although borne of a simple parentage and house obscure The story of the Lord Thomas Cromwell through the singular excellencie of wisedome and dexteritie of witte wrought in him by God coupled with like industrie of mynde and desertes of lyfe rose to hygh preferrement and authoritie in somuch that by steppes and stayres of office and honour The base degree of the L. Cromwell recompensed with noble Ornamentes he ascended at length to that that not onely he was made Earle of Essex but also most secret and deare Counsellour to kyng Henry and Uicegerent vnto his person which office hath not commonly bene supplied at least not so fruitfully discharged with in this Realme First as touchyng his byrth he was borne at Putney or thereabout being a Smithes sonne whose mother maried after vnto a shyreman In the simple estate rude begynnyngs of this man as of diuers other before him we may see and learne that the excellencie of noble vertues heroicall prowesses which aduaunce to fame and honour staÌ„d not onely vpon byrth bloud as priuileges onely intayled appropriat to noble houses but are disposed indifferently proceede of the gift of God who rayseth vp the poore obiect many tymes out of the donghill matcheth him in throne with Peeres and Princes Psal. 113. As touching the order and maner of his comming vp Commendation of the L. Cromwell it would be superfluous to discourse what may be sayd at large onely by way of story it may suffice to giue a touch of certaine particulars and so to proceede Although the humble condition and pouertie of this maÌ„ was at the begynnyng as it is to many other a great let hinderauÌ„ce for vertue to shew her selfe yet such was the actiuitie and forward rypenes of nature in him so pregnauÌ„t in witte so ready he was in iudgemeÌ„t discret in toung eloquent in seruice faythfull in stomacke couragious in his penne actiue that beyng conuersauÌ„t in the sight of meÌ„ he could not long be vnespied not yet vnprouided of fauour helpe of freÌ„des to set him forward in place and office Neither was any place or office put vnto him whereunto he was not apt fit Nothyng was so hard which with witte and industrie he could not coÌ„passe Neither was his capacitie so good but his memorie was as great in reteining whatsoeuer he had atteined Which well appeared in cannyng the text of the whole new Testament of Erasmus translation without booke in his iourney going and comming from Rome Tho. Cromwell learned the new Testament in â—atin without booke whereof ye shall heare anone Thus in hys growing yeares as he shot vp in age and ripenes a great delite came in his mynde to stray into foreine countreys to see the world abroade and to learne experience whereby he learned such toungs and languages as might better serue for his vse hereafter And thus passing ouer his youth being at Antwerpe he was there reteined of the Englishe Marchauntes to be their Clerke or Secretary or in some suche lyke condition placed perteining to their affaires It happened the same time that the Towne of Boston thought good to send vp to Rome The towne of Bosten for renuing of their two Pardons one called the great Pardon the other the lesser Pardon Which thing although it should stand them in great expenses of money for the Popes Marchaundise is alwayes deare ware yet notwithstanding such sweetenesse they had felt thereof The popes marchaundise deare ware and such gayne to come to theyr Towne by that Romish Marchandise as all superstition is commonly gaynefull that they like good Catholicke Marchauntes Superstition commonly is gaynfull The popes leaâ—es of pardons and the Popes good customers thought to spare for no coste to haue their leases agayne of theyr Pardon 's renewed whatsoeuer they payde for the fine And yet was all this good Religion then suche was the lamentable blindnes of that time This then being so determined decreed amongest my couÌ„treymen of Boston to haue their pardoÌ„s needes repaired renewed from Rome one Geffray ChaÌ„bers with an other coÌ„panion was sent for y e messengers with writings money no small quaÌ„tity well furnished with all other things appointed necessary for so chargeable costly exployt who coÌ„ming in his iorney to Antwarpe misdoubting himselfe to be too weake for the compassing of suche a weightie peece of worke coÌ„ferred perswaded with Tho. Cromwell to associate him in that legacie and to assist him in the contriuing thereof Cromwell although perceauing the enterprise to be of no small difficultie to trauerse the Popes Court for the vnreasonable expenses amoÌ„gst those greedy cormorantes yet hauing some skill of the Italian toung and as yet not grounded in iudgement of religion in those his youthfull daies was at length obteined and content to giue the aduenture and so tooke his iourney toward Rome Cromwell goeth to Rome Cromwell loth to spend much time more loth to spend his money and againe perceiuing that the Popes greedy humor must needes be serued wyth some present or other for without rewards there is no doing at Rome began to cast with himselfe what thing best to deuise wherein he might best serue the Popes deuotion At length hauing knowledge how that the Popes holy tooth greatly delited in new fangled straunge delicates and dayntie dishes it came in his minde to prepare certeine fine dishes of gelly after the best fashion made after our countrey maner heere in Englande which to them of Rome was not knowne nor seene before This done Cromwell obseruing his time accordyngly as the Pope was newly come froÌ„ hunting into his pauillion he with his companions approched with his english presents brought in with a three mans song as we call it in the English tongue and all after y e English fashion The Pope sodenly marueiling at the straungenes of the song and vnderstanding that they were Englishmen and that
seate do as they teache but not as they do Thus confesse they that they are abhominable c. Heere followe other heresies and errours collected by the Byshops out of the booke named the obedience of a Christian man with the places of the booke annexed to the same 1. HE saieth we are bounde to make satisfaction to our neighbour but not to God fol. 132. Satisfaction is a full recompence or amends making to him whome we haue offended which recompence we are able to make one man to another and are bound so to do but to God no man can make any mends or recompence but onely Gods owne sonne Christ Iesus our Sauiour For else if man could haue made satisfaction to God then had Christ died in vayne Gal. 2. Loe what heresie or errour is in this Article 2 He sayth that children ought not to marry without the consent of theyr parents fol. 120. The wordes of Tindall in the obedience be these Let the fathers and mothers marke howe they themselues were disposed at all ages and by experience of their owne infirmities helpe their children and keepe them from occasions Let them prouide marriages for them in season teaching them also to know that she is not his wife which the sonne taketh nor he her husband which the daughter taketh without the consent or good will of their Elders or them that haue authoritie ouer them If their friendes will not marry them then are they not too blame if they marry themselues Let not the fathers and mothers alwayes take the vttermost of their authoritie of their children but at all times suffer with them and beare theyr weakenes as Christ doth ours c. 3 He saith that vowes are against the ordinance of God fol. 109. They that say that this Article is an heresie Let them shew where these vowes in all the new testament be ordeyned by God â— article especially such vowes of single life and wilfull pouertie as by the canon law be obtruded to yong Priests and Nouices S. Paule playnely forfendeth anye widowes to be admitted vnder the age of threscore yeres Is not heere trow you a perilous heresie 4 He saith that a christian man may not resist a prince being Infidell and an Ethnike This taketh away free will fol. 113. 4. article S. Peter willeth vs to be subiect to our princes 1. Pet. 2. S. Paule also doth the like Rom. 13. Who was also hymselfe subiecte to the power of Nero and although euerye commaundement of Nero against God he did not follow yet he neuer made resistaunce against the authoritie and state of Nero as the Pope vseth to do against the state not only of Infidels but also of Christen Princes 5 Whatsoeuer is done before the spirit of God commeth and geueth vs light is damnable sinne This is against morall vertues fol. 113. 5. article What heresie Aristotle in his Ethikes can finde by thys article I can not tell sure I am that the word and spirite of God well considered can finde none but rather wyll pronounce the contrary to be a damnable heresie 6 He reproueth men that make holy Saints their Aduocates to God 6. article and there he sayth that Saints were not rewarded in heauen for their holy workes fol. 114. The words of Tindall be these They turne from Gods word and put their trust and confidence in the Sainct and his merites and make an aduocate or rather a God of the sainct The place aâ—â—exed c. They ascribe heauen to their imaginations and mad inuentions and receiue it not of the liberalitie of God by the merites and deseruing of Christ c. 7 God moued the harts of the Egiptians to hate the people Likewise he moued Kings c. fol. 118. 7. article The words in the obedience be these In the 107. Psalme thou readest He destroyed the Riuers and dried vp the springs of water The place annexed and turned the frutefull land into barrâ—nnes for the inhabitaunces thereof When the children of Israell had forgotten God in Egypt God moued the harts of the Egyptians to hate them and to subdue them with craft and wilines Psalme 105. In the second chapter of the first booke of the Kings God was angry with the people and moued Dauid to number them when Ioab and the other Lords wondered why he would haue them numbred and because they feared least some euill should follow disswaded the King yet it holpe not God so * God sometimes hardneth the harte of good Princes for the wickednes of the people The place annexed hardened his hart in his purpose to haue an occasion to sley the wicked people c. 8 Paule was of higher authority then Peter fol. 125. The words in the Obedience be these I suppose sayeth he speaking of Paule that I was not behinde the hygh Apostles meaning in preaching Iesus Christ and his Gospell and in ministring the spirit And in the same cha he proueth by the doctrine of Christ that he was greater then the high Apostles For Christ saith to be great in the kingdome of God is to do seruice and take payne for other Upon which rule Paule disputeth sayeng If they be the ministers of Christ I am more in labours more aboundant in stripes aboue measure in prison more plenteous in death oft c. If Paule preached Christ more then Peter and suffered more for his congregation then is hee greater then Peter by the testimonie of Christ c. 9. article The place annexed 9 A Priest ought to haue a wife for two causes fol. 133. The words of Tindall be these He must haue a wife for two causes One that it may thereby be knowne who is meete for the rowme he is vnapt for so chargeable an office Truth turned into heresie which had neuer houshold to rule An other cause is that chastitie is an exceeding seldome gift and vnchastitie exceeding perillous for that degree in as much as the people looke as well vnto the liuing as vnto the preaching and are hurt at once if the liuing disagree and fall from the faith and beleeue not the word c. 10 He condemneth auricular confession fol. 140. 10. article Of this reade aboue page 1166.1167 Read afore pag. 1166.1167 11 Euery man is a Priest and we neede no other Priest to bee a meane for vs vnto God fol. 144. 11. article The words in the obedience be these There is a worde called in Latin Sacerdos in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Hebrue CohaÌ„ that is The place annexed a Minister an Officer a Sacrificer or a Priest as Aaron was a priest and sacrificed for the people and was a mediatour betweene God and them and in the English it should haue had some other name then Priest But Antichrist hath deceiued vs with vnknown and strange terms to bring vs into confusion and superstitious blindnes And made vs Kinges
Illustrem super Validitate Inualiditate Matrimonij inter eosdem Reges contracti consummati rebusque alijs inactis causae causarum huiusmodi latius deductis dilecto filio Paulo Capissucho causaruÌ„ sacri palatij tunc decano propter ipsius Pauli absentiam venerabili fratri nostro Iacobo Simonetae Episcopo Pisauâ—ien vnius ex dicti palatij causauruÌ„ Auditoribus locuÌ„ teneÌ„ti audieÌ„dis instrueÌ„dis in Consistorio nostro Secreto referendis cómissis pereos nobis eiusdeÌ„ Cardinalibus Relatis maturè discussis coraÌ„ nobis peÌ„deÌ„tibus matrimoniuÌ„ inter predictaÌ„ CatherinaÌ„ HeÌ„ricuÌ„ Angliae Reges coÌ„tractuÌ„ inde secuta quaecuÌ„que fuisse esse validuÌ„ canonicuÌ„ validaque Canonica suosque debitos debuisse debere sortiri effectus proleÌ„que exinde susceptam suscipieÌ„daÌ„ fuisse fore legitimaÌ„ praefatuÌ„ HeÌ„ricum Angliae RegeÌ„ teneri obligatuÌ„ fuisse fore ad cohabitanduÌ„ cuÌ„ dictâ— Catherina Regina eius legitima coÌ„iuge illaÌ„que maritali affectione Regio honore tractaÌ„duÌ„ euÌ„deÌ„ HeÌ„ricuÌ„ Angliae Regem ad praemissa omnia singula cuÌ„ effectu adimplenduÌ„ condeÌ„danduÌ„ omnibusque iuris remedijs cogenduÌ„ coÌ„pellenduÌ„ fore prout condeÌ„namus cogimus compellimus molestationesque denegationes per eundeÌ„ HenricuÌ„ RegeÌ„ eideÌ„ Catherinae Reginae super inualiditate ac foedere dicti matrimonij quomodo libet factas praestâ—tas fuisse esse illicitas iniustas eideÌ„ HeÌ„rico Regi super illis ac inualiditate matrimonij huiusmodi perpetuuÌ„ sileÌ„tium imponeÌ„duÌ„ fore imponimê° eundeÌ„que HenricuÌ„ Angliae RegeÌ„ in expensis in huiusmodi causa pro parte dictae Catherinae Reginae coram nobis dictis omnibus legitimè factis coÌ„deÌ„nanduÌ„ fore condeÌ„namus quaruÌ„ expensarum taxationem nobis imposteruÌ„ reseruamus Ita pronuntiamus I. Lata fuit Romae in Palatio Apostolico publice in Consistorio die .xxiii. Martij M.D.XXXIIII Blosius ¶ The effect in English THe effect of this Sentence is as much to meane in english That Pope Clement the vij with the consent of his other brethreÌ„ the Cardinals assembled together in his Consistory The Pope sitteth in the 〈◊〉 of iustice with the 〈◊〉 same fashioÌ„ 〈◊〉 did sit in the seate 〈…〉 Antichrist 〈◊〉 the TeÌ„ple of God And sayd neuer a word 〈◊〉 hauing no bribes 〈◊〉 in his handes nor 〈◊〉 the Emperour in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not thys a gloryous 〈◊〉 that wil haue no beg 〈◊〉 his sonnes daughâ—â—â— Emperours Kinges 〈◊〉 And why then did you 〈…〉 to England 〈◊〉 the same Matriâ—â—â—â— before as appeareth 〈◊〉 pag. 1â—49 sitting there in the throne of A Iustice calling vpon the name B of Christ and hauing God onely before his C eyes doth pronounce define declare in the cause causes betwene his dere daughter Katherine Quene of England appealing to the sea Apostolicke his beloued D sonne Henry the eight king of England concerning y e validity inualidity of the Matrimony heretofore contracted betwene theÌ„ and yet depending in the Consistory court of the said pope Clement that the sayd Matrimony alwaies hath E and still doth stand firme Canonicall that the issue proceding or which shall proceed of the same standeth and shall stand lawfull and legitimate and that the foresayd Henry king of England is and shal be bouÌ„d and obstrict to the Matrimoniall society and cohabitatioÌ„ with the sayd Lady Katherine his lawfull wiâ—e Quene to hold and maynteine her with such loue and princely honor as becommeth a louing husbande and his kingly honor to do Also that the sayd Henry king of England if he shall refuse so to performe and accomplish all and singuler the premisses in all effectuall maner is to be condemned and compelled hereunto by all remedies of (F) (F) By his owne Canon law â—e meaneth 〈◊〉 by the lawe of God the law enforced according as we do coÌ„demne compell and enforce him so to do prouiding that al molestations and refusals whatsoeuer made by the sayde king Henry agaynst the sayde Queene Katherine vpon the inualidity of the sayd Mariage to haue bene and to be iudged vnlawful and vniust and the sayd king froÌ„ henceforth for euer to hold his peace and not to be heard in any Court hereafter (G) (G) Here thou mayst see good reader howe the Pope may doth 〈◊〉 lykâ— a false Prophet For where he thought to put the king â—o silence tâ—e saâ—e silence lighted vpon himselfe whereby the Pope is driuen himselfe to stand mute in EnglaÌ„d God graunt he may so stand for euer Amen to speake touching the inualidity of the sayd matrimony like as we also do here will and charge him to holde his peace and do put him to perpetuall silence herein Willing moreouer adiudging the sayd king henry to be condemned and presently here doe condemne him in the expenses on the sayde Quene Katherines behalfe here in our Court exposed employed in trauersing the foresaid cause the valuation of which expenses we reserue to our selues to be limited and taxed as we shall iudge meete hereafter We do so pronounce I. At Rome in our Apostolicall palace publickely in our Consistory 23. Mart. M.D.XXXIIII Blosius Now as you haue heard the presumptuous and arrogant Sentence of Pope Clement wherein he taketh vpon him contrary to the ordinaunce of God in his Leuiticall law as before is shewed pag. 1025. and contrary to y e best learned iudgementes of Christendome to commaund and compell the king agaynst his conscience to reteine in Matrimony his brothers wife here foloweth in like order to be inferred according to my promise an other like wicked blasphemous Pope Leo his Bull agaynst Luther and the Appellation of M. Luther from the Pope by way of an Appendix and sclauÌ„derous Bull of Pope Leo against Martin Luther with the iust Appellation also of the sayd Martin Luther from the Pope to a generall Counsell Wherein may appeare to all men the lying spirite of the pope both in teaching most heretical doctrine derogating from the bloud of Christ and also falsely deprauing peruerting the sound doctrine of Luther falsely and vntruely charging him with heresy when he is the greater heretick himselfe For what hereticke would euer say that the churche of Rome was consecrate and sanctified by the bloud of Peter but onely the Pope Or who would cal this heresy to referre al our saluation and sanctification onely and totally to the bloud of the sonne of God vnlesse he were an hereticke of all heretickes himselfe After the like dealing we read .3 Reg. 18. of wicked king Achab The Pope playeth with Luther as Achab played with Elias saying that he was the troubler of Israell when it was he himselfe and his fathers house that so did who being onely the disturber of Israel himselfe crieth out vpon Elias for troubling Israel So here in semblablewise
betweene Christs Martyrs that haue bene and the lyfe of Christians which now is y e fearfull kindes of torments or the violent assaultes of the tormenters in any quarrell of godlines if in peace and quietnes we are y t with euery small breath or winde of temptation we are blown away froÌ„ God so faynt harted w tout any resistaunce are caryed headlong into all kinde of wickednes mischiefe One singeth songes of loue an other watcheth all the night at dice some spend their life tyme day by day in hawking huÌ„ting some tipple so at tauerns that they come home reeling Others what soeuer desire of reuenge doth put into their heads that by and by they seek to put in practise Some gape after riches some swell with ambition some thinke they are borne for no other purpose but for pleasure and pastime All the world is full of iniury and periury nay rather it is so rare a thinge paciently to suffer iniuries done vnto â—s that except we haue y e sleight to doe iniury to other wee thinke our selues scarse men There is no loue almost nor Charitie among men neither is there any man that regardeth the good name or fame of his neighbour But amongst al the rest vnsatiable couetousnes and auarice so raigneth that no man almost is contented w t any tollerable estate of life either that wil prescribe himself any measure in hauing y t he possesseth or in proling for y e which he lacketh neuer quiet but alwayes toiling neuer satisfied but alwaies vnsatiable Whereby it so commeth that the mindes of Christen men being occupyed in suche worldly carks cares can scarsely find any vacant leisure to think vpon heauenly things and yet notwithstanding w t these mindes we will needes seeme Christians But nowe setting apart these complayntes spent in vayne we will prosecute our purposed story touching good W. Gardiner And first as coÌ„cerning his kinred he was of an honest stocke borne at Bristow The first bringing vp and trade of W. Gardiner a towne of Marchandise on the seacost of England honestly brought vp and by nature geuen vnto grauitie of a meane stature of body of a comelye pleasant countenance but in no part so excellent as in y e inward quallities of the mind which he alwayes from his childhood preserued without spot of reprehension Also his handsome and indifferent learning did not a litle commeÌ„d beautifie his other ornameÌ„ts When he grew vnto those yeares at which young men are accustomed to settle theyr minds to some kinde of life it happened y t he gaue himselfe to the trade of Marchandise vnder y t conduct guidyng of a certaine marchant of Bristow called M. Paget W. Gardiner folowed the trade of marchaundiâ—e by whoÌ„ he was at the last being of the age of xxvi yeares or therabout sent into Spayne and by chaunce the ship ariuing at Lishborne which is the chiefe Citie of Portugale he taryed there about his Marchandise where at the last he hauing gotten vnderstanding of the language and being accustomed to their maners became a profitable seruaÌ„t both vnto his maister others in such things as pertayned vnto the trade of that vocation Whereunto he did so applye himselfe that neuerthelesse he in that popish country reseruing still the religion of his owne country of England euer kept himself sound and vndefiled from the Portugals superstition There were also besides him diuers other good men in y e same Cittie The Godly disposed minde of W. Gardiner Neither did he lacke good books or the conference of good and honest men vnto whome he would oftentimes bewayle his imbecilitie and weakenes that he was neither sufficiently touched w t the hatred of his sinnes neither yet inflamed with the loue of godlines Whilest hee was there abiding it happened that there should be a solemne maryage A solemne mariage betweene the king of Portugals sonne and the Spanish kinges daughter in Portugale celebrate y e first day of September in the yeare abouesayd betweene two Princes to say the sonne of the king of Portugale the Spanishe K. his daughter The mariage daye being come there was great resort of the Nobility and Estates There lacked no Bishops with Miters nor Cardinals with their hats to set out this royall wedding To be short they weÌ„t forward to the wedding with great Pompe where a great concourse of people resorted some of good will some for seruice sake and some as the maner is to gaze and looke Great preparation of all parties was there throughout the whole Citie as in such cases is accustomed and all places were filled with mirth and gladnes In this great assembly of the whole kingdome William Gardiner who albeit he did not greatly esteeme such kind of spectacles yet being allured through the fame and report thereof was there also comming thether early in the morning to the intent he might haue the more oportunitie and better place to behold and see The houre being come they flocked into the church with great solemnitie and pompe the King first and then euery estate in order A Pâ—pishe celebration of a mariage The greater persons the more ceremonies were about them After all things were set in order they went forward to the celebrating of their Masse for that alone serueth for all purposes The Cardinall did execute with much singing and orgaine playing The people stood with great deuotion and silence praying looking kneeling and knocking their mindes being fully bent and set as it is the maner vppon the externall sacramente How greeuously these things did pricke and mooue this yong mans minde it can not be expressed partly to beholde the miserable absurditie of those things and partly to see the folly of the common people and not only of the common people The Godly zeale of W. Gardiner in seing the Idolatry of the people and the great disworship of God but specially to see the King himself and his Councell with so many sage and wise men as they seemed to be seduced with like Idolatry as the common people were In so much that it lacked very little but that he woulde euen that present day haue done some notable thing in the Kings sight and presence but that the great prease and throng that was about him letted that he could not come vnto the altar What neede many words when the ceremonies were ended he commeth home very sad and heauy in his minde in so much that all his fellowes marueiled greatly at him Who albeit vpon diuers coniectures they conceiued the cause of his sadnes notwithstanding they did not fully vnderstand that those matters so much troubled his godly mind neither yet did he declare it vnto any man but seeking solitarines secret places falling downe prostrate before God with manifold teares bewayled the neglecting of his dutie deliberating with himselfe how he might reuoke that people from their impietie and superstition In
pulled it vp agayne with violence so plucking it too and fro through the meate pipe in suche sorte as with muche lesse griefe they might haue ridde him out of his life at once Thus at the last when all tormentes and tormenters were weeried and that it did nothing at all preuaile to go this way to worke they asked him whether he did not repent his wicked and seditious deede As touching the deede aunswered that it was so farre off that he did repent that if it were to do againe he thought he should do the same But as touching the maner of the deede he was not a little sory that it was done in the Kings presence to the disquietnes of his minde Howbeit that was not to be imputed vnto him which neither enterprised or thought vpon any such matter Williaâ— Gardiâ—â—â— not 〈…〉 but rather to be ascribed vnto the King in that he hauing power woulde not prohibite so great Idolatry vsed among his people This he spake with great feruencie After they had vsed all kynde of torments and saw thâ—t there could nothing more be gathered of him and also that through his woundes and paynes he could not long liue they brought him three dayes after to execution And first of all The right hand of W. Gardiner 〈◊〉 of in the 〈◊〉 The left 〈◊〉 of W. Gardiner cut of in the Market place bringing him into the Uestry cut off his right hand which he taking vp with his left haÌ„d kissed Then he was brought into the market place wheras his other hand also was cut off which he kneeling downe vpon the grounde also kissed These things thus done after the manner and fashion of Spaine his armes being bound behinde him his feete vnder the horse bellye hee was caried to the place of execution ⧠The order and manner of the cruell handlinge of William Gardiner an English Merchaunt tormented and burned in Portugall in the cause of God and of his truthe There was in that place a certaine engine froÌ„ the which a great rope comming downe by a pulley The wretched cruelâ—â— of the â—ortugals in 〈◊〉 a Christian Martyr was fastened about the middle of this Christian Martyr which first pulled him vp Then was there a great pile of woode sette on fire vnderneath him into the which he was by little little let downe not with the whole body but so that his fete only felt the fire Then he was hoised vp and so let downe againe into the fire and thus oftentimes pulled vppe and downe In which great torment for al that he continued w t a constant spirite and the more terribly he burned y e more vehemently he prayed At the last when his feete were consumed the tormentors asked him whether hee did not yet repent hym of his deede William Gardiner at 〈◊〉 burning 〈…〉 and exhorted him to call vppon oure Ladie and the Saintes Wherunto he answered that as he had done nothing whereof hee did repent him so hee had the lesse neede of the helpe of our Lady or any other Sainte and what externall torments so euer they vsed the truthe he sayde remaineth alwaies one and like vnto it selfe the which as he had before confessed in his life so would he not nowe denie it in his death desiring them to leaue of such vanities and follie For when as Christ did cease any more to be our aduocate then he would pray to our lady to be his aduocate W. Gardiner would not pray to our Lady so long as he had Christ to be his aduocate The prayer of W. Gardiner out of the 43. Psalme and sayd O eternall God father of all mercies I beseeche thee looke downe vpon thy seruant c. And when as they sought by all meanes possible to stoppe his praying and praising God in this sorte he cried out with a loude voyce rehearsing the 43. Psalme Iudica me Deus discerne causam meam de gente non sancta Iudge me O God and defende my cause against the vnmercifull people He was not come vnto the latter ending of the Psalme when as they pulling him vp and downe in the fire for the more torment the rope being burnt a sonder he fel downe in the midst therof wheras geuing his body for a sacrifice hee chaunged his temporall paines for perpetuall rest and quietnesse Thus it seemed good in the sighte of God by this Messenger to prouoke the Portugales to y e sincere knowledge of him and therfore they ought the more to haue acknowledged the great loue kindnesse of God offred vnto them and also the more to be mindefull of their owne duetie and thankefulnesse towardes him And if it be so great an offence to violate the ordinaunces of mans lawe and to contemne the Ambassadours of Kyngs and Princes lette the Portugalles and all other looke well vnto it A lesson for the Portugales what it is so cruelly to handle the heauenly messenger of the high God Neither was this their cruelty altogether vnreuenged by the mighty hand of God The iust hand of God vpon persecuters when as not onely the very same night amongst diuers of the kings ships which were in y e next hauen ready to saile one was burned being set on fire by a sparcle of Gardiners fire driuen thether w t the winde but also y e kings sonne which then was maried died within halfe a yere It is reported that that sparcle lighted amoÌ„gest gunpouder and the next yere after the King himselfe also died and so both within one yeare after the tormenting of this blessed Martyr Thus the body of the sayd Gardiner being consumed yet the rage fury of the common people so ceased not but they were as cruell against him being deade as they were when he was aliue and with their tongues tormeÌ„ted this Martyr when they could doe no more with their handes yea for very madnes they would scarse tarry vntil he were burned but euery man as they could catch any pece of him halfe burned threwe it into the sea Thys Sacrifice thus ended the Cleargie to pacifie Gods wrath which they feared The blind and miserable cruelty of the Portugals agaynst a poore Englishe man A Popeholy fast for pacefying the wrath of theyr God of the Altar for the violating of theyr aultar appoynted a solemne fast of certaine dayes for penaunce to purge that facte which facte rather shoulde haue taught them to purge them selues and to put awaye theyr filthy Idolatrie and much rather they shoulde haue fasted repented for that their extreeme cruelty they had shewed vnto the liuely member of Christ. Albeit this death of William Gardiner seemeth to haue profited very many of them litle or nothing yet for all that there are some as I haue hearde diuers reporte oute of whose mindes the remembraunce of this constant Martir can neuer be pulled and is so freshe yet amongest them as if it were nowe lately
this bread or vnder this bread or by this bread but sayd plainly This is my body And this he prooued by these reasons First for that it was prefigured before Secondly Three vaine reaâ—sons to proue thâ— bread to 〈◊〉 transubstâ—â—â—ciate for that it was promised Thirdly for that it was geuen The transubstaÌ„tiation of the bread was prefigured by the Manna which came downe from heauen all that bread was heauenly and without any earthly matter or substance adnexed Secondly it was promised in those wordes of Christ y e bread that I will geue is my flesh c. Thirdly it was geuen by Christ and exhibited in hys last supper sayeng Take eate this is my body Here they were forced to breake of through the want of tyme yet Parker replied thus agaynst Doct. Perne WE geue thee thanks most holy Father that thou hast hid these thyngs from the wyse and prudent and hast reuealed them to babes for pryde is the roote of al heresies whatsoeuer And on the other side to acknowledge our owne infirmitie and imperfection is the first steppe to the true vnderstandyng of the truth Nestorius the heretike affirmed that there were two persons in Christ one that was man another that was God therefore he sayd that in the Eucharist was contayned true flesh but onely of hys pure manhoode Agaynst hym did the counsell of Ephesus conclude sayeng That there was the reall fleshe of the sonne of God c. This he proued by the words of Christ My flesh is meate in deede and what flesh that is he teacheth vpon the sixt of Iohn that is quoth he the fleshe vnited to the deitie and quickened by the holy Ghost c. Now that that flesh is in the Sacrament it is playnâ— by Hillarius lib. 8. de Trinitate he prooued the same also out of Chrysostome homil 45. vpon Iohn Hillâ—rius li. 8. de trinitat Chrisost. ho. 45. We are one bodye with hym meÌ„bers of his flesh and bones of his bones c. Agayne in the same homilie we are ioyned to hys flesh not onely by fayth and loue but also in very deede and truely And agayne it pleased me to become your brother and by the same thyngs wherin I was ioyned to you haue I geuen my selfe agayne vnto you c. Perne I graunt vnto you that Christ is in the sacrament truely wholy verely Christ is 〈◊〉 the Sacrament realâ— after a 〈◊〉 after a certaine propertie maner I deny not hys presence but hys reall and corporall presence I vtterly deny for doubtles hys true and natural body is in heauen and not in the sacrament notwithstaÌ„dyng he dwelleth with vs and in vs after a certaine vnitie And also in the 6. chapter of Iohn he speaketh not of the flesh of Christ crucified c. Parker The flesh of Christ as it is in the sacrameÌ„t is quick and geueth lyfe Ergo his reall and substantiall fleshe is in the sacrament Perne The flesh of Christ in that it is vnited to the deitie doth viuifie and geueth lyfe but not otherwyse How Christes fleshe geueth lyfe Rochest Christ dwelleth in vs by fayth and by fayth we receiue Christ both God and man both in spirit and flesh that is this sacramentall eatyng is the meane and waye whereby we attayne to the spirituall eatyng and in deede for the strengthenyng of vs to the eatyng of this spirituall foode was this sacrament ordeyned How theâ—â— wordes this is my body are ment There is a vnion betweene 〈◊〉 and womaâ— yet no tranâ—substantiation And these words This is my body are ment thus by grace it is my true body but not my fleshly body as some of you suppose Parker We are ioyned to Christ not onely by faith but also in very deede ergo c. Rochest We are ioyned to Christ that is we are made pertakers of his flesh and of immortalitie And so lyke case is there a vnion betweene man and woman yet is there no transubstantiaâ—ion of eyther or both c. Pollard The sacrament is not bare bread and nothing els onely because it is called bread so often in the Scriptures Why it is called bread so often and that I prooue by three reasons First it is called bread because of the similitude Secondly because of the mutation Thirdly for the matter whereof it is made and compact as the Angels are called men the holy ghost a tonge the rod of Aaron a serpent and such lyke The wordes of Christ do teach the same thyng as appeareth in the healyng of the woman of Canaans daughter Iairus sonne and many others c. Ergo c. Then he prooued agaynst Rochester that somewhat els was in the Sacrament besides power and grace by this reason The euill receyue the body of Christ as is playne out of Augustine homil 21. de verbis domini but the euill and wycked receyue not the vertue or grace Ergo there is not onely grace and vertue in the sacrament Rochest The euill do not receyue the Lord in Sacrament but the sacrament of the Lord as Iudas who in deed eate not the true body of the Lord. Pollard In the sacrament be three thyngs to wit an outward signe the matter of the Sacrament and the fruite of the same the euill receyue the outward signe and the subiect of the Sacrament but not the fruite of the Sacrament Ergo there is somewhat els in the Sacrament than onely grace Also euery Sacrament ought to haue a certaine similitude with the matter of the Sacrament but the materiall bread hath not such similitude with the body of Christ which is the matter of the Sacrament Ergo materiall bread is not a Sacrament Perne I deny your Minor for materiall breade doth so nourish the bodye as the fleshe of Christ doth the soule Here he beyng requested gaue place to others M. Vauisor THorough the shortnesse of tyme I am so constrayned that neyther I can speake without losse of my reputation nor yet hold my peace without offence to God For in speakyng as I doe without great premeditation before this honourable worshipfull and learned audience I shall but shewe foorth my childishnesse herein and if I should hold my peace I myght be thought to betray the truth of Gods cause And therfore whilest I can neyther speake for the breuitie of tyme nor yet hold my peace gods truth beyng in controuersie I haue determined although with the impairyng of my good name to render a reason of my fayth which if I cannot affourd probably in words yet wyll I not faulte in sayeng nothyng at all For it seemeth better that I be esteemed altogether foolish and vnlearned amongst so many graue learned Fathers Doctours then to forsake the iust defence of the truth which euery good christian man throughout the world hath euer holden inuiolable For who so forsaketh the manifest knowen truth had neuer any true fayth therein Which thyng that I may ouerpasse in
at large In whome I wyshe thee to continue in health and to perseuere in the trueth Anno 1549. ⧠The first entring of Queene Mary to the Crowne with the alteration of Religion and other perturbations happening the same time in this Realme of England Anno 1553. WHat time King Edward by long sickenesse beganne to appeare more feble and weake in the meane while during the time of this his sickenesse The reigne of Queene Mary a certayne mariage was prouided concluded and shortly also vpon the same solempnised in the moneth of May betwene the Lord Gilford sonne to the Duke of Northumberland 〈◊〉 â—â—tweene the Lorâ— Gilfoâ—d and the Lady â—ane and the Lady Iane the Duke of Suffolkes daughter whose mother being then aliue was daughter to Mary King Henryes second sister who first was maried to the French king and afterward to Charles Duke of Suffolke But to make no long tariance hereupon the mariage being ended and the king waxing euery day more sicke then other where as in deede there seemed in him no hope of recouerye it was brought to passe by the consent not onely of the Nobility but also of all the chiefe Lawyers of the Realme that the king by his Testament did appoynt the foresayde Ladye Iane daughter to the Duke of Suffolke to be inheretrice vnto the crowne of England passing ouer his two sisters Mary and Elizabeth To this order subscribed all the kinges Counsell and chiefe of the Nobility Syr Iames Hales standeth with Queene Mary the Maior and city of London and almoste all the Iudges and chiefe Lawyers of this Realme sauing onely Iustice Hales of Kent a man both fauoring true Religion and also an vpright iudge as any hath bene noted in this Realme who geuing his consent vnto Lady Mary would in no case subscribe to Lady Iane. Of this man God willing you shall perceiue more in the sequele of this story The causes layd agaynst Lady Marye were as well for that it was feared she would mary with a Straunger and thereby entangle the crowne as also that she would cleane alter Religion vsed both in king Henry her father and also in king Edwarde her brothers dayes so bring in the pope to the vtter destruction of the Realme which indeed afterward came to passe as by the course and sequele of this story may well appeare Two things feared in Queene Mary Much probable matter they had thus to coniecture of her by reason of her great stubbernnes shewed and declared in her brothers dayes as in the letters before mentioned passing betwene her and king Edward the Counsell may appeare The matter being thus concluded and after confirmed by euery mans hand King Edwarde an Impe of so great hope not long after this departed by the vehemency of his sickenes when he was sixtene yeares of age with whom also decaid in maner the whole florishing estate and honor of the English nation Queene Iane proclaâ—med at â—ondon ComparisoÌ„â—â—tweene 〈◊〉 king â—dward â—oung Lady 〈◊〉 This 〈◊〉 of the Lady Iane was M. Elmer When king Edwarde was deade this Iane was established in the kingdome by the Nobles consent and was forthwith published Queene by proclamation at London and in other Cityes where was any great resort and was there so taken and named Betweene this young Damosell and kyng Edwarde there was litle difference in age though in learning knowledge of the tongues she was not onely equall but also superior vnto him being instructed of a Mayster right notablye learned If her fortune had bene as good as was her bringing vppe ioyned wyth â—inenesse of wit vndoubtedly she might haue semed comparable not onelye to the house of the Uaspasians Sempâ—onians and mother of the Grachies yea to anye other women beside that deserued high prayse for theyr sigulart learning but also to the vniuersity men which haue taken many degrees of the Schooles In the meane time while these thinges were a working at London Mary which had knowledge of her Brothers death writeth to the Lords of the Councell in forme as foloweth ¶ A Letter of the Lady Mary sent to the Lordes of the Counsell wherein shee claymeth the Crowne after the decease of king Edwarde Lady Maryes letter sent to the Counâ—ayle wherein shee 〈◊〉 the Crowne MY Lordes we greete you well and haue receiued sure aduertisement that our dearest Brother the king our late soueraigne Lord is departed to Gods mercye whiche newes howe they be woefull vnto our hart he onely knoweth to whose will and pleasure we must and do humbly submitte vs and our willes But in this so lamentable a case that is to witte now after hys Maiesties departure and death concerning the Crowne and gouernaunce of thys Realme of England with the title of Fraunce and all thinges thereto belonging what hath bene prouided by Act of Parliament and the Testament and last will of our dearest Father besides other circumstaunces aduauncing our right you know the Realme and the whole world knoweth the Rolles and Recordes appeare by the authority of the kyng our sayde Father and the king our sayde brother and the subiectes of thys Realme so that we verily trust that there is no good true subiect that is can or would pretend to be ignoraunt therof and of our parte wee haue of our selues caused and as God shall ayde and strength vs shall cause our right and title in this behalfe to be published and proclaymed accordingly And albeit this so weighty a matter seemeth straunge that the dying of oure sayde brother vpon Thursday at night last past we hytherto hadde no knowledge from you thereof yet we consider your wisedomes and prudence to be such that hauing eftsoones amongest you debated pondered and well wayed this present case with our estate with your own estate the common wealth and all our honours wee shall and may conceiue greate hope and trust with much assuraunce in your loyaltye and seruice and therefore for the tyme interprete and take thinges not to the worst and that ye yet will like Noble men woorke the best Neuerthelesse wee are not ignoraunt of your consultations to vndoe the prouisions made for our preferment nor of the great bandes and prouisions forceable wherewith yee bee assembled and prepared by whom and to what ende God and you know and nature can but feare some euill But be it that some consideration politicke or whatsoeuer thing else hath mooued you thereto yet doubte you not my Lordes but we can take all these your doynges in gracious part being also right ready to remit fullye pardon the same with that freely to eschewe bloudshed and vengeance agaynst all those that canne or will intend the same trusting also assuredly you will take and accept this grace and vertue in good part as appeateyneth and that wee shall not be enforced to vse the seruice of other our true subiectes and frendes which in thys our iust and right cause
constantly kepte as they did willingly preserue her with theyr bodyes and weapons she had done a deed both worthy her bloud had also made her raygne more stable to her selfe through former tranquility For though a man be neuer so puissant of power yet brech of promise is an euill vpholder of quietnes feare is worser but cruelty is y e worst of all Thus Mary being garded with the power of y e Gospellers did vanquish the Duke and all those that came agaynst her In consideration wherof it was me thinksâ— an heauy word that she aunswered to the suffolke men afterwardes which did make supplication vnto her grace to performe her promise Q Marieâ— aunswere the Surfolâ— men and one M. Dobbeâ—â—â—nished For so muche sayth she as you being but meÌ„bers desire to rule your head you shall one day well perceiue that members must obey theyr head and not looke to beare rule ouer the same And not onely that but also to cause the more terror vnto other a certaine Gentleman named M. Dobbe dwelling about Wyndam side for the same cause that is for aduertising her by humble request of her promise was punished beyng three sundrye times set on the pillory to be a gasing stocke vnto all men Diuers other deliuered her books and supplications made out of the Scripture to exhorte her to continue in the true doctrine then stablished and for theyr good wils were sent to prison But such is the coÌ„ditioÌ„ of mans nature as here you see that we are for the most part more ready alway to seeke frendship wheÌ„ we stand in need of helpe Perfite fâ—dâ—â—litie shut out of the dores yet 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 in heauen theÌ„ ready to requite a benefit once past receiued Howbeit against all this one shoote anker we haue which may be a sure coÌ„fort to all miserable creatures y e equity fidelity are euer perfect and certeinely found with the Lord aboue though the same being shut out of the doores in this world be not to be founde here among menne But seeing our intent is to write a story not to treat of office let vs lay Suffolke men aside for a while whose desertes for theyr redines and diligence with the Queene I will not here stand vpon What she performed on her part the thing it selfe and the whole storye of this persecution doth testifye as hereafter more playnely will appeare On the contrary side the Duke of Northumberlande hauing his warrant vnder the broade Seale with all furniture in readines as he tooke his voyage and was nowe forward in his way what ado ther was what stirring on euery side what sending what riding and posting what letters messages and instructions went to and fro what talking among the souldiers what hartburning among y e people what fayre preteÌ„ses outwardly inwardly what priuy practises there were what speeding of Ordinance dayly and hourely out of the Tower what rumors and comming downe of soulders from all quarters there was a world it was to see a processe to declare enough to make a whole Ilias The greatest helpe that made for the Ladye Mary was the short iourneis of the Duke which by commission were assigned to him before as is aboue mentioned For the longer the Duke lingered in his voyage the Lady Marye the more encreased in puissaunce the hartes of the people being mightily bent vnto her Which after the Counsell at London perceiued and vnderstoode howe the common multitude did withdraw theyr hartes from them to stand with her Queene Mary proclaymed at London and that certaine Noble men begaÌ„ to go the other way they turned theyr song and proclaymed for Queene the Lady Mary eldest daughter to kyng Henrye the eight and appoynted by Parliament to succeed K. Edward dying without issue The Duke of Northuâ—â—berland ouerthrown And so the Duke of Northumberland being by counsell and aduise sent forth agaynst her was left destitute and forsaken alone at Cambridge with some of his sonnes a few other among whome the Earle of Huntington was one The Duke of NorthuÌ„â—berland brought to the Tower as a Traytour who there were arrested and broughte to the Tower of London as traytors to the Crowne notwithstandinge that he had there proclaymed her Queene before Thus haue you Mary nowe made a Queene and the sword of authority put into her haÌ„d which how she afterward did vse we may see in sequele of this booke Therefore as I say when she had bene thus aduauÌ„ced by y e gospellers Queene Mary commeth vp to London saw all in quiet by meanes y t her enemies were conquered sending the Duke captiue to the Tower before which was the xxv of Iuly she folowed not long after being brought vp the third day of August to LondoÌ„ with the great reioysing of many men but with a greater feare of moe and yet with flatterye peraduenture most great of fayned hartes Thus comming vp to London her first lodgyng shee took at the Tower The Lady Iane and thâ— Lord Gilford priâ—oners in the Tower where as the foresaid Lady Iane with her husband the Lord Gilford a litle before her commyng were imprisoned where they remained waiting her pleasure almost fiue monethes But the Duke within a moneth after his comming to the Tower being adiudged to death was brought forth to the scaffolde and there beheaded Albeit he hauing a promise The Duke of Northuâ—â—berlaÌ„d condemned to dye and being put in hope of pardon yea though his head were vpon the blocke if he would recant and heare masse consented therto and denied in wordes that true religion which before time as well in K. Henry the 8. dayes as in K. Edwards he had oft euidently declared hymselfe both to fauour and further exhortyng also the people to returne to the Catholike fayth as he termed it Whose recantation the papistes foorthwith did publish and set abroad reioysing not a litle at his conuersion or rather subuersion as then appeared Thus the Duke of Northumberland with Sir Iohn Gates and sir Thomas Palmer which Palmer on the other side confessed his fayth that he had learned in the gospel and lamented that he had not lyued more Gospellike beyng put to death In the meane tyme Queene Marye entring thus her raigne with the bloud of these men besides hearyng Masse her selfe in the Tower gaue a heauy shewe and signification hereby but especially by the sodaine deliuering of Steuen Gardiner out of the Tower that she was not mynded to stand to that which she so deeply had promised to the Suffolke men before concernyng the not subuertyng or alteryng the state of religion as in very deede the surmise of the people was therein nothyng deceyued Besides the premisses other things also folowed which euery day more and more discomforted the people declaring the Queene to beare no good will to the present state of religion as not onely the releasing of Gardiner beyng then made Lord Chauncellor
Require you any plainer words doeth he not say it is his body Iane. I graunt hee sayeth so and so he sayth I am the vine I am the doore Rom. 4. but hee is neuer the more for that the dore not the vine Doth not S. Paul say He calleth things that are not as though they were God forbid that I should say that I eat the very naturall body and bloud of Christ for then eyther I should plucke away my redeÌ„ption either els there were two bodies or two Christes One body was tormeÌ„ted on the Crosse. And if they did eate an other body then had hee two bodies either els if his body were eaten than was it not broken vpon the Crosse or if it were broken vpon the Crosse it was not eaten of his Disciples Feck Why is it not possible that Christe by hys power coulde make his body both to be eaten and broken as to be borne of a woman wythout seede of man and as to walke vppon the sea hauing a body and other suche like myracles as he wrought by his power onely Iane. Yes verely Christ 〈◊〉 power to turne the bread into his body no argument to proue that he 〈◊〉 so if God would haue done at his Supper any myracle he myght haue done so but I say that then he minded no worke nor myracle but onely to breake his body and shed his bloud on the Crosse for our sinnes But I pray you to answere me to thys one question where was Christ when he sayd Take eate this is my body Was hee not at the table when he sayde so Hee was at that time alyue and suffered not till the next day What tooke he but bread What brake he but breade and what gaue hee but breade Looke what he tooke he brake and looke what hee brake he gaue and looke what he gaue they did eate and yet all this while he himselfe was aliue and at Supper before his disciples or else they were deceiued Feck You ground your faith vppon such authours as say and vnsay both with a breath and not vpon the Church Fecknaâ— goeth from the word 〈◊〉 the churcâ— to whom ye ought to geue credite Iane. No I grounde my faith on Gods woorde and not vpon the Churche For if the Churche be a good Churche Fayth to groundeâ— vppon the word and not vpon the church the faith of the Churche must be tried by Gods worde and not Goddes woorde by the Churche either yet my Faithe Shall I beleeue the Churche because of antiquitye or shal I geue credite to the Churche that taketh away from mee the halfe parte of the Lordes Supper and will not lette any man receiue it in both kindes A note 〈◊〉 the false 〈◊〉 Church Whych thing if they denie to vs then denie they to vs part of our saluation And I saye that it is an euill Churche and not the Spouse of Christ but the Spouse of the Deuill that altereth the Lordes Supper and both taketh from it and addeth to it To that Church say I God will adde plagues and from that Church will he take their parte out of the booke of life Doe they learne that of S. Paule when he ministred to the Corinthians in both kindes Shall I beleeue this Churche God forbid Feck That was done for a good intent of the Churche to auoide an heresie that sprong on it Gods 〈◊〉 not to be altered 〈◊〉 good â—â—tentes Iane. Why shal the church alter Gods wil ordinance for a good inteÌ„t How did king Saul The Lord God defend With these and such like persuasions he would haue had her leaue to the Church but it woulde not be There were many more things whereof they reasoned but these were the chiefest After this Fecknam tooke his leaue saying that he was sory for her For I am sure quoth he that we two shall neuer meete Iane. True it is sayd she that we shall neuer meete except God turne your hart The wordes 〈◊〉 spoken 〈◊〉 For I am assured vnlesse you repent and turne to God you are in an euill case and I pray God in the bowels of his mercy to send you his holy spirite for he hath geuen you his great gift of vtterance if it pleased him also to open the eyes of your hart ¶ A letter of the Lady Iane sent vnto her father FAther although it hath pleased God to hasten my death by you by whome my life should rather haue bene lengthened yet can I so patiently take it 〈◊〉 Ianes 〈◊〉 sent to her father as I yeeld God more harty thankes for shortening my wofull dayes then if all the world had bene geuen into my possession with life lengthened at my owne will And albeit I am well assured of your impacient dolours redoubled manyfold wayes both in bewayling your owne woe and especially as I heare my vnfortunate state yet my deare father if I may without offence reioyce in my owne mishaps me seemes in this I may accompt my selfe blessed that washing my handes with the innocencie of my fact my giltles bloud may cry before the Lord mercy to the innocent And yet though I must needes acknowledge that being constrayned and as you wot well inough continually assayed in taking vpon me I seemed to consent and therein greeuously offended the Queene and her lawes yet do I assuredly trust that this mine offence towards God is so much the lesse in that being in so royall estate as I was mine enforced honour being neuer with mine innocent hart And thus good father I haue opened vnto you the state wherein I presently stand Whose death at hand although to you perhaps it may seme right wofull to me there is nothing that can be more welcome then from this vale of miserie to aspire to that heauenly throne of all ioy and pleasure with Christ our Sauiour This Parenthesis includeth with a praier a priuy admonition to her father that he fall not from his religion In whose stedfast fayth if it may be lawfull for the daughter so to write to the Father the Lord that hetherto hath strengthened you so continue you that at the last we may meete in heauen with the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost At what time her father was florishing in freedome and prosperitie in the time of King Edward there belonged vnto him a certayne learned man student and Graduate of the Uniuersitie of Oxford Who then being Chaplayne to the sayd Duke and a sincere Preacher as he appeared of the Gospell according to the doctrine of that time set foorth and receiued shortly after that the state of Religion began to alter by Queene Mary altered also in his profession with the time and of a Protestant became a friend and defender of the Popes proceedings At whose sodayne mutation and inconstant mutabilitie February this Christian Lady being not a little agreeued and most of all lamenting the daungerous state of his soule in sliding
our selues and say our soules serue him whatsoeuer our bodoyes doe the contrary for ciuill order and pollicy But alas I know by my selfe what troubleth you that is the great daunger of the worlde that will reuenge ye thinke your seruice to God with sword and fire with losse of goodes and landes But deare brethren way of the other side that your enemies and Gods enemies shal not do so much as they would but as much as God shall suffer them who can trap them in their own counsels Gods enemies can do no more then he geâ—eth them leaue Math. 20. and destroy them in the midst of their furies Remember ye be the workemen of the Lord and called into his Uineyard there to labour till euening tide that ye may receaue your peny which is more worth then al the kinges of the earth But he that calleth vs into hys vineyard hath not told vs how sore and how feruently the sunne shall trouble vs in our labour But hath bid vs labour and committe the bitternes thereof vnto him who can and will so moderate al afflictions that no man shall haue more layd vppon him then in Christ hee shall be able to beare Unto whose mercifull tuition and defence I commend both your soules and bodyes 2. September 1554. Yours with my poore prayer Iohn Hooper To a Marchant of London by whose meanes he had receaued much comfort in his great necessitie in the Fleete GRace mercy and peace in Christ Iesus our Lorde I thanke God and you for the great helpe and consolation I haue receaued in the time of aduersity by your charitable meanes but most reioice that you be not altered from trueth An other letter of M. Hooper to a helper of his although falshoode cruelly seeketh to distayne her Iudge not my brother truth by outward appearaunee for truth now worse appeareth and more vilely is reiected then falshoode Leaue the outwarde shewe and see by the worde of God what truth is Truth is not to be esteemed by outward appearaunce and accept truth and dislike her not though man call her falshoode As it is now so hath it bene heretofore the truth reiected and falshode receaued Such as haue professed truth for truth haue smarted and the frendes of falshode laughed them to scorne The tryall of both hath bene by contrary successe the one hauing the coÌ„mendation of truth by man but the condemnation of falshode by God flourishing for a tyme with endles destruction the other afflicted a little season but ending with immortall ioyes Wherfore deare brother aske and demaund of your book the Testament of Iesus Christ in these woefull and wretched dayes what you should thinke and what you should stay vpon for a certayne truth and whatsoeuer you heare taught try it by your booke whether it be true or false The dayes be dangerous and full of perill not only for the world and worldly things but for heauen and heauenly things It is a trouble to lose the treasures of this life but yet a very payne if they be kept with the offence of God Cry call pray and in Christ dayly require helpe succour mercy wisedome grace and defence that the wickednes of thys world preuayle not against vs. We began well God preserue vs vntill the end I would write more often vnto you but I do perceaue you be at so much charges with me that I feare you would thinke when I write I craue Send me nothing till I send to you for it and so tell the good men your partners and when I neede I will be bold of you 3. December 1554. Yours with my prayer Iohn Hooper ¶ To Maistres Wilkinson a woman harty in Gods cause and comfortable to his afflicted members THe grace of God and the comforte of his holy spirit be with you Amen This Misteries WilkinsoÌ„ afterward â—yed in Exile at Franckford I am very glad to heare of your health and do thanke you for your louing tokens But I am a great deale more glad to heare how Christianly you auoyd Idolatry prepare your selfe to suffer y e extremity of the world rather theÌ„ to endaunger your selfe to God You doe as you ought to do in this behalfe and in suffering of traÌ„sitory paynes you shall auoyd permanent tormeÌ„ts in the world to come Use your life Gaynes with Gods displeasure is beggary and keepe it with as much quietnes as you can so that you offende not God The ease that commeth wyth his displeasure turneth at length to vnspeakeable paynes and the gaynes of the world with the losse of his fauour is beggery and wretchednes Reason is to be amended in this cause of Religion For it will choose and follow an errour with the multitude if it may be allowed rather then turne to faith and folow the truth with the people of God Moyses found the same fault in himselfe and did amende it choosing rather to be afflicted with the people of God then to vse the libertie of the kings daughter that accounted him as her sonne Heb. 11. Math. 5. Pray for contentation and peace of the spirit and reioyce in such troubles as shall happen vnto you for the truthes sake for in that part Christ saith you be happy Pray also for me I pray you that I may do in all things the will of our heauenly father to whose tuition and defence I commend you * To my deere frendes in God Mayster Iohn Hall and his wyfe THe grace of God be with you Amen I thanke you for your louing and gentle frendship at all times An other letter exhorting to stand fast in the truth praying God to shew vnto you such fauour that whatsoeuer trouble and aduersitie happen yâ— go not backe from him These dayes be daungerous and full of perill but yet let vs comfort our selues in calling to remembrance the dayes of our forefathers vpon whom the Lord sent such troubles that many hundrethes yea many thousandes dyed for the testimonie of Iesus Christ both men and women suffering with patience and constancie as much cruelty as Tyrants could deuise and so departed out of this miserable world to the blisse euerlasting where as now they remaine for euer lookyng alwayes for the end of this sinfull world when they shall receiue their bodies againe in immortalitie and see the number of the elects associated with them in full and consummate ioyes Heb. 11. And as vertuous men suffering Martyrdome and tarying a little whyle in this world with paynes by and by rested in ioyes euerlastyng and as their paynes ended their sorowes and began ease Consolation taken by the example of the ancient martyrs so dyd their constancie and stedfastnes animate and confirme all good people in the truth and gaue them encouragement and lust to suffer the like rather then to fall with the world to consent vnto wickednes and Idolatry Wherefore my deare frends seeing God of his part hath illuminated you with the
to Newgate about the last day of February an 1555. by the sayd Bearde Yeoman of the Gard and Simon Ponder Pewterer Constable of S. DuÌ„stons in the West sent in by Syr Roger Chomley knight and by Doctor Martin Tankerfield thus being brought to prison by hys aduersaryes at leÌ„gth w t the other aboue named was brought to his examination before Boner Who after his accustomed maner ordered his articles and positions vnto him the copy and tenor of which his ordinary Articles ye may read aboue expressed pag. 1585. To these Articles as aboue rehearsed he aunswered agayne constantly declaring his mind both touching auriculer confession and also the sacrament of the popish alter and likewise of the Masse c. First that he was not confessed to any priest 5. yeares past nor to any other but only to God and further denying that he would hereafter be confessed to anye Prieste for that hee founde it not in Christes booke and tooke it onely to be a counsell And concerning the sacrament commonly called here in England of the aultar 〈…〉 altar he confessed that hee neither had nor did beleue that in the sayd sacrament there is the reall body and bloud of Christ because that the bodye is ascended into heauen and there doth sit at the right hand of god the father And moreouer he sayd that the Masse now vsed in the Church of England was nought 〈◊〉 Masse 〈…〉 and ful of Idolatry and abomination and agaynst the word of God affirming also that there are but two Sacramentes in the Church of Christ Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. c. And to these assertions he sayd he would stand and so he did to the end And when at last the Byshop began to read y e sentence exhorting him before with manye woordes to reuoke hys professed opinion which they called damnable heretical he notwithstanding 〈◊〉 wordes 〈…〉 resisted all contrary perswasions answering the bishop agayne in this forme of words I will not sayd he forsake mine opinions except you my Lord can repell theÌ„ by scriptures and I care not for your Diuinity â—he wordes 〈…〉 at his â—â—â—demnaâ—â—â—n for you condemne al men and proue nothing against them And after many fayre wordes of exhortation which Boner then vsed after his ordinary maner to conuerte or rather peruert him he aunswered boldlye agayne saying moreouer that the church wherof y e pope is supreme head is no part of Christes Catholicke Church â—â—â—kerfield 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 of Boâ—â—r adding thervnto and poynting to the Bishop spake to the people saying Good people beware of him and such as he is for these be the people that deceiueth you c. These with other wordes moe he spake whereupon the Bishop reading the sentence of his popish condeÌ„natioÌ„ gaue him to the secular power Tankerfield coÌ„demned And so this blessed seruaunt of God was had to saynct Albons The Marâ—â—â—dome of George â—â—nkerfield â— Albons â—â—no 1555. â—â—gust 26. and there with much pacience and constaÌ„cy ended his life the xxvi day of August for the defence of the truth which at length will haue the victory * Certayne notes concerning George Tankerfielde after he came to suffer martyrdome at Saynt Albons IN primis he was brought vnto S. Albons by the high Shiriffe of Hereford Shyre M Edw. Brocket Esquire and one Pulter of Hitchen which was vnder Shiriffe Item theyr Inne was the crosse keyes whereas there was great coÌ„course of people to see and heare the prisoner among the which multitude some were sory to see so godly a man brought to be burned others praised God for his constancy and perseuerance in the trueth Contrarywyse some there were which said it was pity he did stand in such opinions and others both old womeÌ„ men cried against him one called him hereticke sayd it was pity that he lyued But George Tankerfield did speake vnto them so effectually out of the word of God in lamenting of theyr ignorance protesting vnto them his vnspotted conscience that God did mollify theyr hardened hartes insomuch y t some of them departed out of the chamber w t weping eies Item there came vnto him a certayne Scholemayster which reteined vnto sir Tho. Pope knight this man had certayne coÌ„munication w t G. Tankerfielde the day before he was coÌ„ming toward S. Albons as touching theyr sacrament of y e aultar other poyntes of papisticall religioÌ„ but as he vrged Tankerfield w t the authority of y e doctors wrasting theÌ„ after his own will so on y e other side TaÌ„kerfield aunswered him mightily by y e scriptures not wrested after y e mind of any man but being interpreted after y e will of the Lord Iesus c. So that as he would not allow such allegatioÌ„s as Tankerfield brought out of the scriptures w t out the opinioÌ„s of y e doctors so agayn Tankerfield would not credit his doctrine to be true except he could coÌ„firme it by the scriptures In y e end Tankerfield prayd him that he would not trouble him in such matters for his conscience was established c. and so he departed from him wishing him well protesting that he meant him no more hurt theÌ„ his owne soule Item when the houre drew on apace y t he should suffer he desired the wine drawer that he might haue a pinte of malmesy a loafe that he might eat drinke that in remeÌ„brance of Christes death and passion because he could nor haue ministred vnto him by others in such maner as christ coÌ„maunded theÌ„ he kneeled downe making his coÌ„fession vnto the Lord w t all those which were in the chaÌ„ber wyth him after y t he had prayd earnestly vnto the Lord had read the institution of the holy supper by the Lord Iesus out of y e euangelistes out of S. Paule he sayd O Lord y u knowest it I do not this to derogate authority froÌ„ any maÌ„ or in conteÌ„pt of those which are thy ministers but only because I cannot haue it ministred according to thy word c. when he had spoken these such like wordes he receiued it with geuing of Thankes Item when some of his frends willed him to eat some meat he sayd he would not eat that which should do other good that had more need y t had loÌ„gertime to liue theÌ„ he Item he prayd his host to let him haue a good fire in y e chaÌ„ber he had so theÌ„ he sitting on a forme before the fire put of his shoes hose stretched out his leg to y e flame wheÌ„ it had touched his foot he quickely withdrew his leg shewing how y e flesh did perswade him one way the spirit another way The flesh sayd O thou foole wilt y u burne needest not The spirit sayd be not afrayd for thys is nothing in respect of fire eternall The flesh sayd do not leaue the coÌ„pany of thy freÌ„des acquaintance which loue will let thee lack nothing The spirit sayd the coÌ„pany of Iesus Christ his glorious presence doth exceed al fleshly freÌ„ds The flesh sayd do not shorteÌ„ thy time now for y u mayst liue if thou wilt much loÌ„ger The spirit said this life is nothing vnto y e life in heauen which lasteth for euer c. And all this time the shiriffes were at a certayn geÌ„tlemans house at diner not far froÌ„ the towne whither also resorted knightes many geÌ„tlemeÌ„ out of y t couÌ„try because his sonne was maried that day vntill they returned from diner the prisoner was lefte w t his host to be kept looked vnto And G. Tankerfield all y e time was kindly louingly entreated of his host and considering that his time was short his saying was that although the day were neuer so long yet at the last it ringeth to Euensong c. Item about two of y e clocke wheÌ„ the shiriffes were returned froÌ„ diner they brought G. Tankerfielde out of his Inne vnto y e place where he shoulde suffer which is called Romeland being a greene place nigh vnto y e west end of y e Abbey church vnto the which wheÌ„ he was come he kneled downe by the y e stake that was set vp for him after he had ended his prayers he arose with a ioyfull fayth he sayd y t although he had a sharpe diner yet he hoped to haue a ioyfull supper in heauen Item while the fagots were set about him there came a priest vnto him perswaded him to beleue on y e sacrament of y e aulter he should be saued But G. Tankerfield cried out vehemeÌ„tly sayd I defye the whore of Babilon I defie the whore of Babilon fie of y e abhominable Idoll good people do not beleue him good people doe not beleue him And theÌ„ y e Maior of the towne coÌ„maunded to set fire to the heretique and sayd if he had but one loade of fagots in the whole world he would geue theÌ„ to burn him There was a certayne knight by went vnto Tankerfield took him by the hand sayd good brother be stroÌ„g in Christ this he spake softly and Tankerfield sayd O syr I thanke you I am so I thanke God Then fire was set vnto him he desired the shiriffe all the people that they woulde pray for him the most part did so And so embracing the fire he bathed
you shall finde more copiously described in Franc. Encenas Ex Franc. Encen Friers and priestes of Flaunders Great persecution in Gaunt other partes of Flaunders At Gaunt An. 1543. 1544. As Charles the Emperour did ly in GauÌ„t the Fryers and Doctours there obtayned that the Edicte made agaynst the LutheraÌ„s might be read openlye twise a yeare Whiche being obtayned great persecution followed Persecution 〈…〉 Bruzels so that there was no Citty nor towne in all Flaunders wherein some eyther were not expulsed or headed or condemned to perpetuall prison Ex Francisco Encenate or had not theyr goodes confiscate neither was there any respect of age or sexe At Gaunt especially many there wer of the head men which for religion sake were burned Afterward the Emperour comming to Brusels there was terrible slaughter and persecution of Gods people namely in Brabant Hennegow and Artoys the horror and cruelty wherof is almost incredible In so much that at one time as good as ij hundreth men and women together were brought out of the countrey about into the Citty of whome some were drowned some buryed quicke some pryuely made awaye others sent to perpetuall prison wherby all prisons and towers there about were replenished with prisoners and captiues and the handes of the hangmen tyred with slaying and killing to the great sorrowe of all them which knew the Gospel being now compelled eyther to deny the same or to confirme it with theyr bloud The storye hereof is at large set forth by Francis Encenas a notable learned man who also himselfe was prisoner y e same time at Bruzels whose booke written in Latine I my selfe haue seene and read remayning in the handes of Iohn Oporine at Basill Franciscan Fryers of Gaunt Martynus Hoeurbloc FishmoÌ„ger At Gaunt An. 1545. This Martine euer almost to his latter age Martyn Hoeurblock Martyr was a man much geuen to al wickednes and fleshly lyfe so long as he continued a follower of the popes superstitioÌ„ and Idolatry Afterwarde as God hath alwaies his calling thorough the occasion of a SermoÌ„ of his parish priest beginning to tast some working of grace and repentance of his former lyfe went out of Gaunt for the space of iij. monethes seeking the company of godly Christians such as he heard to vse the readyng of the scriptures by whome he beyng more groundly instructed returned agayn to the Cittye of Gaunt where all his neighbours first beganne to maruell at the sodayne chaunge of this man The Franciscanes which knewe hym before so beneficiall vnto them nowe seing hym so alterrd from theyr wayes and superstition and seeing hym to visite the captiues in prison to comforte theÌ„ in persecution and to confirme them in the worde of God whiche went to the fire conspired agaynst hym whereby he was detected and layd in bandes After that with sharp and grieuous tormentes they would haue constrayned hym to vtter other of the same Religion To whome thus he aunswered that if they could proue by the scripture that hys detecting and accusing of hys brethren whoÌ„ they would afflict with the like tormentes were not agaynst y e second Table of Gods law then he would not refuse to preferre the honor of God before y e safegard of his brethren Then the friers examined hym in the sacrament asking him why he was so earnest to haue it in both kyndes seing sayd they it is but a naked sacrament as you say to whom he aunswered that the elementes thereof were naked but the Sacrament was not naked for somuch as the sayd elementes of bread and wine beeing receaued after the institution of Christ do now make a Sacrament and a mistical representation of the Lordes body coÌ„municating him selfe with our soules And as touching the receauyng in both kindes because it is the institution of the Lorde who is he sayd Martyne that dare alter the same Then was he brought before the counsayle of Flanders The causes layd against him were the Sacrament Purgatory and praying for the dead for the which he was condemned and burned at Gaunt in Uerle place all hys goodes being confiscate As he stoode at the stake a Franciscan Frier sayd to him Martine vnlesse thou doest turne thou shalt goe from this fire to euerlasting fire It is not in you sayd Martine againe to iudge For this the Friers after were so hated y t many billes and rimes were set forth in diuers places agaynst them Ex Pantal. The counsayle of Flaunders Nicholas Vanpole Nicholas Danpole Iohn de Brucke and hys wyfe Martyrs Iohn de Brucke hys wyfe At Gaunt An. 1545. The next day after the burning of Martin aforesayd whiche was the 9. of Maye these three also were burned for the same causes likewise for the which y e other was coÌ„demned burned the day before but onely y t the woman was burned aliue All whiche tooke theyr Martyrdome ioyfully wyth much cheerefulnes  Vrsula Maria Mary and Vrsula two virgins Martyrs Uirgines of noble stocke At Delden An 1545. Delden is a towne in lower Germany 3. myles from Dauentry where these two virgines of noble parentage were burned Who after dilligent frequenting of Churches and Sermons being instructed in the worde of the Lord defended that seeyng the benefite of our saluation commeth only by our fayth in Christ all the other marchaundise of the pope which he vseth to sel to y e peole for mony was needles First Mary beyng the yonger was put to the fire where she prayed ardently for her enemies commeÌ„ding her soule to God At whose constancie the Iudges did greatly maruell Then they exhorted Ursula to turne or if shee would not at least that she should require to be headed To whom she sayd that she was guiltie of no errour nor defended any thing but which was consonant to the scripture in which she trusted to perseuer vnto the end And as touching the kinde of punishement she sayde she feared not y e fire but rather wold follow the example of her deare sister that went before A myraculous worke of God in the dead bodies of these two virgines This was maruellous that the executioners could in no wise consume their bodyes with fire but left them whole lying vpoÌ„ the ground whyte which certayn good Christians priuily tooke vp in y e night and buryed Thus God many times sheweth hys power in the middest of tribulations Ex. Lud. Rab. Pantal. c. The person of S. Catherines Doctour Tapertus William Clericken ruler of Mechlin Andreas Thiessen Catherina hys wife Nicholas Thiessen Fraunces Thiessen brethren At Mechlin An. 1545. Andrew Thiessen Citizen of Mechlin Andrewe Thiessâ—â— his wife Nicholâ—â— Frauncâ—â— Thiessen their 〈◊〉 Martyr of his wyfe Catherine had three sonnes and a daughter whom he instructed dilligently in the doctrine of the gospell and despised the doynges of Poperye Wherfore being hated and persecuted of the Fryers and Priestes there he weÌ„t into England and there dyed Fraunces and
Nicholas hys two sonnes went to Germany to study Returning agayne to theyr mother and sister and younger brother by dilligent instruction brought theÌ„ to the right knowledge of Gods Gospel whiche being not vnknown to the Person there of S. Catherine he called to him Doctour Rupert Tapert other Maisters and Fryers who takyng counsaile together with William Clericken the head Magistrate of the towne of Mechlen agreed that the mother with her foure Children shoulde be sent to prison separated one from an other where great labour was employed to reclayme them home vnto theyr Church that is from light to darcknes agayn The ij yonger to wit the daughter with the yonger brother beyng yet not setled neyther in yeares nor doctrine something inclined to them and were delyuered The mother which woulde not consent was condemned to perpetuall prison The other 2. Frances and Nicholas Fraunces Nicholas constant in Christ. standing firmely to theyr confession defended that the Catholicke Church was not y e Church of Rome that the Sacrament was to be mynistred in both kynds that auricular confession was to no purpose that Inuocation of Sayntes was to be left that there was no Purgatory The Fryers they called hypocrites and contemned theyr threatninges The Magistrates after disputations fell to torments to know of them who was theyr mayster and what fellowes they had Theyr mayster they sayd was Christ which bare hys crosse before Felowes they sayd they had innumerable dispersed in all places At last they were brought to the Iudges their Articles were read and they condemned to be burned Comming to the place of execution as they began to exhort the people gagges or balles of wood were thrust in their mouthes whiche they through vehemencye of speaking thrust out agayne desiring for y e Lord sake that they might haue leaue to speake And so singing with a loud voyce Credo in vnum Deum c. they went and were fastened to the stake praying for theyr persecutors and exhorting the one the other they did abide the fire paciently The one feeling the flame to come to hys beard Ah sayd he what a small payn is this to be compared to the glory to come Thus the pacient martyrs committyng theyr spirite to the hands of God to the great admiration of the lookers on through constancy atchieued the crowne of martyrdome Ex. Phil Melanct. The names of their accusers appeare not in the Authours Marion wyfe of Adrian Taylor At Dornic An. 1545. In the same persecution agaynst Brulius and his companye in Dornic Adrian and Marion his wyfe Martyrs was apprehended also one Adrian and Marion hys wyfe The cause of theyr trouble as also of the others was the Emperoures decree made in the Councell of Wormes agaynst y e Lutherians mentioned before pag. 841. Adrian not so strong as a man for feare gaue backe from y e truth and was but onely beheaded The wife stronger theÌ„ a woman did withstand their threates and abide the vttermost and beyng inclosed in an yron grate formed in shape of a pastie Marion buryed quicke was layd in the earth and buryed quicke after the vsuall punishment of that countrey for women When the aduersaryes fyrst tolde her that her husband had relented she beleeued them not and therefore as shee went to her death passing by the Tower where he was shee called to hym to take her leaue but he was gone before Et Pant. lib. 4. The Magistrates of Dornic or Tornay M. Peter Bruly Preacher At Dornic An. 1545. M. Peter Bruly was preacher in the Frenche Churche at Strausburgh Peter Bruly Martyr Who at the earnest request of faythful brethren came downe to visite the lower countryes about Artoys and Dornic in Flanders wher he most dilligeÌ„tly preached the word of God vnto the people in houses the dores standing open Wherupon wheÌ„ y e magistrates of Dornic had shut the gates of the towne and had made searche for hym three dayes he was priuelye let downe the wall in the night by a basket and as he was let downe to the ditch ready to take his way one of them whiche let him downe leaning ouer the wall to byd hym fare well caused vnawares a stone to slip out of y e wall which falling vpon hym brake hys legge by reason whereof he was heard of the watchmen complayning of hys wounde and so was taken geuing thankes to God by whose prouidence he was there stayed to serue the Lord in that place Gods secret working in disposing the wayes of his seruauntes So long as he remayned in prison hee ceased not to supply the part of a diligent preacher teaching and confirming all them that came to hym in y e word of grace Beyng in prison he wrote hys owne confession and examination sent it to the brethren He wrote also an other Epistle to them that were in persecution an other also to all the faithfull also an other letter to hys wife the same day that he was burned He remayned in prison 4. monethes His sentence was geuen by the Emperours Commissioners at Bruxels that he should be burneh to ashes and hys ashes to be throwne into the riuer Although the fryers and priestes made the fire but small The Martirdome of Brulius to multiply hys payne yet he the more cheerefully and constantly tooke hys martyrdome and suffered it The letters of Duke Fredericke and of the Lantgraue came to entreat for hym but hee was burned a little before the letters came Ex Lud. Rab. Lib. 6. The Senate of Dornic Doctour Hasardus a Gray Fryer Peter Miocius Bergiban At Dornic An. 1545. The comming of M. Peter Bruly into the countrey of Flaunders Pet. Mioce Martyr did exceeding much good among the brethren as appeared by diuers other good men and namely by thys Peter Mioce which was by hys occupation a silke weauer This Peter before he was called to y e Gospell led a wicked lyfe geuen to much vngraciousnes almost to all kyndes of vyce But after the taste of the Gospell began to worke in hym so cleane it altered hym from that former man that he excelled all other in godly zeale and vertue In his first examination he was asked whether he was one of the scholers of Peter Bruly He sayd he was and that hee had receiued muche fruite by his doctrine Wilt thou then defend hys doctrine sayd they Yea sayd he Crueltie shewed vpoÌ„ Châ—istes seruauntes for that it is consonant bothe to the old Testament and to the new and for thys he was let downe vnto a deepe dongeon vnder y e castle ditch ful of toades and filthy vermine Shortly after the Senate with certayne Friers came agayne to examine him to see whether they coulde conuert hym To whome he answered and sayd that when he before had liued such an vngodly lyfe they neuer spake word agaynst hym but now for sauouring and fauoring the worde of God they were so infeste agaynst hym