Touching his inward or spirituall seat S. Paule 2. Thess. 2. 24. saith He sitteth as God in the Temple of God Antichrist signifieth an aduersary of Christ and if it had bin meant of the Turke or any other aduersary that did not professe Christianitie he might easily be seene without so many reuelations but hee is according to the description of a false Prophet Mat. 7. 15. a most grieuous Wolfe to Christs Lambs and yet so couered with a sheeps skin that it is impossible to know him without the spirit of God Outwardly he seemeth to be a good tree but his fruit is nothing but thornes and thistles to destroy Gods children Matth. 24. 24. Christ calleth them false Christs and false Prophets prophecying that they shall do such wonders that if it were possible they should deceiue the elect so thou seest the Antichrist which is prophecied of must be a professor of Christ as the Pope is which calleth himselfe the Catholique Church but he is the onely aduersary thereof as this book will teach thee by experience Touching the third point to know him by his doctrines 1. Tim. 4. 1 They shall depart from the faith and follow doctrines of diuels and speake lies through hypocrisie they shall haue their consciences seared with an hote iron forbidding to marrie and commaunding to abstain from meats and they teach the same superstitious doctrins that S. Paule warneth vs from Coloss. 2. 16. Let no man condemne you in meat and drinke or in respect of an holy-day or a new Moone nor Sabboths nor make you forsake Christ the head in worshipping Angels neither let them burden you with traditions as touch not tast not handle not which things haue a shew of wisedome in that the professors be voluntary religious and humble their mindes and spare not their bodies nor haue their bodies in any estimation but all is nothing but to fulfill a fleshly religion and Iude in his twelfth verse compareth them to clouds which in a drieth seem to bring raine but doe not for though they make great promises of feeding of soules yet there is no true hope of remission of sins nor assurance of eternall happinesse in their doctrines And in 2. Pet. 2. 17. he calleth them Wells not with a little water but quite without water for although by name they professe the Trinity yet their doctrins of euery person of the Trinitie and of al other points of religion are contrary to wholsome doctrine they maintaine their doctrines though falsely vnder the names of the Scriptures the Catholique Church and the auncient fathers this is the golden cup that the Church of Antichrist holdeth in her hand Reuel 17. 4. but it is full of abominations and filthines of her fornications so if thou marke this booke it is easie to know Antichrist by the falsenesse and wickednesse of all his doctrines yet coloured ouer with glorious shewes of truth and wholsomnesse yea although thou haddest no other meanes to discerne him by Touching the fourth point of the conditions of Antichrist Iude in the eleuenth verse saith They follow the way of Caine all the persecutions of Gods children before times were but types and prophecies of the Papists in killing their brethren as Caine did because they please God better then they The abominable desolations of Nabuchadnezzar and of Titus and Vespasian of the materiall Temples were but prophecies of the Papists abominable desolations of Gods Saints For this cause Antichrist is called in the Reuelation a great redde Dragon a Serpent and a cruell Beast S. Iohn Reuel 17. 6. foresaw the Church of Antichrist drunken with the bloud of the Saints and Martyrs of Iesus Christ. And although he had seen all the persecutions that were before or in his time yet he wondred at the bloud that he foresaw that the Papists should shed with a great maruaile Iude in his 12. verse saith They are cast away in the deceit of Baalams wages for as Baalam though he knew the Israelites to bee the blessed of God yet he would haue cursed them for lucre sake if God would haue suffered him so the Papists maintaine doctrines which they know to be false and commit all their murders of Gods children only to maintaine their Kitchin pleasures honour glorie riches and other worldly respects as it shall plainly appear vnto thee in this Booke In 2. Pet. 2. 14. Their eyes are full of adultery and they cannot cease to sinne beguiling vnstable soules This Booke will shew thee how inspeakeably wicked they are according to this prophecie they are spiritually called Sodom because in that case they exceede in wickednesse the Sodomites These and many other wicked conditions of theirs are plentifully prophecied of in the Scriptures and thou shalt see the true performances of the prophecies in this book w ch wicked conditions shall plainly shew the Pope to be Antichrist Touching the height of Antichrists Kingdome Reuel 17. 3. the Church of Antichrist is said to sit vpon a skarlet coloured beast ful of names of blasphemy which is the Pope who is a bloudy beast to Gods children takes all Gods names blasphemously to himself and vers 4. he his Church are arrayed with purple skarlet and deckt with gold precious stones pearls and how gloriously the Pope and his Church hath bin set forth how rich they haue bin according to this prophecy this book wil shew thee In 2. Thess. 2. 14 He sitteth as God in the Temple of God and exalteth himself aboue all that is called God C. Caesar Caligula the Emperor which vsed to sit in the Temples of the Idols to be honored as God caused his picture to be set vp to be worshipt in all Temples and in the Temple of Ierusalem yet was he not such an abominable Idol as the Pope maketh himselfe to be he is the Gaoler of Purgatory and thither comes as he saith all the soules of Christians except som few to whom for building some religious houses and for being otherwise a speciall maintainer of his kingdome hee giueth a speciall prerogatiue immediatly to go to heauen these soules his prisoners hee punisheth how and as long as he list and at his pleasure he throweth any of them into hell or sendeth any of them into heauen Of the reuenues of this Gaole hath all the Popes riches honour superioritie aboue Emperors and Kings proceeded he hath taken from Christ the honor of pardoning sins to himselfe God made man of clay but the Pope and all his shauelings can daily make God of a piece of bread In these and many other respects as this booke will teach thee doth the Pope exalt himself as God according to this prophecie and he exalts himselfe aboue all kings which are called Gods and at his pleasure with excommunications can cast them out of heauen and out of their kingdoms as himselfe saith he hath trode vpon Emperours made them kisse his feet hold his stirrups and leade his horse He
wounded for obeying their liege King came and were absolued of their owne Bishops but the Spirituall men were compelled to séeke their absolution of the Pope Some of the Clergie were not pleased that the King should be absolued vntill the King had payed all which any of the Clergie should demaund and complained of the Popes Legate that he was too partiall for the King in the matter of restitution and because he went with the Kings Officers to the Cathedrall Churches Abbyes Priories and other Churches vacant and appointed two Iucumbants to euery place one for the King and the other for the parties and commonly compelled the election to passe vpon him whom the king nominated The Archbishop called a Councell at Oxford some would not tary séeing the confysion thereof others reuiled the king most spiâ—efully behinde his backe saying he ought to bée taken for no Gouernour of theirs that it grew to a grieuous tumult and most grieuous commotion In this years Pope Inocent held the Councell at Rome called Lateran it was pretended to be for the râ—formation of the Church Uniuersall and to haue the holy Land recouered from the Turtes but it was because the Doctrine of the Truth which they call Hereâ—â—â— begin to 〈◊〉 very high by reason whereof the Empâ—rour Otho and many other Priestes and their Countries were excommunicated In this Councell he established by publique Deerce that the Pope should haue the correction of all Christian Princes and that no Emperour should bee admitted except he were sâ—orne to him and Crowned of him Item that whosoever spake euâ—il of the Pope should be punished in Hell with eternall damnation Item Transubstantiation was first inuented brought in and a Pix ordâ—ined to couer the bread and bell to be rung bâ—fore it when it went abroad and the Masse to bée made equall with Christs Gospell Item the Act was established and ratified of compelling Priests to abiure lawfull mâ—â—iage Marke how the Priests and their adherents were plagued for handling king Iohn so Stephen Lancton Archbishop of Canterbury in this Councell was excommunicated of Pope Inocent with all thâ—se Bishops Preâ—lates Priests Barons and Commons which had béene of Councell with him in the former Rebellion and when the Archbishop had 〈◊〉 instant sute to be absolued the Pope answered I sweare by Saint Peter thou shalâ— not so soone obtaine thy absolution for thou hast hurt the king of England and iniured â—uch the Church of Rome He was also suspended from Church saying Masse or exercising other Ecclesiasticall Office because he would not execute the Popes curse vpon the said Rebellious Barons and cursed all the other rebels with bâ—ll bookâ— and candle and they appealed to the generall Councell In the same yeare many were summoned to Rome because they would not consent to the Kings deposing and submitting to the Pope Thus the whole Realme was miserably deuided into two factious some Lords and Gentlemen a great number followed the King and loued his doings Others fled to the French King desiring of him his eldest sonne Lodowicke and they would elect him their King and that he would send with him a mightie Armie to subdue the King but as certaine Lords and Barons were chusing Lodowicke for their king the Pope sent a Cardinall to stop their rash and cruell attempts charging the French king vpon his alegiance with all possible power to â—auour and deâ—end King Iohn of England his Feodaâ—y or Tenant Tho French king answered The Realme of England was neuer yet part of Peters patrimony neither now is nor euer should be No Prince may pledge or giue away his Kingdome without the lawfull consent of his Barons If the Pope shall seâ— vp such a president he shall at his pleasure bring all Christian Princes and their Kingdomes to naught Though he be my aduersary I much lament that he â—â—th brought the noble ground and Quéene of Prouinces vnder miserable 〈◊〉 The chiefe of his Lords standing by cryed by the bloud of God in whome we hope to be saued we will sticke in this Article to the loosing of our heads that no King may put his â—and vnder tribute and make his Nobilitie captiue seruants Lodowicke 〈◊〉 that his purposed iourney might not vs let for the Barons haue elected mee and I will not loose my right but fight for it to death and I haue friâ—ndes there to which the King answered not belike doubting somewhat because he saw all 〈◊〉 of the Priests that they might liue licentiously in wealth frée from the Kings yoake The same time a such treasons and conspiracies were wrought by Clergie men that the King knew not where to finde trustie friends At length he went to Douer looking for ayde from other quarters to whom resorted a wonderful number of men from Flanders 〈◊〉 Holland and many other parts It was reported the Pope writ to them to aâ—de him First bâ—cause he submitted his kingdome to his protection and he had taken vpon him the 〈◊〉 of the white Crosse to winne againe Ierusalem Thirdly because he had gotten by him England and Ireland and was like to loose both Upon the Aâ—â—â—nciation day of our Lady hee â—ooke vpon him his voyagâ— againâ—â—â—he Turkes to recouer Ierusalem He told his seruants 〈◊〉 did prospeâ—â— with him since he submitted himselfs and his kingdomes to the Church of Rome In this yeere one Simon Langton was chosen 〈◊〉 of Yorke but he was deposed by the Pope because he was brotheâ— to Stephen â—rchbishop of 〈◊〉 wâ—â—m the Pope hated hauing brought him vp of naught and â—ound him so 〈◊〉 and he places the Bishop of 〈◊〉 in his â—oome The 〈◊〉 night the Pope renewed his curse vpon the king of France his 〈◊〉 for vsurping vpon king Iohn and against the said Simon Langton and Geruas Hobruge for prouoking him to the same with wonâ—erfull 〈◊〉 cousing the â—els to ring caâ—les to be â—â—ghted and doores opened the 〈…〉 to be red committing them wholy to the Deuâ—l and communded the â—ishops and 〈◊〉 to poblish it through the whole Realme to the â—errour of all subiects The 〈◊〉 Simon and Geruais derâ—â—â—d him and appealed vnto the 〈◊〉 all Councell for Lodowicke and themselues The Magestrates and citizens of London did likewise 〈…〉 at the Popes commandements and kept company with the excommunicated at â—able and Church in contempt of the Pope and 〈◊〉 Lodowicke at 〈◊〉 taking himselfe king made Simon Langton higâ— Chancellour and Geruais Hobruge his chiefe Preacheâ— vy whose daily Preaching the Barâ—â—â— and Citizens bring excommunicated caused all the Church doores to be opened and 〈◊〉 sung and Lodowicke was sit for them in all paints About this time Cardinall Pandulphus was made Bishop of Norwich for gathering Peter 〈◊〉 an old â—illage of the Pope other great labours â—one by him for the Pope About this time one Uicont of Meinn a 〈◊〉 man which came ouer with Lodowicke felll â—â—cke and called to him certaine English Baronâ— and said I pittie the
nor old Law therefore said the Bishop I will know nothing but my portous and my pontificall if you forgoe not these fantasies you shall repent it Thomas said my cause is iust before God and I passe not what followeth thereon After he was summoned by the Cardinall of Saint Andrewes and the said Bishop of Dunkelden and with him were summoned Frier Iohn Kellow Frier Beuarage Duncane Simson Priest Robert Foster a Gentleman with thrée or foure other men of Striueling who at theiâ— day of apparance were condemned to death without any place of recantation because they were chiefe hereticks and teachers of heresies and because many of them were at the marriage of the Priest of Twybody and eate flesh in Lent at their Bridall and they were all together burnâ—d vpon the Castle Hill of Edenbrough where they comforted one another merueilously The Persecution of certaine in the towne of Perth THere was an Act of Parliament in the gouernment of the Earle of Arrai giuing priuilege to reade the scriptures in their mother tongue but secluding al conference thereof wherby y â— eyes of the elect of God were opened to sée the truâ—h and abhorre Papisticall abhominations at which time Fryer Spencer preached that Prayers made to Saints were necessary and without it no hope of saluation Then Robert Lambe a Burges of Perth accused him opâ—nlâ— in the Church of erronious Doctrine and adiured him in Gods name to vtter the truth whereupon trouble and tumulâ— of people arose so that the said Robert with great danger of his life escaped euen the Women addressed themselues to great cruelty against him Shortly after the Cardinall and the Earle of Argile sat about the matter before these persons were brought Robert Lambe William Anderson Iames Hunter Iames Rauelson Iames Fouleson and Hellen Sirke his Wife and the next day were condemned to death by an Assize for violating the foresaid Act of Parliment by conferring together of the Scripture and for that the said Robert Lambe William Anderson and Iames Raueleson hanged the Image of Saint Francis in a cord nayling Rammes hornes to his head and a Cowes rump to his taâ—le and for eating a Goose of Alhollow Eue and Iames Hunter for kéeping company with thâ—m Heâ—len Sirke for saying Mary merited not by workes to be the Mother of Christ and to be preferred before other Women but Gods free mercy â—xalted her to that estate Iohn Raueleson for setting vp in his house a triple Crowne of Saint Peter which the Cardinaâ—l tooke to be done in mockage of his Cardâ—nals haâ— At the place of execution Robert Lambe exhorted the people to feare God and to leaue the leauen of Papisticall abhominations and prophesied of the ruine of the Cardinall which after came to passe and comforting one another that they should sup together in the Kingdome of heauen The Woman desired to die with her Husband but was not suffered then she kissed him saying We haue liued together ioyfull daies but this day is most ioyful because we must haue ioy for euer I will not bid you God night for we shall all this night méete with ioy in heauen The condemnation of GEORGE VVISHARD Gentleman and his Articles before the Cardinall of Scotland and others 1 TOuching Preaching when he was forbidden hee answered I haue read in the Acts of the Apostles that it is not lawfull to desist from preaching the Gospell for menaces of men therefore it is written wee must rather obey God then men and I beléeue that the Lord will turne your cursings of mee vnto blessings and as in the second of Malachy I will curse your blessings blessâ— your cursings 2 He affirmed the mouing of the body outward of the Priest at Masse without the inward mouing of the heart is but the playing of an ape and not the seruing of God who must be honored in spirit and verity 3 That auriculer confession hath no promise of the Euangell and therefore it cannot be a Sacrament but there are many testimonies of confession made to God 4 As none will make marchandise with one of a strange Language except that he doe vnderstand the promise made by the Stranger So I would that we vnderstood what wee promise in the Name of the Infant to GOD in Baptisme then saide one Bleiter a Chaplaine Theâ— hast the Deuill and Spirit of errour then said a Child the Deuill cannot speake such words as he doth 5 The lawfull vse of the Sacraments is most acceptable vnto God but the great abuse is very detestable vnto him I once met with a Iew as I was sayling on the Sea I inquired of him what was the cause of his pertinacy that he did not beléeue the true Messias was come being that he saw the prophesies of him fulfilled and the Prophesies and the Scepter of Iuda was likewise takâ—n away He answered me When the Messias commeth he shall restore all things and he shall not abrogate the Law giuen vnto our fore-fathers as yee doe for we sée the poore almost ready to perish for hunger amongst you and you pitty them not and amongst vs Iewes though we are poore there are no beggars found And it is forbidden by the Law to faine an Image of any thing in Heauen or Earth but onely to honour God but your Churches are full of Idols and ye adore a péece of Bread baked vpon the ashes and that it is your God then the Bishops shooke their heads and spitted on the earth 6 He reproued coniurings and exorcismes of holy Water and said that they were contrary to Gods word 7 Saint Peter saith God hath made vs Kings and Priests and againe hee hath made vs a kinglie Priest-hood therefore I affirme that any man cunning in the Word of GOD and the Faith of Christ he hath power from God by the Word of God to binde and lose and a man that is not conuersant in Gods Word nor constant in Faith what estate or order soeuer he be of hath no power to binde or lose being he wanteth the word of God the instrument to binde and lose with 8 Touching fréewill he said as many as firmely beléeue in Christ haue liberty as in the 8. of Iohn If the Sonne make you free then verily shall you be free but as many as beleeue not in Christ are bond seruants of sinne he that sinneth is bond to sinne 9 Touching praying to Saints he said it is certaine in Scripture that we should worship and honour one God but for honouring of Saints it is doubtfull whether they heare our inuocation made to them therefore I exhort all men that they would leaue the vnsure way and follow that way which our Maister Christ taught vs He is our onely Mediator and maketh intercession for vs hee is the doore he that entreth not in by this doore but climbeth in another way is a Theefe and a Murderer he is the verity and life he that goeth out of this way is fallen into the mire 10
Augustine and all the Fathers of antiquitie doe affirme but in asmuch as the substance of bread and wine is another manner of thing then the substance of the body and bloud of Christ it is plaine there is no Transubstantiation 4 The bread is no more transubstantiated then the wine CHRIST calleth that the fruit of the Uine saying I will drinke no more of the fruit of the Vine Therefore by Christes wordes it was not Bloud but Wine therefore it followeth there is no Transubstantiation Chrysostom vpon Mathew and Cyprian doe confirme this reason 5 The bread is called as well Christs mysticall body as his naturall body for the same spirit that saith the bread is my body saith also wee being many are one body but it is not the mysticall body by transubstantiation no more is it his naturall body by transubstantiation 6 The words ouer the Cup are not so effectuall as to transubstantiate it intâ— the New Testament Therfore the words spoken ouer the bread are not so mighty to make Transubstantiation 7 The Doctrine of Transubstantiation doth not agree with the Apostolick and mother Churches which receiued there Doctrine of the Apostles who receiued it of Christ and Christ of God as of Gréece of Corinthus of Philippos Collosia Thessalonica Ephesus which neuer taught Transubstantiation yea it agreeth not with the Doctrine of the Church of Rome taught in times past for Gelasius the Pope doth manifestly confute the errour of transubstantiation and reproueth them of sacriledge which diuide the mysterie and keep the Cup from the lay people Therefore the Doctrine of transubstantiation agreeth not with the truth Communication betwixt the Archbishop of Yorke and the Bishop of Chichester with BRADFORD in prison York HOw know you the word of God but by the Church Brad. The Church is a meane to bring a man to the more spéedy knowledge of the Scriptures as the woman of Samaria was a meane that the Samaritaâ—s knew Christ but when as they had heard him speake they said now wee know that he is Christ not because of thy words but because we our selues haue heard him so after we come to the hearing and reading of the Scriptures shewed vnto vs by the Church we beleeue them and know them as Christs sheepe not because the Church saith they be the Scriptures but because they be so wee being assured thereof by the spirit which wrote and spake them Yorke In the Apostles time the word was not written Brad. True if you meane it for some bookes of the New Testament but for the Old Testament Peter telleth vs it is a more sure word of Prophesie not that it is so simply but in respect of the Apostles which being aliue and compassed with infirmities by reason whereof men might perchance haue found fault with their preaching they attributed vnto the Prophets more firmenes as wherewith no fault could be â—â—und albeit in verity no lesse obedience and faith ought to be giuen vnto the one then the other both proceeding of one Spirit of truth York Ireneus and others doe magnifie much and alledge the Câ—urch and not the Scriptures against the heretickes Brad. They had to doe with such-hereticks as did deny the Scriptures and yâ—t did magnifie the Apostles so that they were inforced to vse the authoritie of those Churches wherein the Apostles had taught and which did still retaine the same Doctrine then the alledging of the Church cannot be principally vsed against me which am so farre from denying the Scriptures that I appeale vnto them vtterly as to the onely Iudge Yorke A pretty matter that you will take vpon to Iudge the Church where hath your Church been hitherto for the Church of Christ is Catholick and visible hitherto Brad. I doe not Iudge the Church when I discerne it from the congregation which is not the Church and I neuer denied the Church to bâ— Catholick and viâ—â—ble although at some times it is more visible then at other times Chichest Where was your Church forty yeares agone which allowed your Doctrine I said I would tell him if he would tell mee where the Church was in Helias his time when Helias said he was left alone he said that is no answere Brad. If you had the same eyes wherewith a man might haue espied the Church then you would not say it was no answer The fault why the Church is not sâ—â—ne of you is not because the Church is not visible but because your eyes are not cléere â—â—ough to sée it Chich. You are much deceiued in making this collation betwixt the Church then and now Yorke said it was very well spoken for Christ said I will build my Church and not I do or haue built it Brad. Peter teacheth me to make this collation saying As amongst the people there were false Prophets which were most in estimation before Christs comming so shall there be false teachers amongst the people after Christs comming and verie many shall follow them and as for your future tense you wil not conclude Christs Church not to haue béene before but rather that there is no builder in the Church but by Christ onely in that he saith I will build my Church for Paul and Apollo be but waterers York He taketh vpon him to iudge the Church a man shall neuer come to certainty that doth so Brad. I speake simply that which I thinke and desire reasons to answere my Obiections assuredly you did well to depart from the Romish Church but you haue done wickedly to coupple your selues to it againe for you can neuer proue it which you call the mother Church to be Christs Church Chichest You were but a Childe then I was but a young man come from the Uniuersitie and went with the World but it was alwaies against my conscience Brad. I thinke you haue done euill for ye are come and haue brought others to that wicked man which sitteth in the Temple of God which is the Church for it cannot be vnderstood of Mahomer or any out of the Church but of such as beare rule in the Church Yorke Sée how you build your Faith vpon the most obscure places of the Scripture to deceiue your selfe as though you were in the Church which are not Brad. Well my Lord though I might by truth iudge you and others yet will not I vtterly exclude you out of the Church but I am not out of the Communion of the Church for it consisteth in Faith York Loe how you make your Church inuisible for you would haue the Communion of it to consist in Faith Brad. To haue Communion of the Church néedeth not visiblenesie of it for Communion consisteth in Faith and not in exterior Ceremonies as appeareth by Paul which would haue one Faith and by Ireneus to Victor saying disagréeing of fasting should not breake the agréeing of Faith Chichest That place hath often wounded my conscience because we disseuered our selues from the Sea of Rome Brad. God forgiue you for you haue done
and not the flesh and bloud of Christ naturally and that there is no sacrifice nor saluation to a Christian in the Masse except it were said and vsed in the mother tongue and likewise also that the ceremonies of the Church are not profitable for a Christian. And as touching Auricular confession he said it was necessary to goe to a good Priest for counsaile but the absolution and laying handes on a mans head by the Priest as it is now vsed is not profitable and that the faith and doctrine now taught is not agreeable to GODS word and that Hooper Cardmaker and others of their opinion which were late burned were good Christians and did preach the doctrine of Christ. Iohn Launder was coudemned by the said Bonner for affirming that whosoeuer doth teach or vse any other Sacraments then the Lords Supper and Baptisme or any other ceremonies he beleeueth that they were not of the Catholique Church but abhorreth them and that he himselfe is a member of the true Catholique Church he denied the reall presence in the Sacrament but he beleeueth that when he receiueth the materiall Bread and Wine it is in remembrance of Christs death and that he eates Christs body and bloud by faith and no otherwise and that the Masse is naught and abominable and directeth against Gods word and that the gloria in excelsis the Creed Sanctum Pater noster Agnus and other parts of the masse be of themselues good yet being vsed amongst other things are naught also and that auricular confession is not necessary to be made to a Priest but to God and that none but Christ hath authoritie to absolue sinnes Derick being asked whether he would recant your doctrine quoth he is poyson and sorcerie if Christ were here you would put him to a worse death then he was put to before You say you can make a God you can make a Pudding as well your ceremonies in the Church are beggerie and poyson and auricular confession is poyson and against Gods word so they were condemned and burned Derick was rich but the raâ—eners made such hauocke thereof that his poore wife and children had little or none thereof he was olde and past learning yet when he was put into prison being ignorant of any letter in his booke he could before his death reade perfectly When he was burned they threw his booke into a barrell that he was burned in to be burned with him but he threw it amongst the people and the Sherife commanded vpon paine of death in the King and Quéenes name to throw it into the fire againe then he said Deare brethren and sisters as many as beleeue in the Father the Sonne and holy Ghost vnto euerlasting life see you doe thereafter and you that beleeue in the Pope or any of his lawes you beleeue to your vtter destruction for except the great mercy of God you shall burne in hell continually The Sherife said if thou dost not beleeue in the Pope thou art damned therefore speake to thy God that he may deliuer thee now or else to strike me downe to the example of this people but he said vnto him The Lord forgiue you that which you haue said THOMAS IVESON THis Iueson was condemned by the said Bonner for saying the Sacrament of the Altar is a very Idoll and detestable before GOD as it is now-a-dayes ministred and that the Masse is naught and that auricular confession is not necessary for that a Priest cannot forgiue sinnes that baptisme is a token of Christ as circumcision he beléeueth his sinnes are not washed away therby but only his body washed and his sinnes washed only in Christs bloud and that there is but two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper which now are not rightly vsed in England that all the ceremonies now vsed in the Church are superfluous and superstitioâ—s and being earnestly labored withall to recant said he would not forsake his beléefe for all the goods in London I doe appeale to Gods mercie and will be none of your Church and if there came an Angell from heauen to teach me other doctrine then that which I haue now I would not beleeue him whereupon he was burned IOHN ALEWORTH HEe died in prison at Reading for the testimonie of the truth whom the Catholike Prelats as their vse is did exclude out of Catholike buriall IAMES ABBES THis Abbes beâ—ng examined by the Bishop of Norwich he relented at their naughty perswasions now when he was dismissed and should go from the Bishop he gaue him some money but after he was pittiously vexed in conscience he went againe to the Bishop and threw him his said money which he had receiued and said it repented him that euer he had consented to their wicked perswasions then the Bishop and his Chaplains laboured a fresh to win him againe but in vaine and so he was burned at Berry Iohn Denley Gentleman Iohn Newman Patricke Pachington AS Edmund Tyrell a Iustice of Peace in Essex came from the burning of certaine godly Martyrs he meâ— with Iohn Denley and Iohn Newman both of Maidstone in Kent and vpon the sight of them as he bragged he suspected and searched them and finding the confessions of their faith written about them hee sent them to the Quéens Commissioners who sent them to Bonner the effect of the writing followeth In the Sacrament Christs bodie is figuratiuely in the Bread and Wine spiritually he is in them that worthily eate and drinke the Bread and Wine but really carnally and corporally he is in heauen from whence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead Then Bonner ministred articles vnto them and vnto Patrick Pachington who all answered alike to this effect following The Catholike Church is built vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Christ being the head corner stone it is the Congregation of the faithfull dispersed through the whole world and two or three gathered together in Christs name are the members thereof This Church doeth preach GODS holy word and minister the blessed Sacraments truely the Church of England vsing the Faith and Religion which now is vsed is no member thereof but is the Church of Aâ—tichrist the Bishop of Rome being the head thereof for they haue altered the Testament of GOD and set vp a Testament of their own deuising ful of blasphemy and lies Christs Testament being that we should haue all things done for the edifying of the Church The Masse now vsed is most abominable idolatrie and intollerable blasphemie Christ ordained his Sacraments to be eaten together in remembrance of his death vntill heâ— come and not to bee worshipped and to make an Idoll of them for GOD will not be worshipped in his creatures but we must remember to praise him for his creatures what is kneeling holding vp your handes knocking of the breast putting off the cap and making curtsie with other superstition to the bread but Idolatrie You obiect you worship not the Bread and Wine
man but consent of deeds Rid. If it were a trifling ceremonie or indifferent for the continuance of common quietnes I could be content to beare it But the Masse tendeth openly to the ouerthrow of Christs institution I ought by no meanes in word or deed consent thereto That of the Fathers is ment of them that suppose they be defiled if any secret vice be either in the Ministers or in the Communicants with them and is not ment of them which abhor Superstition and wicked traditions of men and will not suffer them to be in steede of the Gospell Lat. The Mary bones of the Masse are detestable and by no meanes to be borne with all it cannot be amended but by abolishing it for euer for if you take away â—blation and adoration which hang vpon Consecration and transubstantiation the Papists will not set a button by the Masse onely for the gaine that followeth therin for if our English Communion were a gainefull vnto them as the Masse they would striue no more for the Masse Anto If you refuse to goe to Masse you forsake the Church for the Masse is the Sacrament of vnitie without the Arke there is no saluation the Church is the Arke and Peters ship Augustine saith he shall not haue God his Father which acknowledgeth not the Church his mother And he also saith be thy life neuer so well spent out of the Church thou shalt not inherit the Kingdome of heauen Ridley The Catholick Church is the Communion of Saints the Citie of GOD the spouse of Christ the body of Christ the pillar of truth this Church I honour in the Lord but the rule of this Church is the word of God as many as walke according to this rule peace bee vpon them and vpon Israel that pertaineth to God the guide of this Church is the Holy Ghost the marks of this Church are these The preaching of Gods word due administration of the Sacraments Charitie and obseruing of Ecclesiasticall Discipline according to the word of God these are the heauenly Ierusalem which consisteth of those which are borne aboue This is the mother of vs all I will liue and die the child of this Church forth of this there is no saluation it is onely knowne by the Scriptures which is the true Church indeed the bread which we breake according to the institution of Christ is the Sacrament of the vnity of Christs mysticall body for we being many are one bread and one body because we are partakers of one bread but in the Masse the Lords institution is not obserued for there we are not all partakers of one bread but one deuoureth it all Lat Yea what fellowship hath Christ with Antichrist it is not lawful to beare the yoke with Papists Seperat your selues from them saith the Lord it is one thing to be the Church indéed and another thing to counterfet the Church not all that he couered with the Title of the Church are the Church indéed When S. Paul saith Seperate your selues from them He addeth if any man follow other doctrine he is puffed vp and knoweth nothing For it is ignorance to know many things and not Christ but if thou knowest Christ thou knowest enough though thou know no more Therefore he would know nothing but Christ and him crucified as many as be Papists and Masse-mongers may well bee said to know nothing for they know not Christ they take much away from the merite of Christ. Anto. That Church which you describe is inuisible but Christs Church is visible and knowne For hee saith tell it to the Church which is in vaine to goe to the Church if a man cannot tell which it is Rid. If we cannot see the true Church that is not the fault of the Church but either of our owne blindnes or of Satans darknes but the word is a Candle vnto vs and a light vnto our steps to shâ—w the true Church Anto. The Church of Christ is vniuersall dispersed through the whole world the great house of GOD good and euill mingled together Goates Shéepe Corne and Chaffe it is the net which gathereth all kinde of Fishes it cannot erre for CHRIST IESVS hath promised it his good Spirit to leade it in all truth and the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against it he will be with it to the end of the world What it shall binde or lose in earth shall bee ratified in Heauen it is the truth Augustine saith I beleeue the Gospell because the Church biddeth me beleeue it this Church alloweth the Masse therefore it must be followed RidI The Church is taken three manner of waies in the Scripture sometime for the whole multitude of the professors of Christ but as euery one is not a Iew which is a Iew outwardly nor all that be of Israel are counted the seede So euery one that is a Christian outwardly is not so indeede For hee that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his The Church that Christ Iesus is head of stands onely of liuing Stones Christians in heart and truth and not in worde onely The multitude of the good are the true Church the multitude of the euill is the malignant Church and Synagogue of Satan These be the three takings of the Church and though there be seldom mention in Scriptures in this interpretation yâ—t in the greatest assemblies of the world this Church hath borne the greatest swing But if any will affirme that vniuersalitie doth so appertaine vnto the church that Christs promises to the Church must needes bee vnderstood of that where was that vniuersall Church in the times of the Patriarks and Prophets Of Noah Abraham and Moses when they would haue stoned him of Helias of Ieremy in the times of Christ and the dispersion of the Apostles in the time of Arius When Constantius was Emperour â—and Felix Bishop of Rome succeeded Lyberius Lyra vpon Mathew saith the Church doth not stand in men by reason of their power and dignitie whether it be Ecclesiasticall or Seculer for Princes and Popes and other inferiours haue fallen away from GOD Therefore the Church consisteth in those persons in whom is true knowledge and Confession of the Faith and truth euill men are in the Church in name but not in deed Latimer Touching the vehement saying of Saint Augustine I would not beleeue the Gospel but for the Church Melancton vpon this saith the Church is not a Iudge but a witnes there were some that lightly esteemed the Iudgement of the Church and preaching and reiected the outward word and stucke onely to there inward reuelations This droue Saint Augustine into that vehemencie in which he seemeth to them that vnderstand not his meaning to prefer the Church before the Gospel and that it had authoritie ouer the same but that godly man neuer thought so Anto Generall Councels represent the vniuerfall Church and Christ hath promised to be in the middest where two or three be gathered together in his name
that he stood alwayes in one place without mouing of his members with his eyes vpward he off repeated his vnworthy right hand saying Lord Iesus receiue my spirit and so gaue vp the Ghost Agnes Potten and another woman ONe was the wife of Robert Potten of Ipswich in Suffolke the other the wife of Michael Trouchfield of the same towne shoemaker they were burned at Ipswich the 16. of February for denying the sacrament of the Altar their constancy in burning was wonderfull they earnestly exhorted the people to credit and lay hold vpon the word of God and to dispise the institutions of the Romish route with all their superstitions and rotten religion Robert Spicer William Coberley Maundrel THese three were burned at one stake in Salisbury what their confessions were and by whom they were condemned it appeareth not Robert Draks Minister William Tims Ioyner Richard Spurge Fuller Iohn Cauell Weauer George Ambrose Fuller and Thomas Spurge Fuller THese sixe were burned at one fire in Smithfield the foure and twentieth day of Aprill they were all of Essex and sent at diuers times by the Lord Rich to Gardner who sent them to prison where they remained a yeare almost and then they were sent to Bonner to whom they all denied the reall presence in the Sacrament of the Altar after they were all sent for vnto the Consistorie first Tims was sent for and exhorted to conformity he answered we haue béene brought hither this day for Gods word which we haue beene taught by the Apostolike Preachers in King Edwards time whom you haue murthered because they preached the truth and they haue sealed their doctrine with their bloud whom I will follow Then Bonner perswaded them not to stand to the litterall sense of the Scriptures but to vse the interpretation of the Fathers Then Tims said what haue you to maintaine the reall presence of Christ in the Sacrament but only the bare letter We haue quoth Bonner the Catholike Church no said he the Popish Church of Rome for which you be periured and the Sea of Rome is the Sea of Antichrist therefore to that Church I will neuer consent I confesse Christ is present with his Sacraments but with your Sacrament of the Altar he is neither present corporally nor spiritually for as you vse it it is a detestable Idoll Then the Bishop séeing his constant boldnes condemned him Then Robert Draks was called and being exhorted to returne to the Church of Rome he said he vtterly defied it and all the workes thereof euen as I defie the diuell and all his workes then was he likewise condâ—mned Then Thomas Spurge was demaunded if he would returne to the Catholike Church and then he called the rest and vpon the like demands he receiued the like answers so they had all their iudgements and deliuered vnto the Sherife and after burned as before Iohn Hullier Minister HEe was burâ—ed at Cambridge vpon the second day of Aprill for the professing of Christs Gospell vnder Thurlby Bishop of Ely and his Chancellor only a Praâ—er and a Letter of his are recorded his Letter is to proue the Romish Church Antichrist and exhorteth from dissembling with God and the world in comming to masse Christopher Lister Minister Iohn Mace Iohn Spencer Simon Ioyne Richard Nicoll and Iohn Hamond THese six were burned together at Colchester in Essex where the most part of them did inhabite the eight and twentieth day of Aprill Bonner now waxing wearie made a very quicke dispatch with these for as soone as they were deliuered by the Earle of Oxford and other Commissioners vnto Iohn Kingstone the Bishops Register Bonner caused them to be brought vnto his house at Fulham where in the open Church he ministred vnto them articles to which they answered alike as followeth That the Church of Rome is the malignant Church and no part of the Cathotholike Church and that they beleeue not the doctrine thereof and that they beléeue there be no mo but two Sacraments in the Church of Christ to wit Baptisme and the Lords Supper that they learned the truth of their profession by the doctrine set forth in King Edwards time and therein they would continue as long as they liued they refused to be partakers of the Sacrament of the Altar because it was vsed contrary to Gods word and glorie they said the Popes authoritie was vsurped and that he was an oppressor of Christs Church and Gospell and that he ought not to haue any authoritie in England and that they vtterly abhorred the Sea of Rome for putting downe the booke of God and setting vp the Babylonicall Masse with all the rest of Antichrists merchandise and that after consecration there remaineth in the Sacrament Bread and Wine as well as before and that the reall flesh and bloud of Christ is not in it and that the Masse is not propitiatorie neither for the quick nor for the dead but méere Idolatry and abomination And in the afternoone when they would not recant they were condemned and burned as before Margaret Ellice Hugh Lauerock an old lame man and Iohn Apprice a blind man SHe was of great Bursteed in Essex and was sent to Bonner by Sir Iohn Mordant Knight and Edmund Tyrrell Esquire she died in Newgate the thirtéenth of May being condemned to be burned before Hugh Lauerocke an old lame man and Iohn Apprice a blinde man when they were examined answered in effect as Christopher Lister Iohn Mace and others before mentioned had done after they were brought to the Consistoriâ— and being perswaded to recant their opinions of the Sacrament Hugh Lauerock said I will stand to my answere I cannot finde in the Scriptures that the Priests should lift vp ouer their heads a cake of bread then Bonner asked Iohn Apprice what he would say he answered your doctrine that you set forth is so agreeable with the world and imbraced of the world that it cannot be agreeable with the Scriptures and ye are not of the Catholike Church for ye make lawes to kill men and make the Queene your executioner whereupon they were condemned and sent to Stratford the Bow and there burned the â—ifteenth of May at their deaths Hugh Lauerock comforting Iohn Apprice said be of good comfort my brother for my Lord of London is our good Physitian he will heale thée of thy blindnes and me of my lamenesse Katharine Hutte widdow Elizabeth Tharnell and Ioane Hornes IN the yeare 1556. these were burned in Smithfield were sent to Bonner with Margaret Ellice and the blinde and lame man for denying the reall presence in the Sacrament of the Altar and for calling the Masse an Idoll Katharine Hutte being required to recant and say her minde of the Sacrament said I denie it to be a God because it is a dumbe God and made with mens handes Ione Hornes said if you can make your God to shedde bloud or to shew any condition of a liuely body then will I beleeue you but it is
in knowne this Bishop not elected of God but intruded himselfe by fâ—aud and money subueâ—ted Ecclesiasticall order disturbed the gouernment of the Empire â—â—nacing death of bodie and soule vnto our peaceable king set vp a perâ—ured king making discorâ—s amongst friends and brethren Diuorcements amongst the maried for he tooke away the marriage of Priests as Henricus Mutius witnesseth therfore we heere in the name of God congregated doe procéede in Canonicall Iudgement against Hildebrand a man most wicked preaching Sacriledge and burning maintaining periurie and murders calling in question the Catholike Faith of the body and bloâ—d of Christ following of Diuinations and dreames a manifest Nigromancer a Sorcerer infected with a Pithâ—nical spirit We adiudge him to be deposed and expelled and vnlesse he depart vpon the hearing hereof to be peâ—pstually condemâ—â—d This beâ—ing sent to Rome they elected Guibertus Archbishop of Rauenna which was deposed by Hildebrand as aforesaid in his place and named him Clement the 3. And because Hildebrand would not giue ouer his hold the Emperour with an Army came to Rome to depose him and Hildebrand sending to the Countesse Mathilda before mentioned required her in remission of all her sinnes to withstand the Emperour and so she did but the Emperour besieged the Citie all the Lent and after Easter got it and comming into the Temple of Saint Peter placed Clement in his Papacie Hildebrand â—â—ed into Adâ—ans Tower where being besieged he sent for Robert Guischardus a Normaine who with his Army when the Emperour was gone burst in at one of the gates of the Câ—â—y spoyled it and deliuered Hildebrand and caried him to Campania where not long after he dyed in exile In the meane time whilst the Emperour was at Rome the Abbot of Cluniake and the people of Rome exhorted Hildebrand to Crowne Henry Emperour at Lateran and they would â—ause the Empâ—rour to depart with his Armâ— to whom he answered he would so the Emperour would submit himselfe aske pardon amend and promise obedience The Emperour not agréeing to the conditions departed and tooke the new Pope with him The Emperour was wont to pray in the Temple of Saint Mary Hildebrand knowing by spies the place where he was wont to pray hired one to cary vp stones to the roofe of the Church to let them fall vpon his head when he was at prayers the hireling â—aying his stones in order fell downe and was slaine The Romaines vnderstanding the truth drew him thrée dayes by the legs through the streets for example but the Emperour of his méekenesse commaunded him to bâ— buried Hildebrand being a dying bewailed his faults and sent a Cardinall to the Emperour to desire him forgiuenesse and to pardon the Emperour and all his parâ—akers quicke and dead of the danger of excommunication From this Pope sprang all mischéefe pride pompe and tyranny which since raigned in his successors hence was the subiection of Temporall Regiment to the Spirituall and the suppression of Priests mariages héere came in the authoritie of both Swords to the Spiritualty so that the Magistrates could doe nothing in giuing of Bishoprickes benefices in calling of Counceis in correcting the excesses of the Clergie but the Pope must doe all Nor no Bishop nor Passor in his owne Parish could excommunicate or vse any 〈◊〉 discipline against his flocke but it was onely the Popes Prerogatiue In him was the first example of persecuting Empeâ—ours and kings with rebellion and excommunication then Victor the third was made Pope who likewise shewed himselfe staut against the Emperours but God gaue the shrewde cowe short hornes some say hee was poysoned in his Chalice and raigned but one yeare and a halfe Notwithstanding the Popes followed still the steps of Hildebrand as the Kings of Israell Ieroboam in the time of this Victor began the Order of Monkes of the Charterhouse Next him Vâ—banus the 2. was Pope which confirmed the Acts of Hildebrand and gaue new Decrees against Henry the Emperour and against Clement the Pope hee held two Councels one at Placâ—â—tia the other called Synodus Claromontana wherein he caused all Christian Princes â—o warre against the Saâ—â—cens for recouering Ierusalem whereupon 30000. were appointed for the same businesse by the said Vrbanus The King of Galacia with the whole Diâ—ces of Saint Iames was excommunicated for the prisoning of a certaine Bishop About this time the King of England fauoured not much the Sea of Rome for their pride and exactions and would not suffer his subiects to giue to Rome saying The followed not Petâ—rs steps that hâ—nted for rewards nor had Peters power which had not his holinesse The order of Cisteriâ—ns was first estâ—blished in Burgundia by the same Vrbanus the seauen Canonical houres were first instituted in the Church By him the order of the Cartusâ—an Mâ—nkes was confirmed Hee Decreed no Bishop to be made but vnder the name of some place he Decreed that Maâ—â—ens and houres of the â—ay should euery day be said and that the Masse of our Lady should bee said euery Saturday and the Clergy that had wiues should be depriued of their Order and that it was lawfull for subiects to breake the Oath of Alegiance with such Princes as were excommunicated and that it was not lawfull for a man and his wife both together to Christen a childe with many moe matters After him followed Pascalis the 2. he putting on a purple Uesture and a tyre on his head was brought vpon a white Palfrey into Lateran where a Scepter was giuen him and a girdle about him which hauing seauen Keyes with seauen Seales to token the seauen powers by the seauen graces of the holy Ghost of binding loosing shutting openning sealing resigning and Iudging which the Emperour Henry the 4. hearing of thought to come to Italy to salute the new Pope but vnderstanding the Popes minde against him changed his purpose This Pascalis dâ—posed all such Abboâ—s and Bishops as the Emperour had set vp and banished many that striued at that time for the Papacie and made an Armie against Clement whom the Emperour made Pope as aforesaid and being put to flight not long after dâ—â—d About the same time the Bishop of Fluence began to teach and Preach of Antichrist then to bée borne as Sabeliâ—us 〈◊〉 Pascalis put to silence the said Bishoppe and condemned his Boâ—kes by a Councell which hée assembled at Treâ—as Maried Priests in this Councell were condemned for Nicholaitans All Lay-men that gaue Spirituall Dignities were condemned of Symony The Statuâ—e of Priests Tythes was renewed counting the selling thereof sinne against the holy Ghost Hée renewed the excommunication of Hildebrand against Henry the Emperour caused cerâ—aine Bishoppes to depriue him of his Crowne and to place his sonnâ— Henry the 5. in his Fathers roome these Bishops required of the Emperour his Diademe Pâ—â—ple â—ing and other ornaments of his Crowne when the Emperour would know the reason they aleadged the Popes pleasure and for selling
by entring into any priuate Religion 10 That those that haue instituted priuate Religions or haue indâ—wed them with possessions or the begging Fryers that haue no possessions haue grieuously offended 11 That those of Priuate Religions are not of the Christian Religion 12 That Fryers are bound to get their liuings by labour and not by begging 13 That he is accursed that giueth Almes to begging Fryers When these Articles were condemned it was commanded that the condemnation should bee published through the whole vniuersitie the Chancellor hindred as much as hee could and when there must needs be Sermons made he committed the preaching to the fauourers of Wickliffe of which Repington was one who said in his Sermon hee that commends the Pope or Bishops aboue Temporall Lords doe against the Scripture and that Maister Wickliffe was a true Catholick Doctor that hee taught no otherwise of the Sacrament of the Altar then according to the intent of the Uniuersall Church his opinion therof most true and concluded he would kéep silence touching the Sacrament vntill God had better â—nlightned the Clergy The Archbishop hearing hereof sent for the Commissary and the Proctors of the Uniuersitie and one Maister Brightwell and accused them as fauourers of Wickliffe and forced them to confesse his Articles hereticall and erroneous the Commissarie fell on his knees and desired pardon which was granted vpon condition he should make inquirie and put to silence all that he found fauouring Wickliffe Harford Repington Ashton and Bedman and that hee should publish in the head Church of the Uniuersitie the condemnation of Wickliffes conclusâ—ons and that hee should put all his adherents he found to purgation or cause them to abiure he answered he durst not doe it for death what said the Bishop is Oxford a nestler of heresies that the Catholick truth cannot be published Oxford was the first Uniuersitie that maintained the truth that is now spread farrâ— and néere the next day the Bishop shewed the matter to the Kings Councell who sent commandement with all diligence to execute the Arch-bishops iniunction One Henry Crompe a Cistertian Monke which after was accused of Heresie now was suspended by the said Commissarie for calling the Heretickes Lolards he complained to the Archbishop who sent for the Commissarie and Proctors in the Kings and Councels name where he receiued a new commandement to punish the Wickliffes then Philip Repington and Nickolas Harford beeing priuily warned by the Uice-chancellor they fled to the Duke of Lancaster but they were apprehended and sent by him to the Archbishop Wickliffe was exiled and after returned againe to his parish of Lutterworth where he died the prouidence of God is to be noted in this man and many other whom the Lord prâ—serued in such rages of enemies from all their hands vntilll his old age whom the Lord will keepe nothing can hurt All his bookes were condemned and forbidden to be read by the Councell of Constance and by the Dâ—crée thereof forty yéeres after his death by the commandement of the Bishop his bones were digged vp and burned the ashes powred into the Riuer he had written diuers works which in the yéere 1410. were burned at Oxford the Abbot of Shrewsbury being Commissary sent to ouersée the matter his bookes were likewise burned in Boheme by the Archb of Prage he burned 200. of his books richly adorned with bosses of Gold and rich couerings In the yeare 1384. he wrot an Epistle to Pope Vrban the sixt that the Gospell of Christ was the whole body of the Law and that Christ was very God and very man and that the Pope Christs Uicar was bound most of all other vnto the Gospel for the greatnes of Christs Disciples consisteth not in worldly honour but in néere â—ollowing the life and manners of Christ Christ was a most poore man casting off all worldly rule and honour therefore none ought to follow the Pope nor other holy man but as they follow Christ for Peter and the sonnes of Zebedy in desiring worldly honours offended and therein they are not to be followed therefore the pope ought to leaue his temporall dominion to the seculer power and therevnto exhort his whole Clergy There was none so great enemies to him as the Clergy yet he had many good frends both of the meaner sort the Nobility amongst whom these men are numbred Iohn Clenton Lewis Clifford Richard Sturius Thomas Latimer William Neuil Iohn Mountegew who plucked downe all the Images in his Church the Earle of Salesbury when hee died refused the Sacrament of the Altar and confession and one Iohn of Northampton Mayor of London who vsed such seuere punishment against the fornicators and adulterers that they were ashamed of their offences others afeard to offend the Lord Cobham who confessed he neuer hated sinne with his heart before he was instructed by Wickliffe all these were Noble men and there was no want of the meaner sort of such as did with all their diligence defend his Doctrine especially Oxford men who were most shamefully forced to recantation and most cruelly iudged to the fire One Iohn Ashton Maister of Arte beeing examined confessed that the bread by the sacramentall words was the very same body of Christ in number which was borne of the Uâ—rgin Mary yet because hee did not answere simply according to the tradition of Rome as touching the subiect and accident of transmuting the substance of the bread he was committed to the secular powers and cast into prison where he died many other notable Clarkes some were burned some died in prison but all were afflicted as William Swinderby Iohn Puruey Henry Crompe Richard White William Thorpe Raynold Peacock Bishop of Saint Asaph and after of Chichester Lawrence Redman Dauid Sawtry Iohn Ashwarbie Uicar of S. Maries in Oxford William Iames Thomas Brightwell VVilliam Hawlam Raffe Greâ—hurst Iohn Scut Philip Noris which being excommunicated by the Pope appealed to a generall councell Peter Paine who flying from Oxford into Bohemia stoutly contended against the Sophisters about both â—indes of the Sacrament and was one of the fourteene that was sent to the Councell of Basil and disputed three daies touching the Ciuill Dominion of the Clergy Also the Lord Cobham thus much touching the adherents of Wickliffe The Uice-chancellor of Oxford with the whole congregation of the Maisters made a publike testimonie of the learning and good life of Iohn Wickliffe that his conditions throughout his whole life were sincere and commendable whose honest manners and conditions profoundnes of learning and most redolâ—nt renowne and fame we desire the more earnestly to be notified to all the faithfull for that wee vnderstand his maturitie and ripenes of conuersation his diligent labours to tend to the praise of God the help and safegard of others and the profit of the Church there was neuer note or spot of suspition raised of him in answering reading preaching and determining he behaued himselfe laudably and as a stout
was not profitable to the quick nor dead and that there was no knowledge iâ— the consolations of the Pope but onely of mens workes at last Frederick King of Cicill sent him to the Pope where he died vpon the Sea by the way Peter Iohn Aquine a Franciscane Frier prophecied that in the later daies the law of Liberty should appeare Pope Clement 4. pronounced him an hereticke after his death and caused his bones to be digged vp and burned There was so many Christian Martyrs in all parts of the world whereof a great number were câ—mpassed in with craft and deceit some were poisoned others tormented with torments many oppressed with priuate and vnknowne deaths others dyed in prison some by famine some by other meanes were openly and priuately destroyed that it is scarsely possible to attaine to the knowledge of a small number of them or if I happen to attaine to the knowledge of the names of them yet I can not finde out the manner of the execution of them and their causes no one man is able to doe it but by the example of some of them you may â—asily Iudge what hath happened to all for the cruelty of Bishops haue been alike against them and the forme of their Iudgements all one the reason of their condemnation agreeing and the order and kinde of their death It was fiue hundred yeeres since Satan was set at libertie this Story were wonderfully to be enlarged if all that were put to death by the Primates of the Church should be recited for in Narbone 140. chose rather to suffer the fire then giue any credit to decretals and in the yeare 1210. at Paris were foure and twenty put to death and in the yeare after foure hundred burned and fourescore beheaded the Prince Armericus hanged and the Lady of Castele stoned to death At Erphurd Begardus was burned 1218. and a Deacon burned at Oxford 1222 aâ—d in the County of Cambray diuers more were burned by the Dominicans The Pope commendeth a King in Boetius that for one that the Pope had slaine he had slaine foure hundred cutting away the genitals there were many burned in France 1392. not long before Wickliffe Eckhardus a Dominick Fryer was condemned at Hedelberge I passe ouer the Aluenses that were burned in K. Iohns time and I passe ouer the Hermite that disputed in Paules Church that the Sacrament then vsed was not ordained by Christ of this number were two Gray-Friers that were burned at London Certaine Conclusions were put vp vnto the Parliament house first when the Church of England began first to dote in temporalties according to her Mother in law the Church of Rome and Churches were appropriated Faith Hope and Charitie began to vanish away because pride with her Genealogy of mortall and deadly sinne did challenge the title of truth 2 Our priesthood that tooke originall from Rome is not that which Christ ordained to his Disciples because it is done by signes and pontificiall ceremonies and benedictions of no effect hauing no ground in Scripture neither see wee the Holy Ghost giuen by any such ceremonies it is a dolorous mockery to sée Bishops play with the Holy Ghost by giuing of crownes when they giue orders in steed of white hearts the marke of Antechrist brought in to cloâ—e their idlenes 3 The law of Chastitie inioined vnto Priests which was to the preiudice of women induceth Sodomy into the Church by reason the delicate fare of the Clergy will haue a naturall purgation or worse and the secret proofe of them is they doe delight in women the primate religions must be disanulled the originall of that sinne 4 The fained mâ—racles of the Sacrament of bread induceth almost all to Idolatry because they thinke the body which is neuer out of heauen is included in the little bread which they shew the people the Feast of Corpus Christi and the seruice thereof inuented by Thomas Aquinas fained and full of false myracles for hee would haue made a myracle of an Hens Egge these lies openly preached turne to the approbry of him that is alwaies true The Orcismes or blessings ouer the Wine Bread Water Oyle Salt Incence the Altar Stone about the Church walles ouer the Uestment Chalice Myter Crosse and Pilgrim-staues are the practices of Negromancers for by it the Creatures are honored to be of more vertue then by nature they are and we sée no change in any creature exercised except it be by false faith which is the principall point of diuellish Art if the coniuring of Holy Water were true it would bee an excellent Medicine for all kinde of sicknesses and sores the contrarie whereof dayly experience teacheth 6 One man to be a King and a Priest a Prelate and a Temporall Iudge maketh the Kingdome out of order the Temporaltie and Spiritualtie are two parts of the Church to be called Amphradite or Ambidextri are good names for such men of double States we shew this to the Parliament that it bee enacted that the Clergy should onely occupy themselues with their owne charge and not meddle with others charge 7 Prayers made for the soules of the dead is a false foundation of Almes wherin all the almes houses in England are falsely founded meritorious prayers ought to proceed of Charitie but the gift is the cause of their prayers which is Simony againe a prayer made for one in hell is vnpleasant to God and it is most like the Founders of such Almes houses for their wicked indowings are most of them passed the broad way euery prayer of effect proceedeth of Charitie and comprehendeth generally all such as God would haue saued these strong Priests are able to labour and serue the Realme let them not be retained in idlenes for it hath been proued in a Booke to the King that a hundred almes-houses are sufficient for the whole Realme 8 Pilgrimages prayers and offerings to blind Crosses or Roods and deaâ—e Images are Idoâ—atry and farre from almes though these be forbidden yet they are thought Bookes of error to the common people and the common Image of the Trinitie is especially abhominable but God commands almes to be giuen to the poore and not to Idols the seruice of the Crosse celebrated twice euery yeare is full of idolatry for if the nailes and the speare ought so profoundly to be honored then were Iudas his lips a maruellous good relike if one could get them Thou Pilgrime when thou offerest vnto the bones of Saints whether doest thou relieue their soules being in ioy 9 Auricular Confession and the fained power of Absolution setteth vp the Priest of Priests and giueth them opportunitie of other secret talkes Lords and Ladies doe witnes that for feare of their Confessors they dare not speake the truth and in time of confession is opportunity ministred to play the Bawdes and make other secret conuentions to deadly sinne they say they are Commissaries from God to Iudge and discerne all sinnes to pardon what they
to Church to pray their inward wits may be the more feruent in that their outward wits bee closed from outward seeing Christ blessd them that sawe him not and beleeued it sufficeth to know God in his word without Images Bishop Is it not a stirring thing to behold an Image Thorpe Being euery person of the Trinitie is eternall and you say it was not lawful to picture it before Christ and in that there were many Prophets Marâ—â—res and professors before Christ why was it not then as lawfull to make Images to moue men to deuotion as now it is Bishop The Synagogue of the Iewes had not authoritie to approue things as the Church now hath Thorpe Saint Gregory was of great dignitie as the Cannon Lawe witnesseth hee greatly commended a Bishoppe for forbidding Images to bee worshipped Bishop Ungratioâ—s losell thou sauorest truth no more then a hounâ— since at the Roode at the North dore at London and at our Lady at Walsingham and many other places in England are many great and praisable miracles â—one Thorpe I am certaine there is no such miracle done of God that any Image should be worshipped therefore I say as I haue often Preached None should tâ—ust there were any vertue in them nor vowe to them nor seeke to them nor 〈◊〉 bowe pray oâ—â—er kisse or incense them The Brasen Serpent was 〈◊〉 by Gods biddiâ—g â—et the good King Ezekiah because it was incensed so worthâ—â—y destroyed it and it is to bee dread that for the vnfaithfulnesse of â—en the Fâ—â—â—d 〈◊〉 power to 〈◊〉 the miracles that now are done in such places wherefore sâ—eing the God of 〈◊〉 is the most vnknowne and wonderfull Spirit what Image may he be painted 〈◊〉 Bishop As holy Church suffereth Images to â—ee painted and shewed it suffiseth to thâ—m that are members of holy Church but thou art 〈◊〉 member cut off from holy Church thou fauourest not the ordinances thereof Thou speakest against Pilgrimage and that pilgrimages to Canterbury â—euerley Carlington Walsingham are accursed and fâ—â—lish spending their goods in wast Thorpe There bée true trauellers trauell all their life with all their endeauour to please God that they may attaine to the heauenly Kingdome but I say now as I said at Shrewsbury I haue Preached often in other places and will doe as long as I liue God willing They that trauell their bodies and spend their money to sâ—eke or visite the bones of Images of this Saint or that such pilgrimage is neither praiseable or thankefull to God nor to any Saint of God since such pilgrimages almost all despise God and his commaundements and vppon Saints they waste blamefully Gods goods in such vaine Pilgrimages sometimes vpon vitious Hostices which they should doe workes of mercie withall vpon the poore and néedie they offer their goâ—ds to rich Priests which haue more then they nâ—ede many of them borrow other mens goods and neuer pay them and sometimes they steale them And they haue with them Singers that can sing wanton Songs and some will haue Bag-pipes so that euery Towne where they come with their noyse of singing piping â—angling of Canterbury Bels and the barking of dogs they make more noyse then if the king came thither with all his Clarions and Minstrels and if they bee a moneth in pilgrimage they will bee halfe a yeare after wranglers tale-bearers and lyers Bishop Lewde losell thou seest not farre enough into this matter it is fit they haue such musicke with them that when one goeth barefoote burteth his foote against a stone and maketh it bleede it is well done that his fellow sing a song or play on a bagge pipe to driue away with mirth the hurt of his fellowe and with such solace their trauell and wearinâ—sse is lightly and merrily brought forth Dauids last Psalme teacheth mee to haue diuerse â—nstruments of musicke Thorpe By the sentence of â—iuerse Doctors that musicke that Dauid and other Saints of the Old Lawe spake of ought not to be interpreted liâ—terally but gostly for Saint Paul saith all such thingâ— befell to them in figure therefore I vnderstand that the letter of this Psalme and other Psalmes and Sentences doth slay them that take them now literally This sence I vnderstand Christ approueth puâ—ting out the minstrels ere he would quicken the Damzell Bishop Lewd losell is it not lawfull so haue Organes in the Church to worship God withall Thorpe Yea by mans ordinance but a good Sermon to the peoples vnderstanding were much more pleasant to God Bishoppe Organs and delectable Songs quicken mens wits more then a Sermon Thorpe Worldly men delight in sencible solace but the faithfull louers of Christ delight to heare Gods word and vnderstand it truâ—ly and Saint Ierome saith No body may ioy with this world and raigne with Christ. Bishop What thinke you this 〈◊〉 will speake whereas hee hath no dreade being bee speaketh thus in my presence well well by God you shall bee ordained for Thou saidest Priests had no tittle to Tythes Thorpe One would know of me whether Priests by the word of God may curse one for not paying of Tythes Christ and his Apostles tooke no Tythes nor commanded none so to doe Saint Paul saith The Lord hath ordained that they that Preach the Gospell should liue of the Gospell And if Priests were now in measurable number and liued vertuously add taâ—ghâ— busily and truely Gods word without Tythes 〈◊〉 and other duâ—ies the people would giue them sufficiâ—nt liuings One of his Clarkes said How can that be slucâ— by the Law Priests can scarcely constraine the people to giue them their Liuing Bishop Thou sayest it is not lawfull in any case Thorpe I neuer taught in that wise I haue Preached in many places that it is not lawfull to sweare by any creature and that none ought to swrare in any case if without an oath he may excuse himselfe to them that haue authoritie so take an oath but as he cannot otherwise excuâ—e himselfe he ought onely to sweare by God taking him only that is true to witnesse truth And there were many other arguments wherein was no great matâ—er worth abridging if the reader be disposed hee may see the booke at large After hee had denied to sweare obedience vnto the Bishop except in those things that were according to the word of God the Archbishoppe bade the Constable haue him away in haâ—â—e Bishop I was led foorth and brought to a â—oule and vnhonest prison where I was neuer before when they were gone and had shut the doore I busied my selfe to thinâ—â— on God and thanke him of his goodnesse and I was greatly comforted that I was deliuered for a time from the sight hearing and presence and scorning and menasing of mine enemies but much more I reioyced in the Lord that of his grace he kept 〈◊〉 that without heauinesse and anguish of conscience I passed away from them Now O God to the praising of thâ— blessed name make vs one together by
which wordes hee declared that he would substitute vnder him no Uicar in earth for a Uicar signifieth one who in the absence of the principall hath to doe the workes of the principall And being asked his opinion of Indulgences and Pardons he said he beleeued that the treasure-boxe of the merits of Saints could not be distributed of the Pope to others because their treasure is not left here on earth for it is written in the Reuelation Their works follow them and that their merits could not be applied to other men for the satisfaction of their paine due to them and he called Indulgences and Pardons pias fraudes fidelium And being asked the question he said He thought that hallowing of Altars Chalics Uestments War Candles Palmes Hearbes Holy water and other diuine things made them haue no spirituall power in them to driue away any Diuells and that holy water had no more efficacie then other water concerning remission of veniniall sinnes and driuing away Diuels and other effects which the Schoole Doctors attribute vnto it After these Articles were condemned by the Inquisitor and his assistants hee said As you doe with me if Christ himselfe were here he might be condemned as an hereticke but within thrée or foure dayes with much perswasions he was content to condiscend vnto them and submit himselfe to their holy mother Church Doctor VESELVS THis Veselus and the foresaid Vesalianus were great friends and when Vesalianus was condemned this Veselus thought that the Inquisitor would also examine him He was so worthy a man that the people called him Luxmundi He reprehended the Papists doctrines of the diuision of Repentance and Purgatorie and workes of Supererogation and Pardons and Indulgences and disputed against them at Rome and at Paris so that many of the Popes Court perswaded by him began to speake more freely and more boldly against these matters then himselfe did hee disallowed the abuses of the Masses prayers for the dead and the Supremacie of the Pope and that no such supreme head ouer all others ought to bee in the world and that the Pope hath no authoritie to command but so farre as truth goeth with him and that hee ought not to preuaile by commanding but by teaching that the Pope and the Prelates proceeding against Christes Doctrine are plaine Antichristes Hee said those Priestes that had vowed not to marrie and were not able to bee chaste might breake there vow Hee said that their forefathers before Albert and Thomas did resist the Popes indulgences and called them Idolatry fraude and errour in his Booke de subditis superioribus he disputeth against the Pope and his Prelates affirming except their Faith be sound they are not to bee obayed and that the Pope may erre and men ought to resist him therein that superfluous riches in the Clergy doe not profit but hurt That the Pope doth wickedly distribute the rents of the Church and the Church itselfe to vnworthy Ministers by Symony for hir own profit whereby it appeareth hee careth not for GOD nor the Church That the precepts of the Pope and Prâ—lates binde no farther then the precepts of physitions that is so farre as they bee holsome and stand with the truth of the word that the Pope can command nothing vnder paine of deadly sinne but what God commandeth The Kingdome of heauen is rather shut then opened by the Popes keyes as the Pharisies did that the hearers ought to discerne and Iudge the Doctrine of the Prelates and not to receiue all things they say without due examination Hee prophesied to Iohn Ostendorpius well my Childe thou shalt liue to that day that the Doctrine of these new and contentious Diuines of THOMAS and BONAVENTVRE with other of that sort shall bee vtterly reiected from true Christian Diuines And hee often disputed of the righteousnesse of faith and why Saint Paul did so often inculcate that men be iustified by faith and not by workes that all men were deceiued who attributed to Traditions any opinion of GODS worship or that they could not in any wise be violated or broken MARTIN LVTHER THus proceeding in our Storie by the ayde of Christ we approach vnto the time of Martin Luther at what time it pleased God by his great mercie to reforme the desolate ruines of religion by the industrie of this Luther sent set vp by the mightie spirit of Christ to abolish the abuses and pride of Antichrist which so long had abused the simple flocke of Christ. Many prophesies went before of this time as of the aforesaid prophesie of Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage that a hundred yeares come and gone they should giue account to God and him This prophesie was in the yeare one thousand foure hundred and fifteene so to this time one thousand fiue hundred and sixteene was iust an hundred yeares Philip Melancton maketh mention of a Monke about fiftis years before this time named Iohn Hilton in Thuring who was cast into prison for speaking against certaine abuses of the place and order where he liued and being weake and feeble hee desired the Warden of the Couent to respect his wofull case he rebuked him for that which he had spoken he said he had spoken nothing preiudiciall to their Monkerie or religion but there shall come one in the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and sixteene which shall vtterly subuert all Monkerie and they should neuer be able to resist him The Angell falling from the high pinicle of the Popes Church into the Riuer Tybris in the yeare 1500. might well portend the ruine of the Pope And the strange sight in Germany as before in the yeare 1501. of the crosses seene vpon mens garments and figures of câ—ownes of Thornes and of Nailes and of drops of bloud fell from heauen that many daies after the women carried them vpon their garments might declare the like Likewise the other Dreame of Iohn Husse as before how that some abolished the Images of Christ in his Church of Bethelem but next day new Painters painted the same and more Images of Christ and fairer and the Painters with the multitude of the people said now let the Bishoppes and Priests put out these Images if they can whereby much people reioiced and I arising vp felt my selfe to laugh he interpreted the painting of Christs picture his preaching of Christ which should be destroyed and the other Painters new Preachers whose Doctrines the Bishops and Priests should not bee able to resist By these and such like prophesies it was euident that the time of restoring the Church was not farre as also the hearts of the people which at that time were inflamed so with hatred against the pompe and pride of Rome and there contempt and derision beganne to arise on euery side for there deâ—estable doings were not so secret but they were seene and abhorred Wherevpon grew many prouerbes of derision as what is this to see the world round about for that these shauelling priests none
commanded by his fellowes To goe with Iohn to Samaria he refused not so to doe and being the Apostles send him they declare that they doe not â—ount him as their superiour and by his obedience he confesseth a fellowship with them but no Emperour ouer them But the Epistle to the Galathians putteth vs sufficiently out of all doubt whereas S. Paul proueth himselfe to bee equall with him and how when Peter did not faithfully execute his office hee was by him rebuked and not obedient to his correction all doth euidently proue that there was equality betwixt Paul Peter and also that he had no morâ— power euer the residue of the Apostles then ouer him the which Paul doth purposely intreat of least any should prefer Peter or Iohn before him wherefore I cannâ—t acknowledge Peter head of the Apostles nor the Pope ouer other Bishops but I acknowledge Christ the onely head of the Church And I say with S. Gregory that whosoeuer calleth himselfe an vniuersall Bishop he is the fore-rider of Antichrist And whereas they alledge the high priesthood of the old law I say the right of that high priesthood is onely transported vnto Christ for this Priest-hood doth not onely consist in learning but in the propitiation and mercy of God which Christ hath fulfilled by his death in the intercession by the which he doth now intreat for vs vnto his father Whereas they alledge out of the 16. Chapter of Mathew Thou art Peter and vpon this rock c. If they do thinke that this was particularly spoken vnto Peter S. Cyprian and S. Augustine shall sufficiently answer them that Christ did it not to preferre one man aboue the residue but that he might set forth the vnity of the Church hee saith if this were spoken onely vnto Peter the Church hath not the Keyes and if the Church haue them then Peter when he receiued the Keyes did figurate the whole Church Touching their Arguments that these words were spoken to none but Peter this will easily be dissolued if we know why Christ gaue this name Peter to him whose name was Simon hauing respect onely to the constant profession which hee made of Christ as God changed the name of Abraham from Abram which tooke the name of the multitude which should come forth of his seede so Peter took his name of the constant confession of Christ which indeede is the true Rocks vpon which the Church is builded and not Peter no otherwise then Abraham was not the multitude himselfe whereof he tooke his name and the Church if it had béene builded vpon Peter should haue béene builded but vpon a weake foundation who was ouercome with the words of a litle wench so constantly to deny Christ so any man may vnderstand how these Romish builders doe wrest the scriptures to their pleasures And when they alledge out of the 20. chapter of S. Iohn feed my sheep it is a childish Argument for to feed shéep is not to beare dominion ouer the whole Church and Peter exhorts all Byshops to feed their flocks therefore there was no authority giuen vnto Peter more then to others or that Peter did equally communicate the authority which he had receiued vnto others and did not reserue it to himselfe to be transported to the Bishops of Rome 2 Touching pardons or indulgences they say that the merits of Chirst and of the Saints Apostles and Martyrs which they impudently affirme to haue merited more at Gods hands then was néedfull for themselues and there did so much superabound that might redound vnto the helpe of others and they affirme that their blood was mixed with the blood of Christ and the treasure of the Church was compounded of them both for the remission of sinnes and that the kéeping of this treasure is wholy committed to the Pope and in his power consisteth the dispensation thereof and that he himselfe may bestow these treasures and giue power to others so to do Hereupon riseth the pleanary indulgences and pardons granted by the Pope for as many yeares as he will by Cardinals for 100. daies they haue such power and bishops but for forty daies and no body but Satan taught this doctrin who would vtterly extinguish the merits of Christ which he knoweth to be the only remedy of saluation Christ in the 17. of Luke saith When you haue done all that you are coÌ„manded count your selues but improfitable seruants And the 46. of Esay All the merits of mans righteousnesse is compared to menstruous cloth by the Scripture the corruption of our nature is so manifest that in our most perfect workes there lacketh not imperfection The Parable of the ten Uirgines in the twentie fiue of Mathew putteth this out of all controuersie where the wise virgins said They had not sufficient oyle for themselues and others This they ground vpon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Collossians I fulfill the afflictions of Christ which were wanting in my flesh for his body which is the church But Paul referreth to those afflictions wherewith the members are and shall be afflicted so long as they liue in this world euen as Christ was afflicted and wheras S. Iames addeth this word for the Church he doth not meane for the Redemption of it but for the edifying of the same as in the 2. to Timothy he saith He suffereth for the elect sake for by his constancy and stedfastnes in troubles he sheweth he contemneth this life in hope of a better life whereby he doth confirme and establish the faith of the Church for great fruit by the afflictions and martirdome of the faithfull ariseth to the glory of God in that they subscribe and beare witnesse vnto the truth by their blood and being the Popes pardons are nothing else then such as he faineth he is a manifest deceiuer and a Simonist in selling such marchandise as can in no place help Touching the marriage of Priests it is against the word of God against Iustice to forbid Priests to marry in the 13. to the Hebrewes The band of marriage is vndefiled and honorable amongst all men And in the 1. Cor. 7. chap. For auoiding of whoredome let euery men haue his owne wife and in that they say this is meant of others and not of Ministers That is disproued by the 1. Tim. 3. Chapt. Bishops and Deacons ought to be the husbands of one wife And what can be more spoken against them herein then in the fourth Chapter of the said Epistle In the latter daies shall come deceiuers and wicked spirits which shall forbid to marry they excuse themselues that this was fulfilled in the hereticks cald Tatians which did condemne matrimony but we do onely forbid Church-men to marry but this notwithstanding this prophesie of the holy Ghost redoundeth vpon them They interpret S. Pauls saying that a Bishop shall haue but one Wife That a Bishop ought not to bee chosen that hath married the second Wife but this interpretation appeareth to be
false in that he presently declareth what manner of women Bishops wiues ought to be S. Paul reckoneth matrimony amongst the principall vertues of a Priest and these men call it in the Canons the poluting of the flâ—sh God instituted matrimony Christ sanctified it with his presence and the turning water into wine and would haue it the Image of his loue to the Church They aleadge the Leuiticall Priests which as often as they came to minister were bound to be apart from their wiues being our sacraments be more excellent then theirs and daily vsed it would be very vncomely that they should be handled by married men The Priests of the old Law were forbidden all outward vncleannesse of the flâ—sh when they ministred to signifie the holines of Christ whom they did prefigure but our holines consâ—steth of the inward cleannesse of the spirit and S. Paul is witnesse that the Apostles did both keep their wiues carry them about with them 3 Touching that he should say that the Scottish nation and their Cleargy be altogether blinded no man will deny that people to be blind that neither heare Christ nor his Apostles such is the people of Scotland in that they cal the Pope supreme head of the Church whith belongeth onely to Christ and contrary to the word they forbid Priests to marry in the tenth of Iohn Christ is the doore they affirme they must enter by the Uirgine Mary and S. Peter Christ would haue vs worship him in Spirit and truth The Scots build Temples and Chappels for Idols in which they commit Fornication In the tenth to the Hebrews Christ By one sacrifice hath made those perfect for euer which are sanctified And to this effect Christ said on the Crosse It is finished shewing that by his death all Sacrifices for sinne ended yet the Scottish Church-men daily offer Christ for sins both of them aliue and them that be dead God commaundeth not to worship any Grauen Images the Scots fall flat to them and offer them Incense Paul teacheth that Christ is our wisdome righteousnes satisfaction and redemption the Scots prefer the traditions of men before the law of God they stablish righteousnes in their own works and Sanctification in holy water and other outward things and Redemption in péeces of Lead which they buy of their great Antichrist Touching the possessions temporall and iurisdiction in temporalities in the 18. Chapter of Numbers God said to Aaron Thou shalt haue no portion amongst theÌ„ I am thy portion and heritage thou and the Leuits shall haue all the tithes of Israell for their ministry but what heritage is prâ—uided for them I doe not say but they may possesse but all temporall iurisdiction should be taken from them when twice there rose a contention which of Christs disciples should be greatest he told them they should not haue dominion one ouer another like the Kings of the Nations Christ in the 12. of Luke answered him that desired him to deuide his Brothers inheritance vnto him Who made me a Iudge And in the 8. of Iohn he refused to giue iudgement vpon the Adulteresse whereby it appeareth Christ reiected the office of a Iudge as a thing not agréeable to his office When Moses tooke vpon him the ciuill gouernment and the priest-hood he was commaunded to resigne the Priest-hood to Aaron for it was against nature one man should suffice both charges and as long as the face of the true Church did continue no Priest did vsurpe the right of the sword S. Ambrose saith Emperors rather desired the Office of Priest-hood then Priests any Empire then sumptuous Palaces belonged to Emperors and Churches to Priests And S. Barnard saith Peter could not giue that which he had not but he gaue to his successors that which he had carefulnesse ouer the Congregation for this cause the kingdom of heauen is giuen vnto you why do you inuade other mens bounds They were ignorant of all iudgement that did fat with their possessions these belly-beasts all they which do indow such filthy sinkes with their reuenues they follow the steps of Iezabell for what do they daily but bleat and bow before their Images burning Incense aud falling flat before the altars as the Prophets of Baall did and if Daniell and Elias were Hereticks when they would destroy the Priests of Baall so am I We do but desire that their riches wickedly bestowed vpon them might be taken from them but Elias was more rigorous for he cast the Prophets of Baall into the brooke Kidron The Pope cannot make lawes according to his owne mind and will and say they are spirituall and pertaine to the soule and are necessary to eternall life for the word of God giueth them no such authority in the 23. of Iosua Thou shalt not swarue from my law to the right hand nor to the left And in the 12. of Deuteronomy Thou shalt neither adde to nor take from my Commaundements Therefore in the second of Malachy The Priest shall maintaine wisdome and the law shal they require at his hands And where he speaketh of hearing them he putteth this condition that they answere according to the Law of the Lord then these are couenant-breakers that binde the consciences of men with new lawes And in the 33. of Ezekiell Thou shalt heare the word out of my mouth and declare it vnto my people So he could not speake any thing of himselfe and God by Ieremie calleth it Chaffe whatsoeuer doth not procéede from himselfe The Prophets speake nothing but the words of God therefore they so often vsed these wordes The word of the Lord the burden of the Lord the vision of the Lord thus saith the Lord The Apostles must not teach their owne deuises but that which God commaunded them Paul in the second to the Collosians denieth he hath any dominion ouer their Faith though their Apostle And in the â—â—nth to the Romains Faith commeth by hearing the word of God and not by hearing the dreames of the Pope Christ himselfe saith for our example My doctrin is not mine but his that sent me to teach Ministers what to do The power of the Church is not such that it may teach new Doctrines frame new Articles of Faith and new lawes but is subiect to the word of the Lord included in the same They defended their Constitutions by these reasons if it were lawfull to the Apostles to make a decree besides the commaundement of Christ that the people should abstain froÌ„ things offered to Idols blood it is lawful for their successors as oft as néede requireth to do the same but the Apostles made no new decree but to warne them how to rule themselues amongst their Brethren least they should abuse their liberty to the offence of others and contrary Peter in the same councel pronounceth God to be tempted if any yoake be laid vpon the necke of the Disciples and S. Iames saith the Gentiles that are conuerted vnto God are not
then he was commaunded to answere Intergatories by signes and when any question was asked he strook vpon the Table so that he might be heard then he was demaunded whether he was any that were buried there then they reckoned vp diuers and at last the Mayors wife here he made a signe that he was the spirit of that woman then he was asked whether he was damned for Couetousnesse Pride Lecherie or not doing workes of Charitie or else for Lutheranisme then by striking twise or thrise vpon the Table gaue them to vnderstand that Luthers heresie was the cause of her damnation and being asked whether the bodie buried in holy ground should be digged vp and carried â—hence he made signes it should be so then the Friers desired the Citizens to set their handes to a writing testifying that which they had séene but for feare of the Mayor they refused to subscribe then the Friers took the Pixe with the Host and the Lords body and all the reliques of Saints and carried them to another place and there they said their masses then the officiall came thither and would faine haue seene the spirit coniured and one should go into the vault and sée if any spirit appeared but he could not get them to disturb the spirit any more â— Then the Mayor informed the King of the whole matter and the King sent certaine to know whether it were so or no then they put the dâ—ers thereof into seuerall Prisons and examined them apart and a great while they would confesse nothing at length the Iudges promising the nouice that he should haue no harme nor come no more into the Fryers hands he declared to them the whole matter in order wherupon they were committed to Orleance to prison And it was certainly reported that the King would haue plucked down the House but euen at the same time chanced a persecution against the Lutherans and they feared the punishment of these men should haue bin a reproch vnto the Order and a cause of much reioycing to the Lutherans These were Francisâ—an Fryers A Storie of certaine Monks of Sueuia GVnrame a noble Baron in the yeare 1130. builded an Abbey in Sueuia called Salmesuille of Cistercian Monks Amongst many Benefactors to the said House the Earles of Montfort had bestowed vpon that Monasterie many new Liberties and Priuiledges vpon condition that they should receiue with frée hospitalitie any stranger Horse-man or Foot-man for one night but this hospitalitie did not long continue through a subtile deuise of one of the Monks who would counterfeit the Diuell ratling and raging in chaynes at the lodgings where the strangers should lie and so continued this a long space At length an Earle of the house of Montfort was lodged at the Monasterie when the Earle was at his rest in the night the Monke after his wonted manner began to play the Diuell roring thundering spitting of fire and making a noyse the Earle hearing thereof tooke a good heart and taking his sword slew the Monk And thus the Diuell of the Abbey was coniured which stopped the guests from comming to the House Who lift to see more and worse pranks of Friers and Monks played in their Houses Cloysters let them resort to the Epistle of Erasmus and he shall find ynough to infect the aire IOHN BROVVNE a blessed Martyr burned at Ashford in the second yeare of Henrie the eighth Anno 1511. THe said Iohn Browne passing to Graues-end in a Barge a Priest began to swell and stomack that he should sit so neere him at length said Doest thou know who I am thou fittest so neere me and vpon my clothes No sir said the other I tell you said he I am a Priest What sir are you a Parson or Uicar or some Ladies Chaplain No said he I sing for a Soule I pray you said the other where find you the Soule when you go to Masse I cannot tel said he I pray where do you leaue it when you haue done Masse I know not said the Priest How then said the other can you saue the Soule I perceiue thou art an Heretick said the Priest Within three daies after by vertue of a Warrant â—rom the Archbishop with a Baylife and two of the Bishops men they came suddenly into the house of the said Browne as he was carrying a dish of meat to his guests for his wife was that day Churched they layd hands on him and carried him to Canterburie where they kept him fortie dayes in which time he was so pitifully entreated by Warram the Archbishop and Fisher Bishop of Rochester that he was set bare-footed vpon hote burning coales to make him denie his Faith which he bare patiently and continued in maintaining the Lords quarrell vnremoueable then he was sent to Ashford where he dwelt the next day to be burned where he was set in the Stocks all night his wife sate all the while by him to whom he declared the whole Tragedie of his handling how they burned his â—eâ—t to the bones that he could not set them to the ground to make him denie his Lord here which if I should haue done he would denie me hereafter therefore good wife continue as thou hast begun and bring vp thy children in the feare of God where the next day he was burned This Iohn Browne bare a Faggot seuen yeares before this whose sonnâ— named Richard Browne for the like cause of Religion was imprisoned at Canterburie in the later time of Queene Marie and should haue beene burned with two more but the next day after Queene Marie died and they escaped by the Proclamation of Queenâ— Elizabeth THE NINTH BOOKE CONtayning the Acts and things done in the Raigne of King EDVVARD the sixt AFter the death of Henrie the eight succeeded King Edward the sixt his sonne being of the age of nine yeares Touching his commendations I leaue you to the Booke at large who because he was so young and tender was committed to sixtéene Gouernours amongst whome especially the Lord Edward Semer Duke of Somerset his vncle was assigned as Protector of him and the Commonwealth a man of noble vertues especially for his fauour to Gods 〈◊〉 throâ—gh the industrie of whom that monstrous Hydra with sixe heads the 〈◊〉 Articles which deuoured so many were abolished whereby the proceedings of Gardner began to decay who storming thereat wrote to the Lord Protector in the cause thereof He restored the Scriptures to the Mother tongue and extinguished Masses and by little and little greater things followed in the reformation of Churches such as fled for the danger of the Truth were againe receiued to their Countrey the most part of Bishops were changed dumbe Prâ—lates were compelled to giue place to such as would Preach and learned men were sent for out of other Countries as Peter Martyr Martin Bucer Paulus Phagius the first of whom taught at Oxford and the other two at Cambridge with great commendations Bonner Bishop of London was committed to the Marshalsie
Dignity he may well bee said twice marâ—ired first for diuers iniuries and mollestations which he suffered most vnworthily of his enemies in King Edwards time after the fall of the Duke of Somerset and of his martydome in Queene Maries time His Aduersaries in King Edwards time were â—ames Constantine his Register to whom he gaue the Office by Patent and a Doctor of the Law and Canon of the Cathedrall Church of S. Dauids and a Chanter of the same They did exhibit to the Kings Councell certain Articles to the insent to blemish the Bishops credit and vtterly as they thought and made their boasts to pull him from his Bishopricke and bring him in a premunire The cheefe effect of their Articles which were fifty sixe was that he did not in his Proceâ— that he made write the King supreame head of the Church and that he tollerated other superstitions and Idolatries After these wrangling Articles were giuen vp then the Bishop was called to answere the hearing whereof was committed vnto Sir Iohn Mason Knight and Doctor Woâ—ton Then they had a Commission into the Country where they examined sixscore and seauen witnesses and during the time of the examination of these witnesses the said Bishop was stayed at London because his aduersaries said if the Bishop should go into his Dioces he would let them of their proues During which trouble King Edward died and in Quéene Maries time another named Henry was made Bishop of S. Dauids who sent for the said Robert Farrar and committed him to prison and afterward declared vnto the saide Robert the great clemency that the King and Quéenes Highnesse pleasure was to bee offered vnto him if he would submit himselfe vnto the Lawes of this Realme and conforme himselfe vnto the vnity of the Catholike Church and séeing the said Robert made him no answere he ministred vnto him these Articles First whether he beleeue the marriage of Priests to be lawfull by the lawe of God and holy Church Secondly whether hee beleeued the very body and blood of Christ is really and substantially in the Sacrament without the substance of bread and wine Bishop Farrar would not answer vntill he saw a lawfull Commission so he was committed againe then he was called againe after and would answer no otherwise then as before whereupon he was pronounced Contuâ—nax and for punishment thereof to be counted Pro confesso and committed him againe The next day of appearance the said Bishop Farrar craued time to answere and at the time did answer Then the foresaid pretensed Bishop gaue him a writing of certaine Articles to subscribe vnto adding to the Articles before that the Masse was a propitiatorie Sacrifice for the quicke and the dead and that the generall Councels neuer erred neither 〈◊〉 erre that a man is not iustified by Faith only but by Charity also and that the Catholike Church onely hath authoritie of interpreting of the Scriptures and to compound Controuersies and also to appoint such things as appertaine to publike discipline and that the Church is visible as a citty vpon a hill knowne vnto all men and not obscure and vnknowne as the hereticks of our age doe teach To these Articles he refused to subscribe affirming that they were inuented by man and pertaine nothing to the Catholick Faith Then he assigned him a day to assigne them affirmatiuely or negatiuely which he would not doâ— but appeaâ—ed vnto the Cardinall notwithstanding they gaue sentence against him When they had put the priestly vestures on him to disgrade him hee called them ragges and relicks of Rome When he was brought to exâ—cution in the Ciâ—ie of Carmarden he was burned with Turffes and Soddes which was to him a more greeuous torment but praised be God he suffered it patiently The next moneth a godly man named Rawlins White was burned in Cardiffe in Wales THOMAS TOMKINS THomas Tomkins of Shordich in London Weauer was brought before Boner for all hitherto were condemned by Steuen Gardiner Lord Chancelor but hee being weary put off the rest vnto Boner of whom this Tomkins was the first who when by no meanes hee could bee driuen from the â—ruth Boner caused a burning Candle to be brought to him Then said he come on naughty knane if thou likest the torments of the fire so well I will make thee feele in this flame what it is to be burned then if thou be wise thou wilt change thy minde Then he commanded his right hand to be put into the fire but he indured the burning yet was not Bonet therewith contented but neuer rested vntill he had consumed the whole body to ashes in Smithfield He was condemned vpon these points First that his beleefe â— that the body of Christ is not truely and verily in the Sacrament of the Altar but onely in heauen and so in heauen that it cannot be really in the Sacrament and although the Church aâ— low the Masse a wholesome and profitable sacrifice yet my beliefe is that the Masse is full of Superstition and Idolatry and vnprofitable for my soule and the Sacrament of Baptisme ought to â—ee onely in the vulgar tongue and without such ceremonies as are vsed in the Latine Church and being exhorted to leaue his opinions Hee answered hee was brought vp in ignorance vntill now of late yeares and now I know the truth wherein I will continue vnto death and he said my Lord you would haue me forsake the truth and fall into error and heresie Then hee was condemned and deliuered vnto the Sheriffe who carried him to Newgate where hee remained most ioifull and constant vntill hee was conuayed to Smithfield and there sealed vp his Faith in the flaming fire The constant suffering of Higbed and Causon THese two were descended of worshipfull stocke in Essex which of all Shires was most fruitfull of Martyrs the one called Thomas Higbed of Horneden Hill the other Thomas Causon of Thunderst they were both in flourishing estate in riches and much more flourishing in godlines They were diuers times examined before Bonner and defended the truth valiantly and he and his fellowes did much labour to make them to recant but could not preuaile The substance of all their Arguments appeareth in a Confession that they wrote with their owne hands which was read in the Court of Paules before the Mayor and Sheriffes and all the people not without great sure before it could be licenced to be read First we beleeue and professe in Baptisme to forsake the Diuel all his works and all the vanities of the world and the lusts of the 〈◊〉 2 We beleeue the Articles of our Faith and that wee are bound to walke in Gods Commandements all the daies of our life 3 We beléeue the Lords Prayer containeth all things necessarie for soule and body and that we are thereby taught onely to pray to our heauenly Father and is no Saint nor Angell 4 We beléeue there is a Catholick Church euen the Communion of Saints builded vpon
Testament desperatly he cast himselfe into a shallow Riuer and was drowned in the yeare 1555. IOHN AWCOCKE THis yeare the second of Aprill one Iohn Awcocke died in prison who was buried in the fields as the manner of the Papists was for they deâ—ied them Christian buriall to such as died out of their Antichristian Church Pope IVLIVS the third THis yeare about the end of March died Pope Iulius the third whose deeds to declare it were not so much tedious to the Reader as horrible to good eares Iohannes de Casa was Deane of this Popes chamber Archbishop of Beneuentanus and chiefe Legat to the Uenetians who well declaring the fruit of that filthy Sea did not only play the filthy Sodomite himselfe but in Italian meetre set forth the praise of that beastly iniquitie and yet his booke was printed at Uenice by one Troyanus Nauus and the Pope suffered this beastlines vnder his nose in his chamber which could not abide the doctrine of Christ. This Pope delighted greatly in Porke flesh and Peacocks by the aduice of his Physitians his Steward ordered that he should set no Porke flesh before him missing it where said he is my Porke the Steward answered his Physitian had forbidden any Porke to be serued the Pope in a great rage said Bring mee my Porke in despite of God Another time he commaunded a Peacocke at the Table to be kept colde for his Supper when Supper came amongst hote Peacocks he saw not his colde Peacocke the Pope after his wonted manner began horribly to blaspheme God one of his Cardinals said Let not your Holinesse I pray you be moued in so small a matter Then said he if God were so angry for one apple that he cast our parents out of Paradice why may not I being his Uicar he angry for a Peacocke which is a greater matter This was he vnder whom Popery was restored in England in Quéene Maries time and the affection that was borne vnto him heere may be séene by the Dirgs Hearses and Funerals commaunded to bee had and celebrated in all Churches by the Quéene and her Councell At his death a woman séeing a Herse and other preparation in Saint Magnus Church at the Bridge foot in London asked what it meant it was told her it was for the Pope and that she must pray for him nay quoth she that I will not for he needeth not my prayers seeing hee could forgiue vs all our sinnes I am sure he is cleane himselfe by and by she was carried vnto the Cage at London Bridge and bade to coole her selfe there GEORGE MARSH THis Marsh was an earnest letter forth of true Religion to the defacement of Antichrists doctrine in the parish of Deane and elswhere in Lancasâ—ire and he most faithfully acknowledged the same in Quéene Maries time whereupon he was apprehended and kept in straight prison within the Bishoppe of Chesters house foure moneths not permitting him to haue comfort of his frinds but the Porter was charged to marke them that asked for him and to take their names and deliuer them to the Bishop shortly after he came thither the Bishop sent for him and communed with him a long time in his Hall alone and could find no fault with him but that he allowed not transubstantiation nor the abuse of the Masse nor that the Lay people should receiue vnder one kinde with which points the Byshop went about to perswade him but all was in vaine then hee sent him to Prison againe Afterward diuers were sent vnto him to perswade him to submit himselfe vnto the Church of Rome and to acknowledge the Pope to be the haâ—d thereof and to interpret the Scriptures no otherwise then that Church doth George answered hee doth acknowledge one holy Catholike and Apostolike Church without which is no saluation and this Church is but one because it hath and beléeueth in but one God and him only worshippeth and one Christ and in him only trusteth for saluation and it is ruled onely by one Spirit one Word and one Faith and that it is vniuersall because it hath béene from the beginning of the world and shall be vnto the end of the world hauing in it some of al Nations kindreds and languages degrees â—â—ates and conditions of men This Church is builded only vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Iesus Christ being the Head-corner-stone and not on the Romish Lawes and Decrees the Pope being not the supreame head and that it was before any succession of Bishops general Councels or Romish Decrees neither was bound to any time or place ordinary succession generall Councels or Tradition of Fathers neither had any supremacie ouer Empires and Kingdomes But that it was a little 〈◊〉 flocke dispersed abroad as sheepe without a Shepheard in the middest of Wolues or as a flocke of fatherlesse Children assisted succoured and defended onely by Christ Iesus their supreme head from all assaults errours troubles and persecutions wherewith shee is euer compassed about He proued by the floud of Noah the destruction of Sodome The Israelites departing out of Egypt by the parables of the sower by the Kings sons marriage of the great Supper and by other sentences of the Scriptures that this Church was of no estimation and little in comparison of the Church of hypocrites and wicked worldlings After the Bishop caused him to bee brought to the Chappell of the Cathedrall Church of Chester where the Bishop with diuers others were set After he had taken his oath for a true answering the Chancelor charged him that he had preached heretically and blasphemously in diuers places against the Popes authority and Catholick Church of Rome the blessed Masse the Sacrament of the Altar and many other Articles Hee answered that â—e neither heretically nor blasphemonsly spake against any of the said Articles but simply and â—â—uely as occasion serued according to his conscience maintaining the truth touching the said Articles as it was taught in King Edward the sixth his time whereupon they condemned him at the next appearance And when he would haue perswaded them otherwise by the word of God the Bishop told him he ought not to dispute with hereticks Then he prayed the people to beare him witnesse he held no other opinions then were by Law most godly established and publikely taught in King Edwards time wherein he would liue and die As he came on the way towards the place of execution some folke proffered him moâ—ey and looked that he should haue had a little purse in his hand as the manner of 〈◊〉 was at their going to execution to gather money to giue to a Priest to say trentalls of Masses for them after their death whereby they might be saued but Marsh said he would not be troubled with money and hade them giue it to the prisoners and poore people When he came to the â—â—re his pardon was offered him he answered being it tended to plucke him from God he could not receiue it
against the aduersary part as is before recited wherefore he was called to account before Gardner and examined by him and then hée was remoued to Bonner and other Commissioners with whom he had diuers conflicts as in his examinations hereafter following may appeare when he had lien a yeere and a halfe in the Marshalsey being twice examined but no point of Religion handled then hee was committed to the Bishop of Londons Cole-house where he found a married Priest of Essex named Thomas Whittle This Minister greatly lamented his owne infirmitie for that through imprisonment hee was constrained by writing to yeelde to the Bishop of London and was set at liberty and after felt such an hell in his conscience that hee could scarce refraine from destroying himselfe and could not bee at quiet vntill he hauing got the Bishops register to see his Bill hee tore it in peeces and after he was as ioifull a man as any could be When Boner heard thereof be sent for him and buffeted him and plucked off a peece of his Beard but now he is ioyfull vnder the crosse He was thirtéene or fourtéene times in priuate and publikely examined his answeres that concerne any point of Religion heere follow The third examination Boner YOu must be of the Church for there is but one Church Phil. I am sure I am in the Church I know by the Scriptures that there is but one Doue one Spouse one beloued congregation out of the which there is no saluation This Church is builded vpon the word of God Bon. You are not in the same Faith in which you were baptized Phil. I was baptized into the Faith of Christ which I now hold Bon. You were twenty yeares agone of another Faith Phil. I was then of no Faith a wicked liuer neither hote nor cold Bon. Doe you not think we are of a true Faith Phil. I am sure Gods word throughly with the primitiue Church and all ancient writers doe agree with this Faith that I am â—ff Bon. I maruell you are so merry in prison singing and reioycing in your naughtines you should rather lament Phil. The mirth we make is but singing of Psalmes as S. Paul willeth vs to be merry in the Lord singing together in Hymnes and Psalmes wee are in a darke comfortles place therefore it becommeth vs to be merry as Salomon saith least sorrowfulnes eate vp our hearts Then I was carried to the Cole-house where I with my six fellowes rouse together in the straw as cheerefully we thank God as others doe in their Doune beds The fourth Examination Worcest BEfore he beginneth to speak it is best for him to call to God for grace to open his heart that he may conceaue the truth Phil. Then I fell vpon my knees and said Almighty God the giuer of wisedom I beséech thée of thine infinit goodnes in Christ to giue me most vile sinner the spirit of wisedome to speake and make answer in thy cause to the content of the hearers and to my better vnderstanding if I be deceiued in any thing Boner May my Lord of VVorcester you did not well to exhort him to prayer for they haue a singular pride heerein they are heerein like certaine hereticks that Pliny maketh mention off they did â—ing dayly praises to God before the dawning of the day Phil. God make me and you such hereticks for they were right Christians with whom the tyrants of the world were offended for their well doing Col. Where can you proue that the Church of Rome hath erred at any time Eusebius saith the Church was established at Rome by Peter and Paul and Peter was Bishop there 25. yeares Phil. I know Eusebius saith so but if you compare him with Saint Paul to the Galathians it will appeare manifestly to the contrarie He liued not past fiue and thirty yeares after he was called to be an Apostle and S. Paul maketh mention of his abiding aboue eighteene yeares and I am able to proue by Eusebius and others that the Church of Rome hath manifestly erred because shee agreeth not with that which the primitiue Church did vse according to the Gospel in their time as they write there need no other proofe but compare the one with the other Bon. Ought we to dispute with you of our Faith Iustinian in the Law hath a Title De fide Catholica to the contrarie Phil. That is true but our Faith must not depend vpon the ciuill Law Ambrose saith not the Law but the Gospell hath gathered the Church together Worcest You are to blame you cannot be content to be of the Church which hath euer been of that Faith full of Antiquitie Phil. I haue been at Rome where I saw your Lordship Worcest I am sory you haue been there for the wickednes which you saw there peraduenture causeth you to doe as you doe Phil. I am taught otherwise by the Gospell not altogether to refuse the Minister for his euill liuing so that hee bring forth Doctrine according to Gods word Worcest Doe you thinke the vniuersall Church may be deceiued Phil. Saint Paul prophesieth that there shall be an vniuersall falling away from the Faith in the later times Col. That is not ment of Faith but of th' empire the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so signifieth Phil. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is properly a departing from the Faith and thereof commeth Apostata which signifieth one that departeth from the Faith Worcest I am sory you should be against the Christian world Phil. The world commonly and such as be called Christians for the multitude hated the truth and be enemies vnto the same Worcest Doe you thinke the vniuersall Church hath erred and you onely to be of the truth Phil. The Church that you bee of was neuer vniuersall for two parts of the world Asia and Africa neuer consented to the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome not to this day neither follow his Decrees Glo. Yes in Florentines Councell they did agree Phil. It was so said by false report after they were gone home it was not so indeed as the sequell of them all hitherto doth proue the contrary Glo. By whom will you bee iudged in matters of controuersie which happen dayly Phil. By the Word of God For Christ saith in S. Iohn the word that hee spoke shall be Iudge in the latter day Glo. What if you take the word one way and I another way who shall bee Iudge Phil. The Doctors of the Primitiue Church Glo. What if you take the Doctors in one sence and I in another Phil. Then let that be taken which most agreeth to Gods Word Worcest It is wonder how he standeth with a few against a great number Phil. We haue almost as many as you We haue Asia Africa Germany Denmarke and a great part of France dayly the number of the Gospel doth increase and a multitude doth dayly come out of France through persecution that the cities of Germany are scarce able to
principle part of the Sacrament Take ye eat ye which you do not in your Masse wherefore it can be no Sacrament because it wanteth Christs institution Cosins Wee forbid none to come to it but as many as list may be partakers thereof with vs at Masse if they require it Phil. Nay you will minister but one kind vnto them which is not after Christs institution ye ought to exhort them that be present to make a sacrifice of thanksgiuing for Christs Passion and to bee partakers with you and by preaching shew the Lords death which you do not Masse-priest If the Sacrament of the Masse be no Sacrament vnlesse all doe receiue it because Christ saith Take ye eate ye then the Sacrament of Baptisme is no sacrament where there is but one baptized because Christ said to his Apostles Go preach the Gospell to all creatures baptizing all Nations Phil. Baptizing all Nations is meant of all sorts of Nations and to exclude none that beléeue whether Iew or Gentile not meaning all at once for that were impossible and Christ alone was baptized of Iohn and the Eunuch baptized Phillip with many moe such like but you haue no such example of the body and blood of Christ but S. Paul commendeth to vs to vse it in a Communion and participation of many together in the sixt to the Corinthians As oft as you come together to eate the Lords supper tarry one for another And the Minister speaketh to all in Christs behalfe to communicate with him saying Take ye eat ye therfore all that be present do not communicate break Gods commandements he is no iust minister that doth not distibute the Sacrament as Christ did to al that are present where Gods word is transgressed Christ is not present and therefore no Sacrament Harps Will you haue it no Sacrament except it be a Communion Phil. Gods words teacheth so Chrysostome vpon the Epistle to the Ephesians saith The oblation is in vaine where none doth communicate with the Priest therefore your Masse where none eateth thereof but the Priest alone is a vaine Oblation and a vaine standing at the Altar I pray tell me what the Pronoune This in the words This is my body doth demonstrate Harps It doth demonstrate the substance of bread which by the omnipotency of God and the words of the Priest is turned into the substance of Christs body Phil. Why then Christs body receiueth daily a great increase of many 1000. pieces of bread into his body his body is become that which it was not before so you would make an alteration in Christs glorified body which is a wicked thing to do Harps The substance of bread after the words spoken by the Priest is vanished away by the omnipotency of God Phil. This is another song heere you may sée how contrary you are vnto your selues your schoolemen hold that the very substance of bread is really turned into the substance of Christs body and now of late you perceiue the inconuenience of that opinion you imagine a new shift and say the substance of bread is euacuated contrary to that your Church hath beléeued and taught and all is to deface the sincere truth Harps Is not God omnipotent and can he not doe as he hath said Phil. But his omnipotency will not do contrary to his word and honour it is not Gods honour to include him bodily in a péece of bread and of necessity tye him therto and for to make a péece of bread God and man which you sée before your face doth putrifie after a time God is as able to giue his body with the Sacramentall bread and it is contrary to the Scripture which calleth it bread many times after consecration you take away the substantiall parts of the Sacrament as Take ye eat ye drinke ye all of this doe this in remembrance of me and place in their stéeds heare ye gase ye knock ye worship yee offer ye sacrifice ye for the quick and the dead Is not this blasphemy to God and his Sacraments and contrary to the mind of all ancient Writers and contrary to the example of Christ and his Apostles and this is the substance of all his examinations and Arguments Hee did often tell them they were blind guides of the blind and as I am bound to tell you you are very Hypocrites tyrannousâ—y persecuting the truth your owne Doctors and euidences you bring be directly against you you must beare with me sâ—â—ing I speake in Christs cause and because his glory is defaced and his people cruelly and wrongfully slaine by you because they will not consent to the dishonour of God and to hypocrisie with you if I told you not your fault it should be required at my hands in the day of iudgement therefore know you ye Hypocrites that it is the Spirit of God that telleth you your sin I passe not I thanke God of all your crueltie God giue you grace to repent Being brought to New-gate after he was condemned when Alexander the kéeper came in Ah said Alexander Hast thou not done well to bring thy selfe hither Maister Philpot said I must be content it is Gods appointment and I shall desire you to haue your gentle fauour for you and I haue béene of old acquaintance Well said Alexander if you will recant I will shew you any pleasure that I canâ— Nay said Maister Philpot I will neuer recant that which I haue spoken for it is most certaine truth in witnesse whereof I will seale it with my blood Then hâ—s commaunded him to be set vpon the blocke and as many Irons put vpon his Legs as he might beare Then the Clarke told Alexander that Maister Philpot had giuen his Man Money Alexander said to his man what mony hath he giuen youâ— And he searched him and tooke money from him Then said Maister Philpot Good M. Alexander be so much my friend that these Irons may be taken off He said Giue me my fées and I will take them off if not thou shalt weare them still Then said he what is your fées He said foure pounds Ah said Maister Philpot I haue not so much if you will take twenty shillings I will send my man for it or I will lay my Gowne to gage for the time is not long I am sure that I shall be with you then Alexander commaunded him to be had into Limbo and so he was Then his man tooke an honest man with him and went and shewed the Sheriffe one Maister Michaell how maister Philpot was handled in Newgate then the Sheriffe tooke his Ring from his finger and deliuered it vnto the honest man which came with Maister Philpots man and bad him commaund the Kéeper by that token to take off his Irons and handle him more gently and to giue his man againe that which he tooke from him when they told their message to Alexander he saide I perceiue Maister Sheriffe is a bearer with Hereticks to morrow I will shew
it to his betters yet he went to Maister Philpot at ten of the clocke and tooke off his Irons and gaue his man that which he tooke from him He gaue God thanks when newes came he should be burned the next day when the Sheriffe called him to goâ— to execution he came downe most ioyfullie when he came to Smithfield the way was soule so two of the Officers tooke him vp and carried him vnto the stake Then he said merrily what will you make me a Pope then he kissed the stake and said Shall I disdain to suffer at this stake séeing my Redéemer suffered vile death vpon the Crosse for me in the midst of the flames hee yéelded vp his soule vnto Almighty God and like a Lamb gaue vp his breath Thomas Whittle Priest Bartelet Greene Gentleman Iohn Tudson and Thomas Went Artificers Thomas Browne Isabell Foster wife Ioane Warren alias Lashford Maid THe Papists hauing this last years murdred the learned and princiâ—all members of Christs Church whereof there were now very few which either were not consumed with fire or compelled to flie their Countrey they continued this yeare likewise no lesse cruelty towards the inferior sort of people whereof these seuen were burned in Smithfield the 27. day of Ianuary at one fire and they were condemned all in one day vpon one manner of Articles the speciall points were for denying the Sacrament of the Altar and the Masse This Thomas Whittle was the Priest that Philpot maketh mention of where you may sée how he recanted and then became desperate and could not be at quiet in conscience vntill he had gotten to sée the Bill againe which he had subscribed and torne off his name wherefore Boner buffeted him and plucked off a peece of his beard but after he had torne it he was in great peace of conscience and stood out manfully for the faith and sealed to the truth with his martyrdome In an Epistle of his he calleth the Bishops and Priests the sworne Souldiours of Sathan the arch-enemies in whom so liuely appeare the very visage and shape of Sathan that a man may well affirme them to be Diuels incarnate as I by experience do speak wherefore who so shall for conscience matterscome into their hands had neede of the wilinesse of the Serpenâ—â—e saue his head and to take heed how hee consenteth to their wicked writings sore did they assault me and craftily tempt mee to their wicked wayes Bartlet Greene was borne in the Parish of Bassinghall in London being a Student in Oxford at the first he was an vtter enemy to the truth vntill God of his mercy opened his eyes by comming vnto the Lectures of Peter Martire Reader of the Uniuersity Lecture in the said Uniuersity wherof when he had once tasted it came vnto him as the Fountaine of liuing Water so that he neuer thirsted any more but had a Well springing vnto eternall life and though he were called by his Friends from the Uniuersity vnto the Temple in London to study the Common Lawes yet bee continued in his earnest study and profession of the Gospell He writing a Letter vnto one Goodman who was fledde beyond the Sea for Religion containing a report of certaine Articles of questions which were cast abroad in London and an answere to a Letter that Goodman wrote vnto him in which he required to haue the certainty whether the Quéene were dead as it was reported beyond-sea Whereupon Greene answered that she was not dead The bearer of this letter and many other letters from others was apprehended by the way and the letters brought to the Councell These words The Queene is not yet dead seemed heynous to some of the Councell yea they would haue made treason of them if they could by Law but when they could not make it treason they examined him vpon poynts of Religion and after they had long detained him in prison as well in the Lower as elsewhere they sent him at last to Bonner to be dealt withall according to the Ecclesiasticall Lawes And being presented to Bonner his Arch-deacon and diuers others sitting at the Table with him who demanded of him the cause of his imprisoning which when he had shewed him he asked him if he had not since written or spoken against the naturall presence in the Sacrament Then he desired to be charged according to the order of the Law to heare his accusers Then Doctor Chadsey was sent for who reported that before him M. Mosly and the Lieuetenant of the Tower hee spake against the reall presence and the Sacrifice of the Masse and affirmed our Church to be the Church of Antichrist which he confessed and said he would continue therein and maintaine it Then M. Welâ—h arose and desired to talke with mee alone and hauing taken mee into another Chamber he said he was sorry for my troubles and would be glad to see me at liberty and he maruailed that I being a yong man should stand against all the learned men of the Realme against the determination of the Catholique Church from Christs time I promise you quoth he I haue read all Peter Martyrs and Cranmers and all the rest of their Bookes and haue conferred them with the contrary as Roffensis and the Bishop of Winchester and the rest and could not perceiue but that there was one continuall truth which from the beginning had beene maintained and those that any time seuered from this vnity were answered and answered againe This was the summe of his talke which lacked neither wit nor eloquence I answered I am yong and lacke both wit and learning but God is not bound to time wit or knowledge but rather chuseth the weake things of the world to confound the strong neither can men appoint bounds to Gods mercy For he saith I will haue compassion on whom I will Hee hath no respect of persons whether old or yong rich or poore wise or foolish Fisher or Basket-maker God giueth knowledge of his truth through his free grace to whom he listeth Iames. 1. And I beleeue Christ hath his vniuersall Church his Spouse scattered through many Realmes where hee list the Spirit inspireth where it will he is no more adicted to any one place then to the person and quality of any one man of this Church I know I am a member trusting to bee saued by the faith that is taught therein But how this Church is knowne is the end of all Controuersies the true markes of this Church is the true preaching of his Word ministring of his Sacraments these markes were sealed by the Apostles and confirmed by the ancient Fathers vntill the wickednesse of Men and the Diuell these markes were sore worne and almost taken away but God hath â—enued the Print that his Church may bee knowne in many places I would all that were of contrary opinion would seeke the knowledge of the truth with prayer and teares as I haue done Now I am brought before a many of Bishops and
learned men to be made a foole and laughing stocke but I weigh it not a rush For God knoweth that my whole study is to please him and I care not for mans pleasure or displeasure Then we fell againe in long talke of the Church wherin his learning and wit was much more then mine and being diuerse times examined by the Bishop and others standing stiffe in his opinion and neither by flattery nor fear could be wonne from the truth hee was condemned and burned as before Hee beeing in Prison in New-gate hauing perswaded many of the common goale to repentance and faith hee the day before he was executed wrote to diuers Gentlemen of the Innes of Court of his acquaintance in commendation of the true spirituall loue of Gods children how that it is the chiefe fruite of the spirit where it is the onely line that tieth Christs members to him and one to another and that neither prison nor distance of place nor time can breake this loue nor death it selfe For Faith and Hope haue finished their course when we are come to heauen but our loue to Gods children doth remaine there they in heauen loue vs pray for vs and we loue them Now for this loue sake he chargeth ye said Gentlemen his acquaintance by all menes to séek the deliuerance of these prisoners that he had conuerted to helpe them with necessaries Thomas Browne was borne in the Parish of Histon in the Diocesse of Ely and after dwelt in the Parish of S. Brides in Fléetstréet was brought to Bonner by the Constable and was condemned as before Iohn Tudson was borne in Ipswich in the County of Suffolke and after hee was prentice at London in the Parish of S. Buttolph and was sent by Story to Bonner and was condemned as before Iohn Went borne at Langham in Essex a Shere-man he was likewise sent by Story to Bonner and condemned as before Isabell Foster was wife to one Iohn Foster a Cutler of the Parish of S. Brides in Fléetstréet she was sent to Bonner for not comming to Church and condemned as aforesaid Ioane Lashford Alias Warne there is mention before of Elizabeth Warne with Iohn Warne her husband were apprehended at a Communion in Bow-Church-yard and both were burned for the same and now the daughter followed the Parents in the same Martyrdome Doctor Story procured their death and after their deaths he was charged with forty pounds that he owed them she confessed and protested there was no reall presence of Christs body and blood in â— Sacrament of the Altar and that auricular confession and absolution after the popish sort was not necessary nor the Masse good or according to the scriptures and saith that these all other supertiuous Sacraments ceremonies and diuine seruice now vsed in this realme of England was most vile contrary to Christs words and institutions so that they neither were at the beginning nor shall be at the latter end The Bishop exhorting her to returne to the holy mother Church she said boldly to him againe If you will leaue your abhomination so I will returne and otherwise I will not These seuen were all burned together in one fire as aforesaid Iohn Lomas Anne Albright Ioane Catmer Agnes Snoth Ioane Sole IOhn Lomas of the parish of Tenderden in Kent was cited to appeare at Canterbury being examined vpon diuers Articles he answered still that he beléeued as it was contained in Gods Booke and being examined whether hee beléeued the body of Christ to be in the Sacrament of the Altar really vnder y â— formes of bread and wine after consecration hee answered that hee beléeued no realty of Christs body in the Sacrament neither vnder foorme nor trestle wherefore he was condemned the 18 day of Ianuary Agnes Snoth Maid of the parish of Smarden in Kent was likewise examined before the Pharisaical Iudges and for denying auricular confession and for saying none could receiue y â— Sacrament of the Altar as now it is vsed without danger of damnation and for denying penance to be a Sacrament for saying the popish absolution was not coÌ„sonant to Gods word she was likewise condemned Anne Albright alias Champnes being examined denied to bee confessed of a Priest saying you Priests are the children of perdition and can doe no good by your confession and told the Iudge and his assistants that they were subuerters of Christs truth and she said the Sacrament of the Altar was a naughty and aâ—ominable Idoll wherefore she was likewise condemned Ioane Sole of Horton in Kent was condemned of the same Pharises Priests for not allowing Auricular confession and for denying the reall presence in the Sacrament Ioane Cormer of the parish of Hithe in Kent the fifth and last of these heauenly Martyrs shee denyed Auricular confession she said the Sacrament of the altar was now made a very Idoll shee was likewise coudemned these fiue were buâ—ned at two stakes in one fire together at Canterbury the 31. of Ianuary Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Cauterbury HE was borne in Nottingham shire his fathers name was Thomas Cranmer his ancesters were worthy Esquires his mother was a gentle woman named Agnes Hâ—tfield he was of Cambridge in the time when good Authors were neglected and filthy barbarousnesse embraced in all schooles and vniuersities onely the names and number of liberall Arts did remaine the arts themselues were cleane lost Logicke was gone into sophisticall trifles Phylosophy both morrall and naturall was miserably defaced with infinite questions and subtilties the vse of tongues and eloquent learning was either small or none at all and diuinitie was so laden with articles and definitions that it serued rather for the gaine of a few then for the edification of many So hée was constrained to spend a part of his youth vntill he was twentie yeares old in the péeuish questions of Duns and other masters of that sort at length the tongs and other learning began a little to spring and the books of Erasmus began to be much estéemed with a number of good Authours besides on which Cranmer rubbed away his olde rufâ—inesse as vppon a whetstone then Luther rose the happy day of Gods knowledge who wakened mens minds to the cléere light of the truth At thirtie yeares olde he gaue his mind wholly to discusse matters of religion on both parts and hauing performed the same he spent thrée yeares in the study of the Scriptures then he read the old writers despising not the new weighing all mens opinions with secret iudgment he neuâ—r read any writers booke without pen and inkâ— in all controuersies hee gathered euery authors sentence briefly at 35. yeares olde hee procéeded Doctor of Diuinitie he was chosen one of the 12 that should decide y â— matter of kings Henries diuorce and by his arguments learning and meanes it was brought to passe then he was sent to Paris with diuers Noble men and Bishops where he behaued himselfe in that case
taught heresie And hee desired all them present to beare him witnesse that he tooke the Traditions and Religion of the Pope to bée most erronious false and against the doctrine of holy Scriptures which hee had often proued by preaching and writing and the Pope to bee very Antichrist so often preached by the Apostles and Prophets in whom most euidently doth concurre all the signes and tokens whereby hee was painted vnto the world to bee knowne by for hee aduanceth himselfe aboue all Emperours and Kings of the world whom he affirmeth to hold of him and to be at his commandement and the stories make mention of his intollerable pride and tyranny vsed to them as no King would haue done to his subiects nor a good maister to his seruants setting his féet vpon Emperours necks and making others to hold his stirrops and remoued others from their Empires hath not onely occupied the highest places in the world aboue Kings but hath presumed to fit in the seat of Almighty God which is the conscience of man to kéepe the possession thereof he hath promised forgiuenesse of sins he hath brought in Gods of his own framing and inuented a new religion full of lucre quite contrary to the Scriptures only for maintaining of his kingdome displacing Christ from his glory holding his people in miserable seruitude of blindnesse to the losse of a number of soules which God at the latter day shall exact at his hands boasting in his Canons decrées that he can dispense against Peter Paul the old Testament New that in his fulnesse of power he can do as much as God If any man can be aduanced aboue him let him be iudged Antichrist This enemy of God and our redemption is so euidently painted out in the Scriptuers with such manifest tokens which all sée clearely appeare in him that except a man will shut his eyes and heart against the light hee cannot but know him therefore I will neuer giue my consent to the receiuing of him into the Church of England and my Lord sand you that be here examine your own consciences you are sworne against him you are learned and can iudge the truth I pray God you be not wilfully blind I haue discharged my conscience to the world I will write my mind to her grace which letter you may sée in the book at large Storie and Martine diuers times interrupted him saying he spake blasphemy and would faine haue the Bishop put him to silence who notwithstanding suffered him to end his spéech Then they charged him that he was sworne vnto the Pope when he was made Archbishop but he denied it and said It appeareth that he did not by the record of the countrey which one of them confessed Many maruelled that in so perilous a time he had so sincerely proceeded choosing rather to venture the losse of his life and all his glorious pompe then to do any thing that might spill his conscience Then they obiected that he was married which he confessed Doctor Martine said his children were bond-men to the Sea of Canterbury At which he smiled saying If a benificed Priest had a Concubine and had bastards by her they are not bond-men to the benifice I trust you wil make my childrens cause no worse Then D. Martine demanded of him who was the supreme head of the Church he said Christ Martine said you made K. Henry supreme head of the Church He said of the people of England Ecclesiasticall Temporal and not of the Church for Christ is the onely head of the Church and of the Faith and Religion of the same The Articles of religion touching the Sacrament denying transubstantiation the Sacrifice of the Masse and the reall presence he affirmed as he taught in his Booke Then they cited him to appeare 80 daies after at Rome and then sent him to prison where thou maist sée their visored face of Iustice as though the Court of Rome would condemne no man before hee answered for himselfe but the same time the Pope sent letters executory vnto the King and Queene to disgrade and depriue him which was done before twenty dayes were done And though he were kept in prison at the end of the 80 dayes hee was decreed Contumax and thereupon condemned Upon S. Valentines day next after the Archbishop was disgraded and condemned by Bonner Thurlby Bishop of Ely who sometimes was Cranmers Chaplaine and preferred by him at which time Bonner which a long time had borne great malice towards him and reioyced greatly see this day wherein he might triumph ouer him at his pleasure made an Oration to the people in this sort This is the man who hath euer despised the Popes holinesse and now is to be iudged by him this is the man that hath pulled downe so many Churches and now is come to be iudged in a Church this is the man that contemned y â— blessed Sacrament of the Altar and now is come to be condemned before the said Sacrament hanging ouer the Altar this is the man that like Lucifer sate in the place of Christ vpon an Altar to iudge others and now is come before the Altar to bee iudged himselfe Thus he continued halfe an houre heaping vp a number of lies together beginning euery one with This is the man so lothsomly that he made euery man weary When they had disgraded him they stript him of his gowne put vpon him a poore yeoman Bedles gowne thrid-bare and as ill-fauouredly made as could be and a Townsmans cap vpon his head and so deliuered him to the secular power in this filthie gowne he was carried vnto prison The Queene Bishops hauing kept the Archbishop now almost three yeares in prison seeing by no means they could preuaile with him all this while to turn him from his religion they suborned certaine men which should by intreaty and faire promises or any other means allure him to recantation so the wily Papists flocked about him labouring to draw him from his former sentence to recantation especially Henry Sidall and Frier Iohn a Spaniard they shewed him how acceptable it would be to the Kings Queene and how gainfull it would be both bodily spiritually they added that the Councell Noble-men bare him good wil promising him both his life ancient dignity saying the matter was but small the setting of his hand to a few words but if hee refused there was no hope of pardon for the Queene was purposed that shee would haue Cranmer a Catholique or else no Cranmer at all By these and such like prouocations they at last wâ—nne him to subscribe It may bee supposed that it was for hope of life and better dayes to come But it appeareth by a Letter of his to a Lawyer that the most cause why hee desired his life to bee delayed was that hee might make an end of a Booke against Marcus Antonius a Papist which hee had begun but it is manifest
as for the feare of death I do not greatly passe when I behold the amiable countenance of Christ my deare Sauiour the vgly face of death doth not greatly trouble me In the which time she reasoned most comfortably out of Gods word of election and reprobation in the euening before she should die two Priests came to her to heare her confession for they would be sorie they said she should die without it She sent them word she had made her confession vnto Christ at whose handsâ— she was sure to haue forgiuenes of her sins for the cause for which she should die she had no cause to repent but rather to praise God that he made her worthy to suffer death for his word and the absolution that they were able to giue her by the authority of the Pope she defied it Well said the Priests to morrow her stoutnes will be tried All the night she was wonderfull cheerefull and merry About thrée of the clock in the morning Sathan began to stirre himselfe busily questioning with her how she could tell that she was chosen to eternall life and that Christ died for her I grant he died but that hee died for thée how canst thou tell She being troubled with this suggestion they that were about her counsailed her to follow the example of S. Paule to be faithfully perswaded that Christ loued her and gaue himselfe for her for S. Paule was perswaded that Christ loued him and her calling and true beléefe and knowledge of Gods word was a manifest token of Gods loue towards her and the operation of the spirit of God in working in her a loue and a desire to please God by these perswasions and the comfortable promises of Christ brought out of the Scripture Sathan was put to flight and she comforted in Christ. When she came to the stake she prayed to God most instantly to abolish the vile masse at which prayer all the people said Amen then she tooke a cup of drinke that was brought vnto her and drunk vnto all them that vnfainedly loued the Gospell of Christ and wished for the abolishment of papistry a great number of the women of the towne pledged her When the fire was kindled about her she neither strugled nor stirred the Papists had appointed some of theirs to raile vpon her and reuâ—le her openly as she went to execution and whilst she was at the stake amongst others there was an old priest which had writing tables and noted the names of the women which drunke with her and caused Processe to be sent for them but God defended them from the hands of the Tyrants Ralph Alerton Iames Awstoo Margery Awstoo and Richard Roth. ON the 17. of September these foure were burned at Iâ—â—ington néere London Ralph Alerton comming to his parish Church of Bently and séeing the people sitting there idle exhorted them that they would fall to prayer and meditation of Gods word wherevnto they consented after prayer he read vnto them a chapter out of the New Testament and departed In which exercise he continued vntill Candlemas and then being informed that he might not doe so by law because he was no Priest he left off and kept himselfâ— close in his house vntill Easter after he was constrained to forsake his house and liue in woods and such places vntill he was apprehended After his Examination my Lord Darcy sent him vp vnto the Councell who sent him to Boner who tempted him openly to recant at Paules Crosse and set him at liberty which after wrought such a terrour in his conscience but the Lord with his fauourable chastisement did raise him vp againe with Peter giuing him vnfained repentance and a most constant boldnes to professe his name and glorious Gospell Wherefore at the procurement of Thomas Tye Priest hee was apprehended againe and sent to Boner before whom he was diuers times examined which examinations written with his owne hand in bloud for lack of Inke hereafter follow His first Examination Boner AH Sirra how chanceth it that you are come hether againe in this fashion Rafe Forsooth if your Lordship remember I set my hand vnto a writing the Contents thereof as I remember was that I did beléeue all things as the Catholique church teacheth in the which I did not disburse my mind but shamefully dissembled because I made no difference betwixt the true church vntrue Church Boner Which is the true Church doest thou call the heretiques Church the true Church or the Catholiques Church Rafe I vtterly abhorre the hereticks Church as abhominable before God with all their enormities and heresies the Church Catholique is it that I onely imbrace whose doctrine is sincere pure and true Boner By S. Augustine that is well said Then a Priest said to my Lord you know not what Church it is which he calleth Catholick Then hee said by Saint Mary he might a deceiued me Sirra which is the Catholick Church Rafe That which hath receiued the wholesome sound spoken of by Esay Dauid Malachy Paul with many others mâ—e the which sound as it is written hath gone throughout all the earth in euery place and to the end of the world Bon. Yea thou saist true before God for this is the sound that hath gone foorth throughout all Christendome and he that beléeueth not this Church as S. Cyprian saith doth erre Hee saith whosoeuer is out of the Church is like vnto them that are out of Noahs ship when the floud came vpon the whole world for the Church is not alone in Germany or here in England in the time of the late schismes as the hereticks doe affirme for then were Christ a lyar for he promised the holy Ghost should come vnto vs and leade vs in all truth and remaine with vs vnto the end of the world So if we wil take Christ for a true sayer then the way that is taught in France Spaine Flanders Italy Denmarke Scotland and all Christendome ouer must needs be the true Catholick Church Raâ—e I spake of all the world and not of all Christendome onely for the Gospell hath been preached and persecuted in all Nations First in Iury by the Scribes and Pharisies And since by Nero Dioclesian and such like and in our daies by your Lordship knoweth whom your church is no more catholick then was figured by Cain Ieroboam Ahab Iezabel Nabuchadonosor Antiochus Herod with ennumerable more the like and Daniel and Esdras prophesieth of these last daies and that there shall come greeuous wolues to deuoure the flocke is affirmed by Christ and his Apostles Boner Hee is the rankest hereticke that euer came before mee by Alhallowes thou shalt be burned thou whorâ—on varlet and Pricklouse the prophecie is of you what is the saying of Esdras that you speake of Rafe He saith the heate of a great multitude is kindled ouer you and they shall take away certaine of you and feed the Idols with Idols and he that consenteth not to them shall be
was a stubborne fellow an Heretick and a Traytor Spurdance There is no man I thanke God to accuse me iustly that euer I was disobedient to any Ciuill Lawes but I haue a Soule and a Bodie and my Soule is none of the Queenes but my body one goods are the Queens and I must giue God my soule and all that belongeth vnto it and in lawes contrarie to Gods lawes I must rather obey God then man you cannot proue by the word of God that you should not haue any grauen Images in your Churches for lay-mens bookes or to worship God by them or that you should haue any ceremonies in the Church as you haue Bish. It is a decent order to furnish the Church as when you goe to dinner you haue a cloth vpon the table to furnish it so at these ceremonies a decent order amongst Christians and if you will not doe them seeing they are the lawes of the Realme you are an heretick and disobedient therefore confesse with vs that you haue been in errour and come home Spurd The spirituall lawes were neuer truelier set forth then in my Master King Edwards daies and I trust in God that I shall neuer forsake them whilest so I liue He was sent to Bury where he remained in prison Iohn Hallingsdale William Sparrow Richard Gibson THese three were produced before Bonner Bishop of London Iohn Halingsdale said that neither in the time of King Edward the sixt nor at that present he did beleeue that in the Sacrament is really the body and bloud of Christ and he would not receiue the same because he did beleeue that the body of Christ was onely in heauen and he said that Cranmer Latimer Ridley Hooper and generally all that of late haue beene burned for hereticks did preach truly the Gospel and vpon their preaching he grounded his faith and he said that the saying of Saint Iohn in the eighteenth chapter of the Reuelation That the bloud of the Prophets and Saints and of all that were slaine vpon the earth was found in the Babylonicall Church is vnderstood of the Church whereof the Pope is head where upon hee was condemned William Sparrow was charged with a submission made the year before vnto the Bishop he said he was sorie that euer he made it and it was the worst deed he euer did and being charged that he went to the Church and heard Masse he confessed he did so but it was with a troubled conscience He tolde the Bishop that which you call truth I beleeue to be heresie he confessed that since his submission he had preached against the Sacrament of the Altar against auricular confession and other Sacraments and he said If euery haire of his head were a man hee would burne them all rather then goe from the truth and he said that the Ecclesiasticall Lawes and the Masse were naught and abhominable whereupon hee was condemned Richard Gibson was condemned for not comming vnto confession and for not receiuing the Sacraments of the Popish Masse and for that he would not sweare to answere vnto their intergatories laid against him When sentence was read against him he boldly affirmed that he was an enemy vnto them all in his minde though hee had kept it secret for feare of the Law and hee said hee was blessed in that he was cursed of them so these three were burned in Smithfield where they yeelded gloriously and ioyfully their soules into the hands of God Iohn Rowth Minister and Margaret Mearing IN King Edwards time he was a Preacher at New-Castle Barwicke and Carliel In Queene Maries time he fled with his Wife into Friseland and dwelled at Norden and liued by knitting of caps hâ—seâ— and such like things but in October last he came ouer into England to buy yarne and hearing of the secret societie of the congregation of Gods children their assembled hee ioyned himselfe vnto them and was elected their preacher and hee taught and confirmed them in the truth of the Gospell But on the twelfth of December hee with Cuthbert Simpson and others were apprâ—hended at the Sarisons head in Islington where the congregation had appointed to assemble themselues to pray and heare Gods word they were brought before the Councell who sent Rowgh to Newgate and writ to Boner to examine him and proceed according vnto the law who vpon examination before Bonner confessed that he had spoken against the number of the Sacraments being perswaded that there were but two Baptisme and the Lords Supper and that hee had taught that in the Sacrament of the Altar ther is not really and substantially the body and bloud of Christ but that the substance of bread and wine remaineth without transubstantiation and that hee thought Confession to a Priest necessarie if hee had offended the Priest but if the offence were vnto another it was not necessarie but the reconcâ—liation ought to bee made to the party so offended hee denyed Laâ—ine seruice and allowed the seruice of King Edwards time and hee commended the opinion of Thomas Cranmer Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer and that they were godly learned men He confessed he had béene familâ—ar with diuers Englishmen women in Frieseland and agréed with them in opinion as Maister Story Thomas Yong George Roe and others to the number of 100. persons which flâ—d thither for Religion vsing the order set forth in King Edwards time He said that he had béene at Rome about thirty daies and he saw no good there but much euill amongst which he saw one great abhomination to wit the Pope being a man that should goe vpon the ground to be carried vpon the shoulâ—ers of foure men as though he had béene God and no man also a Cardinall to haue his Harlot to ride openly behind him and thirdly a Popes Bull that gaue expresse licence to haue and vse the Stewes and keepe open bawdery by the Popes authority And he confessed that since his last comming vnto England hee had in sundry places in London read Prayers and Seruice as is appointed in the Book of Communion and had willed others to doe the like and he affirmed that hee being a Priest might lawfully marry and that his Children which hee had by his Wife were lawfull and he vtterly detested the seruice then vsed saying that if he shold liue as long as Methusala he would neuer come vnto the Church to heare the abhominable Masse and other seruice then vsed Whereupon he was disgraded and condemned he was a meanes to saue Docror Watsons life then Bishop of Lincolne when he preached erroneous doctrine in the dayes of King Edward the sixt and the said Watson beeing with Bonner at the examination of the said M. Rowgh to requite his good turne in sauing his life said there that he was a pernicious hereticke who did more hurt in the North parts then an hundred besides of his opinion M. Rowgh further said he had liued thirtie years and yet had not bowed his knee vnto Baall and
perswaded her to leaue her wicked opinion of the Sacrament but she answered that it was nothing but bread and wine that they might be ashamed to say that a péece of bread should be turned by a man into the naturall body of Christ which bread doth sennew and Mice oftentimes do eate it and it doth mould and is burned Gods owne body will not be so handled or kept in prison or Boxes let it be your GOD it shall not be mine for my Sauiour sitteth at the right hand of God and doth pray for me and to make it the very body of Christ and to worship it is foolish and deuillish deceit Then an old Frier asâ—ed her what she said of the holy Pope I say quoth she he is Antichrist and the Deuill then they all laughed â—ay said she you had more néed to weep then laugh in that you are Chaplaines vnto that whâ—re of Babylon I defie him and all his falshood you damne soules when you teach the people to worship Idolls and to worship a false God of your owne making of a peece of Bread and that the Pope is Gods Uicar and can forgiue sinnes and that there is a Purgatory when Gods Sonne hath by his Passion purged all and say you make God and sacrifice him when Christs body was a Sacrifice once for all you teach the people to number their sinnes in your eares and say they bee damned â—f they doe not confesse all when GOD saith Who can number his sinnes You promise them Trentalls and Dirges and Masses for Soules and sell your prayers for Money and make them buy pardons and trust in such foolish inuâ—ntions you teach vs to pray vpon Beads and to pray vnto Saints you make Holy bread and holy water to fray Deuils and you do make a thousand moe abhominations yet you say you came to saue my soule no no one hath saued me farewell with your saluation In Saint Peters Church shee beheld a cunning Duch-man how he made new Noses to certaine Images which were disfigured in King EDVVARDS time What a mad man art thou said she to make new noses which within a few daies shall all loose their heads thou thine Images are acccursed hee called her whore nay said the thine Images are whoores and thou art a whoore-hunter For God saith you goe a whoring after strange Gods Then she was clapped fast and after had no liberty and not long after she was condemned Then she said I thanke God this day I haue found that which I haue long sought and being then exhorted to recant she said I will neuer lose eternall life for this short life I will not turne from my heauenly husband to my earthly husband from the fellowship of Angels to mortall Children God is my Father God is my Mother God is my Sister my Brother my Kinsman God is my Friend most faithfull shee was burned at Execester Iohn Sharpe Thomas Hall Thomas Benion THese were burned in the towne of Bristow for saying that the Sacrament of the Altar was the greatest and most abhominable Idol that euer was and Thomas Benion denied fiue of their Sacraments and affirmed two that is the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ and the Sacrament of Baptisme they died godly constantly and patiently Iohn Corneford of Wortham Christopher Browne of Maidstone Iohn Herst of Ashford Alice Snoth Katherine Knight alias Tinley THese were the last that suffered in Quéen Maries raigne They were burned at Canterbury but six daies before the death of Queene Mary The Arch-deacon of Canterbury being at London and vnderstanding the danger of the Quéene made post-hast home to dispatch these They were condemned for not beleeuing the body of Christ to be in the Sacrament of the Altar vnlesse it be receiued and for confessing that an euill man doth not receiue Christs body and that it is Idolatry to créepe to the crosse and that we should not pray vnto our Lady and other Saints when there sentence should beâ— read against them Iohn Cornefield excommunicated the Papists in these words as follow In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ the Son of the most mighty God and by the power of his holy Spirit and of the authority of his holy Cathothick and Apostolick Church wee doe giue here into the hands of Sathan to bee destroyed the bodies of all those blasphemers and hereticks that doâ— maintaine any error against his most holy word or doe condemne his most holy truth for heresie to the maintâ—nance of any false Church or fained religion so that by this thy iust Iudgement O most mighty God against thy Aduersaries thy true religion may be knowne to thy great glory and our comfort and to the edifying of all our Nation good Lord so be it This procéeded as it seemed from an inward faith and harty zeale to Gods truth and it tooke such effect against the enemies that within six daies Queene Mary died and all tyranny with her These godly Martyrs in their prayers which they made at their martyrdom desired God that their bloud might be the last that should be shed and so it was Katherine Tinley was the mother of one Robert Tinley dwelling in Maidestone The Story of Nicholas Burton Marchant of London dwelling in little S. Bartholomew THe fift of Nouember he being in the Citie of Cadix in the parts of Aâ—doâ—azia in Spaine about his marchandize there came one of the inquisition vnto his lodging who fained to hâ—ue a Letter to deliuer vnto his hands when he came vnto him he inuented another lye and said that he would take lading vnto London in his ships delaying the time vntill the Alquisyell or Sergeants of the inquiâ—ition might apprehend them and seeking to know his ships that they might attache them when they had arrested him he boldly asked them what cause they had against him and he would answere them They carried him vnto a filthy common prison of the towne of Cadix where he remained in Irons amongst theeues thirteene daies all which time he instructed the poore prisoners in the word of God that he had reclaimed sundry of them from superstitions to embrace the Word of God which being known they conuayed him thence vnto the Citie of Siuill into a more cruell prison called Triane where the Fathers of the inquisition proceeded against him secretly that neuer after he could be suffered to speake or write vnto any of his Nation And the twentith day of December they brought him with a great number of other prisoners into the Citie of Siuil into a place where the Inquisiâ—ion sate in Iudgement they put on him a Canuas coat wheron was painted in diuers parts the figure of a huge Diuell tormenting a soule in fire and on his head a long cap of the same worke his tongue was forced out of his mouth with a clouen sticke fastened vpon it that he should not vtter his Faith and conscience vnto the people and so he was set with
had beene warned to beware of the foureteenth day yet making no account thereof hee went downe into the Court whereas a man of a meane condition detained him a quarter of an houre then hee went into his Caroch by the Duke of Espernon who satâ— in the first place of the Boote vppon the Kinges right hand Montbazon the Marshall Lauardin La Force and Praulin being followed by two Foote-men and one of his Guard on horsebacke hauing commaunded Mounsier de Vitry and the rest of his Guard to stay behinde Being betwixt the draw-bridge and the poole this miserable wretch who watched his opportunity drew néere vnto the Caroch on the right side thinking his Maiesty had béene there but seeing he was on the left hand and hearing them commaund the Coachman to go on he went the néerest way by the narrow lanes and met with his Maiesty in the stréet called Ferroneire neere vnto S. Innocents Church wher staying to make way for a Cart to passe the King leaned downe on the one side towards Mounsier Esperâ—â—on pressing him to reade a letter without spectacles The Duke of Montbazon turned towards them and one of the footmen was busie tying vp his garter on the other side so as this monster had opportunity to stab the King into the left paâ— but the wound was not great whereupon crying out O my God I am wounded he gaue him mâ—anes to giue him a second blow which was mortal the knife entring betweene the fift and sixt rib it cut asunder the veine leading vnto the hart and the wound was so déepe as it entred into caua vena the which was piercâ—d wherewith the King did presently spit blood losing all apprehension and knowledge for any thing they could perceiue They had great diffâ—culty to saue the murderer from killing presently yet in the end hee was conuaied to the house of Retz The King was carried backe vnto the Louure vpon the way they met with the Dolphin who went to take the ayre but they caused him to returne and be caried into the Quéenes Chamber The King was laid vppon a Couch in his Cabinet whereas presently after he gaue vp the Ghoast In that these Papisticall and trayterous attempts tooke effect vnto the murthering of these two French Kings when the Lord of his infinite goodnesse still preserued Quéene Elizabeth and our now dread Soueraigne King Iames from so many and from more dangerous practises It may certainly be concluded that if they had no worse feared the Papists then they did and put their trust in God as wel as they and had according to their example purely purged their Realmes from Papistry the sure prouidence of God would haue beene as sure their Castle strong hold and defence as it was to them and their Realmes at all times and in all occasions and needs NOw by the especiall Grace of God and the assistance of his blessed Spirit I haue sayled vnto my expected Port al laud and praise and thanks therefore be giuen vnto the Father the Son and Holy Ghost And I most hartily beseech him that this Booke may beget in the Readers a true dislike of all ceremonies superstitions and false Doctrines of Papistry and to make them truely zealous of Gods word and commandements O Lord conuert all Papists that belong vnto thee and hasten according to thy promises to gather all Kings together to destroy the Popedome in the meane time grant all Kings Princes and others Grace to beware of him that he corrupt not the soules of them nor their subieces nor hurt their persons or estates And lastly I beséech thee to gather together the number of thine elect and hasten thy comming to iudgement that thou maâ—st take thy beloued Spouse from the miseries of this World vnto thy eternall glory prepared for her com Lord Iesus come quickly FINIS An Alphabeticall Table containing the principall matters and all the Martyrs that suffered for the truth from the Primitiue Church to the end of Queene Mary A AGrippa cast into prison by Tyberius page 2 Andrew Peters Brother crucified 3 Anthia martyred 5 Ant. Pius Edict in fauour of the Christians Ibid Attalus burned on an Iron chaire 6 Aurelius fauours the Christians 9 Affaires of the Church of England and Scotland beginning with King Lucius 19 Austin with aboue forty Preachers sent into England 22 He goes in procession to Canterbury Ibid. Consecrated Arch-bishoppe in France by the commandement of Gregory 23 He assembled the Bishoppes charging them to preach the word of God Ibid Hee baptiseth 10000. in the Riuer Swale on Christmas day 24 His death Ibid. Abbaies erected 29 Alfride opprest by the Danes his misery hee makes Dunwolphus a Swineheard Bi. of Winchester he is comforted by Gods prouidence and ouercomes the Danes causing them to be christned 33 Adelstane crowned King at Kingstone forceth the Brittaines to pay him tribute sends his Brother to Sea in an old Boate builds Monasteries for the release of his sins 35 Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury accuseth Henry the first King of England to the Pope he is turned out of his Bishopricke and goods 50 Anacletus Pope 51 Arnulphus a Priest put to death for preaching against the Auarice and incontinency of the Cleargy 51 Adrian the fourth an Englishman Pope 52 Choakt with a fly 54 Auarice of the Popish Prelats 80 Amadeus Duke of Sauoy chosen Pope 138 Abraham of Colchester burned for maintaining the truth 142 Alexander the sixt poysons the Turkes brother for 2000. Florins 151 Abiurations in Henry the eight his time referred to the Booke at large 126 Adulphus Clarbachus burned for maintaining the truth at Colen 170 Articles against Cardinall Wolsey 171 Andrew Hewit a Prentise burned for maintaining Frâ—ths opinions 183 Anne of Bullen her charitable good works 184 Articles agreed vpon in Parliament 196 Abell hanged for the supremacy 200 Anthony Pierson burned at Windsor 201 Adam Damlip his persecution and martirdome at Callis 205 Anne Askew her confession condemnation persecution and martyrdome 207. 208. Adam Wallace martired in Scotland for holding the masse to be Idolatry 215 Altars in Churches puld downe 226 Anne Potten burned the next after Samuel for professing the truth 290 Anthony Burward of Callice for saying the Sacrament of the Altar was an Idoll burned at Canterbury 291 Alexander the Keeper of Newgate his crueltie to M. Philpot and his man 311 Agnis South about the Sacrament of Penance condemned and burned 314 Anne Albright for denying the realty in the Sacrament condemned and burned Ibid. Agnes Potten burned at Ipswich 320 Adam Foster Husbandman Martyr 326 Askin a constant Martyr 327 Alice Potkins starued to death 329 Agnes Stamley burned 331 Alexander Horsman Martyr 332 Ambrose died in Maidstone Goale 339 Agnes Siluerside alias Smith condemned 340 Agnes Banger martyred 348 Anne Try Martyr 349 Alexander Lane Martyr 362 Alexander Gouch martyred Ibid Alice Driuers a constant Martyr Ibid. Alice Snoth burned at Canterbury 365. B BArtholmew crucified and beheaded