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A67927 Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.; Actes and monuments Foxe, John, 1516-1587. 1583 (1583) STC 11225; ESTC S122167 1,744,028 490

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say you woulde you haue come to Masse or no if the doores had sooner bene opened Phil. My Lord that is an other maner of question Lon. Loe maister Chauncellour I tolde you we shoulde haue a froward fellow of him he will answere directly to nothing I haue had him before both spiritual Lords and the temporall and thus he fareth stil yet he reckeneth him selfe better learned then all the realme Yea before the temporall Lordes the other day he was so foolish to chalenge the best he woulde make him selfe learned and is a verye moraunt foole in deede Phil I recken I answeared your Lordshippe before the Lordes plaine enough London Why answearest thou not directly whether thou wouldest haue gone to Masse with vs or no if thou haddest c●me in time Phil. Mine answere shall be thus that if your Lordship can prooue your masse whereunto you would haue me to come to be the true seruice of God wherunto a Christian ought to come I will afterward come with a good will London Loke I pray you the King and the Queene and all the Nobilitie of the realme doe come to Masse and yet he will not By my faith thou art too well handled thou shalt be worse handled hereafter I warrant thee Phil. If to lie in a blind Colehouse may be counted good handling both without fire candle then may it be sayd I am well handled Your lordship hath power to entreat my body as you list Lond. Thou art a foole and a very ignoraunt foole Maister Chauncellour in good faith I haue handled hym and his fellowes with as much gentlenesse as they can desire I lette their frends come vnto them to relieue them And wot ye what the other day they had gottē themselues vp into the top of the leades with a many of preutises gasing abroad as though they had bene at libertie but I shall cut of your resort and as for the prentises they were as good not to come to you if I take them Philpot. My Lord we haue no such resorte to vs as your Lordship imagin●th and there commeth very fewe vnto vs. And of prentises I know not one neither haue we any leades to walke on ouer our Colehouse that I wot of wherfore your Lordship hath mistaken your marke Lond. Nay nowe you thinke because my Lorde Chauncellour is gone that we wil burne no mo yes I warrant thee I will dispatch you shortly vnlesse yo● do recant Phil. My lord I had not thought that I shuld haue ben 〈◊〉 now neither so raw as I am but wel rosted to ashes Chaunc Case not your selfe wilfully away M. Philpot. Be content to be ruled by my lord here and by other learned men of this realme and you may do wel inough Phil. My conscience beareth me recorde that I seeke to please God that the loue and feare of God causeth me to do as I doe and I were of all other creatures most miserable if for mine owne will onely I did loose all the commodities I might haue in this life and afterward to be cast to damnation But I am sure it is not my wil wheron I stande but Gods will which will not suffer me to be cast away I am sure Chaunc You are not so sure but you may be deceiued Lon. Well since thou wilt not be conformable by no faire meane I will procede against thee Ex officio and therefore harken here to such articles as I haue heere wrytten and I charge thee to make answere to them and with that he red a li●ell which hee had in his hand of diuers Articles and when he had done he bad me answere Philpot. Your libel my lord containeth in summe 2. speciall poyntes The first pretendeth that I should be of your dioces and therefore your lordship vpon diuers suspectes infamies of heresie going vpon me is moued to procede against me by your ordinarie office the which first is not true for that I am not of your Lordships diocesse as the libel doth pretēd And the second is that I being baptised in the catholicke church and in the catholicke faith am gone from them the which is not so for I am of that catholicke faith and church as I was baptised vnto London What art thou not of my Dioces Where are ye now I pray you Phil. My lord I can not deny but I am in your cole house which is your diocesse yet am I not of your diocesse Lond. You were sent hether vnto me by the Queenes maiesties commissioners and thou art nowe in my diocesse wherefore I will proceede against thee as thy Ordinarie Phil. I was brought hether through violence and therefore my present being now in your diocesse is not inough to abridge me of mine owne ordinary iurisdiction neither maketh it mee vnwillingly subiecte to your iurisdiction since it commeth by force and by such men as had no iust authority so to doe no more then a sanctuarie man being by force brought forth of his place of priuiledge doth ther by lose his priuiledge but alwaies may chalenge the same where soeuer he be brought Chadsey Hath not the Queenes maiestie authoritie by her commissioners to remoue your body whether shee will and ought you not to obey heerein Phil. I graunt that the Queenes maiestie of her iust power may trāspose my body whether it shall please her grace to commaunde the same But yet by your lawes Spiritualia non sunt subiecta Imperatoris potestati i. Spiritual causes be not subiect to the temporal power As for example you M. doctor if the Queenes maiestie woulde appoynt two temporall men to be iudges ouer you in certaine spirituall matters might not you alledge the priuiledge of a clearke demaund competent spirituall iudges in your causes London Doth not a man I pray you sortiri forum ratione delecti Phil. My Lord your rule is true in temporal matters but in spirituall causes it is not so which be otherwise priuiledged London What sayest thou then to the seconde article and to the other Phil. My Lord I say that I am not bound to answere the second neither the rest vnlesse the first be prooued London Well suppose the first may be prooued as it will be what wil you say then to the second that you are not of the same catholicke faith neither of the same church now as you were baptised in Phil. I am of the same catholicke faith and of the same catholicke church which is of Christ the piller and stablishment of truth London Nay that you are not Phil. Yes that I am London Your Godfathers and Godmothers were of an other faith then you be now Phil. I was not baptised neither into my Godfathers faith nor my Godmothers but into the faith into the church of Christ. London How know you that Phil. By the word of God which is the touchstone of faith and the limites of the Church Lon. Howe
to come which fleshe and bloud can not comprehend Being in the middest of my sweete rest it seemed me to see a great beautifull Citie all of the colour of Azure and white foure square in a marueilous beautifull composition in the middest of the skie the sight whereof so inwardly comforted me that I am not able to expresse the consolation I had thereof yea the remembrance thereof causeth as yet my hart to leape for ioy and as charitie is no churle but would others to bee pertakers of his delight so mee thought I called to others I cannot tel whom whiles they came and we together beheld the same by and by to my great griefe it vaded away This dreame I thinke not to haue come of the illusion of the senses because it brought with it so much spirituall ioy and I take it to be of the workyng of Gods spirite for the contentation of your request as he wrought in Peter to satisfy Cornelius Therfore I interprete this beautifull Citie to be the glorious Church of Christ and the appearance of it in the skie signifieth the heauenly state thereof whose conuersation is in heauē and that according to the Primitiue Church which is now in heauen men ought to measure and iudge the church of Christ now in earth for as the Prophet Dauid sayth The foundations thereof be in the holy hils and glorious thyngs be spoken of the city of God And the maruelous quadrature of the same I take to signifie the vniuersal agreement in the same and that all the Church here militant ought to consent to the Primitiue Church throughout the foure parts of the worlde as the Prophete affirmeth saying God maketh vs to dwell after one maner in one house And that I conceyued so wonderfull ioy at the contemplation therof I vnderstand the vnspeakeable ioy which they haue that bee at vnitie wyth Christes Primitiue Church For there is ioy in the holye Ghost and peace which passeth all vnderstanding as it is written in the Psalmes As of ioyful persons is the dwelling of all them that be in thee And that I called others to the fruition of this vision and to behold this wonderfull city I conster it by the will of God this vision to haue come vppon me musing on your letter to the ende that vnder this figure I might haue occasion to mooue you with many others to behold the Primatiue church in all your opinions concernyng fayth and to conforme your selfe in all poynts to the same which is the piller and stablishment of truth and teacheth the true vse of the sacraments and hauyng with a greater fulnesse then we haue now the first fruits of the holy Ghost did declare the true interpretatiō of the scriptures accordyng to all veritie euen as our Sauiour promised to send them an other comforter whiche should teach them all truth And since all truth was taught reuealed to the Primitiue church which is our mother let vs all that be obedient children of God submit our selues to the iudgement of the Church for the better vnderstanding of the Articles of our faith and of the doubtful sentences of the scripture Let vs not go about to shew in vs by followyng any priuate mans interpretation vpon the word an other spirite then they of the Primitiue Church had least we deceyue ourselues For there is but one fayth and one spirit which is not contrary to hymselfe neyther otherwyse now teacheth vs then he did then Therefore let vs beleue as they haue taught vs of the Scriptures and be at peace with them accordyng as the true Catholicke Church is at this day and the God of peace assuredly will be with vs deliuer vs out of all our worldly troubles and miseries make vs partakers of their ioy and blisse through our obedience to sayth with them Therefore God commaundeth vs in Iob to aske of the elder generation and to search diligently the memory of the Fathers For we are but yesterdayes children and be ignorant and our dayes are like a shadowe and they shall teach thee sayth the Lorde and speake to thee and shall vtter wordes from their hartes And by Salomon w● are commaunded not to reiecte the direction of our mother The Lorde graunt you to direct your steppes in all thinges after her and to abhorre all contention with her For as S. Paule writeth If any man be contentious neither we neither the Church of God hath any such custome Hitherto I haue shewed you good brother S. my iudgement generally of that you stande in doubt and dissent frō others to the which I wishe you as myne owne harte to be conformable and then doubtles you can not erre but boldly may be glad in your troubles and triumph at the houre of your death that you shall dye in the Church of God a faythfull Martyr and receiue the crowne of eternall glory And thus much haue I written vpon the occasion of a vision before God vnfayned But that you may not thinke that I goe about to satisfie you with vncertain visions onely and not after Gods word I will take the ground of your letter and specially answere to the same by the scriptures and by vnfallible reasons reduced out of the same proue the Baptisme of Infantes to be lawfull commendable and necessary whereof you seeme to stand in doubt In deed if you looke vppon the papisticall Synagogue onely which hath corrupted gods word by false interpretations and hath peruerted the true vse of Christes sacraments you might seeme to haue good handfast of your opinion agaynst the Baptisme of Infants But forasmuch as it is of more antiquitie and hath his beginning from gods worde and from the vse of the Primatiue Church it must not in respect of the abuse in the popish Church be neglected or thought not expedient to be vsed in Christs church Auxentius one of the Arrians sect with hys adherentes was one of the first that denied the Baptisme of children and next after hym Pelagius the heretike and some other there were in S. Bernardes tyme as it doth appeare by hys writyngs and in our dayes the Anabaptists an inordinate kynd of men stirred vp by the deuill to the destruction of the Gospel But the Catholike truth deliuered vnto vs by the Scriptures playnly determineth that al such are to be baptised as whom God acknowledgeth for hys people and voucheth them worthy of sanctification or remission of theyr sinnes Therefore since that Infants be in the number or scroll of Gods people and be partakers of the promise by theyr purification in Christ it must needes follow thereby that they ought to be baptised as well as those that can professe their fayth For we iudge the people of God as well by the free and liberall promise of GOD as by the confession of fayth For to whome so euer God promiseth hymselfe to be theyr God whom
will make so long as the Lord for our sinnes will suffer you to prosper and vntill the tyme that your own iniquitie be full ripe But then be you sure the Lord will sit in iudgement vpō you as well as you do now vpon his Saints and will reward you according to your deseruings to whō with my whole hart I cōmit my cause and he will make aūswere for me when the full time of my refreshing cōmeth In the meane space I will keepe silence with this that I haue sayd trusting that I haue sufficiently discharged my conscience in cōfessing my faith and Religion to you declaring of what Churche I am euen of the Catholicke Church of Iesus Christ which was well knowne to be here in Englande in oure late good kinges dayes by two speciall tokens whiche cannot deceiue me nor suffer me to be deceiued that is to say the pure preaching of his holy worde and the due administration of the holy sacramentes whiche is not to be seene in your Romysh Churche and therefore it cannot iustly bee called the Churche and spouse of Christ. I beleeue in the holy Trinitie and all the other Articles of the Christian faythe contayned in the three Creedes and finally all the Canonicall scripture to be true in euery sentence And I detest all sectes bothe of the Arrians and Anabaptistes or anye other that deuide themselues from the true Churche of Christe whiche is his misticall bodye the grounde and piller of trueth and the very house of the liuing God And if for these thinges you take away my life make your selues gilty of my bloud you may for I am in your handes as the sheep brought to the shambles abiding the grace of the Butcher And bee you sure youre iudgement sleepeth not but when you cry peace peace and all is safe then shall your plagues begin like the sorrow of a woman traueling with childe according to Christes infallible promise This kynde of aunswere my deare heart it shall bee beste for you to make and by Gods grace I doe entend to take the same order my selfe in time to come when the Lorde shall vouche me worthy of that great dignitie whereunto hee hath called you And if they shall laugh you to scorne as I know they will saying thou art a foole and an vnlearned assehead and art able to make aunswere to nothing c. care you not for it but stil committe your cause vnto God who will make aunswere for you and tell them that they haue bene aunswered agayne and agayn of diuers godly and learned men but all will not helpe for you haue one solution of all manner of questions euen a fayre fire fagots this will be the ende of your disputations Therefore I pray you to trouble me no more but doe that whiche you are appoynted when God shall permit the time I am no better then Christe his Apostles and other of my good brethren that are gone before me This kinde of aunswere will cut their combes moste and edifie the people that stand by so that the same bee done coldly with sobrietie meekenes and patience as I hearde say oure sweete brethren Thomas Harland and Iohn Oswalde did at Lewes in Sussex to the great reioycing of the children of God that were in those parties and I heare saye that they were dissolued from this earthly Tabernacle at Lewes on saterday last and were condemned but the Wednesday before so that wee may perceaue the papistes haue quicke worke in hande that they make suche haste to haue vs home to our heauenly father Therefore let vs make our selues ready to ride in the fiery chariot leauing these sory mantels and old clokes behinde vs for a little time whiche God shall restore vnto vs agayne in a more glorious wise My good brother Harry you shall vnderstande that bragging Iohn T. hath begiled hys keepers who trusted hym to well and is runne awaye from them and hathe broughte the poore men into gaeat daunger by the same The one of them is cast by the Counselles commaundemente into the gatehouse at Westminster the other is fled foorth of the Countrey for feare Thus you may see the fruites of our free will men that made so much boast of their owne strength But that house whiche is not builded surely vppon the vnmoueable rocke will not longe stand agaynst the boystrous windes and stormes that blowe so strongly in these dayes of trouble But my dearely beloued brother blessed be God for you such as you be whiche haue played the partes of wise builders You haue digged downe past the sande of youre owne naturall strengthe and beneath the earth of your owne worldly wisedome are now come to the hard stone and vnmoueable Rock Christ who is your onely keeper and vpon him alone haue you builded your fayth most firmely without doubting mistruste or wauering Therefore neither the stormes nor tempestes wyndes nor weathers that Sathan and all his wily workemen canne bring agaynst you with the verye gates of hell to helpe them shall euer be able once to moue your house much lesse to ouerthrow it for the Lorde God hymselfe and no man is the builder thereof and hath promised to preserue and keepe the same safe for euer Vnto his moste mercifull defence therefore I doe hartily committe you and all your good company desiring him for his sweete sonne Iesus Christes sake to confirme and strengthen you all that you may be constant vnto the verye ende that after the finall victory is once gotten you may receiue the imme●cessible crowne of glorye of Gods free gifte through hys great mercye in Iesus Christe our onely Sauiour To whome with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honour glory praise thankes power rule and dominion for euer and euermore Amen The blessing of God be with you all Iohn Careles ¶ To my most deare and faythfull brother T. V. THe euerlasting peace of GOD in Iesus Chryste the continuall ioye and comfort of hys most pure holy and mighty spirit wyth the increase of fayth and liuely feeling of hys mercy bee with you my deare hart in the Lorde and faythfull louing brother T. V. to the full accomplishing of that good work which he hath so graciously begonne in you that the same by all meanes may be to the setting forth of his glory to the cōmoditie of his poore afflicted congregation and to the sweete comfort and quietnes of your conscience in him now and euermore Amen With suche due honour loue and reuerence as it becommeth me to beare vnto the sweete sayntes and dearely beloued children of God I haue me most hartily commended vnto you my deare brother V. with all earnest and faythfull remembrance of you in my dayly prayers thanking God right hartily that you doe likewise remember me in yours assuring you that my poore hart doth dayly feele great consolation thereby GOD onely haue the prayse for the same and
obseruing of Ecclesiasticall discipline according to the word of God And that the Church or congregation whiche is garnished with these markes is in very deede that heauenly Hierusalem whiche consisteth of those that be borne from aboue This is the Mother of vs all And by Gods grace I will liue and dye the childe of this Church Forth of this I graunt there is no saluation and I suppose the residue of the places obiected are rightly to be vnderstanded of this Church onelye In times past sayth Chrysostome there were many wayes to know the Church of Christ that is to say by good lyfe by myracles by chastity by doctrine by ministring the sacramentes But from that time that heresies did take hold of the Church it is onely knowne by the Scriptures whiche is the true church They haue all thinges in outwarde shew which the true Church hath in truth They haue tēples like vnto ours And in the end concluded Wherefore onely by the scriptures do we know which is the true church To that whiche they say the Masse is the Sacrament of vnity I aunswere The bread which we breake according to the institution of the Lord is the Sacrament of the vnity of Christes mistical body For we being many are one bread and one body forasmuch as we al are partakers of one bread But in the Masse the Lordes institution is not obserued for we be not all partakers of one breade but one deuoureth all c. So that as it is vsed it may seeme a Sacrament of singularitye and of a certayne speciall priuiledge for one sect of people wherby they may be discerned from the rest rather then a sacrament of vnity wherin our knitting together in one is represented Yea what felowship hath Christ with Antichrist Therfore is it not lawefull to beare the yoake with Papistes Come forth from among them separate your selues frō them sayth the Lorde It is ane thing to be the Church in deed another thing to counterfayt the church Would god it were well knowne what is the forsaking of the church In the kinges dayes that dead is who was the church of Englande The king and his fautors or Massemongers in corners If the king and the fautors of his procedings why be not we now the church abiding in the same procedinges If clanculary Massemongers mighte bee of the Church and yet contrary to the kinges proceedings why may not we as well be of the church contrarying the queenes procedinges Not all that be couered with the title of the church are the church in deed Separate thy selfe from thē that are such sayth S. Paule from whom The text hath before If any man folow other doctrine c. he is pint vp and knoweth nothing c. Weigh the whole text that yee may perceiue what is the fruit of contēcious disputatiōs But wherfore are such men sayd to know nothing when they know so many thinges You know the olde verses Hoc est nescire sine Christo plurima scire Si Christum bene scis satis est si caetera nescis That is This is to be ignorant to know many thinges without Christ. If thou knowest Christ well thou know est enough though thou know no more Therfore would S Paule knowe nothing but Iesus Christ crucified c. As many as are Papistes and Massemongers they may well be said to know nothing For they know not Christ forasmuch as in theyr massing they take much away from the benefite and merite of Christ. That Christ which you haue described vnto me is inuisible but Christes Churche is visible and knowne For els why would Christ haue sayd Dic Ecclesiae Tell it vnto the church For he had commaunded in vaine to go vnto the church if a man cannot tell which it is The Church which I haue described is visible it hath members which may be sene and also I haue afore declared by what markes tokens it may be knowne But if either our eies are so dazeled that we cannot see or that sathan hath brought such darckenes into the world that it is hard to discerne the true church that is not the fault of the church but either of our blindenesse or of Sathans darknes But yet in this most deep darkenes there is one most cleare candle which of it selfe alone is able to put away all darkenes· Thy word is a candle vnto my feet and a lyght vnto my steppes The church of Christ is a catholick or vniuersall churche dispersed throughout the whole world this church is the great house of God in this are good men euill mingled together goates and sheepe corne and chaffe it is the net which gathereth all kind of fishes this church cannot erre because Christ hath promised it his spirit which shall lead it into all truth and that the gates of hel shal not preuayle agaynst it that he will be with it vnto the end of the world whatsoeuer it shall loose or binde vpon earth shall be ratified in heauen c. This church is the piller and stay of the truth this is it for the which S. Augustine sayth he beleeueth the Gospell But this vniuersall Church aloweth the masse because the more part of the same aloweth it Therfore c. I graunt that the name of the Churche is taken after three diuers maners in the scriptures Some tyme for the whole multitude of them which professe the name of christ o● the which they are also named christians But as sainct Paule sayth of the Iewe not euerye one is a Iewe that is a Iewe outwardly c. Neither yet all that be of Israell are counted the seede euen so not euerye one which is a christian outwardly is a Christian in deede For if any man haue not the spirite of Christ the same is none of his Therefore that Church whiche is his body and of whiche Christ is the head standeth onely of lyuing stones and true Christians not onely outwardly in name and title but inwardly in hart and in truth But forasmuch as this churche which is the second taking of the church as touchyng the outward fellowship is contayned within the great house hath with the same outward societye of the sacramentes and ministery of the worde manye thinges are spoken of that vniuersall Churche whiche saynct Austen calleth the mingled Churche whiche cānot truely be vnderstanded but onely of that pure part of the Churche So that the rule of Ticonius concerning the mingled Churche may here well take place where there is attributed vnto the whole Churche that whiche cannot agree vnto the same but by reason of the one parte thereof that is eyther for the multitude of good men which is the very true Churche in deede or for the multitude of euill men whiche is the malignant Church and sinagogue of Sathan And is also the third taking of the Churche of the whiche although there be seldomer mention
in the scriptu●es in that signification yet in the worlde euen in the most famous assemblies of Christendome this Churche hath borne the greatest swinge This distinction presupposed of the 3. sortes of Churches it is an easy matter by a figure called Sinecdoche to geue to the mingled and vniuersall Church that which cannot truely be vnderstanded but onely of th one part therof But if any man will stiffely affirme that vniuersally doth so pertayne vnto the church that what soeuer Christ hath promised to the Churche it must needes bee vnderstanded of that I would gladlye knowe of the same man where that vniuersall Churche was in the tym●s of the Patriarches and Prophetes of 〈◊〉 Abraham and Moses at suche tyme as the people would haue sto●ed hym of Helias of Hieremy in the times of Christ and the dispersion of the Apostles in the time of Arius when Constantius was Emperour and Felix bishop of Rome succeeded Liberius It is worthye to be noted that Lira writeth vpon Mathew The church sayth he doth not stand in men by reason of theyr power or dignitie whether it be Ecclesiastical or secular For many princes and Popes and other inferioures haue bene ●oūd to haue fallen away frō God Therfore the church consisteth in those persons in whome is true knowledge and confession of the fayth and of the truth Euill men as it is in a glose of the decrees are in the Church in name and not in deede And S. Augustine contra Cresconium grammaticum sayth Who soeuer is afrayd to be deceiued by the darkenes of thys question let hym aske counsell at the same churche of it which Churche the scripture doth poynt out without anye doubtfulnes All my notes whiche I haue written and gathered out of suche authors as I haue red in this matter and such like are come into the handes of suche as will not let me haue the least of all my wrytten bookes wherein I am enforced to complayne of them vnto God for they spoyle me of all my laboures whiche I haue taken in my study these many yeares My memorye was neuer good for helpe whereof I haue vsed for the most part to g●ther out notes of my readyng and so to place them that thereby I might haue hadde the vse of them when the time required But who knoweth whether this be Gods will that I should be thus ordered and spoyled of the poore learning I had as me thought in store to thintent that I now destitute of that shoulde from henceforth learne onely to knowe with Paule Christ and hym crucified The Lord graunt me herein to be a good young scholer and to learn this lesson so well that neyther death nor lyfe wealth nor woe c. make me euer to forget that Amen Amen I haue no more to say in this matter for you your selfe haue sayd all that is to be sayd That same vehement saying of S. Augustine I would not beleue the Gospell c. was wont to trouble many men as I remember I haue read it well qualified of Philippe Melancthon but my memory is altogether slippery This it is in effecte The church is not a iudge but a witnes There were in hys tyme that lightly esteemed the testimony of the Churche the outward ministery of preachyng and reiected the outward word it selfe sticking onely to their inward reuelations Suche rashe contempte of the worde prouoked and drone S. Augustine into that excessiue vehemency In the which after the bare sound of the wordes he might seeme to such as do not attayne vnto hys meaning that hee preferred the Churche farre before the Gospell and that the Church hath a free authoritie ouer the same but that godly man neuer thought so It were a saying worthye to be brought forth agaynst the Anabaptistes whiche thinketh the open ministerye to be a thinge not necessary if they any thing esteemed such testimonies I would not sticke to affirme that the more part of the great house that is to say of the whole vniuersall Churche may easely e●re And agayne I would not sticke to affirme that it is one thynge to be gathered together in the name of Christe and an other thing to come together with a Masse of the holy ghost going before For in the first Christ ruleth in the latter the Deuill beareth the swinge and how then can anye thyng be good that they goe about From this latter shall our sixe articles come foorth agayne into the light they themselues being very darckenes But it is demaunded whether the sounder or better part of the Catholicke Churche may be seene of men or no Sainct Paule sayth The Lord knoweth them that are hys What manner of speaking is this in commendation of the Lord if we know as well as he who are hys Well thus is the text the sure foundation of God standeth still and hath his seale the Lord knoweth thē that are his and let euerye man that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquitie Nowe howe many are there of the whole Catholicke Churche of Englande whiche departe from iniquitie Howe many of the noble men how many of the Byshops or Clergy how many of the rich men or marchauntes how many of the Queenes councellours yea howe many of the whole Realme In how small rome then I pray you is the true church within the Realme of England And where is it And in what state I had a conceite of mine owne well grounded as they say when I began but now it is fallen by the way Generall councels represent the vniuersall Church haue this promise of Christ where two or three be gathered together in my name there am I in the middest of thē If Christ be present with two or three then muche more where there is so great a multitude c. But in generall councels Masse hath b●ne approoued and vsed Therefore c. Of the vniuersall Churche which is mingled of good and bad thus I thinke Whensoeuer they whiche be chiefe in it which rule and gouerne the same and to whome the rest of the whole misticall body of Christ doth obey are the liuely members of Christ and walk after the guidyng and rule of hys word and go before the flocke towardes euerlasting life then vndoubtedly Councels gathered together of such guides and pastours of the christian flock doe in deede represent the vniuersall Church and being so gathered in the name of Christe they haue a promise of the gifte and guiding of hys spirite into all truth But that any such counsell hath at any time allowed the Masse suche a one as ours was of late in a straunge tongue and stuffed with so many absurdities errours and superstitions that I vtterly deny and affirme it to be impossible For like as there is no agreement betwixt light and darcknes betweene Christ and Belial so surely superstition and the sincere religion of Christ wil worship and the pure
Article and required an aunswere and M. Ridley referred him to his aunswere in wryting exhybited now and also before at the time of disputation and like aunsweres were taken to all the residue of the Articles These aunsweres in maner rehearsed taken and penned of the Notaries the Byshop of Glocester began an exhortation to moue M. Ridley to turne Glo. If you would once empty your stomacke captiuate your senses subdue your reason and to gether with vs consider what a feeble ground of your religion you haue I doe not doubt but you might easely be perduced to acknowledge one Churche with vs to confesse one fayth with vs and to beleue one religion with vs. For what a weake and feeble stay in religion is this I pray you Latimer leaneth to Cranmer Cranmer to Ridley Ridley to the singularitie of his owne witte so that if you ouerthrowe the singularitie of Ridleyes wit then must needes the Religion of Cranmer and Latimer fall also You remember well M. Ridley that the Prophet speaketh most truely saying vae vae wo wo be to them which are singular and wise in their owne conceytes But you wyll saye here it is true that the Prophete sayth but how know you that I am wyse in myne owne conceyte Yes Maister Ridley you refuse the determination of the Catholike Churche you muste needes bee singular and wyse in your owne conceyte for you bryng Scripture for the probation of your assertions and wee also bryng Scriptures you vnderstande them in one sense and wee in an other Howe wyll ye knowe the trueth herein If you stande to your owne interpretation then you are singular in your owne conceyte but if you say you wyll followe the myndes of the Doctors and auncient Fathers semblably you vnderstande them in one meanyng and wee take them in another howe wyll ye knowe the trueth herein If you stande to your owne iudgement then are you singular in your owne conceyte then can you not auoyde the vae and woe which the Prophete speaketh of Wherfore if you haue no stay but the Catholike church in matters of controuersie except you wyll rest vpon the singularitie and wysedome of your owne brayne if the Prophet most truely sayth vae vae wo wo be to them that are wyse in their owne conceite then for Gods loue M. Ridley stand not singular be not you wyse in your owne conceite please not your selfe ouermuch Howe were the Arrians the Manicheis the Futichiās with other diuers Heretickes which haue bene in the Church how I pray you were they suppressed and conuinced by reasonyng in disputations No truly the Arrians had mo places of Scriptures for the confirmation of their heresie then the Catholickes for the defence of the trueth Howe then were they conuinced onely by the termination of the Church And in deede except we do constitute the Churche our foundation stay and iudge we can haue no ende of controuersies no ende of disputations For in that we all bryng Scriptures and Doctors for the probation of our assertions who shoulde be Iudge of this our controuersie If we our selues then be we singular and wise in our owne conceites then can not we auoyde the woe that the Prophet speaketh of It remayneth therefore that we submitte our selues to the determination and arbitrement of the Churche with whom God promised to remayne to the worldes ende to whom he promised to sende the holy Ghost which shoulde teache it the trueth Wherefore M. Ridley if you will auoyd the wo that the prophet speaketh of be not you wyse in your iudgement if you wyll not be wyse and singular in your owne iudgement captiuate your owne vnderstanding subdue your reason and submit your selfe to the determination of the Church This is briefly the summe of the Oration of the Byshop of Glocester by the which he endeuored in many mo woordes amplyfiyng and enlargyng the matter eloquently with sundry poyntes of Rethoricke to moue affections to perswade Maister Ridley to recant and forsake his Religion To whom M. Ridley aunswered in few wordes that he sayd most truly with the Prophet wo be to him which is wyse in his owe conceite but that he acknowledged no suche singularitie in hym ne knewe any cause why he shoulde attribute so muche to him selfe And where as he sayde Maister Cranmer leaned to hym that was moste vntrue in that he was but a young Scholer in comparison of Maister Cranmer for at what tyme he was a young Scholer then Maister Cranmer a Doctor so that he con●essed that M. Cranmer might haue ben his Scholemaister these many yeares It seemed that he woulde haue spoken more but the Bishop of Glocester interrupted hym saying Glo. Why M. Ridley it is your owne confession for M. Latimer at the time of his disputations confessed his learnyng to lye in M. Cranmers bookes and M. Cranmer also sayd that it was your doyng Linc. Likewyse the Byshoppe of Lincolne with many woordes and gentle holding his Cappe in hand desyred him to turne But M. Ridley made an absolute aunswere that he was fully perswaded the Religion whiche he defended to be grounded vpon Gods worde and therefore without great offence towardes God great peryll and damage of his soule he coulde not forsake his Maister and Lorde God but desired the Byshop to performe his graunt in that his Lordshyp sayde the day before that he shoulde haue licence to shewe his cause why he coulde not with a salfe conscience admitte the authoritye of the Pope but the Byshop of Lincolne sayde that where as then he had demaunded licence to speake three woordes he was contented then that he shoulde speake .xl. and that graunt he would performe Then stepped forth D. Weston which sate by and sayd why my Lord he hath spoken foure hundred already M. Ridley confessed he had but they were not of his prescribed number neither of that matter The Bishop of Lincolne bad him take his licence but he shoulde speake but .xl. and he would tell them vpon his fingers and eftsoones M. Ridley began to speake but before he had ended halfe a sentence the Doctours sittyng by cryed and sayd that his number was out and with that he was put to silence After this the Bishop of Lincolne which sat in the middes began to speake as foloweth Linc. Now I perceiue M. Ridley you will not permit ne suffer vs to stay in that point of our Commission which we most desired for I ensure you there is neuer a worde in our Commission more true then dolentes gementes For in deede I for my part I take God to witnesse am sory for you Whereunto M. Ridley aunswered Rid. I beleue it well my Lord for as much as one day it will be burdenous to your soule Linc. Nay not so M. Ridley but because I am sory to see suche stubbornesse in you that by no meanes you may be perswaded to acknowledge your errours and receiue
October An. 1555. VPon the Northside of the towne in the ditch ouer against Baily Colledge the place of execution was appoynted and for feare of any tumult that might aryse to let the burnyng of them the L. Williams was commaunded by the Queenes letters and the householders of the Citie to be there assistant sufficiently appoynted when euery thyng was in a readines the prisoners were broght forth by the Maior and Bailiffes M. Ridley had a faire blacke goune furred and faced with foines such as he was woont to weare beyng Bish. and a tippet of veluet furred likewyse about his necke a veluet night cap vpon his hed a corner cappe vpon the same goyng in a paire of slippers to the stake going betweene the Maior and an Alderman c. After hym came M. Latimer in a poore Bristow freeze frocke all worne with hys buttened cap and a kerchiefe on his hed all redy to the fire a new long shroud hanging ouer his hose downe to the feete which at the first sight stirred mens hearts to rue vpon them beholdyng on the one side the honour they sometyme had on the other the calamitie whereunto they were fallen M. Doctor Ridley as hee passed towards Bocardo lookyng vp where M. Cranmer did lye hopyng belike to haue seene hym at the glasse window and to haue spoken vnto hym But then M. Cranmer was busie with Frier Soto his fellowes disputyng together so that he could not see hym through that occasion Then M. Ridley lookyng backe espied M. Latymer commyng after Unto whome he sayd Oh be ye there Yea sayd M. Latymer haue after as fast as I can follow So he following a prety way of at lenth they came both to the stake one after the other where first D. Ridley entring the place maruelous earnestly holding vp both his hands loked towards heauen then shortly after espying M. Latimer with a wonderous cheerefull looke ranne to hym embraced and kissed hym and as they that stoode neare reported comforted hym saying be of good heart brother for GOD will either asswage the fury of the flame or els strengthen vs to abyde it With that went he to the stake kneeled downe by it kissed it most effectuously prayed and behynd him M. Latymer kneled as earnestly callyng vpon God as he After they arose the one talked with the other a little whyle tyll they which were appoynted to see the execution remooued themselues out of the sunne What they sayd I can learne of no man Then Doctor Smith of whose recantation in K. Edwards tyme ye heard before began his Sermon to them vpon this text of Saint Paule in the xiij chapiter of the first Epistle to the Corrinthians Si corpus meum trad●m igni charitatem autem non habeo nihil inde vtilitatis capio That is If I yeld my body to the fire to be burnt haue not Charitie I shall gayne nothyng thereby Where in he alledged that the goodnesse of the cause and not the order of death maketh the holynes of the person Which he confirmed by the examples of Iudas and of a woman in Oxford that of late hanged her selfe for that they and suche lyke as he recited might thē be adiudged righteous which desperately sundered their lyues from their bodies as he feared that those men that stood before hym would do But he cryed stil to the people to beware of them for they were heretikes and dyed out of the Church And on the other side he declared their diuersities in opinions as Lutherians Oecolampadians Zuinglians of which secte they were he sayd and that was the worst but the old church of Christ and the Catholike fayth beleeued far otherwyse At which place they lifted vp both their handes and eyes to heauen as it were callyng God to witnes of the truth The which countenaunce they made in many other places of his Sermon where as they thought hee spake amisse He ended with a very short exhortation to them to recant and come home agayne to the church and saue their lyues and soules which els were condemned His sermō was scant in all a quarter of an houre Doctor Ridley sayd to Maister Latymer will you beginne to aunswer the Sermon or shall I Maister Latimer sayd begin you first I pray you I will sayd Maister Ridley Then the wicked Sermon beyng ended Doctor Ridley and Maister Latymer kneled down vpon their knees towardes my Lord Williams of Tame the Uicechancellor of Oxford and dyuers other Commissioners appointed for that purpose which sate vpon a forme therby Unto whome Maister Ridley sayd I beseech you my Lord euen for Christes sake that I may speake but two or three wordes and whylest my Lord bent hys head to the Maior and Uicechauncellour to know as it appeared whether he myght geue hym leaue to speake the Bailiffes and Doctour Marshall Uicechancellour ranne hastily vnto hym and with theyr handes stopped hys mouthe and sayd Maister Ridley if you will reuoke your erroneous opinions and recant the same you shall not onely haue libertie so to doe but also the benefite of a subiect that is haue your lyfe Not otherwyse sayd Maister Ridley No quoth Doctor Marshall therefore if you will not doe so then there is no remedy but you must suffer for your desertes Well quoth M. Ridley so long as the breath is in my body I will neuer deny my Lord Christ and hys knowen truth Gods will be done in me And with that he rose vp and sayd with a lowde voyce Well then I commit our cause to almighty God which shall indifferently iudge all To whose saying Maister Latymer added hys olde Posie Well there is nothyng hidde but it shall bee opened and he sayd he could aunswere Smith well enough if he myght bee suffered Incontinently they were commaunded to make them ready which they with all mekenesse obeyed Maister Ridley tooke his gown and his tippet and gaue it to his brother in law M. Shepside who all his tyme of imprisonment although he might not bee suffred to come to hym laye there at his owne charges to prouide him necessaries which from tyme to tyme he sent him by the Sergeant that kept hym Some other of hys apparell that was little woorth he gaue away other the Bailifs tooke He gaue away besides diuers other small thynges to Gentlemen standyng by and diuers of them pitifully wepyng as to sir Henry Lea he gaue a new grote and to diuers of my L. Williams gentlemen some napkins some nutmegs and races of ginger his Diall and such other thyngs as he had about hym to euery one that stoode next hym Some plucked the pointes of his hose Happy was he that might get any rag of hym M. Latymer gaue nothyng but very quietly suffered his keper to pull of his hose and his other aray which to looke vnto was very simple and beyng stripped into hys shroud he seemed as
Prayer and all other good deedes I maintained only bare faith to be sufficiēt to saluation what so euer a man did besides I maintained God to be the author of all sinne and wickednes Phil. Ha my Lord haue ye nothing of truth to charge me withal but ye must be faine to imagin these blasphemous lies against me You might as well haue sayd I had killed your father The Scriptures say That God wil destroye all them that speake lies And is not your Lordshippe ashamed to saye before this woorshipfull Gentleman who is vnknowen to mee that I maintaine these abhominable blasphemies whiche you haue rehearsed whyche if I did maintaine I were wel worthy to be counted an heretick and to be burned an hundred times if it were possible London I doe obiect them vnto thee to heare what thou wilt say in them and howe thou canst purge thy selfe of them Philpot. Then it was not iustly sayd of your Lordship in the beginning that I did maintaine them since almost I hold none of these Articles you haue read in form as they are wrytten London Howe sayest thou wilt thou aunswere to them or no Phil. I will first know you to be mine Ordinary and that you may lawfully charge me with suche things and then afterward being lawfully called in iudgemēt I wil shew my minde fully thereof and not otherwise London Well then I wil make thy fellowes to be witnes against thee where are they come Keeper They be heere my Lord. London Come hether Syrs holde them a booke you shall swere by the contents of that booke that you shal all maner of affections laid a part say the truth of all such Articles as you shal be demanded of concerning this mā here present which is a very naughty man and take you hede of him that he doth not deceiue you as I am afraid he doth you much hurt and strengtheneth you in your errours Prisoners My Lord we will not sweare except we know whereto we can accuse him of no euill we haue bene but a while acquainted with him Phil. I wonder your Lordship knowing the law wil go about contrary to the same to haue infamous persones to be witnesses for your Lordship doeth take them to be heretickes and by the law an hereticke can not be a witnes London Yes one hereticke against an other may be well inough And master Sheriffe I will make one of them to be witnesse against an other Phil. You haue the lawe in your hande and you will doe what you list Prisoners No my Lord. London No will I will make you sweare whether you will or no. I weene they be Anabaptists M. sheriffe they thinke it not lawfull to sweare before a Iudge Phil. Wee thinke it lawfull to sweare for a man iudicially called as we are not now but in a blinde corner London Whye then seeing you will not sweare againste your fellowe you shall sweare for your selues and I doe heere in the presence of maister sheriffe obiect the same Articles vnto you as I haue done vnto him and do require you vnder the paine of excommunication to answer particularly vnto euery one of them when you shal be examined as you shall be by and by examined after by my Register and some of my Chaplaines Prisoners My Lord we wil not accuse our selues If any man can laye any thing against vs we are heere ready to answere thereto otherwise we pray your Lordship not to burden vs for some of vs are heere before you we knowe no iust cause why London Maister Sheriffe I will trouble you no longer with these froward men And loe he rose vp and was going away talking with maister sheriffe Philpot. Maister Sheriffe I pray you recorde howe my Lorde proceedeth against vs in corners without all order of lawe hauing no iust cause to lay against vs. And after this were all commaunded to be put in the stockes where I set from morning vntill night and the Keeper at night vpon fauour let me out An other priuate conference betwene the Bishop and Maister Philpot in the Colehouse PHil. The Sonday after the bishop came into the Cole-house at night with the Keeper and viewed the house saying that he was neuer here afore whereby a man may gesse how he hath kept Gods commandement in visiting the prisoners seeing he was neuer with them that haue bene so nigh his nose And he came not then for any good zeale but to view the place thought it too good for me ● therefore after supper betwene 8. and 9. he sent for me saying Lond. Sir I haue great displeasure of the Queene the Counsell for keeping you so long and letting you haue so much libertie And besides that you be yōder and strengthen the other prisoners in their errours as I haue layde waite for your doings am certified of you well inough I wil sequester you therfore from them and you shal hurt no mo as you haue done and I wil out of hand dispatche you as I am commaunded vnlesse you will be a conformable man Phil. My Lorde you haue my body in your custodye you may transport it whither it please you I am content And I wold you wold make as quicke expeditiō in my iudgement as you say I long therfore and as for cōformitie I am ready to yeld to all truth if any can bring better thē I. London Why you wil beleue no man but your self what so euer they say Phil. My belief must not hang vpon mens sayings without sure authority of gods word that which if any can shew me I wil be pliant to the same Otherwise I can not goe from my certaine faith to that which is vncertaine London Haue you then the truth onely Phil. My Lord I will speake my minde freely vnto you and vpō no malice I beare to you before God You haue not the truth neither are you of the church of God but you persecute both the truthe and the true churche of God for the which cause you cā not prosper long You see god doth not prosper your doinges according to your expectation He hath of late shewed his iust iudgement against one of your greatest doers who by reporte died miserably I enuie not your authority you are in You that haue learning should know best howe to rule And seeing God hath restored you to your dignity and liuing againe vse the same to Gods glory to the setting foorth of his true religion otherwise it wil not continue do what you can With this saying he was apaused and sayd at length Lon. That good man was punished for such as thou art Where is the Keeper Come let him haue him to the place that is prouided for him Go your way before Phil. And he followed me calling the Keeper aside commaunding to keepe all men from me narowly to search me as the sequele did declare and brought me to his
meere office for thy soule health for reformation of thyne offences and misdemeanours nourishyng thee in the vertue of obedience and vnder the paynes of both censures of the Churche and also of other paynes of the lawe to aunswere fully playnely and truely to all the same 1 FIrst that thou N. hast firmly stedfastly and constātly beleeued in tymes past and so doest now beleue at this present that there is here in earth a catholike Church in the which Catholike Church the fayth and religion of Christ is truely professed allowed receyued kept and reteined of all faithfull and true christian people 2. Item that thou the sayd N. in tymes past hast also beleeued and so doest beleeue at this present that there are in the Catholique Church seuen Sacramentes instituted ordeined by God and by the consent of the holy churche allowed approoued receiued kept and reteyned 3. Item that thou the sayd N. wast in tymes past baptised in the fayth of the sayd catholike church professyng by thy godfather and godmothers the fayth and Religion of Christ and the obseruation thereof renouncing there the deuil all hys pomps and works and wast by the said sacrament of baptisme incorporate to the catholike church made a faythfull member thereof 4. Item that thou the sayd N. commyng to the age of 14. yeares and so to the age of discretion didst not depart from the sayd profession and fayth nor diddest mislike any part of the same fayth or doyngs but diddest like a faythfull Christian person abide and continue in all the same by the space of certayne yeares ratifieng and confirmyng all the same 5. Item that thou the said N. notwithstanding the premisses hast of late that is to say within these two yeares last past within the City dioces of London swarued at the lest way from some part of the sayd catholike faith and religion and among other thyngs thou hast misliked and earnestly spoken agaynst the sacrifice of the Masse the sacrament of the altar and the vnity of the church raisyng malignyng on the authoritie of the See of Rome and the fayth obserued in the same 6 Item that thou the sayd N. hast heretofore refused doest refuse at this present to be reconciled againe to the vnitie of the church knowledging and confessing the autoritie of the sayd See of Rome to be lawfull 7 Item that thou the sayd N. mislikyng the sacrifice of the Masse and the sacrament of the aultar hast refused to come to thy parish Church to heare Masse and to receyue the sayd Sacrament and hast also expresly sayd that in the sayd Sacrament of the aultar there is not the very bodye and bloud of our Sauiour Christ really substantially truly but hast affirmed expresly that the Masse is idolatry and abhomination and that in the Sacrament of the aultar there is none other substance but only material bread and materiall wyne which are tokens of Christes body bloud onely and that the substance of Christes bodye and bloud is in no wyse in the sayd Sacrament of the aultar 8 Item that thou the sayd N. beyng conuented before certaine Iudges or Commissioners for thy disorder herein and beyng found obstinate wilfull and heady wast by their commaundement sent vnto me and my prison to be examined by me Processe to be made against thee for thy offence herein 9. Item that all and singuler the premisses haue bene and be true and manifest and thy selfe not onely infamed and suspected therof but also culpable therin and by reason of the same thou wast and art of the iurisdiction of me Edmund B. of London and before me accordingly to the order of the Ecclesiasticall lawes art to be conuented and also by me to be punished and reformed ¶ Here follow likewyse their aunsweres in a generall made to the Articles aboue rehearsed ¶ And first concernyng the first Article in beleeuyng there is a Catholike Church TO the first Article they altogether agreeyng affirmed the same to bee true Iohn Tudson and Thomas Browne further addyng that the Church of England as it was at that present vsed was no part of the true catholike Church ¶ Concernyng the second Article that there be in the Churche seuen Sacraments To the second Article they aunswered that they acknowledged but onely two Sacraments in Christes catholike Church that is to say Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord Iohn Went and Tudson affirmyng that the sacrament of the aultar as it is vsed is an Idoll and no sacrament at all ¶ Concernyng the third Article that they were first baptised in the fayth of the Catholike Church professing by their Godfathers the profession of the same c. To the third article they agreed and confessed all to be true that they were baptised in the fayth of Christ and of the church then taught and afterward duryng the time of K. Edward the vj. they hearyng the Gospel preached and the truth opened followed the order of religion doctrine then vsed and set foorth in the raigne of the sayd kyng Edward Concernyng the fourth Article that they for the space of certayne yeares did ratifie or allowe and not departe from any part of the profession of the same Church To this fourth Article they graunted also and agreed Iohn Went addyng moreouer that about seuen yeares past he then beyng about twenty yeares of age began to mislyke certayne thyngs vsed in the Church of England as the ministration of the Sacrament of the aultare likewyse all the ceremonies of the sayd Church and dyd lykewyse at that present tyme mislike the same as they were vsed although hys godfathers and godmothers promised for hym the contrary Iohn Tudson added also in much like sort and sayde that when he came to the yeres of discretion that is about nine yeares past beyng about eighteene yeares of age he did mislike the doctrine and religion then taught and set forth in the church of England sauyng in king Edwards tyme in whose tyme the Gospell was truly set forth and further sayde that the doctrine set forth in the Queenes raigne was not agreeable to Gods word nor yet to the true catholike church that Christ speaketh of c. Isabell Foster with other graunted adding likewyse and saying to the sayde foure Articles that she continued in the same faith and Religion which she was baptised in after she came to the yeres of discretion as other common people did howbeit blindly and without knowledge till the raigne of King Edward the sixt at which tyme shee hearing the Gospel truly preached and opened to the people receyued thereupon the fayth and religion then taught and set forth c. ¶ Concernyng the fift Article that they of late yeares haue swarued and gone away misliked and spokē agaynst the profession of the same Church at least some part thereof especially the sacrifice of the Masse the Sacrament of the aultar
present And thus Bishop Brokes finishing his Oration sate downe After whom Doctor Martin taking the matter in hand beginneth thus * The Oration of Doctor Martyn ALbeit there be two Gouernmentes the one spirituall the other tēporal the one hauing the keyes the other the sword yet in all ages we read that for the honour and glory of GOD both these powers haue bene adioyned together For if we read the olde Testament we shall finde that so did Iosias and Ezechias So did the king of the Niniuites compell a generall fast thorow all the whole Citty So did Darius in breaking the greate Idoll Bell and deliuered Godly Daniel out of the denne of Lions So did Nabuchodonosor make and institute lawes agaynste the blasphemers of God But to let passe these examples with a great number more and to come to Christes time it is not vnknowne what great trauayle they tooke to set forth Gods Honour and although the rule and gouernement of the Church did onely apperteine to the spiritualty yet for the suppression of heresyes schismes Kinges were admitted as ayders thereunto First Constantinus the great called a councell at Nyce for the suppression of the Arrians secte where the same time was raysed a greate contention among them And after long disputation had when the Fathers could not agree vpon the putting downe of the Arrians they referred theyr iudgement to Constantine God forbid quoth Constantine you ought to rule me and not I you And as Constantine did so did Theodosius against the Nestorians so did Martianus agaynst Manichaeus Iouinian made a law that no man shoulde marrye with a Nunne that had wedded her selfe to the Church So had king Henry the 8. the title of Defender of the fayth because he wrote against Luther his cōplices So these 900. yeres the kinges of Spayne had that title of Catholicke for the expulsion of the Arrians and to say the truth the king and the Queenes maiesties do nothing degenerate from their auncetry taking vpon them to restore agayne the title to be Defender of the faith to the right heyre thereof the Popes holinesse Therefore these two princes perceiuing this noble Realme how it hath bene brought from the vnitye of the true and Catholicke Church the which you and your confederates do and haue renounced perceyuing also that you doe persist in your detestable errours and will by no meanes bee reuoked from the same haue made theyr humble request and petition to the Popes holynesse Paulus 4. as supreme head of the church of Christ declaring to him that where you were Archbishop of Caunterbury Metropolitane of England and at your consecration tooke two solemne othes for your due obedience to bee geuen to the Sea of Rome to become a true preacher or Pastour of his flock yet cōtrary to your othe and alleagiaunce for vnitie haue sowed discord for chastity mariage and adultery for obedience contention and for fayth ye haue bene the author of all mischiefe The Popes holines considering their request and petition hath graūted them that according to the Censure of this Realme processe should be made agaynst you And where as in this late time you both excluded Charity Iustice yet hath his holinesse decreed that you shall haue bothe Charity and Iustice shewed vnto you Hee willeth you shoulde haue the lawes in most ample maner to answere in your behalfe and that ye shall here come before my Lord of Glocester as high Commissioner from his holynesse to the examination of such articles as shal be proposed agaynst you that we should require the examination of you in the King and Queenes Maiestyes behalfe The King and Queene as touching themselues because by the law they cannot appeare personally Quia sunt illustris personae haue appoynted as theyr atturneys Doctor Storie and me Wherefore here I offer to your good Lordship our Proxie sealed with the broad seale of England and offer my selfe to be Proctor in the Kings Maiesties behalfe I exhibite here also certayne Articles conteining the manifest adultery periury Also bookes of heresy made partly by him partly set forth by his authority And here I produce him as partly principal to aunswere to your good Lordship Thus when Doc. Martin had ended his Oration the Archbishop beginneth as here foloweth Cran. Shall I then make mine aunswere Mart. As you thinke good no man shall let you And here the Archbishoppe kneeling downe on both knees towarde the West sayde first the Lordes Prayer Then risinge vppe he reciteth the Articles of the Creede Which done he entreth with his protestation in forme as foloweth * The Fayth and Profession of Doctour Cranmer Archbishop of Cant. before the Commissioners THis I do professe as touching my fayth and make my protestation which I desire you to note I will neuer consent that the Bishop of Rome shall haue any iurisdiction within this Realme Story Take a note thereof Mart. Marke M. Cranmer how you answer for your self You refuse and denye him by whose lawes ye yet doe remayne in life being otherwise attaynted of high treason but a dead man by the lawes of this Realme Cran. I protest before God I was no traytor but in deed I confessed more at my arraignment then was true Mart. That is not to be reasoned at this presēt You know ye were condemned for a Traytor and Res iudicata pro veritate accipitur But proceed to your matter Cran. I will neuer consent to the Bishop of Rome for thē should I geue my selfe to the Deuill for I haue made an othe to the king I must obey the king by Gods lawes By the Scripture the king is chiefe and no forreigne person in his owne Realme about him There is no Subiect but to a king I am a Subiect I owe my fidelitye to the crowne The pope is contrary to the crowne I cannot obey both for no mā can serue two maisters at once as you in the beginning of your Oration declared by the sword the keyes attributing the keies to the Pope and the sword to the king But I say the king hath both Therfore he that is subiect to Rome the lawes of Rome he is periured for the Popes and the Iudges Lawes are contrary they are vncertayne and confounded A Prieste indebted by the Lawes of the Realme shall be sued before a temporall Iudge by the Popes Lawes contrary The Pope doth the king iniury in that he hath his power from the Pope The king is head in his owne realm But the Pope claimeth all Bishops Priests Curates c. So the Pope in euery Realme hath a Realme Agayne by the lawes of Rome the Benefice muste bee geuen by the Bishop by the lawes of the Realme the patron geueth the Benefice Herein the lawes be as contrary as fire and water No man can by the lawes of Rome proceed in a premunire and so is the law of the Realme expelled and the
such in our consciences as euery Christian man is bound to confesse to be the truth of God and euery member of Christes church here in England must needes embrace the same in heart and confesse it with mouth if need require loose and forsake not onely house land possessions riches wife children and friends but also if God will so call them gladly to suffer all manner of persecution and to loose their liues in the defence of GODS worde and trueth set out amongest vs. For our Sauiour Christ requireth the same of vs saying Who soeuer shal be ashamed of me and my worde before this adulterous and sinfull generation the sonne of man will also be ashamed of hym when he shall come in the glorye of his father with the holye Aungels And agayne sayth he Who soeuer will confesse me before men I will confesse him before my father that is in heauen And who soeuer will deny me before men I will also deny hym before my father that is in heauen And whosoeuer shall speake a worde agaynst the sonne of man it shall be forgeuen him but who soeuer shall rayle against the holy ghost it shall not be forgeuē him We humbly beseeche the Queenes Maiestie and you her honorable Commissioners bee not offended with vs for confessing this truth of God so straightly geuen vs in charge of Christ neither bring vppon vs that great sinne that neuer shall be forgeuen and shall cause our Sauiour Iesu Christ in the great day of iudgement before his heauenly Father all his Aungels to deny vs to take frō vs the blessed price and raunsome of his bloudshed wherwith we are redeemed For in that day neither the Queenes highnes neither you nor any man shal be able to excuse vs nor to purchase a pardon of Christ for this horrible sinne and blasphemye of casting aside and condemning his word We can not agree nor consent vnto this so horrible a sinne but we beseeche God for his mercy to geue vs and all menne grace moste earnestly to flee from it and rather if the will of God be so to suffer all extremitie and punishment in thys world then to incurre such damnation before God Manasses who restored agayn the wickednes of idolatrous religiō before put down by Ezechias his father brought the wrath of God vpon the people so that the scriptures sayth Notwithstanding the reformation made by Iosias the Lord turned not from the fiercenes of his great wrath wherwith hee was angrye agaynst Iuda because of the prouocation with the which Manasses prouoked him And the Lord said euen Iuda will I take away from my presence as I cast away Israell I will cast away this Citty of Ierusalem and the house whereof I sayd my name shall be there Ieroboam who at Bethel and Dan erected vp a new found seruice of God and not onely sinned himselfe but also made all Israel to sinne with him so that not onely he was damned for commaunding but the wrath of God came vppon all Israell for obeing that his vngodly commandement Yet was it not so heynous offence to bring man Idolatry neither yet heard of as after reformation made by the godly kinges and princes by the vertuous and holy Bishoppes by the Prophets and seruaunts of God to reiecte and cast of the word and true Religion of GOD and to receaue againe a damned impietie This moste heynous offence is now offered vnto vs although the same be paynted and coloured with the name of reformation restoring of religion auncient fayth wyth the name of the catholicke Churche of vnitie Catholicke truth with the cloke of fayned holines These are sheepe skinnes vnder the which as Christ saith rauening Wolues couer themselues But Christ willeth vs to looke vpon their fruites whereby we may know them and truely this is no good fruite to cast aside Gods word and to bānish the English seruice out of the Churches and in the place of it to bring in a latine tongue vnknowne vnto the people Which as it edifieth no man so hath it bene occasion of all blindnes and errour amonge the people For afore the blessed reformation begun by the most noble Prince of godlye memory the queenes good father and by our late holy and innocent king her good brother finished it is not vnknowne what blindnes errour wee were all in when not one man in all this realme vnlearned in the latine could say in English the Lordes prayer or knew any one article of his beliefe or rehearse any one of the x. cōmandementes And that ignoraunce mother of mischiefe was the very roote and well spring of all Idolatry Sodomiticall Monkery and whorish chastitie of vnmaryed priests of all whoredome dronkennes couetousnes swearing blasphemie with al other wicked sinfull liuing These brought in the seuere wrathe and vengeance of GOD plaging sinne with famine and pestilence and at last the sword consumed and auenged all theyr impietie and wicked liuing As it is greatly to be feared the same or more greuous plagues shall now agayne follow We cannot therefore consent nor agree that the worde of God and praiers in our English tongue which we vnderstand should be taken away from vs and for it a latin seruice we wote not what for none of vs vnderstande it to be agayne brought in amongest vs specially seeing that Christ hath sayd My sheepe heare my voyce and follow me I geue to them euerlasting life The seruice in Englishe teacheth vs that wee are the Lords people and the sheep of his pasture and commandeth that we harden not our hartes as when they prouoked the Lordes wrathe in the wildernes least hee sweare vnto vs as he did sweare vnto them that they should not enter into his rest The seruice in Latine is a confused noyse which if it be good as the say it is yet vnto vs that lack vnderstāding what goodnes can it bring S. Paule commaundeth that in the Churches all thinges shoulde bee done to edifying which we are sure is Gods commaundement But in the Latine seruice nothing is done to edifying but contrarily al to destroy those that are already edified and to driue vs from Gods word and truth and from beleuing of the same and so to bring vs to beleue lyes and fables that tempting and prouoking God we shoulde be brought into the iudgement that blessed Paule speaketh of saying Antichrist shall come according to the working of Satan with all manner of power and signes and lying wonders in all deceiuablenes of vnrighteousnes in those that pearish because they haue not receyued the loue of the truth that they might be saued And therfore God wil send them strong delusion that they should beleue lyes be damned as many as haue not beleued the truth but haue approued vntighteousnesse Thus altogether drawne from God we shall fal into his wrath through vnbeliefe till
church 2 To the second they aunswered that they beleeued that in the true Catholike church of Christe there be but two sacraments that is to say the sacrament of Baptisme and the sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ. 3 To the third article they al agreed confessing that they were Baptised in the Faith and beliefe of the Catholicke church and that their Godfathers and Godmothers had professed and promised for them as is contained in the same Article 4 To the fourth they answered that they alwaies were and yet then did cōtinue in the faith and profession wherin they were baptised Richarde Nicols adding also that he had more plainely learned the truth of his profession by the doctrine set forth in king Edward the 6. his daies and thereupon he had builded his faithe and would cōtinue in the same to hys liues ende God assisting him 5 To the fifth they answeared that they neither swar●ed nor went away from the Catholicke faith of Christ. Howbeit they confessed that within the time articulate and before they hadde misliked and earnestly spoken against the sacrifice of the Masse and against the sacrament of the altare affirming that they woulde not come to heare or bee partakers therof because they hadde and then did beleeue that they were set foorth and vsed contrary to Gods woord and glory And moreouer they did graunt that they hadde spoken against the vsurped authoritye of the B. of Rome as an oppressor of Christes Church and Gospell and that he ought not to haue any authoritye in Englande For all which sayings they were no whit sorie but rather reioyced and were glad 6 To the sixt they answered that they neuer refused nor yet then presently did refuse to be reconciled to the vnitye of Christes Catholicke church but they said they had and then did and so euer woulde heereafter vtterlye refuse to come to the churche of Rome or to acknowledge the authority of the seat hereof but did vtterly abhorre the same for putting downe the booke of God the Bible and setting vp the Babylonicall Masse wyth all other of Antichristes marchaundise 7 To the seuenth article the effect therof they all graunted And Symonde Ioyne declared further that the cause of hys refusing to be partaker of theyr trumperie was for that the commandements of God were there broken and Christes ordinaunces chaunged and put oute and the B. of Romes ordinances in steade thereof put in Moreouer as touching the sacrament of Christes body Christopher Lister affirmed that in the sayde Sacrament there is the substance of breade and wine as well after the woordes of consecration as before and that there is not in the same the very body and bloud of Christ really substātially and truely but onely Sacramentally and spiritually by Faith in the faithfull receiuers and that the Masse is not propiciatorie for the quicke or for the dead but meere Idolatrie and abhomination 8 To the eight they sayde that they were sent to Colchester prison by the king and Queenes Commissioners because they would not come to theyr parish Churches and by them sent vnto the bishop of London to be therof further examined 9 To the ninth they al generally agreed that that which they had saide in the premisses was true that they were of the Diocesse of London These aunsweres thus made the Bishop did dismisse them for that present vntill the after noone At which time hauing firste their articles and aunsweres red vnto them againe and they standing most firmly vnto theyr Christian profession they were by diuers waies and meanes assaied and tried if they would reuoke the same their professed faith and returne to the vnitie of Antichristes church The burning of the foresayde sixe men at Colchester Which thing when they refused the bishop stoutly pronounced the sentence of cōdemnation against them committing them vnto the temporall power Who vppon the receit of the king and Quenes wryt sent them vnto Colchester where the 28. day of Aprill moste chearefully they ended theyr liues to the glory of Gods holy name and the great incouragement of others Hugh Lauerocke an olde lame man Iohn Apprice a blinde man Martyrs burned at Stratford the Bowe IN the discourse of thys parcell or parte of Hystorie I knowe not whether more to maruaile at the greate and vnsearchable mercies of God wyth whome there is no respecte in degrees of parsones but he choseth as well the poore lame and blinde as the rich mighty and healthful to sette foorth hys glory or els to note the vnreasonable or rather vnnaturall doings of these vnmerciful catholickes I meane B. Boner and his complices in whome was so little fauour or mercye to all sortes and kindes of men that also they spared neither impotente age neither lame nor blinde as may well appeare by these poore creatures whose names and stories heere vnder followe Hugh Lauerocke of the parish of Barking Painter of the age of 68. a lame creple Iohn Apprice a blinde man These 2. poore and simple creatures beinge belike accused by some promoting neighbor of theirs vnto the bish and other of the K. and Queenes Commissioners were sent for by their Officer and so being brought deliuered into the handes of the sayd bishop were the 1. day of May examined before him in his pallaice at London Where he first propounded and obiected againste them those 9. Articles wherof mētion is made before ministred as wel vnto Bartlet Grene as also vnto many others To the which they aunsweared in effecte as Christopher Lister Iohn Mace and other before mentioned had done Wherupon they were againe sent to prison and beside other times the 9. day of the same moneth in the consistorie of Pauls were againe openly producted and there after the olde order trauailed with all to recant theyr opinions against the Sacrament of the altare Wherunto Hugh Lauerocke first sayd I will stand to mine answers and to that that I haue cōfessed and I can not finde in the scriptures that the Priestes should lift vp ouer theyr head a cake of bread The bishop then turned him vnto Iohn Apprice and asked what he would say To whom he answeared Your doctrine sayd he that yee set foorth teache is so agreeable wyth the world and embraced of the same that it can not be agreeable with the scripture of God And ye are not of the catholicke church for ye make lawes to kil men and make the Queene your hangman At which woordes the bishop belike somewhat tickeled and therfore very loth to delay theyr condēnation any longer such was now his hote burning charitie cōmanded that they shoulde be brought after him vnto Fulham whether he before dinner did goe and there in the afternoone after his solemne maner in the open church he pronounced the definitiue sentence of condemnation againste them and so deliuering them into the hands of the temporall officer thoughte
all other his benefites Ah my deare heart in the Lord well is me that euer I was borne that God of his great mercy and infinite goodnes hath vsed me most miserable wretche at any tyme as his instrument to minister any thing vnto you eyther by wordes or writing that might bee an occasion of your ioy and comfort in the Lorde and a prouoking of you to prayse and thankesgeuing vnto GOD for the same as your moste louing and godly letter seemeth to importe Oh happy am I that the Lorde hath appoynted me vnto so good a ground to sowe his seede vppon but muche more happie are you whose heart the Lorde hath prepared made so meete to receiue the same so effectuously geuing therto the sweete showers and heauenly dewes of his grace and holy spirit that it may bring forth fruite in due season accordingly the increase whereof we shall shortly reape together with perfect ioye and gladnes and that continually Therefore my deare brother I say vnto you as good Elizabeth did to her deare cosin Mary Happy are you and happy shall you be for euermore because you haue beleued The most sweet and faythfull promises of your redeemer Iesus Christ you haue surely layd vp in the treasury of your hart His comfortable callinges you haue faythfully heard his faythfull admonitions you haue humbly obeyed and therefore you shall neuer come into iudgement your sinnes shall neuer be remembred for your sauiour hath cast them all into the bottome of the sea he hath remoued them from you as farre as is the East from the West and hath geuen you for an euerlasting possession his iustification holynesse so that now no creature neyther in heauen nor in earth shal be able to accuse you before the throne of the heauenly king Sathan is nowe iudged he is nowe cast out from you hee hath no part in you you are wholy geuen vnto Christ whyche wil not loose you your stedfast fayth in him hathe ouercome that sturdy and braggyng Prince of the worlde Christ hath geuen you the finall victory ouer hym and al hys army that they shall neuer hurt you What woulde you haue more Oh my deare heart howe great treasures are layde vp in store for you and how gloryous a Crowne is alreadye made and prepared for you And albeit the holy Ghost doth beare wytnesse of all these thinges in your heart and maketh you more sure and certain thereof then if you had all the outward oracles in the worlde yet I being certaynly perswaded and fully assured by the testimony of Gods spirite in my conscience of youre eternall and sure saluation in our sweete Sauioure Iesus Christe haue thought it good yea and my bounden duety not onely at thys tyme to wryte vnto you and to shew my ioyfull hart in that behalfe but also by the word and commaundement of Christ to pronounce and affirme in the name and worde of the heauenly king Iehouah and in the behalfe of his sweete sonne Iesus chryst oure Lorde to whom all knees shall bow whom all creatures shall worshippe and also by the impulsion of the holy Ghost by whose power and strength all the faythfull bee regenerate I doe I say pronounce to thee my deare brother T. V. that thou art already a Citizen of heauen The Lord thy God in whom thou doest put all thy trust for his deare sonnes sake in whom thou doest also vndoubtedly beleue hath freely forgeuen thee all thy sinnes clearely released all thyne iniquities and full pardoned all thine offences bee they neuer so many so grieuous or so great and will neuer remember them any more to condemnation As truely as he liueth he will not haue thee dye the death but hath vtterly determined purposed and eternally decreed that thou shalte lyue with him for euer Thy sore shall bee healed and thy woundes bounde vpp euen of himselfe for his owne names sake He doth not nor will not looke vpon thy sinnes in thee but he respecteth and beholdeth thee in Christ in whome thou art lyuely graffed by faith in his bloud and in whome thou art most assuredly elected and chosen to be a sweete vessell of his mercy and saluation and wast thereto predestinate in him before the foundation of the world was laid In testimony and earnest whereof he hath geuen thee his good and holye spirite which woorketh in thee faith loue and vnfained repentance with other godly vertues contrary to the corruption of thy nature Also he hath commanded me this day although a most vnwoorthy wretch to be a witnesse hereof by the ministery of hys holy woord grounded vpon the truth of his most faithfull promisses the which thou beleeuing shalt liue for euer Beleeuest thou this my deare heart I knowe well thou doest beleeue The Lorde increase thy faith and geue thee a liuely feeling of all hys mercies wherof thou art warranted and assured by the testimony of the holy Ghost who confirme in thy conscience to the vtter ouerthrowing of Sathan and those his most hurtfull dubitations wherby he is accustomed to molest and vexe the true children of God all that I haue sayde and by Gods grace I will as a witnesse thereof confirme and seale the same with my bloud for a most certaine truthe Wherefore my good brother praise the Lord with a ioyful heart and geue him thankes for this his exceeding great mercy casting away all dubitation and wauering yea all sorow of heart and pensiuenesse of minde for this the Lord your God and most deare and louing father commandeth you to doe by me nay rather by his owne mouth woord pronounced by me But now my deare brother after that I haue done my message or rather the Lordes message in deede I coulde finde in my heart to wryte 2. or 3. sheetes of paper declaring the ioy I beare in my heart for you mine owne bowels in the Lord yet the time being so short as you do well know I am heere constrained to make an ende desiring you to pardone my slacknesse and to forgeue my great negligence towardes you promising you still that so long as my poore life doth last my prayer shal supply that my pen doth wāt as knoweth the almighty God to whose most merciful defence I doe heartely commit you and all other his deare children as wel as though I had rehearsed them by name desiring them most heartely to remember me in their hearty and dailye prayers as I know right well they doe for I feele the daily comfort and commodity therof therfore I neither wil nor can forget them nor you or any such like The blessing of God be with you al. Amē Yours for euer vnfainedly Iohn Careles A letter of thankes to a faithfull frend of his by whom he had receiued much comfort in his inward troubles BLessed be God the father of all mercye for the great comfort and Christian consolation which he hath so mercifully ministred vnto
for lacke of knowledge oftentimes to fall into their crafty nettes For after they haue made them graunt a true Churche with the Sacraments of the same though not in such nūber as they would haue them and also that they were christened into the fayth thereof that is in the name of the Father of the Sonne and the holy Ghost they craftily now in the other their obiections descending as it were from the fayth of the Trinitie vnto theyr Idolatrous Masse other superstitious ceremonyes would make them grant that now in denying thereof they haue seuered thēselues from the fayth of the true Churche whereunto they were Baptised whiche is most false For though the true lyght of Gods Gospel holy word was marueilously darkned and in a maner vtterly extinguished yet the true fayth of the Trinitie by the mercifull prouidence of God was still preserued and into the fayth therof were we baptised and not into the beliefe and profession of their horrible Idolatry and vayne ceremonies These things not throughly wayed by these poore yet faythfull and true members of Christ caused some of them ignorauntly to graunt that when they came to the yeares of discretion and vnderstood the light of the Gospell they did seperate themselues from the fayth of the Church meaning none other but only to separate themselues from the admitting or allowing of such their popishe and erroneous trash as they now had defiled the church of christ wtall not from their fayth receiued in baptisme which in expres words in their aunsweres to the other articles they constātly affirmed declaring the Masse and sacrament of the aultar to be most wicked blasphemy agaynst Christ Iesus contrary to the truth of his Gospell and therfore vtterly they refused to assent and to be reconciled againe therunto These aunsweres in effect of them thus taken by the sayd Chauncellour they were for that time dismissed but the Bishop taking the matter into his owne handes the vi day of Marche propounded vnto them certayne other new articles the copy wherof followeth ¶ Other articles obiected by Boner Bi. of London agaynst Tho. Loseby Henry Ramsey Thomas Thyrtell Margaret Hide and Agnes Stanley the vi day of March being the second tyme of theyr examination 1. FIrst that thou hast thought beleued and spoken with in some part of the citie and Dioces of London that the fayth Religion and Ecclesiasticall seruice here obserued and kept as it is in the Realme of England is not a true and a laudable fayth Religion and seruice especially concerning the Masse and the 7. sacramentes nor is agreable to Gods worde testament that thou canst not finde in thy heart without murmuring grudging or scruple to receaue and vse it to conforme thy selfe vnto it as other subiectes of this realme customably haue done and doe 2. Item that thou hast thought c. that the english seruice set forth in the time of kinge Edwarde the vi here in thys Realme of England was and is good and godly Catholicke in all poynts and that it alone ought here in this realme to be receiued vsed and practised none other 3. Item likewise thou hast thought c. that thou art not bound to come to thy Parishe Churche there to be present and heare Mattins Masse Euensong and other Diuine seruice song or sayd there 4. Item thou hast thought c. that thou art not bound to come to procession to the Church vppon dayes and tymes appointed and to go in the same with others of the parish singing or saying then the accustomed prayers vsed in the Church nor to beare a taper or candel on Candelmas day nor take Ashes vppon Ashwednesday nor beare Palmes vpon Palme sonday not to creep to the crosse vpon daies accustomed nor to receiue and kisse the paxe at Masse time nor to receiue holy water or holy bread or to accept and allowe the ceremonies and vsages of the Churche after the maner and fashion as they are vsed in this realme 5. Item thou hast thought c. that thou art not bound at any time to confesse thy sinnes to any priest and to receiue absolution at his hands as Gods Minister not to receiue at any time the blessed sacrament of the aultar especiallye as it is vsed in this Church of England 6. Item thou hast thought c. that in matters of religion and fayth thou must follow and beleue thine own conscience onely and not to geue credite to the determination common order of the Catholicke Church the sea of Rome nor to any member therof 7. Item thou hast thought c. that all thinges do chance of an absolute and precise meere necessitie so that whether man do wel or euil he could not chuse but do so and that therfore no man hath any free will at all 8. Item thou hast thought c. that the fashiō and maner of Christening of infantes is not agreable to Gods word and that none can be effectually Baptised and thereby saued except he haue yeares of discretion to beleue himself so willingly accept or refuse Baptisme at his pleasure 9. Item thou hast thought c. That Prayers to Saints or Prayers for the dead are not auaylable and not allowable by Gods word or profitable in any wise and that the soules departed do straightwayes go to heauen or to hell or els do sleep till the day of dome so that there is no place of purgation at all 10. Itē thou hast thought c. that all such as in the tyme of king Hen. the viii or in time of Queene Mary of England haue bene burned as heretickes were no heretickes at all but faythfull and good Christian people especially Barnes Garret Ierome Frith Rogers Hooper Cardmaker Latimer Taylor Bradford Philpot Cranmer Ridley and such like and that thou diddest and doest allowe like and approue all their opinions doest mislike their condemnations and burninges 11. Item thou hast thought c. that fasting and prayers vsed in this Churche of England and the appoynting of dayes for fasting and the abstayning from flesh vpon fasting dayes and especially in the tyme of Lent is not laudable or allowable by Gods word but is hipocrisie foolishnes and that men ought to haue libertie to eate at all tymes all kindes of meate 12. Item thou hast thought c. that the sacrament of the aultar is an idoll and to reserue and keepe it or to honor it is playne idolatry and superstition and likewise of the masse and the eleuation of the sacrament 13. Item thou hast thought c. that thou or any els conuented before an Ecclesiasticall iudge concerning matters of beliefe and fayth art not nor is bound to make answer at all especially vnder an othe vpon a booke ¶ Their aunsweres to the Articles before obiected THeir aunsweres to these obiections were that as touching
himselfe in it and calling on the name of the Lord Iesus he was quickely out of payne c. After the martyrdome was ended that he was fallen a sleepe in the Lord there were some superstitious old women did blasphemously say that the Deuill was so stronge with him and all such hereticks as he was that they could not feele any payne almost nor yet be sory for theyr sinnes * The history and examinations of Robert Smith constantly maynteining the trueth of Gods word and suffering for the same in the moneth of August RObert Smith was brought vnto Newgate the fifte of Nouember in the first and second yere of the king and queene by Ioh. Mathew yeomā of the gard o● the quenes side by the commaundemēt of the Counsell This Smith first gaue himselfe vnto seruice in the house of sir Thomas Smith knight being thē Prouost of Eton from thence he was preferred to Windsore hauing there in the colledge a clerkship of x. poūd a yere Of stature he was tall slēder actiue about many things but chiefly delighting in the art of Painting which many times rather for his minds sake thē for any liuing or lucre he did practise excercise In religion he was feruent after he had once tasted the trueth wherin he was much confirmed by the preachings readings of one M. Turner of Windsore others wherupō at the comming of Queene Mary he was depriued of hys Clerkship by her visitors not long after he was apprehended and brought to examinatiō before Boner as here foloweth written and testified with his owne hand ¶ The first examination of Robert Smith before Bishop Boner ABout nine of the clocke in the morning I was among the rest of my brethren brought to the Bishops house and I first of al was brought before him into his chamber to whom the bishop sayd as foloweth after he had asked my name Boner How long is it agoe since the time that ye were cōfessed to any priest Smith Neuer since I had yeres of discretion For I neuer saw it needfull neither cōmaūded of God to come to shew my faultes to any of that sinfull nūber whō ye call priests Boner Thou shewest thy selfe euen at the first chop to be a ranke heretick which being wery of painting art entred into Diuinity and so fallen through thy departing frō thy vocation into heresy Smith Although I haue vnderstanding in the said occupation yet I prayse God I haue had litle need all my life hitheyto to liue by the same but haue liued without the same in mine own house as honestly in my vocation as ye haue liued in yours and yet vsed the same better then euer you vsed the Pulpit Boner How long is it ago since ye receiued the sacrament of the aultar and what is your opinion in the same Smith I neuer receiued the same since I had yeres of discretion nor neuer will by Gods grace neither do esteeme the same in any poynt because it hath not gods ordinance neither in name nor in other vsage but rather is set vp erected to mocke God withall Boner Do ye not beleue that it is the very body of Christe that was borne of the virgin Mary naturally substantially and really after the wordes of consecration Smith I shewed you before it was none of Gods ordynaunces as ye vse it thē much lesse to be God or any part of his substance but onely bread wine erected to the vse aforesaid yet neuerthelesse if ye can approue it to be the body that ye spake of by the word I will beleue it if not I will as I do accoūt it a detestable Idol not God but contrary to God and truth Boner Thē after many raging words vayne obiectiōs he sayd there was no remedy but I must be burned Smith Ye shall do no more vnto me then ye haue done to better mē then either of vs both But thinke not therby to quench the spirit of god neither therby to make your matter good For your sore is too well sene to be healed so priuily with bloud For euē the very childrē haue al your deedes in dirision so that although ye patch vp one place with authority yet shall it breake out in forty to your shame Boner Then after much ado many railing sentences he sayd throwing away the paper of mine examinatiō wel euē now by my truth euen in good earnest if thou wilt go and be shriuen I will teare this paper in peces Smith To which I aunswered It would be too much to his shame to shew it to men of discretion After which aunswere I was caried downe into the garden with my Gaoler there remayned vntill my brother Harwood was examined thē being agayn brought vp before the sayd Bishop he demaunded if I agreed with Harwood in his confession vpon these articles folowing Boner What say you to the Catholicke church Do ye not confesse there is one in earth Smith Yes verely I beleue that there is one Catholicke Church or faythfull Congregation which as the Apostle sayth is builded vpon the Prophets and Apostles Christ Iesus being the head corner stone which church in all her wordes and workes mainteineth the word and bringeth the same for her authority without it doth nothing nor ought to doe of which I am assured I am by grace made a member Boner Ye shall vnderstand that I am boūd when my brother offendeth will not be reconciled to bring him before the congregation now if your Church be the same where may a man finde it to bring his brother before the same Smith It is written in the Actes of the Apostles that whē the tyranny of the Bishops was so great agaynst the churche in Iewry they were fayne to congregate in houses priuy places as they now do and yet were they neuerthelesse the Church of God and seing they had theyr matters redressed being shut vp in a corner may not we do the like now a dayes Boner Yea theyr Church was knowne full wel For saint Paul writ to the Corinthians to haue the man punished excommunicate that had committed euil with his fathers wife Whereby wee maye well perceiue it was a knowne church but yours is not knowne Smith Then could ye not persecute it as ye do but as ye say the Churche of God at Corinth was manifest both to God and Paul euē so is this Church of God in England whome ye persecute both knowne to God and also euen to the very wicked although they know not nor will not know theyr truth nor conuersation yea and your sinneful number haue professed theyr verity and maineteyned the same a long season Boner Well thou sayest that the church of God was onely at Corinth when Paul writ vnto them and so will I put in writing shall I Smith I do maruell greatly my Lord that ye are not ashamed to lay
And as hee neuer ceaseth to be man so doth he neuer lose the similitude of man hys body there hath hys liniamentes hee leaueth them not so hath that body there hys highnesse and shrinketh not and hys manly shape he altereth not at any tyme. He is in that he tooke of the virgin Mary a naturall man in all conditions except sinne And what he tooke of hys blessed Mother by the workyng of the holye Ghost he tooke it for euer and will not exchaunge the same for anye other He tooke the shape of a man with the substaunce of hys manhoode in one sacred wombe There were they coupled together by the holy ghost neuer to be deuyded a sunder He retayneth the one with the other in seperablye As he will not altar the substaunce of hys fleshe into the substaunce of bread no more will hee altar the shape of hys bodye into the forme of bread There cannot be a greater absurditie agaynst the truth then to thinke that he would leaue the shape that he tooke in the virgins womb being an accident vnto hys manhoode and ioyne vnto the same a wafer cake baken in an ouen or betwene a payre of yrons As he is in heauen very man one onely mediatour betwene God and man euen the man Chryst Iesus hee it is that is the propitiation for our sinnes Be bolde therefore to confesse thys most pure and Apostolicall doctrine and also that all fauoure mercy and forgeuenesse commeth onely by him He onely of God the father was made for vs all wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption All these are the giftes of God the father freely geuen vnto vs by Christ Iesus God and man through fayth in his bloud and not by the merites of men Giftes they are I say freely geuen vnto vs of fauoure wythout our deserte by beleeuing and not by deseruing To this doe the lawe and the Prophetes beare witnesse This doctrine haue all the blessed Martyrs of Christes church wytnessed wyth theyr bloude to bee true To thys trueth haue all the consciences of all true beleuers subscribed euer since the Ascension of Christ. This witnesse is not of man but of God What better quarrell can ye thē haue to geue your liues for then the trueth it selfe That man that geueth his lyfe for the truth taketh the rediest way to lyfe He that hath the Popes curse for the truth is sure of Christes blessing Well then my brethren what shall now lette but that ye goe forward as ye haue begon Nay rather runne wyth the runners that ye maye obtayne the appoynted glorye Holde on the right waye looke not back haue the eye of youre heart fixed vppon GOD and so runne that ye may get holde of it Cast awaye all your worldly pelfe and worldly respects as the fauour of friendes the feare of men sensuall affection respect of persons honour prayse shame rebuke wealth pouertie riches landes possessions carnall fathers and mothers wife and children with the loue of your own selues and in respect of that heauenly treasure ye loooke for let al these be denyed vtterly refused of you so that in no cōditiō they do abate your seale or quenche youre loue towardes God In this case make no acōpt of thē but rather repute thē as vile in comparison of euerlasting life Away with them as thornes that choke the heauenly seede of the Gospel where they be suffered to grow They are burdens of the fleshe which encomber the soule exchaunge them therefore for aduauntage Doth not he gayne that findeth heauenly and immortall treasure for earthly corruptible riches Loseth that man any thing whiche of his carnall father and mother is forsaken when therefore he is receaued of God the father to be his childe and eyre in Christ Heauenly for earthly for mortall immortall for transitory thinges permanēt is great gaynes to a Christian conscience Therefore as I beganne I exhort you in the Lorde not to be afrayd Shrinke not my brethren mistrust not God bee of good comforte reioyce in the Lord hold fast your fayth and continue to the end Deny the world and take vp your crosse and follow him whiche is your loadesman and is gone before If you suffer with him yea you shall raygne with him What way can you glorifie the name of your heauenly father better then by sufferyng death for his sonnes sake What a spectacle shal it be to the world to beholde so godly a fellowship as you seruauntes of God in so iust a quarrell as the Gospell of Christ is with so pure a conscience so strong a fayth and so liuely a hope to offer your selues to suffer most cruell tormentes at the handes of Gods enemyes and so to end your dayes in peace to receaue in the resurrection of the righteous life euerlasting Be strong therfore in your battayle The Lord God is on your side and his truth is your cause and against you be none but the enemies of the crosse of Christe as the serpent and his seede the Dragon with hys tayle the marked men of the Beast the ofspring of the Pharisees the congregation malignant the generation of Vipers murtherers as theyr father the deuill hath bene from the beginning To conclude such are they as the Lorde God hath alwayes abhorred and in all ages resisted and ouerthrowne God from whome nothing is hid knoweth what they are Hee that searcheth the heartes of men he hath found them out to be crafty subtill full of poyson proud disdainefull stiffenecked deuourers raueners and barkers against the truth filthy shamelesse and therefore doth the spirite of God by the mouthes of hys holy Prophetes and Apostles call them by the names of Foxes serpentes Cockatrices Lyons Leopardes Bulles Beares Wolues Dogs Swine Beasts teachyng vs therby to vnderstād that their natural inclinatiō is to deceaue poison and destroy as much as in them lyeth the faythfull and elect of God But the Lord with his right arme shal defend his little flocke agaynst the whole rabblement of these worldlings which haue conspired against him he hath numbred all the heares of his childrens heades so that not one of thē shal pearish without hys fatherly wil. He kepeth the sparrowes much more will he preserue them whom he hath purchased with the bloud of the immaculate Lambe Hee will keepe them vnto the houre appointed wherein the name of God shal be glorified in his saynctes In the meane tyme let them woorke theyr willes let them enuy let them maligne let thē blaspheeme let them curse banne betray whippe scourge hang and burne for by these meanes God will try his elect as gold in the furnace and by these fruites shall they also bring themselues to be knowen what they be for all their sheepes skinnes For as he that in suffering paciently for the Gospell of God is thereby knowne to be of Christ euen so in likewise is
the persecutor of him knowne to be a member of Antichrist Besides this their extreme cruelty shall be a meane the sooner to prouoke God to take pittie vpon his seruauntes and to destroy them that so tyrannously entteate his people as we may learne by the historyes as well in the bondage of Israell vnder Pharao in Egypt as also in the miserable captiuitie of Iuda in Babilon Where as when the people of God were in most extreeme thraldome thē did the Lord stretch forth his mighty power to deliuer his seruauntes Though God for a tyme suffer them to be exalted in theyr owne pryde yet shal they not scape his vengeaunce They are hys roddes and when hee hath worne them to the stumpes then will he cast them into the fire this shal be theyr final reward Our duetye is in the meane while paciently to abide the wil of God which worketh al thinges for the best Thus dealeth he with vs partly for our tryall and partly also for our sinnes which we most greeuously haue committed to the great slaunder of hys gospell whereby the name of God was euil spoken of among hys enemies for the whiche he now punisheth vs with his fatherly corrections in this worlde that wee shoulde not be dampned with the world By thys meanes seeketh hee his sheep that were lost to bring thē home to the fold agayn By this w●y seeketh he to reform vs that we may be lyke vnto him after the image of his son Iesus christ in al holines righteousnes before him Finally this way vseth his godly wisedome to make vs therby to know him our selues in him that afore time had in a manner forgotten him praysed be hys name therefore And as for these Balaamites whiche nowe do molest vs commit them to the handes of GOD geue him the vengeaunce and hee will reward them Fall ye to prayer and let these belly GODS prate For he is in heauen and sleepeth not that keepeth Israell He is in heauen that made the seas calme and when the Disciples were afrayd Let vs nowe faythfully call vppon him and hee wyll heare vs. Let vs cry vnto the Lorde for he is gracious and mercifull When we are in trouble he is with vs he will deliuer vs and he will glorifie vs. If we come vnto him we shall find him turned vnto vs. If we repent vs of our wickednes done agaynst hym thē shall he take away the plague that he hath deuised agaynst vs. Let vs therefore earnestly repent and bring forth the worthy fruites of repentaunce Let vs study to be hys then shall we not neede to feare what these hipocrites do agaynst vs whiche wyth theyr pretensed holines deceiue the harts of the simple and abuse the authoritie of God in his Princes causing them by theyr procurement to testify their ambicious prelacye and to erect vpp theyr Idoll agayne with the Romish Masse God in whose hands are the hartes of kinges open the hart of the Queenes highnesse to espy them out what they be and so to wede thē out that they no longer be suffered to trouble the congregation of God and to poyson the realme with Pope holy doctrine God almightye for hys sonne Iesus Christes sake deliuer the Queenes highnes and this her church realme frō these proud prelates which are as profitable in the Churche of Christ as a polecatte in the middest of a Warran of connies To conclude my brethren I commit you to God and to the power of his worde whiche is able to establishe you in all truth His spirite be with you and worke alway that ye may be mindfull of your dueties towards hym whose ye are both body and soule Whome see that ye loue serue dread and obey aboue al worldly powers and for nothing vnder the heauēs defile your consciēce before God Dissemble not with his word God will not be mocked nay they that dissemble with hym deceiue themselues Such shal the Lord deny cast out at the last day such I say as beare two faces in one hoode such as play on both hands suche as deny the knowne trueth such as obstinately rebell against him All such with their partakers shall the Lord destroy God defend you from all such and make you perfite vnto the end Your sorrowe shall be turned into ioy ¶ An other letter sent to hys wife THe God and father eternal which brought again from death our Lord Iesus christ keep thee deare wife now and euer amen and al thy parentes and friendes I praise God for his mercy I am in the same state that ye lefte me in rather better then woorse looking dayly for the liuing God before whome I hunger full sore to appeare and receaue the glory of whiche I trust thou art willing to be a partaker I geue God most harty thankes therefore desiring thee of all loues to stand in that faith which thou hast receiued and let no man take away the seed that almighty God hath sowne in thee but lay hands of euerlasting lyfe which shall euer abide when both the earth and all earthly frends shall perish desiring them also to receaue thankfully our trouble whiche is momentane and light and as S. Paule sayth not worthy of the thinges whiche shall be shewed on vs that we patiētly carying our crosse may attayne to the place where our sauiour Christ is gone before to the which I beseeche God of his mercye bryng vs speedely I haue bene much troubled about your deliuerance fearing muche the perswasions of worldlinges and haue founde a friend whiche will I trust finde a meane for you if you bee not alreadye prouyded desirynge you in anye case to abide suche order as those my friendes shall appoint in God And beare well in mind the wordes which I spake at our departing that as god hath found vs and also elected vs worthy to suffer with hym We may endeuour our selues to follow vprightly in thys our vocation desiring you to present my hartye commendations to all our friendes and in especiall to youre Parentes keeping your matter close in any wise Geue most harty thankes to my frend whiche onely for oure cause is come to Windsor Continue in prayer Do well Be faultles in all thinges Beware abhominations Keepe you cleane from sinne Praye for me as I doe for you I haue sent you a peece of golde for a token and moste entierlye desire you to send me word if ye lacke any thing The lord Iesu preserue you and yours Amen From Newgate the 15. of Aprill By your husband here and in heauen Robert Smith This foresayde Robert Smith the valiaunt and constant martyr of christ thus replenished as ye haue heard with the fortitude of Gods spirite was condemned at Lōdon by Boner there Bishop the xii day of Iulye and suffered at Uxbridge the 8. day of August who as he had bene a comfortable instrument of God before to
denye to be lye or betraye the innocencye of that heauenlye doctrine or to bee ashamed to confesse and stande to the defence of the same seeing that Christe planted it with hys moste precious bloude and all good menne haue more esteemed the true and infallible woorde of GOD then all thys transitorye worlde or their owne mortall liues And I beleeue this doctrine of the Patriarkes Prophetes Christe and his Apostles to be sufficient and absolutely perfecte to instructe and teache mee and all the holy Church of our dueties towardes God the Magistrates and our neighbours Firste and principallye I do assuredly beleeue wythout any doubting that there is one Deitie or Diuine essence and infinite substaunce which is both called and is in dede God euerlasting vnbodilye vnpartible vnmeasurable in power wisedome and goodnesse the maker and preseruer of all thinges as well visible as inuisible and yet there be three distincte persones all of one Godheade or Diuine beynge and all of one power coequall consubstantiall coeternell the Father the Sonne and the holye Ghoste I beleeue in God the Father Almightie c. As touching God the Father of heauen I beleeue as muche as holye Scripture teacheth mee to beleeue The Father is the firste persone in Trinitie first cause of our saluation which hathe blessed vs with all maner of blessinges in heauenly thinges by Christe whych hathe chosen vs before the foundations of the worlde were layde that wee shoulde be holye and wythout blame before hym who hath predestinate vs and ordained vs to bee his childrenne of adoption thorough Christe Iesu. In hym as it is sayde we liue wee mooue and haue oure being he nourisheth feedeth and geueth meate to euery creature And in Iesus Christe his onely sonne our Lorde I beleue that the woorde that is the Sonne of God the seconde person in Trinitie did take mannes nature in the wombe of the blessed Virgine Marie So that there be in hym two natures a Diuine nature and an humaine nature in the vnitie of parson inseparable conioyned and knitte in one Christe truely God and truely man the expresse and perfecte Image of the inuisible God wherin the will of God the Father shineth apparantly and wherein man as it were in a glasse may beholde what he ought to doe that he maye please God the Father Borne of the Virgine Marie truelye sufferinge his Passion crucified deade and buryed to the entent to bring vs againe into fauoure wyth God the Father almightie and to be a sacrifice hoste and oblation not onely for originall sinne but also for all actuall sinnes of the whole generation of mankinde For all the woorkes merites deseruings doinges and obedience of man towards God althoughe they be done by the spirite of God in the grace of God yet being thus done be of no validitie worthine nor merite before God except God for his mercy and grace accoumpte them woorthye for the woorthinesse and merytes of Christ Iesus The same Christ went downe to the helles and truely rose againe the thirde day and ascended into the heauēs that he might there stil raigne and haue dominion ouer all creatures and from thence shall come c. I beleue in the holy Ghost coequall with God the Father and the Sonne and proceeding from them bothe by whose vertue strength and operation the true Catholicke Church which is the Communion and societie of Saintes is guided in all truthe veritie kept frō al errors fals doctrine the deuill all power of sinne Which Church is sanctified and halowed with the precious bloude and spirite of our Lorde Iesus Christe whiche hathe also her signe and mark that she heareth and foloweth the voice of her only and true pastour Christ and no strangers This church also is the house of God the congregation of the liuing God the piller of truth the liuely body of Christe a Church both in name and in deede I beleue the remission of sinnes by the only meanes and merites of Christes death passion who made vnto vs of God that onely sacrifice and oblation offered once for all and for euer for all them that be sanctified I beleue the resurrection of the body whereby in the last day al men shal rise again from death the soules ioyned againe to the bodies the good to euerlasting life the wicked to euerlasting pain and punishmēt And nothing may more certainly stablish confirme our faith that we shall rise againe immortal both in body soule thē the resurrection of Christ our Sauiour and first fruites of the deade Nowe that Christe our head is risen we beynge hys body and members must follow our head Death hell and sinne cannot sunder nor plucke vs from him For as the Sonne can not be deuided nor sundred from the Father nor the holy Ghost frō them bothe no more maye wee beinge the faithfull members of Christ be separated from Christ. And for a confirmation of our resurrection Christ would be seene after his resurrection in hys most glorious body his woundes being handled and felte speaking and teaching eating and drinking c. Wee looke sayeth S. Paul for Iesus Christ our Sauiour which shall trāsfigure our vile bodies conform them to his glorious body by the same power and vertue wherwith he is able to subdue all things euen like as the graine of wheate sowen in the grounde is first putrified and brought as into a thing of noughte yet after that it springeth vp freshly with a more goodly colour forme and beautie then it had before The body is sowne in corruption and riseth in incorruption it is sowen in dishonour and riseth in honour Thus I verely know and assuredly beleue the resurrection of oure bodies and to haue life eternall by Christ and for Christes sake Verely verely I say vnto you sayth Christ he that heareth my woorde and beleeueth on him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shall not come into damnation but is escaped frō death to life It is Christe that died once for oure sinnes and is risen againe neuer more to die it is he that swallowed vp death hath cast it vnder his feete for euer What now can death do vnto vs Verelye nothing els but for a little time separate oure precious soules from oure wretched bodies that diuine substaunce from a masse of sinne that eternall life from a body of death and so send our soules oute of this miserable wretched and sorrowfull lyfe combred with all calamities vnto that moste blessed felicitie and ioyes eternall As concerning the holy and reuerende Sacraments of Christes Churche which be in number two the Sacrament of Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord I beleeue them to be as S. Paul calleth them confirmations or seales of Gods promises whiche haue added to them a promise of grace and therfore they are called visible signes of inuisible grace The Sacrament of
doe offende me in the Masse I will rehearse vnto you those thinges whiche be moste cleare and seeme to repugne most manifestly agaynst Gods worde And they be these The straunge tongue the want of the shewynge of the Lordes death The breaking of the Lordes commaundement of hauing a communion the sacrament is not cōmunicated to all vnder both kindes according to the word of the Lord. The signe is seruilely worshipped for the thing signified Christes Passion is iniuried for asmuch as this Masse sacrifice is affirmed to remayne for the purging of sinnes to be shorte the manifolde superstitions and triflyng fondnesse whiche are in the Masse and aboute the same Better a few thinges well pondered then to trouble the memory with to much you shall preuayle more with praying thē with studying though mixture be best For so one shall alleuiate the tediousnes of the other I entend not to contend much with them in wordes after a reasonable account of my fayth geuen for it shall be but in vayne They will say as theyr fathers sayd when they haue no more to say We haue a law and by our law he ought to dye Be ye steadfast and vnmoueable sayeth Saynt Paule and agayne persistito stand fast And how oft is this repeated if ye abide if ye abide c. But we shall be called obstinate sturdy ignorant heady and what not So that a man hath need of much pacience hauing to do with such men But you knowe howe greate a crime it is to separate your selfe from the communion or felowship of the Churche and to make a schisme or diuision you haue bene reported to haue hated the secte of the Anabaptistes and alwayes to haue impugned the same Moreouer this was the pernitious errour of Nouatus and of the Heretickes called Cathari that they woulde not communicate wyth the Church I know that the vnity of the Church is to be reteyned by all meanes the same to be necessary to saluation But I doe not take the Masse as it is at this day for the communion of the Churche but a Popishe deuise whereby both the commaundement and institution of our Sauiour Christ for the ofte frequenting of the remembraunce of his death is eluded the people of God are miserablye deluded The sect of the Anabaptistes and the heresy of the Nouatians ought of right to be condemned for as muche as without any iust or necessary cause they wickedly separated themselues from the communion of the congregation for they did not alleadge that the Sacramentes were vnduely ministred but ●urning away theyr eyes from thēselues wherewith according to Saynt Paules rule they ought to examine themselues and ca●ing theyr eyes euer vpon others either Ministers or Communicantes with them they alwayes reprooued something for the whiche they absteined from the Communion as from an vnholy thing I remember that Caluin beginneth to confute the Interim after this sort with this saying of Hilary The name of peace is beautifull and the opinion of vnitye is fayre but who doubteth that to be the true and onely peace of the Church which is Christes I would you had that litle booke there should you see how much is to be geuen to vnity Saynt Paule when he requireth vnitye he ioyneth straight with al secundum Iesum Christum according to Iesus Christ no further Diotrephes nowe of late did euer harpe vpon vnity vnity Yea Syr quoth I but in verity not in popery Better is a diuersity then an vnitye in Popery I had nothing agayne but scornefull giers with commaundement to the Tower But admitte there be in the Masse that peraduenture might be amended or at least made better yea seing you will haue it so admit there be a fault if you do not consent therto Why do you trouble your selfe in vayne do not you know both by Cyprian and Augustine that communiō of sacramentes doth not defile a man but consent of deedes If it were any one trifling ceremony or if it were some one thing of it selfe indifferent although I woulde wishe nothing should be done in the Churche which doth not edify the same yet for the continuance of the common quietnesse I coulde be content to beare it But forasmuche as thinges done in the masse tend openly to the ouerthrow of Christes institution I iudge that by no meanes either in word or deed I ought to consent vnto it As for that which is obiected out of the Fathers I acknowledge it to be wel spoken if it be well vnderstanded But it is meant of them which suppose they are defiled if any secret vice be either in the ministers or in them that communicate with them is not ment of them which doe abhorre superstition and wicked traditions of men and will not suffer the same to be thrust vpon themselues or vpon the Church in stead of Gods word and the truth of the Gospell The very marowe bones of the masse are all together detestable and therefore by no meanes to be borne withal so that of necessity the mending of it is to abolish it for euer For if you take away oblation and oration which doe hang vpon consecration and transubstantiation the moste papistes of them all will not set a button by the masse as a thing which they esteme not but for the gayne that foloweth thereon For if the English communion whiche o● late was vsed were as gaynefull to them as the Masse hath bene heretofore they would striue no more for theyr masse from thence groweth the griefe Consider into what daūgers you cast your selfe if you forsake the chuch you cannot but forsake it if you refuse to go to masse For the Masse is the Sacrament of vnity without the Arke there is no saluation The church is the Arke and Peters ship Ye know this saying wel enough He shall not haue God to be his Father which acknowledgeth not the church to be his mother Moreouer without the church sayth S. Augustine be the life neuer so wel spent it shall not inherit the kingdome of heauen The holy Catholicke or vniuersall church which is the communion of saintes the house of God the City of God the spouse of Christ the body of Christ the piller and stay of the trueth this Churche I beleeue accordinge to the Creede This Church I doe reuerence and honour in the Lord. But the rule of this Church is the word of God according to which rule we goe forwarde vnto life And as many as walk according to this rule I say with S. Paul peace be vpon them and vpon Israell which perteyneth vnto God The guid of this church is the holy ghost The markes whereby this church is knowne vnto me in this dar●ke worlde and in the middest of this crooked and froward generatiō are these The sincere preaching of Gods holy worde the due administration of the Sacramentes charitye and faythfull
geuen him by the scorneful Papistes was cast agayne into the Tower where he being assisted with the heauenly grace of Christ susteined most pacient imprisonment a long time notwithstanding the cruel and vnmercifull handlinge of the Lordlye Papistes whyche thought then theyr kingdome would neuer fall yet he shewed hymselfe not onely pacient but also chearefull in and aboue all that which they could or woulde worke agaynst him yea such a valiaunt spirit the Lord gaue him that he was able not onely to despise the terriblenesse of prisons tormentes but also to deride and laugh to scorne the doinges of his enemies As it is not vnknowne to the eares of many what he aunswered to the Lieuetenaunt beynge then in the Tower For when the Lieutenauntes man vpon a time came to him the aged Father kept without fire in the frosty winter and well●ye starued for colde merely bad the man tell his Mayster that if he did not looke the better to him perchaunce he would deceiue him The Lieutenaunt hearing this he thought hymselfe of these wordes and fearing least that in deede he thought to make some escape beganne to looke more straightly to his Prisoner and so comming to him beginneth to charge him with his wordes reciting the same vnto him whiche his man had told him before how that if he were not better looked vnto perchaunce he would deceiue them c. Yea Mayster Lieutenaunt so I sayd quoth he for you looke I thinke that I shoulde burne but except you let me haue some fire I am like to deceiue your expectation for I am like here to starue for cold Many such like answeres and reasons mery but sauery comming not from a vayne minde but from a constant and quiet reasō proceded from that man declaring a firme and stable hart litle passing for all this great blustering of theyr terrible threates but rather deriding the same Thus Mayster Latimer passing a long time in the tower with as much pacience as a manne in his case coulde do from thence was transported to Oxforde with Doctor Cranmer Archbishop of Caunterbury and Mayster Ridley Byshop of London there to dispute vpon Articles sent downe from Gardiner Bishop at Winchester as is before touched the maner and order of whiche disputations betwene them and the Uniuersitye Doctours is also before sufficiently expressed Where also is declared how and by whome the sayd Latimer with his otherfelow Prisoners were condemned after the disputations and so committed agayne to the Prison and there they con●umed from the Moneth of Aprill aboue mentioned to this present Moneth of October where they were most godly occupied either with brotherly conference or with feruent prayer or with fruitfull writing Albeit M. Latimer by reasō of the feblenes of his age wrote least of them all in this latter time of his imprisonment yet in prayer he was feruently occupyed wherin oftentimes so long he continued kneeling that hee was not able to rise without helpe and amongst other things these were three principall matters he prayed for First that as God had appoynted him to be a preacher of his worde so also he woulde geue him grace to stand to his doctrine vntill his death that he might geue his harte bloud for the same Secōdly that God of his mercy would restore his gospell to Englande once agayne and these wordes once agayne once agayne he did so inculcate beat into the eares of the Lord God as though he had sene God before hym and spoken to him face to face The third matter was to pray for the preseruation of the Queenes Maiesty that now is whome in his prayer he was wont accustomably to name and euen with teares desired God to make her a comfort to his comfortles realme of England These were the matters he prayed for so earnestlye Neither were these thinges of him desired in vayne as the good successe thereof after following did declare for the Lord most graciously did graunt all those his requestes First concerning his constancy euen in the most extremity the Lord graciously assisted him For when he stoode at the stake without Bocardo gate at Oxford and the tormentors about to sette the fire to him and to the learned and Godly Byshop Mayster Ridley he lifted vp his eyes towardes heauen with an amiable and comfortable countenaunce saying these wordes Fidelis est Deus qui non sinit nos tentari supra id quod possumus God is faythfull whiche doth not suffer vs to be tempted aboue our strength and so afterwarde by and by shedde his bloude in the cause of Christ the whiche bloud ranne of his hart in suche aboundaunce that all those that were present being godly dyd maruell to see the most part of the bloud in his body to bee gathered to hys hart and with such violence to gush out his body being opened by the force of the fire by the whiche thing God most graciously graunted his request whiche was that he might shed his hart bloud in the defence of the Gospell How mercifully the Lord heard his second request in restoring his Gospell once agayne into this Realme these present dayes can beare record And what then shall England say now for her defence whiche being so mercifullye visited and refreshed with the word of God so slenderlye and vnthankfully considereth either her own misery past or the great benefite of God nowe present The Lorde be mercifull vnto vs. Amen Agayne concerning his third request it seemeth likewise most effectuously graūted to the great praise of God the furtherance of his Gospell and to the vnspeakable cōfort of this Realme For whether at the request of his praiyr or of other Gods holy Sayntes or whether God was moued with the cry of his whole Church the truth is that when all was deplorate and in a desperate case and so desperate that the enemies mightily florished and triumphed Gods word was banished Spanierdes receiued no place left for Christes seruauntes to couer theyr heades sodenly the Lord called to remembraunce his mercye and forgetting our former iniquity made an end of al these miseries and wroughte a maruellous chaunge of thinges at the chaunge whereof the said Queene Elizabeth was appointed and annoynted for whome this graye headed father so earnestly prayd in his imprisonment through whose true naturall and imperiall Crowne the brightnesse of Gods word was set vp agayne to confound the darcke and false visoured kingdome of Antichrist the true temple of Christ reedified the Captiuitye of sorowfull Christians released which so long was wished for in the prayers of so manye good men specially of this faythfull and true seruaunt of the Lord M. Latimer The same God which at the requestes of his holy and faythfull Sayntes hath poured vpon vs such benefites of his mercy peace and tranquility assiste our most vertuous and Christian Princesse and her Subiectes that wee may euery one in his state
in no poynt that vsurped supremacy of Rome and therefore contemne and vtterly despise al authoritie comming from him In taking of my cap do as it shal please your Lordships and I shal be content Then the Bishop of Lincolne after the thyrd admonion commaunded one of the Bedles that is an officer of the vniuersitie to plucke his cappe from his head M. Ridley bowing his head to the Officer gently permitted him to take away his cap. After this the Bishop of Lincolne in a long Oration exhorted M. Ridley to recant and submitte himselfe to the vniuersall fayth of Christ in this maner Lincol. M. Ridley I am sure you haue sufficiently ●ōdered with your selfe the effecte of this our commission with good aduisement considering both poyntes thereof how that authoritie is geuen to vs if you shall receaue the true doctrine of the Church which first was founded by Peter at Rome immediately after the deathe of Christe and from him by lineall succession hathe bene broughte to this our time if you will be content to renounce your former erroures recant your hereticall and seditious opinions content to yelde your selfe to the vndoubted fayth truthe of the Gospell receaued and alwayes taught of the catholicke and Apostolicke Churche the which the king and Queene all the Nobles of this Realme and commons of the same al Christen people haue do confesse you onely standing alone by your selfe You vnderstande and perceaue I am sure that authoritie is geuen vs to receiue you to reconcile you and vpon due penaunce to adioyne and associate you agayne into the number of the Catholickes and Christes Church from the whiche you haue so long straied without the which no man can be saued the which thing I and my Lords here yea and al as wel Nobles and commons of this realme most hartily desire and I for my part wherwith he put of his cap most earnestly exhort you to doe Remember mayster Ridley it is no straunge country whether I exhorte you to retourne You were once one of vs you haue taken degrees in the schoole You were made Prieste and became a Preacher settyng foorthe the same doctryne which we doe nowe You were made Byshoppe accordinge to our lawes and to be short it is not so longe agone sithe you seperated your selfe from vs and in the time of Heresye became a setter foorthe of that Deuillishe and seditious doctrine whiche in these la●ter dayes was preached amongest vs. For at what tyme the newe doctrine of onely faythe began to spryng the counsayle willyng to winne my Lord Chauncellour sent you to him I then being in my Lordes house vnknowne as I suppose to you and after you had talked with my Lorde secretly and were departed immediately my Lord declared certayne poyntes of your talke meanes of your perswasion and amōgst other this was one that you should say tush my Lorde this matter of iustification is but a trifle let vs not sticke to condescende herein to them but for Gods loue my Lord stand stoutly in the veritie of the Sacrament for I see they will assault that also If this be true as my Lorde is a man credible enough in suche a matter hereby it is declared of what minde you were then as touching the trueth of the moste blessed sacrament Also in a sermon of youres at Paules Crosse you as effectually and as Catholickely spake of that blessed sacramēt as any mā mighte haue done wherby it appeareth that it is no straunge thing nor vnknowne place wherevnto I exhort you I wishe you to retourne thether from whence you came That is together with vs to acknowledge the truth to acknowledge the church of God wherin no man may erre to acknowledge the supremacye of our moste reuerende father in God the Popes holynesse whiche as I sayde lineally taketh his dissent from Peter vppon whome Christ promised before his deathe to builde his churche the whiche supremacy or prerogatiue the moste auncient fathers in all ages in all tymes dyd acknowledge and here hee broughte a place or two out of the Doctours but especially stayed vppon a saying of Sainct Augustine whiche wryteth in this manner Totus orbis christianus intransmarinis longe remotis terris Romanae Ecclesiae subiectus est That is All the christian countryes beyonde the sea are subiecte to the Churche of Rome Here you see M. Ridley that all Christendome is subiect to the church of Rome What should stay you therfore to confesse the same with saynt Austen and the other Fathers Then M. Ridley desired his pacience to suffer him to speake somewhat of the premisses least the multitude of thinges might confound his memory and hauing graunt thereunto sayd in this maner Ridley My Lord I most hartily thanke your Lordshyp as well for your gentlenes as also for youre sobrietye in talke and for your good and fauourable zeale in this learned exhortation in the whiche I haue marked especiallye three poyntes whiche you vsed to perswade mee to leaue my doctrine and Religiō which which I perfectly know am throughly perswaded to be groūded not vpon mans imagination and decrees but vpon the infallible truth of Christes Gospell and not to looke backe and to returne to the Romish sea contrary to mine othe contrarye to the prerogatiue and crowne of this Realme and especiallye whiche moueth me most contrary to the expressed worde of God The first poynt is this that the sea of Rome takynge hys begynninge from Peter vpon whom you say Chryst hath builded hys Churche hath in all ages lineally from Bishop to Bishop bene brought to this time Secondly that euen the holye Fathers from time to time haue in their writinges confessed the same Thirdly that in that I was once of the same opinion and together with you I did acknowledge the same First as touching the saying of Christ from whence your Lordship gathereth the foundation of the Churche vpon Peter truely the place is not so to bee vnderstande as you take it as the circumstance of the place wil declare For after that Christe had asked his Discyples whome men iudged him to be and they had aunswered that some had sayd he was a Prophet some Helias some one thing some an other then he said whome say ye that I am Thē Peter said I say that thou art Christ the sonne of God To whome Christ answered I saye Tu es Petrus super hanc Petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam i. Thou art Peter and vpon this stone I wil builde my Churche that is to say vpon this stone not meaning Peter himselfe as thoughe hee would haue constitute a mortall man so frayle and brickle a foundation of his stable and vnfallible Churche But vppon thys Rock stone that is this confession of thine that I am the sonne of GOD I wil build my Church For this is the foundation and beginning of all Christianitie with worde heart
and minde to confesse that Christ is the sonne of God Whosoeuer beleueth not this Chryst is not in hym and hee cannot haue the marke of Chryste printed in his forehead whiche confesseth not that Chryst is the sonne of God Therefore Christ sayd vnto Peter that vpon this rock that is vpon this his confession that he was Christe the sonne of God he woulde builde hys Churche to declare that without this fayth no man can come to Christe so that this beliefe that Christ is the sonne of God is the foundation of our christianitie and the foundation of the church Here you see vpon what foundation Christes Churche is built not vpon the frailtie of man but vppon the stable and infallible word of God Now as touching the lineall discent of the Bishoppes in the Sea of Rome true it is that the Patriarkes of Rome in the Apostles time and long after was a great maintayner and a setter forth of Christes glory in the which aboue all other countryes and regyons there especiallye was preached the true Gospell the sacraments wer most duely ministred and as before Christes comming it was a Cittye so valiaunt in prowesse and marshall affayres that all the worlde was in a manner subiect to it and after Christes passion and diuers of the Apostles there suffered persecution for the Gospelles sake so after that the Emperours theyr hartes being illuminated receiued the gospell and became Christians the Gospell there as wel for the great power and dominion as for the fame of the place flourished most whereby the Byshops of the place wer had in more reuerence and honour most esteemed in all counsayles and assemblies not because they acknowledged them to be their head but because the place was moste reuerenced and spoken of for the great power and strength of the same As now here in England the Bishop of Lincolne in Sessions and sittinges hath the preheminence of the other Byshoppes not that he is the head and ruler of them but for the dignitie of the Byshoppricke and therwith the people smiled Wherefore the Doctours in theyr writinges haue spoken moste reuerently of this Sea of Rome and in their writinges preferred it and this is the prerogatiue which your Lordshippe did rehearse the ancient Doctours to geue to the sea of Rome Semblably I cannot nor dare not but commend reuerence and honour the sea of Rome as longe as it continued in the promotion and setting forth of Gods glory and in due preaching of the Gospell as it did many yeres after Christ. But after that the Byshoppes of that Sea seeking their owne pride and not Gods honour began to set them selues aboue kings and Emperours challenging to them the title of Goddes Uicares the Domynion and Supremacye ouer all the worlde I cannot but with saynct Gregory a Byshoppe of Rome also confesse that the Byshoppe of that place is the very true Antichrist whereof saynct Iohn speaketh by the name of the whore of Babilon and say with the sayd sainct Gregory he that maketh himselfe a Byshop ouer all the worlde is worse then Antichrist Now where as you say that saynct Augustine should seeme not onely to geue such a prerogatiue but also a supremacye to the sea of Rome in that he sayth all the chrystian world is subiect to the Churche of Rome and there fore shoulde geue to that Sea a certayne kinde of subiection I am sure that your Lordship knoweth that in saynt Austines time there were foure Patriarckes of Alexandria Constantinople Antioche and Rome whiche Patriarckes had vnder them certayn Countryes as in England the Archbyshop of Caunterbury hath vnder him diuers Byshoprickes in Englande and Wales to whome he may be sayde to be theyr Patriarcke Also youre Lordship knoweth right well that at what time sainct Austine wrote this booke he was then Bishop in Africa Farther you are not ignoraunt that betweene Europe and Africa lyeth the sea called Mare mediterraneum so that al the countryes in Europe to him which is in Africa may be called transmarine countryes beyond the sea Here of S. Austen sayth Totus orbis Christianus in transmarinis longe remotis terris ecclesiae Romanae subiectus est That is all the Chrystian Countryes beyonde the seas and farre Regions are subiect to the sea of Rome If I shoulde saye all Countryes beyonde the sea I doe except Englande whiche to me nowe beyng in Englande is not beyonde the sea In this sense saynct Austine sayth all the Countryes beyond the sea are subiecte to the sea of Rome declarynge thereby that Rome was one of the seas of the foure Patriarckes and vnder it Europe by what subiection I praye you onely for a preeminence as we here in England say that all the Byshoprickes in England are subiect to the archbishopricke of Caunterbury and Yorke For this preeminence also the other Doctours as you recited saye that Rome is the mother of Churches as the Bishopricke of Lincolne is mother to the Bishoprick of Oxforde because the Bishopricke of Oxford came from the Byshopricke of Lincolne and they were bothe once one and so is the Archbyshopricke of Canterbury mother to the other Byshopricks which are in her prouince In like sorte the Archbishopricke of Yorke is mother to the Northbishoprickes and yet no mā will say that Lincolne Caunterburye or Yorke is supreme head to other Byshoprickes neyther then ought wee to confesse the sea of Rome to be supreme head because the Doctours in their writinges confesse the sea of Rome to be mother of Churches Nowe where you say I was once of the same Religion whiche you are of the trueth is I cannot but confesse the same Yet so was saynct Paule a persecutoure of Christe But in that you saye that I was one of you not long agone in that I doyng my message to my Lorde of Winchester shoulde desire him to stande stoughte in that grosse opinion of the Supper of the Lorde in very deed I was sent as your Lordship sayd from the Counsayle to my Lord of Winchester to exhort hym to receyue also the true confession of Iustification and because hee was very refractorious I sayde to hym why my Lord what make you so great a matter herein You see many Anabaptists rise agaynst the sacrament of the aultar I praye you my Lorde be dilligent in confounding them for at that tyme my Lord of Winchester and I had to do wyth two Anabaptistes of Kente In this sense I willed my Lorde to be stiffe in the defence of the sacrament agaynst the detestable erroures of Anabaptistes and not in the confirmation of that grosse and carnall opinion nowe mayntayned In like sorte as touching the sermon whiche I made at Paules Crosse you shall vnderstande that there were at Paules and dyuers other places fixed rayling billes agaynst the sacramente termynge it Iacke of the boxe the sacramente of the halter round Robin with like vnseemely termes
for the whiche causes I to rebuke the vnreuerent behauiour of certayne euill disposed persones preached as reuerently of that matter as I mighte declaring what estimation and reuerence ought to be geuen to it what daunger ensued the mishandling therof affirming in that sacramente to be truely and verely the bodye and bloude of Christe effectuously by grace and spirite whiche wordes the vnlearned vnderstanding not supposed that I had ment of the grosse and carnall being which the Romishe decrees set forth that a body hauing lyfe and motion shoulde be in deede vnder the shapes of breade and wyne With that the Bishoppe of Lincolne somewhat interrupting him sayde Lincol. Well M. Ridley thus you wrest places to your owne pleasure for where as saynct Austen saythe that the whole Christian worlde is subiecte to the sea of Rome without any limittation and vseth these wordes In transmarinis longè remotis terris onely to expresse the latytude of the dominion of the Sea of Rome willyng therby to declare that all the world yea countryes farre distaunt from Rome yet neuertheles are subiecte to that Sea yet you woulde wrast it and leaue it onely to Europe I am sure ye will not deny but that totus mundus is more then Europe Ridley In deede my Lorde if saynct Austen had sayde simpliciter totus mundus not added in transmarinis it had bene without limitation but in that he sayd totus mundus in transmarinis partibus all the Countryes beyond the seas he himselfe doth limitte the vniuersall proposition declaring how farre he ment by totus mundus The Byshop not staying for this aunswere dyd proceede saying Lincolne Well if I woulde staye vppon this place I coulde brynge many moe places of the Fathers for the confirmation thereof but we haue certayne instructions accordinge to the whiche we muste proceede and came not hyther to dispute the mater with you but onely to take youre aunsweres to certayne Artycles and vsed this in the waye of exhortation in the whiche you interrupted mee wherefore I wyll retourne thither againe Ye must consider that the Churche of Chryste lyeth not hidden but is a Citty in the mountayn and a candle on the Candlesticke Ponder with your selfe that the Churche of Christ is catholica catholicke whiche is deducted of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is per omnia so that Christes Church is vniuersallye spreadde throughout the world not contayned in the allegation of places not comprehended in the circuite of Englande not contayned in the compasse of Germany and Saxonie as youre Churche is Wherefore maister Ridley for Gods loue be ye not singular acknowledge with all the realme the truth it shall not bee as you alledge preiudiciall to the crowne for the king and Queene their maiesties haue renounced that vsurped power taken of their predecessours and iustly haue renounced it For I am sure you know that there are two powers the one declared by the sword the other by the Keyes The sword is geuen to kings and rulers of coūtryes the Keyes were deliuered by Christe to Peter and of him lefte to all the successoures As touchynge oure goodes possessions and lyues wee wyth you acknowledge vs Subiectes to the king and Queene who hath the temporall sworde but as concerning matters of Religion as touching Gods quarrell and his word we acknowledge an other head and as the king and the Queene their highnes do in all worldly affayres iustly challenge the prerogatiue and primacie so in spirituall and Ecclesiasticall matters they acknowledge themselues not to bee heades and rulers but members of Christes bodye Why therefore shoulde ye sticke at that matter the whiche theyr maiesties haue forsaken and yelded Wherefore mayster Ridley you shall not onely not doe iniurye to the Crowne and bee preiudiciall to theyr maiesties honour in acknowledgyng with all Christendome the Popes holynesse to be supreme head of Chrystes Churche here militaunt in earthe but doe a thynge most delectable in theyr sight and most desired of theyr highnesse Thus if you will doe reuoking together all youre erroures acknowledging with the residue of the realme the common and the publicke faulte you shal doe that all men most hartily desire you shall bryng quyetnesse to your conscience and health to your soule then shall we with great ioy by the authoritie committed to vs from the Cardinalles grace receyue you into the church agayne acknowledgyng you to be no longer a rotten but a liuely member of the same but if you shall still bee singular if you shall stil and obstinately perseuer in your erroures stubbernely mayntayning your former heresies then we must agaynst our will according to our commission separate you from vs and cut you of from the church least the rottennesse of one part in processe of tyme putrify and corrupte the whole bodye then must wee confesse and publish you to be none of ours thē must we yeald you vp to the temporall iudges of whome excepte it otherwise please the kinge and Queenes highnesse you muste receaue punishment by the lawes of this Realme due for heretickes Wherfore mayster Ridley consider your state remember your former degrees spare your body especially consider your soule which Christ so dearely bought with hys precious bloud doe not you rashly cast away that which was precious in Gods sight enforce not vs to doe al that we may doe which is onely to publish you to be none of vs to cut you of from the Churche for we doe not nor can not condemne you to dye as most vntruely hath bene reported of vs but that is the temporall Iudges office we onely declare you to be none of the Churche and then must you according to the tenour of them and pleasure of the Rulers abide theyr determination so that wee after that we haue geuen you vpp to the temporall Rulers haue no further to do with you But I trust Mayster Ridley wee shall not haue occasion to doe that wee may I trust you will suffer vs to reste in that poynte of our commission whiche we most hartilye desire that is vppon recantation and repentaunce to receaue you to reconcile you and agayne to adioyne you to the vnitie of the Churche Then M. Ridley with often interruption at lengthe spake Ridley My Lord I acknowledge an vnspotted church of christ in the which no man can erre without the whiche no man can be saued the whiche is spread throughout all the worlde that is the congregation of the faythfull neyther doe I alligate or binde the same to any one place as you sayd but confesse the same to be spreadde throughout all the worlde and whereas Christes Sacramentes are duely ministred his Gospell truely preached and followed there doth Christes Churche shyne as a Cittye vppon an hill and as a Candle in the Candlesticke but rather it is such as you that woulde haue the Churche of Christ bound to a place which
appoint the same to Rome that there and no where els is the foundation of Christes churche But I am fully perswaded that Christes church is euery where founded in euery place where his Gospell is truly receaued effectually followed And in that the churche of God is in doubte I vse here in the wise counsayle of Vyncentinus Lyranensis whō I am sure you will allow who geuing preceptes howe the catholicke churche maye be in all schismes and heresies knowne writeth in thys maner When sayth he one parte is corrupted with heresyes then preferre the whole worlde before that one part but if the greatest parte bee infected then preferre antyquitie In like sort now when I perceaue the greatest parte of Christianitie to be infected with the poyson of the sea of Rome I repayre to the vsage of the primitiue church which I finde cleane contrary to the Popes decrees as in that the Priest receaueth alone that it is made vnlawfull to to the Laitye to receaue in both kindes and such lyke Wherefore it requireth that I preferre the antiquitie of the primatiue church before the nouelty of the Romysh church Lincol. Mayster Ridley these faults which you charge the Sea of Rome withall are in deede no faultes For first it was neuer forbid the Laitie but that they myghte if they demaunded receaue vnder bothe kyndes You know also that Chryst after hys resurrection at what tyme he went wyth hys Apostles to Galile opened hym selfe by breaking of bread You know that saynct Paule after hys longe sayling towardes Rome brake breade and that the Apostles came together in breakyng of bread whiche declareth that it is not vnlawfull to minister the Sacrament vnder the forme of breade onely and yet the churche hadde iust occasion to decree that the laytye shoulde receaue in one kinde onely thereby to take away an opinion of the vnlearned that Chryst was not wholy both flesh and bloud vnder the forme of bread Therfore to take away theyr opinion and to establishe better the peoples faythe the holy Ghost in the churche thoughte good to decree that the Laitie woulde receaue onelye in one kynde and it is no newes for the Church vppon iust consideration to alter rites and ceremonies For you read in the Actes of the Apostles that saynct Paule writyng to certayne of the Gentiles whiche had receaued the Gospel biddeth them to abstayne a suffogato sanguine from thynges stifled and from bloud so that this seemeth to bee an expresse commaundement yet who will saye but that it is lawfull to eate bloudings how is it lawfull but by theyr permission of the Church Ridly My Lord such thinges as saynct Paule enioyned to the Gentiles for a sufferaunce by a little and little to win the Iewes to Christ were onely commandementes of tyme and respected not the successours but Chrystes commaundement do this that is that which he dyd in remembraunce which was not to minister in one kind onely was not a commaundement for a tyme but to perseuer to the worldes end But the Bishop of Lincolne not attending to this answere without any stay proceeded in his Oration So that the Churche seemeth to haue authoritie by the holy Ghost whome Christ sayd he woulde send after hys ascension whiche should teache the Apostles all truthe to haue power and iurisdiction to alter suche poyntes of the Scripture euer reseruing the foundation but wee came not as I sayd before in this sort to reason the matter wyth you but haue certayne instructions ministred vnto vs according to the tenour of the whiche wee must proceede proposing certayne articles vnto the which we require your aunswere directly eyther affirmatiuely eyther negatiuely to euery of them eyther denying them either graunting them without farther disputations or reasoning for we haue already stretched our instructions in that wee suffered you to debate and reason the matter in such sort as wee haue done the whiche articles you shall heare now and to morrow at eyght of the clocke in saynct Maryes Churche we will require and take youre aunsweres and then according to the same proceede if you require a copy of them you shall haue it pen inke and paper also all such bookes as you shall demaunde if they be to be gotten in the Uniuersitie The Articles IN dei nomine Amen Nos Iohannes Lincolne Iacobus Glocest Iohannes Bristol Episcopi per reuerendis dominum Reginaldum miseratione diuina S. Mariae in Cosmedin c. 1 We doe obiecte to the Nic. Ridley and to thee Hughe Latimer ioyntly and seuerally first that thou Nicholas Ridley in this high Uniuersitie of Oxford Anno. 1554. in the monthes of Aprill May Iune Iulye or in some one or moe of thē hast affirmed and openly defended maintayned and in many other tymes and places besides that the true and naturall body of Christe after the consecration of the priest is not really present in the sacrament of the altar 2. Item that in the yeare and monthes aforesayde thou hast publickely affirmed and defended that in the Sacrament of the altar remayneth still the substaunce of breade and wine 3. Item that in the sayde yeare and monthes thou hast openly affirmed and obstinately mayntayned that in the Masse is no propiciatory Sacrifice for the quicke and the dead 4. Item that in the yeare place and monthes aforesayd these thy foresayd assertions solemnly haue bene condemned by the scholasticall censure of this schoole as hereticall and contrarye to the Catholicke fayth by the worshipful M. Doctor Weston Prolocutour then of the conuocation house as also by other learned men of bothe the Uniuersities 5. Item that all and singular the premisses be true notorious famous and openly knowne by publicke fame as well to them neare hand as also to them in distaunt places farre of Examination vppon the sayd Articles ALl these articles I thought good here to place together that as often as hereafter rehearsall shall be of any of them the reader may haue recourse hether and peruse the same and not to trouble the storye with seuerall repeticions thereof Lincolne After these Articles were read the Bishoppes tooke counsayle togethers At the last the Bishop of Lincolne sayde these are the very same Articles whiche you in open disputation here in the Uniuersitie did mayntayn and defend What say you vnto the first I praye you aunswere affirmatiuely or negatiuely Ridly Why my Lorde I supposed your gentlenes had bene such that you would haue geuen me space vntyll to morow that vpon good aduisement I might bring a determinate aunswere Lincoln Yea M. Ridley I meane not that youre aunsweres nowe shall be preiudiciall to your aunsweres to morow I will take your aunsweres at this tyme and yet notwithstāding it shal be lawfull to you to adde diminish alter and chaunge of these answeres to morow what you will Ridly In deede in like maner at our laste disputations I hadde many thinges promised and fewe performed It was sayde
the truth but seeyng it is so because you will not suffer vs to persist in the first we must of necessitie proceede to the other part of our Commission Therefore I pray you harken what I shall say and forthwith did read the sentence of condemnation which was written in a long processe the tenour of which because it is sufficiently already expressed before we thought meete in this place to omitte forasmuche as they are rather wordes of course then thinges deuised vpon deliberation Howbeit in deede the effecte was that for as much as the sayd Nic. Ridley dyd affirme maintaine and stubbornely defende certaine opions assertions and heresies contrary to the worde of God and the receiued fayth of the Churche as in denying the true and naturall body of Christe and his naturall bloud to be the Sacrament of the Altar Secondarily in affermyng the substaunce of bread and wine to remayne after the wordes of the Consecration Thirdly in denying the Masse to be a liuely Sacrifice of the Churche for the quicke and the dead and by no meanes woulde be perduced and brought from these his heresies they therefore the sayde Iohn of Lincolne Iames of Glocester Iohn of Bristowe did iudge and condemne the sayd Nic. Ridley as an Hereticke and so adiudged hym presently both by woorde and also in deede to be degraduated from the degree of a Byshoppe from Pristhoode and all Ecclesiasticall order declaryng moreouer the sayde Nic. Ridley to be no member of the Churche and therefore committed hym to the secular powers of them to receyue due punishment accordyng to the tenour of the temporalll lawes and further excommunicatyng hym by the great excommunication ¶ The last appearaunce and examination of M Latimer before the Commissioners THis sentence beyng published by the Bishop of Lincolne M. Ridley was committed as a prisoner to the Maior and immediatly M. Latimer was sent for but in the meane season the Carpet or cloth whiche lay vpon the table whereat M. Ridley stode was remoued because as men reported M. Latimer had neuer the degree o● a Doctor as M. Ridley had But eftsones as M. Latimer appeared as he did the day before perceiuyng no cloth vpon the table layde his hat which was an olde felte vnder his elbowes and immediatly spake to the Commissioners saying Lati My Lordes I beseech your Lordships to set a better order here at your entraunce for I am an olde man and haue a very euill backe so that the presse of the multitude doth me much harme Linc. I am sory M. Latimer for your hurt At your departure we will see to better order With that M. Latimer thanked his Lordshyp making a very low curtesie After this the Bishop of Lincolne began on this manner Linc. M. Latimer although yesterday after we had taken your aunsweres to those Articles whiche we proposed might haue iustly proceeded to iudgement against you especially in that you required the same yet we hauyng a good hope of your returning desiring not your destruction but rather that you woulde recant reuoke your errours and turne to the Catholicke Church differred farther processe tyll this day and now accordyng to the appoyntment we haue called you here before vs to heare whether you are content to reuoke your hereticall assertions and submitte your selfe to the determination of the Church as we most hartely desire and I for my part as I did yesterday most earnestly doe exhort you eyther to know whether you perseuer still the man that you were for the which we would be sory It seemed that the Bishop woulde haue farther proceeded sauyng that M. Latimer interrupted hym saying Lati. Your Lordship often doth repeate the Catholike Church as though I should deny the same No my Lord I confesse there is a Cotholicke Church to the determination of the which I will stande but not the Churche which you call Catholicke which soner might be termed diabolike And where as you ioyne together the Romish and Catholicke Church stay there I pray you For it is an ●ther thing to say Romish Church and an other thing to say Catholicke Church I must vse here in this myne aunswere the counsell of Cyprianus who at what tyme he was ascited before certayne Bishoppes that gaue him leaue to take deliberation and counsell to try and examine his opinion he answered them thus in stickyng and perseueryng in the truth there must no counsel nor delibera tion be taken And agayne beyng demaunded of them sitting in iudgement which was most like to be of y● Church of Christe either he whiche was persecuted eyther they which did persecute Christ sayd he hath foreshewed that he that doth follow hym must take vp his crosse and follow him Christ gaue knowledge that the disciples should haue persecution and trouble Howe thinke you then my Lords is it like that the sea of Rome which hath bene a continual persecutor is rather the Church or that swal flocke which hath continually ben persecuted of it euen to death Also the flock of Christ hath ben but few in comparison to the residue and euer in subiection which he proued beginning at No●s tyme euen to the Apostles Linc. Your cause and S. Cyprians is not one but cleane contrary for he suffered persecution for Christes sake and the Gospell but you are in trouble for your errours and false assertions contrary to the worde of God and the receiued trueth of the Church Lati. M. Latimer interruptyng hym sayd yes verely my cause is as good as S. Cyprians for his was for the worde of God and so is myne But Lincolne goeth forth in his talke Also at the beginnyng and foundation of the Churche it coulde not be but that the Apostles shoulde suffer great persecution Further before Christes commyng continually there were very fewe whiche truely serued God but after his commyng beganne the tyme of grace then beganne the Churche to encrease and was continually augmented vntyll that it came vnto this perfection and now hath iustly that iurisdiction whiche the vnchristian Princes before by tyranny dyd resist there is a diuerse consideration of the estate of the Churche nowe in the tyme of grace and before Christes commyng But Maister Latimer although we had instructions geuen vs determinately to take your aunsweare to suche Articles as we shoulde propose without any reasonyng or disputations yet wee hopyng by talke somewhat to preuayle with you appoynted you to appeare before vs yesterday in the Diuinitie Schole a place for disputations And whereas then notwithstanding you had licence to saye your mynde and were aunsweared to euery matter yet you coulde not be brought from your errours We thynkyng that from that tyme ye would with good aduisement consider your state gaue you respite from that tyme yesterday when we dimissed you vntill this tyme and now haue called you agayne here in this place by your aunsweres to learne whether you are the same man you were
haue robbed and spoyled all this heauenly treasure away I may well complayne on these thyngs and cry out vpon them with the Prophet saying Deus venerunt gentes in haereditatem tuam c. Psal. 72. O Lord God the Gentiles Heathen nations are come into thy heritage They haue defiled thy holy Temple and made Ierusalem an heape of stones that is They haue broken beaten down to the ground thy holy Citie This Heathenish generatiō these thieues of Samaria these Sabei and Chaldei these robbers haue rushed out of their dennes and haue robbed the Church of England of all the foresayd holy treasure of God they haue caried it away and ouerthrown it and in stead of Gods holy worde the true and right administration of Christes holy Sacramentes as of Baptisme and others they mixte theyr ministerie with mens foolish fantasies and many wicked and vngodly traditions withall In stead of the Lordes holy Table they geue the people with much solemne disguising a thyng which they cal their Masse but in deed and in truth it is a very masking and mockerie of the true Supper of the Lord or rather I may call it a crafty iuglyng whereby these false theeues iuglers haue bewitched the myndes of the simple people that they haue broght them from the true worship of god vnto pernicious idolatry and make them to beleeue that to be Christ our Lord and Sauiour which in deed is neither God nor man nor hath any lyfe in it selfe but in substance is the creature of bread and wyne and in vse of the Lordes Table is the Sacrament of Christes bodye and bloud and for this holy vse for the whiche the Lord hath ordained them in hys table to represent vnto vs his blessed body torne vpon the crosse for vs and his bloude there shed it pleased him to call them his body bloud whiche vnderstanding Christ declareth to be his true meanyng when he sayth Do this in the remembraunce of me And agayne Saint Paule likewyse doth set out the same more plainly speaking of the same Sacrament after the words of the consecration saieng As often as ye shall eat of this bread and drinke of this cup ye shall set forth he meaneth with the same the Lordes death vntill his commyng agayne And here agayne these thieues haue robbed also the people of the Lordes cup contrary to the plaine words of Christ written in his Gospell Nowe for the common publike prayers whiche were in the vulgare tongue these theeues haue brought in agayne a strange tongue whereof the people vnderstande not one worde Wherein what doe they els but robbe the people of their Diuine seruice wherein they ought to pray together with the minister and to pray in a strange tong what is it but as Saint Paule calleth it barbarousnesse childishnes vnprofitable folly yea and plaine madnesse For the godly Articles of vnitie in religion for the wholesome Homelies what doe these Thieues place in the stead of them but the Popes Lawes and Decrees lying Legends fayned fables and miracles to delude and abuse the simplicitie of the rude people Thus this robbery and theft is not onely committed nay sacriledge and wicked spoyle of heauenly thyngs but also in the stead of the same is brought in and placed the abhominable desolation of the tyrant Antiochus of proud Senacherib of the shamelesse faced kyng and of the Babilonicall beast Unto this robbery this theft and sacrilege for that I cannot cōsent nor God willyng neuer shall so long as the breath is in my body because it is blasphemy agaynst God hygh treason vnto Christ our heauenly kyng Lord Maister our onely Sauiour and redeemer it is playne contrary to Gods word and to Christes Gospell it is the subuersion of all true godlinesse and agaynst the euerlastyng saluation of myne owne soule and of all my brethren and sisters whom Christ my Sauiour hath so dearely bought wyth no lesse price then with the effusion and shedyng foorth of hys most precious bloud Therfore all ye my true louers in God my kinsfolke and countreymen for this cause I say knowe ye that I am put to death which by Gods grace I shall willingly take with hearty thankes to God therefore in certayne hope without any doubtyng to receyue at Gods hande agayne of his free mercy and grace euerlastyng lyfe Although the cause of the true man slayne of the thiefe helpyng hys neighbour to recouer hys goods agayne and the cause wherfore I am to be put to death in a generality is both one as I sayd before yet know ye that there is no small difference These thieues agaynst whom I do stand are much worse then the robbers and thieues of the borders The goodes which they steale are much more precious and their kynds of fight are far diuers These thieues are worse I say for they are more cruell more wycked more false more deceitfull and crafty for those wyll but kill the body but these will not sticke to kill both body and soule Those for the generall theft and robbery be called are in deed theeues and robbers but these for their spirituall kynd of robbery are called Sacrilegi as ye would say Church robbers They are more wicked for those goe about to spoyle men of worldly thynges worldly riches gold and siluer worldly substance these go about in the wayes of the deuill their ghostly father to steale from the vniuersall Church and perticularly from euery man all heauenly treasure true faith true charity hope of saluation in the bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ yea to spoil vs of our sauior Iesus Christ of his gospel of his heauēly spirit of the heauenly heritage of the kingdom of heauē so derely purchased vnto vs with the death of our maister and Sauiour Christ. These be the goodes and godly substance whereupon the christian before God must liue and without the which he cannot lyue These goods I saye these theeues these Church robbers go about to spoile vs of The which goods as to the man of God they excell and farre passe all worldly treasure so to withstand euen vnto the death such theeues as go about to spoyle both vs the whole Church of such goods is most high and honourable seruice done vnto God These church robbers be also much more false crafty and deceitfull then the theeues vpon the borders for these haue not the craft so to commend their theft that they dare auouch it and therefore as acknowledging themselues to be euill they steale commonly vpon the nyght they dare not appeare at iudgements and Sessions where Iustice is executed and when they are taken and brought thether they neuer hang any man but they bee oft tymes hanged for theyr faults But these Church robbers can so cloke colour their spiritual robbery that they can make the people to beleeue falshood to be truth and truth falshood good
thou madest me not partner of First to be scholer then to be fellow after my departure from thee thou calledst me againe to a maistership of a right worshipful colledge I thanke thee my louing mother for al this thy kindnes and I pray God that his lawes and the sincere gospell of Christ may euer bee truly taught and faithfully learned in thee Farewell Pembroke Hall of late myne owne Colledge my cure and my charge what case thou art in now God knoweth I know not wel Thou wast euer named sithens I knew thee which is now 30. yeares agoe to bee studious well learned and a great setter forth of Christes gospell and of Gods true word so I found thee blessed be God so I left thee in deed Wo is me for thee myne own deare Colledge if euer thou suffer thy selfe by any meanes to be brought from that trade In thy Orchard the wals buts and trees if they could speake would beare me witnes I learned without booke almost all Paules epistles yea and I weene all the Canonicall epistles saue only the Apocalyps Of which study although in time a great part did depart from me yet the sweete smell thereof I trust I shall cary with me into heauen for the profite thereof I thinke I haue felt in all my lyfe tyme euer after I ween of late whether they abide now or no I cannot tell there was that did the lyke The Lord graunt that this zeale loue toward that part of gods word which is a kay true commentary to all holy scripture may euer abyde in that Colledge so long as the world shall endure From Cambridge I was called into Kente by the Archbishoppe of Caunterbury Thomas Cranmer that most Reuerend Father and man of God and of hym by and by sent to be Uicare of Herne in East Kent Wherefore farewell Herne thou worshipfull and wealthy Parishe the first Cure whereunto I was called to minister Gods word Thou hast heard of my mouth oft tymes the worde of GOD preached not after the popish trade but after Christes Gospell Oh that the fruite had aunswered to the seede And yet I must knowledge me to bee thy debter for the doctrine of the Lordes Supper whiche at that tyme I acknowledge God had not reueled vnto me but I blesse God in all that godly vertue zeale of Gods worde which the Lord by preachyng of his word did kindle manifestly both in the heart and in the lyfe and works of that Godly woman there my Lady Phines the Lord graunt that hys worde tooke lyke effect there in many other moe Farewell thou cathedrall church of Caunterbury the Metrapolitike sea whereof once I was a member To speake things pleasant vnto thee I dare not for daunger of conscience and displeasure of my Lord God and to say what lyeth in my hart were now to much I feare were able to do thee now but little good Neuerthelesse for the friendship I haue found in some there and for charity sake I wish thee to be washed clean of all worldlines and vngodlines that thou mayst be found of God after thy name Christes church in deed and in truth Farewell Rochester sometyme my Cathedrall sea in whom to say the truth I did find much gentlenesse and obedience and I trust thou wilt not say the contrary but I did vse it to Gods glory and thyne owne profit in God Oh that thou hadst and mightst haue continued and gone forward in the trade of Gods lawe wherein I dyd leaue thee then thy charge and burden should not haue bene so terrible and dangerous as I suppose verily it is lyke to be alas on the latter day To Westminster other aduertisement in God I haue not now to say then I haue sayd before to the Cathedrall church of Cant. so God geue thee of his grace that thou mayest learne in deed and in truth to please hym after his owne lawes and thus fare you well Oh London London to whome now may I speake in thee or whom shall I bid farewell Shall I speake to the Prebendaries of Paules Alas all that loued Gods word were the true setters forth therof are now as I heare say some burnt and slaine some exiled and banished and some holden in hard prison and appointed daily to be put to most cruel death for Christes gospel sake As for the rest of them I know they could neuer brooke me well nor I could neuer delight in them Shall I speake to the Sea thereof wherein of late I was placed almost and not fully by the space of iij. yeres But what may I say to it being as I heare say I am deposed and expulsed by iudgement as an vniust vsurper of that roume O iudgement iudgement Can this bee iust iudgement to condemne the chiefe minister of gods word the pastour and bishop of the dioces and neuer bring him into iudgement that hee might haue heard what crymes were layd to his charge nor neuer suffer him to haue any place or tyme to aunswer for himselfe Thinkest thou that hereafter when true Iustice shall haue place thys iudgement can euer be allowed either of God or of man Well as for the cause and whole matter of my deposition the spoil of my goods which thou possessest yet I referre it vnto God which is a iust iudge and I besech God if it be his pleasure that that which is but my personall wrong bee not layd to thy charge in the latter daye this onely can I pray for O thou now wicked and bloudy Sea why doest thou set vp agayne many aultars of Idolatry which by the word of God were iustly taken away Why hast thou ouerthrowen the Lordes Table Why doest thou dayly delude thy people ma●king in thy Masses in stead of the Lordes holy Supper which ought to be commō aswell sayth Chrysostom yea the Lord himselfe to the people as to the priest How darest thou denye to the people of Christ contrarye to his expresse commaundement in the Gospell his holye Cuppe Why bablest thou to the people the commō prayer in a straunge tongue wherein S. Paule commaundeth in the Lordes name that no man should speake before the Congregation except it shoulde bee by and by declared in theyr common tongue that all might bee edified Naye harken thou Whoorishe Bande of Babylon thou wicked lya●●e of Antichrist thou bloudy Woolfe why slayest thou downe and makest hauocke of the Prophetes of GOD Why marthe rest thou so cruelly Christes poore seely sheep which will not heare thy voyce because thou art a straunger and will folowe none other but theyr owne Pastoure Christ his voyce Thinkest thou to escape or that the Lord will not require the bloud of his sayntes at thy handes Thy GOD which is the worke of thy handes and whom thou sayest thou hast power to make that thy deafe and dumbe God I say will not in deede nor
corporall not carnall not naturall not sensible not perceptible but onely spirituall pag. 181. l. 18. c. l. 25. p. 223. l. 21. Confutation We receyue Christ in the Sacrament of his fleshe and bloud if we receiue hym worthily p. 190. l. 7. p. 197. lin 27. Confutation When an vnrepentant sinner receyueth the Sacramēt he hath not Christes body within hym p. 256. l. 18. Confutation He that eateth verily the flesh of Christ is by nature in Christ and Christ is naturally in hym pag. 18. li 51. Confutation An euill man in the sacrament receiueth in deed Christes very body p. 18. l. 24.25 Euill men eat verily the flesh of Christ p. 2561. l. 24.25 c. Confutation Christ geueth vs to be eaten the same flesh that he took of the virgin Mary p. 274. l. 25. We receyue not in the Sacrament Christes flesh that was crucified p. 276. l. 1. Confutation S. Augustines rule in his booke De doctrina Christiana pertaineth not to Christes supper p. 132. l. 40. S. Augustine meaneth of the Sacrament ibidem and p. 10. l. 44. Confutation Reason in place of seruice as beyng inferior to fayth wyll agree with the fayth of Transubstantiation well enough p. 300. l. 12. Confutation And as reason receyued into faithes seruice doth not striue with transubstantiation but agreeth well with it so mans senses be no such direct aduersaries to transubstantiation as a matter wherof they cannot skill for the senses cannot skill of substances p. 307. l. 11. c. Thine eyes say there is but bread and wyne thy taste sayeth the same thy feelyng and smellyng agreefully with them Hereunto is added the carnal mans vnderstanding which because it taketh the beginning of the senses procedeth in reasonyng sensually In the deuils sophistry fo 6. The Churche hath not forborne to preach the truth to the confusion of mans senses and vnderstandyng fol. 15. It is called bread because of the outward visible matter p. 327. lyne When it is called bread it is ment Christ the spirituall bread p. 320. l. 41. And the Catholike fayth teacheth that the fraction is in the outward signe and not in the body of Christ p. 165. lyne 1. and pag. 392. lyne 47. and in the Deuils Sophistry fol. 17. That which is broken is the bodye of Christ p. 392. lyne 49. The inward nature of the bread is the substance p. 323 lyne 14. Substance signifieth in Theodoret he sayth the outward nature p. 404. l. 40. The substances of bread and wyne be visible cretures p. 322. l. 30. and 323. l. 32. Accidents be the visible natures and visible elements p. 1406. l. 16. and 25. c. Christ is our satisfaction wholy and fully hath payd our whole debt to God the Father for the appeasyng of hys wrath agaynst vs p. 92. l. 6.7 The act of the priest done accordyng to Gods cōmandement must needs be propitiatory and ought to be trusted on to haue a propitiatory effect p. 437. l. 13. The sacrifice of our Sauiour Christ was neuer reiterate p. 416. l. 8. Priests do sacrifice Christ p. 431. l. 16. And the catholike doctrine teacheth the daily sacrifice to be the same in essence that was offered on the Crosse p. 439. l. 11. The Nestorians graunted both the Godhead manhood always to be in Christ continually p. 348. l. 11.12 The Nestorians denied Christ conceyued GOD or borne God but that he was afterward God as a mā that is not borne a bishop is after made a bishop So the Nestorians sayd that the Godhead was an accession after by merite and that he was conceyued only man p. 347. l. 47 50.51 and p. 148. l. 47. Christ vseth vs familiarly as he dyd hys Apostles p. 93. l. 21. Christ is not to be sayd conuersant in earth pag. 114. lin 11. c. ¶ Certaine things that Winchester granted vnto CHrist declared eatyng of hymselfe to signify beleeuing p. 29. l. antepenultima Confutation Christ must be spiritually in man before he receiue the Sacrament or els he cannot receyue the sacrament worthily p. 54. l. 44. p. 160. l. vltima p. 196. l. 3. p. 105. l 32. How Christ is present p. 69. l. 29. c. p. 81. l. 12. p. 181. li. 26. p. 65. l. 15. By faith we know only the beyng present of Christes most precious body not the maner thereof p. 70. l. 15. When we speake of Christes body we must vnderstād a true body which hath both forme and quantitie p. 81. l. 5. lin 35. Although Christs body haue all those truths of forme quantitie yet it is not present after the maner of quantitie ibidem l. 8.9 The demonstratiue this may bee referred to the inuisible substance p. 120. l. 42 All the old prayers and ceremonies sound as though the people did communicate with the priest p. 165. l. 46. The maner of Christs beyng in the Sacrament is not corporall nor carnall not natural not sensible not perceptible but only spirituall p. 181. l. 19. c. l. 25. p. 223. l. 21. When the vnrepentant sinner receiueth the sacrament he hath not Christes body within hym p. 256. l. 18. We eat not Christ as he sitteth in heauen raignyng p. 276. l. 18. The worde Transubstantiation was first spoken of in a generall Councell where the B. of Rome was present p. 284. l. 11. In the sacrifice of the church Christs death is not iterated but a memory daily renued of the death so as Christes offeryng on the crosse once done and consummate is now only remembred p. 440. l. 40. c. To these notes places of D. Ridley let vs also adioyne other 12. places or Articles of the lyke affinitie taken out of his booke called the examination of the proud hunter noted in the later end of D. Turners secōd course By these Articles it may appeare how this Bishop swarueth no lesse from the sound truth of Christes Gospell then he dyd in the other both from hymselfe and also from other hys fellow brethren of hys owne Catholike mother church of Rome The Articles in summe are these ¶ Twelue new found Articles of Steuen Gardiners Creede taught in hys booke called the examination of the hunter 1. THe ceremonies and traditions which the Bish. of Rome hath ordeyned and are now allowed in England are the pale of the church of England fol. 7. 2. The Popes ceremonies and traditions are good and politike lawes wherby God hath enclosed the kings subiects vnder hys maiestie alone ibidem 3. As king Richard an euill man made a good politicke law for the body common welth of England so can the Pope an euill man make good lawes and wholesome doctrine for mans soule and Christes church fol. 23. 4. Whatsoeuer is good spoken and vsed by mā is much more of God then Christes
before the Bishops of London Bath Worcester and Glocester BOner Mayster Philpot it hath pleased my Lordes to take paines here to day to dine with my poore archdeacon and in the diner time it chaunced vs to haue communication of you you were pitied here of many that knew you in the new Colledge in Oxforde and I also doe pitty your case because you seeme vnto me by the talke I hadde with you the other night to be learned therefore now I haue sent for you to come before them that it might not be sayd hereafter that I had so many learned Bishops at my house and yet would not vouchsafe them to talk with you and at my request I thanke them they are content so to do Now therfore vtter your mind freely you shal with all fauour be satisfied I am sory to see you lye in so euill a case as you doe and would fayne you should do better as you may if you list Bath My Lordes here haue not sent for you to fawn vpō you but for charities sake to exhorte you to come into the right catholicke way of the church Worc. Before he beginneth to speake it is best that he call to God for grace and to praye that it might please God to open his hart that he may conceiue the truth Phil. With that I fell downe vpon my knees before them and made my prayer on this maner Almighty God which art the geuer of all wisedome and vnderstanding I beseech thee of thine infinite goodnes and mercye in Iesus Christ to geue me most vile sinner in thy sight the spirite of wisedome to speake and make answere in thy cause that it may be to the contentation of the hearers before whom I stand also to my better vnderstanding if I be deceiued in any thing Boner Nay my Lorde of Worcester you did not well to exhort him to make any prayer For this is the thing they haue a singular pride in that they can oftē make their vain prayers in the which they glory much For in this poynt they are much like to certayne errant heretickes of whom Pliny maketh mention that didde dayly sing antelucanos Hymnos Prayse vnto God before the dawning of the day Phil. My Lord God make me all you here present suche hereticks as those were that soong those morning himnes for they were right christians with whom the tyrantes of the world were offendeh for their well doing Bath Proceede to that he hath to saye He hath prayed I can not tell for what Boner Say on M. Philpot my Lordes will gladly heare you Phil. I haue my Lordes bene this tweluemoneth and an halfe in Prison without any iust cause that I knowe and my liuing taken from me without any lawfull order and now I am brought contrary to righte from myne owne Territory and Ordinary into another mans iurisdiction I know not why Wherfore if your Lordships cā burden me with any euill done I stand here before you to purge me of the same And if no suche thing may bee iustly layd to my charge I desire to be released of this wrongful trouble Boner There is none here goeth about to trouble you but to do you good if we can For I promise you ye were sent hither to mee without my knowledge Therefore speake your conscience without any feare Phil. My Lord I haue learned to aunswere in matters of Religion In Ecclesia legitimè vocatus In the Congregation being thereto lawfully called but nowe I am not lawfullye called neither is here a iust congregation where I oughte to answere Boner In deede this man tolde mee the last time I spake with him that he was a Lawyer and woulde not vtter his conscience in matters of fayth vnlesse it were in the hearing of the people where hee mighte speake to vayne glory Phil. My Lord I sayd not I was a Lawyer neither do I arrogate to my selfe that name although I was once a nouice in the same where I learned something for mine owne defence whē I am called in iudgement to answere to any cause whereby I haue bene taught not to put my selfe further in daūger then I neede and so farre am I a Lawyer and no further Bath If you will not answere to my Lordes request you seme to be a wilfull man in your opinion Phil. My Lorde of London is not mine Ordinarye before whom I am bound to answere in this behalfe as maister D. Cole which is a Lawyer can well tell you by the lawe And I haue not offended my Lord of Londō wherfore he should call me Boner Yes I haue to laye to your charge that you haue offended in my dioces by speaking agaynst the blessed sacrament of the aultar and therefore I may call you proceed agaynst you to punish you by the law Phil. I haue not offended in your Dioces For that whiche I spake of the Sacrament was in Paules Churche in the Conuocation house which as I vnderstand is a peculiar iurisdiction belonging to the Deane of Paules and therefore is counted of your Lordships Dioces but not in your Dioces Boner Is not Paules Churche in my Dioces Well I wote it costeth me a good deale of money by the yeare the leading thereof Phil. That may be yet be exempted from your lordships iurisdiction And albeit I had so offended in your Dioces yet I ought by the law to be sent to mine Ordinarye if I require it not to bee punished by you that are not mine Ordinary And already as I haue told you I haue bene conuented of mine Ordinary for this cause which you goe about to enquire of me Boner How say you M. D. Cole may not I proceed against him by the law for that he hath done in my dioces Cole Me thinketh M. Philpot needeth not to stande so muche with your Lordship in that point as he doth sithen you seeke not to hinder him but to further him therfore I thinke it best that he go to the matter that is layde agaynst him of the Conuocation and make to longer delay Phil. I would willingly shew my mind of the matter but I am sure it will be layd agaynst me to my preiudice whē I come to iudgement Cole Why then you may speake by protestation Phil. But what shall my protestation auayle in a cause of heresy as you call it if I speake otherwise then you wyll haue me since that which I spake in the conuocatiō house being a place priuiledged can not now helpe me Boner But M. Doct. Cole may I not proceede agaynst him for that offence he hath done in my dioces Cole You may call him before you my Lord if he be foūd in your dioces Phil. But I haue by force bene brought out of mine owne Dioces to my Lordes and required to be iudged of myne owne Ordinary and therefore I know mayster Doctour will not say of his
you as good authoritye agaynst me in my cause now as Ireneus had agaynst those heretickes But the church of Rome hath swarued from the truth and simplicitye of the Gospell whiche it mainteined in Ireneus time and was vncorrupted from that whiche it is nowe wherefore your Lordships can not iustly apply the authority of Ireneus to the Church of Rome now which is so manifestly corrupted from the Primitiue Church Boner So will you saye still it maketh nothinge for the purpose whatsoeuer authority wee bring and will neuer be satisfied Phil. My Lorde when I doe by iust reason proue that the authorities which be brought agaynst me doe not make to the purpose as I haue alredy proued I trust you will receiue mine aunswere Worc. It is to be prooued most manifestly by all auncient writers that the Sea of Rome hath alwayes folowed the truth and neuer was deceiued vntill of late certayne heretickes had defaced the same Phil. Let that be proued and I haue done Worcest Nay you are of suche arrogancy singularitye and vayne glory that you will not see it be it neuer so wel proued Phil. Ha my Lordes is it nowe time thinke you for me to folow singularity or vayne glory since it is now vpon daunger of my life and death not onely presently but also before God to come and I know if I dye not in the true fayth I shall dye euerlastingly and agayne I knowe if I do not as you would haue me you will kill me and many thousandes moe yet had I leuer perish at your handes then to perishe eternally And at this time I haue lost all my cōmodities of this worlde and now lye in a colehouse where a man would not lay a dog with the whiche I am well contented Cole Where are you able to prooue that the Churche of Rome hath erred at any time and by what Historye certayne it is by Eusebius that the Church was stablished at Rome by Peter and Paul and that Peter was bishop 25. yeares at Rome Phil. I know well that Eusebius so writeth but if we cōpare that which saynt Paul writeth to the Galathians the first it will manifestlye appeare the contrarye that he was not halfe so long there He liued not past 35. yeres after he was called to be an Apostle and Paul maketh mention of his abiding at Hierusalem after Christes death more then 18. yeares Cole What did Peter write to the Galathians Phil. No I say Paule maketh mention of Peter writing to the Galathians and of his abiding at Hierusalem And further I am able to proue both by Eusebius other Historiographers that the church of Rome hath manifestly erred and at this present doth erre because shee agreeth not with that which they wrote The primitiue Church didde vse according to the Gospell and there needeth none other proofe but compare the one with the other Bon. I may compare this man to a certayne man I reade of which fell into a desperation wēt into a wood to hang himselfe and whē he came there he went vewing of euery tree and could find none on the which he might vouchsafe to hange himselfe But I will not apply it as I mighte I pray you M. Doctor go forth with him Cole My Lord there be on euery side on me that be better able to answere him and I loue not to fall in disputation for that now a daies a man shal not but susteine shame and obloquy thereby of the people I had leuer shewe my mind in writing Phil. And I had leuer that you should do so then otherwise for then a man may better iudge of your words then by argument and I beseeche you so to do But if I were a rich man I durst wager an hundred poūdes that you shal not be able to shew that you haue sayde to be decreed by a generall Counsell in Athanasius time For this I am sure of that it was concluded by a generall Councell in Africa many yeares after that none of Africa vnder payne of excommunication should appeale to Rome the which Decree I am sure they woulde not haue made if by the scriptures by an vniuersall Councell it had bene decreed that al mē should abide folow the determination of the churche at Rome Cole But I can shew that they reuoked that error again Phil. So you say M. Doctour but I pray you shewe me where I haue hitherto heard nothing of you for my contētation but bare wordes without any authority Boner What I pray you ought we to dispute with you of our fayth Iustinian in the law hath a title De fide Catholica to the contrary Phil. I am certayne the Ciuill lawe hath such a constitution but our fayth must not depend vpon the ciuil law For as saynt Ambrose sayth Non lex sed fides congregauit Ecclesiam Not the lawe but the Gospell sayth hee hath gathered the church together Worcest M. Philpot you haue the spirit of pride wherewith ye be led which will not let you to yelde to the truth leaue it for shame Phil. Syr I am sure I haue the spirite of fayth by the which I speake at this present neyther am I ashamed to stand in my fayth Glocest. What do you thinke your selfe better learned then so many notable learned men as be here Phil. Elias alone had the truth when they were foure hūdreth priestes agaynst him Worcest Oh you would be counted now for Helias And yet I tel thee he was deceiued for he thoght there had bene none good but himselfe and yet he was deceiued for there were seuen hundred besides him Phil. Yea but he was not deceiued in doctrine as the other seuen hundred were Worcest By my fayth you are greatly to blame that you can not be contēt to be of the Church which euer hath ●en of that faythfull antiquity Phil. My Lord I know Rome and haue bene there wher I saw your Lordship Worcest In deede I did flee from hence thither and I remember not that I saw you there But I am sory that you haue bene there for the wickednesse which you haue seene there peraduenture causeth you to do as you do Phil. No my Lord I doe not as I do for that cause for I am taught otherwise by the Gospell not altogether to refuse the minister for his euill liuing so that he bring sound doctrine out of Gods booke Worc. Doe you thinke that the vniuersall Church may be deceiued Phil. S. Paul to the Thessalonians prophesieth that there should come an vniuersall departing from the faith in the latter dayes before the cōming of Christ saying Non veniet Christus nisi venerit defectio prius that is Christ shal not come till there come a departing fyrst Cole Yea I pray you how take you the departyng there in S. Paule It is not meant of fayth but of the departing from the Empyre For it is in
Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. Mary in deed you M. Doctour put me in good remēbraunce of the meaning of S. Paule in that place for Apotasia is properly a departing from the fayth and thereof commeth Apostata whiche properly signifieth one that departeth from his fayth and S. Paule in the same place after speaketh of the decay of the Empyre Cole Apostasia doth not onely signify a departing frō the fayth but also from the Empyre as I am able to shew Phil. I neuer read it so taken and when you shal be able to shew it as you say in woordes I will beleue it and not before Worcest I am sory that you shoulde be agaynst the Christen world Phil. The world commonly and such as be called Christians for the multitude hath hated the truth and bene enemies to the same Gloc. Why M. Philpot doe you thinke that the vniuersall church hath erred and you onely to be in the truth Phil. The church that you are of was neuer vniuersall for two parts of the world which is Asia Africa neuer consented to the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome as at this day they do not neither do folow his decrees Gloc. Yes in Florentines Councell they did agree Phil. It was sayde so by false report after they of Asia and Africa were gone home but it was not so in deed as the sequele of them all hitherto doth proue the contrary Gloc. I pray you by whom will you be iudged in matters of controuersy which happen dayly Phil. By the word of God For Christ sayth in S. Iohn The word that he spake shall be Iudge in the latter day Gloc. What if you take the word one way and I an other way who shall be iudge then Phil. The Primitiue Church Gloc. I know you meane the Doctors that wrote thereof Phil I meane verely so Gloc. What if you take the Doctors in one sense and I in an other who shal be iudge then Phil. Then let that be taken whiche is moste agreeable to Gods word Cole My Lordes why do you trouble your selues to answere him in this matter It is not the thing which is laid to his charge but his error of the sacrament and he to shift himselfe of that brought in another matter Phil. This is the matter M. Cole to the which I haue referred all other questions and desire to be satisfied Worc. It is wonder to see how he standeth with a few agaynst a great multitude Phil. We haue almost as many as you For we haue Asia Africa Germany Denmarke and a great part of France and dayly the number of the Gospel doth encrease so that I am credibly informed that for this Religion in the whiche I stande and for the whiche I am like to dye a greate multitude doth dayly come out of Fraunce through persecution that the Cityes of Germany bee scarse able to receiue them and therefore your Lordship may be sure the word of God will one day take place doe what you can to the contrary Worc. They were wel occupied to bring you such newes and you haue bene well kept to haue such resort vnto you Thou art the arrogantest felow stoutest fond felow that euer I knew Phil. I pray your Lordship to beare with my hasty speech for it is part of my corrupt nature to speake somewhat hastily but for all that I meane with humility to do my duty to your Lordship Boner M. Philpot my Lordes will troule you no further at this time but you shall goe from whence you came and haue such fauor as in the mean while I can shew you and vpon wednesday next you shal be called agayn to be heard what you can say for mainteinaunce of your error Phil. My Lorde my desire is to be satisfied of you in that I haue required and your Lordship shall finde me as I haue sayd Worc. We wish you as well as our selues Phil. I thinke the same my Lordes but I feare you are deceiued and haue a zeale of your selues not according to knowledge Worc. God send you more grace Phil. And also God encrease the same in you and opē your eyes that you may see to mayneteyne his trueth and hys true Church Then the bishops rose vp consulted together caused a writing to be made in the which I think my bloud by thē was bought sold thereto they put to theyr handes and after this I was caried to my Colehouse agayne ¶ Thus endeth the fourth part of this tragedy God hasten the end therof to his glory Amen BEcause I haue begon to write vnto you of mine examinations before the Bishop other more to satisfy your desire then it is any thing woorthy to be written I haue thought it good to write vnto you also that whiche hath bene done of late that the same might come to light which they do in darcknes and priuy corners and that the world now and the posterity hereafter might knowe how vnorderly vniustly vnlearnedly these rauening wolues doe proceed agaynst the seely and faythfull flocke of Christ and condemne persecute the sincere doctrine of Christ in vs which they are not able by honest meanes to resist but only by tyranny and violence * The 5. examination of Iohn Philpot had before the Bishops of London Rochester Couentry S. Asses I trow and one other whose Seas I know not Doctor Story Curtop Doctor Sauerson Doctor Pendleton with diuers other Chaplaynes and Gentlemen of the Queenes Chamber and diuers other Gentlemen in the Gallery of my Lord of Londons Palace BOner M. Philpot come you hither I haue desyred my Lordes here and other learned mē to take some paines once agayne and to do you good because I do minde to sit in iudgement on you to morow as I am commaūded yet I would you should haue as much fauor as I cā shew you if you wil be any thing cōformable Therfore play the wise man and be not singuler in your opiniō but be ruled by these learned men Phil. My Lord in that you say you will sit on me in iudgement to morrow I am glad thereof For I was promised by them which sent me vnto you that I should haue bene iudged the next day after but promise hath not bene kepte with me to my farther griefe I looke for none other but death at your hands and I am as ready to yeld my life in Christes cause as you be to require it Boner Lo what a wilfull man this is By my fayth it is but folly to reasō with him neither with any of these heretickes I am sory that you wil be no more tractable that I am compelled to shew extremity agaynst you Phil. My Lord you need not to shew extremity against me v●les you list neither by the law as I haue sayd you haue any thing to do with me for that you are not mine Ordynary albeit I am contrary to
and otherwise then it was in hys tyme. For there were by Nicene Councell iiii Patriarckes appoynted the Patriarcke of Hierusalem the Patriarcke of Constantinople the Patriarcke of Alexandria and the Patryarcke of Rome of whiche foure the Patriarcke of Rome was placed lowest in the Councell and so continued many yeares for the tyme o● vii or viii generall Councelles as I am able to shew Therefore S. Cyprian writing to Cornelius Patriarcke of Rome whome he calleth hys fellowe Byshoppe findeth himselfe offended that certayne heretickes beyng iustly excommunicated by him as the Nouatians were did flye from the Dyoces whiche was their chiefe bishop refusing to be obedient to him and to bee reformed to the Bishop of Rome and to the Patriarcke of Constantinople and there were receaued in communion of congregation in derogation of good order and discipline in the church and to the mayntayning of heresies and schismes and that heresies did spring vp and schismes dayly rise hereof that obedience was not geuen to the Prieste of God nor once considered him to be in the Churche for the time the priest and for the time the Iudge in Christes steade as in the decree of Nicene Councell was appoynted not the Byshop of Rome onely but euery Patriarcke in his precinct who had euery one of them a Colledge or Cathedrall churche of learned Priestes in hearyng of whome by a conuocation of his fellow Byshops with the consent of the people all heresies were determined by the word of God and this is the meanyng of S. Cypryan D. Sauer You take it so but it seemeth to me otherwise Phil. Upō what groūd it shuld seeme otherwise vnto you I know not but this meaning whiche I haue declared the general Councels 7. or 8. one after an other confirmed it so to be whiche did not allowe one supreme head onely Pend. There were not so many generall Councels but 4. onely allowed Phil. That is not so M. Pendleton although there be 4. specially allowed for the confirmation of the Trinitie but beside these foure there were many other generall Councels as you may learne by many writers A Chaplayne Did not Christ builde his Church vpon Peter S. Cyprian sayth so Phil. S. Syprian De simplicitate praelatorum declareth in what respect he so sayd In persona vnius dedit Dominus omnibus claues vt omnium vnitatem denunciaret i. God gaue in person of one man the keyes to all that he might signifie the vnitie of all men And also saynt Austen sayth in the x. treatise of S. Iohn Si in Petro non esset Ecclesiae mysterium non ei diceret Dominus tibi dabo claues Si autem hoc Petro dictum est non habet Ecclesia si autem Ecclesia habet quando claues accepit Ecclesiam totam designauit i. If in Peter hadde not bene the misterie of the Churche the Lord had not sayde vnto him I will geue vnto thee the keyes For if that were sayd vnto Peter the Churche hath them not if the Church haue them when Peter receiued them he signified the whole Church And also S. Hierome a Priest of Rome writing to Nepotian sayth that al Churches do leane to their owne Pastours where he speaketh of the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie or regiment where hee maketh no mention of the Bishop of Rome And Ad Euagium hee sayth that wheresoeuer a Byshop be whether it be at Rome or at Euagie or at Regium he is of one power and of one Iurisdiction D. Sauer S. Hierome De coelesti hierarchia It was Dyonisius you meane Phil. I say not that Hierome wrote anye booke so intituled But I say that in the Epistle by me alledged hee maketh mention of the Ecclesiasticall regiment D. Sauer I wonder you will stand so steadfast in your errour to your owne destruction Philpot. I am sure we are in no errour by thy promise of Christe made to the faythfull once whiche is that he will geue to hys true Churche suche a spirite of wisedome that the aduersaries therof should neuer be able to resist And by this I knowe we are of the trueth for that neyther by reasoning neyther by writing your Sinagogue of Rome is able to aunswere Where is there one of you all that euer hath bene able to answere any of the godly learned ministers of Germany who haue disclosed your counterfayt Religion Which of you all at this day is able to answere Caluins institutions which is minister of Geneua D. Sauer A godly minister in deede of receite of ●urpurses and runnagate traytours And of late I can tell you there is such contention fallen betweene hym and his own sects that he was fayne to flye the towne about predestination I tell you truth for I came by Ieneua hether Phil. I am sure you blaspheme that godly man and that Godly church where he is minister as it is your churches condition when you cannot answere men by learnyng to oppresse them with blasphemies and false reportes For in the matter of predestination hee is in none other opinion then al the Doctors of the church be agreeing to the scriptures Sauer Men be able to answere hym if they list And I pray you which of you haue answered Byshop Fishers booke Phil. Yes mayster Doctor that booke is answered and aunswered agayn if you list to seek what hath bene written agaynst hym And after this Doct. Story came in To whom I said mayster Doctor you haue done me great iniury and with out law haue straightly imprisoned me more like a Dogg thē a man And besides this you haue not kept promise with me for you promised that I should be iudged the next day after Story I am come now to keepe promise with thee Was there euer such a fantasticall man as this is Nay he is no man he is a beast Yea these heretickes be worse then brute beastes for they will vpon a vayne singularitie take vpon them to be wiser then all men being in deede very fooles and Asseheades not able to mayntayne that whiche of an arrogant obstinacie they do stand in Phil. M. Doct. I am content to abide your rayling iudgement of me now Say what you will I am content for I am vnder your feete to be troden on as you list God forgeue it you yet I am no hereticke Neither you nor anye other shall be able to proue that I hold any iote agaynst the word of God otherwise then a Christian man ought Story The word of God forsooth the word of God It is but a folly to reason wyth these heretickes for they are incurable and desperate But as I may reasō with thee not that I haue any hope to winne thee whom wilt thou appoynt to be iudge of the word wherto thou standest Phil. Uerely the word it selfe Story Doe you not see the ignoraunce of this beastly hereticke He willeth the word to be iudged of the word Can the word speake Phil. If I cannot
he Gentile or Iew not meanyng all at once for that were impossible And there are many examples that baptisme may be singularly ministred to one person as we haue example in Christ baptised o● Iohn and in the Eunuch baptised of Phillip with many mo such like but so haue you not of the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ but contrarywise by the expresse wordes of S. Paule you are commaunded to vse it in a Communion and participation of many together the 11. to the Corinthians Quoties conuenitis ad manducādum alius alium expectate As ofte as ye come together to eate meanyng the Lordes supper tary one for an other And also the Minister in the celebration of the sacrament speaketh vnto all that be present in Christes behalfe to cōmunicate with hym saying Take ye and eate ye Wherfore as many as bee present and doe not communicate breake Gods commandement in not receiuyng the same and the minister is no iust minister that doth not distribute the sacrament as Christ did to all that are present and where Gods word is transgressed there is not Christ present consequently it is no Sacrament Harps What would you haue it no sacrament without it be a Communion Phil. I make it not so but gods expresse word teacheth me so yea also all the auncient writers as S. Chrysostome writing vpon the Epistle to the Ephesians saith That the oblation is in vayne where as none doth communicate with the priest If by his iudgement the action of the priest alone is in vayne where is no Communion how can that be a sacrament which he calleth a vayne oblation and a vayne standyng at the aultar Cosins You are such another fellow as I haue not heard that will not haue the Masse to be a sacrament you are no man for me to reason withall Come let vs go poyntyng to the morrowmasse Chaplaine we will leaue you maister Archdeacon and him together and so they went away Afterward the Archdeacon fell into earnest perswasions with me saying Harps M. Philpot you and I haue bene of olde acquaintance a long tyme. We were schoolefellowes both in Winchester and in Oxford many yeares Wherefore I must wish you as well to do as my selfe I pray you so thinke of mee Phil. I thanke you for your good will towards me But if you be deceiued as I am sure you are I shall desire you not to wish me deceyued with you For afore God I tell you plainly you are highly deceiued and maintain fals religiō and be not those men you take your selues for and if you do not repent leaue of your persecuting of Christes truth you will go to the deuill for it Therefore consider it in time I geue you warning for in the day of iudgement els I shall be a witnes agaynst you that I told you this here talkyng together Harpsfield Fie that is but your owne vayne singular opinion I perceyue you are still now that man you were in Oxford Phil. I trust you can report no notorious euill that euer you knew by me there Harpsfield I can say no euill of your conuersation but I knew you to be a studious man Marry if you remember when we mette in disputation in Paruis you would not lightly geue ouer and for that cause I speake that I haue sayd Phil. M. Harpsfield you know in the Schooles at Oxford when we were young men we did striue much vpō vaine glory and vpon contention more then for the truth but now our yeares and our riper learnyng teach vs to fall to a truth which must bee our portion for euer And if I was then in my tyme of ignorance earnest in myne owne cause I ought now to be earnest in my Maister Christes cause and in his truth I knowe now that nothyng done vpon vayne glory and singularitie can please God haue it neuer so goodly a shew wherfore I pray you iudge not so of me now Harps What will you thinke your selfe better learned thē all the learned men in this realme Phil. My faith hangeth not vpon the learned of the world but vpon the learned of Gods word Harps Well I will talke with you no more as nowe but pray to God to open your hart Phil. I pray God open both our harts to do more his wil then we haue done in tymes past Harps Ho Keper take hym away with you Phil. I pray you Maister Harpesfield tell me what this Pronounce Hoc doth demonstrate and shew in this Indicatiue proposition as you call it Hoc est corpus meum This is my body Harpsfield It doth demonstrate the substaunce of breade which by the words spoken by the Priest and by the omnipotencie of God is turned into the substance of Christs very body Phil. Is the substaunce of the bread as you say turned into Christes body Harps Yea that it is Phil. Why then Christes body receyueth daily a great increase of many thousand pieces of bread into his body and that is his body become now which was not before and by this you would seeme to make that there is an alteration in Christes glorified body which is a wicked thing to thinke Harps Then he set about agayne and remembryng better hymselfe and seyng the inconuenience of his first assertion of the transubstantiation of bread into Christes body hee sayd that the substance of bread after the words spoken by the priest was euacuated or vanished away by the omnipotencie of God Phil. This is another song then you sang first And here you may see how contrary you are to your selues For in deed your scoolemen do holde that the very substaunce of bread is really turned into the substance of Christes body And now you perceiuyng of late the inconuenience which is obiected against you in that opinion you are driuen to imagine a new shift and say the substance of bread is cuacuated contrary to that your church hath first beleued and taught O what contrarietie is there among you and all to deface the sincere truth Harps Is not God omnipotent and cannot he doe as hee hath sayd Phil. But his omnipotencie wil not do as you say contrary to hys word and to hys honour It is not Gods honor to include hym bodily in a piece of bread and of necessitye to tye hym therto It is not gods honour for you to make a piece of bread God and man which you see before your face doth putrifie after a certaine tyme. Is not Gods omnipotency as able to geue his body with the Sacramentall bread as to make so many turnyngs away of the bread as you doe and that directly against the Scripture which calleth it bread many tymes after the consecration Are you not ashamed to make so many alterations of the Lords holy institution as you do and to take away the substantiall partes of the Sacrament as Take ye eate ye drinke
generatiō shall sit in the temple To the which Chichester replied not Dures The Church in the scripture is likened to a great fishers net which conteineth in it both good fishes bad fishes I trust you wil be of the better sort and leane to the truth Phil. My Lord it is my whole desire now to follow that which is good whatsoeuer I haue done in times past and to cleaue to gods truth Dures Do you so and then shall you do well It is almost night my L. of London I must needes be gone Lond Nay my L. of Duresme I must desire your Lordship and my L. of Chichester to tary a litle while And before he had so sayd the B. of Bathe went his way without saying any word What my L. of Bath will you be gone I pray you tary My Lordes I haue earnest matter to charge this man withall wherof I would your lordships to be made priuy and I haue them here written in a libel I pray you sit downe againe or els I will First I ●ay to him here that hee hath written in a Bible which I tooke from hym this erroneous saying Quod spiritus est vicarius Christi in terra i. The holy Ghost is Christes Uicare in earth Wilt thou abide by this saying of thine That the spirit is Christes vicar on earth Phil. My L. it is not my saying it is a better learned mās then myne For I vse not to write myne owne sayings but the notable sayings of other auncient writers as all the others be where ye find the same writen And as I remember it is euen the saying of Saint Bernard a saying that I neede not to be ashamed of neyther you to bee offended as my L. of Duresme and my L. of Chichester by their learnyng can discerne and will not recken it euill sayd Lond. No will Why take away the first syllable and it foundeth Arius Phil. That is farre fetched in deede if your Lordship will scan mens sayings in such wise you may finde out what you list Lond. But to helpe this I finde moreouer written wyth hys owne hand in another booke In me Ioanne Philpotto vbi abundauit peccatum superabundauit gratia that is In me Iohn Philpot where sinne did abound grace hath superabounded I pray you what superabundāt grace haue you more then other men So said Arius that he had the aboundance of grace aboue all other Phil. My L. you neede not to be offended with that saying more then the other for it is the saying of S. Paule hymself and I did apply it to my self for my comfort knowing that though my sinnes be huge great in the sight of God yet is his mercy grace aboue them all And concernyng Arius his adherents I defie them as it is well known I haue written against them Lond. Also I lay to thy charge that thou killedst thy father and wast accursed of thy mother in her deathbed as I can bring witnes hereof Phil. O Lord what blasphemy is this Hath your Lordship nothing of truth to charge me withall but as I may speake it with your honoures such forged blasphemous lyes If any of these can be prooued I will promise here to recant at Paules Crosse what you wil haue me I am so sure they are as great blasphemies as may bee obiected agaynst any man Ha my Lordes I pray you consider how my L. of London hath hitherto proceded against me for in deed he hath none other but such pretensed slaunderous lyes Chich. They be Parerga that is matters beside the purpose Dures My Lord I must needes bid you farewell Lond. Nay my Lord here is a letter which I shall desire your Lordship to heare ere you goe This man beyng in my kepyng hath taken vpon hym to write letters out of prison to peruert a yong Gentleman called M. Greene in my house call him hither and hath made a false report of his examination as you shall heare not beyng content to be euill himselfe but to make others as bad as himselfe He all to tare the letter when he saw my man went about to search hym but yet I haue pieced it agayne togither caused a copy to be written therof and he red the torne letter biddyng M. Christopherson and Morgan to marke the copy thereof The contents of the letter was the examination of M. Greene before the B. of London in the presence of Maister Feckenham Deane of Paules and of diuers others whose ready answers in the Scriptures and in the Doctors was wondred at of the Deane hymselfe and of many others as M. Fecknam did report and that he was committed to D. Chadsey and to haue his meat from the Bishops owne table How say you my Lords was this wel done of hym beyng my prisoner to write this And yet he hath written a shamefull lye that he was in D. Chadseys keping How say you M. Doc. Chadsey is it not a shamefull lye Chad. Yes my L. he was neuer in my keping London Art thou not ashamed to write suche shamefull lyes Come hether M. Greene did not I shew you this letter Greene. Yea forsooth my L. you shewed it me Lond. How thinke you my Lordes is not this an honest man to belye me Phil. Your Lordship doth mistake all things This letter as your Lordship may perceiue and all other that haue heard the same was not written by me but by a friend of myne certifieng me at my request how M. Greene sped at the B. of Londons hands and there is nothing in the letter that either I or he that wrote it neede to feare but that might be written as my report London Then tell me who wrote it if you dare Phil. No my L. it is not my duty to accuse my friend and specially seyng you will take all thyngs at the worst neither you shall neuer know of me who wrote it Your lordship may see in the end of the letter that my friend did write vnto me vppon the occasion of my appeale which I haue made to the whole Parliament house about such matters as I am wrongfully troubled for London I would see any so hardy to put vppe thine Appeale Phil. My L. I cannot tell what God will worke I haue written it speed as it may Lond My L. I haue vsed him with much gentlenes since he came to me How sayst thou haue I not Phil. If to lie in the vilest prison in this towne being a gētleman and an Archdeacon and in a colehouse by the space of v. or vj. weekes alredy without fire or candle bee to be counted gentlenes at your handes I must needes say I haue found gentlenes But there were neuer men so cruelly handled as we are at these dayes London Loe what a Uarlet is this Besides this my Lordes euen yesterday hee procured hys man to bryng a bladder of blacke Pouder I can
it hath bene frō the beginning from time to tyme as it appereth by stories as Christes true religion is now to be found here in Englād although hypocrisie hath by violence the vpper hād And in the Apocalyps you may see it was prophesied that the true Church should be driuen into corners and into wildernes and suffer great persecution Morgan A are you seene in the Apocalyps there are many strange thyngs Phil. If I tel you the truth which you are not able to refel beleeue it dally not out so earnest matters Me thinke you are liker a scoffer in a play then a reasonable doctor to instruct a man you are bare arsed dance naked in a net and yet you see not your owne nakednes Morgan What I pray you be not so quicke with me Let vs talke a little more coldly together Philpot. I will talke with you as mildely as you can desire if you wil speake learnedly and charitably But if you go about with taunts to delude truth I will not hyde it from you Morgan Why will you not submit your iudgement to the learned men of this Realme Phil. Because I see they can bring no good ground whereupon I may with a good conscience settle my fayth more surely then on that which I am now grounded vppon by Gods manifest word Morgan No do that is maruell that so many learned men should be deceyued Phil. It is no maruell by S. Paule for he sayeth That not many wyse neither many learned after the world bee called to the knowledge of the Gospell Morgan Haue you then alone the spirite of God and not we Phil. I say not that I alone haue the spirite of God but as many as abide in the true faith of Christ haue the spirit of God as well as I. Morgan Howe knowe you that you haue the Spirite of God Phil. By the fayth of Christ which is in me Morgan A by faith do you so I ween it be the spirit of the buttry which your fellowes haue had that haue ben burned before you who were dronk the night before they wēt to their death and I weene went dronken vnto it Phil. It appeareth by your communication that you are better acquainted with the spirit of the Buttry then with the spirit of God Wherefore I must now tell thee thou painted wall hypocrite in the name of the liuing Lord whose truth I haue told thee that God shal raine fire and brimstone vpon such scorners of his worde and blasphemers of his people as thou art Morgan What you rage now Phil. Thy foolish blasphemies hath compelled the spirit of God which is in me to speake that which I haue said vnto thee thou enemy of all righteousnes Morgan Why do you iudge me so Phil. By thine owne wicked words I iudge of thee thou blynd and blasphemous Doctour for as it is written By thy words thou shalt be iustified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned I haue spoken on Gods behalfe now haue I done with thee Morgan Why then I tel thee Philpot that thou art an heretike and shalt be burnt for thine heresy and afterwards go to hell fire Phil. I tel thee thou hypocrite that I passe not this for thy fire and fagots neither I thanke God my Lord stande in feare of the same my faith in Christ shall ouercome thē But the hel fire which thou threatnest me is thy portion and is prepared for thee vnlesse thou spedily repent and for such hypocrites as thou art Morgan What thou speakest vpon wyne thou hast tipled well to day by likelihood Phil. So said the cursed generation of the Apostles beyng replenished with the holy Ghost speaking the wōdrous works of God they said they were dronk when they had nothing els to say as thou doest now Morgan Why I am able to answer thee ywis I trow Phil. So it seemeth with blasphemies and lyes Morgan Nay euen with learnyng say what thou canst Phil. That appeared well at my disputation in the Conuocation house where thou tookest vpon thee to aunswer those few arguments I was permitted to make and yet wast not able to aunswere one but in thyne aunsweres did fumble and stammer that the whole house was ashamed of thee and the finall conclusion of all thine answers was that thou couldst answer me if I were in the scholes at Oxford Morgan What did I so thou beliest me Phil. I do not belye thee the booke of the report of the disputation beareth record therto and al that were present then can tell if they list thou saydst so And I tell thee playne thou art not able to answer that spirit of truth which speaketh in me for the defence of Christes true Religion I am able by the might therof to driue thee roūd about this gallery before me and if it would please the queenes maiesty and her Councell to heare thee and me I woulde make thee for shame shrinke behinde the doore Morgan Yea would you so Phil. Thou hast the spirite of Illusion and Sophistrye which is not able to counteruaile the spirit of truth Thou art but an Asse in the true vnderstanding of thinges pertayning vnto God I cal thee Asse not in respect of malice but in that thou kickest agaynst the trueth and art voyde of all godly vnderstāding not able to answere to that thou braggest in Morgan Why haue I not answered thee in all things thou hast sayd vnto me I take them to record Phil. Aske of my felow whether I be a theefe Cosins Harke he maketh vs all theeues Phil. You know that phrase of the Prouerbe that like will holde with like And I am sure you will not iudge with me against him speake I neuer so true and in this sense I speake it The strongest answere that he hath made against me is that you will burne me Morgan Why we doe not burne you it is the Temporall men that burne you and not we Phil. Thus you woulde as Pilate dyd washe your handes of all your wicked doinges But I pray you Inuocate seculare brachium call vpon the secular power to be executioners of your vnrighteous iudgementes And haue you not a title in your law De haereticis comburendis for to burne heretickes Harps I haue hearde you both a good while reason together and I neuer hearde so stout an hereticke as you are M. Philpot. Cosins Neither I in all my life Phil. You are not able to proue me an heretick by one iote of Gods word Harps You haue the Spirite of arrogancy I will reason with you no more And so he was departing and M. Cosins also And with that the bishop and Christoforsō came in agayne and sayd Boner Mayster Doctour howe doeth this man and you agree Morgan My Lord I doe aske him where his church was fifty yeares agoe Boner Are you not halfe agreed as one man sayd once to tway parties of whō the one was
them that will infourme me by Gods worde what I haue to doe I confesse I haue but little learning in respect of you that both of your yeares and great exercise to excell therin but fayth consisteth not onelye in learning but in simplicitye of beleuing that whiche Gods woorde teacheth Therefore I will bee gladde to heare both of your Lordshippe and of any other that God hath reuealed vnto by hys word the true doctrine therof and to thank you that it doth please you to take paynes herein Chich. You take the first alleged amisse as though all men should be taught by inspiratiō and not by learning How do we beleue the gospel but by the authority of the church and because the same hath allowed it Phil. S. Paule sayth He learned not the Gospell by men neyther of men but by the reuelatiō of Iesus Christ which is a sufficient proofe that the Gospell taketh not his authoritye of man but of God onely Chich. S. Paule speaketh but of his own knowledge how he came thereto Phil. Nay hee speaketh of the Gospell generally Whyche commeth not from man but from God and that the Churche must onely teach that which commeth from God and not mans preceptes Chich. Doth not Saynt Augustine say I would not beleue the Gospell if the authority of the Churche did not mooue me thereto Phil. I graunte that the authoritye of the Churche doeth moue the vnbeleeuers to beleeue but yet the Church geueth not the woorde his authority for the woorde hath his authority onely from God and not of man mē be but disposers thereof For firste the worde hath his beyng before the Churche and the woorde is the foundation of the church and first is the foundation sure before the building theron can be stedfast Chich. I perceiue you mistake me I speake of the knowledge of the Gospell and not of the authority for by the church we haue all knowledge of the Gospell Phil. I confesse that For fayth commeth by hearing and hearing by the worde And I acknowledge that God appoynteth an ordinarye meanes for men to come vnto the knowledge now and not myraculously as he hath done in times past yet we that be taught by men must take heede that we learne nothing els but that which was taught in the Primitiue church by reuelation Here came in the Byshop of Yorke and the Bishop of Bath and after they had saluted one another and commoned a while together the Archbishop of Yorke called me vnto them saying Yorke Syr wee hearing that you are out of the way are come of charity to enforme you to bring you into the true fayth and to the catholicke church againe willing you first to haue humility and to be humble willing to learne of your betters for els we can do no good with you And god sayth by his Prophet On whom shall I rest but on the humble meeke and such as tremble at my word Now if you will so be we will be glad to trauell with you Phil. I know that humility is the doore wherby we enter vnto Christ and I thanke his goodnes I haue entred in at the same vnto him with all humility heare whatsoeuer truth you shall speake vnto me Yorke What be the matters you stande on and require to be satisfied in Phil. My Lord it please your grace we were entred into a good matter before you came of the church and howe we should know the truth but by the church Yorke In deede that is the head we neede to begynne at For the church being truely knowne we shal sooner agree in the particular thinges Phil. If your Lordships can proue the church of Rome to be the true catholicke church it shall do much to persuade me toward that you would haue me encline vnto Yorke Why let vs go to the definition of the church What is it Phil. It is a Congregation of people dispersed throughe the worlde agreeing together in the woorde of GOD vsing the Sacramentes and al other thinges according to the same Yorke Your definition is of many wordes to no purpose Phil. I do not precisely define the church but declare vnto you what I thinke the church is Yorke Is the church visible or inuisible Phil. It is both visible and inuisible The inuisible church is of all the electes of God onely the visible consisteth of both good and bad vsing all thinges in fayth according to Gods word Yorke The church is an vniuersall congregation of fayth full people in Christ through the world which this worde Catholick doth well expresse for what is Catholicke els doth it not signify vniuersall Phil. The church is defined by S. Austine to be called Catholike in this wyse Ecclesia ideo dicitur Catholica quia vniuersaliter perfecta est in nullo claudicat The Church is called therefore Catholike because it is throughly perfect and halteth in nothyng Yorke Nay it is called Catholike because it is vniuersally receyued of all christian nations for the most part Ph●lpot The Churche was Catholique in the Apostles tyme yet was it not vniuersally receyued of the worlde but because their Doctrine whiche they had receyued of Christ was perfect and appoynted to be preached and receyued of the whole world therfore it is called the Catholike fayth and all persons receiuyng the same to be counted the catholike church And S. Austine in another place writeth that the catholike church is that which beleeueth aright Yorke If you wyll learne I wyll shewe you by Saint Austine writing agaynst the Donatistes that he prooueth the catholick Church by two principall pointes which is vniuersality and succession of Bishops in one Apostolical Sea from time to time Now thus I will make myne argument The Church of Rome is vniuersal and hath her succession of bishops from time to time Ergo it is the Catholicke Church How answer● you to this argumēt Phil. I denye the antecedent that the Catholique Churche is onely knowne by vniuersality and succession of Byshops Yorke I will prooue it And with that he brought forth a booke which he had noted out of the Doctours and turned to his common places therin of the church and recited one or two out of S. Austine specially out of his Epistle written agaynst the Donatistes where S. Austine manifestly proueth that the Donatistes were not the catholick church because they had no successiō of bishops in their opinion neither vniuersality the same force hath S. Austines argument agaynst you Phil. My Lorde I haue weighed the force of that Argument before now I perceiue it maketh nothing agaynst me neither it commeth to your purpose For I will stand to the triall of S. Austine for the approbatiō of the catholick Church wherof I am For S. Austin speaketh of vniuersality ioyned with verity of faythfull successours of Peter before corruption came into the Church And
so if you can deduce your argumēt for the sea of Rome now as S. Austin might do in his time I woulde say it might bee of some force otherwise not Yorke S. Austine proueth the Catholicke church principally by succession of bishops and therfore you vnderstād not S. Austen For what I pray you was the opinion of the Donatistes agaynst whom he wrote Can you tell What country were they of Phil. They were a certayne sect of men affirming among other heresies that the dignity of the sacramentes depended vpon the worthines of the Minister so that if the minister were good the sacraments which he ministred were auayleable or els not Chichest That was theyr error and they had none other but that And he read another authority of S. Austen out of a booke which he brought euen to the same purpose that the other was Phil. I challenge saynt Austen to be with me throughly in this poynt wil stand to his iudgement taking one place with an other Chich. If you will not haue the Church to be certeine I pray you by whom will you be iudged in matters of controuersy Phil. I doe not deny the Churche to be certayne but I denye that it is necessarily tyed to any place longer then it abideth in the word for all controuersies the word ought to be iudge Chich. But what if I take it one way and you an other how then Phil. S. Austine sheweth a remedye for that and willeth quòd vnus locus per plura intelligi debeat That one place of the Scripture ought to be vnderstand by the moe Yorke How aunswere you to this argument Rome hath knowne succession of Bishoppes whiche your church hath not Ergo that is the Catholick Church and yours is not because there is no suche succession can be proued for your Church Phil. I denye my Lorde that succession of Bishoppes is an infallible point to know the church by for there may be a succession of bishops knowne in a place and yet there be no church as at Antioche and at Hierusalem and in other places where the Apostles abode as well as at Rome But if you put to the succession of bishops succession of doctrine withall as S. Austen doth I will graunt it to be a good proofe for the Catholick church but a locall successiō onely is nothing vayleable Yorke You will haue no church then I see well Phil. Yes my Lord I acknowledge the catholicke church as I am bound by my Creed but I cannot acknowledge a false church for the true Chich. Why is there two catholicke churches then Phil. No I know there is but one catholicke Church but there haue bene and be at this present that take vpō them the name of Christ of his church which be not so in deed as it is written That there be that call themselues Apostles be not so in deed but the Synagogue of Sathan and lyers And now it is with vs as it was with the two women in Salomons time whiche lay together and the one suppressed her childe and afterward went about to challenge the true mothers childe Chich. What a babling is here with you nowe I see you lacke humilitye You will goe aboute to teache and not to learne Phil. My lords I must desire you to beare with my hasty speech it is my infirmity of nature All that I speake is to learne by I would you did vnderstād all my mind that I might be satisfied by you through better authority Chich. My Lord and it please your grace turne the argument vpon him which you haue made and let him shewe the succession of the Bishoppes of his Churche as we can doe How saye you canne you shewe the succession of Byshops in your Church from time to time I tell you this argument trubled Doctour Ridley so sore that he coulde neuer answere it yet he was a man well learned I dare say you will say so Phil. He was a man so learned that I was not woorthye to cary his bookes for learning Chich. I promise you he was neuer able to aunswere that He was a man that I loued well and he me for he came vnto me diuers times being in prison and conferred with me Phil. I wonder my Lord you should make this argumēt which you would turne vpon me for the trial of my churche whereof I am or that you would make bishop Ridley so ignoraunt that he was not able to aunswere it since it is of no force For behold first I denyed you that local succession of Bishops in one place is a necessary poynt alone to proue the Catholicke church by and that which I haue denyed you can not proue and is it then reason that you should put me to the triall of that which by you is vnproued and of no force to conclude agaynst me Chich. I see my Lordes we doe but loose our labours to reason with him he taketh himselfe better learned then wee Phil. I take vpon me the name of no learning I boaste of no knowledge but of fayth of Christ that I am bound vndoubtedly to know as I am sure I do Chich. These hereticks take vpō thē to be sure of al things they stād in You should say rather with humility I trust I know Christ then that you be sure therof Phil. Let hym doubte of his fayth that listeth God geue me alwayes grace to beleue that I am sure of true fayth fauour in Christ. Bath How will you be able to answere heretickes but by the determination of the knowne Catholicke church Phil. I am able to answere all heretickes by the woord of God and conuince them by the same Chich. Howe arrogantlye is that spoken I dare not say so Phil. My Lord I pray you beare with me for I am bolde on the truth side I speake somewhat by experience that I haue had with hereticks and I know the Arians be the subtlelest that euer were yet I haue manifest scriptures to beat them downe withall Chichester I perceiue nowe you are the same manner of man I haue heard of whiche will not be satisfied by learning Phil. Alas my Lord why do you say so I do desire moste humbly to be taught if there be any better way that I should learne and hitherto you haue shewed me no bett●r therefore I praye your Lordshippe not to misiudge without a cause Bath If you be the true Catholicke church then will you hold with the real presence of Christ in the sacrament which the true church hath euer mainteined Phil. And I my Lord with the true Churche doe holde the same in the due ministration of the sacrament but I desire you my Lord there may be made a better conclusiō in our first matter before we enter into any other for if the Church be proued we shall soone agree in the rest In the meane while my Lorde
then to seeme to haue forsaken her and disalow her by cleauing to her aduersary whereby it appeareth to others which be weake that we allow the same so contrary to the word do geue a great offence to the church of God and do outwardly sclaunder as much as menne may the truth of Christ. But woe be vnto hym by whom any such offence commeth Better it were for him to haue a milstone tyed about his necke and to bee caste into the bottome of the sea Such be traytors to the truth like vnto Iudas who with a kisse betrayed christ Our god is a gelous God and cannot be content that we should be of any other then of that vnspotted church whereof he is the hed onely and wherin he hath planted vs by baptisme Thys gelousy which God hath towards vs will cry for vengeance in the day of vengeance against al such as now haue so large consciences to do that which is contrary to Gods glory and the sinceritie of hys worde excepte they doe in time repent and cleaue vnseperable to the Gospel of christ how much soeuer at this present both men and women otherwise in theyr owne corrupt iudgement do flatter thēselues God willeth vs to iudge vprightly and to allow follow that which is holy and acceptable in hys sight and to abstayne from all maner of euill and therfore Christ cōmaundeth vs in the Gospell to beware of the leauen of the Phariseis which is hipocrisie S. Paule to the Hebrues sayth if any man withdraw hymselfe from the fayth his soule shal haue no pleasure in hym therefore he sayth also That we are none suche as doe withdraw our selues into perdition but wee belong vnto sayth for the attaynment of life S. Iohn in the Apocalips telleth vs playnly that none of those who are written in the book of lyfe doe receaue the marke of the beast which is of the Papisticall Sinagogue eyther in theyr foreheades or els in theyr hands that is aparantly or obediently S. Paule to the Philippians affirmeth that wee may not haue any fellowship with the works of darkenes but in the middest of this wicked and froward generation we ought to shyne lyke lightes vpholding the word of truth Further hee sayth that wee may not touch anye vncleane thing Which signifieth that our outward conuersation in forreigne thinges ought to be pure and vndefiled as well as the inward that with a cleane spirite and rectified body we might serue God iustly in holines and righteousnesse all the dayes of our life Finally in the 18. of the Apocalips God biddeth vs playnely to depart from this Babilonicall Synagogue not to be partakers of her trespasse S. Paule to the Thessalonians commaundeth vs in the name of the Lorde Iesus Chryst to withdraw our selues from euery brother that walketh inordinately and not according to the institution whych he had receaued of hym Ponder ye therfore well good brethren sisters these scriptures whiche be written for your crudition and reformation wherof one iot is not written in vayne which bee vtterlye agaynste all counterfait illusion to bee vsed of vs with the papysts in theyr phantastical religion and be aduersaryes to all them that haue so light cōsciences in so doing and if they do not agree wyth thys aduersary I meane the word of God which is contrary to theyr attēpts he will as it is signified in the Gospell deliuer them to the Iudge which is Chryst and the Iudge will declare them to the executioner that is the deuill the deuil shal commit thē to the horrible prison of hell fire where is the portion of al hypocrites with sulphure and brimstone wyth waylyng gnashyng of teech world wythout ende But yet manye wyll say for theyr vayne excuse God is mercifull and hys mercy is ouer al. But the scripture teacheth vs that cursed is he that sinneth vpon hope of forgeuenes Truth it is that the mercy of God is aboue all his workes yet but vpon such as feare him for so is it written in the Psalmes The mercy of God is on thē that feare him and on such as put theyr trust in him Wher we may learn that they only put theyr trust in God that feare hym to feare God is to turne from euil and to do that is good So that such as do looke to be partakers of Gods mercy may not abide in that which is known to be manifest euil and detestable in the sight of god An other sort of persons doe make them a cloke for the rayne vnder the pretence of obedience to the Magistrates whome we ought to obey although they bee wicked But such must learne of Christ to geue to Caesar that is Cesars and to God that is due to God and with saint Peter to obey the hyher powers in the Lord albeit they bee euill if they commaund nothing contrary to Gods word otherwise we ought not to obey theyr commaundementes although we shoulde suffer death therefore as wee haue the Apostles for our example herein to follow who aunswered the magistrates as we ought to do in this case not obeying their wicked preceptes saying Iudge you whether it be more righteous that we should obey man rather then God Also Daniell chose rather to be cast into the denne of Lions to be deuoured thē to obey the kings wicked cōmandements If the blind lead the blind both fall into the ditch There is no excuse for the transgression of Gods worde whether a man do it voluntarily or at commaundement although great damnation is to thē by whom the offence commeth Some other there be that for an extreme refuge in their euil doings do rū to gods predestinatiō electiō saying that if I be elected of god to saluation I shal be saued whatsoeuer I do But such be great tempters of GOD and abhominable blasphemers of GODS holy election and cast them selues downe from the pinacle of the temple in presumption that God may preser●● them by his aungels through predestination Suche verily may recken themselues to be none of Gods elect children that will doe euill that good may ensue whose damnation is iust as S. Paule sayth Gods predestination and election ought to be with a simple eye cōsidered to make vs more warely to walke in good godly cōuersation according to Gods word not to set cocke in the hoope and put all on Gods backe to do wickedly at large for the elect childrē of God must walk in righteousnes holynes after that they be once called to true knowledge For so sayth S. Paule to the Ephesiās That God hath chosen vs before the foūdatiōs of the world were layd that we should be holy blameles in his sight Therfore S. Peter willeth vs through good workes to make our vocation electiō certaine to our selues which we know not but by the good workyng of
in Christ may pray that he fall not but endure to the ende and that those that fall through fearefull infirmity might speedely repent and rise agayne with Peter and also that the weake ones mighte bewayle theyr weakenes and crye with Dauid haue mercy vpon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heale me for all my bones are vexed Of this opening of the heart by persecution spake holy Simion to Mary Christes mother when he sayde the Sworde that is the Crosse of persecution shall pearse thy Soule that the thoughtes of many hartes may be opened For like as a king that should go to battell is cōpelled to looke in his cofers what treasure he hath and also what number and puisaunce of menne and weapons hee hath so that if he himselfe be vnready and vnarmed to bicker with hys enemye he surceaseth and taketh truice for a time euen so wee by persecutions haue our heartes opened that wee maye looke therein to see what fayth in Christ we haue and what strength to withstand the enemies and to beare the Crosse that if we be riche in these treasures we might reioyce and valiauntly go to Battell or if we want these thinges with all speede to call and crye vppon him which geueth all good giftes to those that aske them Item the crosse trieth the good people from the bad the faythfull from the worldlinges and hipocrites and also cleanseth and scoureth the faythfull hartes from all corruption and filthinesse both of the flesh and the spirit And euen as yron except it be often scoured will soone waxe rusty so except our sinnefull hartes and flesh be often scoured with the whetstone of the Crosse they will soone corrupt ouergrowe with the ruste of all filthinesse and sinne And therefore it is meete and good for vs as the wise man sayeth that as gold siluer are tryed in the fire so should the hartes of acceptable men be tried in the fornace of aduersity Abide the triall deare frendes that yee may obteyne the Crowne of life Fighte manfully in this the Lordes cause that ye may obteyne a glorious victorye here and receiue a greate rewarde in heauen hereafter As yee are called Christians and woulde be angry to be called Iewes or Turkes so declare your Christianity by folowing the steps of Christ whose name ye beare suffer with hym and for his Gospelles sake rather then to denye him or to defile your fayth and conscience with false worshipping of Romish religion Take vp your Crosse my deare hartes now when it is offered you and go vp with Christ to Ierusalem amōgest the Bishoppes Priestes and Rulers if God call you thereto and they will anone sende you to Caluery from whence dying in the cause of the Gospell wherein our good Preachers and Brethren haue geuen theyr liues your soules I warrant you through Christ Iesu shall ascend to God that gaue them and the body shall come after at the last day and so shal ye dwell with the Lord for euer in vnspeakeable ioy and blisse O blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake as Christes people in this Iewish Englande nowe doth for theyrs is the kingdome of heauen O my beloued set your mindes on this kingdome where Christ our head and king is considering that as the brute beast tooketh downewardes with the face towardes the earth so man is made contrariwise with his face looking vpward towardes the heauens because his conuersation should be in heauen and heauenlye thinges and not vpon the earth and earthly thinges and S. Paule sayth set your mindes on thinges whiche are aboue where Christ is And agayne he sayth our conuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for our Sauiour who will chaunge our vile bodyes and make them like to his glorious body Oh the glorious estate that we be called vnto The Lord preserue vs harmeles to his eternal kingdome through Christ Iesus our Lord. Amen The second thing that I note in the foresayde wordes of Peter is that he calleth persecution no straunge thinge And trueth it is for which of the Prophetes were not persecuted with Christ and his Apostles and some of them in the end cruelly killed for the truthes sake Cain killed Abell Isaac was persecuted of Ismaell Iacob was hated of Esau Ioseph was prisoned and set in the Stockes the Prophet Esay was cut in two with a Saw Ieremy was stoned Micheas was buffeted and fed with bread and water Helias was sore persecuted Eleazar and the woman with her 7. sonnes were cruelly killed What Christ and the Apostles suffered it is well knowne So that by many tribulations as Paul sayth we must enter into the kingdome of Heauen All the holy Prophetes Christ and hys Apostles suffered such afflictions not for euill doing but for preaching Gods word for rebuking the world of sinne and for theyr fayth in Iesus Christ. This is the ordinance of GOD my Frendes this is the high way to heauen by corporall death to eternall life as Christ sayth he that heareth my woordes and beleeueth in him that sent mee hath eternall life and shall not come into iudgement but is escaped from death to life Let vs neuer feare death which is killed by Christ but beleue in him and liue for euer as Paule sayth There is no damnation to them that are in Christ Iesu which walke not after the fleshe but after the Spirit And agayne Paule sayth Death where is thy styng Hell where is thy victory Thankes be to God which hath geuen vs victory through Iesu Christe Besides this ye haue seene and dayly doe see the bloud of your good Preachers and Brethren which hath bene shed in the Gospelles cause in this sinnefull Sodome this bloudy Ierusalem this vnhappy City of London Lette not theyr bloud be forgotten nor the bloud of your good Bishop Ridley who like a Shepheard to your comforte exāple hath geuen his life for his sheepe good S. Paule sath remember them that haue spoken to you the word of God and looke vpon the end of theyr conuersation and folow theyr fayth The Deuill euer stirreth vp false teachers as he hath done now ouer all Englande as Peter Paule and Iude prophesied it should be to poyson and kill our soules with the false doctrine And where he fayleth of his purpose that way then mooueth he his members to persecute the seely carcases of the Saynctes because they will not denye nor dissemble theyr pure fayth in our liuing Christ and confesse a dead breadye Christ and honour the same as Christ God and man contrary to Gods commaūdement This is the working of Sathan who knowing hys owne iust damnation woulde all mankinde to be partakers wyth him of the same such a mortall hatred beareth he agaynst GOD and his people And therefore when this wicked Tempter coulde not kill Christe with subtle tentation to fall downe and worship him then
and he will keepe you from all euill Call vpon his holy name he will strengthen you and assiste you in all your wayes and if it please him to lay his crosse vpon you for his Gospelles sake refuse it not neither shake it off by vnlawefull meanes leaste you should as God forbidde finde a more grieuous crosse and torment of conscience if you shoulde dissemble and denye the knowen verity then is any persecution or death of body Oh howe happye are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake their rewarde is great in heauen The momentanie afflictions of this life are not worthy of the glory that shal be shewed vpon vs. Oh remember the Godly weman of the old testament and new which liued in Gods seruice and feare and therefore are now in blisse and commended for euer as namely Iudith Hester Abigael the mother of the 7. sonnes Mary Elizabeth Susanna Lidia and Phebe and others Set theyr examples before your eyes and feare nothing for Sathan is conquered by our Sauiour Christe sinne is put to flight and the gate of immortality and eternall life is set wide open God graunt we may enter therein through the doore Iesus Christ Amen Thomas Whittell ¶ The Story of Mayster Bartlet Greene Gentlemanne and Lawyer Martyr AFter the Martyrdome of Thomas Whittell nexte followeth in order to speake of Bartlet Greene who the nexte day after the foresayde Whittell was likewise condemned Thys Greene was of a good house and hauinge such Parentes as both fauoured learning and were also willing to bring vp this theyr childe in the same Who after some enteraunce in other inferiour Schooles was by them sent vnto the Uniuersity of Oxforde where thorow exercise and diligent study he so profited that within short time he atteined aswell to the knowledge of sundery prophane Sciences and also now in his last yeares vnto the godly vnderstanding of Diuinitye Whereunto through ignorance in which he was trayned vp from his youth he was at the first an vtter enemy vntill such tyme as God of his mercy had opened his eyes by his often repayring vnto the commō Lectures of Peter Martyr reader of the Diuinity Lecture in the same Uniuersity so that therby as by Gods instrument he saw the true lighte of Christes Gospell Whereof when he had once tasted it became vnto hym as the fountayne of liuely water that our Sauiour Christ spake of vnto the woman of Samaria so as he neuer thirsted any more but had a well springing vnto euerlastyng life In so much as when he was called by his frendes frō the vniuersity and was placed in the Temple at London there to attayne to the knowledge of the common Lawes of the Realme he yet continued still in his former study earnest profession of the Gospell wherein also he did not a litle profite Howbeit suche is the fraylety of our corrupte nature without the speciall assistaunce of Gods holy spirit through the continuall accompanying and felowshyp of such worldly I will not say to much youthfull young gentlemen as are commonly in that and the like houses he became by litle and litle a compartner of theyr fond follies and youthfull vanities aswell in his apparell as also in banquettinges and other superfluous excesses whiche he afterward being agayne called by Gods mercifull correction did sore lament and bewayle as appeareth by his one testimonye notified and lefte in a booke of a certayne frend of his a litle before his death written with his owne hand in maner as foloweth ¶ This did Mayster Bartlet Greene write in Mayster Bartram Calthrops Booke TWo thinges haue very muche troubled me whilest I was in the Temple Pride and Glottonye whiche vnder the coulour of glorye and good felowshippe drewe me almoste from GOD. Agaynst both there is one remedye by prayer earnest and without ceasing And for as much as vayne glory is so subtle an Aduersarye that almoste it woundeth deadly ere euer a manne can perceiue himselfe to be smitten therefore we ought so muche the rather by continuall prayer to labour for humblenesse of minde Truely Glottony beginneth vnder a charitable pretence of mutuall loue and society and hath in it most vncharitablenesse When we seeke to refresh our bodies that they may be the more apte to serue GOD and performe our duetyes towardes our Neyghbours then stealeth it in as a priuye theefe and murthereth both body and soule that nowe it is not apte to to pray or serue GOD nor apte to studye or labour for our neighbours Let vs therefore watch and be sober For our aduersary the Deuill walketh about like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may deuour And remember what Salomon sayth Melior est patiens viro forti qui dominatur animo expugnatore vrbium 1. A pacient man is better then a strong warrior and he that conquereth his owne stomacke is better then hee that conquereth Townes and Cityes Bartlet Greene. Animorum in fide vnio per charitatem acta firma est amicitia Vale mi Bartrame mei memineris vt semper simillimi efficiamur Vale. Apud nouam Portam 20. Ianuarij 1556. Set sober loue agaynst hasty wrath Bartlet Greene. Thus we see the fatherly kindenesse of our moste gracious and mercifull God who neuer suffereth his electe children so to fall that they lye still in security of sinne but oftentymes quickeneth them vp by some such meanes as perhaps they thinke least of as he did here this his strayed sheepe And now therfore to returne to our history for the better maynteinaunce of himselfe in these his studyes and other his affayres he had a large exhibition of his grandfather Mayster Doctour Bartlet who during the tyme of Greenes inprisonment made vnto him large offers of great liuinges if he would recant and forsake the truth and Gospell of Christ come home agayne to the Church and Sinagogue of Rome But these his perswasions the Lord be therefore praysed tooke small effect in this faythfull hart as the sequell did declare He was a man beloued of all men except of the Papistes who loue none that loue the truth and so he well deserued for he was of a meeke humble discreete and most gentle behauiour to all Iniurious he was to none beneficiall to many especiallye to those that were of the householde of fayth as appeared amongest other by his frendly dealing with maister Christopher Goodman beeing at that present a poore exile beyond the Seas With whom this Bartlet Greene aswell for his toward learning as also for his sober and Godly behauiour had often society in Oxforde in the dayes of good king Edwarde which now notwithstanding hys frendes misery and banishment he did not lightly forget and that turned as it chaunced not without the prouidence of almightye GOD to the greate griefe of both the one of heart for the losse of his Frende and the other of body in suffering the cruell
the Ordinarye neyther whether I were before him acquitted or condemned shoulde it take awaye the former fault Then my Lord affirming that I was not brought before him but for heresie and the other Gentleman saying that doubtles I was discharged of my former matter my desire was that I might bee charged according to the order of the lawe to heare my accusers Then Doctour Chadsey was sent for who reported that in the presence of Mayster Mosley the Lieuetenant of the Tower I spake agaynst the reall presence and the sacrifice of the Masse and that I affirmed that theyr Church was the Churche of Antichrist Is not this true quoth my Lord I sayde yea Will you continue therein quoth he Yea sayde I. Wilt thou then mayntayne it by learning sayd he Therein quoth I I should shewe my selfe to haue little witte knowing myne owne youth and ignoraunce if I would take on me to mayntayne any controuersie agaynste so many graue and learned men But my conscience was satisfied in the truth which was sufficient to my saluation Roper Conscience quoth M. Roper so shall euerye Iewe and Turke be saued We had hereafter much talke to no purpose and especiallye on my part who felt in my selfe through colde and open ayre muche dullnesse of witte and memorye At the length I was asked what conscience was and I sayde the certifying of the trueth M. Welch With that M Welch rose vp desiring leaue to talke with me alone So he taking me aside into an other chamber said that he was sory for my trouble and woulde gladly see me at libertie he maruayled that I being a young man would stande agaynst all the learned men of the realme yea and contrary to the whole determination of the Catholicke Churche from Chrystes time in a matter wherin I could haue no great learning I ought not to thinke mine owne wit better then all mennes but shoulde beleue them that were learned I promise you quoth hee I haue read all Peter Martyrs booke and Cranmers and all the rest of them and haue conferred them with the contrary as Roffensis and the Byshop of Winchester c. and could not perceiue but that there was one continuall truth whiche from the begynning had bene mayntayned and those that at anye time seuered from this vnitie were aunswered and aunswered agayn This was the summe of hys tale whiche lacked neyther witte nor eloquence M. Greene. Then spake I. For asmuche as it pleaseth youre Maystership to vse me so familiarly for hee so behaued hymselfe towardes me as though I had bene hys equall I shall open my mind freely vnto you desiring you for to take it in good worth I consider my youth lack of wit and learning which would god it were but a little vnder the opinion that some men haue of me But God is not bounde to time witte or knowledge but rather choseth infirma mundi vt confunderet fortia Neyther can men appoynt bondes to Gods mercy For I will haue compassion sayth he on whome I will shew mercy There is no respecte of persons with God whether it be olde or young riche or poore wise or foolish Fisher or Basket maker God geueth knowledge of hys truth through hys free grace to whome he liste Iames. i. Neither doe I thinke my selfe onely to haue the trueth but steadfastly beleue that Christ hath hys spouse the Catholicke and vniuersall Church dispersed in many realmes where it pleaseth him spiritus vbi vult spirat no more is hee addicted to any one place then to the person and qualitie of one man Of this Church I nothing doubt my selfe to be a member trusting to be saued by the fayth that is taught in the same But how this Church is knowne is in a maner the end of all controuersie And the true markes of Christes Church is the true preaching of his worde and ministering of his sacramentes These markes were sealed by the Apostles and confirmed by the auncient fathers till at the length they were through the wickednes of men and the deuill sore worne and almost vtterly taken away But God bee praysed that he hath renewed the print that hys truth may be knowne in many places For my selfe I call God to witnesse I haue no hope in mine owne wit and learning whiche is very small but I was perswaded thereto by hym as by an instrument that is excellent in al good learning and liuing And God is my record that chiefly I sought it of hym by continuall prayer with teares Furthermore what I haue done herein it is not needefull for me to speake but one thing I say I wish of God with all my hart that all men which are of contrary iudgement woulde seeke the truth in like maner Now I am ●rought hether before a great many of Byshops and learned men to be made a foole and laughing stocke but I waygh it not a rushe For God knoweth that my whole study is to please hym Besides that care I not for mannes pleasure or displeasure M. Welch No M. Greene quoth he thinke not so vncharitably of any man but iudge rather that men labour for your soules health as for theyr owne And alas how will you condemne all our forefathers Or how can you thinke your selfe to bee of the catholicke Church without anye continuaunce and contrary to the iudgement of all learned men Greene. Then sayde I Syr I haue no authoritie to iudge anye manne neuerthelesse I doubte not but that I am of the true catholicke Church howe soeuer our learned men here iudge of me Welche Why then sayd he do you suppose your own wyt and learning better then all theirs if you doe not geue credite onely to them other learned men shall resort vnto you that shal perswade you by the Scriptures and Doctours Greene. Sir ꝙ I God knoweth that I refuse not to learn of any childe but I would embrace the trueth from the mouth of a naturall foole in any thing wherein I am ignoraūt and that in all thinges sauing my faith But concerning the truth wherein I am throughly perswaded I cannot submit my selfe to learne vnlesse it be as youre maistership sayd that I perused the bookes on both sides For so might I make my selfe an indifferent iudge otherwise I may be seduced And here we fell out agayne in a long talke of the Churche wherein his learning and wit was much aboue myne but in the ende I told hym I was perswaded and that hee did but lose his labour Welch Why then ꝙ he what shall I report to my Lord Greene. Euen as pleaseth you ꝙ I or els you may say that I would be glad to learne if I had bookes on both sides So he going in the Bishoppes euen then risen and ready to depart asked how he liked me He aunswered in fayth my Lord he will be glad to learne whiche wordes when they were taken least they
the booke to hym willyng hym to peruse the same When the Archb. had red the Articles and saw hymselfe so vncurteously handled of his owne church whereof he was head I meane of the Prebendaries of his Cathedral Church and of such his neighbours as he had many wayes gratified I meane the Iustices of the Peace it much grieued hym Notwithstāding he kneeled downe to the kyng and besought hys Maiesty to graunt out a Commission to whomsoeuer it plesed his highnesse for them to try out the truth of this accusation In very deede sayde the kyng I doe so meane and you yourselfe shall be chiefe Commissioner to adioyne to you such two or three more as you shall thinke good your self Then it will bee thought quoth the Archb. to the kyng that it is not indifferent if it please your grace that I should be myne owne iudge and my Chaplains also Well sayde the kyng I will haue none other but your selfe suche as you will appoynt For I am sure that you will not halt with me in any thyng although you bee driuen to accuse your selfe and I know partly how this geare proceedeth and if you handle the matter wisely you shall find a prety conspiracy deuised agaynst you Whome will you haue wyth you sayde the kyng Whome it shall please your grace to name quoth the Archb. I will appoynt Doc. Belhouse for one name you the other said the kyng meete for that purpose My Chancellor D. Coxe and Hussey my Register sayd the Archb. are men expert to examine such troublesome matters Well sayd the kyng let there be a Commission made forth and out of hand get you into Kent aduertise me of your doyngs They came into Kent and there they sate aboue three weekes to bult out who was the first occasion of this accusation for thereof the kyng would chiefly be aduertised Now the Inquisition beyng begunne by the Commissioners euery man shronke in his hornes and no mā would confesse any thyng to the purpose For D. Coxe and Hussey being friendly vnto the Papistes handled the matter so that they would permit nothyng materiall to come to sight This thyng beyng well perceyued by one of the Archbishops seruants his Secretary he wrote incontinently vnto Doct. Buttes and Master Deny declaring that if the Kynges Maiestie did not send some other to assist my Lord then those that then were there with him it were not possible that any thing should come to light and therefore wished that Doct. Lee or some other stoute man that had beene exercised in the Kings Ecclesiasticall affaires in his visitations might be sent to the Archbishop Upon these letters Doct. Lee was sent for to yorke by the King and hauing the kings farther mind declared vnto him when he came to the Court he resorted incontinently into Kent so that on Alhallow euen he deliuered to the Archbishop the kings Ring with a declaration of his highnes farther pleasure and by and by vpon his message done he appointed the Archbishop aforesaid to name him a dosen or xvi of his Officers and gentlemen such as had both discretion wit and audacitie to whom he gaue in Commission from the King to search both the purses Chestes and chambers of all those that were deemed or suspected to be of this confederacie both within the Cathedrall church and without and such letters or writinges as they could find about them to bring them to the Archbishop and him These men thus appointed went in one houre and instant to the persons houses and places that they were appointed vnto and within foure houres afterwardes the whole conspiracie was disclosed by finding of letters some from the Bishop of Winchester some from D. London at Oxford and from Iustices of the Shiere with other so that the first beginning the proceeding and what should haue beene the ende of their conspiracie was now made manifest Certaine chambers and Chests of Gentlemen of the shiere were also searched where also were found letters seruing to this purpose Amongst all other came to my Lords hands two letters one of the Suffragan of Douer and an other of Doct. Barbar a Ciuilian whom continually the Archbishop reteined with him in housholde for expedition of matters in sute before him as a counsellour in the Law when need required These two men being well promoted by the Archbishop he vsed euer in such familiarity that when the Suffragan being a prebend of Caunterbury came to him he alwaies set him at his owne messe and the other neuer from his table as men in whom he had much delight and comfort when time of care and pensiuenes chaunced But that which they did was altogither counterfait and the Deuill was turned into the Aungell of light for they both were of this confederacy When my Lord had gotten these their letters into his hands he on a day when it chanced the Suffragan to come to him to his house at Bekisburne called to him into his studie the said Suffragan of Douer and D. Barbar saieng come your waies with me for I must haue your aduise in a matter When they were with him in his study all togethers he said to them you twaine be men in whom I haue had much confidence and trust you must now giue me some good counsaile for I am shamfully abused with one or twaine to whom I haue shewed all my secretes from time to time and did trust them as my selfe The matter is so nowe fallen out that they not onelie haue disclosed my secretes but also haue taken vpon them to accuse me of heresie and are become witnes against me I require you therfore of your good aduice how I shall behaue my selfe towards them You are both my frends and such as I alwaies haue vsed when I needed counsell What say you to the matter quoth the Archbishop Mary quoth Doct. Barbar such vilens and knaues sauing your honour were worthy to be hanged out of hand without any other law Hanging were to good quoth the Suffragan and if there lacked one to do execution I would be hangman my selfe At these words the Archbishop cast vp hys handes to heauen and sayd Oh Lord most mercifull God whome may a man trust now adayes It is most true whiche is sayde Maledictus qui confidit in homine ponit carnem brachium suum There was neuer man handled as I am but oh Lord thou hast euermore defended me and lent me one great friend and maister meanyng the kyng wythout whose protection I wer not able to stand vpright one day vnouerthrowen I prayse thy holy name therfore and with that he pulled out of his bosome their two letters sayd Know ye these letters my maisters With that they fell downe vpon their knees and desired forgiuenesse declaring how they a yeare before were attempted to do the same and so verye lamentably weeping and bewailyng their doynges besought hys grace to pardon
cordis thesaurizas tibi iram in die irae Well what it is thē if feare do not hinder you shame to vnsay that that you haue sayde Nay it is no shame vnlesse ye thinke it shame to agree with the true and the catholicke church of christ And if that bee shame then blame S. Paule who persecuted the Disciples of Christ with sword then blame S. Peter who denyed his mayster Christ with an othe that he neuer knewe him S. Cyprian before his returne being a witch S. Augustine being ix yeares out of the Church They thought it no shame after their returne of that they hadde returned Shall it then be shame for you to conuert and consent with the Churche of Christe no no. What is it then that doth let you Glory of the world nay as for the vanity of the world I for my part iudge not in you beyng a man of learning and knowing your estate And as for the losse of your estimation it is tenne to one that where you were Archhishop of Caunterbury and Metropolitane of England it is tenne to one I say that ye shall be as well still yea and rather better And as for the winning of good men there is no doubte but all that be here present and the whole congregation of Christes Churche also will more reioyce of your returne then they were sory for your fall And as for the other ye neede not to doubt for they shall all come after and to say the truth if you should lose them for euer it were no force ye should haue no losse thereby I do not here touch them which should confirme your estimation For as Sayncte Paule after his conuersion was receiued into the Church of Christ with wonderfull ioy to the whole congregation euen so shall you be The fame of your returne shall be spread abroade throughout all Christendome where your face was neuer knowne But you will say perhappes your conscience will not suffer you My Lord there is a good conscience and there is a bad conscience The good conscience haue not they as S. Paul declareth to Timothe concerning Hymaeneus and Alexander This euill badde conscience is sayth S. Cyprian well to be knowne by his marke What marke This conscience is marked with the print of heresy This conscience is a noughty filthy and a bronded conscience which I trust is not in you I haue cōceiued a better hope of you then so or els would I neuer go about to persuade or exhort you But what conscience should stay you to returne to the Catholicke fayth and vniuersall Churche of Christ what conscience doth separate you to that deuillish and seuerall Church to a liberty which neuer had ground in the holy Scriptures If you iudge your liberty to be good then iudge you all Christendome to do euill besides you O what a presumptuous persuasiō is this vpō this vtterly to forsake the church of Christ Vnder what colour or pretence doe you this for the abuses as though in your Church were no abuses yes that there were And if you forsake the vniuersall Church for the abuses why do you not thē forsake your particuler churche and so be flitting from one to an other That is not the nexte way to slip from the church for the abuses for if you had seene abuses you should rather haue endeuored for a reformation then for a defection He is a good Chirurgeon who for a litle payne in the toe will cut of the whole leg He helpeth well the tooth ache which cutteth away the head by the shoulders It is mere folly to amend abuses by abuses Ye are like Diogenes for Diogenes on a time enuying the clenlines of Plato sayd on this wise Ecce calco fastum Platonis Plato answered Sed alio fastu So that Diogenes semed more faulty of the two But when we haue sayde all that we can peraduenture you will say I will not returne And to that I say I will not aunswere Neuerthelesse heare what Christ sayth to such obstinate and stifnecked people in the parable of the Supper Whē he had sent out his men to cal them in that were appoynted and they would not come he bad his seruantes going into the wayes and streetes to compell men to come in Cogite intrare If then the Church wyll not lese any member that may be compelled to come in ye must thinke it good to take the compulsion least you loose your part of the supper which the Lord hath prepared for you and this cōpulsion standeth well with charity But it may be perhaps that some hath animated you to sticke to your tackle not to geue ouer bearing you in hand that your opinion is good and that ye shall dye in a good quarrell god shall accept your oblation But heare what Christ sayth of a meaner gift If thou come to the aultar to offer thy oblation and knowest that thy brother hath somewhat to saye agaynst thee leaue there thy gift and go and be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer vp thy gift or els thy brother will make thy offering vnsauery before God This he sayd vnto all the world to the end they should know how theyr offeringes should be receiued if they were not according Remember you therefore before you offer vp your offering whether your gift be qualified or no. Remember the Churche of Rome and also of Englande where not one onely brother but a number haue matter against you so iust that they wil make your burnt offering to stincke before God except you be recōciled If you muste needes appoynt vppon a Sacrifice make yet a meane first to them that haue to lay agaynst you I say no more then the Church hath allowed me to saye For the sacrifice that is offered without the Church is not profitable The premises therfore cōsidered for gods sake I say Memor esto vnde excideris age paenitentiam prima opera fac Sin minus c. Cast not your selfe away spare your bodye spare your soule spare them also whome you haue seduced spare the shedding of Christes bloud for you in vayne Harden not your hart acknowledge the trueth yelde to the prescript word of God to the catholicke Church of Rome to the receiued veritie of all Christendome Wedde not your selfe to your owne selfewill Stand not to much in your owne conceyt thinke not your selfe wiser then all Christendome is besides you Leaue of this vniust cauill How leaue why leaue reason leaue wonder and beleue as the Catholicke Church doth beleeue and teach you Perswade with your selfe that extra Ecclesiam non est salus i. Without the Churche there is no saluation And thus much haue I sayd of charitye If this poore simple exhortation of mine may sincke into your head and take effect with you then haue I sayd as I would haue sayd otherwise not as I would but as I could for this
Paulum contra vetus nouum Testamētum and that he Plenitudine potestatis tantum potest quantum Deus That is Agaynst Peter agaynst Paule agaynste the olde and new Testament and of the fulnes of power may doe as muche as God O Lord who euer heard suche blasphemy I● there be any man that can aduaunce himself aboue him let hym be iudged Antichrist This enemy of God and of our redemption is so euydently paynted out in the scriptures by such manifest signes and tokens which all so clearely appeare in him that except a man will shut vpp hys eyes and heart agaynste the light he cannot but know hym and therefore for my part I will neuer geue my consent to the receiuing of hym into this Church of England And you my Lorde and the rest that sit here in Commission consider well and examyne your owne consciences you haue sworn agaynst him you are learned and can iudge of the trueth I pray God you ●e not wilfully blind As for me I haue herein discharged myne owne conscience toward the world and I wil write also my minde to her grace touching this matter The copy of which letter sent to the Queene ye shal finde after in the end of hys story While he in this sorte made hys aunswere ye heard before how Doctor Story and Martin diuers tymes interrupted him with blasphemous talke and would fayn haue had the Byshop of Glocester to put hym to silence who notwithstanding did not but suffered hym to end his tale at full After this ye heard also how they proceeded to examine hym of diuers articles wherof the chief was That at the tyme of hys creating Archbishop of Canterbury he was sworne to the Pope and had his institution and induction from him and promised to mayntayne then the authoritie of that See and therefore was periured wherefore he should rather sticke to his first othe and returne to hys old fold again then to continue obstinately in an othe forced in the tyme of schisme To that he aunswered sauing hys protestation whiche terme he vsed before all hys aunsweres that at suche time as Archb. Warrham dyed hee was Embassadour in Germanie for the K. who sent for hym thereuppon home hauing intelligence by some of his frends who wer nere about the king how he ment to bestow the same Byshoprick vpon hym and therefore counselled him in the case to make haste home he feeling in himself a great inhabilitie to such a promotion and very sory to leaue hys study and especially considering by what meanes he must haue it whiche was cleane agaynst hys conscience whiche hee coulde not vtter without great perill and daunger deuised an excuse to the king of matter of great importaunce for the whiche his longer abode there should be most necessary thinking by that meanes in hys absence that the kyng would haue bestowed it vpon some other and so remayned there by the deuise one halfe yeare after the king had written for him to come home But after that no suche matter fell out as hee seemed to make suspition of the king sent for hym agayn Who after hys returne vnderstanding stil the Archbishopricke to be reserued for hym made meanes by diuers of hys best frendes to shift it off desiring rather some smaller liuing that he might more quietly follow his booke To be briefe when the king himselfe spake with him declaring his full intention for his seruice sake and for the good opinion he conceiued him was to bestowe that dignitie vpon him after long disabling of himself perceiuing he could by no perswasions alter the kinges determination he brake franckly his conscience with him most humbly crauing first his Graces pardon for that he should declare vnto his highnesse Which obtained he declared that if he accepted the Office then he must receaue it at the popes hand whiche he neyther would nor could do for that hys highnesse was onely the supreme Gouernour of this church of England as well in causes Ecclesiasticall as Temporall and that the full right and donation of all manner of Bishoppricks and Benefices as wel as of any other Tēporall dignities and promotions appertayned to hys Grace not to any other forraine authoritie whatsoeuer it was and therfore if he might serue God in that vocation him and his countrey seeing it was his pleasure so to haue it he would accepte it and receaue it of his maiestie and of none other straunger who had no authoritie within this realme neither in any such gifte nor in anye other thing Whereat the king said he staying a while and musing asked me how I was able to proue it At which time I alledged many textes out of the scriptures and the Fathers also approuing the supreme and highest authority of kinges in their realmes and dominions disclosing therewithall the intollerable vsurpation of the Pope of Rome Afterwardes it pleased his highnes quoth the Archb. many and sundry tymes to talke with me of it and perceiuing that I could not be brought to acknowledge the authoritie of the B. of Rome the king himselfe called Doct. Oliuer and other Ciuill Lawyers deuised with them how he might bestow it vpon me inforcing me nothing against my conscience Who therupon informed him that I might do it by the way of protestation so one to be sente to Rome who might take the othe and do euery thing in my name Which when I vnderstood I sayd he should do it Super animam suam and I in deed Bona fide made my protestation that I did not acknowledge his authoritie anye further then as it agreed with the expresse word of God that it might be lawfull for me at al times to speak against him and to impugne his erroures when time and occasion should serue me And this my protestation did I cause to be enrolled and there I thinke it remayneth They obiected to him also that he was maryed whiche he confessed Whereupon D. Martin said that his children were bondmen to the See of Caunterbury At which saying the Archb. smiled and asked him if a priest at his benefice kept a Concubine and had by her bastardes whether they were bondmen to the Benefice or no sayinge I trust you will make my childrens causes no worse After this Doctour Martine demaunded of hym who was supreme heade of the Churche of Englande Marye quoth my Lord of Caunterbury Christe is heade of thys member as he is of the whol body of the vniuersal church Why quoth Doctor Martin you made king Henrye the eight supreme head of the Church Yea sayd the Archbyshop of al the people of England as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall And not of the church sayd Martin No sayde he for Christ is onely head of hys church and of the fayth and religion of the same The king is head and gouernor of hys people which are the visible churche What quoth Martin you neuer durst tell
thought I may erre but hereticke I can not be for as much as I am ready in all things to followe the iudgement of the most sacred worde of God and of the holy catholicke church desiring none other thing then mekely and gently to be taughte it any where which God forbid I haue swarued from the truth And I protest and openly confesse that in all my doctrine and preaching both of the Sacrament of other my doctrine what soeuer it be not onely I meane and iudge those things as the catholicke churche and the moste holy fathers of olde with one accorde haue meant and iudged but also I would gladly vse the same wordes that they vsed and not vse any other woordes but to set my hande to all and singulare their speaches phrases wayes formes of speache which they doe vse in theyr treatises vppon the Sacrament and to keepe still their interpretation But in thys thing I onely am accused for an hereticke because I allowe not the doctrine lately broughte in of the Sacrament and because I consent not to woordes not accustomed in scripture and vnknowen to the ancient Fathers but newly inuented and broughte in by men and belonging to the destruction of soules and ouerthrowing of the pure and olde religion Yeuen c. This appeale being put vp to the B. of Ely he sayde My Lorde our Commission is to proceede agaynste you Omni appellatione remota and therefore we cānot admit it Why quoth he then you doe mee the more wrong for my case is not as euery priuate mans case The matter is betweene the Pope and mee immediatè and none otherwise and I thincke no man oughte to be a Iudge in hys owne cause Well quoth Ely if it may be admitted it shall and so receiued it of hym And then beganne he to perswade earnestly with the Archbyshop to consider hys state and to weigh it wel while there was time to doe hym good promising to become a suter to the K. and Queene for hym and so protested his great loue frendship that had beene betweene them hartily weeping so that for a time he coulde not go on with his tale After going forward he earnestly affirmed that if it hadde not bene the King and Queenes cōmandement whome he could not deny els no worldly cōmoditye should haue made him to haue done it concluding that to be one of the sorowfulst things that euer hapned vnto him The Archb. gently seeming to cōfort him sayd he was very well content withall and so proceeded they to his degradation the perfect forme wherof withal the rites ceremonies therto appertaining taken out of the popes Pontifical because it is already described at full in our first booke of Monuments I shall refer the reader to the same which he shall finde pag. 1493. Heere then to be short when they came to take of hys Pall which is a solemne vesture of an Archb. then sayde he Which of you hathe a Pall to take off my Pall Whych imported as much as they being his inferiors coulde not disgrade him Whereunto one of them said in y● they were but Bishops they were his inferiors and not competent iudges but being the popes Delegates they myght take his Pal so they did and so proceeding tooke euery thing in order from him as it was put on Then a Barbar clipped his heare round about and the Bish. scraped the tops of hys fingers where he had bene annoynted wherein B. Boner behaued him selfe as roughly and vnmanerly as the other Bishop was to him soft and gentle Whiles they were thus doing All this quoth the Archbishop needed not I had my selfe done wyth this geare long ago Last of all they stripped him out of his gown into his iacket and put vpon him a pore yeoman Bedles gowne ful bare and nearely worne and as euil fauouredly made as one might lightly see and a townes mans cap on hys head and so deliuered him to the secular power After this pageant of degradation all was finished then spake Lord Boner saying to him Nowe are you no Lord any more and so when soeuer he spake to the people of him as hee was continually barking against him euer he vsed this terme This Gentleman heere c. And thus with great compassion and pitie of euery man in this euil fauored gown was he caried to prison Whom there followed a gentleman of Glocestershire with the archbishops owne gowne who standing by being thought to be toward one of the Bishops had it deliuered to him who by the way talking with him said the B. of Ely protested his frendship with teares Yea sayde he he myght haue vsed a great deale more frendship towarde me neuer haue bene the worse thought on for I haue wel deserued it and going into the prison vp wyth him asked hym i● he would drinke Who answeared him saying if he had a peece of saltfish that he had better wil to eate for he had beene that day somewhat troubled with this matter and had eaten little but now that it is past my heart sayd he is wel quieted Whereupon the gentleman sayd he would giue him mony withal his heart for he was able to do it But he being one toward the lawe and fearing M. Farmers case durst therfore geue him nothing but gaue mony to the bailifs that stood by said that if they were good men they would bestowe it on hym for my L. of Cant. had not one peny in his purse to help him and so left him my Lord bidding him earnestly farewell cōmending him selfe to his praiers and all his friendes That nyght thys gentleman was staide by Boner and Ely for geuing him this mony and but by the help of friends he had bene sent vp to the counsaile Such was the cruelty and iniquity of the time that men could not do good without punishmēt Here foloweth the recantation of the Archbishop wyth his repentance of the same IN this meane time while the Archbishoppe was thus remaining in durance whom they had kept now in prison almost the space of 3. yeares the doctours and diuines of Oxford busied thēselues all that euer they could about M. Cranmer to haue him recante assaying by all craftye practises and alluremēts they might deuise how to bring theyr purpose to passe And to the intent they myghte win him easily they had him to the Deanes house of Christes church in the said Uniuersity where he lacked no delicate fare plaied at the bowles had his pleasure for walking all other things that might bring him from Christ. Ouer and besides all thys secretely and sleightly they suborned certaine men which when they could not expugne him by arguments and disputation should by entreaty and faire promises or any other meanes allure him to recantation perceiuing otherwise what a great wounde they shoulde receiue if the Archb. had stoode stedfast in his sentence and
while her husbande was in prison Where the keepers wife named Agnes Penycote had secretlye heated a key fire hoate and laid it in grasse on the backeside So speaking to Alice Coberley to set her the key in all haste the said Alice went with speed to bring the key and so taking vp the key in hast did pitiously burne her hand Wherupon she crying out at the sodein burning of her hand Ah thou drabbe quoth the other thou that canst not abide the burning of the key howe wi●e thou be able to burne the whole body and so she afterward reuoked But to returne agayne to the story of Coberley who being somewhat learned and being at the stake was somewhat long a burning as the wynde stoode After his bodye was skorched with the fire and hys leafte Arme drawne and taken from hym by the violence of the fyre the fleshe beinge burnt to the whyte boare at length he stouped ouer the cheyne and wyth the ryghte hande being somewhat starckned knocked vpon his brest softly the bloud and matter issuing out of his mouth Afterward when all they thought he had bene deade sodenly he rose right vp with his body agayne And thus muche concerning these three Salisbury Martyrs ¶ A discourse of the death and Martyrdome of sixe other Martyrs suffering at London whose names here folow ABout the xxiij day of Aprill Anno Dom. 1556. were burned in Smithfielde at one fire these sixe constaunt Martyrs of Christ suffering for the profession of the Gospell viz. Robert Drakes Minister William Tyms Curate Richard Spurge Shereman Thomas Spurge Fuller Iohn Cauell Weauer George Ambrose Fuller They were al of Essex and so of the dioces of London and were sent vp some by the Lord Rich and some by others at sūdry times vnto Stephen Gardiner B. of Winchester then Lord Chauncellor of England about the 22. day of March an 1555. Who vpon small examination sent them some vnto the kinges Benche and others vnto the Marshalsea where they remained almost all the whole yere vntill the death of the sayd Bishop of Winchester and had during that time nothing said vnto them Wherupon after that Doctor Heath Archbishop of Yorke was chosē to the office of Lord Chauncellorshippe foure of these persecuted brethren being now wery of this theyr long imprisonmēt made theyr supplication vnto the said D. Heath requiring his fauour and ayd for their deliueraunce the copy whereof ensueth * To the right reuerend father Tho. Archb. of Yorke Lord Chauncellour of England MAy it please your honorable good Lordship for the loue of God to tender the humble sute of your lordships poore Orators whose names are subscribed which haue lien in great misery in the Marshalsea by the space of x. monethes and more at the commaundement of the late Lord Chauncellour to their vtter vndoing with theyr wiues children In consideration wher of your Lordships sayd Oratours do most humbly pray and beseeche your good Lordship to suffer them to be brought before your honour and there if any man of good conscience can lay any thing vnto our charge we trust either to declare our innocency agaynst theyr accusations or if otherwise theyr accusations can be proued true and we faulty we are ready God helping vs with our condigne punishments to satisfy the law according to your wise Iudgement as we hope ful of fatherly mercy towardes vs and all men according to your Godly office in the which we pray for your Godly successe to the good pleasure of GOD. Amen This Supplication was sent as is sayd and subscribed with the names of these 4. vnder folowing Richard Spurge Thomas Spurge George Ambrose Iohn Cauell * Richard Spurge VPon the receipt and sight hereof it was not long after but Syr Richard Read Knight then one of the Officers of the Court of the Chauncery 16. day of Ianuary was sent vnto the Marshalsea to examine the sayd foure prisoners therefore beginning first with Richard Spurge vpon certaine demaundes receiued his answeres therunto the effect whereof was that he with others were complayned vpon by the Parson of Bocking vnto the Lorde Rich for that they came not vnto theyr Parish Church of Bocking where they inhabited and therupon was by the sayd Lord Rich sent vnto the late Lord Chauncellour about the xxij day of March last past videl an 1555. And farther he sayd that he came not to the Church sithens the first alteration of the English seruice into Latin Christmasse day then a tweluemoneth only except that because he misliked both the same and the Masse also as not consonant and agreing with Gods holy word Moreouer he required that he might not be any more examined vpō the matter vnles it pleased the Lord Chaūcellour that then was to know his fayth therein which to him he would willingly vtter * Thomas Spurge THomas Spurge being then next examined made the same aunswere in effect that the other had done confessing that he absented himselfe from the church because the word of God was not there truely taught nor the Sacramentes of Christ duely ministred in such sort as was prescribed by the same word And being farther examined of his beliefe concerning the sacrament of the aultar he said that if any could accuse him thereof he would then make aunswere as God had geuen him knowledge therein ¶ George Ambrose THe like answere made George Ambrose adding moreouer that after he had read the late Byshop of Winchesters booke intituled De vera obedientia with Boners preface thereunto annexed inueying both against the authority of the Bishop of Rome he did much lesse set by theyr doinges then before ¶ Iohn Cauell IOhn Cauell agreyng in other matters with them aunswered that the cause why hee did forbeare the comming to the Churche was that the Parson there had preached two contrary doctrines For firste in a Sermon that hee made at the Queenes first entrye to the crowne he did exhort the people to beleue the Gospell for it was the truth and if they did not beleue it they shoulde be damned But in a second Sermon he preached that the Testament was false in forty places which contrariety in him was a cause amongest other of his absenting from the Church ¶ Robert Drakes ABout the fourth day of Marche next after Robert Drakes also was examined who was Parsō of Thūdersley in Essex and had there remayned the space of three yeares He was first made Deacon by Doctour Taylour of Hadley at the commaundement of Doctour Cranmer late Archbyshop of Caūterbury And within one yeare after which was the thyrd of the reigne of kyng Edward he was by the sayd Archbyshop and Doctour Ridley Bishop of London admitted Minister of Gods holy word Sacramentes not after the order then in force but after such order as was after established was presented vnto the sayd benefice of Thundersley by the Lord Rich at the
God and with the infallible testimonies of holy scripture For although Gods mercy is ouer all his woorkes yet it doth not extende but onely to them that holde fast the confidence and reioysing of hope vnto the ende not being weary in well doing but rather waxing euery day stronger and stronger in the inward man Therfore in the Reuelation of S. Iohn wher it is entreated of the Beast and his image it is also sayde Heere is the sufferance of Saintes and heere are they that keepe the commaundements and the faith of Iesus Christ. Where by almighty God doth shewe plainely that he doth vse those wicked men as instruments for a time to try the pacience and faith of his peculiar people wythout the performance whereof we can haue no part among the liuing but as it is sayd in the same Reuelation The fearfull shall haue theyr parte in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone whyche is the second death But peraduenture ye will obiect say vnto me what shall we do Shal we cast our selues headlong to death I say not so But thys I say that we are all bounde if euer we looke to receiue saluation at Gods hande in thys case wholy to be obedient to hys determinate counsell foreknowledge expressed by the gift of the spirit in holy scripture and then to cast all our care vpon him who worketh all in all for the best vnto them that loue him and thus he geueth commaundement saying Come awaye from her my people that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receue not of her plagues Nowe who hearing this terrible voyce of God which must needes be fulfilled will not wyth all speede and diligence applye him selfe to doe thereafter except such as will presumptuously tempt him And as touching such the Wise man sayeth Hee that loueth pearill and daunger shall pearish therein But they that be of the Faith of Abraham euen as he did so will they in all assayes and trials be obedient to the heauenly voyce how soeuer it semeth contrary to their owne naturall wil and carnal reason according to the sure worde of faith which saith Hope thou in the Lorde and keepe his way holde thee stil in the Lord and abide patiently vpon him Let not thy ielousie moue thee also to doe euill Come out from among them and ioyne not your selues to your vnlawfull assemblies yea do not once shew your selues with the least part of your body to fauour theyr wicked doinges but glorifye God as moste right is so well in your whole bodye outwardlye as inwardly in your spirite or els you can doe neither of both well for your body doth belong to God so well as youre spirite At the dreadfull day of iudgement we shall all receiue the workes of our bodies according to that we haue done whether it be good or bad Therefore what soeuer we doe we may not bryng the spirite in bondage to the body but contrariwise we must subdue the body and the will of the flesh to the spirit that the spirite maye freely accomplishe the will of God in all things for otherwise we shall neuer be partakers of hys promise with the true childrē of Abraham For as s. Paul sayeth They which are the children of the flesh are not the children of God If we shall liue according to the flesh we shall dye For to be carnally mineded is death but to be spiritually mineded is life and peace because that the fleshly mineded is enmitie to God for it is not obedient to the lawe of God neyther canne be So then they that are in the flesh can not please God Nowe chuse you which way you will take either the narow way that leadeth vnto life which Christ hymself and hys faithfull followers haue gone throughe before or else the broad path way that leadeth to destruction which the wicked worldlinges take theyr pleasure in for a while I for my part haue now wryttē thys short admonition vnto you of good will as God be my witnesse to exhort you to that way which at length you your selues shuld prooue and finde to be best yea and reioyce thereof And I do not onely wryte thys but I will also wyth the assistaunce of Gods grace ratifie and confirme and Seale the same wyth the effusion of my bloude when the full tyme shall be expired that hee hath appoynted whych so farre soorth as I maye iudge must needes be within these few daies Therefore I nowe bidde you all moste heartely farewell in the Lorde whose grace bee wyth youre spirite Amen Watch and pray watch and pray pray pray So be it Iohn Hullier Besides these letters the said Iohn Hullier leaft also a godly prayer whiche if any be disposed to peruse it is extant in the old booke of Acts to be found pag. 1515. The death and Martyrdome of sixe constant professours of Christ burned at Colchester for the testimonie of the Gospell the 28. day of Aprill NOt long after the death of Robert Drakes William Tymmes and the other Essex Martyrs executed in Smithfielde as is aboue specified followed in the same order likewise of martyrdome at one like fire in the town of Colchester where the most parte of them did inhabite sixe other blessed Martyrs whose names be these Christopher Lyster of Dagneham Husbandman Iohn Mace of Colchester Apothecarie Iohn Spenser of Colchester Weauer Symon Ioyne Sawyer Richard Nichols of Colchester Weauer Iohn Hamond of Colchester Tanner With these sixe was also ioyned an other whose name was Roger Grasbroke but he afterwarde submitted him selfe These aboue named the Byshoppe because he as it semeth by the short processe recorded by his register waxed now weary made a very quicke dispatche For soone after that they were deliuered vnto one Iohn Kingstone Bacheler of Ciuil law and then Commissarye to the Bishop by the Earle of Oxford other Commissioners as appeareth by a bil endented made betwene the Commissioners and the said Commissary for the receit of the sayd prisoners dated the 28. day of Marche Anno regni regis Reginae Philippi Mariae secundo tertio which is the yere of our Lord 1556. and by him sent vp vnto hys Lord and Maister the Bishop caused them to be broughte vnto hys house at Fulham Where in the open Churche iudicially were ministred vnto them the same Articles that were propounded vnto Bartlet Grene and others mentioned before To the whych they made their seuerall answeres agreeing altogether in one truthe as by the summe and effect thereof heere ensuing more plainly appeareth 1 To the first article they al consented and agreed Iohn Spenser adding further thereto that the churche malignant which is the Church of Rome is no parte of Christes Catholike church and that he neither hath nor dothe beleeue the doctrine and religion taughte and set foorth in the sayd Romish and malignant
Idole at the commandement of sir Iohn Tirrell knight of Gippyng hall in Suffolke and certaine other Iustices there who sent both hym and them to Eay dungeon in Suffolke till at length they were all three together broght before Dunnyng then Chauncellor of Norwich and M. Myngs the Register sittyng at the Towne of Beckles to be examined And there the sayd Chancellour perswading what he could to turne them from the truth could by no meanes preuaile of his purpose Whereby mynding in the ende to geue sentence on them he burst out in teares intreatyng them to remember themselues and to turne agayne to the holy mother church for that they were deceiued and out of the truth and that they should not wilfully cast away thēselues with such like wordes Now as he was thus labouryng them and semed very loth to read the sentence for they were the first that he condemned in that dioces the Register there sittyng by beyng weary belike of tarying or els perceiuyng the constant Martyrs to be at a point called vpon the Chauncellour in hast to ridde them out of the way and to make an ende At which wordes the Chauncellour read the condemnation ouer them with teares and deliuered them to the secular power ¶ Their Articles THe Articles obiected to these and commonly to all other condemned in that Diocesse by Doctor Hopton Bishop of Norwich and by Dunnyng his Chauncellor were these 1. First was articulate agaynst them that they beleeued not the Pope of Rome to bee supreme head immediately vnder Christ in earth of the vniuersall Catholike Church 2. Item that they beleeued not holy bread and holy water ashes palmes and all other lyke ceremonies vsed in the Churche to be good and laudable for stirring vp the people to deuotion 3. Item that they beleeued not after the wordes of consecration spoken by the Priest the very naturall body of Christ and no other substance of bread and wine to be in the sacrament of the Altar 4. Item that they beleeued it to be Idolatry to worship Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar 5. Item that they tooke bread and wine in remembrance of Christes Passion 6. Item that they would not follow the Crosse in procession nor be confessed to a Priest 7. Item that they affirmed no mortall man to haue in himselfe free will to do good or euill For this doctrine and articles aboue prefixed these three as is aforesayd were condemned by Doctor Dunning committed to the secular power Syr Iohn Sylliard being the same tyme hyghe Sheriffe of Northfolke and Suffolke And the next day following vpon the same they were all burnt together in the sayd towne of Beckles Whereupon it is to be thought that the writte De comburendo was not yet come downe nor could not be the Lord Chaunlour Bish. Heath being the same time at London Which if it be true then it is playne that both they went beyond their Commission that were the executioners also the Clergy which were the instigatours thereof cannot make good that they now pretend saying that they did nothing but by a lawe But this let the Lord finde out when he seeth his tyme. In the meane tyme while these good men were at the stake had prayed they sayd there beliefe and when they came to the reciting of the Catholicke Church Syr Iohn Silliard spake to them That is well sayd Syrs quoth he I am glad to heare you say you do beleeue the Catholicke Church That is the best word I heard of you yet To which his sayinges Edmund Pole aunswered that though they beleeue the Catholicke Churche yet doe they not beleeue in their Popish Church which is no part of Christes Catholicke Churche and therefore no part of their beliefe When they rose from prayer they all went ioyfully to the stake and being bounde thereto and the fire burning about them they praysed God in such an audible voyce that it was wonderfull to all those which stoode by and heard them Then one Robert Bacon dwelling in the sayd Beckles a very enemye to Gods truth and a persecutour of his people being there present within hearing thereof willed the tormentours to throw on fagots to stoppe the knaues breathes as he termed them so hotte was his burning charitye But these good men not regarding there malice confessed the truth and yelded their liues to the death for the testimony of the same very gloriously ioyfully The which their constancye in the lyke cause the Lord graunt we may imitate and follow vnto the ende Whether it be death or lyfe to glorifye the name of Christ Amen And forasmuch as we haue here entred into the persecution of Northfolke and Suffolke it commeth therefore to minde by occasion hereof brieflye to touche by the way some part for the whole matter cannot bee so exprest as it was done touching the troubles of the towns of Winson and Mendlesam in Suffolke raysed and stirred by the sayd Syr Iohn Tyrrell other Iustices there of the lyke affinitye The summe and effecte of which briefly is thus signifyed to me by writing * The persecution in the Townes of Winson and Mendlesam in Suffolke BY the procurement of Syr Iohn Tyrrell Knight and other of his Colleagues there were persecuted out of the Towne of Winson in Suffolke these persons hereafter following Anno. 1556. Maistresse Alice Twaites Gentlewoman of the age of three score yeres and more and two of her seruaunts Humfrey Smith and his wyfe William Katchpoole and his wyfe Iohn Maulyng and his wyfe Nicholas Burlingham and his wyfe And one Rought and his wyfe Such as were persecuted and driuen out of the towne of Mendlesam in the Countie of Suffolke Symon Harlstone and Katherine his wife with his fiue children William Whitting and Katherin his wife Thomas Dobson and his wife Thomas Hubbard and his wife Iohn Doncon and his wife his maide William Doncon Thomas Woodward the elder One Konnoldes wife A poore widow One mother Semons maide Besides those that were constrained to do against their conscience by the helpe of the parishe Priest whose name was sir Iohn Brodish ¶ These be the chiefest causes why those aboue named were persecuted FIrst they did hold and beleeue the holy word of God to be the sufficient doctrine vnto their saluation Secondly they denied the Popes vsurped authoritie and did hold all that church of Antichrist to be Christs aduersaries And further refused the abused sacraments defied the masse and all popish seruice and ceremonies saying they robbed God of his honour Christ of his death and glory and would not come at the Church without it were to the defacyng of that they did there Thirdly they did hold that the ministers of the church by Gods word might lawfully marry Fourthly they helde the Queene to be as chiefe head and wicked rulers to bee a great plague sent of God for sinne c. Fiftly
are much offended for it felleth all mans righteousnes to the ground I had like to haue sayd to the bottome of hell extolleth onely the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ whiche is allowed before God and is freely geuen to al those that firmely beleue as blessed be God you doe Ah my good brother Tymmes Sathan hath put hys hand in a wrong boxe when he beginneth to tempte you either to vayne glory or mistrust for you are an old beaten souldier and haue had good experience of these manner of temptations both by your selfe and other whome you know well were the beloued of God Bee of good cheare therefore deare hart be of good cheare for now Satā hath wrought all his malice he hath done all that hee can and hath shot of all his last Peeces wherwith he had thought to haue done most mischiefe but now he seeth hee cannot preuaile the strong tower of your fayth being so inuincible he will plucke vp all his tentes and get him to some other place to practise the like assaultes and then will the Aungels of God come and minister vnto you the moste sweete heauenly consolations of the holy Ghost To hym therefore who is able to do exceeding aboundantly aboue all that euer we can desire or thinke I do most hartily cōmit you with all the reste of youre godly prison fellowes who comfort strengthen and defend you with his grace mighty operation of his holye spirit as hee hath hitherto done that you hauing a most glorious victory ouer the subtle serpent and all his wicked seede may also receaue the crowne of glory and immortalitie prepared for you before the foundations of the world were layde and is so surelye kept for you in the handes of him whose promise is vnfallible that the Deuill sinne death or hell shall neuer be able to depriue you of the same The blessing of God bee with you now for euermore Amen Pray pray pray for me Your owne for euer Iohn Careles * To my good sister M.C. THe peace of God in Iesus Christ the eternal comforts of his sweete spirite be with you my deare and faithful sister to the ful accomplishment of that good worke which hee hath most graciously begon in you that the same may be effectuall to the setting forth of his glory and to your euerlasting consolation in him Amen My louing and faythful Sister in the Lord I thanke you for all your louing kindnes shewed vnto me in youre feruent and faithfull prayers and for your most godly and comfortable letter wherby you do not only much encrease my ioy and comfort but also put me in remembraunce of my duetie towardes you Blessed be the Lord our God which of his great merhath so beautified his Church in these our dayes that euen vnto many godly women hee hathe geuen most excellent giftes of knowledge and vnderstanding of his truth so that they are not onely well able to enforme their owne consciences in all thinges necessarye to saluation but also moste sweetly to comfort their sorrowfull brethren sisters that susteine any trouble for the testimony of Gods trueth yea that which is more euen in the middest of their great cōflictes of conscience Of which most happy number of godly and vertuous women my deare hart you are one and that of the chiefest being plentifully endued with the gifts of Gods most gracious spirite as it doth full wel appeare in your dayly doinges God onely haue the prayse therefore For asmuch then as God hath geuen you the gift to write I shall moste hartily desire you to let me heare from you sometimes be it neuer so little for truely I take great cōfort and courage thereby specially in my poore conscience whiche is sore assaulted of subtile Satan and in a manner oppressed of my sinnes Pray deare sister that GOD may geue me true hartie and earnest repentaunce increase my fayth for they are bothe the good giftes of God onely and farre passe the reache of my power to take at my pleasure Therfore deare sister if you wil helpe me to begge the same of our deare louing father I am sure that he both cā and will geue them in his good time As for the feare of death or terrour of the fire I most hartily thanke my good God I feele it not onely it is mine owne sinnes and vnthankfulnes which holdeth hard battayle wageth strōg warre against me which onely goeth about to separate me from my good captayne Christ that I shoulde not enioye his glorious victory but God being on my side as I am sure hee is that cannot continually preuayle agaynst me Though God for a time permitte Satan to take his pleasure on me as he did vpon Iob yet I doubt not but in the end all shall turne to my profite through the merites of our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ to whose most mercifull defence I commit you deare Sister with al the rest of the Lordes elect Farewell in Christ. Yours vnfaynedly Iohn Careles Pray pray pray pray * To my deare brother T. V. THe euerlasting peace of God in Iesus Christ the continuall comfortes of his most pure and holy spirite be with you my most deare frend and faythfull brother U. to the increase of your fayth and comfort of your sorrowful spirite which is to the father a sweete sacrifice through chryst for whose sake he will neuer despise your humble and contrite hart but doth fauourably accept the same and wil in most ample wise performe the desire thereof to his glorye your eternall comfort in him In the mids of my manifold crosses troubles wherin I am constrayned to flee vnto God for refuge succour by earnest faithful prayer I cannot forget you my deare hart in the Lord but esteeming your state for mine owne I do poure forth my complaynt for you as I do for my selfe rather more as I thinke present neede doth require desiring most hartily to heare the good successe of the same in you The lord God for his great mercies sake accomplish my desire as I doubt not but he wil when he seeth it good and most to his glory and to your comforte and commoditie Oh that I might once see you so merry in Christ as you haue iust cause to be that you might say with Dauid Awake my glory awake Lute and Harpe bring forth the Psalter with the merry song that I might sing a newe song of prayse and thankesgeuing vnto the Lord for the light of his fauourable coūtenaunce his helpe and deliueraunce Oh that would refresh me as a most precious oyle and gladden my poore heart whiche is assaulted with sorrow moe wayes then one I doubt not but the same shal by your meanes receiue much comfort though for a time it doth mourne with you that we may be made both glad together yea that with such gladnes as shal continue for
great quietnesse if hee coulde haue dissembled and bothe done and spoken against his conscience as many stirring Papistes then did And likewise he mighte haue escaped burning in Queene Maries time if he woulde either haue spoke● or kept silence against his conscience as manye weake Gospellers did But Palmer could in no wise dissemble Now within short space God so wrought in his hart that he became very inquisitiue and carefull to heare and vnderstand howe the Martyrs were apprehended what articles they died for how they were vsed and after what sort they tooke theyr death In so much that he spared not at his owne charges to sende ouer one of his schollers in the companye of a Bacheler of that house to Glocester to see vnderstand the whole order of B. Hoopers deth and to bring him true report therof Which thing some thinke he the rather did because he was woont in king Edwards time to say that none of them all would stand to death for their religion Thus he learned with what extreme horrible cruelty the martyrs of God were tried and how valiauntly they ouercame all kinde of torments to the ende Wherof he himself also did see more experience afterward at the examination and death of those holy confessors and martyrs which were burned at Oxford before his eyes in so muche that the first hope which the godly conceyued of him was at the retourne from the burning of B. Ridley and B. Latimer At what time in the hearing of diuers of his frendes he brast out into these woordes and suche like O raging crueltie O tyrannie tragicall and more than barbarous From that day forward he studiously sought to vnderstand the truth and therefore with all speede he borrowed Peter Martyrs Commentaries vpon the first to the Corinthes of one of Magdalenes yet aliue and other good bookes of other men And so through harty praier and diligent search and conference of the scriptures at length he beleeued and imbraced the truth with great ioy and so profited in the same that daily more and more hee declared it both in word and dede In such sort as he neuer hated the truth more stubbornly before then afterward he willingly embraced the same whē it pleased God to open his eies and to reueale vnto him the light of his woord And nowe againe when he should come to Church in those dayes of Poperie there to be occupied among the rest in singing of Respondes reading of Legendes and suche like stuffe allotted vnto him he had as much pleasure he sayd to be at them as a Beare to be baited and wearied wyth dogs When he came it was as it appeared more to auoid displeasure and daunger then for any good will and readye affection At length through Gods grace he grew vp to suche maturitie and ripenes in the truth that he spared not to declare certaine sparkes thereof in his outward behauior and doyngs For when he should keepe his bowing measures at Confiteor as the custome there was in turning hymselfe to and fro sometyme Eastward somtyme Westward and afterward knocke his brest at the eleuatiō time agaynst which Idolatrous adoration hys hart did so vehemently rise that sometyme hee would absent hymselfe from them and sometyme beyng there he would euen at the sucring tyme as they termed it gette hym out of the church to auoyd those vngodly gestures and Idolatrous adoration To be shorte perceiuing after a while that hee was greatly suspected and abhorred of the President then being which was M. Cole and of diuers other whiche before were his friendes and therewithall feeling great conflict and torment of conscience daily to grow with his conuersation with idolaters seeing also that his newe life and old liuing might not wel nor quietly stande together he addressed himselfe to depart the house For he thoughte it not best to abide the dāger of expulsion as he did at the first seeing the weather was now waxed warmer And being demanded at that time of a special frend who wold gladly haue perswaded him to stay there longer whether he would go or how he would liue he made this answer Domini est terra plenitudo eius i. The earth is the Lordes and the fulnesse thereof Let the Lord woorke I will commit my selfe to God and the wide worlde Here I thinke it expedient before I wryte of the painfull surges that he suffered after he came abroade into the perillous gulphes and deepe Sea of this wretched wyde world first to reherse one or two exāples of his outward behauioure at suche tymes as he hadde recourse to the Colledge after his last departure whereby the Reader may yet better vnderstand of his simplicitie playnenesse and how farre wide he was from all cloked dissimulation in Gods cause which certayne godlesse personnes haue sought maliciously to charge hym with all Beyng at Oxford on a certayne tyme in Magdalene Colledge and hauyng knowledge that the Spanish Frier Iohn who succeeded D. Peter Martyr in the office of the Diuinitie Lecture would preach there that present Sonday he would not at the first graunt to be present at it At length a friend of his a fellow of that house persuaded so much with him that he was content to accompany his sayde friend to the church But sodainly as the Frier vehemently inueyed against Gods truth in defendyng certayne popish heresies Palmer hauyng many eyes bente and directed towardes hym departed from amongst the middest of the auditorie and was found in hys friends chamber weepyng bitterly Afterward beyng demaunded why he slipt away vpon such a sodayne Oh sayd he if I had not openly departed I should haue openly stopped myne eares For the Friers blasphemous talke in disproouyng or rather deprauyng the veritie made myne eares not to glowe but my hart worse to smart then if myne eares had bene cut from myne head It chanced another tyme that the same friend of hys called M. Shipper beyng then Bursar of the house bade hym to dinner in hys chamber Palmer not knowyng what ghestes were also thither inuited and bidden hapned there contrary to his expectation to meete with the foresayd Frier with whom were present D. Smith Doc. Tresham and diuers other papists whose company Palmer coulde not well beare and therefore whisperyng a friend in the eare he sayd he would be gone for that was no place for hym I will sayth he to the Bursars Table in the great hall The Bursar vnderstandyng his mynde desired hym of all friendshippe not so to depart alledgyng that it were the next way to be wray hymselfe as it were of purpose to cast hymselfe into the Briers with many other perswasions as the shortnes of tyme would permit In the end he condescēded to his request and taried Now as he came to the fire side the Frier saluted hym cherefully in Latine for he could not speake Englishe Palmer with an amiable countenaunce resaluted him
the should greatly offend the maiesty of God whose commaundement not to beare false witnesse they should in so doing breake and violate In the meane while that he was speaking these and many other thinges before his audience many of the vniuersity to set out and defend Bucer withall beset the walles of the Church and Church porche on both sides with verses some in Latine some in Greeke and some in English in the which they made a manifest declaration howe they were minded both toward Bucer and Phagius Finally when his Sermon was ended they made common Supplication and prayers After thankes rendred to God for many other thinges but in especially for restoring of the true and sincere religion euery man departed his way For as muche as mention hath beene made of the death of the worthy and famous Clerke Martin Bucer of the burning of his boanes after his death it shall not be vnfruitful as the place here serueth to induce the testimony or Epitaph of Doctor Redman which came not yet in print vpon the decease of that man ¶ The Epitaph or funerall verse of D. Redman vpon the death of Mayster Bucer ET tu liuor edax procul hinc abscede maligna facessito inuidentia Et procul hinc nemesis procul hinc Momus abesto labes luesque mentium Daemonibus similes homines quae redditis almam foedatis atque imaginem Quam nostro impressit generi pater ille supremus similes sui dum nos creat Contemptrix odij mendacis nescia fuci Adesto sancta Veritas Dicito quis qualisque elatum funere nuper quem vidimus tam flebili Est in quam misera hac defunctus luce Bucerus lux literati dux Chori Doctrinae radios qui totum solis ad instar misit per orbem splendidos Hunc dirae nuper sublatum vulnere mortis lugubre flet Gymnasium Et pullata gemit maerens schola Cantabrigensis orbata claro sydere Ergo quasi obstructo doctrinae fonte querelas precesque nunc fundit Agnoscit nunquam se talem habuisse magistrum ex quo sit olim condita Non vnquam Cathedrae gauisa est praeside tanto tam nobili claro duce Cuius ingenij doctrinae munera summum virtutis ornauerat decus Integritas morum grauitas prudentia sermo semper dei laudem sonans Et sale conditus qualem vult esse piorum Apostoli sententia Accessit zelus feruens praesule dignus peccata semper arguens Nunquam desidiae aut languori deditus vllum indulsit otium sibi Credibele est nimio fatum accelerasse labore prodesse cunctis dum studet Sed frustra laudes auguste carmine nitor tam copiosas claudere Ergo Bucere scholae suggestus gloria sacri valeto etiam vel mortuus Aeternum in superis foelix iam viuito regnis exutus etsi corporis Terrenis spolijs huius miseri atque caduci Quod est sepulchro conditum Christus depositum reddet cum foenore magno Iudex breui quum venerit ❧ The despightfull handling and madnesse of the papistes toward Peter Martyrs wife at Oxford taken vp frō her graue at the commaundement of Cardinall Poole and after buryed in a dunghill ANd because the one Uniuersity shoulde not mocke the other like crueltye was also declared vpon the deade body of Peter Martyrs wife at Oxford an honest graue and sober matrone while she liued and of poore people alwayes a great helper as many that be dwelling there can right well testify In the yeare of our Lord. 1552. she departed this life with great sorow of al those needy persōs whose necessities many times often she had liberally eased and relieued Now when Brokes Bishop of Glocester Nicholas O●maner Datary Robert Morwen President of Corpus Christi Colledge Cole and Wright Doctors of the Ciuill Law came thither as the Cardinals visitours they among other thinges had in Commission to take vp this good woman agayne out of her graue and to consume her carkas with fire not doubting but that she was of the same religion that her husband had professed before whē he read the Kinges lecture there And to make a shewe that they would do nothing disorderly they called al those before thē that had any acquayntance with her or her husband They ministred an othe vnto them that they should not conceale whatsoeuer was demaunded In fine theyr answere was that they knewe not what religion she was of by reason they vnderstood not her language To be shorte after these visitours had sped theyr busines they came for they 〈◊〉 them to the Cardinall agayne certifying him that vpon due inquisition made they could learne nothing vpon which by the law they might burne her Notwithstanding the cardinall did not leaue the matter so but wrote downe his Letters a good while after to Marshall then Deane of Frideswides that he should dyg her vp and lay her out of christian buriall because she was interred nigh vnto S. Frideswides relicks sometime had in great reuerence in that Colledge Doct. Marshal like a prety man calling his Spades and mattockes together in the euening when he was well whitled caused her to be taken vp and buryed in a dunghill Howbeit when it pleased God vnder good Queene Elizabeth to geue quietnes to his Church long time persecuted with prison and death then Doctour Parker Archbishop of Canterbury Edmund Grindall Bishop of Lōdon Richard Goodricke with diuers other her Maiesties high Commissioners in matters Religion nothing ignoraunt howe farre the aduersaries of the trueth had transgressed the boūdes of all humanity in violating the sepulchre or graue of that good and vertuous woman wylled certayne of that Colledge in the whiche this vncurteous touch was attempted and done to take her out of that vncleane dishonest place where she laye solemnely in the face of the whole towne to bury her agayne in a more decent honest monumēt For though of the body being once dead no great estimatiō were to be had how or where the bones were layde yet was some reuerence to be vsed toward her for sexe and womanhood sake Besides to saye the truth it was great shame that he which had trauelled so farre at king Edwardes request from the place wherin he dwelt quietly and had takē so earnest paynes beyng an old man in reading and setting forth the truth al he could with learning to teach and instruct and so wel deserued of that Uniuersity should with so vngentle a recompence of ingratitude be rewarded agayne as to haue his wife that was a godly woman a straūger good to many especially to the poore and hurtfull to none either in word or deede without iust deseruing beside theyr owne law not proceeding against her according to the order therof spitefully to be layd in a stincking dunghill To all good natures the fact seemed odious of suche as be
hys Apostles and then I would answer him or els not Bish. Then he was very angry and sayd if I would not answer he would condemne me in dede vnlesse I would answer euery Article Auns Wel said I if you do you shal be giltie of my bloud and prooue your selfe a murtherer Arch. Then the archdeacon tooke the articles in his hand red the seconde Article which was that I was a Christian man and did beleeue in theyr mother the Catholicke church and the determination thereof Auns I sayd I was a Christian man in deede and therefore they had nothing against me Arch. Thē said he what saiest thou to the catholicke church which hath so long cōtinued except it were 9. or 10. yeres that this heresie hath sprong vp here in this realme Auns I sayde no man can accuse me of any thing spoken against the catholicke church of Christ. Bish. Then saide the bish doest thou not beleue the Creede Ans. Yes verely I beleue my Creede all that is written in the Testamēt of Christ with the rest of the Scriptures Bish. Then sayth he thou doest confesse that there is a Catholicke church I am glad of that but tell me is the King and Queene of that Church or not Ans. Wel said I now I perceiue you go about to be both mine accuser also my iudge contrary to all right I confesse Christ hath a Church vpon earth which is built vpon the Apostles Prophets Christ being the head therof and as touching the King and Quene I answere I haue nothing to do with no mās faith but with my owne neither came I hether to iudge for I iudge not my selfe but the Lord must iudge me Bishop Then sayd he Is there no part of that church here in England Auns Well I perceiue you would faine haue some thing to lay to my charge I will tell you where Christ sayeth whereas two or three be gathered together in his name there is he in the middest among them Then the archdeacon stoode vp with his mockes to put me out of comfort said to the people that I had no wit but that I thought all they were deceiued so long time and that halfe a dosen of vs should haue the truth in a corner that al they should be deceiued with such like taunts and mockes but would not suffer me to speake one woord Arch. Then he red the Article of the Sacrament and said I did denie the reall presence to be in the Sacrament after it was once consecrated and that I sayde Christes body was in heauen no where els and that the bread was nothing but a signe token or remembrance Ans. Then I said you haue to shew where and what my woordes were and heereof we talked a great while Bish. At the last the bishop was so angrie that he charged me in the Kinges Queenes and Cardinals name before the Maior and his brethren taking them to witnesse if I did not say yea or nay he would condemne me Ans. Then I saide seeing you haue nothing to accuse me of wherefore should I so answer Arch. Then the archd said I was gilty and sayd I was like a thefe at the barre which would not cōfesse his fault because his accusers were not present with a great many wordes would not let me open my mouth against him Ans. Then I sawe where about they went graunting to answere them by the woorde or els I thinke they woulde haue cōdemned me for holding of my peace and this was my beginning I beleue that Christ tooke bread and when he had geuen thankes he brake it and gaue it to his disciples and sayde Take eate this is my body which is geuen for you this doe in remembrance of me Arch. Doest thou beleeue that Christ meant euen as he sayd Ans. I said Christ was no dissembler but he spake the very truthe Arch. Thou hast very well sayd we will make the best of thy words Then he praised me with many words going about to prooue it his body reall and substantiall and said Christ called himself bread and this to proue when Christ saide This is my body the breade was his body saide he in dede real substantial not so long so big as it hong on the Crosse as the Capernaites did thinke but we eate it as mās weake nature can eate Christ. Therfore when he had sayd This is my body the bread was his body in very dede Ans. Then I asked him what Christ meant by these wordes Which is geuen for you Arch. He saide Christ spake that by the bread also but it was not written in Mathew but Luke had those words Ans. Then I asked him if Christes bodye were made of bread that was geuē for our redemption or whether the bread was crucified for vs or not Arch. Then he sayd no by saint Mary I say not so Ans. You haue said the truth in dede euen as I beleue Arch. Then he stoode vp with a great many of words and sayd that I did think it but bare bread stil as other bread is but he was sure Christe called it his body and then it was his body in deede for he would beleeue Christ. Ans. When he had spoken his pleasure by me thinking to haue condēned me by their law I said he had not iudged right of mee for I hadde not so spoken but did beleue the wordes of Christ as well as he and as much as he coulde prooue by the woorde Arch. Then he would heare what I did say it was Ans. I said I did beleeue it was that he gaue them Arch. Then he asked me what it was that he gaue them Auns I sayd that which he brake Arch. Then he asked me what was that he brake Auns I sayd that he tooke Arch What was it that he did take Auns I sayd the text sayth he tooke bread Arch. Wel then thou sayest it was but bread that his Disciples did eate by thy reason Auns Thus much I say looke what hee gaue them they did eate in deede Arch Why then was not that his body that they did eate Auns It was that which he brake Arch. Well sayd he I perceiue thy meaning well inough for thou doest thinke it is but breade still and that hee was not able to make it his body Auns That is your exposition vpon my minde Arch. Then saide he what diddest thou receiue when thou diddest receiue last Auns I sayde I doe beleue that I did eate Christes flesh and drinke his bloud For he saith My flesh is meat in deede and my bloud is drinke in deede Arch Then he sayd I had well aunsweared thinking to haue had some aduauntage at my hand and praied me to tell him how I did eate his flesh and drinke his bloud Auns Then I sayde I must aunswer you by the woorde Christ sayeth He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloude dwelleth
followe 1 Rich. Woodman 2 George Steuens 3 W. Mainard 4 Alexander Hosman his seruaunt 5 Tomasin a Wood Mainards maide 6. Margerie Moris 7. Iames Moris her sonne 8. Denys Burgis 9. Ashdons wife 10. Groues wife Of the which noumber Richarde Woodman was the firste Concerninge whose apprehension firste by hys enemies and of hys deliueraunce oute of Byshoppe Bouers handes then of hys second taking againe by the procurement of hys father brother kinsfolkes and frendes also of hys sundrye examinations and couragious aunsweres before the Bishoppes and lastly of his condemnation and of his letters sent to his faithfull friendes heere foloweth to be declared by his owne woords and relation reported Which Rich. Woodman by his occupation was an Ironmaker dwelling in the Parish of Warbleton in the Countie of Sussex Dioces of Chichester of the age of 30. yeres and somewhat more The occasion of his first apprehension was this There was one Fairebanke who somtimes had bene a maried priest and serued the Cure of Warbleton where he had often perswaded the people not to credite any other doctrine but that which he then preached taught and set forth in K. Edwards dayes And afterward in the beginnyng of Q. Maries raigne the sayd Fayrebanke turnyng hed to taile preached cleane contrary to that which he had before taught Whereupon Richard Woodman hearyng hym in the Church of Warbleton so to preache contrary to hymselfe admonished hym of hys inconstancie how before tyme he had taught them one thing and now another and desired hym to teach them the truth For the which words he was apprehended and brought before M. Iohn Ashbornham M. Toston M. Culpeper and M. Robertes Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Sussex and by them committed to the Kyngs Bench where he continued from Iune the space almost of a yeare and a halfe and from thence was transferred by D. Story into Boners Colehouse where he remayned the space of a moneth before he came to examination At length the same day when M. Philpot was burned which was the 18. of December he with 4. other prisoners was deliuered and set at libertie by Boner himself Notwithstandyng shortly after he was sought for again and at last found out and taken by meanes of hys father brother and certaine other his acquainted friendes and so was sent vp agayne to London to B. Boner where he remayned in the Colehouse 8. weekes He was there sixe tymes examined and 26. tymes before so that his examinations in all were 32. from his first apprehension to his condemnation Touching the whole discourse wherof for so much as the matter is something strange and will peraduenture scarce find credit vpon my narration with thē which deny all thynges that lyke them not to beleeue ye shall heare himselfe speake and testify both of the maner of his troubles and also his owne examinations by himselfe recorded in order as followeth ❧ A true Certificate written by Richard Woodman of his taking how he was brought to the Shiriffes the xv of March 1556. and how long he was in prison and how he was there vsed till he was broughte before the Bishoppe of Chichester at blacke Friers in London with the order of his examinations followyng after the same GEntle Reader here you shall perceiue how the scriptures bee partly fulfilled on me beyng one of the least of his poore Lambes First you shall vnderstād that since I was deliuered out of the Bishop of Londons hands which was in the yeare of our Lord 1555. and the same day that M. Philpot was burned which was the 18. of December I lay in his Colehouse 8. weeks lacking but one day And before that I was a yeare and a halfe almost in the Kings Bench after my first apprehension for reproouyng a Preacher in the pulpit in the parish of Warbleton where I dwelt Wherfore I was at two Sessions before I was sent to prison and caried to two more Sessions whyle I was in pryson twyse before the B. of Chichester and fiue tymes before the Commissioners then sent to Londons Colehouse many tymes called before him as it appeareth by my examinations which I wrote the which examinations the B. of Chichester now hath for they were found in my house when I was takē wherin is conteined all the talke which I had before them aforenamed Also there be in London that had copies of the same of me when I was in the Colehouse And it pleased God to deliuer me with foure or more out of the butchers handes requiring nothing els of vs but that we shuld be honest men and members of the true Catholike Church that was builded vpon the Prophetes and Apostles Christ beyng the head of the true Churche the which all we affirmed that we were members of the true Church and purposed by Gods helpe therein to dye And hereupon we were deliuered but he willed vs many tymes to speake good of hym And no doubt he was worthy to be praysed because he had bene so faithfull an ayd in his maister the deuils businesse For he had burnt good M. Philpot the same mornyng in whose bloud his hart was so drunken as I supposed that he could not tell what he did as it appeared to vs both before after For but two dayes before he promised vs that we should bee condemned that same day that we were deliuered yea the morow after that he had deliuered vs hee sought for some of vs agayne yea and that earnestly He waxed dry after his great dronkennes wherfore he is lyke to haue bloude to drink in hel as he is worthy if he repent it not with speed The Lord turne all their harts if it be his will This haue I written chiefly to certifie all people how we were deliuered because many carnall Gospellers and Papists haue sayd that it was prescribed that we should be so deliuered because they thinke that God is subiect to man and not man to God For if they did they would not blaspheme hym as they doe or if they thought they should geue account for it Haue not many of them red how God deliuered Israel out of Egypt Daniel out of the Lyons denne Sydrach Misaach and Abednago out of the burnyng ouen with diuers other such like exāples yea God is the same God that he was then He is no older nor lesse in power as some count hym in wondring at his works Now to the matter After I was deliuered the Papists sayd that I hadde consented to them whereof they made themselues glad the which was the least part of my thought I praise God therefore as they well perceiued and knew the contrarye within a while For I went from parish to parish talked with them to the number of 13. or 14. and that of the chiefest in all the Countrey and I angred them so that they with the Commissioners complayned on
certified before Wherfore my conscience compelled me to shew them my mynd in writing wherein is conteined nothyng but the scriptures of God rebuking them for their folly Chichest Yea but it is terribly ment and vncharitably It is such geare coupled together I promise you as I neuer see the lyke But I promise you I will make the best of it And I protest before God I would you should doe as well as myne owne soule and body Be contented to be enformed God hath done his part on you Cast not your selfe away Remember your wife and children the poore that lacke your occupying Meane to follow your vocation Remember you are not called to bee a teacher nor a preacher S. Paul saith Let euery man walke wherein he is called and therein abide Remember you are called to another vocation for Gods sake walke therin It is not your office to do as you haue done You might do as much good by the report of worshipfull men as any man might do in all the Countrey by your example and if you would follow the lawes of the catholike church it would be an occasion to bring a great many into the true church that are out as you are Wood I would not that you should say that I am out of the church of God for I am not but do allow the Church of God accordyng to his word Yea if I were abroad if I could winne any into the true Church that be out by any meanes that I could vse I would be very glad For God knoweth I loue all people as my self And where you say I haue bene a preacher it is not so I neuer tooke any such thyng vpon me as it is well known But as for teaching I cannot deny for it becommeth euery man to teach and instruct his houshold in the feare of God and all other as far as he can that desire it of him And where as you haue blamed me for reading the Scripture and leauing my vocation as you say I le●● not my vocation in reading the Scripture For I trust I followed my vocation the better therefore And the greatest cause that I was compelled to read the Scriptures was because the preachers and teachers was so changeable Chic No did you not preach at a Fayre Woodman No surely but it was so reported I was at a Fayre in deede Whilest I was in prison I had leaue of the Counsaile to goe home to pay my debtes and then I went to a Faire to sell cattayle and there mette with mee diuers poore men that I had set a worke and of loue asked me howe I dyd and how I coulde away with imprisonment And I shewed them howe GOD had delte with mee and howe he woulde deale with all them that putte their trust in hym and this they called preachyng And since that it hath bene reported that I haue baptised children and maried folkes the which I neuer dyd for I was neuer Minister Wherefore if I had so done I had done contrary to the order of the Apostles as God forbid I should Chich. I am well apaid if you be faultles in those thyngs for I haue heard say the contrary Wood. I haue shewed you the truth and that no man liuyng shal be able to prooue the contrary Chich. You sayd you doe not disallow the true Catholike Church Wood. No that I do not Chich. Why do you not then go to the Church You come not there it is enformed me Wood. I trust I am in the true church euery day But to tell you truth I come not at the Church where the most do resort For if I should I should offend and be offēded For at the last tyme that I was there I offended many was offended my selfe Wherefore for conscience sake I would not come there For I was sent to prison for my commyng there now I am sent to you for biding thēce So they will not bee pleased any way with mee for they seeke my lyfe Wherefore looke you to it for I am now in your hands and you ought to be a house of defēce against myne enemies For if you suffer them to kill me my bloud shall be required at your hands If you can finde any iust cause in me worthy of death by Gods word you may cōdemne me your self and not offend god wherfore looke to it the matter is weighty deliuer me not into their hands and thinke so to be discharged Chich. I tell you truth I can doe little in the matter For I haue not full authoritie as yet of myne office but I wil send for you and talke with you if I wis● I should do you any good Wood. I would be glad to talk with you and to shew you my mind in any thing that you shall demaund of me now or at any other tyme. Chich. So then he desired the shiriffes men to tary dinner with hym that this man said he may dine with me also for it is possible that hee may haue no great store of meate whither he shall go Wood. So we taried dinner with him and had no further talke neither how to prooue where the true church of God is nor of the Sacraments nor of any other thing pertaining to meward not for the space of two houres or more but he entred in talke with me how I vnderstoode many scriptures for bishops and priests mariages whether Paul had a wyfe or not To whom I answered It is a thyng that I haue little to do with as concernyng mariages but I am very well content to talke with you in the matter as far as my poore learning will serue So when he had talked with me of diuers Scriptures he liked my talke well He asked me how I said by S. Paul whether he were maried or not To whom I answered I prooue by the scriptures that he was neuer maried Chich How prooue you that Wood. I will prooue it well enough by Gods helpe But yet I will prooue that Paul might haue had a wife as wel as the other Apostles had Chich. Why had the Apostles wyues Wood. Yea all sauing Paul and Barnabas as I vnderstand it For these are Paules wordes in the 1. to the Cor. 9. chap. Am I not an Apostle am I not free haue I not seene Iesus Christ Are not ye my worke in the Lord And if I be not an Apostle to other yet to you I am an Apostle For you are the seale of my Apostleship in the Lord. Myne aunswer to them that aske me is this Haue we not power to eate and to drinke eyther haue we not power to lead about a sister to wyfe as well as the other Apostles haue and as the brethren of the Lord Eyther haue not Barnabas and I power thus to doe So this text prooueth that Paul Barnabas were vnmaried But Paule declareth that the rest had wiues that they had power
idolatrye and superstition whiche then was vsed as also that he had by preaching entised oothers to do the like Being then hereupon examined he confessed that hee comming into hys parishe Churche of Bentley and seing the people sitting there either gasing about or els talking together exhorted them that they would fall vnto prayer and meditation of Gods most holy worde and not ●it styll idlely Whereunto they willingly consented Then after prayer ended he read vnto them a chapiter of the New testament and so departed In which exercise he continued vntill Candlemas then being enformed that he might not so doe by the lawe for that he was no priest or minister he lefte of and kepte himselfe close in his house vntill Easter then nexte after At what time certayne sworne men for the inquiry of such matters came vnto hys house and attached him for reading in the Parish of Welley But when they vnderstood that he had red but once that it was of obedience whereunto hee earnestly moued the people they let hym for that tyme depart Notwythstanding for feare of their cruelty hee was not longe after constrayned to forsake his owne house and keepe himselfe in woodes barnes and other solitary places vntill the time of his apprehension After this examination the Lord Darcy sent him vp to the Counsell but they not minding to trouble them selues with him sent him vnto Boner Who by threateninges and other subtill meanes so abused the simple and fearfull hart of thys man as yet not throughly stayed vpon the ayd and helpe of God that within shorte tyme hee won him vnto his most wicked will and made him opēly at Paules crosse to reuoke and recante his former profession and thereupon set him at libertie of body Whiche yet brought such a bondage and terrour of soule and conscience and so cast him downe that except the Lord whose mercies are immeasurable had supported and lifted hym vp agayne he had perished for euer But the Lord who neuer suffereth his elect Children vtterly to fall castinge his pittifull eyes vppon this loste sheepe with his mercifull and fatherly chastisment dyd with Peter rayse hym vp agayne geuing vnto him not only harty and vnfayned repentaunce but also a moste constant boldnes to professe agayne euen vnto the death hys most holy name and glorious gospel Wherefore at the procurement of one Thomas Tie priest sometime an earnest professor of Christ but now a fierce persecutour of the same as appeareth more at large before in the history of William Munt and his wife page 1979 he was againe apprehended and sent vp againe vnto Boner before whome he was the 8. day of Aprill and sondry other times else examined The report of which examination wrytten by his owne hand with bloud for lacke of other incke heereafter followeth The examination of Rafe Allerton at his seconde apprehension appearing before the Bishop of London at Fulham the 8. day of Aprill An. 1557. wrytten by him selfe wyth his owne bloud BOner Ah syrrha howe chaunceth it that you are come hether againe on this fashion I dare say thou art accused wrongfully Rafe Yea my Lord so I am For if I were guilty of such things as I am accused off then I would be very sorie Boner By sainct Marie that is no● wel done But let me heare Art thou an honest man for if I can proue no heresie by thee then shall thine accusers doe thee no harme at all Goe too lette me heare thee For I did not beleeue the tale to be true Rafe My Lorde who doeth accuse me I pray you let me know and what is mine accusation that I may answere thereunto Boner Ah wilt thou so Before God if thou hast not dissembled then thou needest not to be afraide nor ashamed to aunswer for thy selfe But tell me in faith hast thou not dissembled Rafe If I cannot haue mine accusers to accuse me before you my conscience doth constrain me to accuse my self before you For I confesse that I haue grieuously offended God in my dissimulatiō at my last being before your lordship for the which I am right sorrie as God knoweth Boner Wherein I pray thee diddest thou dissemble when thou wast before me Rafe Forsooth my Lord if your lordsh remēber I did set my hand vnto a certain writing the contents wherof as I remember were that I did beleue in all things as the catholike churche teacheth c. In the which I did not disclose my minde but shamefully dissembled because I made no difference betwene the true church and the vntrue church Bon. Nay but I pray thee let me heare more of this gear For I fear me thou wilt smel of an hereticke anone Which is the true church as thou saiest Dost thou not call the heretikes church the true church or the catholike church of Christ Now which of these 2. are the true church saiest thou Go too for in faith I will know of thee ere I leaue thee Rafe As concerning the church of heretikes I vtterly abhorre the same as detestable and abhominable before God with all their enormities and heresies and the church catholicke is it that I onely embrace whose doctrine is sincere pure and true Boner By s. Augustine but that is wel said of thee For by God almighty if thou haddest allowed the church of heretikes I would haue burned thee with fire for thy labour Morton Then said one Morton a Priest My Lorde you know not yet what church it is that he calleth catholicke I warrant you he meaneth naughtely enough Boner Thinke you so Now by our blessed Lady if it be so he might haue deceiued me How say you syrrha which is the catholicke church Rafe Euen that which hath receiued the wholsome sound spoken of Esay Dauid Malachie and Paule with many other moe The which sounde as it is wrytten hath gone throughout all the earthe in euery place vnto the endes of the worlde Boner Yea thou sayest true before God For this is the sound that hath gone throughout all Christendom and he that beleeueth not the sound of the holy church as S. Cyprian saith doth erre For he saieth that whosoeuer is out of the Churche is like vnto them that were out of Noes ship when the flud came vpon al the whole world so that the Arke of Noe is likened vnto the church and therefore thou hast wel said in thy confession For the churche is not alone in Germanie nor was here in England in the time of the late schismes as the heretikes doe affirme For if the church should be there alone then were Christe a lier For he promised that the holy Ghost should come to vs leade vs into all truth yea and remaine with vs vnto the ende of the world So now if we wil take Christ for a true sayer then must we needes affirme that the waye whyche is taught in Fraunce Spaine Italie Flanders Denmark Scotland and all Christendome ouer must
no heretickes at all because they did preach truely the Gospell vpon whose preaching he grounded his fayth conscience as he sayde according to the saying of S. Iohn in the xviij chap. of his Reuelation where he sayth that the bloud of the Prophets and of the Sayntes and of all that were slayne vppon earth was founde in the Babilonicall church by the which he said is vnderstād the church where the Pope is the head After which examination the sayd Iohn was sent vnto prison agayne And the next day being the vi daye of the sayd moneth he was called before the Bishop agayne who perswading him with some wrested sentences of the Scripture the sayd Iohn Hallingdale aunswered Because I will not sayth he come to your Babilonical churche therefore speaking vnto Boner you goe about to condemne me And being of Boner further demaunded whether he woulde perseuer and stand in his opinions or no he made aunswere that he would continue and persist in them vnto the death Then Boner read the bloudy sentence of condemnation At which time the sayd Iohn affirmed openly that thanking God he neuer came into the church since the abhomination came into it and so he was sent to prison agayne Upon the same 6. day also in the fornoone was produced before the Byshop the forenamed William Sparrow and had layed vnto him certayne Articles which hereafter foloweth * Articles ministred by Boner vnto William Sparrow FIrst that thou William Sparrow wast in times past detected presented lawfully vnto thy Ordinary the Byshop of London called Edmund who also is now thine Ordinary of the sayd dioces and thou wast presented and detected vnto him for heresye errors and vnlawfull opinions whiche thou diddest beleue set forth and holde 2. Secondly that thou before the sayd Ordinary didst openly iudicially confesse the sayde heresies errours and vnlawfull opinions as appeareth playnly in the actes of the court had made before thy sayd Ordinary 3. Thirdly that thou after the premises didst make thy submission in writing and diddest exhibite and deliuer the same as thy deed to thy sayd Ordinarye openly confessing and recognising thy heresies errours vnlawfull opinions and thine offences transgressions in that behalfe 4. Fourthly that thou after the premisses diddest promise vnto thy sayde Ordinary voluntarily and of thine owne minde that alwayes after the sayd submission thou wouldest in all poyntes conforme thy selfe vnto the common order of the Catholicke Church obserued and kept here in this Realme of Englande and in no wise fall agayne to heresies errours or vnlawfull opinions 5. Fiftly that thou since thy sayd submission hast willingly fallen into certayne heresies and errours and hast holden and sette forth diuers vnlawfull opinions to the right great hurt of thyne owne soule and also to the great hinderaunce and losse of diuers others especially agaynst the Sacrament of the Aultar agaynste confession auricular with other the Sacramentes of the Catholicke Church 6. Sixtly that thou since the sayd submissiō hast willingly gone about diuers places within the dioces of London and soulde diuers hereticall erroneous and blasphemous ballets about and wast apprehended and taken with the sayd ballets about thee commited to prison Unto all which Articles the sayd William Sparrowe aunswered in effect as hereafter foloweth TO the first second third and fourth articles he answered affirmatiuely as thus that he was presented detected to Boner vnto whō he made his submission c. as in the articles To the fifth article he aunswered that if he had spoken agaynst thē he had spokē but the truth for they be nought meaning the contentes of the sayd article To the sixte he graunted to the article adding that he did sell the sayd ballets then shewed and read before him that the same did conteine Gods word After which aunsweres the sayde William Sparrowe was sent vnto prison And the same day in the afternoone being produced before the Bishop agayne and there charged with his said Submission made the yeare before vnto the Byshop he aunswered thus I am sory sayd he that euer I made it and it was the worst deed that euer I did adding further vnto them Holde vp your abhomination so long as you can Also being layd vnto him and charged by the Byshoppe that he went to Churche and there was confessed and heard Masse the sayde William Sparrow made answere and confessed that he did so but with a troubled conscience he sayde God knoweth And speaking further to the Byshoppe he sayde that which you call trueth I doe beleue sayd he to be heresy And also the Byshoppe charging him agayne with the contentes of the fifth article aboue named he aunswered that he had so done as is conteyned in the same article and so will do agayne if he were at liberty And being further demaunded of Boner whether he woulde persist and continue in the same or no he made aunswere that he would not go from his opinions and adding thereunto he sayd that which you call heresy speaking to the Byshoppe is good and Godly and if euery hayre of my head were a manne sayd he I would burne them all rathe then to goe from the truth Then being demaunded what ground of learning hee had to cleaue to his opinions he made aunswere and sayd that all the lawes now vsed meaning the Ecclesiasticall lawes are nought and abhominable And further therevnto he sayd that the Masse is nought and abhominable c. Which wordes being spoken the Byshop immediately read the sentence of condemnation vpon him and so deliuered him to the secular power by whome he was sent to prison agayne Richard Gibson Martyr WIth the other two aboue named suffered also in the same fire Richard Gibson who first was cast into the Counter in the Poultry where he had bene prisoner by the space of two yeares for suretishippe in a matter of debt then stood vpon his deliuerance then vpon suspition and euill will was accused to Boner for that in the prison he was neuer confessed nor receiued at the Popishe aultar by reason whereof he was called for and susteined diuers sundry conflictes and examinations in the cause of his fayth and religion But first he semed to make a certeine submission which also he exhibited with the other 28. mentioned aboue pag. 1865. but because it seemed something to differ in wordes from the other it appeareth not to be receiued or whether it was receiued or no it is not fully certayne This is certayne that although his submission was in the bishops Register recorded yet he was not deliuered out from imprisonment till the daye of his burning The Articles first obiected and ministred vnto hym by the Bishop were these Articles obiected and ministred to Richard Gibson by Boner Bishop of London FIrst that the sayd Richard Gibson prisoner in the Counter in the Pultry in the dioces of Lōdō hath otherwise thē became a
one time wyth the rest examined and brought before the sayde Byshop who aunswered no lesse in his Maysters cause then the other and therfore had the like rewarde that the other had which was the Byshops bloudy blessing of condemnation and deliuered also to the Seculare power who kept him with the other vntill the day of slaughter which hasted on and was not long after Thomas Hudson was of Ailesham in Norfolke by his occupation a Glouer a very honest poore manne hauing a wife and three children and laboured alwayes truly and dilligently in hys vocation being of thirtye yeares of age and bearing so good a will to the Gospell that he in the dayes of king Edward the 6. two yeares before Q. Maryes raygne learned to read Englishe of Anthony Thomas Norgate of the same Towne wherin he greatly profited about the tyme of alteration of Religion For when Queene Mary came to raygne and had chaunged the seruice in the Churche putting in for wheate draffe and darnill and for good preaching blasphemous crying out agaynst truthe and godlinesse he then auoyding all theyr ceremonies of superstition absented hymselfe from hys house and went into Suffolkl a longe tyme and there remayned trauelling from one place to an other as occasion was offered At the last hee returned backe agayne to Northfolke to his house at A●lesham to comfort his wyfe and children being heauy and troubled with hys absence Nowe when he came home and perceiued hys contynuance there would be daungerous he and hys wife deuised to make hym a place among hys fagottes to hide him selfe in where he remayned all the day in steede of hys chamber reading and praying continually for the space of halfe a yeare and his wife lyke an honest woman being carefull for hym vsed her selfe faythfullye and dillygently towards him In the meane time came the Uicare of the Town named Berry who was one of the Byshoppes Commissaries a very euill manne and inquired of this sayd Thomas Hudsons wife for her husband Unto whom he answered as not knowing where hee was Then the sayde Berry rated her and threatned to burne her for that shee would not bewraye her husbande where hee was After that when Hudson vnderstoode it hee waxed euerye day more zelous then other and continually read sange Psalmes to the wonder of many the people openlye resorting to him to heare hys exhortations and vehement prayers At the last he walked abroad for certayne dayes openly in the Towne crying out continually agaynst the Masse and all theyr trumpery and in the ende commyng home in hys house he sate him downe vpon hys knees hauyng his book by hym reading and singing Psalmes continually without ceassing for three dayes and three nightes together refusing meate and other talke to the great wonder of many Then one Iohn Crouch his next neighbour went to the Constables Robert Marsham and Robert Lawes in the night to certifie them thereof for Berry commanded openly to watche for hym and the Constables vnderstanding the same went cruelly to catche hym in the breake of the day the xxii of the moneth of Aprill Anno 1558. Now when Hudson saw them come in he sayd Now myne houre is come Welcome frendes welcome You bee they that shall leade me to lyfe in Christ I thanke GOD therefore and the Lorde enhable me thereto for hys mercyes sake For his desire was and euer he prayed if it wer the Lordes will that hee might suffer for the Gospell of Christ. Then they tooke him and lead him to Berry the Commissarye whiche was Uicar of the towne and the sayde Berrye asked him first where hee kepte hys Church for foure yeares before To the whiche the sayde Hudson answered thus where so euer he was there was the church Doest thou not beleue sayth Berry in the sacramente of the aultar What is it Hudson It is wormes meate my beliefe saythe hee is in Christ crucified Berry Doest thou not beleeue the Masse to putte awaye sinnes Hudson No God forbidde it is a patched monstre and a disguised Puppet more longer a peecing then euer was Salomons Temple At whiche wordes Berry stamped fumed and shewed himself as a mad man and sayd well thou villayn thou I wil write to the B. my good Lord and trust vnto it thou shalt be handled according to thy desertes Oh sir sayde Hudson there is no Lorde but God though there be many Lordes and many Gods With that Berry thrust hym backe with hys hand And one Richard Cliffar standing by sayde I pray you sir bee good to the poore man At which wordes Berry was more mad then before and woulde haue had Cliffer bound in a recognysaunce of 40. poundes for hys good abearyng bothe in worde and deede whiche his desire tooke no effecte Then he asked the sayd Hudson whether he would recant or no. Unto whiche wordes Hudson sayde the Lorde forbid I had rather dye many deathes then to do so Then after long talke the sayde Berry seeing it booted not to perswade with him tooke hys penne and inke and wrote letters to the Bishop thereof and sent this Hudson to Norwiche bound like a theefe to him whiche was 8. miles from thence who with ioy and singing chere wēt thether as mery as euer he were at anye tyme before In prison he was a month where hee dyd continually read inuocate the name of God These three Christians and constaunt Martyrs William Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson after they were as ye haue heard condemned the xix day of May. 1558. were caryed out of prison to the place where they should suffer whyche was without Byshoppes gate at Norwich called Lollards Pit And being al there they made their humble prayers vnto the Lorde That beyng done they rose and went to the stake and standing al ther with their chaynes about them immediately this sayde Thomas Hudson commeth foorth from them vnder the Chayne to the great wonder of many whereby diuers feared and greatly doubted of hym For some thought hee would haue recanted other iudged rather that he went to aske a further day and to desire conference and some thought he came forth to aske some of hys parentes blessing So some thought one thinge and some an other but hys two companions at the stake cryed out to him to comforte him what they coulde exhorting him in the bowelles of Christ to be of good cheare c. But this sweete Hudson felt more in hys heart and conscience then they could conceaue in him For alas good soule hee was compassed God knoweth with great dolour and griefe of minde not for hys death but for lacke of feeling of his Christ and therefore beyng verye carefull he humbly fell downe vppon his knees and prayed vehemently and earnestly vnto the Lord who at the last according to hys olde mercies sent him comfort and thē rose he with great ioy as
question to aske a simple man whether the Latine seruice be good and lawfull Mathew Ricarby and Roger Hollande denied the seruice in Latine to be good 11. To the 11. Article they all confessed the same to be true in euery part sauing Henry Pond and Mathew Ricarby who aunsweared in effecte that they coulde not iudge thereof but leaue them to be tried by the woorde of God 12. To the 12. Article they graunted and confessed the same to be true and desired of God that the seruice were in the English againe 13. To the 13. Article they all graunted and confessed the same to be true 14. To the 14. Article they all graunted and confessed the same to be true in euery part Thus haue ye the aunsweres of these men to the foresayde Articles saue that Reginald Eastlande required to aunswere therunto refused so to do alleaging that he knoweth that to ende a strife an othe is lawfull but to beginne a strife an othe is not lawfull and therefore he nowe refuseth to take his othe in the beginning of this matter against him Whereupon being charged by the Bishoppe he said for his not aunswearing to the Articles he was contente to stande vnto the order of the lawe for his punishment whatsoeuer it should be The 17. day after of the sayd moneth of Iune the sayd Eastland appeared againe before the bishop who stāding firme in that he had sayd before denied to make any aunswere in that case c. Wherupon the sayd Eastland wyth the other 6. his felow prisoners were assigned by the Bishop to repaire againe to the same place at afternoone who being there present in the foresaid consistorie as they were commaunded and standing altogether before the said Bishop he beginning thus with them asked them if hee had committed them to prisone They sayde no but Maister Cholmley and the Recorder of London committed them to Newgate Then being demaunded further by the Bishop if hee had done any thing or acte to keepe them in prisone or to hinder their libertie from prisone to this they answeared they could not tel Then the foresaid articles being againe recited to them all they answered and knowledged them to be the articles that they would stād to their answers made to the same Wherupon the bish disseuering them a part one frō an other proceeded with them seuerally first beginning with Reginald Eastlande who there declared that he had bene vncharitably handled and talked wtal● since his first imprisonment in that behalfe Then being required to reconcile him selfe againe to the catholike faith and go from his opinions he sayd that he knew nothing why he should recant and therefore woulde not conforme hym selfe in that behalf c. and so the sentence was red against him and he geuen to the secular power c. After him was called in Iohn Holiday who likewise being aduertised to renounce hys heresies as they called them to returne to the vnitie of their church sayde that hee was no heretike nor didde holde any heresie neither any opinion contrary to the catholike faith and so would offer him selfe to be iudged therein Whereuppon hee likewise persisting in the same the sentence was pronounced against him condemning him to be burnt Next to hym was condemned wyth the like sentence Henry Pond because he would not submit him self to the Romish church saying to Boner that he had done or spoken nothing wherof he was or would be sorie but that he did holde the truth of God and no heresie c. After whome next followed Iohn Floyde who likewise denied to be of the popes church and saide his minde of the Latine seruice that the prayers made to Saintes is idolatrie and that the Seruice in Latine is profitable to none but only to such as vnderstand the Latine Moreouer being charged by Boner of heresie and sayinge that what soeuer he and such other now a daies do all is heresie for this hee was condemned with the same butcherlye sentence and so by the secular power was sent away Then Robert Southam after him Mathew Ricarby and last of all Roger Holland were seuerally produced The burning of vij godly Martyrs in Smithfield The examinations and condemnation of Roger Holland THis Roger Holland a marchant Taylor of London was first prentise with one maister Kempton at the blacke boy in Watling streete where hee serued his prentiship with much trouble vnto his maister in breaking hym from his licencious libertie whych he had before ben trained and brought vp in geuing himselfe to riote as dauncing fence gaming banketting and wanton companie and besides all this being a stubborne an obstinate papist farre vnlike to come to any suche ende as God called him vnto the which was as followeth His maister notwithstanding this his leudnesse putting him in trust with his accomptes he had receiued for him certaine money to the summe of 30. poundes and falling into ill companie lost the saide money euery grote at dice being past all hope which way to answer it and therefore he purposed to conuey him selfe away beyond the seas either into Fraunce or into Flaunders Now hauing determined with himselfe thus to do he called betimes in the morning to a seruaunt in the house an auncient and discrete maide whose name was Elizabeth which professed the Gospel with a life agreeing vnto the same and at al times much rebuking the wilful and obstinate Papistrie as also the licencious liuing of thys Roger Holland To whome he sayd Elizabeth I would I hadde followed thy gentle perswasions and frendly rebukes which if I hadde done I hadde neuer come to this shame and miserye which I am nowe fallen into for this night haue I lost 30 pound of my masters mony which to pay him and to make vp mine accomptes I am not able But thus muche I pray you desire my mistresse that shee would intreat my master to take this bil of my hand that I am thus much indebted vnto him and if I be euer able I wil see him paied desiring him that the matter may passe with silēce and that none of my kinred nor frendes neuer vnderstand this my leud part For if it should come vnto my fathers eares it woulde bring his graye heares ouer soone vnto his graue and so was he departing The maide considering that it mighte be his vtter vndoing stay said she and hauing a peece of money lying by her geuē vnto her by the death of a kinsman of hers who as it was thought was doctour Redman shee brought vnto him 30. pounde saying Roger heere is thus muche money I will let thee haue it and I will keepe this Bill But since I do thus much for thee to helpe thee to saue thy honestie thou shalt promise me to refuse all leude and wilde companie al swearing and ribaldrie talke and if euer I know thee to play one 12. pēce at either dice or cardes then
the 13. and 14. articles they confesse and graunt the contents of them to be true in euery part When at the daies before specified these good men were produced before Boners Chancellour Thomas Darbishire and had the foresaide articles ministred vnto them and they as ye haue heard had made aunswere vnto the same in the ende the Chauncellor commaunded them to appeare before them againe the 11. day of Iuly after in the sayde place at Paules Where when they came he required of them whether they woulde tourne from their opinions to the mother holy church and if not that then whether there were anye cause to the contrarye but that they might procede with the sentence of condemnation Wherunto they all answeared that they would not go from the truthe nor relent from any part of the same while they li●●ed Then he charged them to appeare before him againe the next daye in the afternoone betweene one and two of the clocke to heare the definitiue sentence redde agaynste them according to the Ecclesiasticall lawes then in force At which time he sitting in iudgemēt talking with these godly and vertuous men at the last came into the sayde place syr Edwarde Hastings sir Thomas Cornewales knights two of Quene Maries officers of her house and being there they sate them down ouer against the Chancellor in whose presence the sayde Chancellor condemned those good poore Lambes and deliuered them ouer to the secular power who receiued and caried them to prisonne immediately and there kept them in safetie till the daye of their deathe In the meane time this naughty Chancellor slept not I warrant you but that day in which they were condemned he made certificate into the Lorde Chancellors office from whence the next daye after was sent a writ to burne them at Brainforde aforesaid which accordingly was accomplished in the same place the said 14. daye of Iulye Whereunto they being brought made theyr humble praiers vnto the Lorde Iesus vndressed themselues wente ioyfully to the stake whereto they were bounde and the fire flaming about them they yelded their soules bodies and liues into the handes of the omnipotent Lorde for whose cause they didde suffer and to whose protection I commend thee gentle Reader Amen The burning of sixe Martyrs at Brainforde Among these 6. was due William Pikes as yee haue heard who sometime dwelt in Ipswiche in Suffolke by his occupation a Tanner a very honest godly man of a vertuous disposition a good keper of hospitalitie and bene●icial to the persecuted in Queene Maries daies Thys saide William Pikes in the 3. yeare of Queene Maries raigne a little after Midsomer being then at libertie wēt into his Garden and tooke wyth him a Bible of Rogers translation where hee sitting wyth his face towardes the South reading on the said Bible sodenly fell downe vpon his booke betwene a 11. and 12. a clocke of the day foure drops of fresh bloud he knew not from whence it came Then he seeing the same was sore astonished coulde by no meanes learne as I sayd from whence it should fall and wiping out one of the droppes with his finger called his wife and said In the vertue of God wife what meaneth this Wil the Lord haue 4. sacrifices I see wel enough the Lorde will haue bloude his wil be done and geue me grace to abide the triall Wife let vs pray sayde hee for I feare the day draweth nigh Afterwarde he daily looked to be apprehended of the papistes and it came to passe accordingly as yee haue heard Thus much thought I good to wryte heereof to stirre vp our dull senses in considering the Lordes woorkes and reuerently to honour the same His name therefore be praised for euermore Amen Moreouer concerning the sayd William Pikes as he was in Newgate sore sicke and at the poynte of deathe so that no man looked he should liue 6. houres there declared to them that stoode by that he had bene twise in persecution before and that now he desired the Lord if it were his will that he might glorifie his name at the stake and so as he prayed it came to passe at Brainford Ye hard before of those 22. taken at Islington 13. were burned and 6. escaped albeit very hardly some of them not without scourging by the hands of the bishop In the which number was Thomas Hinshaw Ihon Milles according to the expresse Picture here after purported Ex epigrammate Ennij apud Ciceronem allusio Si fas caedendo coelestia scandere cuiquam est Bonnero coeli maxima porta patet In effigiem Boneri carmen QVae noua forma viri quid virga quid ora quid aluus Pondera quid ventris crassitiesue velit Corpus amaxaeum disten to abdomine pigrum Rides anne stupes lector amice magis Vasta quid ista velint si nescis pondera dicam Nam nihil hic mirum venter obesus habet Carnibus humanis sanguine vescitur atro Ducentos annis hauserat ille tribus Ergo quid hoc monstri est recto vis nomine dicam Nomen nec patris nec gerit ille matris Qui patre Sauago natus falso que Bonerus Dicitur hunc melius dixeris Orbilium The same in English MUse not so much that natures woorke is thus deformed now With belly blowen and head so swolne for I shall tell you how This Canniball in three yeares space three hundreth Martyrs slew They were his foode he loued so bloud he spared none he knew It should appeare that bloud feedes fat if men lie well and soft For Boners bellie waxt with bloud though he semde to fast oft O bloudy beast bewaile the death of those that thou hast slaine In time repent since thou canst not their liues restore againe G. G. In Bonerum CArnificis nomen debetur iure Bonero Qui sine Christicolas crimine mactat oues Certe carnificis immitis nomine gaudet Siue isto peius nomine nomen amat Carnificem vocitas ridet crudelia facta Narris● rem gratam non facis ipse magis Det Deus vt sapias meliora Bonere vel istis Te feriant meritis munera digna precor The scourging of Thomas Hinshaw ❧ The right Picture and true Counterfet of Boner and his crueltie in scourging of Gods Sainctes in his Orchard a Fulham The next mornyng the Bish. came and examined hym himselfe and perceiuyng no yelding to his mynde he sent M. Harpsfield to talke with him who after long talke in the end fell to raging words callyng the sayd Thomas Hinshaw p●euish boy and asked him whether he thought he went about to damne his soule or no c. Unto whiche the sayd Tho. answered that he was perswaded that they laboured to maintaine their darke and diuelish kingdom and not for any loue to truth Then Harpsfield beyng in a mighty rage told the B. thereof Whereat the B. fumed fretted that scant for anger beyng able
Milles the same day that he was deliuered Boner came vnto the stocks where he lay and asked him how he liked his lodging and his fare Wel said Milles if it would please God I might haue a little strawe to lye or sit vpon Then said Boner thou wilt shew no token of a christian man And vpon this his wife came in vnknowyng vnto him beyng very great with child and lookyng euery hower for her lying downe entreating the Bishop for her husband saying that she would not go out of the house but there would lay her belly in the bishops house vnlesse she had her husband with her How saist thou quoth Boner thou heretike If thy wife miscarie or thy child or children if she be with one or two should perish the bloud of them would be required at thy hands Then to this agreement he came that he should hue a bed in the towne of Fulham and her husband should go home with her the morow after vppon this condition that his kinsman there present one Rob. Rousie should bring the sayd Milles vnto his house at Paules the next day Whereunto the sayd Milles sayd he would not agree except he might go home by and by At length his wife beyng importunate for her husband seyng that she would go no further but there remaine vnlesse she had her husband with her the bishop fearing belike the rumor which might come vpon his house thereby bade the sayd Milles make a crosse and say In nomine Patris Filij Spiritus sancti Amen Then the sayd Milles began to say In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy ghost Amē No no sayth Boner say it me in Latine In nomine Patris Filij Spiritus sancti Amen Milles vnderstanding the matter of that Latine to be but good said the same and so went home with his wyfe his foresayde kinsman beyng charged to bring hym the next day vnto Paules either els sayd Boner if thou doest not bring hym thou art an heretike as wel as he Notwithstandyng the charge beyng no greater this kinsman didde not bring hym but hee of his owne voluntarie accord came to the said B. within a fewe days after where the B. put vnto him a certaine writing in Latin to subscribe vnto conteyning as it semed to him no great matter that he needed greatly to sticke at albeit what the bill was he could not certainly tell So subscribed he to the bill and returned home And thus much cōcernyng the 22. taken at Islington The history and cruell handlyng of Richard Yeoman D. Taylors Curate at Hadley constantly sufferyng for the Gospels sake AFter the story of these 22. taken at Islington proceedyng now the Lord willyng we wil prosecute likewise the taking and cruell handlyng of Richard Yeoman minister Which Yeoman had bene before D. Tailors Curate a godly deuout old man of 70. yeres which had many yeres dwelt in Hadley well seene in the scriptures geuing godly exhortations to the people With hym Doc. Tailor left his cure at his departure But as soone as M. Newal had gotten the benefice he droue away good Yeoman as is before said set in a popish Curate to maintain and continue their Romish religion whiche nowe they thought fully stablished Then wandered he long time frō place to place moouing exhorting all men to stand faithfully to Gods worde earnestly to geue themselues vnto prayer with patience to beare the crosse now layed vpon them for their triall with boldnes to confesse the truth before the aduersaries with an vndoubted hope to waite for the crowne and reward of eternall felicitie But when hee perceiued his aduersaries to lye in waite for him hee went into Kent with a little packet of laces pinnes and points and such like things he trauailed from Uillage to village sellyng such things by the poore shyft gate hymself somewhat to the susteining of himselfe his poore wife and children At the last a Iustice of Kent called M. Moyle tooke poore Yeoman and set him in the stocks a day and a night but hauyng no euident matter to charge hym with he let hym go againe So came he secretly againe to Hadley and taried with his poore wife who kept him secretly in a chāber of the Towne house commonly called the Guild hall more then a yere All the which tyme the good olde father abyde in a chamber locked vp all the day spent his tyme in deuout prayer and reading the Scriptures and in carding of w●ol which his wyfe did spin His wife also did go and beg bread and meat for herselfe and her children and by such poore meanes susteined they themselues Thus the saints of God susteined hunger and misery while the prophets of Baal liued in iollitie and were costly pampered at Iesabels table At the last person Newal I know not by what means perceiued that Rich. Yeoman was so kept by hys poore wyfe and taking with him the Bailiffes deputies and seruants came in the night tyme brake vp fiue dores vpon Yeoman whom he found in bed with his poore wyfe and children Whom when he had so found he irefull cried saiyng I thought I should find an harlot and a whore together And he would haue plucked the clothes of from them But Yeoman held fast the clothes and said vnto his wyfe wife aryse and put on thy clothes And vnto the person he sayd Nay Person no harlot nor whore but a maried man and his wife accordyng vnto Gods ordinance and blessed be God for lawfull matrimony I thank God for this great grace and I defie the Pope all his Poperie Then led they Rich. Yeoman vnto the cage set hym in the stocks vntill it was day There was then also in the cage an olde man named Iohn Dale who had sitten 3. or 4. dayes because wh● the sayd Person Newal with his Curate executed y● Romish seruice in the Church he spake openly vnto him and said O miserable blind guides will ye euer be blind leaders of the blynd will ye neuer amend will ye neuer see the truth of Gods word wil neither Gods threates nor promises enter into you harts wil not the bloud of Martyrs nothing mollifie your stonie stomacks Oh indurate hard harted peruerse crooked generation O damnable sorte whom nothyng can do good vnto These and like words he spake in feruentnes of spirit against the superstitious religion of Rome Wherfore person Newall caused hym forthwith to be attached and set in the stockes in the cage So was he there kept til sir Hēry Doile a Iustice came to Hadley Now when poore Yeoman was taken the person called earnestly vpon Sir Henry Doile to send them both to prison Sir Henry Doile earnestly laboured and entreated the person to consider the age of the men their poore estate they were persons of no
theirs God is my father God is my mother God is my Sister my Brother my Kinsman God is my frend moste faythfull ¶ The cruell burning of a woman at Exeter Touching the name of this woman as I haue nowe learned she was the wife of one called Prest dwelling in the Dioces of Exeter not farre from Launceston ¶ The Persecution and Martyrdome of three godly men burnt at Bristow about the latter yeares of Queene Maries reigne IN writing of the blessed Sayntes which suffered in the bloudy dayes of queene Mary I had almost ouerpassed the names and story of three godly Martyrs whiche with theyr bloud gaue testimony likewise to the gospell of Christ being condemned and burnt in the town of Bristow The names of whom were these Richard Sharpe Thomas Benion Thomas Hale First Richarde Sharpe Weauer of Bristowe was brought the 9. day of Marche an 1556. before M. Dalbye Chauncellour of the Towne or City of Bristow and after examination concerning the sacrament of the aultar was perswaded by the sayde Dalbye and others to recant and the 29. of the same moneth was enioyned to make his recantation before the Parishioners in his parish Churche Which whē he had done he felt in his cōscience such a tormenting hell that he was not able quietly to worke in his occupation but decayed and chaunged both in colour and liking of his body Who shortly after vpon a sonday came into his parish Church called Temple after high masse came to the queere doore sayd with a loud voyce Neighbors beare me recorde that yonder Idoll and poynted to the aultar is the greatest and most abhominable that euer was and I am sory that euer I denied my Lord GOD. Then the Constables were commaunded to apprehende him but none stepped forth but suffered him to goe out of the Church After by night he was apprehended and caried to Newgate shortly after he was brought before the sayd Chauncellor denying the sacrament of the aultar to be the body bloud of Christ sayd it was an Idoll and therfore was cōdemned to be burnt by the sayd Dalby He was burnt the 7. of May. 1557. and dyed godly paciently and constantly confessing the articles of our fayth ¶ Thomas Hale Martyr THe Thursday in the night before Easter .1557 came one M. Dauid Herris Alderman Iohn Stone to the house of one Thomas Hale a Shoomaker of Bristowe caused him to rise out of his bedde brought hym foorth of his dore To whō the said Tho. Hale said You haue sought my bloud these two yeares now much good do it you with it Who being committed to the watchmen was caried to Newgate the 24. of April the yere aforesaid was brought before M. Dalby the Chancelor committed by him to prison after by him condemned to be burnt for saying the sacrament of the altar to be an Idoll He was burned the 7. of May with the foresayd Rich. Sharpe godly paciently and constantly embracing the fire with his armes Two Godly Martyrs burned at Bristow Richard Sharpe Thomas Hale were burned both together in one fire and bound backe to backe Thomas Benion THomas Benion a Weauer at the commaundement of the Commissioners was brought by a Constable the thirtenth daye of August 1557. before Mayster Dalbye Chauncellour of Bristow who committed him to pryson for saying there was nothing but bread in the Sacrament as they vsed it Wherefore the twenty day of the sayd August he was condemned to be burnt by the sayd Dalby for denying fiue of theyr Sacramentes and affirming two that is the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ and the Sacrament of Baptisme He was burnt the seuen and twenty of the sayd moneth and yeare and dyed godly Thomas Benion burned at Bristow constantly and patiently with confessing the articles of our christian fayth ¶ The Martyrdome of fiue constant Christians which suffered the last of all other in the time of Queene Mary THe last that suffred in Queene Maries time were fiue at Caunterburye burned about sixe dayes before the death of Queene Mary whose names follow here vnder written Iohn Corneford of Wortham Christopher Browne of Maydstone Iohn Herst of Ashford Alice Snoth Katherine Knight otherwise called Katherine Tynley an aged woman These fiue to close vp the finall rage of queene Maries persecution for the testimony of that word for whiche so many had died before gaue vp theyr liues meekly and paciently suffering the violent malice of the Papistes Which Papists although they then might haue either well spared them or els deferred theyr death knowing of the sicknesse of Queene Mary yet such was the implacable despite of that generation that some there be that say the Archdeacō of Canterbury the same time being at London vnderstanding the daunger of the Queene incontinently made al post hast home to dispatch these whom before he had thē in his cruell custody The matter why they were iudged to the fire was for beleuing the body not to be in the sacrament of the aulter vnlesse it be receiued saying moreouer that we receiue an other thing also beside Christes body which we see and is a temporall thing according to S. Paule The thinges that be sene be temporall c. Item for confessing that an euill man doth not receiue Christes body Because no man hath the sonne except it be geuen him of the father Item that it is Idolatry to creepe to the crosse and S. Iohn forbidding it sayth Beware of Images Itē for confessing that we should not pray to our Lady and other Sayntes because they be not omnipotent For these and such other articles of Christian doctrine were these fiue committed to the fire Agaynst whom whē the sentence shoulde be read and they excommunicate after the maner of the papistes one of them Iohn Cornford by name styrred with a vehemēt spirit of the zeale of god proceeding in a more true excōmunication agaynst the papistes in the name of them all pronounced sentēce against them in these wordes as folow In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of the most mighty God and by the power of his holy spirite the authority of his holy catholick Apostolick church we do geue here into th● handes of Satan to be destroyed the bodies of all those blasphemers hereticks that do mainteine any error agaynst his most holy word or do cōdemne his most holy truth for heresy to the mainteinaunce of any false Churche or fayned Religion so that by this thy iuste 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 al our natiō Good Lord so be it Amen This sentence of excommunication beyng the same time openly pronounced and registred proceeding so as it seemeth from an inwarde fayth and hartye zeale to Gods trueth and
hee shall not come before hee come to iudgement then how is he here present in your sacrament of the aultar Wherefore I beleeue that the humaine bodye of Christ occupieth no more but one place at once for when he was here he was not there ¶ The sixt examination before the sayd Chauncellor WHo sayd vnto her Woman the last tyme that thou wast before me our talke was concernyng the Sacrament Eliz. Sir true it is and I trust that I sayd nothyng that ye can deny by the scriptures Chanc. Yes thou wilt not beleeue that Christes fleshe is flesh in thy flesh Eliz. No sir God hath geuen me no such beliefe for it can not be found by the scriptures Chanc. Wilt thou beleue nothing but what is in the scripture Why how many Sacraments doest thou find in the Scripture Eliz. The church of Christ doth set forth twaine Chanc. I will as well finde seuen by the scripture as thou shalt finde twaine Eliz. Sir I talke not to you thereof but I saye that the church of Christ setteth out twaine I haue bene taught no more Chanc. What are those twaine Eliz. The Sacrament of Christes body and bloud and the sacrament of Baptise Chauncellour What sayest thou by the Sacramente of Wedlocke Eliz. I haue not heard it called a Sacrament but the holy estate of matrimony which ought to be kept of all mē that take it vpon them Chanc. How sayest thou by Priestes Is it good that they should marrie is it to be kept of them Eliz. I come not hither to reason any such matters for I am no Diuine and also it is no part of my faith Chanc. Can ye not tell ye shall tell or euer you go Eliz. Sir then must ye keepe me a good while for I haue not studied the scriptures for it Chaunc No why ye will not be ashamed to flee vnto the highest mysterie euen to the Sacrament at the first dashe and ye are not afrayd to argue with the best doctour in the lande Eliz. Gods mysteries I will not meddle with but all things that are written are written for our edification Chanc. What say ye by prayer for the dead is it not meete that if a mans friend be dead his friend cōmend his soule vnto God Eliz. There is no Christian man that will commend hys friend nor his foe vnto the Deuill And whether it be good for him when he is dead or no sure I am that it is good when he is alyue Chaunc Then thou allowest not prayer to bee good for thē when they be dead lying in Purgatory Is it not meete that prayer be made vnto God for them Eliz. Sir I neuer heard in the Scriptures of Purgatory but in the scripture I haue heard of heauen and hell Chaunc Why ye haue nothyng but the skimmyng of the Scriptures Our auncient fathers could finde out in the bottome of the scriptures that there is a Purgatory Yea they could finde it in the new testament that a Priest shall take the Sacrament and go to the aultar and make an oblation and offer it vp euery day Eliz Sir that could neuer be found in the Bible nor Testament as farre as euer I could heare Chanc. Whome doest thou heare read either the Bible or Testament but a sorte of chismatikes bawdie Byshops and hedge Priests which haue brought into the Churche a stinkyng Communion which was neuer heard of in any place in the world but here in England whiche haue deceyued the king and all the Nobilitie and all the whole Realme Eliz. Sir it is a vile name that ye geue them all Chanc. Where are all the hedge knaues become now that they come not to their answer Eliz. Aunswer Sir why they haue aunswered both with the Scriptures and also with their bloud and then where were you that ye came not forth to answer in their times I neuer knew none of you that were troubled but twain and that was not for Gods worde it was for their disobedience Chaunc No I pray you did ye not knowe that we were killed hanged burned and headed Eliz. Sir I neuer knew that any of you euer was eyther hanged killed burned or headed Chanc. No did ye neuer heare that the Byshop of Rochester lost hys head for the supremacie of the Bishoppes of Rome Eliz Then he died not for Gods word Chaunc Well thou wilt beleeue nothyng but that which is written in Gods worde Where canst thou finde the Saboth written in the Scripture by the name of the Saboth For the right Saboth day I will prooue to be Saterday Or where canst thou finde the Articles of the Creede in the Scripture by the name of the Articles Or where canst thou find in the Scripture that Christ went downe into hell Eliz. What place or part in the scripture can ye finde for to disprooue any of these things Chaunc What priest hast thou lyen withall that thou hast so much Scripture Thou art some Priestes woman I thinke for thou wilt take vppon thee to reason and teach the best Doctor in all the land thou Eliz. I was neuer yet Prieests wyfe nor yet Priests woman Chanc. Haue I touched your conscience Eliz. No Sir ye haue not touched my conscience but beware ye hurt not your owne Chanc. Thou hast red a little in the Bible or Testament thou thinkest that thou art able to reason with a Doctor that hath gone to schoole thirtie yeares and before God I thinke if I had talked thus much with a Iewe as I haue done with thee he would haue turned ere this time But I may say by you as Christ sayd by Ierusalem saying O Ierusalem Ierusalem how ofte would I haue gathered thee together euen as a henne gathereth her chickens but thou wouldst not And so would we gather you together in one fayth but ye will not and therfore your owne bloude bee vpon your own heds for I can do no more but teach you Thou art one of the rankest heretikes that euer I heard for thou beleeuest nothyng but what is in the Scripture and therfore thou art damned Eliz. I do beleeue all thinges written in the scripture and all things agreeable with the scripture geuen by the holy Ghost into the church of Christ set forth and taught by the church of Christ and shall I be damned because I beleue the truth and will not beleeue an vntruth Then the Chancellor called the keper saying Clunie take her away thou knowest what thou hast to doe with her And so she departed and was brought agayne to the stockhouse and there she lay certaine dayes and both her hands ma●acled in one iron and afterward was remooued into the Lollards Tower and there she remained with both her feete in the stockes and irons till the next tyme of examination ¶ The 7. examination before the Chancellor and the Bishops Scribe WHen she was
of Easter who is yet alyue and a profitable Minister this day in the Church of England Blessed bee the Lord qui facit mirabilia solus ¶ Maistresse Roberts FUrthermore to both these may also be associate another Gentlewoman to make the third named maistres Robertes yet liuyng and dwellyng as I vnderstand in the towne of Haukehurst in Sussex She beyng earnestly addicted to the truth of Christes Gospell and no lesse constaunt in that whiche shee had learned therein so kepte her selfe duryng all the brunte of Queene Maries tyme that she neuer came to their popish seruice nor would pollute her conscience with hearyng their Idolatrous masse There dwelt the same tyme not farre of a Iustice called sir Iohn Gilford who beyng as feruent on the contrary side to set forward the proceedyngs of Q. Mary thought to prooue masteries with this Gentlewoman in forcyng her to the Church And first sendyng his wyfe he attempted her by faire wordes and gentle perswasions to conforme herselfe to the Princes lawes and to come as other christian people did to the Church Notwithstanding she constantly persisting in the sinceritie of the truth woulde by no perswasions be won to do therein against her conscience and so kept at home a certayne space till agayne the second tyme Maister Gilford thinkyng not to geue her ouer so sent his Officers and seruauntes to her by force ond power to hale her out of her house to the church and so dyd Where by the way she for griefe of conscience swounded and so of necessitie was brought home againe and fallyng into an Ague was for that tyme dispensed withall The third tyme yet the vnquiete spirite of M. Gilford beyng not content after the tyme that she recouered helth againe would needes come his owne person to compell her wild she nild she to come to Church But as the Prouerbe goeth who can let that God would haue done For when M. Gilford had purposed as pleased hym the Lord so disposed for his seruaunt that as the sayde M. Gilford was commyng vp the staires toward her chamber sodainly hys olde disease the Goute so tooke hym and terribly tormented hym that he could goe no further And so he that purposed to cary her to the church against ●er wil was fayne hymselfe to be caried home to his house to hys payne protestyng and swearyng that hee woulde neuer from henceforth trouble that Gentlewoman more and no more he dyd ¶ Maistresse Anne Lacie IN this number of good Gentlewomen beyng in trouble and danger for Gods word is not to be omitted the memory of one maistresse Anne Lacie widowe in Notinghāshiere who was in great danger in Queene Maries time in so much that the processe was forth against her and she ready to haue bene apprehended beyng so neerely pursued that she was driuen to hide her Bible and other bookes in a dunghill M. Lacy her brother was then Iustice of peace but to whom as I haue heard she was but smally beholden Neuertheles where kindred faileth yet gods grace neuer fayleth such as sticke to hym for in this mean tyme as the processe came out against her Queene Mary dyed and so she escaped ¶ Crosmans wyfe ONe Crosmans wyfe of Tibnam longrowe in Norfolke in Queen Maries tyme for not going to church was sought for at her house by one Barbour of the sayde towne then Constable of the hundreth who whē he came to her house shee beyng at home with a childe sucking in her armes stept into a corner on the one side of the chimney and they seeking the chambers the child neuer cryed although before they came it did as long as they were there so by this meanes the Lord preserued her The congregation at Stoke in Suffolke THere were some likewise which auoyded the violent rage of the aduersaries by meanes onely of their number and mutuall concord in godlinesse wherein they dyd so holde together that without muche adoe none well could be troubled whereof we haue example in a certain towne of Suffolke called Stoke After the three sharpe yeares of Queene Maries persecution beyng past yet notwithstandyng the inhabitantes of the towne aforesaid specially the women came not to their Church to receyue after the Popish maner the Sacrament Who if they had bene but fewe they could by no meanes haue escaped imprisonment But because there were so many the Papists thought it not best to lay handes vpon them Onely they appoynted them 16. dayes respite after Easter wherein as many as would should receiue the Sacrament those that would not should stand to the peril that would folow Of this company which were many geuing theyr handes together the chiefest doers were these Eaue an old woman of three score yeares Alice Coker her daugher Elizabeth Foxe Agnes Cutting Alice Spenser Henry Cauker Ioane Fouke Agnes Spaulding Iohn Steyre and hys brother Iohn Foxe These after the order was taken for theyr not comming to the Church tooke aduisement among themselues what was best to be done and at length concluded by promise one to another that they woulde not receiue at all Yet some of them afterwarde being perswaded with fayre promises that the Communion should be ministred vnto them according to Kyng Edwardes booke gat them vnto the parish Priest whose name was Cotes and asked him after whiche sort he woulde minister the Sacrament He aunswered to such as he fauoured that he woulde geue it a●ter the right sort the rest should haue it after the papisticall maner To be short none did communicate so but onely Iohn Steyre and Iohn Foxe of whiche the one gaue his Wyfe leaue to do as she thought best The other wēt about with threates to compell his wife saying that otherwise hee would diuorce himselfe from her As for the rest they dyd withdraw themselues from church resorting to their wōted company Onely Foxes wife taried still at home all in her dumpes and heauines whose husband practised wyth the Curate in the meane time that the nexte daye after he shoulde geue her the sacrament whiche was the xvij daye after Easter But the very same day vnknowing vnto her husband she gat her selfe secretly to her companye with teares declared how violently her husband had delt wyth her The other women had her notwithstanding to be of a good cheare and sayde that they woulde make theyr earnest prayers vnto the Lord both for her and her husband and in deed when they had so done the matter tooke verye good successe For the next day after goodman Foxe came of his owne accorde vnto them a farre other man then hee was before and bewayled his owne headines and rashnesse praying thē that they would forgeue him promising euer after to be more strong in fayth to the great reioysing both of them and his wife About halfe a yeare after this the Bishop of Norwich sendeth forth certaine of his Officers or Apparatours thither which gaue them
herevnto we haue taken as good order as we might which lieth not in me to chaunge Carlile We are of the catholicke church and abide therein and stand in the possessions of the truth and therfore must they say what they haue to answere against vs and so we to mainteine and defend our cause Lich. Couen Yea euen so must the matter be ordered Chester When they bring any thing agaynst vs it is sufficient for vs to deny it Therfore must they begin Lich. And when they affirme any thing and we say naye the proofe belongeth to them and so it behoueth them to shew first what they affirme and for what cause and purpose L. Keper Here resteth our purpose whole matter whether you will begin if they do not sith it was determined ye should begin Lich. Couen We heard of no such order L. Keper No did Yes and in the first question ye beg●n willingly How commeth it to passe that ye will not now do so Chester Then had we the affirmation which sith that our aduersaries haue now they should presently begin This the Protestantes denyed saying that they in the first day had the negatiue wherein they did not yet refuse to begin L. Keper If you haue any thing to say my Lordes to the purpose say on Lich. A particular sorte of men can neuer breake an Uniuersall Churche which wee nowe mainteine and as for these men our Aduersary part I neuer thought that they would haue done so much as haue named themselues to be of the catholicke Church challenging the name as wel as we Protestantes We doe so and we are of the true Catholicke church and maynteyne the verity therof Lincolne Yet woulde ye ouerthrowe all Catholicke order Horne I wonder that ye so much stand in who shoulde begin Lincolne You count it requisite that we shoulde followe your orders as we haue takē the question at your hands in that sort as you haue assigned them Lich. Couen Yea euen so are we driuen to do now L. Keper Nay I iudge if ye marke the matter well the questions are neither of their propounding them to you nor of your deuise to them but offred indifferently to you both Horne In deed my Lordes of the Queenes most honourable Counsell these questions or propositions were proposed vnto vs by your honors and they then hauing the preheminence chose to themselues the negatiue yet frely began first now agayne why do they not the like Liechfield being angred that he shoulde so straightlye speake agaynst them went quite from the matter saying My Lord keeper of the great seale and you the rest of the Queenes most honorable Counsel I hope that you all the Queenes Maiesty her selfe are inclined to fauour the verity in all thinges the truth of the catholicke church which we must will or can do no otherwise but earnestly maynteyne to the vttermost of our power and to thys purpose let vs now well way who are of the true Catholicke church they or we L Keeper Tary now you goe from the matter and make questions of your owne Lichfield Yet not straying from his digression sayd thus we must needes goe to worke and trye that first of what Church they be of For there are many Churches in Germany Mayster Horne maister Horne I pray you which of these Churches are you of Horne I am of Christes catholicke Church L. Keeper Ye ought not thus to runne into voluntary talk of your owne inuenting nor to deuise newe questions of your owne appoyntment and thereby enter into that talke ye ought not so to doe But say on if you haue anye thing to say in this matter Lich. Nay we must first thus go to worke with them as I haue sayd if that we will search a truth howbeit of the truth we haue no doubt for that we assuredly stande in it These men come in and they pretend to bee doubtfull Therefore they shoulde first bring what they haue to impugne or withstand vs withall Winch. Let them begin so will we goe onward with our matter Chester Otherwise my Lordes if they should not begin but end the talke then shoulde the verity on our sides bee not so well marked for they should depart speaking last cum applausu populi with the reioising triumph of the people Winch. Therefore I am resolued that they shall begin or that we say any thing Chester I am sory my Lordes that wee shoulde so longe stand in the matter with your honours and make so many wordes and so much adoe with you whom we ought to obey howbeit there is no indifferency if they begin not and surely we thinke it meete that they shoulde for theyr partes geue vs place Lich. Yea that they shoulde and ought to doe where anye indifferencie is vsed Aelmer We giue you the place do we not and depriue you not of the preeminence because you are Byshoppes therefore I pray you begin The Byshop A goodly geuing of place I assure you yea marie ye gaue place suche wordes they vsed wyth more scoffes L. Keeper If ye make this assembly gathered in vayne and will not go to the matter let vs rise and depart Winch. Contented let vs be gone for we will not in this poynt geue ouer I pray you my Lords require not at our hands that we should be anye cause of hinderaunce or lett to our religion or geue any such euil example to our posteritie whiche we shoulde doe if we gaue ouer to them whiche in no wise we may or will do L. Keeper Let vs then breake vp if you bee thus minded With these wordes the Bishoppes were strayght wayes rising But then sayd the Lord keeper let vs see whether euery one of you be thus minded How say you my Lorde of Winchester will you not begin to read your writing Winch. No surely I am full determined and fully at a poynt therein how soeuer my brethren do Then the Lord Keeper asked how the Bishoppe was called who sate next to Winchester in order It was the Bishoppe of Exceter who being enquired his mind herein answered that he was none of thē Thē the Lord Keeper asked the other in order and first Lincolne who sayde he was of the same minde that Winchester was of likewise answered Lichfield Couen Cole and Chedsy Then Chester being asked his sentence sayd My Lordes I say not that I will not read it if yee commaund vs but wee ought not to do it yet I desire your honors not so to take it as though I would not haue read it I meane not so L. Keeper How say you to it my Lord of Carlile Carlile If they should not read theyrs this daye so that our writing may be last read so am I contented that ours shall be first read L. Keeper So would ye make orders your selues and appoynt that we should spend one day in hearing you Abbot Then the Abbot of Westminst was asked his mind who sayd and if it
Gentleman He shall be sure cast away if we once bring him to Croydō surely quoth the Gentleman before God I speake it if thou Perlebeane were of my mind we would neuer bring him thither Say you so quoth the Porter I knowe that you be of a great deale more credit then I am in this matter and therfore if you can deuise honestly or finde some reasonable excuse wherby we may let him goe prouide for himselfe I will with all my hart condescend to your deuise As for that quoth the gentleman it is already inuēted how which waies he shall conuey himselfe without any great daunger or displeasure taken towardes vs as the matter shal be handled You see quoth the gentlemā yonder hill before vs named bristow cawsy 2. miles frō Lōdon there are great woodes on both sides when we come there we will permit Frith to go into the woodes on the left hand of the way wherby he may cōuey himselfe into kent amōg his frends for he is a kentish man borne whē he is gone we will linger an houre or twayn about the high way vntill that it somewhat draw towardes the night Then in great hast we will approch vnto Streatham which is a myle and a halfe of and an outcry in the Towne that our prisoner is broken from vs into the woodes on the right hand towardes Waynisworth so that we will drawe as manye as wee may of the Towne to search the country that way for our prisoner declaring that wee followed aboue a myle and more and at length loste him in the woodes because wee hadde no more companye and so wee wyll rather then fayle lye out one night in searching for him and sende worde from Stretham to my Lorde of Canterbury at Croyden in the euening of the prisoners escape and to what Coast hee is fledde So that by the morning if hee haue any good lucke at all hee will so prouide for himselfe that the Byshoppes shall fayle of their purpose I assure you quoth Perlebeane I like very well the deuise herein and therefore goe ye to Frith and declare what wee haue deuised for hys deliuery for nowe we are almost at the place When my Lorde of Caunterburyes gentleman came nyghe to the hill he ioyned himselfe in companye wyth the sayd Frith and calling him by hys name sayd Now Mayster Frithe let vs twayne commune together an other whiles you must consider that the iourney whiche I haue nowe taken in hande thus in bringing you to Croyden as a sheepe to the slaughter so it greeueth me and as it were ouerwhelmeth me in cares and sorrowes that I little passe what daunger I fall in so that I could finde the meanes to deliuer you oute of the Lyons mouthe And yet yonder good fellowe and I h●ue so deuised a meanes whereby you maye bothe easily escape from this great and Imminent daunger at hande and wee also bee rydde from any vehement suspicion And thereupon declared vnto Fryth the full processe discoursed before how euery thing in order should be handled When Frith had dilligently heard all the matter concerning hys deliuery he sayd to the gentleman Oh good Lorde wyth a smiling countenaunce is this the effecte of youre secret consultation thus longe betweene you twayne Surely surely you haue loste a great deale more labour in tymes past and so are you lyke to doe this for if you should both leaue me here and goe to Croyden declaring to the Byshoppes that you had lost Fryth I would surely follow as fast after as I might and bring them newes that I hadde founde and brought Fryth agayne Do you thinke quoth he that I am afrayde to declare my opinion vnto the Byshoppes of Englande in a manifest trueth You are a fonde manne quoth the Gentleman thus to talke As thoughe youre reasoning with them might do some good But I doe much maruell that you were so willing to flye the Realme before you were taken and nowe so vnwilling to saue youre selfe Mary there was and is a great diuersitie of escaping betweene th one and thother quoth Frith Before I was in deede desirous to escape because I was not attached but at libertie which liberty I woulde fayne haue enioyed for the maynteynance of my study beyond the See where I was a reader in the Greeke tong according to S. Paules Counsaile Howbeit now being taken by the higher power and as it were by almightye gods permission and prouidence deliuered into the hands of the Bishops only for religion doctrines sake namely such as in conscience and vnder paine of damnation I am bound to maynteyne and defend if I should now start aside and runne away I should runne from my God and from the testimony of his holy worde worthy then of an 1000. hels And therfore I most hartily thanke you both for your good willes towards me beseching you to bring me where I was appointed to bee brought for els I will go thether all alone And so with a chearfull mery countinance he went with them spending the time with pleasant godly communication vntil they came to Croyden where for that night he was wel entertained in the Porters lodge On the morow he was called before certayn Bish. and other learned men sitting in commission with my Lorde of Cant to be examined where he shewed himself passing ready ripe in answering to all obiections as some then reported incredible and contrary to al mens expectatiōs And his allegations both of S. Augustine other ancient fathers of the Church was such that some of them muche doubted of S. Augustines authoritie in that behalf Insomuch that it was reported of suche as were nigh and about the Archbishop of Caunterbury who then was not fully resolued of the sincere truth of that article that when they had finished their examination with Frith the Archbyshoppe conferring wyth Doctour Heathe priuately betwene themselues sayd This man hath wonderfullye trauayled in this matter and yet in mine opinion hee taketh the Doctours amisse Well my Lord should D. Heth say there was no man that coulde auoyd his authorityes of S. Augustine Wherein sayd my Lord. Then Doctour Heth began to repeate the sayd authorities of Saynt Augustine againe inferring and applying them so strayghtly agaynst my Lord of Caunterbury that my Lord was driuen to this shotte anker and sayd I see by it quoth he to Heth that you with a little more studye will bee easely brought to Frythes opinion or such like wordes in effect And some Chapleines there were of my Lorde of Caunterburyes which openly reported that Doctor Heth was as able to defend Frythes assertion in the Sacrament as Fryth was himselfe This learned young man being thus throughly sifted at Croydon to vnderstand what he could say or do in his cause there was no man willing to preferre hym to aunswere in open disputation as poore Lambart was But nowe without regarde of learning or good knowledge hee
was sent and deteyned vnto the Botchers stall I meane Byshop Stokeleyes Consistory there to heare not the opinion of Saynt Augustine and other auncient Fathers of Christes primatiue Churche of the sayde Sacramēt but either to be instruct and to heare the maymed and halfe cutaway Sacrament of Antichrist the Bishop of Rome with the grosse and fleshly imagination thereof or els to perish in the fire as he most constantly did after hee had before the Byshop of London Winchester and Chichester in the Consistory in Paules Church most plainely and sincerely confessed his doctrine and fayth in thys weighty matter c. pag. 1032. ¶ A note of William Plane IN the latter dayes of king Henry the eight aboute that time Anne Askew was in trouble one Doctour Crome was trauayled withall to recant for that he had preached somewhat agaynst thinges maynteined of the papistes in the Church And one M. Tracy hearing therof brought a letter secretly to one Plane dwelling in Bouge row and desired him to cary it to Doctor Crome which letter tended to the end to perswade him not to recant but to stand to the trueth When this good man William Plane had it as he was euer willing to further the truth so he gladly deliuered the same to Doctor Crome Which when he had receiued and read it he layd it downe vpon the table and after the sayd William Plane was gone an Arche Papist came thither to perswade him to recant and in trauelling with him he found the sayd letter on the boord which whē he had read it he examined him from whence it came so what thorow flattery and threatning he declared who was the messenger that brought it Then was William Plan● sent for cast in the Tower where he lay miserably xiij weekes none admitted to come to him in which time he was extremely racked within halfe a finger breadth as farre as Anne Askew but they could neuer get of hym of whome he had the letter nor neuer for all theyr extremity would accuse any man so in the end he was deliuered out of the Tower and liued aboute three yeares after and so godly ended his life But vnto this day would that Tracy neuer enquire in what condition his wife and children were left although he was his Messenger in carying the letter but good Lord the straunge disease that grew vpon him by that extreme racking as it is odious to rehearse so I will wish thē to repentance that were the instruments of his tormentes if they be aliue warne other papists to the same in whom any cruelty hath bene in the like cause A note of Lady Iane. THe Lady Iane she whom the Lorde Gilford maryed being on a time when she was very yong at Newhall in Essex at the Lady Maries was by one lady Anne Wharton desired to walke and they passing by the chappell the Lady Wharton made lowe curtesie to the popish Sacrament hangyng on the aulter which when the Lady Iane saw meruailed why she did so and asked her whether the Lady Mary were there or not Unto whome the Lady Wharton answered no but she said that she made her curtesie to hym that made vs all Why quoth the lady Iane how can hee be there that made vs all and the Baker made him This her aunswere commyng to the Lady Maries eare she did neuer loue her after as is credibly reported but esteemed her as the rest of that christian profession ¶ The copy of Queene Maries letters to the Duke of Northfolke RIght trustie right entirely beloued Cosin we greete you well and hauing by the assistance of God and our louing subiects discomfited Wiate and the other rebels of our Countie of Kent who hauyng passed the Riuer of Kingston came backe agayne towards London were encountred aboue Charing crosse and there were ouerthrowen and the most part of them were there slame Wiate and three of the Cobhams Bret Kneuet Rudstone Iseley and other the chiefe Captaines taken prisoners Wee haue thought good as well to geue you knowledge hereof to the ende ye may with vs and the rest of our louyng subiects reioyce and geue God thankes for this our victory as also further to signifie vnto you that where the sayd rebell did alway pretend the matter of our mariage to be the cause of this vnlawfull stirre now playnely appeareth by good and substantiall examinations of diuers of the sayd traitours that whatsoeuer they pretended the finall meanyng was to haue depriued vs frō our estate and dignitie royall and consequently to haue destroyed our person which thing as we do ascertaine you of our honour to bee matter of truth so wee praye you to cause the same to be published in all places of that our countries of Norfolke and Suffolke to the intent our good and louing subiects thereof be no more abused with such false pretenses or other vntrue rumours or tales by whom so euer the same shall be set forth And now things beyng in this sort quieted we cannot but geue you thankes for the readinesse that you haue bene in with the force of our said countrey to haue serued vs if neede had bene praying you to do the like on our behalfe to all the Gentlemen and others with you with whom neuerthelesse we require you to take such orders as the force of our sayd countrey may be still in like readines to be employed vnder good substantiall Captaines to be chosen of the Gentlemen inheritours within the sayd shiere for our further seruice vpō one houres warning when so euer we shall require the same And in the meane tyme our pleasure is that ye haue good regard to the quietnes and good order of the country specially to the apprehension of spreaders of false and vntrue tales rumors wherby ye shall both deserue well of your whole country and also do acceptable seruice which we will not faile to remember accordingly Yeauen vnder our signe at our pallace of Westminster the 8. of Febr. the first yeare of our raigne In hast ¶ A Treatise of M. Nich. Ridley in the name as it seemeth of the whole Clergie to King Edward the vj. concernyng Images not to be set vp nor worshipped in Churches ❧ Certaine reasons which mooue vs that we cannot with safe consciences geue our assentes that the Images of Christ c. should be placed and erected in Churches FIrst the words of the Commandement Thou halt not make to thy selfe any grauen image c. And the same is repeated more playnely Deut. 27. Maledictus homo qui facit sculptile conflatile c. ponitque illud in abscondito c. That is Curied is the man which maketh a grauen or molten image c. and setteth it in a secret place and all the people shall say Amen In the first place these wordes are to be noted Thou shalt not make to thy selfe that is to any vse of religion In the latter place
My friend or friends be it known vnto you that this is no errour as ye suppose but it is the truth of Gods will that we should beleeue as S. Iohn sayth That Christ Iesus is the sonne of the liuing God and in so beleeuyng wee should haue euerlasting lyfe Thus with loue I write vnto you praying God night and day to deliuer you frō euill which is in you and to keepe you from it Wherefore my friend or friendes you are not crucified with Christ you are not dead with him as concerning sinne you are not graffed with him in Baptisme nor you know not god nor his sonne whome he hath sent nor his commaundements which he hath commaunded and yet will ye teach other with most hearty prayer praying to God for you continually Patrike Patingham A note of a certaine letter of Wil. Tymmes GRace mercy and peace from God the father through the mercies of his deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and onely Sauiour with the comfort of his holy spirite that as you haue full godly begun euen so to continue to the end to the glory of God and your euerlasting comfort which thing to do I pray God to geue you grace who is the geuer of all good and perfect gifts to the glory of hys holy name Amen My dere sisters after most harty commendations vnto you and also most harty thankes geuing vnto you for all the great kyndnesse that you haue always shewed vnto me most vnworthy of the same I certifie you that I am very glad to heare of your good health which I pray God long to continue to his glory And especially I doe much reioyce in your most godly constancie in the Gospell of Christ which is the power of God vnto saluation vnto so many as beleeue it Therefore my deare hartes goe forward as you haue godly begunne for the tyme will come that these cruell tyrants which now so cruelly persecuteth the true members of Christ shall say for very anguish of mynde These are they whom we sometyme had in derision and iested vppon We fooles thought their lyfe to haue bene very madnesse and their ende to haue bene without honour But lo how they are counted among the children of God and their portion is among the Saints therefore we haue erred from the way of truth The light of righteousnes hath not shined vnto vs and the sonne of vnderstandyng rose not vpon vs. We haue weried our selues in the way of wickednesse and destruction Tedious wayes haue we gone but as for the way of the Lord we haue not knowen it What good hath our pride done vnto vs or what profit hath the pompe of riches brought vs. All these things hath passed away as a shadow or as a Messenger running before As a sheepe that passeth ouer the waues of the water which when it is gone by the trace thereof cannot be found neither the path in the flouds c. For as soone as we were borne we began inordinately to drawe to our ende and haue shewed no token of vertue but are consumed in our owne wickednesse Such wordes shall they that thus haue sinned speake in the hell c. But the righteous shall lyue for euermore their reward is also with the Lord and their remembraunce with the highest therfore shall they receiue a glorious kingdome and a beautifull crowne at the Lordes hand for with his right hande shall he couer them and with his holy arme shall he defend them c. The soules of the righteous are in the hāds of God and the paynes of death shall not touch them but in the sight of the vnwyse they appeare to die and their end is taken for very destruction but they are in rest And though they suffer payne before men yet is their hope full of immortalitie They are punished but in few thynges neuerthelesse in many things shall they be wel rewarded for God prooueth them and findeth them meete for hymselfe yea as the golde in the fornace doth he try them and receiueth them as a burnt offering and when the tyme commeth they shall be looked vppon the righteous shall shine as the sparkes that runneth through the red bushe they shall iudge the nations and haue dominion ouer the people and their Lord shal raigne for euer They that put their trust in hym shall vnderstand the truth and such as be faithfull will agree vnto hym in loue and he shall be a piller in the temple of God and shall no more go out and there shall be written vppon him the name of God And they shall lye vnder the aultar which is Christ crying with a lowd voyce saying How long tariest thou Lord holy and true to iudge and auenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth and they shall haue long white garmentes geuen vnto them and it shall be sayd vnto them that they should rest yet for a little season til the number of their fellowes and brethren of them that should bee killed as they were were fulfilled For as S. Iohn sayth they are worthy that thus ouercommeth to bee clothed in white aray and their names shall not bee put out of the booke of lyfe but shall be seperated from the Gotes and set on Christes right hand hearing his sweet and comfortable voice whē he shall say Come ye blessed of my Father and poss●sse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginnyng of the world And the very redy way to obtaine the same is as our maister Christ saith to forsake our selues takyng vp our crosse followyng our maister Christ which for the ioy that was set before him abode the crosse and despised the shame and is set downe on the throne of the right hand of God therefore let vs follow his example in sufferyng for his worde seeyng that hee of his mercifull goodnesse suffered so muche for vs when wee were his enemies for it was our sinne that killed Christ and by his death hath made vs on lyue Therefore with ioy seeing all these his merciful benefites purchased for vs onely by his death and bloudsheding Let vs with boldnesse confesse his holy word before this wicked generation euen to death and we be called thereto and so be well assured that our lyues be not in the hands of men but in Gods handes Therefore my deare sisters as you haue godly begun so go forward euen through many tribulations euen into the euerlasting kingdom of heauen To the which God the father of all mercy for his deare sonne Christes sake bring both you and all yours Amen Yours to commaund to my poore power Wil. Tymmes Continue in prayer Aske in fayth And obtaine your desire Praying for you as I know that you do for me ¶ Another Sermon of M. Latimer concerning his playing at Cardes NOw you haue heard what is ment by this first carde and how you ought to play with it I purpose againe to deale vnto you another carde almost of
began at the second if not at the first dash to demaund her beliefe in theyr popish sacrament of the aulter The good poore woman who had learned not to bee ashamed to confesse her mayster Christ before menne and to render accōptes of her fayth when it was asked tould freely and franckly her opinion therein and hid backe nothing that eyther shee thought might profite them if they had anye grace to receiue it or els might sounde to Gods glory and prayse though it were neuer so muche by them threatned and rebuked Whereupon shee was forthwyth committed to the Gayle of Launceston where she remayned a quarter of a yeare or thereaboutes and afterwards was dispatched of that vile and filthy prison and deliuered ouer to the handes of two champions of the Popes the one called Doctor Raynoldes Deane of Exceter and the other named mayster Blaxton treasurer of the same church men surely feruent hote in the furtheraunce of the romysh affayres and in withstanding the truth of the pure euangelicall gospell So the time that this good poore woman was vnder theyr handes shee had many sore conflictes by them And the sayd Blaxton hauing a Concubine whiche sondry tymes resorted to him with other of his gossippes alwayes when they came this sayde good woman was called forth to his house and there to make his minion with the rest of his company some mirth hee woulde examine her with such mocking maner in deriding the truth that it would haue vexed any christian soule to haue seene it Then when he had long vsed his foolishnes in this sort and had sported himselfe enough in deriding this chrysten martyr in the end sent her to prison agayn and there kept her very miserably sauing sometimes he woulde send for her when hys foresayd gest came to him to vse with her his accustomed folly aforesayd But in fine the vile wretches after many combattes and scoffing perswasions when they had played the parte of a cat with a mouse at length they condemned her deliuered her ouer to the secular power who within shorte space after most cruelly brought her forth to the place where she should suffer and there in great contempt of the truth which she most constantly confessed they consumed her carcas immediately with fire into ashes which she very patiētly suffered and most ioyfully receiued yelding her soule and lyfe to the Lord and her body to the tormentors for the whiche the Lordes name therefore be praysed Amen ¶ The martirdome of one Snel burned about Richmond in Queene Maryes tyme omitted in this history AT Bedaile a market towne in Yorkshyre were two men in the latter dayes of Queene Mary the one named Iohn Snel and the other Richard Snel Who being suspected for Religion were sent vnto Richmond where Doctor Dakins had commission from the Bishop of Chester to haue the examination of them This Doctor Dakins many times conferred wyth them sometimes threatning fire and fagot if they woulde not recant and sometimes flattering them with fayre fables if they would returne into the holy catholick church But they stood constantly to the sure rocke Iesus Christ in whome they put theyr whole trust and confidence whiles at last being so sore imprisoned that theyr toes rotted of and the one of them could not go without crouches they brought thē to the church by compulsion where the one of them heard their abhominable Masse hauing a certaine summe of mony geuen him by the beneuolence of the people and so departed thence but the first newes that was heard of hym within three or foure dayes was that he had drowned him self in a riuer running by Richmond called Swaile Immediately after D. Dakins geuing sentence that the other should be burnt came home to hys house and neuer ioyed after but dyed The Commissary of Richmond named Hillinges preached at his burning exhorting him to returne to the Churche but hys labour was in vayne the constant martyr standing strongly to the fayth which hee professed Then being brought to the stake whereunto hee was tyed by a girdle of iron there was geuen vnto him gunpouder and a little straw was layd vnder his feete and set round about with smale woode and tarre barrels the fire was put in the straw which by and by flamyng about his head he cryed thrise together Christ helpe me Insomuch that one Robert Atkinson being present sayde hold fast there we wil all pray for thee Thus this blessed martyr ended his life ¶ A story of one Laremouth omitted in the body of the story ALbeit I am loth to insert any thing in this book which may seeme incredible or strange to ordinary working for quarelling aduersaryes whiche doe nothing but spye what they may cauill yet forsomuch as besides other reporters the person is yet aliue called Thorne a godly minister which heard it of the mouth of the party himselfe I thought therefore first for the incredible strangenes therof neither to place this storye in the bodye of these Actes and Monumentes and yet in some outcorner of the booke not vtterly to passe it vntouched for the reader to consider it and to credite it as he seeth cause The story is this There was one Laremouth otherwise called Williamson Chaplayne to Lady Anne of Cleue a Scotishman to whome being in prison in Queene Maryes daies it was sayd as he thought thus sounding in hys eares arise and go thy wayes Whereunto when he gaue no great heed at the first the second time it was sayd to him agayne in the same wordes Upon this as he fell to his prayers it was sayd the thyrd time likewise to him arise and go thy way which was about halfe an houre after So he arising vpon the same immediately a peece of the prison wall fell downe and as the officers came in at the outwarde gate of the Castle or prison he leaping ouer the ditche escaped and in the way meeting a certayne beggar chaunged hys cote with him and comming to the Sea shore where hee found a vessell ready to go ouer was taken in and escaped the search which was straytly layd for hym in all the coūtry ouer ¶ A little short letter of William Hunter sent out of prison to his mother a little before hys martirdome to be referred and placed in his story pag. 1538. MOst reuerent louing mother after my most humble wyfe I haue me harty commēded vnto you desiring you to pray vnto God most hartely for me that I may haue his blessing and yours the which I esteeme more worth vnto me thē any worldly treasure In this present letter you shall vnderstand the cause of my writing vnto you at this tyme that I am in good health and prosperitie as euer I was in this present life Wherefore I render thankes vnto almightye God for it who alone is moste woorthye of all prayse trusting in God you bee in health also Furthermore I certifie you wherefore
as he did but truely I beleeue the Deuill was in him * The cursed lyfe and bloudy end of Doctor Story a cruell persecuter of Christ in hys members I had thought christian reader here to haue made an end and to haue concluded the volume of this booke had not the remembraunce of Doctour Story an Archenemy to Christes gospell and a bloudy persecutor of Gods people come into my minde The discourse of whose lyfe and doinges I thought good here briefly to lay open to the view of the world as followeth This Doctor Story beeing an Englishe man by byrth and from his infancie not onely missed in papistry but also euen as it were by nature earnestly affected to the same and growing somewhat to riper yeares in the dayes of Queene Mary became a most bloudy tyrant and cruel persecutor of Christ in his members as all the stories in this booke almost doe declare Thus hee raging all the raygne of the foresayde Queene Mary agaynst the infallible truth of Christes Gospel and the true professors thereof neuer ceased till hee had consumed to ashes two or three hundred blessed martyrs who willingly gaue their liues for the testimony of his truthe and thinking theyr punishment in the fire not cruell enough went about to inuent new tormentes for the holy martyrs of Christe suche was his hatred to the trueth of Christes Gospell but in the ende the Lorde God looking vpon the affliction and cruell bloudshedding of his seruauntes tooke away Queene Mary the great pillar of papistry After whome succeeded Ladye Elizabeth nowe Queene of Englande who staying the bloudy sworde of persecution from ragyng any further caused the same Doctor Story to be apprehended and committed to ward with many other his complices sworne enemies to Christes glorious gospell The sayd story hauing bene a while deteined in prison at the last by what meanes I knowe not brake forth of hold and conueyed himselfe ouer the seas where he continued a most bloudy persecutor still raging against Gods saynctes with fire and sworde In somuche as hee growing to be familiar and right deare to Duke Dalua in Antwerpe receiued a speciall commission from him to search the Shippes for goodes forfayted and for english bookes and such like And in this fauour and authoritie hee continued there for a spare by the which meanes he did muche hurte and brought many a good man and woman to trouble and extreme perill of life thorough his bloud thyrstye cruelty but at the last the Lord when the measure of his iniquitie was full proceeded in iudgement agaynst him and cut him off from the face of the earth according to the prayers of many a good man whiche came to passe in order as followeth It being certainly knowne for the bruite thereof was gone forth into al landes that he not onely intended the subuersion and ouerthrowe of his natiue countrey of England by bringing in forreigne hostilitie if by anye meanes he might compasse it but also dayly and hourely murthered gods people there was this platform layd by Gods prouidence no doubt that one M. Parker a marchaunt should sayle vnto Antwerpe and by some meanes to conuey Story into England This Parker arriuing at Antwerpe suborned certain to repayre to Doctor Story and to signifie vnto him that there was an english ship come fraught with marchandize that if he would make search thereof himselfe he should find store of english books other things for his purpose Story hearing this and suspecting nothing made haste towardes the ship thinking to make the same his praye and comming a boord searched for english heretical books as hee called them and going downe vnder the hatches because he would be sure to haue theyr bloud if hee coulde they clapped downe the hatches hoysed vp their sayles hauing as God would a good gale sayled away into England where they arriuing presented this bloudy butcher and trayterous rebell Story to the no litle reioysing of many and Englishe hart He being now committed to prison cōtinued there a good space during all which time he was labored and solicited daily by wise and learned fathers to recant his deuillishe and erroneous opinions to conforme himselfe to the trueth and to acknowledge the Queenes Maiesties supremacy All which he vtterly denyed to the death saying that he was sworne subiecte to the King of Spayne and was no subiecte to the Queene of England nor she his souereigne Queene and therfore as he well deserued he was condemned as a traytor to God the Queenes Maiesty the Realme to be drawne hanged and quartered which was performed accordingly he being layde vpon an hurdle and drawne from the tower along the streetes to Tiborn where he being hanged till he was halfe dead was cut downe and stripped which is not to be forgot when the executioner had cut off his priuy mēbers he rushing vp vpon a sodeine gaue him a blow vpon the eare to the great wonder of all that stood by and thus ended this bloudy Nemrode his wretched life whose iudgemēt I leaue to the Lord. * A not● of Raphe Lurdane persecuter of George Eagles IN the history of George Eagles alias Trudgeouer the world pag. 2009. mention is made of his apprehension jn a corne field where by the benefite of the heighth of the corne and breadth of the field he had escaped had not one of his persecuters with more malicious crafte climed a high tree to view ouer the place so descried him This persecutor named Raph Lurdane as we haue since learned a lewd felow of life for theft and whoredome was within few yeares after he had apprehended the foresayd George Eagles for gayne of money attached of felony for stealing horse condemned and hanged in the same place Towne of Chelmesford where George Eagles before suffered Martyrdome ¶ A briefe Note concerning the horrible Massaker in Fraunce an 1572. HEre before the closing vppe of this booke in no case woulde bee vnremembred the tragicall and furious Massaker in Fraunce wherein were murdered so many hundrethes and thousands of Gods good Martyrs But because the true narration of this lamentable story is set forth in english at large in a booke by it selfe and extant in print already it shall the lesse neede nowe to discourse that matter with any new repetition only a briefe touch of summary notes for remembraunce maye suffice And first for breuity sake to ouerpasse the bloudy bouchery of the Romish Catholickes in Orynge agaynst the Protestantes most fiercely and vnawares breaking into theyr houses and there without mercy killing man woman child of whom some being spoyled and naked they threw out of theyr loftes into the streetes some they smothered in theyr houses with smoake with sword weapon sparing none the karkases of some they threwe to dogges which was an 1570. in the reign of Charles 9. Likewyse to passeouer the cruell slaughter at
himselfe to them not vngentle so found he thē again to him not vnconformable Whervpon a certeine agreemēt pacificatory was concluded betwene them vpon conditions Which agrement the new Polone king eftsoones preferred to the Frenche King hys Brother not without some sute and intercession to haue it ratified The king also himselfe partly being weary of these chargeable warres was the more willing to assent therunto And thus at length through the Lordes great worke the kinges royal consent vnder forme of an Edict was sette downe in writing and confirmed by the king conteining 25. Articles In which also wer included certeine other Cittyes of the Protestantes graunting to them benefit of peace and liberty of religion This edicte or mandate sent downe from the king by his Heralde at armes Bironius in the kinges name caused to be solemnely proclaymed at Rochell an 1573. the x. day of Iune The yeare next folowing 1574. for two thinges seemeth fatall and famous for the death first of Charles the 9. the french king also most of all for the death of Charles Cardinall of Lorayne brother to Guise Of the maner of the Cardinals death I finde litle mentiō in stories Touching the kinges death although Ric. Dinothus sayth nothing for feare belike because he being a french man hys name is expressed and known but an other story whom the sayd Dinothus doth followe bearing no name sayeth thus that he dyed the xxv day of May vpon Whitson euen being of the age of 25. yeares and addeth more profluuio sanguinis illum laborasse certū est Certayne it is that his sickenes came of bleeding And sayth further Cōstans fert fama illum dum evarijs corporis partibus sanguis emanaret in lecto saepe volutatum inter horribilium blasphemiarū diras tantā sanguinis vim proiecisse vt paucas post horas mortuus ●uerit That is The constant report so goeth that his bloud gushing out by diuers partes of his body he tossing in his bedde and casting out many horrible blasphemies layed vpon pillowes with his heeles vpward and head downeward voyded so much bloud at his mouth that in few houres he dyed Which story if it be true as is recorded and testified may be a spectable and example to all persecuting kinges and Princes polluted with the bloud of Christian Martyrs And thus muche briefely touching the late terrible persecution in Fraunce ¶ The Conclusion of the worke ANd thus to conclude good Christian Reader this present tractation not for lacke of matter but to shorten rather the matter for largenes of the volume I here stay for this present time with further addition of more discourse either to ouerweary thee with longer tediousnes or ouercharge the booke with longer prolixity hauing hitherto set forth the Actes and Proceedinges of the whole Church of Christ namely of the Church of England although not in such particular perfectiō that nothing hath ouerpassed vs. Yet in such generall sufficiency that I trust not very much hath escaped vs necessary to be knowne touching the principall affayres doinges and proceedinges of the Church and Churchmen Wherein may be seene the whole state order discent course and continuaunce of the same the encrease and decrease of true religion the creeping in of superstition the horrible troubles of persecution the wonderfull assistaunce of the almighty in mainteining his truth the glorious constancy of Christes Martyrs the rage of the enemyes the alteration of times the trauelles and troubles of the Church from the first primatiue age of Christes Gospel to the end of Queen Mary and the beginning of this our gracious Queene Elizabeth During the time of her happy reigne which hath hetherto continued through the gracious protection of the Lord the space now of 24. yeres as my wish is so I would be glad the good wil of the Lord were so that no more matter of such lamētable stories may euer bee offered hereafter to write vpon But so it is I cannot tel how the elder the world waxeth the longer it continueth the nerer it hasteneth to his end the more Sathan ●ageth geuing still new matter of writing bookes and volumes In so much that if all were recorded and committed to history that within the sayd compasse of this Queenes reigne hitherto hath happened in Scotland Flanders France Spayne Germany besides this our owne Countrey of England and Ireland with other Countryes moe I verely suppose one Eusebius or Polyhistor whiche Plinnye writeth of woulde not suffice thereunto But of these incidentes and occurrentes hereafter more as it shall please the Lord to geue grace and space In the meane time the grace of the Lord Iesus worke with thee gentle Reader in all thy studious readinges And while thou hast space so employ thy selfe to read that by reading thou mayst learne dayly to knowe that may profite thy soule may teach thee experience may arme thee with pacience and instruct thee in all spirituall knowledge more and more to thy perpetuall comfort and saluation in Christ Iesu our Lord to whome be glory in Secula Seculorum Amen FINIS ❧ A diligent Table or Index of the most notable and memorable thyngs contained in the whole volume of this Booke wherein if thou wilt finde any thing good Reader reuolue in thy mynde the letter wherewith the word beginneth and the number of the Page shall direct thee vnto it A ante B. A B. C. agaynst the Popes Clergie 841.843 Abuses in the Church require reformatiō not defection 1873 Abbey of Peterborow 133. Abbeis suppressed in England 1101. Abbey of Exceter 141. Abbey of Stowe built 184. Abbey of S. Edmundsbury 161. Abbeis and Nunries founded and vpon what causes 149.454 Abbey of S. Albons built and by whom 133. Abbey of Gisburne and Readyng bu●lt 199. Abbey of Glastenbury 150. Abbeis dissolued in Englande by K Henry the 8. 1070. Abbeis burned ibid. Abbey lands restored by Q. Mary 1559.1560 Abbey of Bangor 119. Abbeis and Monasteries in England infinite built by Saxone Kings 133. Abbeis dissolued by Cromwell 1179.1180 Abbey of Couentry built 165. Abbey of Ely 133. Abbey of Gloucester built ibid. Abbey of Knouesburgh others built ibid. Abbeis and religious houses built for what causes 1180. Abbot of Carilocus his sodain and dreadfull death 2106. Abbot of Glastenbury 150. Abbots not instituted by Christ. 680. Abbot Capellensis cruelly handled for the Gospell 873. Abbot of Peterborow thrust out of the Court of Rome for denying the Popes kinsman a benefice 287. Abbot of Abbingdon amerced by the Pope in 50. markes for denying a benefice to an Italian 291. Abbot of S. Albones sueth to the Pope ibid. Abbot of Westminster more conformable to yeld and submit him selfe to the doctrine of the Protestants then the rest of the Papists in the disputation at Westminster 2125 Abdias authoritie suspected 35. Abiurers names in a table 1040.1041.1042.1277.1401 Abiuration of good men of Leicester .506 their penance ibid. Abiuration in the diocesse of
Gospell 1542. Causes temporall brought into the spirituall Court for mony .861 Causes of the destruction of the britaynes 114. Causes 13. of aduauncing the sea of Rome 18. Causes of our fall distincted 22. Cauell Martyr his story and martirdome 1895.1896 C. E. Cecilia a godly woman martyr 58. Celulphus king of Northumberland 127. Celulphus a king made a monke 127. Celestinus Pope his creation and death 313. crowned the Emperour Henricus with his feete 784. Celebration of the sonday 53. Censing of the sacrament 1404. Cerinthus the hereticke shunned of Iohn the Euangelist 36. Ceremonyes why inuented .1494 diuersly vsed in the primitiue Churche caused no breache of charitie being estemed as thyngs of small waight 44. Ceremonies in outward thinges little or nothing esteemed of in the primatiue Church 44. Ceremonies falsely ascribed to Pistus inuention 314. Cesar moueth the senators of Rome to receaue the fayth of Christ. 30. C H. Chadsey doctor his mutabilitie and wauering inconstancie 2102. Champbell Frier his end 2103. Charles the great his letter to Offa 131. Charles the 5. elected Emperour 847 Charles Duke of Burgoine slaine 723. Charles Brandon 729. Charles Ioseph a bloudy villayne murtherer of Richard Hunne 809. Chaucer his treatise against the friers intituled Iack Upland 261.262.263.264.266 Chaucer his bookes and rare commendations 839. Chalice of gold enacted by the councell of Tibur and Rhenes 57 Chalices of glasse 1404 Chapters of the Bible first distincted by Stephen Laughton 272. Charterhouse monkes their originall .185 they enter the Realme of England 233 Charterhouse churchyard made 387. Chastitie not to be vrged vpon any weake brother 53 Chase Martyr his cruell and extreme handlyng .774 murthered in prison 775 Chamberlaine Martyr his story 1601.1602.1603.1604 Chapman Martyr his story and martyrdome 1036 Champion sent to Calis to preach 1224 Chelingdone Archb. of Cant. 336. Cheremon bishop maried a wyfe was martyred 62. Chester a place of learnyng .143 repayred and enlarged 147. Childrē compelled to set fire to their parents 585.838 Child his confession agaynst Idolatry .89 with his martyrdome for the same ibid. Children of priests made legitimate 1176. Children departing without Baptisme are not condemned .1613.492 their estate in so dying 1587 1995.1996 Child of Iohn Fetties scourged to death by Boner 2055.2056 Children two crucified by the Iews 233. Children of Merindoll their godly education and bringyng vp 940.950 Childe crucified of the Iewes in Lincolne 327 Child of Queene Mary 1597 Children of christen parentes why receiued to Baptisme 1842 Children martyrs 64 Children of King Edward the elder 147 Childbed of Queen Mary pretensed 1596 Childericus the French king deposed and Pipinus intruded 129 Chichester persecuted by the Papists 2024. Chit●enden with his felowes famished in prison in Cant. for the gospell 1954.1955 Christes words in callyng Peter a rocke expounded Thre things to be noted in them 1. Christe refused of the Senate of Rome and why 30. they are plaged for their refusing of him ibi Christ whether a begger or not 717. Christ a seruaunt vppon earth the Pope a Lord. 404. Christes church 101. Christ of the priest and bakers makyng 1652. Christian man defined after the popes mynd and doctrine 29. Christs death and the benefits therof 16 Christians ouerthrowen in Egypt and slaine 300 Christians in Calabria kylled lyke Calues 942. Christians in Shrewsbury 532 Christians certaine that fainted 46 Christians may go to law one with another and sinne not 1000 Christ the obiect of our fayth 22 Christians of the primitiue Church caried God in their hartes .51 they are falsly accused and slaundered .48 condemned to the mettals 66 Christians falsly slandered 54 Christenmas his trouble and deliuerance 2071. Christening of bels 159.1405 Christopher Browne Martyr his story and martyrdome 2053 Christopher Parker hys death 2112 Christopher Landsdale Courtier his fearefull and terrible ende 2104.2105 Christes body present to the fayth of the receiuer 1614.1616 Christopher Shomaker Martyr his story and martyrdome 819. Christopher Ward martyr his story .1678 hys articles answeres condemnation and martyrdome 1678.1679 Christian George martyr his story 2037. Christopherson elected Byshop of Chichester 1956. Christopher Lister his story and martyrdome 1909. Christopherus 1. Pope 146. Church of God increaseth by persecution 38. Churche of the East and of Rome differ about Easter day 44. Church of Winchester built 133. Church of Lincolne built 133. Church of Rome how it came vpp by degrees 2. Church deuided into 5. diuersities of t●●es 1. Church visible what 30. Churche of Christ deuided into 2. sortes of people 30. Church of Rome considered in 4. thinges title lyfe iurisdiction doctrine 1. Church of Rome with her corruptions described 2. Church militant of 3. partes 611. Churche of Rome persecuteth the catholicke church of Christ. 24. Church not builded vpon Peter 1758. Churche not tyed to any particular place 1760. Church before Christes comming and church after Christes comming all one 1766. Churche of Rome reuolting from the apostolicall truth hath set vp an other Religion .1775 neuer was vniuersall 1801. Church defined .1824 both visible and inuisible ibid. Church of Winchcōb built by Kenulphus 130. Churche of the Iewes a figure of the Church of Rome sueth to the Church of Antioche to yeld vnto her 96. Churche of England gouerned by the Popes Canons 97. Churche of the Grecians and Latines wherein they differ 187. Churche of London suspended for not ringing at the Byshops cōming 555. Church new of the Popes making 1287. Church of Rome examined .1601 conuict of manifest idolatry ibi Churche of Christe howe visible .1613 howe to be knowne ibid. col 2. euer visible .1616 not tyed to tyme or place 1622. Church of Rome how commended and why of the fathers 2. Church of Rome reuolted from the Church of Rome 3. Church of Rome distincted 2.3 Churche of Rome erreth in three poyntes in her iurisdiction 5. Church aboue the Apostles 14. Church of Christ how to be gouerned 19. Church of Mi●●ayne first brought vnder the church of Rome 168. Churche of Rome hathe declined from the Churche of Rome not w● 3. Church of Rome her practises to get money infinite but specially 15. 3.4 Church of Rome and the vniuersall church two diuers thinges 1287. Churche of Rome not vniuersall but equiuoce onely 2. Churche of Rome hath lost the liquor wherewith shee was first seasoned 20. Churche of Rome degenerate to newe paganisme 23. Church of Rome in wordes catholicke in deedes hethenish 24. Church of Rome and of the Pharisies compared together 24. Church of Rome degenerate from the image of the true Churche 281.1800 Church of Rome proued not to be catholicke 284. Church where it is and in whome it consisteth 417. Church of two sortes 533. Church goodes expended 557. Church hath no power ouer the scriptures .726 knowne by the scriptures onely 1617. Chusing of the Popes in cōclaues 595. C I. Cicelie Ormes Martyr her story and martyrdome 2023 Cities townes and castles built repaired 147. Cities
1742. fell out of the pulpit and brake his legge 1743 Hudson Martyr his story and persecution 1970. Hudson Martyr his story 2035. Hugh Foxe Martyr his story and martyrdome 2033.2034 Hugo Bishop of Lincol●e redeemeth hys Byshoppricke for a 1000. markes 258. Hugo de sancto victore 201. Hugh Lauerocke martyr 1910 Hugh Pye Priest 660. Hugh Spencer hys sonne there exceeding and far surmounting pride .371 executed as they well deserued 373. Hugh Latimer martyr his actes doinges 1730. first a Papist conuerted by M. Bilney ibid. his exellente sermon in Cambridge of the Cardes .1731.1732.1734 his story in sauing a poore woman .1735 his reply to a certayne barking frier in Cambridge .1734 1735. cited 1736. his letter to the archbishop of Canterbury 1736.1737 Articles deuised by the bishop for him to subscribe vnto 1737. made Bishop of Worcester 1738. preacheth before K. Edw. 6. 1739. cast into the Tower .1740 his letter to M. Morice .1741 writ agaynst by Sherwoode .1743 hys aunswere .1744 his other godly letters to sondry persons .1746.1748.1750 1752.1755 his appearaunce before the Commissioners .1762 hys examination and answeres .1763.1766 hys martyrdome death in Oxford 1769.1770 Huggard meeter to eate a puddyng rather then to dispute of Scripture 1591. Hulderiche byshop of Ashborough his exile in defence of Priestes mariage 137. Hull seruaunt to Doctor Taylour 1520. Hullier his story and martyrdome .1907.1908.1909 a note of hym further 2004. Hullier martyr hys story 1906.1907 Humfrey Duke Lord protectour agaynst the Cardinall of Winchester 703. hys articles exhibited agaynst the sayde Cardinall 704. his story and death 704.705.706 Humfrey Middleton Martyr hys story and persecution .1673 hys martyrdome 1676 Humfrey Mummouth hys story 997. Humanitie of Christe cannot be in many places at once 1687.1951 Humilitie the por●er of Chrystes schoole 1788. Hunne martyr hys story 805. articles obiected agaynst him with hys aunsweres .806 murthered in prison .806.807 burned after hys death .808 hys defence agaynst Syr Thomas More and Ala. Copus 811. Hunter hys letter to hys mother 2150. Huniades gouernour of Hungary 720. Huniades hys victoryes agaynst the Turkes 740. Hunt confessor his story 2054. Hunter martyr hys excellent story 1536.1577 Hurst deliuered by Gods prouidence 2075.2076.2077 Hurst Martyr 1914.1915 Hurly burly betweene Popes 200 Hus his publique defence of Wickliffe 451.452.453 Hus hys excellent story cited by the pope and excommunicate .588 banished Prage .590 hys obiections agaynst the Doctours degrees .599.590 his safe conduct with hys letters certificatory of hys goyng vpp to the Councell .596 hys personall appearaunce before the Pope and Cardinals 599. falleth sicke in prison hathe articles obiected agaynst hym with his aunsweres 600. hys books writtē in prison .601 his protestation .604 hys false accusations .606 hys appeale from the Councell .611 his degradation .623 hys sentence definitiue of condemnation .622.624 hys deathe and martyrdome for the gospell of Iesus Christ .624 his letters 626.627.628 Hutt martyr her story and martyrdome 1910.1911 I A. IAcobus Latomus enemy to the gospel brought to madnes and desperation 2106 Iacobus Misnensis an olde auncient writer agaynst the Pope 420 Iacobus priest Martyr 98 Iackson his story 1950.1949 Iackson Martyr his story martyrdome 1914.1915 Iacke Cade 711 Iacke Straw his rebellion in england 434 Iacke Upland 261.264 Iames Abbes Martyr hys story 1683 Iames Ashley Martyr hys storye and martyrdome 2047 Iames Austoo Martyr his story and martyrdome 2013.2014.2016.2017.2018.2019 Iames Bainham Martyr .1027 articles ministred agaynst hym he submitteth hymselfe .1028 his abiuration and penance .1030 he returneth to the truth again and is condemned .1029 hys godly death and martyrdome 1030 Iames Brewster Martyr 818. Iames George his death in prison and buried in the fields 1482 Iames Gore his trouble for the gospell died in prison 1795 Iames Harris scourged 2062 Iames Morden martyr his story and martyrdome 774 Iames Morton martyr 1207 Iames Morris Martyr his story and martyrdome 1983.1984 Iames the apostle elected bishop of Ierusalem .32.33 cast downe from the pynacle of the Church and Martyred for the trueth of Iesus Christ. ibid. his accuser conuerted martyred with him ibid. Iames the apostle how it chanceth that he is thought of some to bee the setter vp of the masse 1401 Iames Pilkington his sermon at the restoring of Mar. Bucer Paulus Phagius again 1966.1967 Iames Tuttie Martyr 1708 Iames Tyrrell a bloudy murtherer 728 Iames Treuisam buried in the fieldes and summoned after hys death 1665 Iane daughter to Henrye Lorde Gray Duke of Suffolk proclaimed Queene .1406 beheaded immediatly after .1422 her Epitaph 1423. her godly letters 1420 Iane Lady her lamentable storye trouble and death 1419.1420.1422 Iane Lady wife to the Lord Gilford brought into displeasure with the Lady Mary for her Godlye zeale by Lady Anne Wharton 2128 Iane Queene maried to K. Henry the 8. 1083. her death in child-bed 1087 Ianizarie amongest the Turkes what they be 741.730 I D. Idle and vayne swearing pestiferous 538 Idolatry offensiue to Infidels 1001 Idoll and Image their difference 1588 I E. Iewes destroyed .235 one baptised and after reuolted agayne ibid. they slayne theyr houses burnt in London ibid. they crucifye a childe at Lincolne .327 at Norwich another 201 banished out of England and Fraunce 327 Iew through his owne superstitiō drowned in a Priuy 327 Theyr fayth 22 Iewes burnt at Northhampton 327 Iew martyred in Turky kept still his colour sauor lying 3. dayes in the streetes 972 Iewes destroyed by Titus Uaspasion .31 their second destruction .41 euer enemies to Christians 43 Ieffrey Hurst deliuered by Gods prouidence 2075.2076.2077 I G. Ignatius his martyrdome deuoured with wilde beastes His godly life and Christian zeale 40.41 Ignoraunce of the trueth will not excuse any man 1775 I L. I le of Wight last conuerted to the fayth of Christ. 124 Ile of Ely assaulted by Prince Edward 335 I M. Imber fast first ordeyned by whō and where 58.197 Images in England abolished 1095.1096 Image of the Trinity an abhominable thing 508.534 Images with theyr false lying miracles reproued 534. Images not to be worshipped 470 563.564.1110 Images subuerted by Emperours and maynteined by the Pope 129 Images of God what be 1111 Images suppressed by kinge Edward the 6. 1300 Image maker burned in Spayne for the trueth of Christes Gosspell 930 Images are not to be worshipped adored ne to be placed in Churches or oratories 2128.2129.2130.2131.2132 Images good to roste a shoulder of mutton by but good for nothing els 2144 Images destroyed at Zuricke 869 Images of the Gentiles and of the Christians 868 Image of the Crucifix at Constātinople 742 Image worship who first decreed 130 Images in England abolished 1095.1096 Image of the Trinity an abhominable thing 508.534 Images defended to be laye mens bookes by Pope Adrian 130 Imprisonment perteyneth not to the Clergy 354 Images reproued by Thorpe 534 Image of Antichrist exalting himselfe aboue all that is called God 784 Immunity of the Clergy 860 Images
1231 Iohn Hunt Confessor his story 2054 Iohn Iohnson Martyr his storye burned at Colchester 2007.2008.2009 Iohn Iackson his story 1950.1949 Iohn Iourdelay Teler Dwarfe abiured 641 Iohn King of England his story 249 Iohn Kurd martyr his story 2021 Iohn Lacels Martyr 1240 Iohn Longlande his Sermon on good Fridaye before the king at Greenewich 1097 Iohn Lawrēce his story .1542 his Martyrdome and death 1543 Iohn Longland Bishoppe of Lincolne a Persecutour of good men .820 his articles ministred to the poore members of Christ. ibid. Iohn Lomas Martyr his story 1859 Iohn Leafe Martyr his story .1623 his examinations martyrdome 1623.1624 Iohn Launder Martyr his storye his confession examination and aunsweares .1680 his articles obiected agaynste him with his aunsweres to the same 1681 Ioyce Lewes Martyr her story and martyrdome at Liechfielde 2012 Iohn Lambert his story and persecution .1101 articles obiected agaynst him with his seuerall answeres to the same articles .1102 1103.1104.1105.1106 his new trouble .1121 his learned godly disputation before the king and Nobles .1122 his condemnation .1123 his constaunt suffering of Martyrdome for the truth .1124 his treatise of the Sacrament to the king 1125 Iohn Meluyn his trouble for the Gospell his letter out of Newgate concerning the Eucharist of the Lordes supper 2140.2141 Iohn Martin plagued 2108 Iohn Morin Lieutenant criminall of the Prouost of Paris a persecutor plagued of God 2109 Ioane Manninges Martyr her story 1979 Iohn Milles scourged by Boner 2044 Iohn Martin a cruell persecutour his death 955 Iohn Maunsell a riche Priest 330 Iohannes Mountziger a Protestant agaynst the Pope 419 Iohn Maundrell William Coberley and Iohn Spicer Martyrs theyr story 1894 Iohn Marbecke his trouble persecution sondry examinations 1214. his wiues sute to the Bishop for him .1216 his Inditement .1219 saued from the fire why 1220 Iohn Mace his story and death 1909 Iohn a Neatheard Martyr 724 Iohn Norris 1917 Iohn Newman his story and examinations 1850.1951 Iohn Noyes martyr his story and apprehension .2021 his martyrdome 2022 Iohn Fortune his story his examinations and aunsweres 1918 1919 Ioane Norman 838 Iohn Oswald Martyr his story 1914. Iohn Oxlinus preacher his persecution for the Gospell 869 Iohn Puruey his recantation and imprisonment .543 hys articles collected out of his bookes 544. Iohn Patriarche of Constantinople began first to vsurpe the name of vniuersall Byshop 12. Iohn Patriarche of Alexandria his life and conuersation 119. Iohn Porter his story and Martyrdome 1206. Iohn Philpot of Tenderden martyr hys story and martyrdome 1970. Iohn Philpot martyr his excellēt story his actes and doynges .1795 his examinations and aunsweres .1796.1797.1798 hys condemnation .1826.1829 hys martyrdome and deathe .1830 his letters 1831.1832.1834.1838.1840.1842.1844 Iohannes de Poliaco 391. Iohn de●Poliaco recanteth at Paris 309. Iohn 10. Pope 146. Iohn 13. Pope wounded almost slayne in adultery 159. Iohn 14. Pope cast into prison 159. Iohn 15. Pope murthered 159 Iohn Roughe minister and Martyr his story and martyrdome .2028.2029.2034.2030.2031 his letters 2030.2031 Iohn de Rupe Scissa a protestant his trouble and persecution for the truth 390 Iohannes Rochtailada martyr hys story 391. Iohn Ruse persecutor plagued by the hand of God 2109. Iohn Russell Lorde priuy seale Lieuetenaunt ouer the kynges armie in the West 1307.1308 Iohn Slade Martyr 804. Iohn Segou●●s in the Counsell of Basill 670. Iohannes Seneca excōmunicate 317 Iohn Simson martyr hys storye and Martyrdome 1582.1583 Iohn Spicer martyr hys constancie at the stake 2144. Iohn Streete hys trouble 1473. Iohn Stilman Martyr .814 hys constant martyrdome 815. Ioane Sole Ioane Catmer martyrs theyr storyes 1850. Iohn Scriuener martyr 838. Iohn Stafford Archbish. of Canterbury .383 hys letter to kyng Edward .3 382. Iohn Tewkesbury a godly martyr his story .1024 hys abiuraration .1026 his martyrdome ibid. Iohn Tudson Martyr hys story .1844 his condemnation martirdome 1857.1858 Iohn Thurstane confessor 2000. Ioane Trunchfield her trouble for the Gospell .1704 her story and mar●yrdome 1893. Iohn Tooly hys story and deathe digged out of hys graue processe agaynst him after hys deathe .1583.1584 burned 1585. Ioane Waste a blinde woman in Darby Martyr .1951 articles ministred to her .1952 her martyrdome 1952. Ioh. Webbe martyr hys story 1794 Iohn Went artificer his story ibid. cōdemned .1857 martyred 1858 Ioane Warren alias Lashforde mayd her story .1844 her condēnation and constant martyrdom 1857.1858 Ioh. Wade Ioane Laishfield martirs 1689.1702 Iohn Warne hys story and martirdome 1578.1579.1580 Iohn de Wesalis persecuted .724 his Articles .726 hys opinions 726. Iohn Waldon Priest hys trouble martyrdome 661. Iohn Wickliffe his story sent ambassadour by the king .423 hys blemishes .424 his conclusions to the Bishops .432 his expositions vppon the same .433 his epistle to Pope Urbanus 6.445 hys bookes and friendes .447 his bookes condēned in the councell of constance .449.450 his defence by Iohn Hus .451 hys bones burnt after his death .463 his bookes burnt in Prage by Swinco 607. Iohn Whiteman shoomaker martyr hys lamentable story .2112.2113.2114 hys martyrdō ibid. I P. Ipswich persecuted 2089.2090 I R. Ireland when and by whom conuerted to England 226.227 Ironsyde king of Englande .162 his intended battell with King Canutus Stayed by an Oration ibid. Ireneus made Minister and commended to Elutherius 50 Ireneus Bishop of Lyons martir 55 Irene the Empresse burned the deade bodye of Constantine her husbande and set vp Images at Constantinople 132 I S. Isakius enemy to english men 244 Isakius king of Cyprus yeldeth to king Richard 245 Ischirion Martyr his story 62 Isabell Queene Wife to king Edward .2 goeth into Fraunce returneth agayne with a great power taketh the king and setteth vp her sonne .370.371.372 she is found with child by Syr Roger Mortimer 376 Isabell Foster Martyr her story .1844 her condemnation .1857 her martyrdome 1858 Islington persecuted and 22. godly persons taken there in prayer 2037.2038 I T. Italian Martyrs 934 Ita missa est in the Masse 1404 Italy in the number of bishopricks surmounteth all other nations 680 Italian Priests of England spoiled of theyr corne 275 Italiās receiued greater reuenews out of England then the crowne it selfe 389.289 I V. Iustinus his history 37. Iustine proueth all kinde of Philosophy is miraculously conuerted by an old man is baptised with all his household writeth an Apology in defence of the christians 48.49.50 Iulianus Martyr his story 62 Iudgement how vsed in the primitiue church and the maner therof 1807 Iueson Martyr his story martirdome 1682.1683 Iulius Palmer a vertuous learned young man his story .1934 his education ibid. was once an enemy to the truth .1934 his cōuersion .1935 persecuted .1936 reiected of his Mother ibid. betrayed and apprehended .1937 his first examination with articles obiected agaynst him .1937.1938 his 2. examination ibid. his condemnation and martirdome .1939.1940 his Epitaph ibid. Iulins Palmer thinketh it no hard matter to burne to a spirituall man that is able to
whether Priestes may do it or not 498 Singing curious in cathedral churches 200 Singing in Churches by whome brought in 127 Sinne the erroneous doctrine therof by the Papistes 26 Sinne originall and Iustice originall 26 Sinne of Christians cause of persecution 68 Sinode at Aquisgraue with the decrees thereof 137 Sinode holden at Rome 65 Sindiques what they were 955 Sixe Articles with theyr penalties 1135. taken away by Kyng Edward .6 1307 Sixe Articles with theyr acts how they proceeded 1135.1136 S L. Slaunders against the Christians 48.54 Slaughter or massaker bloudy cōmitted by the Papistes in france agaynst the Protestantes that is the true professors of gods truth 2152.2153.2154 Slade Martyr his story and martyrdome 2042 Sleepers seuen theyr fable 63 Sleach Martyr his story and martyrdome 1914 S M. Smith Martyr his story and martyrdome for the gospell .1691 his examination and answeres .1691 1692.1693.1694 his letters to diuers of his frendes 1696.1697 1798.1699.1700.1701.1702 Smith Byshop of Lincolne a persecutor 820 Smith a preacher at Calice his story 1224.1226 Smith Lawyer his end 2105 Smokye death of him that solde smoke 57 S N. Snell his martirdome for the truth at Richmond 2150 S O. Sonday kept holyday and why .53 104. and how long to continue 157 Sodometry licensed by the Pope .711 ensued the restraynt of priestes mariage .1164 punished ibid Solymanns murthereth his owne father 747 Somers his trouble for the Gospell 1207 Souldiers theyr religion notable 78 Souldier of Rome cōuerted by S. Laurence and martyred for the glorious gospel of Iesus Christ. Souldiour Martyr 62 Souldiers theyr godly example of chastity 63 Souldier byting of his tongue and spitting it in the face of an Harlot 63 Soules in Purgatory prayer for them 498 Soule Masse goodly stuffe 1404 Southhampton burnt by the frēch men 377.378 Sodomitry crept into the Romish Church after restraynt of maryage of Priestes punished with a flap of a F●x tayle 194.104 Sophia with her thre childrē martyrs 41 Southam Martyr his story 2037.2038.2039 Sole Martyr her story 1859 S P. Spaniardes the first that doubted of king Henry 8. his mariage with his brothers wife 1049 Spaniardes and English mē their braule at Westminster 1480 Spanish Martyrs 928.929 Spalding murtherer of Richarde Hunne 806.807 Sparrow Martyr his Story and martyrdome 2●25 2026.2027 Spencer and his sonne theyr farre surmounting pride .170 371. executed 373 Spencer Martyr his story martyrdome 1202 Spicer his constancy at the Stake in profession of Christes gospell 2144 Spilman for binding an english bible commaunded to the Tower his escape whilest Cluney went for the keyes 2144 Spencer Martyr 1909 Spengler Martyr 880.881 Spicer Martyr 1911 Spicer Martyr 1894 Spirituall thinges not subiecte to the temporall powers 180 Spra● his trouble and deliuery 2081 Spurges theyr excellent Story 1895 S T. Stafford a good professor in the Uniuersity of Cambridge 1013 Stafford Reader in Cambridge 997 Stanislaus Znoma enemy to Ioh. Hus his goyng to Constance dyed by the way 599 Standart in Cheape built 712 Statute of tratory obiected against the good Lord Cobham examined with notes vpon the same 570 Statute of the sixe Articles 1135 Statute of Malberge 335 Statute of the sixe Articles by K. Henry the eight prooued vnable to burne men by 586 Statutes against Heretickes reuiued 1481 Statute of burning reproued repealed 441 Statute ex officio a bloudye Statute .523 broken by Kyng Henry the eight 1052 Statute de comburendo proued insufficient to burne any man by 441 Stanley her story and martyrdome 1974.1975.1276 Stephen the first Ringleader of all Christes Martyrs in the Newe Testament 32 Stephen King of Englande his reigne taken prisoner and dieth 201 Stephen Byshop of Rome cut off his Predecessors fingers caste them into Tiber. 146 Stephen Cotten Martyr his story and martyrdome 2042 Steuens his trouble for the Gospell 1227 Stephen 9. Pope 16● Stephen Langton Archbyshoppe of Caunterbury 250 Stephen .2 Pope 130 Stephen Gardiner against Doctor Barnes .1198 an enemy to Lady Elizabeth .1425 his Sermon at Paules Crosse in praise of K. Phillip 1473 Stephen Palets enemy to Iohn Hus. 590 Stephen Knight William Pygot Iohn Laurence theyr Story 1542 Stephen Wight Martyr his story and martyrdome 2042 Stephen Harwood Martyr .1289 his story and death 1702 Stephen Gardiner Byshoppe of Winchester Ambassadour to the French Kyng .1072 his reasons agaynst the supremacy .1058 his booke de vera obedientia against the Pope .1059 made Chauncellour of England 1417 Stephens Martyr .1970 Stephen Cotten twise beaten of Boner 2062 Stephen Kempe Martyr his story and godly martyrdome at Caunterbury 1970.1971 Stephen Gratwicke Martyr hys Story and Martyrdome 1977.1978.1979 Stench nought for the teeth 647 Stigandus a couetous Byshoppe 172 Stilman Martyr his story martyrdome 814.815 Strife and contention what mischiefe and inconuenience it bringeth to a christian commō wealth 77.78 Stile burned in Smithfielde with the Apocalips 1279 Stiles or Titles of the Byshop of Rome 8.67 Steelyard men theyr trouble accused of Lollardy and enioyned to beare Fagots 1193 Style of the Pope new by Robert Grosthead 326 Stile of Queene Mary altered 1426 Stokes his Oration to Queene Maryes Uisitours at the Uisitation in Cambridge 1956.1957 1958 Stoke in Huff●l●k● where a congregation assembled with the story therof 2073.2074 Story a bloudy and cruell persecutor of Christ Iesus in his members .2152 deuiseth new tormentes for the Martyrs flyeth ouer Seas obteyneth a commission to search for English bookes ibid. is taken and brought into Englād remayneth obstinate is drawn hanged and quartered at Tiborn as he very well deserued ibid. his impacience at his death geueth the hangman a blowe vppon the eare c. ibid. Stow Abbey built 184 Doctor Storyes Oration agaynst Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Caunterbury 1875 Stokes Standard bearer to the Papistes 442. Stocke of Dauid feared of the Romayne Emperours persecutors 40 Studentes of Paris in controuersie with the Fryers .328 there articles agaynst them 408.409 Strausburgh reformeth religion 870 Street troubled for goyng vnder the Priestes Canopy 473 Streater Martyr his Story and martyrdome 1708 Streat his story 1473 Strigonium wonne of the Turks 753. bloudy cruelty of the Turkes executed there ibid. S V. Suanus K. of Denmarcke his ariuance in England 161 Subsidie gathered by the Pope to fight withall agaynst the Bohemians 642 Submission of certayne Gernsey men for burning the 3. women 1945 Substaunce of bread and wine not chaunged in the Sacrament 1761 Substaunce of bread not chaunged in the Sacrament 521 Succession of the Bishop no certeyne or essentiall poynt to know the true Church by 1613.1614 Succession of Princes the wante thereof what hurte it bringeth 340.107 Succession locall without the succession of the trueth withall nothing auayleth 1825 Succession of conditions and life maketh Peters successor heyre not of the place onely 563 Successors of Peter all good Byshoppes be and not the Pope 1120 Sutphen Martyr his story 875 Succession apostolicall double wise considered 17
commōly of English women 〈◊〉 1. Tim. ● Ghos●●ly 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 of ●●ristian 〈◊〉 1. Peter 4. Iohn 12. 1. Cor. 1. Luke 17. Example of Lots wyfe Nothing vse● in Q. Ma●y●s 〈…〉 The first note prouing the Church of the Papistes not to be the true Church 2. Note Iohn 10. 3. Note Actes 7. 4. Note to know the Church 5. Note Iohn 5 6. Note to know the Church Ephes. 5. Compare the proceedinges doinges of the Popes Church with the true members of Christs Church and you shall see what they are The Church of the valiant Papistes compared to Nemrod and why The Popes Church standeth all in lying and murdering 3. Reg. 18. Luke 9. The Popes Church vnder payne of damnation is to be auoyded Apoc. 2. Phil. 1. He exhorteth to be bolde in Christ. Math. 13. Worldly Christians resembled to Aesops Cocke Worldly allurements motions of drawing backe by Gods grace with standed Experience of the Lordes assistance in confirming his seruantes M. Glouer cōmitted to the Iayle before any cause was declared Gods mighty consolation vpon Rob. Glouer in prison M. Glouer weepeth for ioy in prison M. Glouer coūselled to put in bondes Rober Glouer refuseth to enter into bondes Worldly persuasions not receiued M. Glouer ag●yne visited with Gods holy comfort M Glouer reasoning with himselfe M. Glouer taketh courage al 〈◊〉 and daunger● set aside M. Glouer resolued in himselfe to abyde the vttermost for the Gospells cause The Papist● proceede with M. Glouer agaynst the lawes of the realme Commaundement geuen to the Sumner agaynst Iohn Glouer and not agaynst Robert Glouer This Byshops name was Doct. Banes M. Warren of Couentry persecutor of Rob. Glouer A lesson for all persecutors Luke 16. R· Glouer brought before Banes B. of Lichfield and Couentrye M. Robert Glouer M. of Art in Cambridge R. Glouer charged for not comming to the Church The Bishop refuseth to be iudged by the primatiue Church Robert Glouer and his fellow prisoners remoued from Couentry to Lichfield in the face of the open market Iephcot the Chauncellours seruaunt Papistes keepe no promise Iephcot Persey cruell and straite agaynst M. Glouer Talke betweene M. Glouer and the Chancellor in prison * The Church geueth witnes which be the true bookes and writings of the Apostles as also the olde Sinagogue of the Iewes doth witnes which be the true bookes of the holy Prophetes yet it followeth not thereby that the Iewes haue authority ouer the Scripture The comforts sweete feelinges of M. Glouer in prison M. Glouer assaulted by the enemy in prison concerning vnworthynes Actes 24. Rom. 11. Rom. 4. Iohn 2. Gods election bound to no worthines or person Rom. 10. Psalme 145. It is no arrogācye to presume vpon Gods promise Psalm 50. Robert Glouer replyeth against the tentation of the enemy in that he is a sinner M. Glouer brought agayne before the Bishop Reasoning betwene M. Glouer and the Byshop * The true Church is alwayes builded vp on the doctrine of the Apostles which though it appeare not alwaies alyke in outward ●●ght the faulte is in the tyme not in the Church Tymes do alter and with the tymes the outward face of the Church may alter sometymes appearing more sometymes lesse sometymes very little sometymes nothing at all according as the persecution is Neuertheles the truth of the church abydeth alwayes one Neyther doth it goe by number of mē but by soundnes of truth Many agreeing in one may make an vnitye but the veritye of the word maketh the Church whether it be in few or in many The first question Power by Gods word in the ministery to remit sinnes 2. questio● 3. question Robert Glouer destitute fo●● tyme of the Lords comfort The Lord for a tyme may withdraw his comfortes but at lēgth he visiteth his seruant● R. Glouer receaueth agayne cōfort of the Lord. Cornelius Bongey Martyr Articles obiected to Cornelius Bongey H●s Aunsweres to the articles Iohn Glouer William Glouer after their dea●h condemned and cast out for heretickes A new search made for Iohn Glouer The prouidence of God agayne in sauing Iohn Glouer Agnes Glouer wyfe to Iohn Glouer apprehended D. Dracot not suffering Iohn Glouer to be buryed in the Churchyearde Iohn Glouer after his death iudged of Doct. Dracot to be a damned soule Testimony of this story The maner of handling the body of Williā Glouer after his death Bernard a Popish Curate of Weme Iohn Thorlyne agaynst the burying of W. Glouers brother The letter of Raufe Bayne B. of Chester for the not burying of W. Glouers body The dead corpe● of W. Glouer dragged with horse into the field M. Edward Burton not suffered to be buryed in Christian buriall the same day when Q. Elizabeth was crowned Oliuer Richardine in Hartford West Martyr William Wolsey Robert Pigot Martyrs Richard Euerard extreame agaynst Williā Wolsey W. Wolsey commaunded to the Iayle D. Fuller Christopherson D. Yong come to conferre with Wolsey Wolsey putteth a question to the 〈…〉 D. Watsons booke of Sermons or Homelyes D. Fuller agayne resorteth to W. Wolsey The Chauncellour ge●eth leaue to Wolsey to depart W. Wolsey layd in the Castle of Wisbich Rob. Pigot Painter presented for not cōming to the Chu●ch Talke betweene Syr Clement Higham Iudge and Rob. Pigot Rob. Pigot brought to the Iayle where W. Wolsey 〈◊〉 Anno 1555. October Wolsey and P●got returned to Eley to prison Tho. Good●●●e Bi●●hop of Eley The Bishops C●●playne a Frenchmā 〈◊〉 the prisoners in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Wo●sey called to iudgment in the B●shops 〈◊〉 Wolseys aunswere to S●●xton M. Christopherson writeth what he would haue P●got con●●● of the ●acr●ment 〈◊〉 refuseth to 〈◊〉 to Christophersons 〈◊〉 M. Peacoke appoynted to preach at t●e burning of Wolsey and Pigot ● Wolsey 〈◊〉 himselfe to be ●ound in all pointes of the scripture belonging to his 〈…〉 The Martyrdōe of W. Wolsey and Rob. Pigot at Eley Anno 1555. Octob. 16. Bookes burned with Wolsey Pigot The natures of Wolsey and Pigot described The zelous spirite of William Wolsey W. Wolsey desirous of Martirdome Wolsey calleth the day of his Martirdome his glad day Thomas Hodilo Berebruer of Cambridge witnes of this story Richard Denton first conuerter of Wolsey Money sent by Wolsey to Denton Wolsey exhorting Richard Denton to persist in the truth Denton afrayd● of burning Richard Dentō burned in his owne house which before would not burne for Christ. Anno. 1564. Aprill 18 Doct. Nicholas Ridley Martyr Nicholas Ridley borne in No●thumberland Nicholas Ridley learned at Newcastle Nicholas Ridley mayster of Pembroke hall in Cambridge Nicholas Ridley made D. of Diuinitye Nicholas Ridley king Henryes Chapleine Nicholas Ridley made Bishop of Rochester Nicholas Ridley made Byshop of Londō The fruitefull dilligence of B. Ridley in preaching Gods word B. Ridley of great memory and reading B· Ridley comely of proportion and complexion The fayre conditions of Byshop Ridley tender to his kinred ye● not otherwise then truth and right
No man so 〈◊〉 but he may learne The copy of Syr Edward Bayntōs letter to M. Latimer These friendes of M. Bay●tō seeme to be some Popish Priestes and enemyes to the Gospell as Powell Wilson Sherwood Hubberdine c. The Papistes will not haue vnity disturbed Papistry coloured with authority of holy fathers M. Bayntō will follow the most number Note the proceedynge of the Pope● Church which would not haue the people certayne of Gods truth and religion Errour and false doctrine would fayne lye still in peace and no● be stirred Vnity in the Lord in Baptisme in fayth The Chayne of christen charity Answere of M. Latimer to M. Bayntōs letter The Bee The Spinner Euery thing as it is taken Had I wist Example of a true diligent pastor M. Latimer vnfurnished with outward helpe M. Latimer blamed for saying he was sure of the truth which he preached As God alone knoweth all truth so some truth he reuealeth to be certaine to his seruauntes 〈◊〉 presumption in a Preacher being certayne of that which he Preacheth to shew it to the people Let not man Preach except that he be certayne of that which he preacheth Euery true christian ought to be certayne of his fayth The doubting doctrine of the Catholickes Argumentes Aunswere i. The 〈…〉 the most 〈◊〉 certayn● 〈◊〉 Certa●ne knowledge Cl●are knowledge M. Latimer not 〈◊〉 of the 〈…〉 Which 〈…〉 had knowledg without any 〈…〉 while th●y knowing the will of God doe nothing the● after 1. 〈…〉 that al●o which he 〈…〉 as not to haue it And also seing it is true that Gods 〈…〉 will not dwell in a body subiect to sinne albeit he abound in carnall wisedome to much yet the same ●●rnall and Philosophicall vnderstanding of Gods 〈◊〉 is not the wisedome of God which is hidde from the wi●e and i● reuealed to litle ones Euery Preacher ought to be su●e of the truth There be many truthes whereof a good man may well be ignoraunt There be many thinges in Scripture in the profundities whereof a man may wade to farre Agaynst preachers which take vpon thē to define great subtilties and highe matters in the Pulpit Vayne subtilties and questions to be declined Simple and playne preaching of faith and of the fruites thereof Foolishe humilitye A meane betweene to hie and to low Not euery thing wher●●pon dissētion com●eth i● the 〈…〉 He 〈…〉 Pope and his Papists which 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 K. Henry and 〈◊〉 br●thers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be taken where 〈◊〉 is geuen The church of the Galathians Erasmus in 〈◊〉 epistle set before the Para●●rase in ●● Cor. To pretend vnitye vnder the title of one Lord is not inough Chrisost. Hom. 49. in Mat. cap. 24. To be in vnity of fayth except the fayth be sound is not inough i. If we beleeue we shew the truth in working i. He that beleueth God attendeth to his commaundementes Hieron Tom. 5. in Hierem. Cap 26. How true preachers should order themselues when the wicked Priestes be against them Hieron Tom. 6. in Naum cap. 30. i. The people which before were brought a sleepe by their Maners must goe vp to the mountaynes not such moūtaines which smoke when they are touched but to the mountaines of the old and new testament the Prophets Apostles and Euangelistes And when thou art occupyed with reading in those mountaines yf then thou find no instructors for the haruest is great and the workemen be few yet shall the diligent study of the people be flying to the mountaines and the slouthfulnes of the Maisters shal be rebuked i. Which wit● mouth onely confesse Christ to come in flesh Naughty seruauntes not feeding but smitting their fellow seruauntes eating and drinking with the drunken which shall haue their portion with hypocrites i. Because they confesse Christ in flesh and naughty they are called because they deny him in their deedes not geuing meat in due season and excercising maistershippe ouer the flocke August in Ioan. Tract 3. Both Christians and Antichristians confesse the name of Christ. i. Let vs not stand vpon our talkes but attend to our doinges and conuersation of life whether we not onely do not put our indeuour thereto but also perswade our selues as though it were not necessary for vs to accomplish such thinges c. but that it is inough to beare rule and authoritye ouer them and to bestow our selues wholy vpon secular matters pleasures pompe of this world In the people is required a iudgmēt to discerne whether they tooke of their ministers chalke for cheese The blind eateth many a flye Intollerable secularitye and negligence in Churchmen Better is in the Church a deforme disagreement so that Christ be truely preached then vniforme ignorance agreeing in Idolatrye i. If ye loue me keepe my commaundementes i. He that knoweth my preceptes and doth them he loueth me The state of Curates what it is The true honour of Christ turned to Piping playing and Singing He that wil● be busie with V● Vobis let him looke shortly for corā nobis Iohannes do tu●●e Cremata The Pope great Maister Lord and king ouer all the world i. He came into his owne and his owne receaued him not Iohn 1. The Popes dominion Purgatory Worshipping of Saintes i. I shall haue neede of great patience to beare the false reportes of the malignāt church A priuye nippe to such as haue many cures and are resident to none i. I must needes suffer and so enter so perilous a thing it is to liue vertuously in Christ. An other ●●tter of M. ●a●imer to ● Henry August ad Ca●ula●ū Chrisost. M. Latimer t●uched in conscience 〈◊〉 write to the king 〈…〉 to truth Math. 23. The subtile wilines and practises of the prelats 〈…〉 2. 〈…〉 12. 1. 〈◊〉 2. 〈…〉 1. 〈◊〉 12. Math. 7. The rule of Christ. The pouerty of Christes life expressed The poore con●dition of Christs life is an example to vs to cast down our pride nor to set by riches It is not agaynst the pouertye of the spirite to be rich What is to be poore in spirite and what not Priuy enemyes to spirituall pouertye Against Monkes and Fryers and Prelates of the spiritualtye Math. 17. Subiection to superiour powers Ambition of the spiritualtye Math. 7. Math. 15. Christ promiseth no promotions but persecution to his followers Math. 1● Iohn 16. Math. 10. Gods word only is the weapon of Spirituall Pastors The Apostles were persecuted but neuer no persecutors Phillip 1. Persecution a sure marke of true preaching The worde of the Crosse. Iohn 3. Crafty pretenses of the Prelates to stoppe the reading of holy Scripture Belly wisedome Perswation to let the Scripture to be read in Englishe Sinister counsell about Princes Wicked 〈…〉 his owne de●struction Vnder the 〈…〉 Christes Gospell Obiection preuented and aunswered The cause and cause●s of 〈◊〉 kinges Proclamation against ●he reading of Scripture booke in 〈◊〉 He meane●h o● Cronmer Cromwell one or two mo● agaynst whom the Bishop of Winchester his faction
did preuayle A practise of Prelates to conuey their owne proclamations vnder the kinges name and authoritye He meaneth of the Pope which went about to driue K. Henry out of his kingdome and that not without some adherentes nere about the king The cause of insurrections is falsly layed vpon English bookes but rather is to be lyed vpon the Popes pardōs Extortioners Bribers theeues be the greatest enemyes to the Gospell to be in Englishe The froward lyfe of the Gospellers is not to be layd to the Gospel Lacke of good Curates is the cause of all mischiefe in the Realme 〈…〉 to Gods word By Nathan we may learne not 〈…〉 to call 〈◊〉 our w●rdes when we 〈◊〉 Gods pleasure to 〈…〉 The Popes 〈◊〉 geuen to K. Henry Defender of the ●ayth no 〈◊〉 title for man The ●ayth of Christ is 〈…〉 by man 〈…〉 but 〈◊〉 Christ 〈…〉 〈…〉 of M. Latimer to the 〈◊〉 to be co●●idered The heauenly courage of M. Latimer in discharging his conscience The King well pleased with the playnnes of M. Latimer Example for Bishops and al● good Pastors to follow Warning to Iustices of peace A letter of M. Latimer to a certayne gentleman i. God turne ●● to good I refuse no iudgement Let vs accuse one another that one of vs may amend an other in the name of the Lord. Let iustice proceede in iudgement i. I cannot chuse but much alow such diligence i. And then will I gladly geue place confessing my fault humbly as one conquered with iust reasons As may wel appea●e by his letter sent to the King before i. To rebuke the world of sinne i. Which thing vndoubtedly is the peculiar office of the holy ghost in the church of God so that it be practised by lawfull Preachers i. vnlesse perhaps to rebuke sinne sharpely be now to lacke all charitye friendship and truth M. Latimer flattereth no man i. Among al mē eyther frendes or enemyes according to Paules precept not esteemed of the children of this world hate you sayth he that which is euill and cleaue to that which is good And let vs not at any tyme for the fauour of men call good euill and euill good as the children of this world are commonly wont to doe as it is euery where to be seene Bolstring of falsehood and iniquitie Brother ought not to beare with brother to beare down right and truth especially being a Iustice. i. The Lord himselfe saying in the mouth of two or three c. i. Corrupte tenantes i. But God is yet aliue which seeth all and iudgeth iustly Were not here a good sor●e of Iustices trow you Iustices turned to Iugglers Partaking Iustices i. O good God i. Of a double nature sound corrupte That was full of Iustice This vnlesse it be restored abideth alwayes vniust bringing forth the fruites of wickednes one after an other i. Of which sorte we haue fewer amongest vs then I would i. To vicinity of bloud 〈◊〉 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 also be 〈◊〉 a●●ording to the 〈…〉 of their 〈…〉 wealth which t●ouble vs when they 〈◊〉 to ●elpe vs 〈◊〉 this 〈…〉 Vexation 〈◊〉 vnderstanding 〈◊〉 good O ●ord that thou h●m●●e● me 1. After this 〈◊〉 bind 〈◊〉 Asses with ●ri●le and s●a●le 〈◊〉 they approch not 〈◊〉 vnto thee 〈◊〉 will not such 〈◊〉 cause ●●yther wil communicate with other mens 〈…〉 dete●●ble pride 〈…〉 ● What is to oppresse to defraud your brother in his 〈◊〉 ● The sinne is not forgeuen except the thing be restored agayne that i● taken away i. Of thinges gottē by fraude guile deceite as of thinges gotten by open theft and robbery Godly threates of M. Latimer to saue the soule of his friend M. Latimers Newyeares gift sent to K. Henry B. Ridley and M. Latimer brought forth to examination October 1. M. White B. of Lincolne M. Brokes B. of Glocester the Popes deputies The last examination of M. Ridley and M. Latimer The effect of the Cardinalls Commission sent downe to Oxford D. Ridley and M. Latimer ascited to appeare the last of September B. Ridley putteth on his cap at hearing of the Popes name The wordes of the Bishop of Lincolne to D. Ridley for not putting of his cappe Answere of D Ridley to the B of Lincolne D. Ridley reuerenceth the person of the Cardinall but not his Legacye D. Ridley o●eth no reuerence to the pope D. White Bishop of Lincolne replyeth agayne Putting of caps at the naming of the Pope D. Ridley answereth The vsurped supremacye of Rome defied D. Ridleys cap pluck●● of perforce * Though the 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 yet the doctrine 〈◊〉 Rome is straunge * * The words of D. Ridley falsly repo●ted The Bishop of Lincolne perswadeth D. Ridley 〈◊〉 t● the Popes Church Answere 〈◊〉 D. ●idley to the B. of Linco●●e ● Pointes 〈◊〉 in the B. of Lincolnes Oration 2 The sea of Rome con●●med by old Doctours 3. D. Ridley once of the same sea The church not builded vpon Peter The church builded vpon faith● not vpon any person The wordes of Christ to Peter● Math· 16. expounded Fayth is the foundation of the Church Lineall discent of the Bishop of Rome Why the Bishops of R●me haue bene more esteemed then the Bishops of other cities The prerogatiue that the Doctours geue to the sea of Rome and for what cause The sea of Rome so long as it continued in sound doctrine was worthy to be reuerenced The Bishop of Rome proued to be Antichrist The place of S. Austen aunswered 4. Patriarches in the Church in Austines tyme. Countreys beyond the sea subiect to Rome how and in what respect Rome may be mother of churches and yet no supreme head of Churches D. Ridley falsly charged to preach transubstantiation at Paules Crosse. D. Ridley mistaken in his Sermon Lincolne againe replyeth D. Ridley agayn●●●●swereth 〈◊〉 the word● of Austen Lincolne returneth agayne to his oration * And why then do you alligate it to the city of Rom● 2. Powers of the keyes and of the sword England how subiect to the King and how to the Pope B. Ridley exhorted to submitte himselfe to the Pope Feare of punishment set before him * But that office you your selues haue assigned vnto them A●●were to D. Ridley to Lincolne * He meaneth in which no generall errour can be ●●nally The church 〈◊〉 to no 〈◊〉 〈…〉 doe 〈◊〉 the Church to ●●certayne place and that onely 〈◊〉 Rome The 〈…〉 bind the Church to no one 〈…〉 what Church to 〈…〉 infected with the Church of 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 * Articles ioyntly and seuerally ministred to D. Ridley and M. Latymer by the Popes deputies B. Ridley examined vpon the Articles aforesayd The Catholicke promise fayre but they performe nothing The hie Priestes had not power to put Christ to death but they had power to commit him to Pilate neyther would they suffer him to ab●solue Christ. D. Westō shooteth his bolte The protestatiō of D. Ridley D. Ridley cannot be suffered to speake The reall
presence in the Sacrament may haue a double sense Equiuocation in the word really How the body of Christ may be sayd to be really and how not really in the Sacrament ● Questions vnder one The Papistes Protestantes in graunting the presence do agree● onely in the maner of being they differ How Christes body is effectuously receaued in the Sacramēt How Christ may be graunted to be really in the Sacramēt and how not What change is in the Sacramentall bread Sacramentall mutation The substaunce of bread and wine in the● Sacrament not chāged Comparisō betweene the Sacrament of the Communiō and of Baptisme What difference the Catholicks put betweene the Sacrament of the Cōmunion and Baptisme Aunswere to the 3. Article Propitiatory sacrifice of the masse is a derogation to Christes passion Vnbloudy sacrifice Answere to the 4. Article D. Ridley assigned to appeare agayne the next day M Latimer 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 The order of M. Lati●●● 〈◊〉 The oratiō 〈◊〉 Lincolne 〈◊〉 M. Latimer But this Church 〈◊〉 standing on the truth of Gods word 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 of man How you 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 your owne actes can beare witnes The Popes authoritye 〈…〉 Latimer * Qui tradid●runt metio●●naius pecca●●m habent sayth Christ. Perswasions vsed to M. Latimer 〈…〉 to the vnitye of the Popes Church Reasons to perswade the flesh but not 〈◊〉 con●cience M. Latimer hath leaue to sit downe Answere of M. Latimer to the B. of Lincolne The vniuersall Church hath not his foundation onely in Rome ●rg●ment Christ bad Peter regere gouerne his pe●ple Ergo the Pope 〈…〉 Rex to reigne 〈◊〉 Kinges and Emperours Regere 〈…〉 to regere 〈◊〉 voluntatē Deut. 21. Cli●ping of Gods Scriptures by the Catholickes The author of this booke was D. Brookes which there was in the commission Brookes B. of Glocester speaketh The Catholicks how vnreasonable they are in their vsing of men The Catholicks alleage the Scriptures but take not all The protestatiō of M. Latimer 1. Article The body of Christ in the Sacrament receiued by spirite grace M. Latymer agaynst the grosse and carnall being of christ in the Sacrament 2. Article What chaunge is in the bread and wine in the Sacrament not in the nature but in the dignitye of representing Substance of bread wine in the Sacrament vnchanged Difference betweene Christs holy bread the Popes holy bread 3. Article 4. Article ● Article The next 〈…〉 October 1. D. Ridleys appearan●e 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 The words 〈◊〉 M. 〈…〉 to B. 〈…〉 B. Ridley refuseth to put of his cap to the Pope or to them which come frō the Pope The last examination of Bishop Ridley The wordes of the B. of Lincolne The place of S. Austen again repeated Totus mundus c. Aunswere of D. Ridley to the place of S. Austen as before How the Catholickes vse to alledge the Doctours A place of Cyrillus alledged by Melancthon Scripture bookes burned at Oxford * Argumentum á contrario sensu ex Cyrillo contra ●udaeo● * Altars be erected in Christes remembrance in Britayne Ergo Christ is come Altars be now plucked downe in Britayne Ergo Christ i● not come Aunswere This argument is not a sensu contrario For erecting of altars in the Antecedent and plucking downe altars in the consequent be not contrary In the Antecedent Cyril meaneth the table or els the celebration of the Lordes Supper in his remembrance In the consequent by plucking downe of altars is ment the taking away of places and monumentes seruing not to the Lordes Supper but to Idolatry whereby the true table of the Lordes Supper in his remēbrance may be erected agayne * B. White blasphemously calleth the bord of the Lordes Supper an Oyster table The articles read agayne to M. Ridley B. Ridley not suffred to reade his owne aunswere Note the extreme dealing of these catholicke men The deputies durst not read out the writing of Bishop Ridley To the 1. article To the 2. Article The words of exhortation of Brookes Bishop of Glocester to M. Ridley B. Ridley vntruely charged with singularity The determination of the Church is only that whereupon our catholicke men do ground theyr fayth A briefe answere of B. Ridley to B. Brokes ta●le D. We●ton 〈…〉 Sentence of 〈◊〉 ●ead 〈◊〉 D. ●●●ley 〈…〉 of M. Latimer before the Commissioners The Bishop of Lincolnes wordes to M. Latimer M. Latimer short with the Commissioner● The Catholicke Church and the Romish Church be two thinges Cyprians counsell in truth no deliberation to be taken M. Latimers question to the Bishops Whether is more lyke the sea of Rome which persecuteth or the little flocke which is persecuted to be the ●rue Church c. The cause of the Martyrs of the primitiue tyme and of the Martyrs of the latter tyme a●l one The Image of the Church before Christes comming compared with the Church after his comming The Articles agayne propoūded to Maister Latimer Maister Latimer againe aunswereth with Protestation as before The very body of Christ receaued in the Sacrament by the spirite grace Aunsweres to 2. 3. articles M Latimer will not deny his Maister Christ. Condemnation read agaynst M. Latimer The Papistes false in their promises M. Latimer appealeth to the next generall Councell truly called in the Lordes name but that Councell is long a comming October 15. The talke betweene D. Brookes B. of Glocester and D. Ridley vpon his degradation No mercy to be had without consenting to iniquitye Answere o● D. Ridley to Bishop Brookes O worthy champion of Christes Church With that their caps went of but D. Ridley held on his cap. B. Ridley commaunded to silence when otherwise he could not be reuinced B. Ridley refuseth to put on the surples B. Ridley inueyeth agaynst the Bishop of Rome and his foolish apparrell The surples here is called a foolish apparrell Maister Edridge geueth counsell that B. Ridley should be gagged A prayse of Bertrams 〈◊〉 vpon the Sacrament Note the charitye of the Papists B. Ridleys 〈◊〉 put from her house by B. Boner A supplication of B. Ridley to Queene Mary in the behalfe of certayne poore mens leases This Bishop was D. Boner If to succour the widow and fatherles is pure vndefiled religion as Saint Iames sayth Then is Boner and his religion filthy and abominable which doth such wr●●g to the widow and fatherles Notwithstanding these godly and iust ●eque●tes no Iustice could be had vntill that now of late some of these shamefull iniuries by order of law haue be●ne redressed The life of M. Ridley such as coul● not with any notorious crime be charged The wordes of a certayne warden or head of a Colledge D. Ridley biddeth gestes to his mariage Mistres Irish a great Papist before weepeth for D. Ridley B. Ridley careles of his death The order and maner of B. Ridley and M. Latimer going to the stake D. Ridley and M. Latimer brought together to the stake The behauiour of D. Ridley M. Latimer at the
stake D. Ridley ready to aunswere D Smithes Sermon but ●●uld not ●e suffered D Marshall Vicecha●●●cellour of Oxford stoppeth D. Ridleys mouth B. Ridley committ●●● his cause to G●d M. Latimer● wordes when he could not be suffered to answere D Smith * This was no Popish Tippet 〈◊〉 made 〈◊〉 to keepe 〈◊〉 necke warme D. Ridley geueth away his apparrell other 〈◊〉 to the pe●ple 〈…〉 him M. Latimer standing at the sta●e in his shirte D Ridley 〈…〉 The death and Martyrdome of D. Ridley The lamenting hartes of the people at the Martyrdome of these two Saintes The first farewell of B. Ridley to his friendes Commendation of George Shipside his brother in lawe To his brother Iohn Ridley To his sister in lawe of vnthanke wife to Hugh his brother To his Cosin M. Nicholas Ridley To his Cosin Rafe Ridley To all his kindred B. Ridley appoyn●ed to be B. of Durham Martyrdome Gods singular and rare promotion 1. Peter 4. A blessed thing to suffer death for Christ. If 〈…〉 dye w●●h his 〈◊〉 vpō thee●es for wor●●ly goo●●s how m●ch more then to dye in Chri●●es ●uarell vpo● the enemye of his Church Deut. 7. Iohn 15. To dye in any right whatsoeuer it be is to dye in Gods cause To dye in the truth against theeues and to dye for the truth agaynst Christes enemyes compared Truth taught in the Church of England True ministration of the Lordes Supper Seruice in th● vulgare to●gue Luke 22. 〈…〉 Chri●● is contrary to Gods word is a subuersion of 〈◊〉 godlines and destruction to mans soule Comparison betweene Popishe persecutors and strong theeues Popish persecutors when they are false theeues yet will they be called true Catholickes The fight with spirituall theues is worse then with temporall theeues Ephesians 6. Ephesians 6. The weapons of a christian warriour D. Ridley 〈◊〉 to the Sea of Durham The cause of Martyrs is the common cause of Christ and of 〈◊〉 his elect Saintes Let no man fo●●acke to dye 〈◊〉 a blessed 〈◊〉 common quarell To his friendes in Cambridge Benefites shewe● to D. Ridley in Cambridge Pembroke hall in Cābridge Commendation of Pembroke hall to be a letter forth euer of the Gospell D. Ridley learned the Epistles of S. Paule Peter without booke in Pembroke hall D. Ridley called into Kent by Archbishop Cranmer To the parishe of Herne in Kent The godly Lady Phines in Herne parish To the metrapoliticke sea of Canterbury To the sea of Rochester To Westminster To the sea of London B. Ridley deposed 〈◊〉 the sea of London without right or iudgement The Sea of London worthely 〈◊〉 ● Ridleys 〈…〉 the Episcopall 〈◊〉 of London To the city of London Commendation of 〈◊〉 Richard 〈◊〉 Alderman Knight The creating of the hospitall by B. Ridley 〈◊〉 Richard Dobbes 〈◊〉 of London Commendation of Syr George Barnes Maior of London Bridewell obtayned of King Edward by Syr George Barnes to set poore people a worke To the Citizens of London To the higher house and temporall Lordes of the Parlament Gal. 3. A good warning or lesson to the temporall Lordes Ezech. 3. Luke 6. Ignorance will not excuse the temporalty being seduced in religion The Lordes of the Parliament be fallen from Christ to Christes enemy Act. 2● Many good mē in the sea of Rome So long as the Sea of Rome folowed the rules of the Apostles it might be called Peter or Paules chayre The Church receaued of the Apostles of Christ Christ of God Tertull. The sea of Rome hath degenerated from the Apostles rules and hath set vp an other religion That is hath excercised an other power Hath ordeyned strange lawes If true doctrine maketh sea Apostolicke then cōtrary doctrine maketh the sea to be Antichrist Apocalip 17. Apocalip 11. Kinges cōmitting adultery with the whore of Babilon what it meaneth Apoc. 17. Daniel ● He speaketh to the Lordes tēporall Psalme 4. If the vnity of the Popes Church standeth vpon necessity of saluation why did the Lordes of this realme abiure this vnitye in K. Henry K. Edwardes dayes If it be otherwise why then doe they periure themselues turning to it agayne 〈◊〉 6. An other farewell of 〈…〉 c. 〈◊〉 5. 〈◊〉 1 〈…〉 2. Mat● 5. Luke 21. Luke 6. Math. 10. Math. 10· Math. 10. To confesse Christ and not to feare danger 2. Cor. 4. 1. Peter 3. The causes why the Apostles so reioysed in their affliction 1. Corin. 2. 2. Cor. 12. 2. Tim. 1. The glory of Paule wherein it consisted 2. Tim. 2. ● Tim. 3. Gal. 4. The waye to heauen is by afflictions Heb. 11. Heb. 12. Reasons to moue vs to pacience vnder the Crosse. Prouerb ● Heb. 1● 2. Cor. 5. 2. Cor. 5. 1. Cor 1. Phil. 1. Luke 25. Rom 9. 1. Iohn 3. Apoc. 14. To couet to be with Christ and not to fear● death Iohn 11. Iohn 5. 2. Peter ● 2. Cor. 5. Act. 14. Luke 16. Luke 12. The state of the Church of England described 〈◊〉 The lamentable chāge of religion in the Church Ieremy 4. 1. Cor. 14. Ignorance a prayer Abuse ●n the Lordes S●pper The Sacrament turned out of his right vse kind Idolatry in worshipping the creature for the creator The cuppe debarred from the ministration of the Lordes supper Blasphemous sacrifice for sinne Deuter. 5. Idolatry is stockes and stones The whore of Babilon with her cup of abominations expounded Apoc. 17. 2. Peter 2. The misticall marchaundise of the Babilonicall strumpet All thinges at Rome for money Verses agaynst Pope Alexāder Abominations and wicked abuses of the Sea of Rome declared The true word of God the office of the same declared Note here that these Scriptures were written by M. 〈◊〉 in the Mar●e●t but were not in the copy which we ●llowed Act. ●0 Cranmer and Ridley 〈◊〉 in the Duke o● S●mersets c●use Cranmer repugning agaynst the spoyle of the Church goodes Latimer Bradford Leuer Knoxe The corrupt 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 K. Edwardes tyme. Hipocrisie a double euill The slackenes that was in that tyme to good workes Gods pla●●● vpon England iustly deserue● He exhortet● 〈◊〉 constant confe●sion of Christ Punishment of heretiques 〈◊〉 gentle in the olde tyme and how it was vsed Counsell geuen in these dayes of persecution what to doe Such as remayned out of captiuitye counsayled to voyde the realme The abominatiō of desolation set vp in England Christ cōmaundeth to flye to the mountaynes Apoc. 18. 2. Cor. 6. Counsell to depart the realme Doubtes whether to flye or to tarry debated Presumptuous prouocation rash running into daunger forbidden Euseb. Eccle. lib. 4. cap. 15. 〈…〉 dwelling in ●ngland 〈◊〉 a good 〈◊〉 eyther with out daunger of consciēce o● perill of lyfe I●●ent no excuses to c●o●e sinne Confession of 〈◊〉 must goe with belief of 〈◊〉 To trust in God what it is 1. Corin 3 2. Cor. 6. Rom. ● To beare the beastes marke● what it is Apoc. 13.14.10 The literall taking of the Scripture 〈◊〉 the Iewes 〈…〉 The Popes
world Exhortation to obedience Exhortation to brotherly loue Exhortation to rich men of this world mouing them to charitable almes Luke 18. 1. Iohn 3. The Archb. declareth the true confession of his fayth without all colour or dissembling The Archb. rereuoketh his former recantation and repenteth the same The Archb. refuseth the Pope as Christes enemy and Antichrist The Archb. st●●deth to his booke written agaynst Winchester 〈…〉 Papists ●●ceaued The Papists in a great chase agaynst the Archb. Cranmers aunswere to the Papists Cranmer pulled downe frō the stage Cranmer led to the fire ● Ely 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 to the Archbishop The Arch●●●●op tyed 〈…〉 stake Cranmer ●●tteth his 〈◊〉 hand w●ich subscribed first 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 The last wordes of Cranme● at 〈◊〉 death The Fryers lying report of Cranmer Archb. Cranmer the middle Martyr of all the Martyrs burnt in Q Maryes tyme. A writ●ng or letter of the Archb. sent to Queene Mary The king and Queene make themselues no better then subiectes complayning of their owne subiect vnto the Pope The first cause why the Archb. would not make aunswere to the Popes delegate is to auoyd periury The second cause is that the Popes lawes are contrary to the Crowne and lawes of England The othe of the King Iustices and the duety of Subiectes Dist. 10. Constitutiones Extran De Sent●●ti et reindit Nouerit The Popes lawes and the lawes of England do vary how and wherei● Cases wherin the popes lawes repugne agaynst our lawes Prouision agaynst the popes lawes by Premunire The prouiso of the Pope agaynst our Premunire Marke this well * The Clergyes duety in the Parlament The Clergy of England more addicted to the Pope then to their true alleageance to their Countrey The Pope commaundeth both agaynst God naturall reason The Sacramēt ought to be receaued in both kindes of all Christians Ex Theophilo Alexandrino The excuse of the Papistes why they take away the cup. Misorder in the Pope in assoyling the disobediēce of Subiects toward their Princes Note the saying of Gregory The deuill and the Pope are lyke Emperours and kinges made the Popes footmen The Pope is Antichrist that is Christes enemy True markes pro●i●g that the Pope is Antichrist Note this conclusion The cause why the Archb. spake and wrote thus Math. 10. The Sacrament A double error of 〈◊〉 Papist●s in the 〈◊〉 of the sacr●mēt Cranmer 〈◊〉 to the iu●ged by the old Church The Papistes not able to bring forth one olde author aboue a thousand yeares to make with the Sacrament With the substance the vse also changed of the Sacrament The Papists make Christ 2. bodyes Neyther truth nor comfort in the Popes doctrine of the Sacrament Marke the errours of the Papists in their doctrine of the Sacrament The Protestantes doctrine of the Sacrament more comfortable then the doctrine of the Papistes An other respecte why the Archb. refused B. Brookes to be his iudge Double periury in B. Brookes A peece of an other letter to the Queene Contradiction in the Queenes othes sworne both to the Realme to the Pope in one day This Constantinus was Stephen Gardiner as constant in deede as a Wethercocke who thus named himselfe writing agaynst this good Archbish. An other letter of the Archb. to Mistres Wilkinson Math 3. Iohn 4. Math. 5. 2. Cor. 12. A letter written to D. Cranmer his fellowe● by D. Taylour Many professe God ad ignem exclusiue that is in wordes outward profession but few sticke to him ad ignem inclusiuè that is in deede and in suffering for his sake Agnes Potten Ioane Trunchfield Martyrs The opinions of these two Matrons and Martyrs The strēgth of God in weake vessels The burning of Agnes Potten reuealed to her before in her sleepe ●he story 〈◊〉 Iohn Maundrell M●●ndrell ●●●rted 〈◊〉 Tin●●●l Testament M●●ndrell 〈…〉 and ●●arer of Gods word Ma●ndrell 〈◊〉 for speaking agaynst holy bread and holy water Maundrell 〈◊〉 to open 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Henryes ●●yes Maundrell 〈◊〉 and Coberley 〈…〉 Maundrell Spicer Coberly sēt to Salisbury D. Capon B. of Salisbury Confession of their beliefe Sacrament of the Aultar Agaynst the Popes supremacye Christ onely Supreame head of his Church vnder him euery Prince in his own dominion Purgatory Images Sentence read agaynst these 3. Martyrs March 23. Maundrell Spicer Coberly brought to the place of Martyrdome The wordes of Maundrell Alice Coberley being indurance how she was brought by the keepers to reuoke Aprill 14. 6. Martyrs burnt in Smithfield at one stake These Martyrs were sent vp by the Lord Rich by M. Tyrrell and others A supplication to the Lord Chauncellour Names subscribed to the supplication Richard Spurge examined The Parson of Bocking accuser For not cōming to the Popish Church Thom●● Spurge ●●●●mined Not co●ming 〈◊〉 Church why Sacram●●● of the 〈◊〉 George Ambrose examined Iohn Ca●●ll examined The caus●● why Iohn Cauell came not to Church The Parson of Bocking false and contrary to his owne doctrine Robert Drakes Parson of Thundersley examined Drakes placed in the benefice of Thundersley by the Lord Rich. The first occasion of taking W. Tyme M. Tyrrell offended with Sermons preached in his woodes 〈◊〉 Gye 〈◊〉 Tyrrell● 〈◊〉 an 〈◊〉 man Talke betweene the Bishop of Winchester and W. Tyms These 5. Martyrs were R. Drakes Tho. Spurge Richard Spurge Cauell Ambrose Their examinations before the B. of London Sacrament of the Aultar March 2● Drakes and W. Tyms with the rest agayne exmined March 2● B. Boners wordes to W. Tyms Math. 18. 1. Tym. 5. The aunswere of W. Tyms to B. Boner B. Boners wordes One of the prisoners aunswereth to B. Boner W. Tyms agayne aunswereth B. Boner charged with periury and inconstancye Boners preface to Winchesters booke De obedientia B. Boner excuseth himselfe by feare Tyms agayne replyeth to the Bishop An hunters parable against W. Tyms wisely applyed The answere 〈◊〉 Tym● 〈…〉 B. Boners reason Robert Drakes answereth Boner replyeth Tyms ●●swere●● to Boner Boner denying the principle● of diuinitye Esay 59. B. Boner calleth for more help● D. Pendleton studieth for talke Articles aunswered by William Tyms His baptisme by his godfathers Onely ● Sacraments The true visible Church Winchesters booke De obedientia The Masse blasphemous Sacrament of the Altar an Idoll The Popes Church The Sea of 〈◊〉 the Sea of 〈◊〉 Sentence 〈◊〉 against W. Tyms The aun●were of R. Dra●●● Sentence geuen against 〈◊〉 The aunsw●re of T. Spurge Sentence 〈◊〉 agayn●t Tho. Spurge R. Spurge 〈◊〉 Ambrose A letter of W. Tyms to Agnes G●ascocke An other letter of Will Tyms to Mistres Glascocke An other letter of W. Tyms to certayne godly women of his Parish Anno 1556. March An other letter of Will Tyms to his friendes in Hocley An other letter of W. Tyms to the faythfull brethren in his parish A letter of W. Tyms to his sisters in the Lord Colfoxe Glascocke 1. Pet. 5. 1. Pet. 4. Rom. 1● Stephen for the same Gospell put to death
church This article of the K. Qu●●e is no 〈…〉 his Catholicke Creede And yet he sayd before that he went not aboute to seeke his bloud Iudgement without truth Mathew Plaise confesseth his minde of the Sacrament Capernaicall doctrine Christ called it his body Ergo he made it his body It followeth not For a thing may be called yet no nature chaunged Anno 1556. Iune False alleaging the Scriptures They sayd that Christ called it his body but they sayd not that it was his body Comparison betweene turning Moyses rod and the bread into Christes body not lyke The opinion of the Papistes much lyke to the Capernaits Iune 22. 10. Godly Martyrs The lyfe story of Richard Woodman Anno ●557 〈◊〉 R●●hard ●o●dman 〈…〉 of his 〈◊〉 trouble R●chard Woodman ag●yne apprehended 〈…〉 of Richard Woodman The first appre●ension 〈◊〉 Richard Woodman Woodmen purgeth himselfe of false sclander False surmises agaynst Richard Woodman Woodman complayned of to Syr Iohn G●ge Lord Chamberlayne Warrantes sent out to attach Woodman L. Chamberlayne sendeth to take Woodman at his plough Woodman arested Feare comming vpon Woodmā at his first taking Woodman comforted in his spirite after his feare Woodman asketh for their Warrant How God worketh for his seruauntes The vnorderly doinges of the Papi●tes in attaching men without any warrant Woodman refus●th to goe with them vnlesse they shewe their warrant Gods great worke how the persecutors which came to take Woodman went away without him Woodman escapeth the handes of his takers Woodmans house agayne searched for him Woodman lodged sixe wee●es in a woode All the count●y and Sea coastes l●yd for woodman Woodman deliuered by his owne brother into his enenemyes handes Auri sacra fames quid non Mortalia cogis pectora Virgil. Brother bewrayeth the brother Woodmans house agayne beset and searched Woodman put to his shiftes The part of a trusty wife to her husband This belyke was his brother Woodman at length after long seeking found out George 〈…〉 in 〈…〉 Woodman A Pewterer of 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 coate ●oodman 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 ●ounde 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 Woodman 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 of his ●●fe and 〈◊〉 The name of this place 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 could 〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 Firle Richard Woodman brought before the B. of Chichester D. Story and D. Cooke Richard Woodman preferreth the kingdome of Christ before lyfe or wyfe all worldly respectes Woodman appealed to his Ordynary D. Story a great spiller of bloud by his owne confession The Papistes in doubte whether they haue the spirite of God D. Story in a fury He is no true Christian that hath not the spirite of God Anno 1556. Iune 1. Cor. 7. Whether Paule was sure to rece●ue the spirite of Christ. 1. Cor. 7. Rom. 8. Rom. 8. G●l ● 2. Tim. 8. The Papistes bewray their owne blyndnes Richard Woodman glad to goe to the Marshals●● The liuing God is a p●●ne of heresie among the Catholickes Story scorneth at the holy Bible Barne 6. D. Story set to schoole in the Scriptures Psal. ●4 If the liuing God in heauen doe make an heretick 〈◊〉 maketh 〈◊〉 the dead God on the Aultar Storyes rule to know an hereticke that is a true Christian When D. Story cannot confute them by learning he confuteth them by imprisonment No but if he should say the Sacrament of the aultar worshipped might he be then he were a perfect Catholicke The Lord hereticall our Lord Catholicke with the Papistes Fallacia equiuoci He that erreth from the church which church erreth not in in the right fayth his fayth cannot be good in deede Woodman charged with his owne writinges Richard Woodman 5. tymes before the Commissioners Anno 1557. 〈◊〉 ●oodman 〈…〉 church A man may 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 prea●●● ●eading 〈◊〉 Scripture letteth 〈◊〉 man to 〈…〉 〈◊〉 and ●●●under Woodman 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 Church The Bishop 〈…〉 The Bishop biddeth Woodman to dinner Talke betweene Richard Woodman and the Bishop about Priestes mariage Paule if he were not maryed yet he had power to marry as well as the other had 1. Cor. 9. 1. Cor. 7 Priestes ought to haue wyues rather then to burne by Sainct Paules doctrine Gene 2. 1. Tim. 3. Bishops and Deacons were maryed in the Apostles tyme. Papistes ●olde that Byshops Deacons hauing wi●es before might keepe them still but not hauing before might not afterward mary Paul confesseth himselfe after his Apostleship to haue power to ma●y The Bishops fay●e wordes to Richard Woodman Richard Woodman complayned of by vnlearned Priestes which could not certyfie him in matters of religion A Byshoplyke di●ner without any talke of Scriptures D. story a man without reason 7. Sacramentes denyed Two onely Sacramentes Richard Woodman caryed to the Marshalsey Luke 22. The deuills members persecutors of the Christians Iob. Psal. 1● Rom 14. Richard Woo●m●● to the faythfull brethren Psal. 103. Those that feare God hang not or man The inseparable knot of loue betweene Christ and his members Christians ought to geue there liues for defence of the Gospell if they be thereto called The second examination of Rich. Woodman before D Christopherson Bishop of Chichester Doct. Story c. Prouing of 7. Sacramentes Christopherson not yet consecrated 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the examination 〈…〉 ●●ether ●●trimony 〈◊〉 Sacrament Ephe. 5. S. Paules words be these ●his miste●y is great● c. In the Greeke text S. Paule calleth it misterium What is a mistery and what difference there is betweene a mistery and a Sacrament Argument A thing signified a thing signifying can not bee at one tyme in respecte of it selfe in one subiecte Matrimony is a holy thing it selfe signified Ergo Matrimony cannot be a Sacrament signifying a holy thing The hose in a hosiers stalle may be a sign● signifying moe hose to be within but it is noe signifying signe of it selfe Neyther againe is euery signe of an other thing to be called a Sacrament Chichester proueth Matrimony to be a Sacramēt by a payre of hose Letters written in the booke speaking properly be one thing the testament worde of God is an other thing And yet by vse of speach the booke of the testament is called the testament as bread and wine be called the body bloud of the Lord. Heb. 13. The Bishop of Chicheste● rightly aunswered of his man according to his queston Ai● Aio Sacrament of the Aultar The aultar how it is to be taken and where it is Math. 18. Math. 5. Christ the true and onely Aultar The place of Math. ● expound● Heb. 13. The Catholickes will not haue the worde to iudge Woodman referreth himselfe to the true Church Doctrine preiudiciall to Christes passion to say that the Sacrament of the Aultar doth pacyfie the wrath of God The Catholickes make themselues Priestes not after the order of Aaron but of Melchisedech The Catholickes 〈◊〉 the Sacrament doth a ●●gne signi●●●●g and the thing it 〈◊〉 signi●ied Another 〈◊〉 wordes 〈◊〉 make 〈◊〉 Sacrament of Baptisme 〈…〉 childe 〈◊〉 to be ●●ptised The word water and
sixt examinatiō of Richard Woodman before the Byshop of Winchester diuers other in the Church of S. Mary Queryes Richard Woodman agayne refuseth Winchester to be his iudge Truth taken for heresie M. Roper Commissioner and witnes agaynst Woodman Woodmans hand writing brought in agaynst him Woodman first released and yet called to accompt agayne agaynst all good order Sacrament of the Aultar Woodman made an Anabaptist because he will not sweare before him that is not his Ordinary All truth is heresie with these men Woodmans confession of the Sacrament Mistically 1. Cor. 1. What is Mistically Woodman agayne appealeth to his Ordina●●●lye M. Christopherson B. of Chichester his Ordina●● not yet consecrated Woodman for hi● feruent speach rebuked This fatte Priest well seene in the Scriptures Ephes 1. Iesus Christ onely Sauiour of 〈◊〉 soule and not man Good wo●●e● not disallowed Phil. 2. The Archdeacon of Canterbury made Ordinary by the Cardinall to examine Richard Woodman Richard ●oodman ●●alengeth 〈◊〉 Iudges 〈◊〉 ●e all 〈◊〉 coates 〈◊〉 chaunge●●●ges The free speach of Woodman 〈◊〉 the Byshops and Priestes Winchester about to read the Sentence Read in the first examination of Woodman pag. in the 2. edition 2176. No man can receiue the body of Christ vnworthely 1. Cor. 11. The place of S. Paule 1. Cor. 11. expounded What it meaneth to make no difference of the Lordes body Winchester readeth sentence against Woodmā and cannot tell wherefore Richard Woodman condemned caryed to the Marshalsey being not suffered to speake Phil. 2. Math. 24. Math. 5. God asketh more thē the hart onely Iames. 2. Phil. 2 Math. 5. Rom. 10. Confessing with the mouth and beleeuing in hart must goe together Anno 1557. August Apoc. 1. Math. 18. Apoc. 13. Sclaunderers of the Gospell Luke 12. Math. 3. Math. 25. Luke 13. Luke 14. Math. 25. Math. 10. Math. 5. Richard Woodman v●xed of his own friends Iohn 10. 1. Iohn 4. The manifold troubles which Woodman hath passed through Woodma● comforte●● in his tro●●bles Luke 21. Math. 10. Experienc● of the Lor● to keepe promise with his people 1. Cor. 13. Certayne Iustices charged for burning of Christes people without any lawfull warrant o● writte Anno 1557. Iune Ambrose 〈…〉 〈◊〉 articles 〈…〉 this to the story of Iohn H●●lier ●artyr pag 〈…〉 ●●ory of Iohn Hul●●●● with 〈…〉 Iohn Hul●●●● first 〈…〉 in the 〈◊〉 Colledge 〈…〉 Linne 〈…〉 H●llier disgraded Brasey Mayor of Cambridge Brisley Sergeant persecutor Hulliars stedfast trust in God Hullier preparing himselfe to the stake Three notorious Papistes in Trinitye Colledge Boyes Proctour of Cambridge The Martyrdome of Iohn Hullier Bookes burned with Hullier The last wordes of Iohn Hullier at his death Papists of Cambridge forbid the people to pray for Hullier Referre this to Thomas Rede Martyr pag. 1807. Anno 1557. August Iuly 13. Simon Miller a Marchant Martyr The wordes of Simon Miller to the people The cause why Simon Miller was taken Simon Miller examined before Doctour Dunning Simon Millers confession espyed in his shoe Simon Miller dismissed to his house at Linne Simon Miller returneth agayn to his confession is condemned Elizabeth Cooper Martyr Elizabeth Cooper reuoketh her recantation in the open Church The Shrieffe agaynst his will enforced to lay handes vpon Elizabeth Cooper Elizabeth Coo●●● strengthned 〈◊〉 the stake by Simon Miller August 2. The Martyrdome of 10. godly Martyrs 5. men and 5. women at Colchester W. Mount Alice his wyfe Rose Allin her daughter Thomas Tye Priest a wicked Promoter A supplication of the persecutors to the L. Darcy Cruell persecutors Thomas Tye a false brother a bloudy persecutor Tye● letter 〈◊〉 Bi●hop Boner W. Simuell Iohn Baker W. Harries persecutors The taking of W. Munt his wyfe and Rose Allin their daughter Talke betweene Edmund Tyrrell and Rose Allin Tyrrell burneth Rose Allins hand The patience of the faythfull The deuill payeth the persecutors their wages Shee reuengeth not euill for euill Helene Ewring apprehend●● the second tyme. Robert Maynard a great enemy to the Gospell William Bongeor Thomas Benolde W. Purcas condemned Agnes Siluerside condemned Helene Ewring condemned Elizabeth Folkes condemned A substanciall lye A reall lye D. Chadsey wept Elizabeth Folkes prayseth God at her owne condemnation Elizabeth Folkes prayeth for 〈…〉 Sleeping Maynard Elizabeth 〈◊〉 might haue e●caped and ●ould not W. Munt condemned ●●hn Iohn●on condem●●d Alice Munt ●ondemned Rose Allen. 〈◊〉 Allins answeres Rose Allin condemned W. Munt Alice his wyfe Rose Allin their daughter Iohn Iohnson burnt the same day at afternoone The age of these Tenne made the summe of 406. Iohn Thurston a confessor of Christ. August ● George Eagles Martyred The paynefull trauell of George Eagles Quo non mortalia pectora cogis auri sac●a fames Virg. Aeneid 1. George Ea●gles indit●ment Richard Potto In●older at 〈◊〉 Cocke 〈◊〉 Chelms●●rd 〈◊〉 iust punishment 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 persecu●●● W Swallowes wyfe punished with the falling sicknes Gods iudgemēt vpon Richard Potto an other persecutor of George Eagles August 5. The examinatiō of Rich. Crashfield before Dūning Chauncellor of Norwich Sacrament of the Aultar An other examination of Richard Crashfield Worshiping of Images Confessiion to the Priest Playing on the Organes P●ay 56. Luke 19. An other examination of Richard Crashfield The Popes Church taketh Christes office out of his hand Note here the ignorance of these Catholicke men in the Scriptures An other examinatiō of Richard Crashfield 1. Cor. 10. Vnbloudy Sacrifice of the Masse The Martyrdome of Richard Crashfield Anno. 1557. August 5. August 20. One Fr●ar the sister of George Eagles ●urned at Rochester The story of Mistres Io●ce ●ewes Martyr Mistres Lewes instructed by M. Iohn Glouer Mistres Lewes imp●isoned Mistres Lewes a yeare in prison after her condēnation Anno 1557. September Mistres Lewes refuseth to be confessed of the Priestes Temptations of Mistres Lewes before her death and Martyrdome Ioyce Lewes comforted in he temptations Ioyce Lewes brought to the place of Martyrdome Her prayers Women put to pennaunce for pledging Ioyce ●ewes The Martyrdome of Mistres Ioyce Lewes September 17. The story of Rafe Allerton Rafe Allertō attached Thomas T●e Priest 〈…〉 T●e examination of 〈◊〉 Allerton He meaneth belyke B●ne● and his f●llo●es 4. Esdr. 16. Three sortes of religion in England The place of Esdra● explaned Anno 1556. September All●●ton charged with his o●ne hand writing Syr Thomas Tye lately turned to his ●ome● thirsteth for bloud Allerton apprehended contrary to the lawes of the realme Allerton charged with Relaps Allerton brought agayne before Boner certayn● Lordes Transubstantiation Bishop Boners parable 〈◊〉 5. 〈…〉 Rafe Allerton Persecutours Information geuen agaynst Rafe Allerton by Syr Thomas Tye Priest a wicked 〈◊〉 4. Esdr. 16. A letter of Rafe Allerton Psal 37. Esay 59. A letter of Rafe Allerton Post scriptum Anno 1557. 〈◊〉 Examination of Iames Austoo Margery his wyfe Anno 1556. September Margery Austoo terrified in prison Examination of Richard Roth. A letter of Richard Roth.
knowledge that your Lordship oughte to proceed agaynst me And here Mayster Doctour would say nothing Worcest Doe you not thinke to finde before my Lord here as good equity in your cause as before your owne Ordinary Phil. I canne not blame my Lorde of Londons equitye with whom I thanke his Lordship I haue found more gentlenes since I came then of mine owne Ordinary I speak it for no flattery this twelue moneth and this halfe before who neuer woulde call me to aunswere as his Lordship hath done now twise Sed nemo prohibetur vti iure suo but I ought not to bee forestalled of my right and therefore I challenge the same for diuers other considerations Boner Nowe you can not saye hereafter but that ye haue bene gently cōmuned withal of my Lordes here yet you be wilfull obstinate in your error and in your owne opinions will not shewe any cause why you will not come into the vnity of the Church with vs. Phil. My Lordes in that I doe not declare my minde according to your expectation is as I haue sayd because I can not speak without present daunger of my life But rather then you shoulde report me by this either ostinate or selfe willed without any iust ground wherupon I stand I will open vnto you somewhat of my minde or rather the whole desiring your lordships which seme to be pillers of the Church of Englande to satisfye me in the same and I will referre all other causes in the which I dissēt from you vnto one or two articles or rather to one which includeth them both in the which if I can by the scriptures be satisfied at your mouthes I shall as willingly agree to you as any other in all poyntes Boner These heretickes come alwayes with their ifs as this man doth now saying if he can be satisfied by the scriptures so that he will alwayes haue this exception I am not satisfied although the matter be neuer so playnly proued agaynst him But wil you promise to be satisfied if my Lordes take some paynes about you Phil. I say my Lord I will be satisfied by the Scriptures in that wherein I stand And I protest here before God his eternall sonne Iesus Christ my Sauiour and the holy ghost and his Angels and you here present that be iudges of that I speak that I do not stand in any opiniō of wylfulnes or singularity but onely vpon my conscience certainly informed by gods word from the which I dare not go for feare of damnatiō and this is the cause of mine earnestnes in this behalfe Boner I will trouble my Lords no longer seing that you will not declare your minde Phil. I am about so to doe if it please your Lordshippe to heare me speake Bathe Geue him leaue my Lord to speake that he hath to say Phil. My Lordes it is not vnknowne to you that the chiefe cause why you do count me and such as I am for hereticks is because we be not at vnity with your Churche You say you are of the true Church and we say we are of the true Church You say that who is out of your church is damned and we thinke verily on the other side that if we depart from the true church wheron we are graffed in Gods word we should stand in the state of dānatiō Wherfore if your Lordship can bring any better authorityes for your church then we can do for ours proue by the scriptures that the Churche of Rome nowe of the which you are is the true Catholick Church as in al your sermons writinges and argumentes you doe vpholde and that all christen persons ought to be ruled by the same vnder pain of damnation as you say and that the same Churche as you pretend hath authority to interprete the scriptures as it semeth her good and that all men are bound to folow such interpretations onely I shal be as conformable to the same Church as you may desire me the whiche otherwise I dare not therfore I require you for Gods sake to satisfy me in this Cole If you stand vpon this poynt onely you may soone be satisfied if you list Phil. It is the thing that I require to this I haue sayd I will stand and refer all other controuersies wherein I stand now agaynst you and will put my hād therto if you mistrust my word Boner I pray you mayster Philpot what faith were you of twenty yeares ago This man will haue euery yeare a new fayth Phil. My Lorde to tell you playne I thinke I was of no fayth for I was then a wicked liuer and knewe not God then as I ought to do God forgeue me Boner No were that is not so I am sure you were of some fayth Phil. My lord I haue declared to you on my cōsciēce what I then was and iudge of my selfe And what is that to the purpose of the thing I desire to be satisfied of you Boner Mayster Doctour Cole I pray you say your mind to him Cole What will you say if I can proue that it was decreed by an vniuersall coūcell in Athanasius time that all the christen church should folow the determinatiō of the church of Rome but I do not now remember were Phil. If you Mayster Doctour canne shewe me the same graunted to the Sea of Rome by the authority of the scripture I will gladly harken thereto But I thinke you be not able to shewe any suche thinge for Athanasius was President of Nicene councell and there was no such thing decreed I am sure Cole Though it were not then it might bee at an other time Phil. I desire to see the proofe thereof And vpon this M. Harpsfield Chauncellor to the Bishop of Londō brought in a booke of Ireneus with certaine leaues turned in and layd it before the Bishops to helpe them in theyr perplexity if it might be the which after the Bishops of Bath and Glocester had read together the Bishop of Glocester gaue me the booke Gloc. Take the booke M. Philpot and looke vppon that place and there may you see how the church of Rome is to be folowed of all men Phil. I tooke the Booke and read the place the which after I had read I sayd it made nothing agaynst me but agaynst the Arians and other Heretickes agaynst whome Ireneus wrote prouing that they were not to be credited because they did teach and folowe after straunge doctrine in Europa and that the chiefe Churche of the same was founded by Peter and Paule and had to this time continued by faythfull succession of the faythfull Bishoppes in preaching the true Gospell as they had receiued of the Apostles and nothing like to the late sprong Heretickes c. Whereby hee concludeth agaynste them that they were not to be heard neither to bee credited the whiche thing if you my Lordes be able to prooue nowe of the Churche of Rome then had
mentioned pag. 1555. woulde not suffer bishop Farrer when he was at the stake to bee burnt to speake his mynd and about halfe a yeare after the said Doc. Leison died and when he would haue spoke himselfe he could not The trouble and examination of Thomas Hitton Martyr with his examinations answers condemnation and Martyrdome An. Dom. 1529. the 20. of February THomas Hitton of Martham in the Diocesse of Norwich an honest poore man and religious euer fearyng God from his youth and louyng his worde When persecution for the same word in the dayes of king Henry the 8. grew to bee somewhat hote tooke his iourney toward Rochester in Kent intendyng to haue gone to Douer so to haue crossed the seas into Fraunce and other countries for a tyme where reposing himself a while he might be free from the heat of persecution As he was goyng on his intēded iourny one Thomas Swainesland Baily to William Warrham Archbish. of Canterbury meting him by the way and suspecting him to be as they called them an heretike caused him to be staied and brought before the said William Archb. of Cant. his maister who demanded of him from whence he came and whether he intended to haue gone if he had not bene intercepted The sayd Tho. answered that he came out of the Dioces of Norwich and purposed to haue gone beyond the seas if God had so permitted Then the Bishop asked him if he had euer bene beyond the seas before and what bookes he had brought ouer He answered that he had bene once beyond the seas before and had brought certaine bookes with hym from thence namely two new Testaments and one Primer in English The Bishop asked him to whome hee gaue the sayde bookes He aunswered he would not declare For saieth he such is your bloudy crueltie that you woulde neuer sleepe quietly till you had sucked their bloude as you meane to do myne The Bishop seyng he could extort no more out of him and perceiuyng his constant spirite and feruent zeale to the truth commanded hym to prison till further oportunitie might serue for the shedding of his bloud The second appearance of Thomas Hitton before the said Archb. of Cant. WIthin a while after the bishop commanded the sayd Thomas to be brought before him agayne who demanded of him how he iudged and beleued of the religion then in force and of the authoritie of the bishop of Rome The said Thomas answered that the religion then vsed was most abhominable idolatry and contrary to the holy word of God And as for the Pope quoth he he is Antichrist the first borne of Sathan and hath no more power or authoritie then any other bishop hath in his owne diocesse nor so much neither The Bishop hearing this was in such a peltyng chafe that at that tyme he would talk no more with hym but returned hym from whence he came namelye to Bocardo with commaundement to appere before him agayne vpon the 13. day of the same month folowyng at his Manor of Knoll to aunswer to such Articles and Interrogatories as should be obiected ex officio against hym The third appearance of Tho. Hitton before the said Archb. of Cant. THe sayd Thomas Hitton at the day prefixed made his personall appearance before the bishop at the place appointed to whom the Bishop ministred certaine articles and interrogatories for him to aunswer vnto commaundyng him to sweare to answer truly and vnfainedly vnto them and euery part of them The sayd Tho. Hitton refused to sweare saying It is against Gods lawes and good conscience for any man to sweare to shed hys owne bloud for so he should be a murtherer of hymselfe and become guiltie of his owne death But yet notwithstādyng that he refused to sweare to aunswer yet he answered truly and directly to euery perticular Article and Interrogatorie propounded vnto hym but so as was finally to their contentation yet no doubt to the great glory of God and comfort of the godly This done the Bishop brake of hys session for that tyme and commaunded him to prison agayne and to appeare before hym in the place aforesayde vpon the Friday next followyng to aunswer further as should be demaunded of hym granting him liberty withall to adde too or subtract from his former aunswers eyther els vtterly to deny and reuoke the same The fourth appearance of Tho. Hitton before the said Archb. of Cant. THe day and tyme approching the sayd Thom. Hitton appeared agayne accordingly and hauing heard hys former aunswers and confessions distinctly by the Notarie red vnto hym hee reformed them in certaine pointes to some he added from other some he subtracted but none he denied Then the Bishop perceiuyng his vnmoueable constancie in the truth setting learnyng and reason apart beyng not able to conuince him by arguments and truth nor yet to improoue the spirite which spake in hym fell to exhortyng of him to haue respect to his soules health and not so wilfully as he termed it to cast away himselfe for euer but to repent and to abiure his errors and in so doyng he would be good vnto him he sayd When the bishop with all his perswasions could doe no good with hym to withdraw him from the truth of gods word then the doctors and other the assistants attempted the lyke all which notwithstanding the said Thomas Hitton would not desist nor shrinke one iote from the truth but both affirmed and confirmed his former articles and confessions to the ende Inferring withall that they sinned against the holy Ghost in as much as they knew that Gods worde was the truth and that the Masse and all popish religion is nothing els but Idolatry lies and open blasphemy against the maiestie of God and his word and contrary to Gods word in euery respect and yet they would allowe and maintaine the same contrary to their owne consciences whereat all the Bench was greatly offended commaunded him to prison agayne assignyng him a day to come before them agayne The fift appearance of Tho. Hitton before the said Archb. of Cant. AT the day appointed the said Tho. Hitton appeared to whom the bishop sayd Thomas doest thou beleeue that any man either spirituall or temporall is of sufficient authoritie to set forth any lawe or sanction of himselfe the breach whereof is Mortall or Ueniall sinne To whome Tho. Hitton answered that no man either spirituall or temporall might make any lawe or sanction the breache whereof is mortall or veniall sinne except the same lawe or sanction bee drawen out of the worde of God or els grounded vppon the same with a good conscience And therfore neither the church cannot set forth any lawe the breach whereof is Mortall or Ueniall sinne vnlesse it bee grounded vpon the word of God also But if any man or the church of God it selfe do set forth any lawe grounded vpon the word of God good conscience the breach thereof to
the violater is mortal and deadly sinne After all maner of wayes and meanes attempted to drawe this poore man from Christ and his truth the bishop seeyng that hee could not preuayle determined to send hym to the bishop of Rochester and so did who assayed by all meanes possible to remooue him from his former professed truth But seyng all his endeuors frustrate and that he profited nothyng he signified the same to the Archbishop and withal both went himselfe vnto hym and caried the poore prisoner with him thether also In the afternoone of the same day the said Archbish. of Cant. the bish of Rochester and diuers others assistantes called the sayd poore man before them agayne and caused all the former Articles Interrogatories and demaundes to be red vnto hym in English to the end he should either haue reuoked the same or els recanted them altogether vsing both threates and faire promises to the performaunce thereof but all in vayne for his fayth was built vpon the rocke Christ Iesus and therefore vnable to be remooued with any stormes of persecution whatsoeuer In fine the Archbishop with mature iudgement you must beleeue consulting with the B. of Rochester and other proceeded to his condemnation reading the bloudy sentence of death agaynst him and so was he beyng condemned deliuered to the secular power who caried hym to the prison and soone after hee was burned for the testimonie of Iesus Christ as you may see more at large pag. 997.998 for whose constancie in the truth the euerlasting God be praysed Amen ¶ A note of a certayne good man troubled in Bulloyne the first yeare of king Edward the sixt for the Gospell THe examination of me William Hastlen Gunner in the Castle of high Bulloyne in the yeare of our Lorde 1547. and the first yeare of the reigne of king Edward the sixt As I was in the church at Bulloyne called the stals vpon the 10. of Aprill being Easter Tuesday reading of a godly booke called the lamentation of a Christian against the citizens of London betweene the houres of three and foure at after noone there came certaine men to me as I stoode at an alter in the Churche reading to my selfe and asked me what good booke I had and I sayd they should heare if they pleased thē they desired me to read out that they might heare and so did I very gladly but I had not read long but the Priestes and Clearkes were at theyr Latine Euensong and I reading mine English book there came a tipstaffe for me taking my two bookes from me and commaunded me to go with him for he sayde I must goe before the counsayle of the towne then went I forthwith with him and a little without the Church doore sir Iohn a Briges met vs and bad the tipstaffe cary me to sir Leanard Beckwith Knight to be examined and comming before his presence hee asked me what bookes they were that I had at the church and was reading of one of them openly in the Church to the people and I sayd so farre as I hadde read them they were good godlye bookes and he said they were heresie and with that he asked me how I did beleeue of the Sacrament of the aultar whether I did not beleue that to be the very body of Christ flesh bloud and bones and I asked him whether hee ment that that was in the pixe or no and he sayde yea euen that in the pixe and I said that since I had sure knowledge of scriptures I did not beleeue it to bee the body of Christ but a bare peece of bread nor by Gods helpe I will neuer beleue it otherwise to be then he sayd I was an hereticke asked me what I made of the sacrament and I sayd if it were duely ministred according to Christes institution that then I did beleue that the faythfull Communicantes in receiuing that blessed Sacrament did receaue into their inward man or soule the very body and bloud of our sauiour Iesus Christ. Then sayd he doest thou not beleeue ●t to remaine the very body of Christ after the wordes of consecration pronounced by the priest and I sayd no. Thē said he what doest thou make of the Churche I said as it is now vsed it is a den of theeues and the sinagogue of Sathan thou hereticke sayd he there remaineth the very body of Christ. But I saide that Christ being God and man dwelleth not in temples made with mens handes much other communication had we at that time but thys was the effecte that daye Then hee asked me whether I would be forth comming till to morrow and I saide Sir if you think that I will not you may lay me where as I shall so be then he let me goe for that night and sayde we shall talke farther with thee to morrow so I departed home And about the space of two houres after Mayster Hountington the preacher which did muche good wyth his preaching in Bulloyne at that time came to me and sayde that hee heard me spoken of at my Lorde Grayes which was then Lord Debitie of the towne and Country of Bulloyne and I perceaue sayd he that you are in great daunger of trouble if you scape with your lyfe for there are some of the counsayle merueilously bent agaynst you I sayd the Lordes will be done well said he without you feele in your selfe a full purpose by Gods helpe to stand earnestly to the thing that yee haue spoken you shall doe more hurt then good wherefore said he if you will goe to Callis I will send you where you shall be well vsed and be out of this daunger Then I thanked M. Hountington saying I purpose by Gods assistance to abide the vttermost that they can do vnto me well then sayd he I can tell you you wil be sent for to morrow betimes before the whole Counsaile that is sayd I the thing that I look for Then rose I betimes in the morning and went into the market place that I might spye whiche way the Officer should come for me I had not taryed there longe but I spyed a tipstaffe and went toward him and asked hym whome he sought and he sayde a Gunner of the great ordinaunce in the Castle of Bulloyne and I sayd that I am he thē said he you must go with me to my Lords I said therefore I looked When I came there I saw my Lorde and the whole Counsaile were assembled together in a close parlour doing my duetie to them my Lord saide to me it is informed me that thou hast seditiously congregate a companye together in the Churche and there in the time of seruice thou didest read vnto them an heretical booke and hast not reuerently vsed silence in the time of the diuine seruice what sayest thou to this I sayd it please your honour I was in the church a good while before any seruice began and no body with me reading to my self alone vpon a booke