I reioyce that I haue now happened vppon such a iudge withall my harte giue thanks vnto God whiche ruleth all thinges And albeit God is my witnes I knowe not my selfe giltye of any errour in my Sermons neyther of any heresie or sedition which diuers do sclauÌ„der me of seeking rather their owne luker and aduauntage then the healthe of soules notwithstaÌ„ding I do excedingly reioyce that it is so foreseene by Gods diuine prouidence that I shoulde be brought before the tribunall seate of Tonstall who knoweth as well as any other that there will neuer be wanting Iannes and Iambres whiche will resiste the truthe that there shall neuer be lacking some Elemates which will go about to subuert the strayght wayes of the Lord and finally that some Demetrius * * Pithonesse Balaams Nicolaites Cayns and Ismaels will be alwayes at hande which will greedely hunt and seeke after that which perteineth vnto themselues and not that whiche perteyneth to Iesus Christ. How can it then be that they can suffer Christ to be truly and sincerely preached For if the people begin once wholy in euery place to put their confidence in Christ which was for them crucified then straight wayes that which they haue hetherto embraced in stead of Christ shall vtterly decay in the hartes of the faythfull Then they shall vnderstand that Christ is not in this place or in that place but the kingdome of God to be in themselues Then shall they playnly see that the Father is not to be worshipped neither in the mount of Samaria neither at Hierusalem but in all places in spirit and trueth Which thing if it come once to passe the beastes of the fielde will thinke all theyr gayne and lucre lost * * 〈…〉 Act. 13. In whom the saying of Ezechiel is fulfilled My sheepe are dispersed because they had no shepheard * * Pithonisâ—a Act. 16. are deuoured of the beastes of the field strayd abroad my flocke hath erred and wandred in euery mountaine and vpon euery high hill * * Nicolaites of Nicolaus Apoc. 2. Ezâ—ch 34. and is dispersed throughout all the earth there is no man which hath sought to gather theÌ„ together no there was no man which once sought after them But if any man would seeke to reduce those which were gone astray into the folde of Christ that is the vnity of fayth by and by there rise vp certein agaynst him which are named Pastors but in deed are wolues which seeke no other thing of theyr flocke but the milke wooll and fell leauing both theyr owne soules and the soules of theyr flocke vnto the deuill These men I say rise vp like vnto Demetrius crying out this hereticke disswadeth and seduceth much people euery wher Demetrius the siluer smiâ—h cryed out against Paul Act. 19. Pretensed Priestes and Prelates vnder colour of persecutiâ—g 〈◊〉 crucifiâ— Christ and treade downe his truth Iohn 1â— A wrong way to come to God by good works 1. Cor. 3. saying that they are not gods which are made with hands These are they these I say most reuerent father are they which vnder the pretence of persecuting heretitkes folow theyr owne licentious life enemies vnto the crosse of Christ which can suffer and beare any thing rather theÌ„ the sincere preachinge of Christ crucified for our sinnes These are they vnto whoÌ„ Christ threatneth eternall daÌ„nation where he sayth Wo be vnto you Scribes Phariseis hipocrites which shut vp the kingdome of heauen before men and you your selues enter not in neither suffer those which would eÌ„ter to come in These are they which haue come in another way to the charge of soules as it appeareth For if any man sayth Christ come in by me he shall be saued and shal come in and go out and finde pasture These men do not finde pasture for they neuer teach draw others after them that they should not enter by Christ which alone is the dore wherby we must come vnto the father but set before the people an other way perswading them to come vnto God thorow good workes oftentimes speaking nothing at all of Christ therby seeking rather theyr owne gayne and lucre then the saluation of soules in this poynt beyng worse theÌ„ they which vpon Christ being the foundation doe builde wood hey and straw These men confesse that they knowe Christ False priests and prelâ—tâ—s compared to the â—hisitions vpon whom the womaÌ„ with the bloudie flâ—xe spent all her goodâ— and was 〈◊〉 helped Bâ—lney here 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 owne experience but by theyr deedes they deny him These are those Phisitions vpon whom that woman which was 12. yeares vexed with the bloudy flixe had consumed all that she had and felt no helpe but was stil worse and worse vntill suche time as at the last shee came vnto Christ and after she had once touched the hemme of his vesture through fayth she was so healed that by and by shee felte the same in her bodye O mighty power of the moste hâ—ghest whiche I also miserable sinner haue often tasted and felt Which before that I coulde come vnto Christ had euen likewise spent all that I had vppon those ignoraunt Phisitions that is to say vnlearned hearers of confession so that there was but small force of strength lefte in me which of nature was but weake small store of mony and very litle witte or vnderstanding for they appoynted me fastings watching buying of pardons and Masses in all which thinges as I now vnderstand they sought rather theyr owne gâ—yne The end effect of the Pâ—pes diuinâ—tie then the saluation of my sicke and languishing soule But at the last I heard speake of Iesus euen then when the new Testament was first set forth by Erasmus Which when I vnderstood to be eloquently done by him being allured rather for the Latine then for the woorde of God for at that time The first coÌ„uersion of M. Bilney by reading 〈…〉 Testament 〈◊〉 by Eâ—asmus I knew not what it ment I bought it euen by the prouidece of God as I do now well vnderstand and perceiue And at the first reading as I remeÌ„ber I chaunced vpon this sentence of S. Paule O most sweet and comfortable sentence to my soule in hys firste Epistle to Timothy and first chapiter It is a true saying and worthy of all meÌ„ to be embraced that Christ Iesus came into the world to saue sinners of whom I am the chiefe and principall This our sentence through Gods instruction and inward working which I dyd not then perceiue did so exhilerate my hart being before wounded with the guilt of my sinnes and being almost in despayre that immediately I felt a maruellous comfort and quietnesse in so much Psal. 50. that my brused bones leapt for ioy After this the Scripture began to bee more pleasaunt vnto me theÌ„ the hony or the hony comb wherin I learned that all my trauelles all my fasting and
By this he would proue that Christe was then in heauen and in earth also naturally and bodily Shet This place and other must needes be vnderstand for the vnitie of persons in that Christe was God man and yet the matter must be referred to the Godhead or els ye must fall into great errour Commis That is not so for it was spoken of the manhoode of Christ for as much as he sayth the sonne of man whiche is in heauen Shet If yee will needes vnderstande it to be spoken of Christes manhoode The Coâ—â—missary brought 〈◊〉 an other 〈◊〉 conueniâ—â—â— then must ye fall into the error of the Anabaptistes which deny that Christ took fleshe of y e virgin Mary for if there be no bodye ascended vpp but that whiche came downe where is then his incarnation for then he brought his body downe with him Commis Loe how ye seeke an errour in me and yet see not how ye erre your selfe For it cannot be spoken of the Godhead except ye graunt that God is passible for God cannot come downe because he is not passible Shet If that were a good argumente that God could not come down because he is not passible then it might be said by the like argument that God coulde not sit and then heauen is not his seate and then say as some do that God hath no right hand for Christ to sit at Commis Then the Commissary affirmed playnly that it was true God hath no right hand in deede Shet Oh what a spoyle of Christes Religion will thys be that because we cannot tell howe God came downe therfore we shall say that he came not down at all and because we cannot tell what maner of hand he hathe to saye that he hath no hand at all and then he cannot reache the vtmost part of the sea O miserie at length it will come to passe that God cannot sit and then howe can heauen bee his seate and if heauen be not his seate then there is no heauen and then at length I doubt ye wil say there is no God or els no other God but such as the heathens Gods are which cannot goe nor feele Commis Why doth not the scripture saye that God is a spirite and what hand can a spirite haue Shet Truth it is God is a spirit and therfore is worshipped in spirit and truth and as he is a spirite so hath hee a spirituall power so hathe hee a spirituall seate a spirituall hand 〈◊〉 hand â—pirituall and a spirituall sword which we shall feele if we go this way to worke as we beginne Because wee knowe not what hand God hath therfore if we say he hath none then it may as well be sayd there is no Christ. Then the Commissary sayd hee woulde talke no more w t me so departed and also the Commissarye was compelled to graunt that Christes testament was broken and his institution was chaunged from that hee left it but hee sayd they had power so to doe * My first aunswearing after their law was stablished BEcause I know ye will desire to heare from mee some certaintie oâ— my estate â—â—luation the first â—â—â—minatiâ—â— of Sheâ—â—den â—fter law was 〈…〉 see the â—ommissioÌ„ I was called before the SuffragaÌ„ and seuen or eight of the chiefe priestes examined of certayne Articles and then I required to see theyr CoÌ„mission They shewed it to me and sayde There it is and the Kinge and Queenes letters also Then I desired to haue it read and so in readyng I perceaued that on some notable suspition hee might examine vppon two articles whether Chrystes reall presence were in the Sacrament and whether the churche of England be of Christes Catholicke Churche To that I aunsweared that I had bene a prisoner 3. quarters of a yeare and as I thought wrongfully reason would therefore that I should aunsweare to those thinges wherefore I was prisoner Suff. The Suffragan sayd his Commission was I must aunswere directly yea or nay Shet This Commission sayde I was not generall to examine whome he will but on iust suspicion Suff He sayd I was suspected and presented to hym Shet Then I required that the accusation might be shewed Suff. He sayd he was not bound to shew it but he commaunded me in the king and Queenes name to aunswer directly Shet And I as a subiect do require of you iustice for that I haue done I aske no fauour Suff. He sayde I was suspected Shet I bad him proue that suspicion or what cause he had to suspect Suff. Thou was cast into prison for that cause Shet That was a pretty suspicion because I had suffered imprisonment contrary to Gods law and the realme that therefore I must now for a mendes be examined of suspition without cause to hyde all the wrong done to me before For when I was cast into prison there was no law but I might speake as I did therefore in that poynte I could be no more suspect then you which preached y e same yourself not long before Suff. That was no matter to thee what I preached Shet Well yet in the king and Queenes name I must aunswere directly and therefore I require as a subiecte y t ye do not extend beyond your Commission but proue me suspect more then you your selfe Milles. Then sayd M. Milles I had written to my mother and he did see the letter wherin I perswaded my mother to my opinions Shet In that I did but my duetye to certifie her I was not prison for any euill And that was before the lawe also and therefore no more suspicion was in mee then was in them which taught the like Mill. Well yee are required here to aunswere directlye yea or no. Shet First then I require of you to proue this suspicion and thus we tossed to and fro At last the byshop sayde hee himselfe did suspect me I asked wherby Suff. Wâ—ll sayd he I my selfe did suspect thee and it is no matter wherby Shet But your Commission doth not serue you so to doe without iust suspicion Suff. Well yet did I suspect you Shet It is not meete for you to bee my accuser and my Iudge also for that was too much for one man And thus manye woordes were multiplied and they were muche greeued Milles. If you were a Christian man you would not be ashamed of your fayth being required Shet I am not ashamed in deede I thanke God Vpon this it appeareth the letters were written to the B. of Winchester by whom he was sente for after and examined if any man do come to me either to teache or to learne I would declare it but for asmuch as I perceaue you come neither to to teache nor to learne I holde it beste to aunswere you Milles. If you will not then will we certifie the kinges Councell Sheter I am therwith content that you shoulde certifie y t I had suffered thrâ—e quarters prison
Wicket the Gospell of Sainct Iohn the Epistles of Sainct Paule Iames and Peter in English an exposition of the Apocalips a booke of our Ladies mattens in english a booke of Salomon in english a booke called the pricke of conscience  Iohn Edmundes of Burford Taylor The crime againste Iohn Edmundes for hauing a certain english book of y e cōmandemēts The foresayd Robert Colyns being sworne vpon the Euangelists did detecte these persons Iohn Harrys The crime againste Iohn Harrys For communing with hym of the first Chapter of Sainct Iohns Gospel For speaking against Idolatry In the beginning was the word and the word was wyth God and God c. Also for communing of a Chapter in Mathew of the viij beatitudes  Thomas Hall Item for counsaylyng hym not to go on pilgrimage to Saincts because they were Idols  Rob. Lyuord William Lyuord Bruges Ioanne his wife Harrys his wife Rich. Colyns All these were detected for that they beeing together in Bruges house at Burford were reading together in the booke of the exposition of the Apocalyps and communed concerning the matter of opening the booke with seauen claspes c.  Iohn Ledisdall or Edon of Hungerford Iohn Colyns of Burford Iohn Colyns and his wife of Asthall Iohn Clerke of Claufield The wife of Richard Colyns of Ginge  Thom. Colyns and his wife of Gynge This Thomas was charged for hauyng a booke of Paul Iames in English  William Colyns Robert Pope of Henred Hakker of Colmanstreete in London  Stacy brickmaker of Colmōstreete For hauing the booke of the Apocalypse  Tho Phillip Laurence Wharfar of London For readyng the Epistle of Sainct Peter in English in the house of Roberte Colyns at Asthall  Ioanne Colyns his owne sister of Asthall Thomas Colyns hys cousen of Asthall Maistres Bristow of London Iohn Colyns sonne of Richard Colyns of Gynge Ioanne Colyns daughter of Richard Colyns of Gynge Henry Stacy sonne of Stacy of Colmanstreete Thomas Steuenton of Charney in Barkeshyre Iohn Brabant in Stanlake Iohn Baker weauer of Wytney  Richard Colyns The wordes of Richarde Colyns were these That the Sacramente was not the true bodye of Christ in flesh and bloud but yet it ought to be reuerenced albeit not so as the true body of christ  Thom. Colins of Gynge hys owne naturall Father The crime agaynste Thomas Colins For that eight yeares past this Thomas Colins his Father had taught this Iohn his sonne in the presence of hys Mother the x. Commaundementes and namely that he should haue but one GOD and shoulde worshyp nothing but GOD alone The sonne accuseth the father and that to worship Sayntes and to go on pilgrimage was Idolatry Also that he should not worshippe the Sacrament of the aulter as God for that it was but a token of the Lordes bodye Which thing so muche discontented this Iohn Colyns that he sayd he would disclose his Fathers errours and make him to be burned but his Mother entreated him not so to doe  Rob. Colins of Asthall The crime against Rob. Colyns That this Robert readde to him in a certaine thick booke of Scripture in English Iohn Colins of Burford appeached to the Byshop these persons her named Iohn Edmundes and his wife The crime layd to Ioh. Edmundes For that hee readde to this Iohn the x. Commaūdementes tolde him that Iohn Baptiste sayd that one shoulde come after him whose buckle of his shoo he was not worthye to vndoe  Alice wife of Gunne of Wytney  Iohn Hakker and his sonne of London This Iohn Hakker of London comming to Burford brought a book speaking of the x. plagues of Pharao Also after that an other booke entreatyng of the seauen Sacramentes  Laurence Taylor of Shordich Thomas Philip of London Philip seruaunt of Richard Colins Waunsell fishmonger of the Vise Ioane Robert Burges wife Iohn Boyes and his brother a Monke of Burford Thomas Baker Father to Gunnes wife of Whatley Agnes daughter of Iohn Edmundes The Mother of Iohn Boyes of Sedbery Edward Red Scholemayster of Burford Robert Hichman of Lechelade  Elynor Hegges of Burford This Elynor was charged that she shold burne the Sacrament in an Ouen  Iohn Through of the Priory of Burford The Mother of Robert Burges wife Roger Dods of Burford by his othe was cōpelled to vtter these persons here named Syr Iohn Drury Vicare of Windrish in Worcetershyre The crime against this Syr Iohn Drury was for that when Roger Doddes came first to him to bee hys seruaunte hee sware him vppon a booke to keepe his counsels in all thinges and after that he shewed hym a certayne woman in his house whome hee sayde to bee hys wife counselling moreouer the sayd Roger Dods vpon an embring day to suppe with bread cheese sayinge that whiche goeth into a mannes body defileth not a mans soule but that whiche goeth out of the body defileth both body and soule Also that the sayde Uicare taught him the A.B. C. to the intent he shoulde haue vnderstanding in the Apocalips wherein he sayde that he shoulde perceiue all the falsehood of the world and all the trueth He said farthermore vnto him when he had bene at the Ladye of Worcester at the bloud of hayles which had cost him xviij pence that he had done as an ill husbande that had ploughed his lande and sowen it but nothing to the purpose For he hadde worshipped mans handye worke and cast away his money which had bene better geuen to the poore for he should worship but one God and no handye worke of man Item when the people would offer candles where hee was Uicare to Mary Magdalene he would take thē away say they were fooles y t brought them thether  Elizabeth More of Easthenred Robert Pope of Westhenred  Henry Miller or Tucke by Ware This Henrye dyd shew to Roger Dods a certain story of a woman in the Apocalips riding vpō a red beast The sayd Henry was twise abiured  Iohn Fyppe of Hychenden For reading vnto the said Roger Dods a certayne Gospell in English  W. Fyppe of Hychenden and Henry his sonne This William had exhorted Roger Dods that he should worship no Images nor commit no Idolatrye but worship one God and tolde the same Roger that it was good for a man to be mery wise meaning that he shold keepe close that was tolde him for els strait punishement woulde folow  Roger Parker of Hichenhen This Parker sayd to Iohn Fyppe for burning of his bookes that he was fowle to blame for they were worth a hūdreth markes To whom Iohn aunsweared that hee had rather burne his bookes then that hys bookes shoulde burne hym  The wife of Thomas Wydemore daughter of Roger House of Hychenden Olde Wydmores wife sister to Iohn Phip of Hychenden  Iohn Ledisdall of Hungerford For reading the Bible in Englishe For reading of the bible in Robert Burges ouse at
trust not in his holynesse To this he aunswered take ye it as ye will I will take it well enough Item Almes whom and how farre it profiteth now seest thou what almes meaneth and wherfore it serueth He that seeketh with his almes more then to be mercifull to be a neighbour to succour his brothers need to do his duty to his brother to geue his brother that he ought him the same is blind seeth not Christes bloud Here he answereth God to be serued and worshipped onely as he commaundeth otherwise not that he findeth no fault throughout all the booke but all the booke is good and it hath geuen him great comfort and light to his conscience Item that ye do nothing to please God but that he cōmaunded To that he answereth and thinketh it good by his truth Item so God is honored on all sides in that we coūt him righteous in all his lawes and ordinaunces And to worship him otherwise then so it is Idolatry To that he answered that it pleaseth him well The examination of these Articles being done the Bishop of London did exhort the sayd Iohn Tewkesbery to recant his errors abouesayde and after some other cōmunication had by the Bishop with him the sayd Bishop did exhort him again to recant his errors and appoynted him to determine with himselfe against the next Session what he would do Iohn Tewkesbery submitteth himselfe IN this next Session he submitted himselfe and abiured his opinions and was enioyned penaunce as foloweth which was the 8. of May. In primis that he should keepe well his abiuration vnder payne of relaps Secondly that the next Sonday folowing in Paules Church in the open procession he should cary a Fagot and stand at Paules Crosse with the same That the Wednesday folowing he should cary the same Fagot about Newgate market and Chepeside That on Friday after he should take the same fagot agayne at S. Peters church in Cornehill and cary it about the market of Ledenhall That he should haue 2. signes of Fagots embrothered one on his left sleue the other on his right sleue which he should weare all his life time vnles he were otherwise dispensed withall That on Whitsonday euē he should enter into the Monastery of S. Bartholomew in Smithfield and there to abide and not to come out vnles he were released by the bishop of London That he should not depart out of y e city or dioces of London without the speciall licence of the B. or his successors Which penance he entred into the 8 day of May. an 1229. And thus much concerning his first examinatiō which was in the yeare .1529 at what time he was inforced thorow infirmitye as is before expressed to retract and abiure his doctrine Tewkesbery returned againe to the truth Notwithstāding the same Iohn Tewkesbery afterward cōfirmed by the grace of God and moued by y e example of Bayfild aforesayd that was burned in smithfield did returne and constantly abide in the testimonye of the truth and suffered for the same Who recouering more grace better strength at the hand of the Lord two yeares after being apprehended agayne was brought before Syr Thomas More and the Bishop of Londō where certaine Articles were obiected to him the chiefe wherof we intēd briefly to recite for the matter is prolixe In primis that he confesseth that he was baptised and intendeth to keepe the Catholicke fayth Articles agayne obiected to Tewkesbery Secondly that he affirmeth that the abiuration othe subscription that he made before Cutbert late Byshop of London was done by compulsion Thirdlye that he had the bookes of the obedience of a Christian man and of the wicked Mammon in his custody and hath read them since his abiuration Fourthly that he affirmeth that he suffered the two fagots that were embrothered vpon his sleue to be taken frō him for that he deserued not to weare them Fiftly he sayth that fayth onely iustifieth which lacketh not charity Sixtly he sayth that Christ is a sufficient Mediator for vs therfore no prayer is to be made vnto any Sayntes Wherupon they layd vnto him this verse of the Antheme Salue Regina aduocata nostra c. To the which he aunswered that he knew no other Aduocate but Christ alone Seuenthly he affirmeth that there is no Purgatory after this life Christ is our Purgatorye but that Christ our Sauior is a sufficient purgation for vs. Eightly he affirmeth that the soules of the faythful departing this life rest with Christ. Ninthly he affirmeth y t a priest by receiuing of orders receiueth more grace if his fayth be increased or els not Tenthly and last of all he beleueth that the sacrament of the flesh bloud of Christ is not the very body of Christ in flesh bloud as it was borne of y e virgin Mary Whervpon the Byshops Chauncellor asked the sayd Tewkesbery if he could shew any cause why he should not be takē for an hereticke falling into his heresy agayne and receiue the punishment of an hereticke Wherunto he aunswered that he had wrong before and if he be condemned now he reckoneth that he hath wrong agayne Then the Chaūcellor caused the articles to be read opēly with the aunsweres vnto the same the which the sayde Tewkesbery confessed therupon the Bishop pronounced sentence agaynst him deliuered him vnto the Shyriffes of Londō for y e time being who were Rich. Greshā Edward Altam who burned him in Smithfield vpō S. Thomas euen being the 20. of Decēber in the yeare aforesayd the tenor of whose sentence pronounced agaynst hym by the Bishop doth here ensue word for word IN the name of God Amen The deseruinges and circūstances of a certein cause of hereticall prauity falling again thereunto by thee Iohn Tewkesbery of the Parish of S. Michaels in the Querne of the City of Londō of our iurisdiction appearing before vs sitting in iudgement being heard seene vnderstand fully discussed by vs Iohn by the sufferance of God bishop of Londō because we do find by inquisitions manifestly enough that thou didst abiure freely voluntarily before Cutbert late Bishop of Londō thy ordinary diuers sundry heresies errors damnable opinions contrary to y e determination of our mother holy church as well speciall as generall that since and beside thy foresaid abiuration thou art agayne fallen into y e same damnable heresies opiniōs errors which is greatly to be lamēted the same doest hold affirme beleue we therfore Iohn the Bishop aforesayd the name of God first being called vpon the same only God set before our eyes with the coūsell of learned men assisting vs in this behalfe with whō in this cause we haue cōmunicated of our definitiue sentence finall decree in this behalfe to be done do intēd to proceed do proceed in this maner Because as it is aforesayd we do finde thee
deadly sinne I say that prayer in scripture is much commended and many great and vnmeasurable benefites are shewed to ensue thereupon that men should the more lustily geue themselues therto With prayer doth S Paul bid vs to fight in diuers places coÌ„tinuing in the same agaynst our ghostly enemies A figure of this is read in Exodus when the Israelites fought in battaâ—le agaynst a nation of Infidels Exod. 17. I trow theyr Captayne was called Amalecke Moyses stood vpon a mountayne The vertue of prayer to behold what should be the conclusion and lifting vp his handes prayed that it might well succeed with the Israelites but in long holding them vp at last his feruour began to grow cold and faint his handes sagged downward and euer as his handes grew heauy which signifieth that his affection in praying abated waxed colde the Infidels preuayled but as he kept them heaued vpward wherby was meant intentiue prayer of a deuout mynde he purchased victorye to the Israelites Aaron and Hur which indited the lawe to the people and were thereof the interpreters stood with Moses which alway as they dyd see his armes to faynt did vphold them so that finally the victory came vnto Israel By Moses is signified as sheweth great Clerkes deuotion Deuotion and knowledg to be ioyned together By Aaron and Hur the knowledge of Gods doctrine Which two thinges deuotion I meane knowledge all men had need to haue presently with theÌ„ for deuotion doth eleuate the mind to God but knowledge doth susteine or vphold the same that it may with courage continue not falling down but so alway doth incense and kindle it that it mounteth vp into the presence of our heauenly father where they sauour together farre more sweetely then any fumigation either of Iuniper Incense or what soeuer els be they neuer so pleasaunt doth sauour in any mans nose Therefore S. Paule seing howe necessary the knotte of these two deuotion knowlege of Gods will was which is shewed in scripture as teacheth saynt Cyprian in these wordes The will of God sayth he is that whiche Christe both taught and wrought Paul I say seing this wished to be excommunicate and separate from God for to haue the Iewes to come to the knowledge of Christes Church Rom. 10. which is the onely right waye to saluation for whome he prayed right studiously as appeareth a litle after in the 10. chap. to the Romanes saying I beare them recorde that they haue a zeale deuotion to God but not according to the knowledge of Christes doctrine Moses not to be without Aaron c. Where you may clearelye see how the Iewes as S. Paule which is no lyer recordeth here had a zeal deuotion to God but they lacked knowledge therewith Moses was amongest them but Aaron was away whose absence payned Paul so sore that he rauished with exceeding charity wished no small harme vnto himself vpon condition that the multitude of theÌ„ might be holpen and haue better iudgement euen to be separated from God It must nedes be theÌ„ greatly hurtfull albeit men haue deuotion to be without the knowledge of God his law Deuotion withoute knowledge hurtfull signified by Aaron S. Paule also before y t he came to knowledge had such like deuotion himselfe as he reporteth Actes 26. in these wordes Act. 26. All the Iewes quoth he haue knowne my liuing that I haue led sith I entred into mans age which time as I remeÌ„ber is accounted from the xvj or xviij yeare of a mans life in Latine he calleth it adolescentia which from the beginning thereof was sayth he at Ierusalem among mine owne nation that did know me afore also from the beginning if they would say trueth that I liued after the most straitest order or sect of our religion The zeale of Saule withoute deuotion being a Pharisy And I quoth Paul a litle after thought to doe many thinges in fighting agaynst the name of Iesus Christ yea and did also being at Ierusalem and I thrust many Sayntes or holy men into prison hauing power geuen me therto of the high Priestes and when they shoulde be put to death I gaue sentence and I quoth he was commonlye in all Sinagogues punishing them and compelling them to blaspheme as menne are fayne now a daies when the Bishops make them to abiure and to deny the trueth of the Gospell yea more ouer did I quoth Paule rage agaynst them pursuing after them into straunge landes See what zeale Paul had to God afore he was instructed in the doctrine of Christ. He thought to haue pleased god highly in persecuting his seruants of whom one was S. Steuen He was then sore blinded through ignorance Zeale 〈◊〉 out knowledge and wanted the assistance of Aaron But anone as Christ which is the true Aaron had appeared to him asking hym and saying in a lamentable fourme O Saule Saule why doest thou persecute me Act 9. in troubling and striking my seruauntes the members of mine owne body of whom it is sayd He that smiteth you shall smite the tender ball of mine eie Zach. 2. His hart fell I dare say so low as his body that is euen downe to the earth repenting himselfe full sore being redye to amend and follow after a new way as appeareth by hys aunswere where he sayth O Lorde what wilt thou haue me to doe As though one woulde say Nowe I see all that I thought to haue done afore of good intention and good purpose or deuotion hath deceiued me I finde it otherwise That which I esteemed good in very deede is and was nought Teach me therfore good Lord quoth he a better way amend my iudgement that mine owne will or intentioÌ„ forsakeÌ„ I may now follow thine to please thee to do thy will And so he came to Ananias by the assignement of Christ the thick filthines of his olde wayward iudgement fell away as appeareth by the drosse or rubbish that came from his eyes euen like scales as the Scripture maketh relation and he put vpon him a new iudgement which is directed after the strayt rule of the Gospell Deuotion a deceaueable thing Whereby you may see that mens deuotion may oft beguile and seduce theÌ„ except knowledge do assist the same for to susteine direct it which knitte together shall much strengthen men in all trouble and temptations So that it is much expedient for all meÌ„ as nigh as they may to haue prayer annexed with knowledge Erasmus in Enchiridiâ— that sheweth full notably Erasmus in the second passage of EnchiridioÌ„ where he testifieth but of easye liking that he hath in saying of Mattins Saying of Mattens yea rather contrariwise he sheweth disliking and so he doth also in his exposition of the fyrst Psalme Beatus vir where the text maketh agreeably for the same it is written in this wise Blessed is the man that hath not gone
be troubled nor disquieted for the matter neither am I to be counted heretike erroneous or offensiue so long as I shall not be prooued and plainly coÌ„uicted with simple and manifest wordes in what Article I am so iudged Neither do I here charge my Papists these blockheds that I will put them to their proofes but onely that they will shew me at least my errour that is that they wil shew me if they know what it is that they themselues do prattle of or haue any feelyng of their owne doyngs For so long as they assigne me no hereticall Article I am at free liberty to deny what Article so euer they lay vnto me to be heretical and say it is Catholike Agayne what a rudenes is it in this wicked doltishe Antichrist worthy to be laughed at where as these drummedaries do distinct hereticall Articles from those that be erroneous and the erroneous from offensiue The 〈◊〉 distinctioÌ„ 〈◊〉 the Papiâ—â— between◠〈◊〉 articles hâ—â—reticall eâ—â—roneous sclauÌ„deroâ—â— offeÌ„siuâ— Luke 9. and those agayne from slaunderous By the which subtle distinction of those grosseheaded dolts this we do gather that that article which is erroneous is not heretical and if it be not heretical what doth it then appertaine to these Ecclesiastical condemners which ought to condemne those things only which be hereticall For that which is not hereticall is catholike as Christ himselfe saith He that is not against vs is with vs. Yea I would wish that these iolly Sophisters would shew me in all the Church an Article that is erroneous and not heretical for if it be erroneous it differeth nothyng from hereticall but onely in stiffenesse of defendyng For all things be equally either true or false Hereticaâ— althogh affection in some one thing which is true or false may be greater or lesser Ye see therfore agayne how these men for all theyr braggyng Buls are not able to produce me one Article which is erroneous and not heretical Erroneouâ— and yet lyke wise brainsike men they will needs babble they know not themselues what condemning that which they finde erroneous and not hereticall which cannot stand eyther in matter or in words so that such as are the Articles such is the condemnation The lyke wisedome also they shew in affirmyng that to be Scandalous Scandaloâ—â— which is neither hereticall nor erroneous That Article I would fayne see eyther in my bookes or in the words and workes of any writer els from the beginnyng of the world to the latter end What made my papists then to excogitate these so prodigious monsters but onely their monstrous fury and madnesse Unlesse peraduenture they meane those Articles so to be Scandalous as commonly all true and Catholike Articles are wont to be For what is more scandalous then Ueritie Yea onely truth and veritie is scandalous to all proud and senselesse persons and is sayd of Christ 1. Cor. 1. We preach saith S. Paule Christe crucified a stumblynge stone to the Iewes and to the Gentiles foolishnesse And in Luke 2. 1. Cor. 1 Luke 2. He is set to be the fall and rising vp of many in Israell Wherefore where as my Papistes do distinguish scandalous Articles from hereticall and erroneous and forasmuch as that which is not hereticall or erroneous must needes be Catholicke and true it followeth thereof that these scandalous Articles be vnderstanded and condeÌ„ned of them for such as be very Catholike and sound O worthy commendation meâ—te for the Papists Marke here good Reader Offensiâ—â— the impietie of these blynde Bussards whether they roll themselues how they deride and mocke themselues how easily they are taken in theyr owne words how fond and foolish they are in their studies not only in not proouyng any error or slander in these Articles but also in goyng about only to expresse them how they cast out things impossible and most foolishly repugnant to themselues Where is then thou most presumptuous and shameles Bull thy doltish respectiue nowe become whether respectedst thou Uerily into the bottomles pit of impiety and thine owne brutish stoliditie The like also is to be sayd touching the Articles offensiue which must be neyther slaunderous neyther erroneous nor hereticall seyng they are distincted by such great Rabbines Who wyll not now maruell at the depe profound wisedome of these Papistes which could finde out that to be offensiue in the Church which is neyther false neyther hereticall nor slaunderous but true sound Catholike and edifieng and yet must that also be condemned And who would not now desire couet to be condemned also of such harebrained Idiotes who by their owne condemning do vtter themselues to approoue things damnable and to condemne things iustifiable that is whyche openly shew themselues to their owne great ignominy and shame to be more senseles then stockes rockes or blocks Goe ye nowe therefore O ye impious and brainelesse Papistes and if yee wil needes wryte shew your selues more sober for this Bull it appeareth was spued out in youre night feasts amongs other drabs and harlots or els hudled vp in the Caniculare dayes or mad midsomer Moone For neuer were there any dissardes that would shew them selues so madde Lette vs now retourne this dirt of Antichrist and cast it in hys owne teethe and of hys owne words let vs iudge hym and condemne him The popes 〈…〉 owne 〈◊〉 that heereafter hee maye learne to take better heede and be better aduised in his lyinge For as the Prouerbe sayth a lyer had neede to haue a good memorye If some Articles be offensiue and other hereticall and thou condemnest him whych is no hereticke and consequently a true Catholicke although hee be sixe hundreth times offensiue Doth not thy shamelesse mouth then condemne thy selfe not onely of heresie but of extreeme impietie blasphemye and treason against Gods holy trueth shewing thy selfe to be the manne in dede whych is the aduersarye and is extolled aboue all that which is called God or is worshipped Art not thou then the manne of sinne and the sonne of perdition â— Thes. 2. which denieth God hys redeamer and taketh away the loue of trueth to stablishe the settinge foorth of his errour for men to beleeue iniquitie as Paule foretolde For if the Article be not hereticall it can not be offensiue or slaunderous but onely to suche heretickes as Antichrist is and Sathanistes of all pietie See theeefore howe his shamelesse and moste foolish Bull whiles it condemneth in me one thinge to be hereticall and an other offensiue doeth manifestly declare the authours thereof to be true heretickes and the enemies of God in deede Prouerb 12 So that nowe it maye appeare that there is no knowledge nor counsell against the Lorde seeing blinde impietie is thus caughte in the woordes of hys owne mouth so truely it is sayd that he whiche casteth vpp a stone on highe it falleth downe againe vpon his owne pate And whych is chiefest of all
was had in estimation For the destruction of Images contayneth an enterprise to subuert religion and the state of the worlde with it and especially the nobilitie who by images set forth spread abroad to be read of al people their linage parentage with remembraunce of their state and actes and the Pursiuaunt carieth not on his brest the kinges names written in such letters as a few can spell but such as all can read be they neuer so rude being great knowne letters in Images of three Lyons and three floures deluce and other beastes holding those armes And he that caÌ„not read the Scripture written about the kings great Seale Winchesters reason The pursiuant caryeth about Saint George on horsebacke and the kinges picture Ergo Images must stand in Churches yet he can read S. George on horsebacke on the one side and the king sitting in his maiestie on the other side and readeth so much written in those images as if he be an honest man he will put of his cap and although if the Seale were broken by chaunce he woulde and might make a candell of it yet he woulde not be noted to haue broken the seale for that purpose or to call it a piece of waxe onely whilest it continueth whole And if by reuiling of stockes and stones in whiche matter Images be grauen the setting of the trueth to be read in them of all men shall be contemned how shall suche wryting continue in honour as is comprised in cloutes and pitch whereof and whereupon our bookes be made Bookes serue onely to be read and not to be kneeled vnto worshipped for so are they no bookes but are made Idols and are to be brokeÌ„ such as few can skill of and not the hundreth parte of the realme And if we a few that can read because we read in one sort of letters so priuiledged as they haue many reliefes shal pull away the books of the rest and would haue our letters onely in estimation and blinde all theÌ„ shall not they haue iust cause to mistrust what is ment And if the crosse be a trueth and if it be true that Christ suffered why may we not haue a writing thereof suche as all can read that is to say an Image If this opinion shoulde proceede when the kings maiestie hereafter should shew his person his liuely image the honour due by Gods law among such might continue but as for the kinges Standardes his banners his armes shoulde hardly continue in their due reuerence for feare of Lollardes Idolatry whiche they gather vpon scripture beastly not onely vntruely The scripture reprooueth false Images made of stockes and stones and so it doth false men made of flesh and bones When the Emperours mony was shewed to Christ wherin was the image of the Emperour Christ contemned not that Image calling it an Idoll nor noted not that mony to be against gods law because it had an image in it as thogh it were against the precept of God Thou shalt haue no grauen image but taught theÌ„ good ciuilitie in calling it the Emperors image bad theÌ„ vse the mony as it was ordered to be vsed in his right vse There is no scripture that reprooueth trueth and all Scripture reproueth falshoode False writinges false bookes false Images and false men all be nought to be contemned and despised as for paper inke parchment stones wood bones A.B. of the Chauncery hand and a. b. of the Secretary hand a letter of Germany fashion or of any other forme be all of one estimation and may be of man enclining to the Deuill vsed for falsehoode or applying to Gods gratious calling vsed to set foorth truth It is a terrible matter to thinke If euery Image representing a thing of truth may stand in place of worship then let Winchesters face stand in the Church also that this false opinion coâ—ceaued against Images should trouble any mans head and suche as I haue knowne vexed with that deuill as I haue knowne some be neuerthelesse wondrously obstinate in it and if they can finde one that can spell Latin to helpe foorth their madnes they be more obdurate then euer were the Iewes and slaunder whatsoeuer is sayd to them for their reliefe Of this sort I know them to be and therefore if I wist there were many of that sort with you I would not irritate them by preaching without fruite but labour for reformation to my Lorde Protectour But if you thought there might be other wayes vsed first to a good effect I would followe your aduise and proceeding with you and the Mayor wyth both your helpes to do that may lye in me to the redresse of the matter which I take to be such an enterprise against Christes Religion as there can not be a greater by man excogitate wyth the deuils instigation and at this time much hurtfull to the common estate as ye can of your wisedome consider Whome I hartily desire and pray to send me aunswere by thys bearer to these my letters to the intent I may vse my selfe in sending of a preacher thither or writing to my Lorde Protectour as the case shall require accordingly And thus fare you hartely well From my house at Woluesay the third of May. 1547. Steph. Wint. ¶ A Letter of the Lord Protector aunswering to the letter aboue AFter harty commendations receauing of late two letters from your Lordship the one inclosed in a letter of Maister Uaughans to vs and directed to him the other directed straight vnto vs very wittely learnedly writteÌ„ whereby we do perceiue how earnest you are that no innouations should be had The whiche minde of yours as we do highly esteeme and allow proceeding from one that would quietnes so we woulde likewise wishe that you should take good heede that too much feare of innouation or disturbance do not cause both to be Many times in an hoste he that crieth enemies enemies when there be none causeth not only disturbance but sometimes a mutinie or rebellion to be made and hee that for feare of sickenes to come taketh vnaduisedly a purgation sometime maketh himselfe sicke in deede We perceaue by the sayde your letters that haynouser factes and words haue bene brought to your eares then there was cause why and those â—actes which were punishable be already by him redrest For the matter of Images an order was taken in y e late king of famous memory our soueraigne lords daies WheÌ„ the abused Images yet lurking in some places by negligence of them who should ere this time haue looked vnto y e same be now abolished For Images let not that be a matter of y e abolishing of all Images Though felons adulterers be punished all men be not slayne Though the Images which did adulterate gods glory be takeÌ„ away Distinction of Images we may not think by by all maner of Images to be destroyed Yet after our aduise better it were for a time to
heard that worthy learned man speak and confesse at the houre of his death as touching the controuersies of religion wherwith the spouse of Christ is in these our dayes most miserably troubled and tormented This Doct. Redman being continually by the space of xx yeares or somewhat more exercised in the reading of the holy scripture wiâ—h such industry â—abor modesty magnanimitiâ— and prayers to almighâ—y God tryed and wayed y e controuersies of religioÌ„ that in al his doings as he would not seeme to approue that was either false or superstitious so he would neuer improue that he thought to stand wyth the true worship of God Commendation of D. Redman And albeit in certayne poyntes and articles of his fayth he seemed to diuers whiche were altogether ignoraunt of that his singular grauitie eyther for soâ—tnes â—eare or lacke of stomacke to chaunge his mind and beliefe yet they to whom his former life and conuersation by familiar acquayntaunce with him was throughlye knowne with them also which were present at his departure may easely perceaue and vnderstand how in graue weighty matters not rashly and vnaduisedly but wyth constant iudgement and vnfayned conscience he descended into that maner of beliefe which at that time of his goyng out of this world he openly professed I geue your wisedome to vnderstand that when death drew neare he casting away all hope of recouery minded talked of no other thing as we which were preseÌ„t heard but of heaueÌ„ and heauenly matters of the latter day of our Sauiour Iesus Christ with whom most feruently he desired to be whose incredible loue towardes vs miserable sinners Exhortation of Doct. Redman to them that were about him most worthely and not without teares hee often times vsed to extol and speake of and vs which wer there present he earnestly moued and exhorted to prepare oure selues to Christ to loue one an other and to beware of this most wretched corrupt world And besides that he promised calling God to witnes thereunto to whom he trusted shortly to come if any woulde demaund any question that he would answere him what he thought in his iudgement to be the truth M. Alexander Nowell now Deane of Paules At what time there were present M. Alexander Nowell a man earnestly bent to the true worshipping of God and one that had alway singularly well loued y e said M. Redman to whome he spake on this wise Your excellent learning and purity of life I haue euer both highly fauoured and had in admiration and for no other cause God be my iudge I do aske these things of you which I shall propound but that I might learne knowe of you what is your opinion and beliefe touchynge those troblous controuersies which are in these our dayes and I shall receaue and approue your wordes as oracles sent from heauen To whom when doct Redman had geuen leaue to demaund what he would and had promised that he woulde faythfully and sincerely aunswere all affection set aside what he thought to be the truth M. Nowel said I would quoth he right gladly but that I feare by my talke and communication I shal be vnto you so feeble and nowe almost spent a trouble and griefe Then sayd Doct. RedmaÌ„ replying what shall I spare my carcas quoth he whiche hath so short a time here to remaine Go to go to sayd he propound what you will TheÌ„ M. Nowell put forth certayne questions in order which I will here declare wherunto the sayd doct Redman seuerally answered as hereafter followeth The first question that he asked of him was what hee thought of the bishop of Rome Unto whoÌ„ Doct. RedmaÌ„ answered that the Sea of Rome in these our latter dayes had much swarued from the true religioÌ„ and worshipping of God is with horrible vices stayned polluted The Sea of Rome a sincke of all sinne which I therfore quoth he pronounce to be the sincke of all euill and shortly wil come to vtter ruine by scourge of God except it do fall the sooner to repentance wherewith he briefly complayned of the filthy abuse of our Englishe Church Beeing then asked what his opinion was concerning purgatory Purgatory and what the Scholemen iudged therof he answered that the subtill reasons of the Scholemen concerning purgatory seemed to him to be no lesse vayne and friuolous then disagreeing from the truth adding thereunto that when we be rapt vp to the cloudes to meete Christ comming to iudgemeÌ„t with a great number of Angels in all glory and maiesty then euery one shall be purged with fire as it is written The fire shall go before hym and shall flame round about his enemies and the fire shall burne in his sight Psal. 97. 50. and round about him shall be a great tempest saying that diuers of the old writers approued this his sentence concerning purgatory When he was asked whether wicked and vngodly people in the holy communion did eate the body of Christ and drinke his bloud he aunswered that such kind of men dyd not eate Christes most blessed flesh but only tooke the SacrameÌ„t to their own damnation The wicked eat not the fleshe of Christ. saying that Christ would not gyue his most pure and holy flesh to be eaten of suche naughty and impure persons but would withdraw hymselfe from them And that quoth hee that is obiected by S. Augustine that Iudas receiued the selfesame thing whych Peter receiued that I thinke to be vnderstanded of the externall Sacrament And the like kynde of phrase of speaking sayde hee we may vse concerning the baptisme of Magus that Simon Magus receaued that which the Apostles did receaue In deede as concerning the Sacrament of the externall baptisme Simon Magus receaued that whiche the Apostles did but that internall grace wherewith the Apostles were endued and that holy spirit wherewith by baptisme they were enspired he lacked And so quoth he the wicked and forsaken people which rashly presume to come to the holy table of the Lorde do receiue the Sacrament and the selfesame which good and godly men receiue but the body of Christ they do not receiue for Christ doth not vouchsafe to deliuer it them And thus he sayd was his opinion and beliefe although he knewe others to be of a contrary iudgement Being then after this demaunded whether he thought Christes presence to be in the Sacrament or no he answered that Christ dyd geue offer to faythfull and Christian men How Christ is present in the Sacramedt his very reall body and bloud verely really vnder sacrameÌ„ts of bread wine in somuch that they which deuoutly come to bee partakers of that holy foode are by the benefite thereof vnited and made one with Christe in hys fleshe and body And therefore he sayde that Christ dyd distribute his body spiritually that he gaue it truly The Capernaites grosse errour of Christes bodyly presence in the SacrameÌ„t not so yet
Saincts whilest a most pleasant refreshing did issue from euery part and member of the body vnto the seate place of the hart and from thence did ebbe and flow to and fro vnto all the partes againe This Saunders continued in prison a whole yeare and 3. moneths In all which space he sent diuers letters to diuers men as one to Cranmer Ridley and Latimer and other to his wife and also to others M. Saunders in prison a yeare and 3. monthes certifying them both of the publike calamitie of the time and also of his priuate afflictions and of sondry his conflictes with his aduersaries As in writing to his friend he speaketh of Weston conferring with him in prison whereof you shall heare anone by the leaue of the Lorde as followeth in the story In the meane time the Chauncellor after this little talke with M. Saunders as is aforesaid sent him to the prison of the Marshalsey c. For the Caiphas Winchester I meane did nothing but bayte him with some of his currish eloquence and so committed him to the prison of the Marshalsey where he was kept prisoner one whole yeare and a quarter But of his cause and estate thou shalt nowe see what Laurence Saunders himselfe did write ¶ A parcell of a Letter of Laurence Saunders sent to the Byshop of Winchester as an aunswere to certayne thyngs wherewith he had before charged hym TOuching the cause of my imprisonment A fragmeâ—â— of M. Sauâ—â—ders letter I doubt whether I haue broken any law or proclamation In my doctrine I did not forasmuch as at that time it was permitted by the proclamation to vse according to our consciences such seruice as was then established He meane the proclaâ—mation of which meâ—â—tion is 〈◊〉 before Satis peceâ—â—uit qui reâ—â—stere non potâ—it My doctrine was then agreeable vnto my conscience and the seruice then vsed The Act which I did he meaneth publike teaching of Gods word in his owne parish called Alhallowes in Breadstreete in the Citie of London was such as being indifferently weyed sounded to no breaking of the proclamation or at the least no wilfull breaking of it forasmuch as I caused no bell to be roong neyther occupyed I any place in the Pulpit after the order of Sermons or Lectures But be it that I did breake the Proclamation this long time of continuance in prison may be thought to be more then a sufficient punishment for such a fault Touching the charging of me with my Religion I say wyth S. Paule This I confesse Act. 24. that after the way which they call heresie so worship I the God of my forefathers beleeuing all thyngs which are written in the lawe and the Prophets and haue hope towards God c. And herein study I â—o haue alway a cleare conscience towardes God and towards men A good tâ—â—stimony oâ— good conscience so that God I call to witnesse I haue a conscience And this my conscience is not grounded vpon vayne fantasie but vpon the infallible veritie of Gods word with the witnessing of his chosen Church agreeable vnto the same It is an easie thing for them which take Christ for theyr true Pastor and be the very sheepe of his pasture to discerne the voice of their true shepheard from the voyce of wolues hyrelings and straungers for as much as Christ sayeth Iohn 10 My sheepe heare my voice yea and thereby they shall haue the gift to know the right voice of the true shepeheard and so to follow him and to auoyde the contrary as he also sayeth The sheepe follow the shepheard for they knowe his voyce A straunger will they not follow but will flie from him for they knowe not the voice of a stranger Such inward inspiration doth the holy Ghost put into the children of God being in deede taught of God but otherwise vnable to vnderstand the true way of their saluation Math. 7. And albeit that the Wolfe as Christ saith commeth in sheepes clothing yet he sayth by their fruites yee shall knowe them How the Wolfe is known 〈◊〉 the true shephearâ— For there be certayne fruites whereby the Wolfe is bewrayed notwithstanding that otherwise in sondry sortes of deuoute holines in outwarde shew he seemeth neuer so simple a sheepe That the Romish religion is rauening woluish it is apparant in 3. principall points First it robbeth God of his due and only honour Secondly it taketh away the true comfort of coÌ„science The incoâ—â—uenience the Româ—â— religion 〈◊〉 3. poyntes in obscuring or rather burying of Christ and his office of saluation Thirdly it spoyleth God of his true worship and seruice in spirit and truth appointed in his prescript commaundementes and driueth men vnto that inconuenience against the which Christ with the Prophet Esay doth speake sharply This people honoureth me with their lips but their hart is far from me Esay 26. Math. 25. They worship me in vaine teaching the doctrine and precepts of men And in another place ye cast aside the commaundemente of God to mayntayne your owne traditions Wherefore I in conscience weying the Romish Religion and by indifferent discussing thereof finding the foundation vnstedfast and the building thereupon but vayne and on the other side hauing my conscience framed after a right and vncorrupt religion ratified and fully established by the word of God and the consent of his true Church I neyther may nor do entend by Gods gracious assistance to be pulled one iot from the same no though an Angell out of heauen should preach another Gospell then that which I haue receyued of the Lord. And although that for lacke either of such deepe knowledge and profound iudgement or of so expedite vttering of that I do know and iudge as is required in an excellent clarke I shall not be able sufficiently to aunswere for the conuincing of the gaine-sayer yet neuerthelesse this my protestation shall be of me premised that for the respect of the grounds and causes before considered albeit I cannot * Explicitâ—â—ides is 〈◊〉 a man haâ— to aunsweâ— to euery poynt of 〈◊〉 â—ayth by sufficient 〈◊〉 ground anâ— learning explicita fide as they call it conceiue all that is to be conceiued neither can discusse all that is to be discussed nor can effectually expresse all that is to be expressed in the discourse of the doctrine of this most true religion whereunto to I am professed Yet do I bind my selfe as by my humble simplicity so by my fidem * implicitam that is by faith in generalty as they call it to wrap my beliefe in the credit of the same that no authority of that romish religion repugnant thereunto shall by any meanes remoue me from the same though it may hap that our aduersaries will labour to beguile vs with entising wordes and seeke to spoyle vs through Philosophy and deceitfull vanity after the traditions of men and after the ordinances of the world and
peoples eyes but to go vpwardes that you can neuer do and this is the true tryall Brad. Anno 1555. â—â—ly Yee must and will I am assured geue me leaue to follow the scriptures and examples of good men Harps Yea. Brad. Well theÌ„ Stephen was accused and condemned as I am that he had taught new and false doctrine before the fathers of the Church then as they were taken Stephen for his purgation improoueth their accusation But how doth he it by going vpwardes no but by coÌ„ming downwardes beginning at AbrahaÌ„ and continuing still till Esayas tyme and the peoples captiuitie From whence he maketh a great leape vntill y t time he was in whiche was I thinke vpon a 400. yeares called them by their right names helhoundes rather then heauen hounds On this sort will I proue my fayth that can you neuer do yours Harpsfield Yea sir if we did knowe that you had the holye Ghost then could we beleue you Here Bradford woulde haue answered that Steuens enemies would not beleue he had the holy Ghost and therefore they did as they dyd but as he was in speaking M. Harps arose vp the keeper and others that stode by began to talk gently praying Bradford to take heede to that maister Archdeacon spake who still sayd that Bradford was out of the church Bradford Syr I am most certaine that I am in Christes Church and I can shew a demonstration of my Religion from time to time continually God our father for the name and bloud of his Christ be merciful vnto vs and vnto al his people and deliuer them from false teachers and blinde guydes through whome alas I feare mee much hurt will come to this realme of England God our Father blesse vs and keepe vs in hys truth and poore Churche for euer Amen Then the Archdeacon departed saying that he would come againe the next morning ¶ The next dayes talke betweene Doctour Harpsfield and Maister Bradford VPon the xvi of February in the morning the Archdeacon and the other two with him came again â—rchdeacon â—arpsfield â—â—meth 〈◊〉 to M. â—â—adford and after a few by wordes spoken they sate downe Harps Maister Archdeacon began a very long Oration first repeting what they had said and how farre they had gone ouer night and therw t did begin to proue vpwards succession of Bishops here in England for 800. yeares in Fraunce at Lyons for 1200. yeares M. Harpsâ—â—eld agayne 〈◊〉 his â—hurch by 〈…〉 in Spayne at Hispalen for 800. yeares In Italy at Milan for 1200. yeares labouring by this to proue his Church He vsed also succession of Bishops in the East Church for the more confirmation of his wordes and so concluded with an exhortation and an interrogation the exhortation that Bradford would obey this church the interrogatioÌ„ whether Brad-could shew any such succession for the demonstratioÌ„ of his Church for so he called it which followed â—radfordes 〈…〉 M. Harpsâ—â—â—â—des 〈◊〉 Bradford Unto this his long Oration Bradford made this short answere my memory is euill so that I cannot aunswere particularly your Oration Therfore I wil generally do it thinking because your Oration is rather to perswade then to proue that a small aunswere will serue If Christ or his Apostles being here on earth had bene required by the Prelates of the churche then to haue made a demonstration of that churche by succession of such high Priestes as had approued the doctrine which he taught I think that Christ would haue done as I do that is haue alledged y t which vpholdeth the church euen the veritie y e word of God taught beleeued not by the high Priests which of long time had persecuted it but by the Prophetes and other good simple men which perchaunce were counted for heretickes of the Church which Church was not tied to succession but to the word of god And this to thinke S. Peter geueth me occasion when he sayth that as it went in the Churche before Christes comming so shall it go in the Church after his comming but then the pillers of the church were persecutors of the true Church therfore the like we must looke for now Harps I can gather and proue succession in Ierusalem of the high Priestes from Aarons tyme. Bradford I graunt but not such succession as allowed the trueth Harps Why did they not allow Moses law Bradford Yes and keepe it as touchyng the bookes therof as you doe the Bible and holye Scriptures But the true interpretation and meaning of it they did corrupt as you haue done doe and therefore the persecution which they sturred vpp against the Prophetes and Christ was not for the lawe but for the interpretation of it For they taught as you do now The Iewes corrupt the law as the Papists doe the Scriptures A comparison betweene thâ— old Phariseys our new Papistes that we must fetch the interpretation of the scriptures at your handes But to make an end death I looke dayly for yea hourely and I think my time be but very short Therfore I had need to spend as much tyme with God as I can whilest I haue it for his helpe comfort and therfore I pray you beare with me that I do not now particularly and in moe wordes aunswere your loÌ„g talk If I saw death not so neare me as it is I would then weigh euerye peece of your Oration if you woulde geue me the summe of it and I would answere accordingly but because I dare not nor I will not leaue of looking preparing for that which is at hand I shal desire you to hold me excused because I do as I do and hartely thanke you for youre gentle good will I shall hartily praye God our father to geue you the same light and life I do wish to my selfe so Bradford began to arise vp Harps But then began Maister Archdeacon to tell hym that he was in very perilous case Bolde confideÌ„ce and hope of Gods word and promise semeth strange among them which are not exercised in mortification and that he was sory to see him so setled As for death whether it be nigh or farre of I know not neither forceth it so that you did die well Brad. I doubt not in this case but y t I shall dye well for as I hope and am certaine my death shall please the Lord so I trust I shall dye chearfully to y e comfort of his childreÌ„ Harps But what if you be deceiued Bradford What if you shoulde say the sunne did not shyne now and the Sunne did shine through the windowe where they sat Harps Well I am sory to see you so secure and carlesse Bradford In deed I am more carnally secure and carelesse then I shuld be God make me more vigilant But in this case I cannot be so secure for I am most assured I am in y e trueth Harpsfield That are ye not for you are out of the