be vnto you a strong defence and refuge in the needfull time Bow downe thine eare O Lorde sayth Dauid and heare me for I am poore and in misery Bee mercifull vnto me O Lord for I will call dayly vpō thee comfort the soule of thy seruaunt for vnto thee O Lord do I lift vp my soule For thou Lord art good and gracious and of great mercy vnto all thē that call vpon thee Geue eare Lorde vnto my prayer and ponder the voyce of my humble petition All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship thee O Lord shall glorify thy name For thou art great and doest wonderfull things thou art God alone Teach me thy wayes Oh Lord and I will walke in thy truth O knit my hart vnto thee that I may feare thy name I will thanke thee O my God with all my hart and will prayse thy name for euer O you Christen people of Hadley comfort your selues one another in these notable psalmes of dauid the whole bible Embrace the notable iewell of our Lord God the bible endeuor your selues to walke the way that it doth teach you My good brethren we as helpers sayth S. Paule doe exhort you that ye receiue not the grace of God in vayne For behold now is the accepted time now is the daye of saluation Let vs beware that we take sure hold while we haue time for time will away While wee haue the lighte walke in it least when ye would desire it ye can not haue it Understand the light to be the knowledge of Christe to obey that is to haue the light For that cause came our Sauiour Iesus Christe to make himselfe knowne vnto those that did receiue him He gaue power to be the sonnes of God and so to bee made inheritours of his kingdome which shal neuer haue end who would not be glad to become the kinges sonne that he therby might be partaker of the kingdome that neuer shall haue end O vayne man what art thou that will refuse euerlasting life for a day or two or an hower thou canst not tell howe short Open thine eies see thine owne cōfort refuge to christ O flie refuse this worldly wisedōe for worldly wisedom doth shut out the wisedome of God For the word of the crosse is foolishnesse vnto them that perish but vnto vs whiche are saued it is the power of God For it is written I will destroy the wisedome of the wise and will cast away the vnderstanding of the prudent Where are the wise where are the Scribes where are the disputers of this worlde hath not god made the wisedom of this world foolishnes For in so muche as the worlde by the wisedome thereof knew not God in his wisedome it pleased God through foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that beleue For the Iewes require tokens and the Greekes aske after wysedome but we preach Christ crucified sayth S. Paule to the Iewes an occasion of falling and vnto the Greekes a people that are wise in theyr owne conceites to them is the preaching of Christ crucified foolishnesse But vnto them that are called both Iewes and Greekes we preach Christ the power of God and the wisedome of God For the foolishnes of God is wiser then men and the weaknes of God is stronger then men Brethren looke vpon your calling how that not many wise men after the fleshe not many mighty not many of high degree are called But that which is foolish before the world hath God chosen that he might confound the wise and that which is despised before the worlde hath he chosen and that whiche is nothing that he might destroy that which is ought that no flesh should reioyce Of the same are ye also in Christe Iesu whiche is made of God vnto vs wisedome righteousnes and sanctifying and redemption according as it is written he that reioyseth should reioyce in the Lorde that your fayth should not stand in the wisedome of men but in the power of God We speake of this wisedome among them that are perfecte not the wisedome of thys world nor the rulers of this world which go to nought but we speake of the wisedome of God which the carnall man doth not vnderstand The naturall man perceiueth nothing of the spirite of God It is foolishnes with hym But God hath opened it to vs by his spirite For the spirite searcheth out all thinges Wherefore my deare Brethren trye your selues well whether ye haue the spirite of Christ or no. If you haue the spirite of Christ then are ye dead concerning sinne but ye are aliue vnto god through Iesus Christ. If this spirite dwell in you then will ye increase and go forward in your profession not feare what flesh may do vnto the carkasse Therefore stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free and bee not wrapped vp agayne in the yoake of bondage that is to say to go from God by wicked life or serue God an other way then he hath commaunded in his holy word I truste you go forward my deare Brethren and Sisterne in your promise that you made to your Lorde God in your baptisme I pray God open vnto you the knowledge of hym selfe and lighten the eyes of your vnderstanding that ye may know what is the hope of your calling and what the riches of his glorious inheritaunce is vpon the Sayntes For ye are the chosen generation the kingly Priesthoode that holy nation that peculiar people that should shewe the vertues of him which hath called you out of darcknes into his maruellous light that is to say to feare God and to worke righteousnesse and so to receiue the end of your fayth the saluation of your soules This is a true saying if we be dead with Christ we shall liue with him also If we be patient we shall also reigne with him If we denye him he also shall denye vs. If we beleue not yet he abydeth faythfull he can not deny himselfe The very God of peace sanctify you throughout and I pray God that your whole spirit soule and bodyes be kept blameles vnto the cōming of our Lord Iesus Faythfull is he that hath called you which will also do it Brethren pray for vs and great all the brethren among you By me your brother in the Lord and Sauiour Christ Iohn Alcocke Prisoner in the Lorde at Newgate ⧠Geue glory to God GOd be mercifull to thee O England send thee great number of such faythfull Fathers and godly Pastors as Doctor Taylour was to guide thee feede thee and cōfort thee after thy great miseries and troubles that thou hast suffered vnder the tyrannous captiuitye and rage of the Romaine Antichrist and such rauening Wolues as haue without all mercy murdered thy godly and learned preachers and geue all men grace to consider that suche horrible plagues and mutations haue iustly
is a worker of that which is by nature for commonly such as be vngodly be vnnatural only louers of themselues as daily experience teacheth vs. The lyuing Lord which through the incorruptible sede of his worde hath begotten you to be my liege sister geue you grace so to growe in that generation that you may encrease to a perfect age in the Lord to be my sister with Christ for euer Looke therfore that you continue a faythfull sister as you are called and are godly entered not onely to me but to all the Church of Christ yea to Christ himselfe who voucheth you in this your vnfayned fayth worthy to bee his sister Consider this dignitie to surmount all the vayne dignities of the worlde let it accordingly preuayle more with you then all earthly delightes For therby you are called to an equall portion of the euerlasting inheritaunce of Christ if now in no wise you do shew your selfe an vnnaturall sister to him in forsaking him in trouble which I trust you will neuer for no kinde of worldly respect doe You are vnder daungerous temptations to be turned frō that naturall loue you owe vnto Christ and you shal be tryed with Gods people thorough a siue of great afflictiō for so Sathan desireth vs to be sifted that through feare of sharp troubles we might fall from the stablenes of our fayth and so be depriued of that honour ioy and reward which is prepared for such as continue faythfull brothers and sisters in the Lordes couenant to the ende Therfore the wise man in the booke of Ecclesiasticus biddeth them that come to the seruice of the Lorde To prepare them selues to suffer temptations Since then that for the glory of God and our faith we are called now to abide the brunt of them and that when our aduersary hath done all that he can yet wee may be stable and stand this Christ our first begotten brother loketh for at our handes and all our brethren and sisters in heauen desire to see our faith thorough afflictions to be perfecte that we might fulfil their number and the vniuersal church here militant reioyceth at our constancie whom al by the contrary we should make sorie to the daunger of the losse both of body and soule Feare not therfore what soeuer be threatned of the wicked world prepare your back and see it be ready to carye Christes crosse And if you see any vntowardnes in you as the flesh is continually repugnant to the will of God aske with faithfull praier that the good spirit of God may lead your sinful flesh whether it would not for if we will dwell in the flesh and folow the counsell therof we shall neuer doe the will of God neither worke that tendeth to our saluation You are at this present in the confines and borders of Babylon where you are in danger to drink of the whores cup vnles you be vigilant in praier Take hede the Serpent seduce you not frō the simplicitye of your faith as he did our first mother Eue. Let no worldly felowship make you partaker of iniquitie He that toucheth tarre can not but be defiled therby With such as be peruerse a mā shall sone be peruerted with the holy you shal be holy Therfore say continually with the Prophete Dauid Vnto the Saints that be on the earth al my wil is on them You haue bene sanctified and made pure thorough the truth take heede you be not vnholied and vndefiled lest the last be worse then the first I wryte not this because I stand in any doubt of your sincere continuance of the which I haue had so good experience but because the daies be euil and in the same it is the duety of euery one of vs to exhort an other I am bold to put you my good sister in remembrance of that which doth not a litle comfort me to remember in my troubles daily temptations Wherfore I doubt not you will take that in good part which commeth frō your brother both in spirit body who tendreth your saluation as earnestly as his owne that we might ioye together eternally with such ioy as the world shal neuer be able to take from vs. Thankes be vnto God you haue begon to run a good great time wel in the waies of the Lorde run out of the trace to the end which you haue begon then shall you receiue the crown of glory None shal be crouned but such as lawfully striueth Be not ouercome of euill but ouercome euil with good the Lorde shall make you one of those faithfull virgines that shal follow the Lambe wheresoeuer he goeth the which Christ graunt both you and me Amen Commend me to all them that loue me in the Lord vnfainedly God encrease our faith and geue vs neuer to be ashamed of his Gospell That same request which I haue made to my brother Thom. I make also to you desiring you by all meanes you can to accōplish my request that my sureties might be satisfied with that is mine owne to the contentation of my minde which can not be quiet vntill they be discharged therefore I pray you help to purchase quietnes that I might depart out of this worlde in peace My dissolution I looke for daily but the Lorde knoweth howe vnworthy I am of so high an honour as to die for the testimony of his truth Pray that God would vouchsafe to make me worthy as he hath don of long imprisonment for the which his name be praised for euer Pray and looke for the comming of the Lorde whose wrath is great ouer vs and I wil pray for you as long as I liue The 9. of Iuly in the kings Bench. Your owne louing brother as well in faith as in body Iohn Philpot. An other Letter of Iohn Philpot to certaine Godly brethren THe grace of God the Father and the peace of our sauiour Iesus Christ his eternall sonne and the consolation of the holy Ghost our comforter strengthen your hearts and cōfort your mindes that you maye reioyce and liue in the truthe of Christes Gospel to the ende Amen I doe much reioyce dearely beloued in the Lord to heare of your cōstant faith in the word of God which you haue so purely receiued which doe not with the wordlings decline frō the purity therof albeit ye suffer grief trouble therby for the which I praise God most hartely and the Lord of all strength who hath begon this good woorke in you make it perfite to the ende as I doubt not but he wil for the faithful zeale ye haue to his truth to his afflicted church Therfore that ye may the better stand and beare the brunte of many temptations which you are like to be assaulted withall in these wicked and stormie daies I thought it good as it is the duety of one christian man to exhort an other in the time of trouble
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
my poore afflicted heart by your meanes my moste deare and faithful brother Truely me thinketh your woords or rather Gods woordes by you vttered haue a wonderfull power and efficacie woorking in my heart at the hearing or readyng of them Reioyce therfore my deare brother and be thankfull vnto God for verily he both is will be mightely magnified in you and that diuers and manye waies both to the strengthening of them that stand in his truth and also to the raising vp of such as are fallen from the same God make me thankefull for you on your behalfe for verily great is the goodnesse of God towardes me in geuing me acquaintance in faithfull loue and amitye with you Gods name for euer be praised therfore and he perfourme all his mercifull promises vpon you as I doubt not but he will for his sake in whome you trust I thanke my God most hartely also you my good brother for that you are carefull for me in your faithfull praiers remembring my iust deserued sorowes as though they were your own and laboring so much to solace the same Ah my gracious good God what am I for whom thou thy deare children should be so carefull Oh sweete Lord forgeue me my great ingratitude sinne and grauÌ„t that I neuer abuse thy great benefits Oh let the loue of thine elect which loue me for thy sake be a sure signe token yea a most firme testimony a seale to my sinfull conscience of thine euerlasting loue and mercy towards me in Christ as verely it would and ought to be if mine infidelity did not let it Oh circumcise therefore the foreskin of my heart that I may with liuely faith behold thy great loue towardes me in all thine elect that I may alwaies be thankeful for the same and loue thee and them againe most heartely and vnfainedly Ah my deare heart how sweetely and how truely yea howe godly how coÌ„fortably haue you rehersed the swete saying of Salomon concerning prosperity with true godly frends I wil ioine with it the sentence which goeth a little before for doubtlesse it may be well verified on you A sure frend sayeth the wise man wil be vnto thee euen as thine owne soule and deale faithfully with thy houshold folke If thou suffer trouble and aduersitye he is with thee and hideth not his face from thee A faythful friend is a strong defence who so finedeth such a one finedeth a treasure A faithfull friend hath no peere the waight of golde is not to bee compared to the goodnesse of his faith A faythfull frend is a medicine of life and they that feare the Lord shal finde him c. Loe my deare heart in the Lord here is a liuely image or description of you for verely such a one haue I alwaies fouÌ„d you vnto me not onely sorrowing for my great sorrow but also oftentimes making me merry and ioyfull with such ioyes as the world can not feele Nowe let the worlde bragge of hys fained frendship but I will boast of this true frendship in God and esteeme it a more treasure then all transitorye things And as for my mourning deare brother God hathe made you to tourne it vnto mirth for God hath put you in the stead of them to be my comfort whome he hath in hys great mercy taken away I trust hencefoorth to leaue the mourning for my greate losse and to praise God for gaining vnto him selfe so great glory by his chosen children God make me a true mourner of Syon bothe for mine owne sinne and wickednesse and also to see his honoure defaced that I may be made meete and apte to beare the ioyfull and comfortable message that your beautifull feete shall brynge me God blesse thee my deare heart and faithful louing brother and increase his good giftes of grace in thee as he hathe moste happely begonne that you may daily more effectually feele and liuely perceiue the certaintie of Gods grace wherin you stand and firmely to testifie the same to the conuersion or confouÌ„ding of all gainsayers and to the comfort confirmation of al Gods deare children Amen Farewell mine owne sweete brother fare well as mine owne heart Your owne in Christ Iohn Careles· An other letter of Iohn Careles to a certaine godly faithfull sister by the name of E.K. THe grace and free mercy of God in Iesus Christ the sweete consolations of the holy Ghost the guide of all Gods deare children he with you strengthen and comfort you my dearely beloued sweete sister E.K. now and euer Amen Albeit my dearely beloued sister in Christe that as yet wee did neuer see one an other personally to any knowledge yet by the vertuous reporte that I haue hearde of you and also by the large louing token that I haue receiued from you mee thincke that I do euen presently see you and behold your person faâ—thfully walking in the fear and loue of God ioying and reioycing with you in the spirite as thoughe we were sweetely talking together of Christes veritie The Lord God doe I humbly beseeche in the bowels and bloud of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christe that he wil strengthen vs both with hys holy and mighty spirit that we may constantly continue in the confession of his truthe vnto the ende that like as we now see one an other presently in spirite we may also see one an other personally in the glorious presence of God and his holy Aungels where vndoubtedly we shall know one an others personage to oure great ioy felicitye and endlesse comfort And now therfore deare sister K be strong in the Lorde our God for doubtlesse the time of triall is at hand a great persecution with cruell murthering of Gods deare Saintes is like to be very shortly in this wofull wicked Realme of Englande Therefore deare sister for the loue of God prepare you to the Crosse with all diligence and make your selfe ready to die with Christ that you may also liue with him for euer There is no remedye if you will be Christes Disciple you must needes take vppe youre crosse and followe him for the Disciple must not looke to be aboue his maister nor the seruant to be better intreated then his Lord. If we were of the worlde good sister no doubt the world woulde loue vs. But for as much as Christe hath chosen vs out of the worlde to serue God in spirite and veritie lette vs be wel assured the worlde will hate vs and persecute vs as it hath done our Lorde and maister Christ. But yet let vs be of good cheare for Christe hath ouercome the worlde The paine is but shorte that we can feele heere but the pleasure is perpetuall that wee shall feele elsewhere Let vs set before vs the example of Christe which abode the Crosse and despised the shame in respecte of the ioy that was set before him Euen so let vs consider for whose
Christ was borne for mee and that he suffered death for me and that I shall be saued from my sinnes by his bloudshedding so receiuing the Sacrament in that remembraunce then I beleue I do receiue wholly Christ God and maÌ„ mistically by fayth this is my beliefe Chich. Why then it is no body without fayth Gods word is of no force as you count it Wood. My Lorde I haue tolde you my minde without dissimulation more you get not of me without you will talke with me by the Scriptures and if you will do so I will beginne anew with you proue it more plainly thre or foure maner of wayes that you shall not say nay to that I haue sayd your selfe Then they made a great laughing and sayd Thys is an Hereticke in deede it is time he were burned Which wordes moued my spirite and I sayde to them Iudge not least you be iudged For as you iudge me you shall be iudged your selues For that you call heresy I serue God truely with as you all shall well know when you shal be in hell and haue bloud to drinke and shal be compelled to say for payne This was the maÌ„ that we iested on whose talke we thought foolishnes and his end to be without honour but now we may see how he is counted among the Sayntes of GOD and we are punished These wordes shall you say being in hell if you repent not with speed if you consent to the shedding of my bloud wherefore looke to it I geue you counsell Priest What you be angry me thinkes Now I will saye more to you then I thought to haue done You were at Baxill a twelue moneth agone sent for the Parson talked with him in the Churchyard and would not goe into the church for you sayd it was the Idols temple Yea I was with mine olde Lorde when he came to the Kinges Bench to you and you sayd many stout wordes to him Wood. That I sayde I sayde and where you sayde I was angrye I take God to my recorde I am not but am zelous in the truth speake out of the spirite of God with chearefulnes Priest The spirite of God hough hough hough thinke you that you haue the spirit of God Wood. I beleue surely that I haue the spirite of GOD I praise God therfore and you be deceiuers mockers and scorners before God and be the childreÌ„ of hel all the sort of you as farre as I can see And therwith came in D. Story poynting at me with his finger speaking to the bishop in Latin saying at length Story I can say nothing to him but he is an hereticke I haue heard you talke this houre and a halfe and can heare no reasonablenes in him Wood. Iudge not lest you be iudged for as you iudge you shal be iudged your selfe Story What be you a preaching you shal preach at a stake shortly with your felowes My Lord trouble your self no more with him With these wordes one brought woorde that the Abbot of Westminster was come to dyne with the Byshop and many other gentlemen and women Then there was rushing away with speed to meet him Then sayd Doctor Story to my keeper Story Cary him to the Marshalsee againe and let him be kept close and let no body come to speake with him Wood. And so they departed Then one of the priestes begon to flatter with me and sayd for Gods sake remember your selfe God hath geuen you a good wit you haue read the scriptures well haue borne them wel in memory It were great pity you should do amisse Wood. What a flatterer be you to say my wit is good and that I haue red the scriptures well but euen now you said I was an heretike despised me If I be an heretike I can haue no good wit as you haue coÌ„fessed But I think your owne conscieÌ„ce doth accuse you God geue you grace to repent if it be his will Priest I cal it a good wit because you are expert in all questions Wood. You may call it a wicked wit if it agree not with gods word Then one cried Away away here commeth strangers So we departed I came againe to the Marshalsee with my Keeper ¶ The third examination of Richard Woodman copied with his owne hand before D. Langdall parson of Buxted in Sussex and Chaplaine to my Lord Montague and M. Iames Gage at my Lord Montagues house beside S. Mary Oueries in Southwarke the 12. day of May Anno. 1557. THe 1â— day of May the Marshal came to the Marshalsee sent for me to speake with him When I came before him had done my dutie he asked my name what countrey man I was I shewed him both Then he asked me when I was abroad in the city To whom I answered if it shal please your maistership I was abroad in the citie on Monday was seuennight Marshall What made you abroad Wood. The B. oâ— Chichester sent for me to talke with mee at home at his house beside S. Nicholas shambles Mar. Were you abroad no otherwise then so Wood. No forsooth I was neuer abroad since I was sent hither but then For I haue nothing to do abroad vnlesse they send for me Mar. This is a marueilous matter I promise you I was not so rebuked these 7. yeares as I was for you within these 3. dayes It is reported that you were abroad in the citie at certaine Tauernes spake seditious wordes both in the Tauernes and Streetes as you went Wood. Syr the trueth is I was in neuer a house or Tauerne whiles I was abroad but in the bishops house as my keeper can will I am sure testify nor I neuer talked with any man in the streetes as I came but with my keeper sauing with one man in deede of the Parishe of Framfield in Sussex where M. Iames Gage dwelleth His name is Rob. Smith being one of my most enemies who stood in a waine as we came by and was vnlading of Cheese me thought but a litle way from the Marshalsee In deede I bade him God speede and asked him howe he did and he sayd well he thanked me and he asked me how I did and I sayd well I prayse God that was all the talke that we had these wordes were spoken as I came by him I promise you sir I stoode not still while I spake theÌ„ as my keeper can tell and I thinke these words were no seditious wordes but might be spoken well enough I thinke or els it were very strayt Marshall Then it is to bee thought that that man reported otherwise then it was I am gladde it is as you say Well make you ready for you must go forth straight way where you shall be examined of that and of other thinges where you shal aunswere for your selfe Go make hast for I will â—ary till you be ready Wood. So I departed
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
Officers could not tell what to say nor whom to accuse And thus much concerning the congregation of the faythfull assembling together at London in the time of Queene Mary The said M. Bentham an other time as he passed thorow S. Katherines intending to walke and take the ayre abroad was enforced by two or three men approching vpon him needes to go with them to a place whether they would lead him M. Bētham astonied at the sodeinnes of the matter and maruelling what the thing shoulde be required what theyr purpose was or whether they woulde haue him They aunswered that by the occasion of a man there found drowned the Crowners quest was called and charged to sit vpon him of the whiche quest he must of necessity be one c. He agayne loth to medle in the matter excused himselfe alledging that in such kind of matters he had no skill and lesse experience if it would please them to let him goe they should meete with other more meete for theyr purpose But when with this they would not be satisfied he alledged further that he was a scholer of Oxford and thereby was priuiledged from being of any inquest The Crowner demaunded the sight of his priuiledge He sayd if he woulde geue him leaue he would fetch it Then sayd the Crowner the queene must be serued without all delay so cōstrayned him notwithstanding to be with thē in hearing the matter Beyng brought to the house where the Crowner and the rest of the quest were sitting as the maner is a booke was offered him to sweare vpon M. Bentham opening the booke and seing it was a papisticall Primer refused to sweare thereupon and declared moreouer what superstition in that booke was conteined What sayde the Crowner I thinke we shall haue here an hereticke among vs. And vpon that after much reasoning amongest them he was committed to the custody of an officer till further examination by occasion wherof to all mens reason hard it had bene and ineuitable for M. Bentham to haue escaped had not the Lord helped where man was not able What folowed Incontinent as they were thus contending and debating about matters of heresye sodeynly commeth the Crowner of the Admiralty disanulling and repealing the order calling of that inquest for that it was as he sayde perteining to his office and therefore the other Crowner and his company in that place had nothing to do And so the first Crowner was discharged and displaced by reasō whereof M. Bentham escaped theyr handes hauing no more sayd vnto him * English men preserued at the taking of Calice THe worthy workes of the Lordes mercy toward hys people be manifolde and can not be comprehended so that who is he liuing in the earth almost who hath not experienced the helping hand of the Lord at some time or other vpon him Amōgst many other what a piece of gods tender prouidence was shewed of late vpon our English brethren and country men what time Calice was takē by the Tyrant Guise a cruell enemy both to Gods truth and to our English nation And yet by the gracious prouision of the Lorde few or none at all of so many that fauoured Christ and his Gospell in that terryble spoyle miscaried In the number of whome there was a godly couple one Iohn Thorpe and his wife which feared the Lord and loued his trueth who being sicke the same time and cast out into the wild fieldes harbourles desolate and despayring of all hope of life hauing theyr young infant moreouer taken from them in the sayd fieldes and caried awaye of the souldiors yet the Lord so wrought that the poore woman being almost past recouery of life was fet and caried the space welnigh of a mile by straungers whome they neuer knewe into a village where both shee was recouered for that night also the next day comming toward England they chaunced into the same Inne at the next town where they found theyr young child sitting by the fire side ¶ Edward Benet ONe Edw. Benet about the second yeare of the reigne of Q. Mary then dwelling at Quenehieth with one Grynocke a Baker was desired of one Tyngle prisoner then in Newgate to bring him a new testament He procuring one of M. Couerdals translatiō wrapt it in a handkerchiefe saying to George the keeper whiche asked hym what he had that it was a piece of pondred biefe Let mee see it sayd he Perceiuing what it was he brought him to Syr Roger Cholmley who examined him why he did so saying that booke was not lawfull so committed him to the Counter in woodstreet wher he continued 25. weekes Doctor Story comming to the prison to examine other Prisoners this Benet looking out at the grate spake to him desiring him to be good vnto him and to helpe hym out for he had lien long in prison To whom D. Story thē aunswering What sayd he wast not thou before me in Christes Church Yes forsooth sayd Benet Ah sayd Story thou doest not beleue in the Sacrament of the Aultar Mary I will helpe thee out come sayd he to the keeper turne him out I will helpe him and so tooke Benet wyth him and brought him to Cluney in Pater noster Row and bade him bring him to the Colehouse and there he was in the stockes a weeke Then the Bishoppe sent for him to talke with him and first asked him if he were shriuen No sayd Benet He asked him if he would be shriuen No sayd he Then he asked him if the Priest could take away his sinnes No sayd Benet I do not so beleue Then he and Harpsfielde laughed at him and mocked him asking him if he did not beleue that what so euer the Prieste here bounde in earth should be bound in heauen and what so euer he loosed in earth shoulde be loosed in heauen No quoth Benet But I beleue that the Minister of God preaching Gods word truely and ministring the Sacramentes accordyng to the same whatsoeuer he bindeth in earth shal be bound in heauen and what so euer he looseth c. Then the Bishop putting him aside sayd he should go to Fulham and be whipped Then came to him M. Buswell a Pries◠lying in the Colehouse in the stockes and brought Cranmers recantation saying that he had recanted My fayth sayth the other lyeth in no mans booke but in him which hath redeemed me The next saterday Benet with fiue other was called for to come to masse into the Chappell The Masse being done and they comming out fiue of thē went to prison and were after burned Benet being behind and comming toward the gate the porter opening to a company goyng out asked if there were no prisoners there No sayd they Benet standing in open sight before him with other seruing men whiche were there by reason that Boner made many priestes that day hauing one of his sleues and halfe the fore part of his coat
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 froÌ„ 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 haÌ„ds 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 wheÌ„ he shall say Come ye blessed of my Father and possâ—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
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
doth to Timothy and to all that reade his Epistle in opening to all the hearers that he was not worthy to be called an Apostle because he had bene a Tyraunt But as for eare confession ye neuer heard it allowed by the worde For the Prophete Dauid maketh his confession vnto God and sayeth I will confesse my sinnes vnto the Lord. Daniell maketh his confession vnto the Lorde Iudith Tobye Ieremye Manasses wyth all the forefathers did euen so For the Lorde hath sayde Call vppon mee in the time of trouble and I will deliuer thee Knocke aske seeke with such like and this is the woorde of God Now bring somewhat of the word to helpe your self withall Then they raged and called me dogge and said I was damned Smith Nay ye are dogges that for because holy thinges are offered you wyll slaye your frendes For I maye say with S. Paul I haue fought with beastes in the likenes of meÌ„ For here I haue bene bayted these two dayes of my Lord his great Bulles of Basan and in his hall beneath haue I bene bayted of the rest of his bande With this came my Lord from shauing and asked me how I liked him Smith Forsoothe ye are euen as wise as ye were before ye were shauen Boner How standeth it mayster Doctours haue ye done any good Doct. No by my troth my Lord we can do no good Smith Then is it fulfilled which is written How can an euill tree bring forth good fruit Bonor Nay noughty felow I set these gentlemeÌ„ to bring thee home to Christ. Smith Such Gentlemen such Christes and as truely as they haue that name from Christ so truely doe they teache Christ. Boner Well wilt thou neither heare them nor me Smith Yes I am compelled to heare you but ye can not compell me to folow you Boner Well thou shalt be burned at a stake in smithfield if thou wilt not turne Smith And ye shall burne in hell if ye repent not but my Lord to put you out of doubt because I am wery I wyll strayne curtesy with you I perceiue ye will not with your Doctors come vnto me and I am not determined to come vnto you by Gods grace For I haue hardened my face agaynst you as hard as brasse TheÌ„ after many rayling sentences I was sent away And thus haue I left the trueth of mine answeres in writing gentle Reader being compelled by my frends to do it that ye may see how the Lord hath according to his promise geuen me a mouth and wisedome for to answere in his cause for which I am condemned and my cause not heard ¶ The last examination of Robert Smith THe 12. of Iuly I was with my brethren brought into the Consistory and mine articles read before my Lord Maior and the Shiriffes with all the assistances to which I answered as foloweth Boner By my fayth my Lord Maior I haue shewed him as much â—auor as any man liuing might do but I perceiue all his lost both in him and all his company Smith At this word which he coupled with an othe came I in and taking him with the maner sayd My Lord it is written Ye must not sweare Boner Ah mayster controller are ye come Loe my Lord Maior this is Mayster Speaker poynting to my brother Tankerfield and this is Mayster Controller pointing to me And then beginning to read my articies he perseuered till he came at my tale of the gentleman of Northfolke and then demauÌ„ded of my Lord Maior if he heard of the same before To which he answered No. To whoÌ„ I answered Smith My Lorde Maior shall it please you to heare me to recite it as I hearde it tolde it then shall you heare the truth For this tale that my Lord hath told is vntrue Boner How say you good M. Mordant spake he not this that is here as it is written were ye not by Mord. Yes my Lord that it is I heard him say it Smith How heard ye me say it and were not present wheÌ„ I spake it should such a man make a lye it is manifestlye proued that the Prophet sayth Euen as the king sayth so saith the Iudge that he may doe him a pleasure agayne And so was brought out my Gaoler for tryall therof who there openly professed that neyther mayster Mordant nor the Doctors before mentioned were present when I spake it At which maister Mordant with blushing cheekes sayde hee heard theÌ„ read and heard me affirme the same which was also not true Then proceded my lord with the rest of mine articles dâ—maunding of me if I sayd not as was written To whiche I aunswered No and turning to my Lorde Maior I sayd I require you my Lord Maior in Gods behalfe vnto whom perteineth your sword Iustice that I may here before your presence answere to these obiections that are layd agaynst me and haue the probatioÌ„ of the same and it any thing that I haue sayd or will say be to be approued as my Lord saith heresy I shall not only with all my hart forsake the same and cleaue to the truth but also recant wheresoeuer ye shall assigne me and all this audience shal be witnesses to the same Maior Why Smyth thou canst not denye but this thou sayedst Smith Yes my Lord I deny that which he hath written because he hath both added to diminished from the same But what I haue spoken I will neuer deny Maior Why thou spakest agaynst the blessed Sacrament of the aultar Smith I denyed it to be any Sacrament and I do stand here to make probation of the same and if my Lorde here or any of his Doctors be able to approue either the name or vsage of the same I will recant mine error TheÌ„ spake my Brother Tankerfielde and defended the probation of thinges which they called heresy to the which the Bishop aunswered Boner By my troth Mayster speaker ye shall preache at a Stake Smith Well sworne my Lord ye keepe a good watch Boner Well mayster Controller I am no Saynt Smith No my Lord nor yet good Bishop For a Bishop sayth S. Paule should be faultles and a dedicate vessell vnto god and are ye not ashamed to sit in iudgement be a blasphemer condemning Innocents Boner Well M. Controller ye art faultles Smith My Lorde Maior I require you in Gods name that I may haue Iustice. We be here to day a great many of Innocentes that are wrongfully accused of heresy And I require you if you will not seeme to be parciall let me haue no more fauour at your handes then the Apostle had at the handes of Festus and Agrrippa which beyng Heathen and Infidels gaue him leaue not onely to speake for himselfe but also hearde the probation of his cause This require I at your hands which being a Christian Iudge I hope will not denye me that right whiche the Heathen haue suffered if ye doe theÌ„ shall
all this audience yea the Heathen speake shame of your fact For a City saith our sauiour that is builded on a hill can not be hid if they therefore haue the truth let it come to light For al that wel do come to the light and they that do euill hate the light Then my Lorde Maior hanginge downe his head sayd nothing but the Byshop tolde me I shoulde preache at a Stake and so the Shiriffe cryed with the Byshop away with me Thus came I in before theÌ„ foure times desiring Iustice but could haue none and at length my frendes requiring with one voyce the same coulde not haue it we had sentence and then â—eing caried out were brought in agayne and had it euery man seuerally geuen But before the Bishop gaue me sentence he told me in derision of my Brother Takerfielde a tale betweene a Gentleman and his Cooke To whiche I aunsweared My Lorde yee fill the peoples eares with fantasies and foolish tales and make a laughing matter at bloud but if ye were a true byshop ye should leaue these railing sentences and speak the wordes of God Boner Well I haue offred to that noughty felow mayster Speaker your companion the Cooke that my Chancellor should here instruct him but he hath here with great disdaâ—ne forsaken it How sayest thou wilt thou haue him instruct thee and lead thee in the right way Smith My Lorde if your Chauncellour shall doe me any good and take any paynes as ye say let him take mine articles in his handes that ye haue obiected agaynst me and either proue one of them heresy or any thing that you doe to be good and if he be able so to doe I stand here wyth all my hart to heare him if not I haue no neede I prayse God of his sermon for I come to answere for my life and not heare a sermon Then beganne the sentence In Dei nomine To whiche I answered that he beganne in a wrong name requiring of him where hee learned in Scriptures to geue sentence of death agaynste any man for his conscience sake To the which he made no aunsweare but went forwarde to the end and immediately cryed Away with me Then I turned me to the Maior and sayde Is it not enough for you my Lord Maior and ye that are the shiriffes that ye haue left the strayt way of the Lord but that ye must condemne Christ causeles Boner Well Mayster Controller nowe ye can not say but I haue offered you fayre to haue instruction And now I pray thee call me bloudy Bishop and say I seeke thy bloud Smith Wel my Lord although neither I nor any of this congregation do report the truth of your fact yet shal these stones cry it out rather then it shall be hidden Boner Away with him away with him Woodrofe Away with him take him away Smith Well good frendes yee haue seene and hearde the great wrong that we haue receiued this day ye are al recordes that we haue desired the probation of our cause by Gods booke and it hath not bene graunted but we are coÌ„demned and our cause not heard Neuerthelesse my Lord Maior for as much as here ye haue exercised Gods sword causelesse and will not heare the righte of the poore I committe my cause to almighty God that shall iudge all men according vnto right before whoÌ„ we shall both stand without authority and there will I stand in the right and haue true iudgement to your great confusion except ye repent which the Lord grauÌ„t you to do if it be his will And then was I with the rest of my brethren caryed awaye to Newgate Thus gentle Reader as neare as I can I haue set out the truth of my examination and the verity of mine vniust condemnation for the truth requiring god that it may not be layd to the charge of thee O England requiring your harty prayers vnto God for his grace spirit of boldnes with hope euen shortlye to set to my seale at Uxbridge the 8. of August by Gods grace pray that it may be to his honor my saluation and your consolation I pray you Da gloriam Deo Robert Smith Thus hast thou good Reader not onely to note but also to folow in this man a singular example of Christian fortitude which so manâ—ully and valâ—auntly did stande in the defence of his maysters cause And as thou seest hym here boldly stand in examination before the Bishoppe and Doctours so was he no lesse comfortable also in the pryson among his felowes Whiche also is to be obserued no lesse in his other prison felowes who being there together cast in an outward house within Newgate had godly coÌ„ference with themselues with dayly praying and publick reading whiche they to theyr greate comforte vsed in that house together amongst whom this foresayd Smith was a chiefe doer Whose industry was alwayes solicitous not onely for them of his owne company but also his diligeÌ„ce was carefull for other prisoners whom he ceased not to dehort and diswade from theyr olde accustomed iniquity and many he conuerted vnto his Religion Diuers letters he wrote there in the prison to suÌ„dry his frendes partly in metre partly in prose And first in metre as followeth ⧠A Picture describing the maner and place of them which were in bondes for the testimony of the truth conferring together among themselues ¶ O ye that loue the Lord see that ye hate the thing that is euill THe God that geueth life and light And leadeth into rest That breaketh bondes and bringeth out The poore that are opprest And keepeth mercy for the meeke His treasure and his store Increase the life in perfect loue Both now and euermore That as thou hast begun to ground In fayth and feruent loue Thou mayest be made a mighty mount That neuer may remoue That thine ensample may be shewed Among all thine encrease That they may liue and learne the like And passe theyr time in peace Thy salutations that were sent I hartely retayne And send thee seuenty times as much To thee and thine agayne And for because I know the gole That thou doest most desire I send thee here a paper full Is fined in the fire In hope thou wilt accept it well Although it be but small Because I haue none other good To make amendes with all For all thy free and frendly factes Which thy good will hath wrought I send the surely for a shift The thing that cost me nought Absteyne from all vngodlines In dread direct your dayes Possesse not sinne in any wise Beware of wicked wayes Hold fast your fayth vnfaynedly Build as ye haue begon And arme your selfe in perfect fayth To do as ye haue done Least that the wicked make a mocke That ye haue take in hand In leauing of the perfect rocke To build vpon the sand Beware these filthy Pharisies Their building is in bloud Eate not with
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 theÌ„ 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 theÌ„ home to the fold agayn By this wâ—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 theÌ„ 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 theÌ„ 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 froÌ„ 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 heaueÌ„s defile your conscieÌ„ce 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 patieÌ„tly 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 LoÌ„don 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
of them a token a bowed grote and desire them for Gods sake to helpe vs with theyr prayers Haue litle Katherine in minde Commend me vnto all good friendes Continue in prayer Beware of vanitie Let not God be dishonored in your conuersation but like a good Matron keepe your vessel in holines The peace of God rest with you for euer Amen My brother Iuison sendeth to you a tokē to your mother a token and to Katherine a token iij. pence Iohn Launder sendeth you a peece of Spanish mony father Heralt a peece of vi d. William Androwes sendeth you a rase of Ginger and I sēd your mother one and a Nutmeg I send Katherine Comfites for a token to eate I haue sent you a keyclog for a token Your husband Robert Smith A letter sent to his frende THe eternall God keepe you in his feare I haue hearty commendations vnto you and your husbande beseeching almighty God to preserue you in well doing and in perfecte knowledge of his Christe that yee may be founde faultles in the day of the Lorde I haue heard saye that my frende is geuen ouer to vanitie it breaketh my hearte not onely to heare that he so doeth but also teacheth other that it is vnhurtful to goe to all abhominations whych nowe stand in the Idols temples neuerthelesse deare frende be ye not mooued to follow sinners for they haue no inheritance with God and Christe But looke that by going into the Idoll temple ye defile not the temple of God for light hath no felowship with darkenesse But looke what the Lord hath commaunded that doe For if not going to Churche were without persecution they would not learne you that lesson But all thing that is sweete to the flesh is allowed of the fleshly The Lord shal reward euery man according to his woorkes and he that leadeth into captiuitie shall go into captiuitie and hee that by the fleshly man is led in the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption The Lorde Iesu geue thee his holy spirite Amen I haue sent thee an Epistle in metre whiche is not to be laid vp in thy cofer but in thy heart Seeke peace and ensue it Feare God loue God with all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy strength Thy frend and al mens in Christ Iesus Rob. Smith Scribled in much hast from N. the 12. of May. Robert Smith to all faithfull seruants of Christ exhorting them to be strong vnder persecution Content thy selfe with pacience With Christ to beare the crosse of paine Which can and will thee recompence A thousande folde with ioyes againe Let nothing cause thy heart to quaile Lanch out thy boate hale vp thy saile Put from the shore And be thou sure thou shalt attaine Vnto the port that shall remaine For euermore The burning of Steuen Harwood and Thomas Fust martyred for the testimonie of the Gospel ABout this time died also by cruell fire these two martyrs of God that is to saye Steuen Harwoode at Stratford and Thomas Fust at Ware Which both two as they were about one time burned with the fore mētioned Robert Smith and George Tankerfield although in sundry places so were they also examined and openly cōdemned togethers wyth them Their processe because it was ioyned all in one with the processe of Robert Smith other of the said company aboue mentioned I thought it superfluous againe to repeate the same saue that of Thomas Fust this is to be added that where as he in his last appering the 12. of Iuly was mooued by the Byshop to reuoke his opinion thus he answered No said he my Lorde for there is no truth commeth out of your mouth but all lyes Yee condemne men and will not heare the truthe Where can ye finde any annoynting or greasing in Gods booke I speake nothing but the truthe and I am certaine that it is the truthe that I speake This answere of hym onely I finde noted by the Register although howe slenderly these Registrers haue dealt in vttering such matters that is in omitting those thinges which moste woorthy were to be knowen by their doings it is easie to be seene But to be short after their answeres made both he Thomas Fust were for their faithfull perseuerance condemned together by the Bishop in his accustomed pitie as heretikes to be burned and so as before ye haue heard finished they their martyrdom the one at Stratford and the other at Ware in the moneth of August and yere abouesayd The constant Martyrdome of William Haile burned at Barnet OF the same companie of these x. aboue recorded whych were sent vp to Byshop Boner by sir Nicholas Hare and other Commissioners in the companie of George Tankerfielde and Roberte Smith was also Willyam Hayle of Thorpe in the Countie of Essex who lykewise being examined with the rest the 12. day of Iuly receiued with them also the sentence of cōdemnation Geuing thys exhortation with al to the lookers on Ah good people sayd he beware of this Idolatrer and thys Antichriste poynting The martyrdome of VVilliam Haile vnto the Bishop of London and so was he deliuered to the Sheriffes as an heretique to be burned who sente him to Barnet where about the latter ende of August hee moste constantly sealed vp his faith with the consuming of his bodye by cruell fire yeelding hys soule vnto the Lorde Iesus his onely and most sure redeemer George King Thomas Leyes Iohn VVade sickened in prisone and were buried in the fieldes YEe hearde before of ten sundry personnes sent oute of Newgate by Maister Hare and other Commissioners to be examined of Boner Bishoppe of London Of whome sixe already haue bene executed in seuerall places as hathe beene shewed whose names were Elizabeth Warne George Tankerfielde Robert Smith Steuen Harwoode Thomas Fust and William Haile Other three to witte George King Thomas Leyes and Iohn Wade sickening in Lollardes Tower were so weake that they were remooued into sundry houses wythin the Citie of London and there departed and cast out into the fieldes and there buryed by nighte of the faithfull brethren when none in the day durste doe it propter metum Iudaeorum The last that remained of thys foresayde company was Ioane Layshe or Layshforde the Daughter in lawe to Iohn Warne and Elizabeth Warne Martyrs but because shee was reprieued to a longer day her storie and Martyrdom we will deferre till the moneth of Ianuarie the next yeare following William Andrewe THe like catholike charitie was also shewed vpon William Andrew of Horsley in the Countie of Essex Carpenter who was brought to Newgate the firste day of Aprill 1555. by Iohn Motham Constable of Mauldon in Essex The first and principall promoter of hym was the Lorde Riche who sent him first to prisone An other great doer against him also seemeth to be sir Richard Southwel Knighte by a letter wrytten by him to Boner as
thee and I will send my wrath vpon thee vpon thee I say O Englande and punish thee according to thy wayes and rewarde thee after all thyne abhominations Thou hast kindled the fire of Gods wrath and hast stirred vp the coales For thou waste once lightned and hadst tasted of the heauenly gifte and wast become partaker of the holy ghost haddest tasted of the good word of God Yea it is yet in thy mouth sayth the Prophet Alas O Englād thou knewest thy Lorde and maisters wil but diddest nothing thereafter Thou must therefore sayeth hee suffer many stripes and many sharpe strokes and walke on in the glittering and hot flame of thine owne fire and in the coles that thou hast kindled This commeth to thee from my hande saith the Lorde namely That thou shalt sleepe in sorrowe yea euen so thou shalt The plain truth telleth the tale the immutable iustice of the euerliuing God and the ordinarie course of his plagues from the beginning confirmeth the same The ioy of our heart sayeth Ieremie is gone oure glory is fallē away our mery singing is turned into mourning the garland of our head is fallen Alas and weale away that euer we sinned so sore Wo worth all abhominations and wickednesse wo woorth cloked hypocrisie woe worth our carnall liberty wo worth our most cursed idolatrie For because of these things sayth the Lorde ye shall perish with sword hunger and pestilence Wherfore let all the wicked enemies of Christe and all the vnbeleuers look to be tormented and vexed with al hellish furies and cleane wythout hope at Gods accompting day which know not God in Christ to be their very righteousnesse their life their onely saluation alone sauiour nor beleeue not in him They must sayth S. Iohn needes abide and pearish wyth their sinnes in death and in eternall damnation But we be the children of Saintes as the elder Toby did aunswer and looke for an other life which God shall geue to all them which chaunge not theyr faith nor shrinke not from him Reioyce therefore ye Christian afflicted brethren for they can not take our soules and bodies out of the handes of the almighty which be kept as in the bosome of our most swete and louing father and if we abide fast in Christ and turn not away like weathercocks surely we shall liue for euer Christ affirmeth the same saying My sheepe heare my voyce I knowe them they hearken vnto me and to no straungers and I geue them euerlasting life for they shall not be lost nor no manne shall plucke them oute of my handes no nor yet this flattering world with all his vaine pleasures nor any tyranne with his great threates stout bragges can once mooue them oute of the way of eternall life What consolation and cōfort may we haue more pleasant and effectuous then thys God is on our side fighteth for vs he suffereth he smarteth and is afflicted wyth vs. As the world can doe nothing against his might neyther in taking away or diminishing of his glory nor putting him from his celestiall throne so can it not harme nor hurte any one of hys children without his good will For we are members of his body oute of hys fleshe and of hys bones and as deare to him as the apple of his eye Let vs therefore with an earnest faith set fast hold and sure feeling vpon the promises of God in the gospell let vs not be sundred from the same by any temptation tribulation or persecution Let vs consider the verity of God to be inuinsible inuiolable immutable Promising and geuing vs his faithfull souldiours life eternal It is he onely that hath deserued it for vs it is his onely benefite of his only mere mercy vnto him only must we render thāks Let not therefore the vaine fantasies and dreames of men the foolish gauds and toyes of the world nor the crafty delusions of the deuil driue and separate vs from our hope of the crowne of righteousnes that is layd vp in store for vs against the last day Oh that happy and merry last day I meane to the faithfull when Christ by his couenaunt shall graunt and geue vnto them that ouercome and keepe hys woordes to the ende that they may ascend and sitte in seate with him as he hath ascended sitteth on throne with hys father The same body and soule that is now wyth Christ afflicted shall then be with Christ glorified now in the butchers hands as shepe apoynted to die then sitting at Gods table with Christ in his kingdom as Gods honorable and deare children where we shall haue for earthly pouertie heauenly riches for hūger and thirst saturitie of the pleasant presence of the glory of God for sorrowes troubles and colde yrons celestiall ioyes and the company of aungels and for a bodely death life eternal Oh happy soules Oh precious death and euer more blessed right dear in the eyes of God to you the spring of the Lord shal euer be florishing Then as sayth Esay the redeemed shal returne and come againe into Sion praising the Lorde and eternall mercies shal be ouer their heads they shall obtaine mirth and solace sorrowe and woe shal be vtterly vanquished yea I am he sayeth the Lord that in all things geueth you euerlasting consolation To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be glory and praise for euer Amen Robert Samuel An other letter wrytten to the Christian congregation by Robert Samuel wherein he declareth the confession of his faith The beliefe of the hert iustifieth and the knowledge with the mouth maketh a man safe Rom. 10. Feare not the curse of mē be not afraid of their blasphemies and reuilings for wormes and mothes shal eat them vp like cloth and woolle but my righteousnesse shall endure for euer and my sauing health from generation to generation Esay 51. COnsidering with my selfe these pearillous times pearishing daies and the vnconstante and miserable state of man the decay of our faith the sinister reporte and false sclaunder of Gods most holy word these vrgent causes in conscience do constraine me to confesse and acknowledge my faith and meaning in Christes holy Religion as S. Peter teacheth me saying be readye alwayes to geue an aunswere to euerye man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you and that with meekenes and feare hauing a good conscience that when they backbite you as euill doers they may be ashamed for asmuche as they haue falsly accused your good conuersation in Christ. As touching my doctrine for that little talent that God hath geuen mee God I take to recorde mine owne conscience and mine auditorie knoweth that I neither in doctrine nor maners willingly taughte any other thinge then I receiued of the holye Patriarckes Prophetes Christe and hys Apostles For it were not onely sinne but also the verye parte of a cursed miscreant 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
sayd theyr brother Bishop Ridley but also carrishly without all order of law or honesty by extort power wrasted from them all the liuinges they had And yet being not therewith satisfied he sought all the meanes he could to worke the death of the foresayd Ship-side saying that he would make twelue godfathers to goe vpō him which had bene brought to passe in deed at what tyme he was prisoner at Oxford had not God otherwyse wrought his deliuerance by meanes of D. Heath Byshop then of Worcester Teste Georg. Shipsido Wherby all good indifferent Readers notoriously haue to vnderstand what great diuersity was in the disposition of these two natures Wherof as the one excelled in mercy and pity so the other agayne as muche or more excelled in churlish ingratitude and despitefull disdayne But of this matter enough Now concerning Gods vocation how Doctor Ridly was first called to the sauouring and fauouring of Christe and his Gospell partlye by his disputation before other his Treatises it may appeare that the first occasion of hys conuersion was by reading of Bertrams book of the Sacrament whom also the conferēce with Bishop Cranmer and with Peter Martyr did not a litle confirme in that behalfe Who now by the grace of GOD being throughly won and brought to the true way as he was before blind and zelous in his old ignoraunce so was he as constant faythfull in the right knowledge whiche the Lorde had opened vnto him as well appeared by his preachings and doynges duringe all the time of Kyng Edwarde and so long dyd muche good while authoritye of externe power might defend and hold vp the peace of the church and proceedinges of the Gospell But after that it pleased so the heauēly will of our Lord our God to bereue vs of the stay and to call from vs Kyng Edward that precious Prince as the whole state of the Churche of Englande was leafte desolate and open to the enemies hande so this Byshop Ridley after the comming in of Queene Mary eftsoone and with the first was layd handes vpō and committed to prison as before hath sufficiently bene expressed first in the Tower then after translated from thence with the Archebishop of Canterbury and mayster Latimer to Oxforde was with them inclosed in the common Gayle and prison of Bocardo while at lēgth being disseuered from them he was committed to custody in the house of one Irish wher he remayned till the last day of his death and martyrdome which was from the yeare of our Lord. 1554. till the yeare 1555. and 16. day of October Furthermore as touching his disputations cōflicts had at Oxford and also of his determination had at Cambridge also his trauels in perswading and instructing the Lady Mary before she was Queene his reasons conference likewise had in the tower at the Lieutenants boord enough hath bene sayd already Besides this other conferences hee had in prison both with D. Cranmer and M. Latimer as here foloweth to be read * A conference had betwixt Mayster Ridley and Mayster Latimer in prison vpon the obiection of Antonian meaning by that name some popish persecutour as Winchester alluding thereby to the story of Victor lib. 3. de persecut Aphri IN writing agayne yee haue done me an vnspeakeable pleasure and I pray that the Lord may requite it you in that day For I haue receiued great comfort at your wordes but yet I am not so filled withall but that I thyrste much more nowe then before to drinke more of that cuppe of yours wherein ye mingle vnto me profitable wyth pleasaunt I pray you good father let me haue one draught more to comfort my stomacke For surely except the Lord assist me with his gracious ayde in the time of his seruice I know I shall play but the part of a white liuered knight But truely my trust is in him that in mine infirmitye hee should try himselfe strong and that he can make the Coward in his cause to fight like a man Syr now I looke dayly when Diotrephes wyth hys warriours shall assault me wherefore I pray you good father for that you are an olde Souldiour and an experte warriour and God knoweth I am but a young Souldiour and as yet of small experience in these fittes helpe me I pray you to buckle my harnesse And now I would haue you to thinke that these dartes are cast at my head of some one of Diotrephes or Antonius souldiers The obiection of the Antonian All men maruell greatlye why you after the libertye which you haue graunted vnto you more then the rest do not go to masse which is a thing as you know now much estemed of all men yea of the Queene herselfe The aunswere Because no man that layeth hande on the plough and looketh backe is fitte for the kingdome of God and also for the selfe same cause why Saynt Paule woulde not suffer Titus to be circumcised which is that the truth of the gospell might remayne with vs vncorrupt Gala. the second and agayne If I builde agayne the thinges which I destroyed I make my selfe a trespasser This is also another cause least I should seeme by outwarde facte to allowe the thing which I am perswaded is contrary to sounde doctrine and so should be a stumbling stocke vnto the weake But woe be vnto him by whom offence commeth it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the middest of the sea Except the Lord helpe me ye say Truth it is For with out me sayth he ye can do nothing much lesse suffer death of our aduersaryes through the bloudy lawe now prepared agaynst vs. But it foloweth if ye abide in me and my woorde abide in you aske what yee will and it shall bee done for you What canne be more comfortable Syr you make aunswere your selfe so well that I cannot beter it Syr I beginne now to smell what you meane by trauelling thus with me you vse me as Bilney dyd once when he conuerted me pretēding as though he would be taught of me he sought wayes and meanes to teach me and so do you I thanke you therefore most hartely For in deed you minister armour vnto me whereas I was vnarmed before and vnprouided sauing that I geue my selfe to prayer for my refuge What is it then that offendeth you so greatlye in the Masse that ye will not vouchsafe once eyther to heare it or see it And from whence commeth this new religion vp on you haue not you vsed in times past to say masse your selfe I confesse vnto you my fault and ignorance but know you that for these matters I haue done penaunce long agoe both at Paules crosse and also openly in the Pulpit at Cambridge and I truste God hath forgeuen mee thys mine offence for I didde it vpon ignoraunce But if ye be desirous to knowe and will vouchsafe to heare what thinges
Isaac and Iacob Peter and Paule and all the heauenly company of the Aungels in heauen through Iesus Christ our Lord. As yet there was neuer learned man nor anye scholer or other that visited vs since we came into Bocardo which nowe in Oxforde may be called a Colledge of Quondams For as ye know wee be no fewer then three and I dare say euery one wel contented with his portion which I do reckē to be our heauenly fathers fatherly good and gracious gift Thus fare you well We shal by Gods grace one day meete together and be merry The day assuredly approcheth apace The Lorde graunt that it maye shortly come For before that daye come I feare me the world will waxe worse and worse But then all our enemies shal be ouerthrowne and troden vnder foote righteousnes and truth then shall haue the victory and beare the bell away whereof the Lorde graunt vs to be partakers and al that loueth truely the truth We al pray you as ye can to cause all our commendations to be made to all such as ye know did visite vs and you when we were in the Tower with their frendly remembraunces and benefites Maistresse Wilkenson and maistresse Warcup haue not forgottē vs but euer since we came to Bocardo with their charitable and frendly beneuolence haue comforted vs not that els we did lacke for God be blessed he euer hitherto hath prouided sufficiently for vs but that is a great comfort and an occasion for vs to blesse God when we see that he maketh them so frendly to tender vs whom some of vs were neuer familiarly acquaynted withall Yours in Christ Nich Ridley ¶ Letter of mayster Ridley sent to a Cosin of his GOds holy spirite be with you now and euer Amen When I call to remembraunce beloued Cosin the state of those that for feare of trouble eyther for losse of goods wil do in the sight of the world those thinges that they know and are assured are contrary to the wyll of God I can do no lesse but lamēt theyr case being assured the end thereof will be so pittifull without speedy repentaunce that I tremble and feare to haue it in remembraunce I would to God it lay vpon some earthly burden so that freedome of conscience might be geuen vnto them I wrote as God knoweth not of presumption but onely lamenting the state of those whome I thought now in this dangerous time should haue geuen both you and me comfortable instructions But alas in steade thereof we haue instructions to folow I lament me to rehearse it superstitious Idolatrye Yea and that woorst of all is they wil seeke to proue it by the Scriptures The Lord for his mercy turne their hartes Amen Commend me c. Yours Nicholas Ridley ¶ To Mayster Bradford BRother Bradford I wishe you and your company in Christ yea and al the holy brotherhood that now with you in diuers prisons suffereth and beareth paciētly christes crosse for the mayntenance of his Gospell grace mercy and peace from God the father and from our Lord Iesus Christ. Sir considering the state of this chiualrie and warfare wherin I doubt not but we be set to fight vnder Christes banner and his crosse agaynst our ghostly enemy the deuill and the old serpent Satan me thinke I perceiue 2. things to be hys most perilous and moste daungerous engynes whiche he hath to impugne Christes veritie hys gospell and hys fayth and the same two also to be the most massy postes and most mightye pillers whereby hee mayntayneth and vpholdeth his Satanical sinagogue These two sir are they in my iudgement the one his false doctrine idolatrical vse of the Lordes supper and the other that wicked and abhominable vsurpation of the premacy of the See of Rome By these two Satan seemeth to me principally to mayntayne and vphold hys kingdome by these two he driueth downe mightily alas I feare me the third parte of the stars in heauen These two poysonfull rotten posts he hath so paynted ouer with such a pretense and colour of Religion of vnitie in Christes Churche of the Catholicke fayth and such like that the wily serpent is able to deceiue if it were possible euen the elect of God Wherfore Iohn sayd not without great cause If any know not Satans subtleties and the profundities thereof I will wishe him no other burden to be laden withall Syr because these be hys principall and mayne postes whereupon standeth all his falsehoode crafte and trechery therfore according to the poore power that God hath geuen me I haue bended mine artillary to shoote at the same I knowe it to be but little God knoweth that I can doe and of my shotte I knowe they passe not Yet I will not God willing cease to doe the best that I can to shake those cankered and rotten postes The Lorde graunt me good successe to the glory of hys name and the furtherance of Christes Gospell I haue now already I thanke God for this present tyme spent a good parte of my ponder in these scriblinges wherof this bearer shal geue you knowledge Good brother Bradford let the wicked surmise and say what they list know you for a certaintie by GODS grace without all doubt that in Christes Gospelles cause agaynst and vpon the foresayd Gods enemies I am fully determined to liue and dye Fare well deare brother and I beseeche you and al the rest of our brethren to haue good remembraunce of the condemned heretiques as they call them of Oxford in your prayers The bearer shall certifie you of our state Farewell in the Lorde From Bocardo Yours in Christ Nicholas Ridley * An other letter of Mayster Ridley vnto Mayster Bradforde and other his prison fellowes An. 1555. DEarely beloued I wish you grace mercy and peace According to your minde I haue runne ouer all your papers and what I haue done which is but small therein may appeare In two places I haue put in two loose leaues I had muche adoe to read that was written in your great leaues and I weene some where I haue altered some words because I could not read perfectly that which was written Sir what shall best be done with these thinges now ye must consider for if they come in sight at this time vndoubtedly they must to the fire with theyr father and as for any safegard that your custody can be vnto them I am sure you looke not for it For as you haue bene partner of the worke so I am sure you looke for none other but to haue and receiue like wages and to drynke of the same cup. Blessed be God that hath geuen you liberty in the meane season that you may vse your penne to hys glory and the comforte as I heare say of many I blesse God dayly in you and all your whole company to whom I beseeche you commend me hartily Nowe I loue my country man in deed
in trueth I meane Doctor Taylor not for my earthly countryes sake but for oure heauenlye fathers sake and for Christes sake whome I heard say he did so stoutly in tyme of perill confesse and yet also for our countryes sake and for all our mothers sake but I mean of the kingdome of heauen and of heauenly Hierusalem and because of the spirite whiche bringeth in hym in you and in your company such blessed fruites of boldnes in the Lords cause of pacience and constancie The Lord which hath begun this work in you all performe and perfite this his owne deede vntill his owne day come Amen As yet I perceaue yee haue bene not bayted and the cause therof God knoweth which wil let thē doe no more to his then is his pleased will and pleasure to suffer them to doe for his owne glory and to the profite of them which be truely his For the father whiche doth guide them that be Christes to Christ is more mighty then all they and no man is able to pul thē out of the fathers handes except I saye it please our father it please our mayster Christe to suffer them they shall not stirre one heare of your heades My brother P. the bearer hereof and mayster Hoopers letters woulde that we shoulde saye what we thinke good concerning your minde that is not for to answere except ye might haue somewhat indifferent Iudges We are as yee knowe separated and one of vs cannot in any thing consult with an other and much strayte watching of the Baliffes is about vs that there be no priuye conference amongest vs. And yet as wee heare the scholers beareth vs more heauily then the townesmen A wonderfull thing among so many neuer yet scholler offered to any of vs so farre as I know any maner of fauor eyther for or in Christes cause Nowe as concerning your demaund of our counsell for my part I do not mislike that which I perceiue ye are minded to do For I looke for none other but if ye aunswere afore the same Commissioners that we did ye shall be serued and handled as we were though ye were as wel learned as euer was either Peter or Paule And yet further I thinke that occasion afterward may be geuen you and the consideration of the profite of your auditory may perchaunce moue you to do otherwise Finally determinetely to say what shal be best I am not able but I trust he whose cause ye haue in hand shall put you in minde to do that which shal be most for his glory the profite of his flock and your owne saluation This letter must be common to you and Maister Hooper in whome and in his prison fellowe good father C. I blesse God euen from the bottome of my hart for I doubt not but they both doe to our maister Christ true acceptable and honourable seruice and profitable to his flocke the one with his penne and the other with his fatherly example of pacience and constancie and all manner of true godlinesse But what shall I neede to say to you Let thys be common among your brethrē among whom I dare say it is with you as it is with vs to whome all things heere are common meat mony and whatsoeuer one of vs hath that can or maye doe an other good Althoughe I sayde the Bailiffes and our Hostesse straitly watche vs that we haue no conference or intelligence of anye thinge abroade yet hath God prouided for euery one of vs in steade of our seruauntes faithfull fellowes whyche will be content to heare and see and to doe for vs what soeuer they can It is Gods worke surely blessed be God for his vnspeakable goodnesse The grace of oure Lorde Iesus Christe and the loue of God and the communication of the holy Ghost be with you all Amen Amen As farre as London is from Oxforde yet thence wee haue receiued of late both meate money and shyrts not onely from suche as are of our acquaintaunce but of some whome thys bearer can tell with whome I hadde neuer to my knowledge any acquaintance I knowe for whose sake they doe it to him therfore be all honor glory and due thankes And yet I pray you do so much as to shewe them that we haue receiued theyr beneuolence and God be blessed haue plentie of al such things This I desire you to do for I know they be of M. Hoopers your familiar acquaintaunce Maister Latimer was crased but I heare nowe thankes be to God that he amendeth againe Nicholas Ridley An other Letter of Maister Ridley vnto Maister Bradford OH deare brother seeing the time is now come wherin it pleaseth the heauenly father for Christe our sauiour his sake to call vpon you and to bid you to come happie are you that euer you were borne thus to be found awake at the lords calling Euge serue bone fidelis quia super pauca fuisti fidelis super multa te constituet intrabis in gaudium Domini i. Wel good seruaunt and faithful because thou hast ben trusty in small matters he shall set thee ouer great things thou shalt enter into the ioye of thy Lorde O deare brother what meaneth thys that you are sent into your owne natiue countrey The wisedome and policie of the worlde may meane what they will but I trust God will so order the matter finally by his fatherly prouidence that some great occasion of Gods gracious goodnesse shal be plenteously powred abroad amongst his our deare brethren in that country by this your martyrdome where the Martyrs for Christes sake shed their bloud and lost their liues O what wonderous things hathe Christe afterward wrought to his glory and confirmation of their doctrine If it be not the place that sanctifieth the man but the holy man doth by Christe sanctifie the place Brother Bradford then happy and holy shal be that place wherein thou shalt suffer and shalt be with thy ashes in Christes cause sprinkled ouer withall All thy countrey may reioyce of thee that euer it brought foorth such a one which would render his life againe in his cause of whome he had receiued it Brother Bradford so long as I shall vnderstande thou art in thy iourney by Gods grace I shall call vppon our heauenly Father for Christes sake to sette thee safely home and then good brother speake you and praye for the remnant that are to suffer for Christes sake according to that thou then shalt know more clearely We do loke now euery day when we shal be called on blessed be God I weene I am the weakest many wayes of our companie and yet I thanke oure Lorde God and heauenly Father by Christ that since I heard of our deare brother Rogers departing and stout confession of Christe and his truth euen vnto the death my heart blessed be God reioyced of it that since that time I say I neuer fealt any lumpish heauinesse in my
heart as I graunt I haue fealt sometimes before O good brother blessed be God in thee and blessed be the time that euer I knewe thee Farewell farewell Your brother in Christ Nicholas Ridley Brother farewell To the brethren remaining in captiuitie of the flesh and dispearsed abroad in sundry prisones but knit together in vnity of spirit and holy Religion in the bowels of the Lorde Iesu. GRace peace mercye be multiplied among you What worthy thankes can we render vnto the Lorde for you my brethren namely for the great coÌ„solation which through you we haue receiued in the Lorde who notwithstanding the rage of Sathan that goeth about by all maner of subtill meanes to beguile the worlde and also buâ—lâ— laboreth to restore and set vp his kingdome againe that of late began to decay and fall to ruine ye remaine yet stil 〈◊〉 as men surely grounded vpon a strong rocke And nowe albeit that sathan by his souldiors and wicked ministers daily as we heare draweth numbers vnto hym so that it is sayd of him that he plucketh euen the very starres out of heauen whiles hee driueth into some men thâ— feare of death and losse of all their goods and sheweth and offereth to other some the pleasaunt baites of the worlde namelye richesse wealth and all kinde of delightes and pleasures faire houses great reuenues â—at benefices and what not and all to the intent they should fall downe worship not the Lorde but the Dragon the olde Serpent whych is the deuil that great beast and his image and should be inâ—iced to commit fornication with the strompet of Babilon together wyth the kings of the earth wyth the lesser beast and with the false Prophetes and so to reioyce and be pleasant wyth her and to be drunken wyth the wine of her fornication yet blessed be God the Father of oure Lorde Iesus Christe which hath geuen vnto you a manly courage and hath so strengthened you in the inwarde man by the power of his spirite that you can contemne as well all the terrours as also the vaine flatteringe allurementes of the worlde esteeming them as vanities mere trifles things of nought Who hath also wroughte planted and surely stablished in your hearts so stedfast a fayth and loue of the Lorde Iesus Christe ioyned with such constancie that by no engines of Antichriste be they neuer so terrible or plausible yee will suffer any other Iesus or any other Christ to be forced vpon you besides him whom the Prophetâ— haue spoken of before the Apostles haue preached the holy Martyrs of God haue coÌ„fessed and testified with the effusion of their bloud In thys Faith stand ye fast my brethren and suffer not your selues to be brought vnder the yoke of bondage and superstition any more For ye know brethren howe that our sauiour warned his beforehand that such shoulde come as would poynt vnto the world an other Christ and woulde set him out wyth so many fals myracles and with such deceiueable and subtill practises that euen the very electe if it were possible should be therby deceiued such strong delusion to come did our Sauiour geue warning of before But continue ye faithful and constant and be of good comfort remember that our graund captaine hath ouercome the world for he that is in vs is stronger then he that is in the world and the Lorde promiseth vnto vs that for the elects sake the daies of wickednes shall be shortned In the meane season abide ye endure with patience as ye haue begun endure I say and reserue your selues vnto better times as one of the heathen Poetes said cease not to shew yourselues valiant Soldiours of the Lorde and helpe to maintaine the trauelling faith of the Gospell Yee haue neede of patience that after ye haue done the wil of God ye may receiue the promises For yet a very litle while and he that shall come will come and wil not tarie and the iust shall liue by faith but if anye withdrawe him selfe my soule shall haue no pleasure in him sayth the Lorde But we are not they which doe withdrawe oure selues vnto damnation but beleeue vnto the saluation of the soule Let vs not suffer these woordes of Christ to fall out of our hearts by any manner of terrours or threatnings of the worlde Feare not them which kil the body the rest ye know For I wryte not vnto you as to menne which are ignoraunt of the truth but which know the truthe and to this ende onely that we agreeing together in one faith may take comfort one of an other and be the more confirmed and strengthened thereby We neuer had a better or more iust cause either to contemne our life or shed our bloud we can not take in hande the defence of a more certaine cleare and manifest truthe For it is not any ceremonie for the which we contend but it toucheth the very substance of our whole Religion yea euen Christ him selfe Shall we either can we receiue and acknowledge any other Christe in steade of hym who is alone the euerlasting sonne of the euerlasting Father and is the brightnesse of the glory and liuely image of the substaunce of the Father in whome onely dwelleth corporally the fulnesse of the Godhead who is the onely waye the truth and the life Let such wickednesse my brethren lette such horrible wickednesse be farre from vs. For althoughe there be that are called Gods whether in heauen either in earth as there be many Gods and many Lordes yet vnto vs there is but one God which is the Father of whome are al things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whome are all things and wee by him but euery man hath not knowledge This is life eternal sayth S. Iohn that they know thee to be the onely true God and whome thou haste sent Iesus Christ. If any therfore would force vpon vs any other GOD besides him whom Paule and the Apostles haue taughte let vs not heare him but let vs flee froÌ„ him and hold him accursed Brethren ye are not ignorant of the deepe and profouÌ„d subtleties of Satan for he will not cease to raunge about you seking by all meanes possible whom he may deuour but play ye the men and be of good comfort in the Lorde And albeit your enemies and the aduersaries of the truth armed with all worldly force and power that may be doe set vppon you yet be not ye faynt harted nor shrinke not therfore but trust vnto your Captayne Christ trust vnto the spirit of truth trust to the truth of your cause which as it may by the malice of satan be darckened so can it neuer be cleane put out For we haue high prayse be geuen to God therfore most playnely euidently and clearely on our side all the Prophets all the Apostles and vndoubtedly all the auncient Ecclesiastical writers which haue writtan vntill
and aged folkes that before were not taught to know Christe in their childehood shoulde now euen with children and babes be forced to learne to know him Now therefore he roreth now he rageth But what els do they brethren which serue Satan and become his ministers slaues in mainteining of his impietie but euen the same which they did to whom Christ our Sauiour threatneth this curse in the Gospell Woe vnto you which shutte vp the kingdome of heauen before men take away the key of knowledge from them you your selues haue not entred in neither haue you suffered them that would enter to come in And from whence shall we say brethren that this horrible mischeuous darknes proceedeth which is nowe brought vpon the worlde From whence I pray you but euen from the smoke of the great furnace of the bottomlesse pit so that the sunne and the ayre are now darkened by the smoke of the pit Now euen now out of doubt brethren the pit is opened agaynst vs and the Locustes begyn to swarme and Abbadon now raigneth Ye therfore my brethren which pertaine vnto Christ and haue the seale of God marked in your foreheades that is to wit are sealed with the earnest of the spirite to be a peculiar people of God quite your selues like men and be strong for he that is in vs is stronger then he which is in the world and ye know that al that is borne of God ouercommeth the world and this is our victory that ouercommeth the worlde euen our fayth Let the world freat let it rage neuer so much be it neuer so cruel and bloudy yet be ye sure that no man can take vs out of the fathers handes for he is greater then all who hath not spared his owne sonne but hath geuen him to death for vs all and therefore how shall he not with him geue vs all thinges also Who shall lay any thyng to the charge of Gods elect It is God that iustifieth who shall then condemne It is Christ that is dead yea rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God and maketh request also for vs. Who shall seperate vs from the loue of Christe Shall tribulation or anguish or persecution or famine or nakednes or perill or sworde the rest ye knowe breathren We are certainely perswaded with S. Paul by the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe that no kynde of thyng shal be able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Which thyng that it may come to passe by the grace and mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ to the comfort both of you of vs all as we for our partes will continually God wyllyng pray for you so deare brethren in the Lorde with all earnest and harty request we beseech you euen in the bowelles of our Lorde Iesus Christ that ye will not cease to pray for vs. Fare ye well deare brethren The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe be with you all euermore Amen ¶ A Letter of Byshop Ridley answearyng to a certayne Letter of one Maister West sometime his Chapleine I Wishe you grace in God and loue of the truth without the which truely stablished in mens hartes by the mightie hand of almighty God it is no more possible to stande by the truth in Christe in tyme of trouble then it is for the waxe to abide the heate of the fyre Sir knowe you this that I am blessed be God perswaded that this worlde is but transitorie and as saint Iohn sayth The world passeth away and the lust thereof I am perswaded Christes wordes to be true Who soeuer shall confesse me before men hym will I confesse also before my father which is in heauen and I beleue that no earthly creature shal be saued whom the Redeemer and Sauiour of the worlde shall before his father denie This the Lorde graunt that it may be so graffed established and fixed in my hart that neyther thinges present nor to come hygh nor low lyfe nor death be able to remoue me thence It is a goodly wishe that you wish me deepely to consider thinges perteyning vnto Gods glorye but if you had wished also that neither feare of death nor hope of worldly prosperitie shoulde let me to mayneteine Gods worde and his truth which is his glory and true honour it would haue liked me well You desire me for Gods sake to remember my selfe In deede sir nowe it is time so to do for so farre as I can perceiue it standeth me vpon no lesse daunger then of the losse both of body and soule and I trow then it is time for a man to awake if any thyng will awake him He that will not feare hym that threatneth to cast both body soule into euerlasting fire whom will he feare With this feare O Lord fasten thou together our frayle flesh that we neuer swarue from thy lawes You say you haue made much sute for me Sir God graunt that you haue not in suing for my worldly deliueraunce impayred and hindered the furtheraunce of Gods worde and his truth You haue knowen me long in deede in the which time it hath chaunced me as you say to mislike some thinges It is true I graunt for sodaine chaunges without substantiall and necessary cause and the heady settyng foorth of extremities I did neuer loue Confession vnto the minister which is able to instruct correct comfort informe the weake wounded and ignoraunt conscience in deede I euer thought might do much good in Christes congregation and so I assure you I thynke euen at this daye My doctrine and my preaching you say you haue hearde often and after your iudgement haue thought it godly sauyng onely for the Sacrament which thing although it was of me reuerently handled and a great deale better then of the rest as you yet in the margent you write warily and in this worlde wisely and yet me thought all sounding not well Sir but that I see so many changes in this worlde so much alteration els at this your saying I would not a litle marueile I haue taken you for my frend and a man whom I fansied for plainnes and faythfulnes as much I assure you as for your learning and haue you kept this so close in your hart from me vnto this day Sir I consider moe things then one and wil not say all that I thinke But what neede you to care what I thinke for any thing I shal be able to do vnto you eyther good or harme You geue me good lessons to stand in nothing against my learning and to beware of vayne glory Truely sir I herein like your counsell very well and by Gods grace I intend to folow it vnto my lyues end To write vnto those whom you name I can not see what it wyll auayle me For this I woulde haue you knowe that I esteeme nothyng auayleable for me
Doctor Ridley to the letter abouesayd BLessed be God our heaueÌ„ly father which enclined your hart to haue such a desire to write vnto me blessed be he againe which hath heard your request hath brought your letters safe vnto my handes and ouer all this I blesse him through our Lorde Iesus Christe for the great comfort I haue receiued by the same of the knowledge of your state and of other our dearely beloued brethren and countreymen in those parties beyond the sea Dearely beloued brother Grindall I say to you and all the rest of our brethren in Christe with you reioyce in the Lord and as ye loue me and the other my reuerend fathers and concaptiues whiche vndoubtedly are Gloria Christi lament not our state but I beseech you and them all to geue to our heauenly Father for his endlesse mercies and vnspeakeable benefits euen in the myddest of all our troubles geuen vnto vs most harty thankes For knowe ye that as the weight of his crosse hath increased vpoÌ„ vs so he hath not nor doth not cease to multiply his mercies to strengthen vs and I trust yea by his grace I doubt nothing but he will so do for Christe our Maisters sake euen to the end To heare that you and our other brethren doo finde in your exile fauour and grace with the Magistrates Ministers and Citizens at Tigury at Frankford and other where it doth greatly comfort I dare say all here that do in deede loue Christe and his true woorde I ensure you it warmed my hart to heare you by chaunce to name some as Scory and Coxe c. Oh that it had come in your mynde to haue sayd somewhat also of Cheeke of Turner of Leauer of Sampson of Chambers but I trust in God they be all well And sir seeyng you say that there be in those parties with you of studentes and Ministers so good a number nowe therefore care ye not for vs otherwyse then to wish that Gods glory may be set forth by vs. For whensoeuer God shall call vs home as we looke dayly for none other but when it shal please God to say come you blessed be God are enough through his ayde to light and set vp againe the lanterne of his worde in Englande As concerning the copies ye say ye haue with you I wonder how euer they did and could find the way to come to you My disputation except he haue that whiche I gathered my selfe after the disputation done I can not thynke ye haue it truly If ye haue that then ye haue therwithall the whole maner after the which I was vsed in the disputation As for the treatise in English Contra transubstantiationem vix possum adduci vt credam operaepretium fore vt in latinum transferatur Caeterum quicquid sit nullo modo velim vt quicquam quocunque modo meo nomine ederetur donec quid de nobis dominus constituerit fieri vobis prius certo constiterit and thus much vnto your letters Now although I suppose ye know a good parte of our state here for we are forth commyng euen as when ye departed c. You shall vnderstande that I was in the Towar about the space of two monethes close prisoner and aâ—ter that had graunted to me without my labour the liberty of the Tower and so continued about halfe a yeare and then because I refused to allow the Masse with my presence I was shut vp in close prison agayne The last Lent saue one it chaunsed by reason of the tumult styrred vp in Kent there was so many prisoners in the Tower that my Lord of Canterbury M. Latimer Maister Bradford and I were put altogether in one prison where we remayned still almost to the nexte Easter and then we three Canterbury Latimer and I were sodenly sent a litle before Easter to Oxford and were suffered to haue nothing with vs but that we caried vpon vs. About the Whitsontide followyng was our disputations at Oxford after the which was all taken from vs as pen and inke c. Our owne seruauntes were taken from vs before and euery one had put to hym a straunge man and we eche one appoynted to be kept in seuerall places as we are vnto this day Blessed be God we three at the writing hereof were in good health and in God of good cheare We haue looked long agoe to haue bene dispatched for we were all three on one day within a day or two of our disputations of D. Weston being the head Commissioner condemned for heretikes and since that tyme we remayne as we were of hym left The Lordes will be fulfilled in vs as I do not doubt but by his grace it shal be to his glory and our endles saluation through Iesus Christ our Lord. Likewise the Lord hitherto hath preserued aboue all our expectation our deare brother and in Christes cause a strong Champion Iohn Bradford He is likewyse condemned and is already deliuered to the secular power and writtes as we haue heard say geuen out for his execution and called in agayne Thus the Lord so long as his blessed pleasure is preserueth whom he listeth notwithstanding the wonderfull raging of the world Many as we heare say haue suffered valiauntly confessyng Christes truth and nothyng yeeldyng to the aduersary yea not for the feare or paynes of death The names of them whiche I knewe and haue nowe suffered are these Farrar the Bishop of S. Dauides Hooper the Bishop of Worcester Rogers tuus olim comprebendarius D. Tailour of Hadley M. Sanders and one Tomkins a weauer and now this last day M. Cardmaker with an other were burnt in Smithfielde at London and many other in Essex and Kent whose names are written in the booke of lyfe whom yet I do not know West your olde companion and sometyme myne officer alas hath relented as I haue heard but the Lorde hath shortned his dayes for anone he dyed and is gon Grimbolde was caught by the heele and caste into the Marshalsey but now is at liberty againe but I feare me he escaped not without some becking and bowyng alas of his knee vnto Baall My deare friende Thomas Ridley of the Bulhead in Cheape which was to me the most faythfull friende that I had in my trouble is departed also vnto God My brother Shipside that hath maried my sister hath ben almost halfe a yeare in prison for deliuering as he was accused of certayne thynges I wene from mee but now thankes be to God he is at libertie agayne but so that the Bishop hath taken from him his Parke Of all vs three concaptiues at Oxford I am kept most strait and with least libertie Vel quia viro in cuius aedibus ego custodior vxor dominatur licet modo sit Prefectus ciuitatis mulier vetula morosa superstiosiss quae etiam hoc sibi laudi ducit quod me dicatur arctissime cautissime
custodire vir autem ipse Irischius nomine mitis satis est oiÌ„bus â—xori vero plusquam obsequentiss Licet vxorem vti nosti nunquam habuerim tamen ex hac quotidiana consuetudine quem cum istis coniugibus habeo videor mihi nonnihil posse intelligere quam graue malum intolerabile iugum sit cum mala muliere in coniugio collâ—cari Recte ergo sapiens dixit vxor bona donum Dei iterum mulieris bonae beatus vir Vel haec inquam causa est vel quia á magnis magistratibus nescio quas ob causas illud est vt ita fieret ipsis mandatum idque illi si quando de mea nimia seruitute apud eos conqueror sedulo saepe rursus mihi inculcant At Cambridge as I heare say Omnes studiorum statutorum reformationes nuper factae nunc sunt denuo deformatae delete omnia sunt in pristinum chaos in antiquum papismum reducta omnes collegiorum prefecti qui synceritati Euangelij fauebant vel qui coniugati erant loco motiâ— sunt alij Papisticae factionis in eorum loca surrogati quod de socijs collegiorum qui noluerunt flectere genu Baal factum esse audio Nec mirum nam illud passim factum est in vniuerso regno Angliae in omnibus Archiepiscopis Episcopis Decanis Prebendarijs Sacerdotibus Ecclesiarum in toto clâ—â—o and to tell you muche naughty matter in fewe woordes Papismus apud nos vbique in pleno suo antiquo robore regnat The Lord be mercyfull and for Christes sake pardon vs our olde vnkyndnesse and vnthankefulnesse for when he powred vppon vs the gyftes of his manifolde graces and fauoure alas we did not serue him nor render vnto hym thankes according to the same We pastors manye of vs were to colde and bare to much alas with the wicked worlde our Magistrates did abuse to their owne worldly gayne both Gods Gospell and the ministers of the same The people in many places was wayward and vnkynde Thus of euery side and of euery sorte we haue prouoked Gods anger and wrath to fall vppon vs but blessed myght he be that hath not suffered his to continue in those wayes which so wholly haue displeased his secrete Maiestie but hath awaked them by the fatherly correction of his owne sonnes crosse vnto his glorie and our endlesse saluation through Iesus Christe our Lorde My dayly prayer is as God doth know and by gods grace shall be so long as I lyue in this worlde for you my deare brethren that are fled out of your owne Counâ—â—y because you will rather forsake all worldly thynges 〈◊〉 the truth of Gods worde It is euen the same that I 〈◊〉 to make to GOD for all those Churches abroad through the worlde which haue forsaken the kyngdome of Antichrist and professed openly the puritie of the Gospell of Iesus Christ that is that God our eternall father for our Sauiour Christes sake will dayly encrease in you the gracious gifte of his heauenly spirite to the true settyng forth of his glory and of his Gospell and make you to agree brotherly in the truth of the same that there arise no rote of bitternesse among you that may infect that good seede which God hath sowen in your hartes already and finally that your lyfe may be so pure and so honest accordyng to the rule of Gods worde and according to that vocation whereunto we are called by the Gospell of Christ our Sauiour that the honesty and purity of the same may prouoke all that shall see or knowe it to the loue of your doctrine and to loue you for your honesty and vertues sake and so both in brotherly vnity of your true doctrine and also in the Godly vertue of your honest lyfe to glorifie our father which is in heauen Ex nostratibus magni aliquot magistratus Cancellarius Wint. Comes Arundellus Dominus Pachetus iam legatione funguntur vna cum Cardinali Polo in partibus transmarinis ad componendam vt aiunt pacem inter imperatorem regem nostrum Francorum regem Post illorum magistratuum nostrorum reditum partum reginae quem iam quotidie expectamus iam aliquandiu expectauimus quemque Deus pro sui nominis gloria dignetur bene illi fortunare nos tunc statim nihil aliud quam nostrae confessionis de hoste nostro antiquo triúmphales in domino coronas expectamus Omnium vestrûm precibus me humillime ex toto corde commendo In primis tuis o chariss in Christo frater delectiss Grindalle chariss fratrum vnicè mihi in domino delectorum Checi Coxi Turneri Leueri Sampsonis Chamberi omnium fratrum nostrorum conterraneorum qui apud vos degunt deligunt dominum nostrum Iesum Christum in veritate Commendo etiam vobis reuerendiss patres concaptiuos meos in domino Thomam Cranmerum iam veri magni pastoris Archipresulis nomine digniss veteranum illum Christi nostrae gentis Anglicanae verum Apostolum Hugonem Latimerum Condona mihi frater harum prolixitatem non enim post hac credo charissime frater meis literis iam amplius aliquando turbaberis Oxonij N. R. ¶ To Augustine Bernher BRother Augustine I blesse God with all my hart in his maninifolde mercifull gyftes geuen vnto our deare breathren in Christ especially to our brother Rogers whom it pleased to set forth fyrst no doubt but of his gracious goodnes and fatherly fauour towardes hym And likewyse blessed be God in the rest as Hoper Saunders and Taylour whom it hath pleased the Lord likewyse to set in the forefront of the battayle agaynst his aduersaries and hath endued them all so farre as I can heare to stand in the confession of his truth and to be content in his cause and for his Gospels sake to lose their lyfe And euermore and without ende blessed be euen the same our heauenly father for our deare and entirely beloued brother Bradford whom nowe the Lorde I perceiue calleth for for I weene he will no longer vouchsafe him to abide among the adulterous and wicked generation of this worlde I do not doubt but that he for those giftes of grace whiche the Lorde hath bestowed on hym plenteously hath holpen those which are gon before in their iourney that is hath animated and encouraged them to keepe the hygh way sic currere vti tandem acciperent praemium The Lord be his comfort whereof I do not doubt and I thanke God hartely that euer I was acquainted with him and that euer I had such a one in my house And yet agayne I blesse GOD in our deare brother and of this tyme Protomartyr Rogers that he was also one of my calling to be a Prebendary Preacher of London And now because Grindall is gone the Lorde I doubt not hath and knoweth wherein
recompense where as I my selfe am not able I shall not cease to pray my Lorde God which both is able and also doth in deede reward all them that fauour the fauourers of his truth for his sake for the truth is a common thinge pertayning to euery man for the which euery man shall aunswere an other daye And I desire fauour neither of your maystership neither of any man els but in trueth and for the trueth I take God to witnesse whiche knoweth all In verye deede maister Chauncellour dyd shew me that my Lord byshop of London had sent letters to him for me and I made aunswere that he was myne Ordinary and that both he might shuld reforme me as farre as I needed reformation as wel and as soone as my Lord of London And I woulde be very loth nowe thys deepe winter being so weake and so feeble not onely exercised with my disease in my head and side but also wyth new both the colike and the stone to take suche a iourney and though he might so do yet he needed not for he was not bound so to do notwithstaÌ„ding I sayd if he to do my Lord of London pleasure to my great displeasure woulde needes commaund me to go I would obey his commandement yea though it shuld be neuer so great a greuance and paynefull to me with the which answere he was content saying he would certifie my Lord of London thereof trusting his Lordship to be content with the same but as yet I heare nothing from him M. Chauncellour also said that my Lord of LondoÌ„ maketh as though he wer greatly displeased with me for that I did conteÌ„pne his authoritie at my last being in London Forsooth I preached in Abbe-church not certayne then as I remember whether in his Dioces or no intending nothing lesse then to contemne his authoritie and this I did not of myne owne suinge or by mine owne procuration but at the request of honest merchaunt men as they seemed to me whose names I do not knowe for they were not of myne acquayntaunce before I am glad therof for their sakes least if I knew theÌ„ I shoulde be compelled to vtter them so and theyr godlye desire to heare godly preaching shuld return to their trouble for they required me very instantly and to say the truth euen importunately Whether they were of that parish or no I was not certayn But they shewed not onely themselues but also many other to be very desirous to hear me pretending great hunger and thyrst of the word of God ghostly doctrine And vpon consideration and to auoyd al inconueniences I put them of and refused them twise or thrise till at the last they brought me word that the Parson and Curate were not onely content but also desired me notwithstanding that they certified him both of my name playnly and also that I had not the bish seale to shew for me but onely a licence of the Uniuersitie which Curate dyd receiue me welcommed me and when I shuld go into the pulpite gaue me the common benediction so that I hadde not ben alonely vncharitable but also churlishly vncharitable if I would haue sayd nay Nowe al this supposed to be trueth as it is I maruell greatly howe my Lorde of London can alledge any contempt of him in me First he did neuer inhibite me in my life and if hee did inhibite his Curate to receaue me what pertaineth that to me which neither did know thereof nor yet made any sute to the curate deceiptfully nor it did not appeare to me very likely that the Curate would so litle haue regarded my Lords inhibitioÌ„ which he mayntayneth so vigilantly not knowing my Lords minde before Therefore I coniected with my self that eyther the Curate was of such acquayntaunce with my Lord that he might admitte whome hee would or els and rather that it was a trayne and a trap layde before me to the intent that my Lorde himselfe or other pertayning to hym was appoynted to haue bene there and to haue taken me if they coulde in my sermon which coniecture both occasioned me somewhat to suspect those men which desired me though they speake neuer so fayre and frendly and also rather to go For I preach nothing but if it might be so I woulde my Lorde him selfe might heare me euery sermon I preache So certayne I am that it is trueth that I take in hand to preache If I had with power of my frendes the Curate gaynesaying and withstanding presumed to haue gone into the pulpitte there had bene something wherefore to pretend a conteÌ„pt I preached in Kent also at the instaunt request of a Curate yet here I not that his Ordinary layeth any conteÌ„pt to my charge or yet doth trouble the curate I maruel not a little how my Lord Bysh. of London hauing so brode wyde and large Dioces committed vnto hys cure and so peopled as it is can haue leysure for preaching and teaching the word of God oportune importune tempestiue intempestiue priuatim publice to his owne flocke iâ—stando arguendo exhortando monendo câ—m omni lenitate doctrina haue leysure I say eyther to trouble me or to trouble him selfe with me so poore a wretch a stranger to him nothing pertayning to his cure but as euery man pertayneth to euery mans cure so intermixing intermâ—â—ling himselfe with an other mans cure as though he had nothing to doe in his owne If I would do as some men seyn my Lorde dothe gather vp my â—oyle as wee call it warely and narrowly and yet neyther preache for it in mine owne cure nor yet other where peraduenture he woulde nothing deny me In very deede I did monish Iudges and Ordynaryes to vse charitable equitie in their iudgementes towardes suche as been accused namely of suche accusers which beene as like to heare and bewray as other bene to say amisse and to take mens words in the meaning therof and not to wrast them in an other sense then they were spoken in for all suche accusers and witnesses be false before God as sainct Hierome saith vpon the xxvi chapiter of Mathew Nor yet I do not accompt those Iudges wel aduised which wittingly will geue senteÌ„ce after such witnesses much lesse those whiche procure suche witnesses agaynst any man nor I thinke not iudges now a dayes so deeply confirmed in grace or so impeccable but that it may behoue and become preachers to admonish theÌ„ to do well as wel as other kindes of men both great and small And this I did occasioned of the epistle whiche I declared Rom. vi wherein is this sentence non istes sub lege sed sub gratia ye christen men that beleeue in Christ are not vnder the law What a saying is this quod I if it be not rightly vnderstande that is as saynct Paule did vnderstand it for the wordes sound as though he would goe about to occasion Christen men to breake lawe seeing they be not vnder the
of Christ and promotion of Christes doctrine to the edificatioÌ„ of christeÌ„ soules then the mayntenaunce of hys own authoritie reputation and dignitie considering right well as he sayd that what authoritie so euer he had it was to edification and not to destruction Now I thinke it were no reproch to my lord but very commendable rather to ioy with saynt Paule be glad that Christ be preached quouismodo yea thoughe it were for emâ—y that is to say in disdayne despite and contempt of his Lordship Which thing no man well aduised will enterprise or attempte then when the preachyng can not be reprooued iustly to demaunde of the preacher austerely as the Phariseis did of Christ qua authoritate haec facis aut quis dedit tibi istam autoritatem as my authoritie is good enough and as good as my Lorde can geue me any yet I would be glad to haue hys also if it wold please his Lordship to be so good Lorde vnto me For the vniuersitie of Cambridge hath authoritie Apostolicke to admitte 12. yearely of the which I am one and the kynges highnes God saue his grace did decree that all admitted of Uniuersities should preache throughout all hys realm as loÌ„g as they preached well without distreine of any maÌ„ my Lorde of Caunterbury my Lorde of Duresme wyth such other not a fewe standing by and hearyng the decree nothing again saying it but consenting to the same Now to contemne my Lord of Londons authoritie were no litle fault in me so no lesse fault might appeare in my Lorde of London to contemne the kinges authoritie and decree yea so Godlye so fruitefull so commendable a decree pertayning both to the edification of christen soules and also to the regard and defence of the popish grace and authoritie Apostolique To haue a booke of the kinges not inhibited is to obey the kyng and to inhibite a preacher of the king admitted is it not to disobey the kinge is it not one king that doth inhibite and admitte and hath hee not as great authorititie to admitte as to inhibite He that resisteth the power whether admitting or inhibiting doth he not resist the ordinaunce of God we low subiectes are bound to obey powers and their ordinaunces and are not the highest subiectes also who ought to geue vs ensample of such obedience As for my preaching it selfe I trust in God my Lorde of London cannot rightfully belacke it nor iustly reproue it if it be taken with the circumstance thereof and as I spake it or els it is not my preaching but hys that falsely reporteth it as the Poet Martiall sayd to one that depraued hys booke quem recitas meus est o Fidentiue libellus sed male cum recitas incipitesse tuus But now I heare say that my Lorde of London is informed and vpon the sayd information hath informed the king that I go about to defend Bilney and his cause agaynst his ordinaryes and iudges whiche I ensure you is not so for I had nothing to do with Bilney nor yet with hys Iudges except his Iudges did him wrong for I did nothing els but monishe all Iudges indifferently to doe right nor I am not altogether so foolish as to defende the thing which I knewe not It might haue become a preacher to say as I sayd though Bilney had neuer bene born I haue known Bilney a great while I thinke much better then euer did my Lord of London for I haue bene his ghostly father many a time and to tell you the truth what I haue thought alwayes in him I haue knowne hetherto few such so prompt and ready to doe euery man good after hys power both frends and foe noysome wittingly to no man and toward hys enemy so charitable so seking to reconcile them as he did I haue knowne yet not many and to be shorte in a summe a very simple good soule nothing fitte nor meete for thys wretched worlde whose blinde fashion and miserable state yea farre from Christes doctrine he could as euill beare and would sorow lameÌ„t and bewayle it as much as any man that euer I knew as for his singular learning as well in holy scripture as in all other good letters I will not speake of it Notwythstanding if he eyther now of late or at any tyme attempted any thing contrary to the obedience whiche a christian man doth owe eyther to hys prince or to hys byshoppe I neyther do nor will allowe and approue that neyther in hym nor yet in any other man we be all men and readye to fall wherfore he that standeth let hym beware hee fall not Now he ordered or misordered hymself in iudgemeeÌ„t I cannot tell nor I will not meddle wythall God knoweth whose iudgementes I will not iudge But I cannot but wonder if a man liuyng so mercifully so charitablye so paciently so continently so studiously and vertuously and killyng hys old Adam that is to say mortifie his euill affections blynde motions of hys hart so dilligently should dye an euill death there is no more but let hym yâ— standeth beware that he fall not for if such as he shall dye euill what shall become of me such a wretch as I am but let this goe a little to the purpose and come to the poynt we must rest vpon Eyther my Lord of London wil iudge my outward man onely as it is sayde Omnes vident quae foris sunt or els he will be my God iudge mine inwarde manne as it sayd Deus autem intuetur cor if he will haue to do onely with mine outward man and meddle with mine outward conuersation how that I haue ordered my selfe towarde my christen brethren the kynges liege people I trust I shall please and content both my Lorde God and also my Lorde of London for I haue preached and teached but accordyng to holy scripture holy fathers and ancient interpretours of the same with the whiche I thinke my Lord of London will be pacified for I haue done nothing els in my preaching but with all diligence moued my auditours to fayth and charitie to do theyr duety and that that is necessary to be done As for thinges of priuate deuotion meane thynges and voluntary thinges I haue reproued the abuse the superstition of them without condemnation of the thinges themselues as it becommeth Preachers to do which thyng if my Lord of London will do himselfe as I would to God he would doe he shoulde be reported no doubt to condempne the vse of such thynges of couetous men which chaue dammage and finde lesse in theyr boxes by condemnation of the abuse whiche abuse they sayd rather should continue stil then your profite should not continue so thorny be theyr hartes if my Lord wyll needes coste and inuade my inward man will I nill I anâ— breake violently into my hart I feare me I shall either displease my Lord of London which I would be very lothe or els my Lord GOD which I
will be more lothe not for anye infidelitie but for ignoraunce for I beleue as a christen man ought to beleue but peraduenture my Lord knoweth and wyll know many thyngs certaynely which perchaunce I am ignoraunt in wyth the which ignoraunce though my Lorde of London may if hee will 〈◊〉 discontent yet I trust my Lorde God will pardon it as long as I hurt no man withall and saye to hym with dilligent study and dayly prayer paratum cor meum Deus paratum cor meum so studying preaching and tarying the pleasure and leisure of God And in the meane season Actes viij as Apollo did when hee knew nothing of Christ but Baptismum Iohannis teach and preache myne euen christen that and no farther then I know to be true There be three Creedes one in my masse an other in my mattyns the thyrd common to them that neyther sayeth masse nor mattyns nor yet knoweth what they say when they say the Creede and I beleue all three wyth all that God hath left in holy writte for me and all other to beleeue yet I am ignoraunt in thynges whiche I truste hereafter to know 〈◊〉 I do now know thinges in which I haue bene ignorauâ—t at heretofore euer learne and euer to be learned to profitâ— with learning with ignorance not to noy I haue thought in times past that the Pope Christes Uicar had bene Lord of all the world as Christ is so that if he should haue depryued the kyng of hys Crowne or you of the Lordshyp of Bromeham it had bene enough for he could do no wrong Now I might be hyred to thyncke otherwyse not withstanding I haue both seene and heard scripture drawen to that purpose I haue thought in tymes past that the Popes dispensations of pluralities of benefices and absence from the same had discharged consciences before God forasmuche as I had heard ecce vobiscum sum qui vos aâ—dit me audit bended to coroborate the same Nowe I might be easely entreated to thinke otherwise c. I haue thought in times past that the P. could haue spoyled purgatory at his pleasure with a word of his mouth now learnyng might perswade me otherwise or els I woulde maruayle why he would suffer so muche money to be bestowed that way whiche so needefull is to be bestowed otherwise and to depriue vs of so many patrones in heaueÌ„ as he might deliuer out of purgatorye c. I haue thought in tymes past that and if I hadde bene a Fryer and in a cowle I could not haue bene daÌ„pned nor afeard of death and by occasion of the same I haue bene minded manye tymes to haue bene a Fryer namely wheÌ„ I was sore sick and diseased Now I abhorre my superstitious foolishenes c. I haue thought in tymes past that diuers Images of sayntes could haue holpen me and done me much good and deliuered me of my diseases now I know that one can helpe as much as an other And it pittyeth myne hart that my Lord and such as my Lord is can suffer the people to be so craftely deceiued it were to long to tell you what blindnes I haue bene in and howe long it were or I coulde forsake such folly it was so corporate in me but by coÌ„tinual prayer coÌ„tinual study of scripture oft coÌ„muning with men of more right iudgemeÌ„t God hath deliuered me c. Yea meÌ„ thinketh that my lord himself hath thought in tymes past that by Gods lawe a man might marrye hys brothers wyfe which nowe both dare thinke and say contrarye and yet this his boldnes might haue chaunced in Pope Iulius dayes to stand hym eyther in a fire or els in a fagot Whiche thing deepely considered and pondered of my Lord might something stirre hym to charitable equity and to be something remissable toward men which labor to do good as theyr power serueth wyth knowledge and doth hurt to no man with theyr ignorauncye for there is no greater distaunce then betweene Gods lawe and not gods law nor it is not so or so because any man thinketh it so or so but because it is so or so in deede therefore wee muste thynke it so or so when God shal geue vs knowledge thereof for if it be in deede eyther so or not it is so or not so though all the world hadde thought otherwyse these thousand yeares c. And finally as ye saye the matter is weightye and ought substantially to bee looked vpon euen as weighty as my lyfe is worth but howe to looke substantially vpon it otherwyse know not I then to pray my Lord God day and nyght that as he hath bolded me to preache hys truthe so hee will strengthen me to suffer for it to the edification of them which haue taken by the workyng of hym fruite thereby and euen so I desire you and all other that fauour me for hys sake lykewise to pray for it is not I wythout his mighty helping hand that can abide that brute but I haue trust that God will helpe me in tyme of neede whiche if I had not the Ocean sea I thinke should haue deuided my Lord of LoÌ„don and me by thys day For it is a rare thing for a Preacher to haue fauour at hys hand which is no preacher him selfe and yet ought to be I pray God that both he and I may both discharge our selues he in hys great cure and I in my little to Gods pleasure and safety of our soules Amen I pray you pardon me that I write no more dystinctly more truely for my head is so out of frame that it should be to paynefull for me to write it agayne and if I be not preuented shortly I intend to make mery with my Parishioners thys Christmas for all the sorrowe least perchaunce I neuer returne to them agayne and I haue heard say that a Doe is as good in wynâ—er as a Bucke in sommer * A letter of Syr Edward Baynton Knight aunsweryng to the letter of M. Latymer sent to him before MAyster Latimer after hartye recommendations I haue coÌ„municated the effect of youre letters to diuers of my frendes such as for Christen charity as they say rather desire in you a reformation eyther in youre opinion if it swerue froÌ„ the truth or at the least in your maner and behauiour in as much as it geueth occasion of sclaunder and trouble in let of your good purposes then anye other inconuenience to youre person or good name And for asmuch as your sayd letter misliked them in some parte and that I haue such confidence in your Christen breste as in my iudgement ye wil conformably and gladly both heare that may be reformed in you and also as it is worthy so knowledge and confesse the same I haue therefore desired them to take the payne to note theyr mindes in this letter whiche I send to you as agregate of theyr sayinges sent from me your assured frend and fauourer in that
opus est magna patientia ad sustinendas calumnias malignantis Ecclesiae Syr I haue had more busines in my little cure since I spake with you what with sicke folkes and what with matrimonies theÌ„ I haue had since I came to it or then I would haue thought a man should haue in a great cure I wonder how men can go quietly to bed which haue great cures and many and yet peraduenture are in none of them all But I pray you tell none of your frendes that I sayd so foolishly least I make a dissention in a Christian Congregation and deuide a sweete and a restfull vnion or tot quot with haec requies mea in seculum seculi Syr I had made an end of this scribling and was beginning â—o write it agayne more truely and more distinctly and to correcte it but there came a man of my Lorde of Farleys with a Citation to appeare before my Lord of London in haste to be punished for suche excesses as I committed at my last being there so that I coulde not perfourme my purpose I doubt whether ye can read it as it is If ye can well be it if not I pray you sende it me agayne and that you so doe whether you can reade it or not Iesu mercy what Worlde is this that I shall be put to so greate laboure and paynes besides great costes aboue my power for preachinge of a poore simple Sermon But I trow our Sauiour Christ sayd true Oportet pati sic intrare tam periculosum est in Christo pie viuere velle yea in a christian Congregation God make vs all Christian after the right fashion Amen Here foloweth an other letter of M. Latimer writtten to K. Henry the 8. vpon this occasion Ye heard before of two sondry Proclamations set out by the Byshops in the time of K. Henry the one in the yeare 1531. and the other set out an 1546. In the which proclamatioÌ„s bâ—ing authorised by the kinges name were inhibited all english books either conteining or tending to any matter of the scripture Where also wee haue expreâ—ed at large the whole Catalogue of all theyr errors heresies which the sayd Bishops falsely haue excerpted and maliciously imputed to Godlye writers with theyr places and quotations aboue assigned in the page aforesayd Now M. Latimer growing in some fauor with the king and seing the great decay of Christes religion by reason of these Proclamations and touched therfore with the zeale of coÌ„science directeth vnto K. HeÌ„ry this letter hereunder ensuing therby enteÌ„ding by all meanes possible to perswade the kinges mind to set opeÌ„ again the freedome of Gods holy word amongest his subiectes The copy and tenor of his letter here foloweth ¶ The Letter of Mayster Latimer written to King Henry for the restoring agayne the free liberty of reading the holy Scriptures ⧠To the most mighty Prince King of England Henrye the eight Grace mercy and peace from God the Father by our Lord Iesus Christ. THe holy Doctour Saynt Austine in an Epistle whiche he wrote to Casulanus sayth that he whiche for feare of any power hideth the trueth prouoketh the wrath of God to come vpon him for he feareth men more then God And according to the same the holy man Saynt Iohn Chrisostome sayth that he is not alonely a traytour to the truth which opeÌ„ly for truth teacheth a lie but he also which doth not freely pronounce and shewe the trueth that he knoweth These sentences moste redoubted Kyng when I read nowe of late and marked them earnestlye in the inward partes of mine hart they made me sore afrayd troubled and vexed me grieuously in my conscience and at the last droue me to this strayt that either I must shewe forth such thinges as I haue read and learned in Scripture or elles to be of the sort that prouoke the wrath of GOD vpon them and be traitors vnto the trueth the which thing rather then it shoulde happen I had rather suffer extreme punishment For what other thing is it to bee a Traytour vnto the trueth then to be a Traytour and a Iudas vnto Christe which is the very truth and cause of all trueth the whiche sayth that whosoeuer denyeth him here before men he wil deny him before his father in heauen The which denying ought more to be feared and dread then the losse of al temporall goodes honour promotion fame prison sclaunder hurtes banishmentes and all manner of tormentes and crueltyes yea and death it selfe bee it neuer so shamefull and paynefull But alas how litle do meÌ„ regard those sharpe sayinges of these two holy men and how litle doe they feare the terrible iudgemente of almightye God and specially they which boast themselues to be guides and capitaynes vnto other and chalenging vnto themselues the knowledge of holy Scripture yet will neither shewe the trueth themselues as they be bounde neither suffer them that would So that vnto theÌ„ may be sayd that which our sauior Christ said to the Phariseis Math. 23. Wo be vnto you Scribes and Phariseis which shut vp the kingdome of heauen before men and neither will you enter in your selues neither suffer them that would to enter in And they will as much as in them lyeth debarre not onely the word of God whyche Dauid calleth a light to direct and shew euery man how to order his affections and lustes according to the Commaundementes of God but also by theyr subtle wylinesse they instruct moue and prouoke in a maner all Kinges in christendome to ayde succour and helpe them in thys theyr mischiefe and especially in this your Realme they haue sore blynded your Liege people and Subiectes wyth their Lawes Customes Ceremonyes and Banbery Glofes and punished them wyth Cursynges Excommunications and other corruptions corrections I woulde say and now at the last when they see that they cannot preuayle agaynst the open trueth which the more is persecuted the more it increaseth by their tiranny they haue made it Treason to your noble Grace to haue the Scripture in English Here I beseech your Grace to pardon me a while and paciently to heare me a worde or two yea and thoughe it be so that as concerning your high Maiesty and regall power whereunto almightye God hath called your Grace there is as great difference betweene you and mee as betwene God and man For you be here to me and to al your subiectes in Gods sted to defend ayde and succour vs in our right and so I should tremble and quake to speake to your grace But agayne as concerning that you be a mortall man in daunger of sinne hauing in you the corrupte nature of Adam in the which al we be both conceiued and borne so haue you no lesse need of the merites of Christes passion for your saluation then I and other of your subiectes haue whiche be all members of the misticall bodye of christ And though you be an
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 â—oÌ„dered 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 laâ—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 amoÌ„gst 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 sacrameÌ„t as any maÌ„ 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 ReligioÌ„ which which I perfectly know am throughly perswaded to be grouÌ„ded 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 TheÌ„ 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
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 tradâ—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 theÌ„ 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 sermoÌ„ 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
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
to be euill and euill good lyght to be darknesse and darknesse lyght superstition to be true religion and Idolatry to be the true worship of God and that which is in substance the creature of bread and wyne to bee none other substaunce but onelye the substaunce of Christ the liuyng Lord both God and man And with this their falshoode craft they can so iuggle and bewitch the vnderstanding of the simple that they dare auouch it openly in Courte and in Towne and feare neyther hangyng nor headyng as the poore theeues of the borders doe but stout and strong lyke Nembroth dare condemne to bee burned in flamyng fire quicke and alyue whosoeuer wil go about to bewray their falshood The kynd of fight against these Churchrobbers is also of another sort and kynd then is that which is agaynst the theeues of the borders For there the true men go forth agaynst them with speare and launce with bow and hyll and all such kynd of bodily weapons as the true mē haue but here as the enemies be of another nature so the watch men of Christes flocke the warrioures that fight in the Lordes warre must be armed fight with another kynd of weapons and armour For here the enemies of GOD the souldiours of Antichrist although the battaile is set foorth agaynst the Church by mortall men beyng flesh and bloud and neuerthelesse members of their father the deuill yet for that their graund maister is the power of darknesse their members are spirituall wickednes wicked spirites spirits of errors of heresies of all deceit and vngodlinesse spirits of Idolatry superstition hypocrisy which are called of S. Paule Principates and powers Lordes of the world rulers of the darkenes of this world spirituall subtleties concernyng heauenly thyngs and therfore our weapons must be fitte and meete to fight agaynst such not carnall nor bodily weapons as speare launce but spirituall and heauenly we must fight agaynst suche with the armour of God not entendyng to kill their bodies but their erroures their false craft and heresies their idolatry superstition and hypocrisie and to saue as much as lyeth in vs both their bodies and soules And therfore as s. Paul teacheth vs we fight not against flesh and bloud that is we fight not with bodily weapon to kil the man but with the weapons of God to put to flight his wicked errors vice to saue both body and soule Our weapons therfore are faith hope charitie righteousnes truth patience prayer vnto God our sword wherwith we smite our enemies we beat and batter and beare downe all falshood is the worde of God With these weapons vnder the banner of the crosse of Christ we do fight euer hauing our eye vpon our graund maister Duke and captaine Christ then we reckon our selues to triumphe to win the crowne of euerlasting blisse when enduryng in this battail without any shrinking or yeldyng to the enemies after the example of our graund capitaine Christ our maister after the example of his holy prophets Apostles Martyrs when I say we are slaine in our mortal bodies of our enemies are most cruelly without all mercy murdered down like a many of sheepe And the more cruell the more painful the more vile spiteful is the kind of the death whereunto we bee put the more glorious in God the more blessed and happy we reckon without all doubts our martyrdome to be And thus much dere louers friends in God my coūtreyman kinsfolke I haue spoken for your comfort lest of my death of whose life you looked peraduenture sometymes to haue had honestie pleasures commodities ye might be abashed or thinke any euill wheras ye haue rather cause to reioyce if ye loue me in deed for that it hath pleased God to cal me to a greater honor and dignitie thē euer I did enioy before eyther in Rochester or in the sea of London or euer should haue had in the Sea of Durham whereunto I was last of all elected named yea I count it greater honour before God in deede to dye in hys cause whereof I nothing doubt then is any earthly or temporal promotion or honor that can be geuen to a man in this world And who is he that knoweth the cause to be Gods to be Christes quarel of his Gospell to be the common weale of all the elect and chosen children of God of all the inheritours of the kyngdome of heauen who is he I say that knoweth this assuredly by Gods worde and the testimony of hys owne conscience as I thorough the infinite goodnesse of GOD not of my selfe but by his grace acknowledge my selfe to doe who is hee I saye that knoweth this and both loueth and feareth GOD in deed and in truth loueth and beleeueth his maister Christ and his blessed Gospel loueth his brotherhoode the chosen children of God and also lusteth and longeth for euerlasting lyfe who is he I say agayne that would not or can not finde in his hart in this cause to be content to die The Lord forbidde that any such should bee that should forsake this grace of God I trust in my Lord God the GOD of mercies the Father of all comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord that he which hath put this mynd will affection by his holy spirit in my hart to stand against the face of the enemy in his cause and to chuse rather the losse of al my worldly substance yea and of my lyfe too then to deny his known truth that he will comfort me ayde mee and strengthen me euermore euen vnto the end and to the yeldyng vp of my spirit soule into hys holy hands whereof I most hartily beseech his most holy sacred Maiestie of his infinite goodnes and mercy through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Now that I haue taken my leaue of my countriemen and kinsfolke and the Lord doth lend me lyfe and geueth me laisure I will bid my other good friends in God of other places also farewell And whom first or before other then the Uniuersitie of Cambridge wheras I haue dwelt longer found more faithfull and hartie friendes receyued more benefits the benefits of my naturall parents onely excepted then euer I did euen in myne own natiue countrey wherein I was borne Farewel therfore Cambridge my louyng mother and tender nurse If I should not acknowled thy manifold benefits yea if I should not for thy benefits at the least loue thee agayne truly I were to be counted to vngrate vnkynde What benefites hadst thou euer that thou vsest to geue bestow vppon thy best beloued children that thou thoughtest too good for me Thou didst bestowe on mee all thy schoole degrees of thy common offices the Chaplaynship of the vniuersitie the office of the Proctorship of a common Reader of thy priuate commodities emoluments in colledges what was it that
and the Apostles doctrine wherof in particularity I haue touched something before in my talke had with the Sea of London and in other treatises more at large wherein if it shall please God to bring the same to light it shal appeare I trust by Gods grace plainly to the man of God and to him whose rule in iudgement of Religion is Gods word that that Religion that rule order that doctrine and fayth which this whore of Babylon and the Beast whereupon she doth sit mainteineth at this day with all violence of fire and sword with spoyle banishment according to Daniels Prophecy and finally with all falshood deceit hypocrisy and all kinde of vngodlines are as cleane contrary to Gods word as darkenesse is vnto light or light vnto darckenes white to blacke or blacke to white or as Beliall vnto Christ or Christ vnto Antichrist himselfe I know my Lordes and foresaw when I wrote this that so many of you as should see this my writing not beyng before endued with the spirite of grace and the light of gods word so many I say would at these my words lordlike stampe and spurne and spitte thereat But sober your selues with pacience and be still and knowe ye that in my writing of this my minde was none other but in God as the liuing God doth beare me witnes both to do you profite and pleasure And otherwise as for your displeasure by that time this shal come to your knowledge I trust by gods grace to be in the hands and protection of y◠almighty my heauenly father and the liuing Lord which is as S. Iohn sayeth the greatest of all and then I shall not need I trow to feare what any Lord no nor what kyng or prince can do vnto me My Lordes if in times past ye haue bene contented to heare me sometimes in matters of religion before the prince in the Pulpit and in the Parliament house and haue not seemed to haue despised what I haue sayd when as els if ye had perceiued iust occasion yee might then haue suspected me in my talk though it had bene reasonable eyther desire of worldly gayne or feare of displeasure how hath thē your Lordshyppes more cause to harken to my word and to heare me paciently seing now ye can not iustly think of me being in this case appoynted to dye and lookyng dayly when I shall be called to come before the eternall iudge otherwise but that I onely study to serue my Lord God and to say that thyng which I am perswaded assuredly by Gods woorde shall and doth please him and profite all them to whome God shall geue grace to heare and beleue what I do say And I do say euen that I haue sayd heretofore both of the Sea of Rome and of the Byshop thereof I meane after this theyr present state at this day Wherin if ye will not beleue the Ministers of GOD and true preachers of his word verely I denounce vnto you in verbo domini except ye do repent betime it shall turne to your confusion and to your smart on the latter day Forget not what I say my Lordes for Gods sake forget not but remember it vpon your bed For I tell you moreouer as I knowe I muste bee countable of this my talke and of my speaking thus to the eternall Iudge who will iudge nothing amisse so shall you be countable of your duety in hearyng and you shall bee charged if ye will harken to Gods word for not obeying to the truth Alas my Lords how chaunceth this that this matter is now a new again to be perswaded vnto you Who would haue thought of late but your Lordships had bene persuaded in deed sufficiently or that ye coulde euer haue agreed so vniformelye with one consent to the abolishment of the vsurpation of the bishop of Rome If that matter were then but a matter of policy wherin the prince must be obeyed howe is it now made a matter wherin as your Clergy sayth now so sayth the Popes lawes in deed standeth the vnity of the Catholicke church and a matter of necessity of our saluation Hath the time being so short since the death of the two last kinges Henry the 8. Edward his sonne altered the nature of the matter If it haue not but was of the same nature and daunger before God then as it is now be now as it is sayd by the Popes lawes and the instructions set forth in Englishe to the curates of the dioces of Yorke in deed a matter of necessity to saluation how then chaunced it that ye were all O my Lordes so light and so litle passed vpon the catholicke faith and the vnity therof without the which no man can be saued as for your Princes pleasures which were but mortall men to forsake the vnity of your catholick fayth that is to forsake Christ and his gospell And furthermore if it were both then and nowe is so necessary to saluation how chaunced it also that ye all the whole body of the Parliament agreeing with you did not onely abolish and expell the Bishop of Rome but also did abiure him in your owne persons and did decree in your actes great othes to bee taken of both the spiritualtye and temporalty whosoeuer shoulde enter into any weighty chargeable office in the common wealth But on the other side if the law decree which maketh the supremacy of the sea bishop of Rome ouer the vniuersall church of Christ be a thing of necessity required vnto saluation by an Antichristian law as it is in deed such instructiōs as are geuen to the Dioces of Yorke be in deed a setting forth of the power of that beast of babilon by the craft falshood of his false Prophetes as of truth compared vnto Gods word and truely iudged by the same it shall playnely appere that they be then my Lordes neuer thinke other but the daye shall come when ye shal be charged with this your vndoing of that that once ye had well done and with this your periury and breache of your othe which othe was done in iudgement iustice and truth agreable to Gods lawe The whore of Babilon may wel for a time dally with you and make you so dronken with the wine of her filthy stewes whooredome as with her dispensations and promises of pardon à poena culpa that for dronkennesse and blindenesse ye may think your selues safe But be ye assured whē the liuing Lord shall trye the matter by the fire and iudge it according to his word when al her abhominations shal appeare what they bee then ye my Lordes I geue your Lordships warning in time repent if ye be happy loue your owne soules health repent I say or els wythout all doubt ye shall neuer escape the handes of the liuing Lord for the guilt of your periury and breach of your oth As ye haue banquetted and layne by the
whore in the fornication of her whorish dispensations pardons Idolatrye suche like abhominations so shall ye drinke with her except ye repent betime of the cuppe of the Lordes indignation and euerlasting wrath which is prepared for the beast his false prophetes and all theyr partakers For he that is partner with them in theyr whoredome and abhominations must also be partner with them of theyr plagues and on the latter day shall be throwne with them into the lake burning with Brimstone and vnquenchable fire Thus fare ye wel my Lords all I pray God geue you vnderstanding of his blessed will and pleasure and make you to beleue and embrace the truth Amen * An other farewell to the Prisoners in Christes Gospelles cause and to all them whiche for the same cause are exiled and banished out from theyr owne countrey choosing rather to leaue all worldly commodity then theyr mayster Christ. FArewell my dearely beloued brethren in Christ bothe ye my felow prisoners and ye also that be exiled and banished out of your countryes because ye will rather forsake all worldly coÌ„modity then the Gospell of Christ. Farewell all ye together in Christ farewell and be mery for ye know that the triall of your fayth bringeth forth patience and pacience shall make vs perfecte whole and sound on euery side and such after triall ye knowe shall receiue the crowne of lyfe according to the promise of the Lorde made to his dearely beloued let vs therefore be pacient vnto the comming of the Lord. As the husbandmanne abideth pacientlye the former and latter rayne for the encrease of his croppe so let vs bee paciente and plucke vp our hartes for the comming of the Lord approacheth apace Let vs my deare brethren take example of pacience in tribulation of the Prophetes which spake likewise Gods word truely in his name Let Iob be to vs an example of pacience the end which the Lord suffered which is full of mercy and pitty We know my brethren by Gods worde that our fayth is muche more precious then any corruptible golde and yet that is tryed by the fire euen so our fayth is therfore tried likewise in tribulations that it may be found when the Lord shal appeare laudable glorious and honorable For if we for Christs cause do suffer that is gratefull before God for thereunto are we called that is our state and vocation wherewith let vs be content Christ we know suffered for vs afflictions leauing vs an example that we shoulde folow his footesteps for he committed no sinne not was there any guile found in his mouth when he was rayled vpon and all to reuiled he rayled not agayne when he was euill entreated he dyd not threaten but committed the punishment therof to hym that iudgeth a right Let vs euer haue in freshe remembraunce those wonderfull comfortable sentences spokeÌ„ by the mouth of our Sauior Christ Blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousnes sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen Blessed are ye when men reuile you persecute you speake all euill against you for my sake reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen for so did they persecute the Prophets which were before you Therfore let vs alway beare this in our mindes that if any incommodity doe chaunce vnto vs for righteousnes sake happy are we whatsoeuer the world doth thinke of vs. Christ our mayster hath tolde vs before hand that the brother should put the brother to death the father the sonne and the children should rise agaynst their pareÌ„ts and kill them and that Christes true Apostles should be hated of all men for his names sake but he that shall abide paciently vnto the end shal be saued Let vs then endure in all troubles paciently after the example of our Mayster Christ and be contented therewith for he suffered being our mayster and Lord how doth it not then become vs to suffer For the disciple is not aboue his mayster nor the seruaunt aboue his Lord. It may suffice the disciple to be as his maister and the seruaunt to be as his Lord. If they haue called the Father of the family the Mayster of the householde Belzebub howe much more shall they call so them of his householde Feare them not then sayth our Sauiour for all pâ—iuityes shall be made playne there is nowe nothing secret but it shall bee shewed in light Of Christes wordes let vs neither be ashamed nor afrayd to speake them for so Christ our mayster commaundeth vs saying that I tell you priuily speake openly abroade and that I tell you in your eare preach it vpon the house toppe And feare not them which kill the body for the soule they cannot kill but feare hym which can cast both body and soule into hell fire Know ye that the heauenly Father hath euer a gracious eye and respect towarde you and a Fatherly prouidence for you so that without his knowledge and permission nothing canne doe you harme Let vs therefore cast all our care vpon him and hee shall prouide that whiche shall be best for vs. For if of two small sparrowes whiche both are sold for a mite one of them lighteth not on the grounde without your father and all the heares of our head are numbred feare not them sayth our Mayster Christ for yee are more worth then many small sparrowes And let vs not sticke to confesse our Mayster Christe for feare of daunger whatsoeuer it shal be remeÌ„bring the promise that Christ maketh saying whosoeuer shall confesse me before men him shall I confesse before my father whiche is in heauen but whosoeuer shall denye me him shall I likewise denye before my father which is in heauen Christ came not to geue vnto vs here a carnall amity and a worldly peace or to knitte his vnto the world in ease and peace but rather to separate and deuide them from the world and to ioyne them vnto himselfe in whose cause we must if wee will bee his forsake father and mother and sticke vnto him If wee forsake him or shrinke from him for trouble or deathes sake which hee calleth his crosse he will none of vs we cannot bee hys If for his cause we shall lose our temporall liues here wee shall finde them agayne and enioy them for euermore but if in his cause we will not be contented to leaue nor loose them here then shall we loose them so that we shall neuer finde them again but in euerlasting death What thoughe our troubles here bee paynefull for the time and the sting of death bitter and vnpleasaunt yet we know that they shall not last in comparison of eternity no not to the twinckling of an eye that they pacieÌ„tly taken in Christes cause shall procure and gette vs vnmeasurable heapes of heauenly glory vnto the which these temporall paines of death and troubles compared are not to be estemed but to be reioyced vpon Wonder
the wise man sayth were taken out of the Churches straightly forbidden that none shoulde any where eyther bow downe to them or worshippe them but now alas Gods holy word is blotted and rased out of Churches stockes and stones are set vp in the place thereof God cōmaundeth his word so to be ordered that it might be had in continual remēbraunce at all times and in euery place and on the other side he forbadde Images and Idols so to be either made or set in any place where any should bowe or worship them but now alas that which God cōmaūded is not passed vpon and that which he forbiddeth is maysterfully maynteined by falshoode and craft and wickedly vpholden Of late all ministers that were admitted to the publick office and ministery of Gods holy woorde in theyr admission made a solemne profession before the Congregation that they should teach the people nothing as doctrine necessarye to atteyne eternall saluation but that whiche is Gods owne holy woorde or maye be thereof grounded without any doubt whereby vanished and melted away of themselues many vaine yea wicked traditions of man as waxe before the fire but now at one brunt they are reuiued and are in full hope also to returne agayne in as great strength as euer they haue bene And howe can any man looke for any other thing but when you haue receyued the head you must also receiue the whole body withal or els how can the head abide The head vnder Sathā of al mischiefe is Antichrist his brood the same is he whiche is the Babilonicall Beast The beast is he whereupon the Whore sitteth The whore is that City sayeth Iohn in playne woordes whiche hath Empyre ouer the kinges of the earth This Whore hath a golden cuppe of abhominations in her hande whereof shee maketh to drinke the kinges of the earth of the wine of this harlot hath all nations dronke yea and kings of the earth haue line by this Whore Marchauntes of the earth by vertue of her pleasaunt marchaundise haue bene made rich Now what Citie is there in all the whole worlde that when Iohn wrote ruled ouer the kinges of the earth or what Citty can be read of in any time that of the Cittye it selfe chalenged the Empyre ouer the kinges of the earth but onely the City of Rome and that since the vsurpation of that Sea hath growne to her full strength And is it not read that the olde and auncient writers vnderstand Peters former Epistle to be writtē at Rome and it to be called of him in the same Epistle in playne termes Babilon by the abhominations therof I vnderstand all the whole trade of the Romish religion vnder the name and title of Christ which is contrary to the onely rule of all true religion that is Gods worde What worde of God hath that Deuillish drabbe for the maintenaunce of her manifolde abhominations and to set to sell such marchaundise wher with alas the madnesse of man the wicked Harlot hath bewitched almost the whole wold Did not Peter the very true Apostle of Christ of whom this stincking Strumpet beareth her selfe so highe but falselye and without all iust cause did not he I say geue all the world warning of her pelfe and trash of her false Doctours and Apostles for this Whore and Beast will be called Dominus Apostolicus who so euer say nay after this maner in his latter Epistle There was among the people in times past false Prophetes as shall bee there amonge you in time to come false Teachers which shall priuily bring in pestilent sectes euen denying the Lord which hath bought them and redemed them procuring to themselues swift damnation and many shall folow their damnable wayes by whom the way of truth shall be rayled vpon through couetousnesse by counterfait tales or sermons they shal sayth Peter make marcdaundise vpon you c. And doeth not Iohn likewise in his Reuelation after he hath reckoned vp a great rablement of this whores misticall marchaundise at the last as though he would knitte vp all in plaine wordes without any miste at all setting out the whoores marchaundise reckon vp among the rest and concludeth saying Et animas hominū that is to say and the soules of mē to Wherupō I pray you els rose this true prouerb in Latine omnia Romae venalia All thinges for money are sette to sale at Rome was not that a worthye commendation of Christes Uicare in earth that was written of our holy father one of the Alexanders a Bishoppe of Rome thus I weene in Latin Veneit Alexander cruces altaria Christum Vendere iure potest emerat ille prius ☞ These two verses in latin I haue read thus of one translated into English rime Alexander our holy father the Pope of Rome selleth for money both right and dome And all kind of holines the holy father doth not sticke to set to sell ready money for to get And eke Christ himselfe he dare be bolde to chop and chaunge for siluer and gold And why should any thinke this to be sore For what doth he sell but that he bought before I graunt these verses to be light gere and the verse is but rude but alas suche conditions were more wicked leud then any wit could expresse If these had bene but the faultes of one or a few in number they had bene lesse pernicious and might haue bene taken for personall crimes not to be imputed vnto that Sea but now alas the matter is more then euident to all that haue godly vnderstanding that these crimes be grounded vpon lawes be established by custome and set forth by all kinde of wicked doctrine falshood and craft and therfore now are not to be estemed for any one mans or a few mens personall crimes but are now by lawes custome and doctrine incorporated into that wicked Sea and maketh in deede the body of the Beast whereupon the abhominable whore doth sit But you would knowe which be those Marchaundise which I sayd this whore setteth forth to sell for the whiche all her false Prophets with all theyr iuggelinges and crafty gloses cannot bring one iote of Gods worde Surely surely they be not onely all these abhominatiōs which are come into the Church of Englande alreadye whereof I haue spoken somewhat before but also an innumerable rablement of abhominations and wicked abuses whyche now must nedes folow as popish pardons pilgrimages romishe purgatory romish masses Placebo Derige with trentals and Scala coeli dispensations and immunities frō all godly discipline lawes and good order pluralities vnions and tot quottes with a thousande moe Nowe shall come in the flattering friers and the false pardoners and play theyr olde pranckes and knauery as they were wont to do Now you shall haue but of the Sea of Rome onely and that for mony canonizing of such Sayntes as haue stand stout in the popes cause
shrining of reliques from any kinde of wickednes if you will pay well for it cleare absolution a poena culpa with thousandes of yeares yea at euery poore Bishops hand and suffragan ye shall haue halowing of Churches Chappels aulters superaulters chalices and of all the whole housholde stuffe and adornamēt which shal be vsed in the church after the Romish guise for all these thinges must be estemed of such high price that they may not be done but by a consecrate bishop onely O Lorde all these thinges are suche as thy Apostles neuer knew As for coniuring they call it halowing but it is cōiuring in deede of water and salt of christening of belles and such like thinges what neede I to speake for euerye priest that can but read hath power they say not onely to do that but also hath suche power ouer Christes body as to make both God and man once at the least euery daye of a wafer cake After the rehearsall of the said abhominations and remembraunce of a number of many moe which the Lorde knoweth irketh me to thinke vpon and were to longe to describe when I consider on the other side the eternall word of God that abideth for euer and the vndefiled law of the Lord which turneth the soule from all wickednes and geueth wisedome vnto the innocent babes I meane that milk that is without all guile as Peter doth call it that good word of God that word of trueth whiche must be grauen within the hart and then is able to saue mens soules that wholesome seede not mortall but immortall of the eternal and euerliuing God wherby the man is borne a new and made the childe of God that seed of God wherby the man of God so being borne can not sinne as Iohn sayeth hee meaneth so long as that seede doth abide in him that holy scripture which hath not bene deuised by the wit of man but taught from heauen by the inspiratiō of the holy ghost which is profitable to teache to reprooue to correct to instruct and geue order in all righteousnesse that the man of God may be whole sound ready to performe euery good worke when I say I consider this holy and wholesome true word that teacheth vs truely our bounden duety towardes our Lorde God in euerye poynt what his blessed will and pleasure is what his infinite great goodnes and mercy is what he hath done for vs how he hath geuē hys owne onely dearely beloued sonne to death for our saluation and by him hath sent vs the Reuelation of his blessed will and pleasure what his eternall word willeth vs both to beleue and also to doe and hath for the same purpose inspired the holy Apostles with the holy ghost sent them abroad into all the world and also made them other disciples of Christ inspired by the same spirite to write leaue behinde them the same thinges that they taught which as they did proceed of the spirit of trueth so by the confession of all them that euer were endued with the spirite of God were sufficient to the obteining of eternall saluation and likewise when I consider that al that man doth professe in his regeneration when he is receiued into the holy catholicke church of Christ and is now to be accoūted for one of the liuely mēbers of Christes owne body all that is groūded vpon Gods holy word and standeth in the profession of that fayth obedience of those commaundements whiche are all conteined and comprised in Gods holy word furthermore when I consider whom our Sauiour Christ pronoūceth in his gospell to be blessed and to whom Moses geueth his benedictiōs in the law what wayes the law the Prophets the Psalmes and all holy Scriptures both newe and olde doth declare to be the wayes of the Lorde what is good for man to obteine and abide in Gods fauor which is that fayth that iustifieth before God and what is that charity that doth passe and excell all whiche be the properties of heauenly wisedome and whiche is that vndefiled religion that is allowed of GOD which thinges Christ himself called the weighty matters of the law what thing is that which is onely auayleable in Christ what knowledge is that that Paule esteemed so much that he counted himself onely to know what shall be the maner of the extreme iudgement of the latter day who shall iudge by what he shall iudge what shall be required at our handes at that fearefull day howe all thinges must be tried by the fire and that that onely shal stand for euer which Christes wordes shall allow which shal be the iudge of all flesh to geue sentēce vpon all flesh and euery liuing soule either of eternall damnation or of euerlasting saluation from which sentence there shall be no place to appeale no witte shal serue to delude nor no power to withstand or reuoke when I say I consider all these thinges and conferre to the same agayne and agayne all those wayes wherein standeth the substaunce of the romishe religion wherof I spake before it may be euident and easy to perceaue that these two wayes these two religions the one of Christ the other of the Romishe sea in these latter dayes be as farre distaunt the one from the other as light and darckenes good and euill righteousnes and vnrighteousnes Christ and Beliall He that is hard of beliefe let him note and weigh well with himselfe the places of holy Scriptures which be appoynted in the margent wherupon this talk is grounded by Gods grace he may receyue some light And vnto the contemner I haue nothing now to say but to rehearse the saying of the Prophet Esay which Paule spake to the Iewes in the end of the Actes of the Apostles After he hadde expounded vnto them the trueth of Gods word and declared vnto them Chryst out of the Lawe of Moses and the Prophetes from morning to night all the day long he sayd vnto them that would not beleue Well sayd he spake the holy Ghost vnto our fathers saying go vnto this people and tell them ye shall heare with your eares and not vnderstande and seeing you shall behold and not see the thing for the hart of this people is waxed grosse and dulle and wyth their eares they are hard of hearing and they haue shut together their eyes that they shoulde not see nor heare with theyr eares nor vnderstand with their hartes that they might returne and I should heale them sayth the Lord God All as Englande alas that this heauy plague of GOD shoulde fall vpon thee Alas my dearely beloued country what thing is it now that may doe thee good Undoubtedly thy plague is so great that it is vtterly vncurable but by the bottomlesse mercy and infinite power of almightye God Alas my deare country what hast thou done that thus hast prouoked the wrath of God and caused him to poure out his vengeaunce
shall be made manifest and appeare in glorye then shall the Children of God appeare what they be euen like vnto Christ for this oure weake body shall bee transfigured and made like vnto Christes glorious body and that by the power wherby he is able to subdue vnto himselfe al thinges Then that which is now corruptible shall be made incorruptible that nowe is vile shall then bee made glorious that is now weake shal rise then mighty and strong that is grosse and carnall shall be made fine and spirituall for then we shal see and haue the vnspeakable ioy and fruâ—tion of the glorious maiestie of our Lord euen as he is Who or what then shall let vs to ieoparde to ieopard yea to spende this lyfe whiche wee haue here in Christes cause in our Lorde God his cause O thou therefore man of God thou yâ— art loden so letted like vnto a great bellied woman that thou canst not flie the plague yet if thou lust after suche things as I haue spoken of stand fast what soeuer shall befall in thy maysters cause and take this thy letting to flye for a calling of God to fight in thy mayster Christ his cause Of this be thou certaine they can do nothing vnto thee whiche thy father is not aware of or hath not foreseene before they can do no more theÌ„ it shal please hym to suffer them to do for the furtheraunce of his glory edifying of his Church and thine owne saluation Let theÌ„ then do what they shall seeing to thee O man of God all thinges shall be forced to serue and to worke with thee vnto the best before God O be not afrayd and remember the end All this whiche I haue spoken for the comforte of the lamentable case of the man whome Christ callethe greate bellied woman I meane to bee spoken of likewyse to the captiue and prisoner in Gods cause for suche I counte to be as it were already summoned and pressed to fight vnder the banner of the crosse of Chryste and as it were souldiours allowed and taken vp for the Lordes warres to do their Lorde and mayster good and honourable seruice and to sticke to him as men of trusty seruice in hys cause euen vnto death and to thinke their lyfe lost in his cause is to win it in eternal glory for euermore Therfore now to conclude and to make an end of thys treatise I say vnto all that loue God our heauenly father that loue Christ Iesus our redeemer and sauioure that loue to follow the wayes of the holy Ghost whiche is our comforter and sanctifier of all vnto al that loue Christs spouse and bodye the true catholicke Churche of Christe yea that loue lyfe and theyr owne soules health I say vnto al these hearken my deare breathren and sisters all you that be of God of all sortes ages dignities or degrees hearken to the word of our sauiour Iesus Christ spoken to his Apostles and meant to all his in S. Mathewes Gospel Feare not them whiche kill the body for they cannot kil the soule but feare hym more which may destroy and cast both body and soule into hell fire Are not two small sparrowes sold for a mite and one of them shall not fall or light vpon the ground without your father All the heares of your head be numbed Feare them not you are muche more worthe then are the litle sparrowes Euery one that confesseth me before men him shal I likewise confesse before my Father which is in heauen But who soeuer shall deny me before men I shall deny him likewise before my father which is in heauen The Lord graunt vs therfore of his heauenlye grace and strengthe that here wee maye so confesse him in thys world amongst this adulterous and sinneful generation that he may confesse vs agayne at the latter day before hys father whiche is in heaueÌ„ to his glory and our euerlasting comfort ioy and saluation To our heauenly Father to our sauiour and redemer Iesus Christ and to the holy Ghost be all glory and honour now and for euer Amen Thus with the deathe and martyrdome of these two learned Pastorsr and constant souldiours of Christ mayster Latimer and B. Ridley you haue dyuers of theyr letters and other writinges of theirs expressed with the Farewels also of B. Ridley wherein he tooke hys leaue of the world taking hys iourny to the kingdome of heauen Diuers and sondry other treatises of his remayne also in my hand both in Latine and English to be remembred by the leaue of the Lorde in time and place conuenient The death and end of Stephen Gardiner Byshop of Winchester THe next moneth after the burning of Doctor Ridley and mayster Latimer which was the moneth of Nouember Stephen Gardiner Byshop and Chauncelloure a man hated of God and all good men ended hys wretched lyfe Concerning the quallities nature and disposition of which man for somuch as somewhat hath bene declared before in the storye of kinge Edwardes raygne I shall neede therefore the lesse now to stand greatly vpon the same First this Uipers byrd crept out of the towne of Bery in Suffolke brought vp most parte of his youth in Cambridge his wit capacitie memorye and other indumentes of nature not to bee complayned of if he hadde wel vsed and rightly applyed the same wherein ther was no great want of Gods part in hym if hee had not rather hymselfe wanted to the goodnes of his gifts Through this promptnes actiuitie towardnes of hys he profited not a little in such studyes as he gaue hys head vnto as first in the law ciuil then in languages and such other like especially in those artes and faculties which had any prospect to dignitie and preferment to be hoped for Besides other ornaments or helpes of nature memory chiefly seemed in hym very beneficiall rather then dilligence of study To these giftes and quallities were ioyned agayne is great or greater vices which not so much followed hym as ouertooke him not so muche burdened hym as made hym burdenous to the whole realme Hee was of a proude stomacke and high minded in hys owne opinion and conceit flattering himselfe to much in wit crafty and subtile towarde his superiour flattering and faire spoken to hys inferiours fierce agaynst hys equall stoute and enuious namely if in iudgement and sentence he any thyng withstoode hym as appeared betweene the good Lorde CroÌ„well and hym in the raygne of kyng Henry being of like hauâ—inesse of stomacke as the Poets wryte of Pelides Cedere nescius Who although would geue no place to men yet notwtstanding I wish he woulde haue geuen place to truth according as he semed not altogether ignorant of the truth What his knowledge was therin it is euident partly to vnderstand as wel by his book De vera obedientia as also by his sermon before king Edward also by his aunsweres to the Councell the same time and
Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. Mary in deed you M. Doctour put me in good remeÌ„braunce 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 froÌ„ 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 opeÌ„ 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 theÌ„ 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 meÌ„ 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 commauÌ„ded yet I would you should haue as much fauor as I caÌ„ shew you if you wil be any thing coÌ„formable Therfore play the wise man and be not singuler in your opinioÌ„ 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 reasoÌ„ 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 vâ—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
tractable as I would wish Wherfore now I haue desired these honorable Lordes of the temporaltie and of the Queenes Maiesties Counsayle who haue taken paynes with me this day I thanke them therefore to heare you what you can say that they may be iudges whether I haue sought all meanes to do you good or no and I dare be bold to say in theyr behalfe that if you shew your selfe conformable to the Queenes Maiesties proceedinges you shall finde as much fauour for your deliueraunce as you can wishe I speake not this to fawne vpō you but to bryng you home into the Church Now let them heare what you can say Phil. My Lorde I thanke God of this daye that I haue such an honorable audiēce to declare my mynd before And I cannot but commend your Lordships equity in this behalf which agreeth with the order of the primatiue church which was if any body had bene suspected of heresie as I am now he should be called first before the archbishop or byshop of the Dioces where he was suspected secondly in the presence of others his fellow byshops and learned elders and thirdly in hearyng of the layty where after the iudgement of Gods word declared and with the assent of other Bishops and consent of the people he was condemned to exile for an hereticke or absolued And the seconde poynt of that good order I haue found at your Lordships hands already in being called before you your fellow bishops now haue the third sort of mē at whose hands I trust to finde more righteousnes in my cause then I haue found with my Lordes of the Clergy God graunt I may haue at last the iudgement of Gods word concerning the same London M. Philpot. I praye you ere you go any further tell my Lordes here playnely whther you were by me or by my procurement committed to prison or not and whether I haue shewed you anye crueltie sithen yee haue bene committed to my prison Phil. If it shall please your Lordship to geue me leaue to declare forth my matter I wil touch that afterward Rich. Aunswere first of all to my Lordes two questions then proceede forth to the matter How say you wer you imprisoned by my Lorde or no can you finde anye faulte since with his cruell vsing of you Phil. I cannot laye to my Lordes charge the cause of my imprisonmēt neyther I may say that he hath vsed me cruelly but rather for my part I might say that I haue found more gentlenesse at his Lordships handes then I dyd at myne owne Ordinaries for the time I haue bene wythin his prison for that he hath called me three or foure times to mine answere to the which I was not called twelue mōth and a halfe before Rich. Well now go to your matter Phil. The matter is that I am imprisoned for the disputations had by me in the Conuocation house agaynst the sacrament of the aultar which matter was not moued principally by me but by the Prolocutor with the consent of the Queenes Maiestie and of the whole house and that house being a member of the Parliament house ought to be a place of free speeche for all men of the house by the ancient and laudable custome of this realme Wherefore I thynke my selfe to haue sustayned hetherto great iniury for speaking my conscience freely in suche a place as I might lawfully do it and I desire your honorable Lordships iudgement which be of the Parliament house whether of right I ought to be impeached therefore and sustayne the losse of my liuing as I haue done and moreouer of my life as it is sought Rich. You are deceaued herein for the Conuocation house is no part of the Parliament house Phil. My Lord I haue alwayes vnderstāded the contrary by suche as are more experte menne in thinges of thys realme then I and againe the title of euery Acte leadeth me to thinke otherwise which alledgeth the agreement of the spiritualitie and temporaltie assembled together Rich. Yea that is meant of the spirituall Lordes of the vpper house Winsor In deed the Conuocation house is called together by one writte of the Summons of the Parliament of an old custome notwithstanding that house is no part of the parliament house Phil. My Lordes I must be contēted to abide your iudgementes in this behalfe Rich. We haue told you the truth Mary yet wee woulde not that you should be troubled for any thinge that there was spoken so that you hauing spoken amisse do declare now that you are sory therfore Lond. My Lordes he hath spoken there manifest heresie yea and there stoutly mayntayned the same against the blessed sacramēt of the aultar and with that he put off his cap that al the Lords might reuerence vayle theyr bonets at that Idoll as they did and would not allow the reall presence of the body and bloude of Christe in the same yet my Lordes God forbid that I shoulde goe about to shewe him extremity for so doing in case he will repent reuoke his wicked sayings if in faith he wil so do with your lordships consent he shal be released by and by Mary if he wil not he shal look for the extremitie of the law that shortly Chamb. My Lorde of London speaketh reasonably vnto you take it whiles it is offered you Rich. How say you Will you acknowledge the reall presence of the bloud and body of Christ as a◠the learned mē of this realm do in the Masse and as I do and wil beleue as long as I liue I do protest it Phil. My Lord I do acknowledge in the sacramente of the body and bloud of Christ such a presence as the worde of God doth allow and teach me Rich That shal be none otherwise then you lift London A sacrament is the signe of a holy thing So that there is both the signe which is the accident as the whitenes roūdnes shape of bread and there is also the thyng it selfe as very Christ both God and man But these heretickes will haue the sacramentes to be but bare signes How say you declar◠vnto my Lordes here whether you do allow the thing it selfe in the sacrament or no Phil. I do confesse that in the Lordes supper there is in due respectes both the signe and the thing signified when it is duely ministred after the institution of Christ. London You may see how he goeth about the bush as he hath done before with my Lords of the Clergy and dare not vtter his minde playnly Rich. Shew vs what maner of presence you allowe in the sacrament Philpot. If it shall please you my Lord of London to geue me leaue to proceede orderly thereunto and to let me declare my minde without interruption I wil throughly open my minde therin L. Shand. I pray you my Lord let hym speake his mynde Phil. My Lordes that at the first I haue not plainly
book abroad of the report of the disputation to the contrary in the which there is neuer a true worde And where as you require to be satisfied of the sacrament I will shew you the trueth therof both by the scriptures and by the Doctors Philpot. It is a shrewed lykelihoode that you will conclude with any truth since you haue begonne with so many vntruthes as to say that I was aunswered whiles I had any thyng to say and that I wept for lacke of matter to say and that the booke of the reporte of the disputation is nothing true God be praysed there were a good many of Noble men Gentlemen and worshipfull men that heard and saw the doings therof which can testifie that you here haue made an vniust report before these honorable Lords And that I wept was not for lacke of matter as you slauÌ„der me for I thank God I haue more matter theÌ„ the best of you all shall euer be able to answere as litle learning as I haue but my weeping was as Christes was vpon Hierusalem seeing the destruction that should fall vppon her and I foreseeing then the destruction whiche you thorough violence and vnrighteousnesse which you there declared would worke agaynst the true Churche of Christ and his faythfull members as this daye beareth witnesse was compelled to weepe in remembraunce of that whiche I with infinite more haue felt and shall feele Al these words I did then speake out being interrupted by my Lord Rich saying that I shoulde suffer hym to proceede out in his matter and afterwardes I shuld haue leysure to aunswere him in euery Article But he promysed more then he could performe as the end did wel declare for he had not the consent of the spiritualtie to his promise which now rule the rost God shorten their cruell dayes for his electes sake And therfore I adde this which I had purposed to haue spoken if then I might haue bene suffered least any that perfectly know not the thinges done in the Conuocation house and now layd to my charge if they shoulde not be aunswered by me might recken Doctour Chadseys sayinges to bee true And as concerning the booke of the report of the disputations I wrote the same it is true in euery argument as M. Deane of Roochester and M. Cheyney Archdeacon of Herford yet being aliue and within the realme can testifie Chadsey You haue of scriptures the foure Euangelistes for the probation of Christes reall presence to be in the sacrament after the wordes of consecration with S. Paule to the Corinthians whiche all saye Hoc est corpus meum This is my body They say not as you woulde haue me to beleue this is not the bodye But specially the 6. of Iohn prooueth the same most manifestly where Christ promised to geue his body which hee performed in his last supper as it appeareth by these wordes Panis quem ego dabo caro mea est quam ego dabo pro muÌ„di vita The bread whiche I wyll geue is my flesh which I wil geue for the life of the world Phil. My Lord Rich with your leaue I must needes interrupt him a litle because he speaketh open blasphemy against the death of Christ for if that promise brought in by s. Iohn was performed by Christ in his last supper theÌ„ needed he not to haue dyed after he had geuen the sacrament Rich. Let maister Doctour make an end of his argumeÌ„ts and afterward obiect to him what you can Chadsey You must note that there is twise Dabo in thys saying of S. Iohn the first is referred to the sacrament of the auâ—tar the second to the sacrifice vpon the crosse and besides these manifest scriptures there bee many auncient Doctors proouing the same as Ignatius Irenaeus S. Cyprian whose authoritie he recited at large which I do omitte because I was not permitted to answere the same Rich. Now aunswere and obiect to him what you can you shal be heard Phil. My Lord the chiefest ground where he with the rest of his side do ground theÌ„selues agaynst vs be these words This is my body with a false pretence of the omnipotency of God And before I will come to the particular aunsweres of all that he hath alledged for that your Lordships may the better vnderstand me what I meane and whereuppon I stand I will require mayster Doctor to aunswere me one question But first of all I do protest to your honours that I thinke as reuerently of the sacrament as a christian maÌ„ ought to do and that I acknowledge the sacrament of the body and bloud of Christe ministred after Christes Institution to bee one of the greatest treasures and comfortes that he left vs on the earth and contrariwise it is most discomfort and abhominable not being ministred as it ought to be as it is vsed now a dayes And now to my question which is this whether these wordes onely Hoc est corpus meum This is my body spoken by a priest ouer the bread and wine may make the body and bloud of Christ as you suppose or no Chedsey Staggering what he might say at last hee sayd that these wordes alone pronounced by the Priest be sufficient to make the bread and the wyne the very bodye and bloud of Christ really Philpot. That is blasphemy to say and agaynst al the scriptures and Doctours who affirme that the forme and substance in consideration must be obserued whiche Christ vsed and did institute as S. Cyprian sayth In sacrificio quod Christus est non nisi Christus sequendus In the sacrifice whiche is Christ onely is Christ to be followed And by the lawe it is forbidden to adde or take away from Gods word And S. Peter sayth If anye man speake let him speake as the worde of God Wherfore whosoeuer sayth that these wordes onely This is my body do make a presence of christ without blesse take and eate which be three as substanciall poyntes of the Sacramente as Thys is my bodye is he is highly deceiued Therfore S. Austen sayth Accedat verbum ad elementum fit sacramentum Let the word be ioyned to the element and it be commeth a sacrament So that if the entier worde of Christes Institution be not obserued in the ministration of a Sacrament it is no sacrament as the sacrifices which the ten tribes did offer at Bethell to God were not acceptable because they were not in all poyntes done according to Gods word Wherfore except blessing be made after the word whiche is a due thankesgeuing for our redemption in Christ and also a shewing forth of the Lordes death in such wise as the congregation may be edified and moreouer a taking and eating after Christes commaundement except I say these three partes be first performed which is not done in the Masse these wordes This is my bodye which are last placed in the Institution of
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
haue pacience to beare and abide al your cruel intents against me notwythstanding I speake this earnestly being mooued thereto iustly to notifie your vniust and cruell dealing with men in corners without all due order of lawe After this at nighte I was conducted againe by three or foure into the Colehouse The ninth examination of M. Philpot before Boner and his Chaplaines IN the morning the nexte daye I was called downe betunes by my keper and brought againe into the Wardrobe where I remained vntil the Byshop had heard hys Masse and afterwarde he sent vp for me into his inwarde Parlour and there he called for a chaire to sit downe and brought his infamous Libell of his forged Articles in his hande and sate downe willing me to drawe neare vnto him and saide Lond. I am this day appoynted to tarry at home from the Parlament house to examine you and your fellowes vpon these Articles and you stande dalying with me and will neither answere to nor fro Ywis al your exceptions will not serue you Will it not be a faire honestie for you thinke ye that when thou commest afore my Lorde Maior and the Sheriffes other worshipful audience when I shall say before them all that I haue had thee these many times before me and before so many learned men and then thou couldest saye nothing for that thou standest in for all thy bragges of learning neither wouldest answere directly to any thing Phil. My Lord I haue told you my mind plaine enough but yet I do not intend to lose that priuiledge the law geueth me the which is free choise to aunswere where I am not bound and this priuiledge wil I cleaue vnto vntil I be compelled otherwise Lon. Well I perceiue you will playe the obstinate foole Lay thine appellation when thou commest in iudgement and answere in the meane while to these articles Phil. No my Lord by your leaue I wil not answeare to them vntill my lawfull appeale be tried Lon. Wel thou shalt heare them and with that he began to reade them Phil. I shranke backe into the windowe and looked on a booke and after he had read them ouer he said vnto me Lon. I haue read them ouer although it hath not pleased you to heare mee I marueile in good faith what thou meanest to be so wilful and stubborne seeing thou mayest doe wel enough if thou list It is but a singularitie Doest thou not see all the realme against thee Phil. My Lord I speake vnto you in the witnes of God before whom I stand that I am neither wedded vnto mine owne will neither stand vpon mine owne stubbernesse or singularitie but vpon my conscience instructed by Gods word and if your Lordship can shew better euidence then I haue for a good faith I will folowe the same Lon. What thou wilt not loe for all that Well all that is past shall be forgotten and be conformable vnto vs. Iwis thou mightest find as much fauour as thou wouldest desire Phil. Then I perceiuing that he fawned so muche vpon me thought it good to geue hym some comfort of relēting to the end I might openly geue him and his hypocriticall generation openly a further foyle perceiuing that they dare reason opēly with none but with such as be vnlearned and for lacke of knowledge not able to aunsweare or els with such as they haue a hope that for feare or loue of the worlde will recant I sayde My Lorde it is not vnknowen to you that I haue openlye in the audience of a great number stand to the maintenance of these opinions I am in by learning did offer to defende them therefore my Lord I would it might openly appeare to the world that I am wonne by learnyng or els what wyll they say but that eyther for feare or loue of the worlde I am without any ground turned from the truth and if I haue any kinde of learning openly shewed I shal be as conformable as you may require me Lond. Yea mary now ye speake somwhat like a reasonable man I wis you might haue had a great deale more fauour in my house and libertie then you haue had and you shall lacke nothing that is within my house call for it and you shall haue it And what is it that you woulde openly by learnyng somewhat be satisfied in tell me Phil. My Lord I haue openly sayd and do beleeue it also that your sacrifice of the Masse is no Sacrament Lond. What doe you deny the presence of Christe in the Sacrament Phil. No my Lorde I deny not the presence of Christ in the Sacrament but I haue denyed the Sacrament of the Alter as it is vsed in your Masse to be the true Sacrament of Christes institution And first it must be proued a sacrament ere there can be any kind of presence graunted Lond. Why do you deny the Masse to be a Sacrament I pray you what is a Sacrament Is it not a signe of a holy thyng as saint Austine doth define it Phil. Yes verily that it is Lond. Then I make this argument vnto you A Sacrament is the signe of a holy thing but the Masse is a signe of a holy thing Ergo it is a Sacrament Phil. You must adde this to your Maior or fyrst proposition as saint Austine doth meane that a Sacrament is the signe of a holy thing instituted of God and commaunded for otherwise it can be no Sacrament for all men can not make a Sacrament Lond. I graunt that and such a signe of a holy thyng is the Masse of Christes institution Phil. I deny that my Lord Lond. I will proue this by S. Austine by and by I will go shew you the booke you shall haue any booke I haue that you wyll demaund Hoe who is without there call me M. Doct. Chadsey M. Archdeacon M. Cosins and other Chapleynes hyther Here my Lorde Maister Doctour Chadsey in gone to Westminster and Maister Archdeacon was here euen nowe Lond. M. Cosins I pray you examine him vpon these Articles and write his aunswere he maketh to euery one of them I will go examine his felowes and sende you S. Austine by and by I finde this man more conformable then he was before Cosins I trust my Lord you shall finde him at length a good Catholicke man Mary here be a sight of heresies I dare say you will hold none of them neither stand in any of them How say you to the first Phil. M. Cosins I haue tolde my Lord already that I will aunswere to none of these articles he hath obiected against me but if you will with learning aunswere to that which is in question betweene my Lorde and me I wyll gladly heare and common with you Cosins No wyll you Why what is that then which is in question betweene my Lord and you Phil. Whether your Masse be a Sacrament or no Cosins What the Masse to bee a Sacrament who euer
generatioÌ„ 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 â—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 maÌ„s 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 superabundaÌ„t 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 geÌ„tleman 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
Chichester gone away also for he euen a little before departed also without any other word saying but he must needes be gone What is the matter you now stand vpon Morgan M. Christopherson hath shewed M. Philpot a notable place of the authoritie of the Church of Rome and he maketh nothyng of it Boner Where is the place let me see By my faith here is a place alone Come hither sir what say you to this Nay tary a little I will helpe this place with S. Paules owne testimony the first to the Romaines where he sayeth that their faith is preached throughout the world how cā you be able to answer to this Phil. Yes my L. it is soone aunswered if you will consider al the words of Cyprian for he speaketh of such as in his tyme were faithfull at Rome that folowed the doctrine of saint Paul as he had taught them and as it was notified throughout the world by an Epistle which he had written in the commendation of their fayth With such as are praised of S. Paul at Rome for followyng the true faith misbeliefe can haue no place And now if you can shewe that the faith which the church of Rome holdeth now is that faith which the Apostle praised allowed in the Romans in his tyme then wil I say that S. Cyprian then said and with you that infidelitie can haue no place there but otherwyse it maketh not absolutely for the authority of the Church of Rome as you do mistake it Christo. You vnderstand Cyprian well in deed I thinke you neuer red hym in your lyfe Phil. Yes M. Doct. that I haue I can shew you a booke noted with myne owne hand though I haue not read so much as you yet I haue read somewhat It is shame for you to wrast and wreath the Doctors as you do to maintain a fals religion which be altogether against you if you take them aright and in deede your false packing of doctors together hath geuen me and others occasion to looke vpon them wherby we find you shamefull liers and misreporters of the ancient doctors Morgan What wil you be in hand to allow doctors now they of your sect do not so I meruaile thereof you will allow them Phil. I do allow them in as much as they doe agree wyth the scriptures and so do al they which be of the truth how so euer you terme vs and I prayse God for that good vnderstandyng I haue receyued by them Christo. What you vnderstand not the Doctors you may be ashamed to say it Phil. I thanke God I vnderstand them better then you for you haue Excaecationem cordis The blindnes of heard so that you vnderstand not truely what you read no more then the wall here as the takyng of Cyprian doth wel declare And afore God you are but deceyuers of the people for all your brag you make of learnyng neyther haue ye Scripture or auncient doctour on your side being truly taken Morgan Why all the Doctors be on our side and agaynst you altogether Phil. Yea so you say when you be in your pulpits alone none to answer you But if you wil come to cast accounts with me therof I will venter with you a recantatiō that I as little sight as I haue in the doctors wil bring more authorities of ancient Doctors on my side then you shall be able for yours and he that can bring most to him let the other side yeeld Are ye so content herewith Christo. It is but folly to reason with you you wil beleue no man but yourselfe Phil. I will beleue you or any other learned man if you cā bring any thing worthy to be beleued You cannot winne me with vaine words from my fayth Before God there is no truth in you Morgan What no truth no truth ha ha he Phil. Except the Articles of the Trinitie you are corrupt in all other thyngs and sound in nothyng Morgan What say you do we not beleeue well on the sacrament Philpot. It is the thing which among all other you doe most abuse Morgan Wherein I pray you tell vs. Phil. I haue told you before M. Doct. in the Conuocation house Morgan Yea marry in deed you told vs there very well For there you fell down vpon your knees and fel to weepyng ha ha ha Phil. I did weepe in deed and so did Christ vpon Ierusalem and am not to be blamed therefore if you consider the cause of my weepyng Morgan What make you your selfe Christ ha ha Phil. No sir I make not my selfe Christ but I am not ashamed to do as my maister and sauiour did to bewaile lament your infidelitie and idolatrye which I there foresaw thorough tyranny you would bryng agayne to this realme as this day doth declare Morgan That is your argument Christo. Wherein do we abuse the Sacrament tell vs. Phil. As I may touch but one of the least abuses you minister it not in both kynds as you ought to doe but keepe the one halfe from the people contrary to Christes institution Christo. Why is there not as much conteined in one kynd as in both And what neede is it then to minister in both kyndes Phil. I beleeue not so for if it had Christ would haue geuē but one kind only for he instituted nothing superfluous and therfore you cannot say that the whole effect of the sacrament is as well in one kind as in both since the scripture teacheth otherwyse Christo. What if I can prooue it by scripture that we may minister it in one kind The apostles did so as it may appeare in the Actes of the Apostles in one or two places where it is written that the Apostles continued In orationibus fractione panis In prayers and in breakyng of breade which is ment of the Sacrament Philpot. Why Maister Doctour do you not knowe that Saint Luke by the makyng mention of the breakyng of bread meaneth the whole vse of the sacrament accordyng to Christes institution by a Figure which you haue learned in Grammer Synecdoche where part is mentioned and the whole vnderstanded to bee done as Christ commanded it Christo Nay that is not so For I can shew out of Euseb. in Eccles hist. that there was a man of God whom he named that sent the Sacrament in one kynd by a boy to one that was sicke Phil. I haue read in deed that they did vse to geue that was left of the Communion bread to children to mariners to women and so peraduenture the boy might cary a piece of that was left to the sicke man Christo. Nay as a Sacrament it was purposely sent vnto hym Phil. If it were so yet can you not precisely say that he had not the cup ministred vnto him also by some other sent vnto him but though one man did vse it thus doth it folow that all men may do the like S. Cyprian noteth many abuses
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
an hereticke and that shortly Phil. I feare nothing I thanke God you can doe to me But God shall destroy suche as thou art and that shortly as I trust Boner Haue him away this is a knaue in deed Phil. And I was had into the Wardrobe again by my keper and within an houre after was sent for to come before him and the bishops of Worcestâ—r and Bangor Boner Syr I haue talked with you manye tymes and haue caused you to bee talked with of manye learned men yea and honourable both Temporall and Spirituall and it auayleth nothing with you I am blamed that I haue brought thee afore so many for they say thou gloryest to haue many to talke withall Well nowe it lyeth thee vpon to looke to thy selfe for thy time draweth neare to an ende if thou doe not become conformable And at this presente we are sent from the Synode to offer you this grace that if you will come to the vnity of the Church of Rome with vs and acknowledge the reall presence of Christ in the sacrament of the aultar with vs all that is past shal be forgeuen and you receiued to fauor Worcest Mayster Philpot we are sent as you here haue heard by my Lord of London from the Synode to offer you mercy if you will receiue it And of good will I beare you I wishe you to take it whilest it is offered and bee not a singular man agaynste a whole multitude of learned men which now in fasting and prayer are gathered together to deuise thinges to doe you good There haue manye learned men talked with you why should you think your selfe better learned theÌ„ them all Be not of such arrogancy but haue humility and remember there is no saluatioÌ„ but in the church Bangor Me thinketh my Lorde hath sayde wonderfullye well vnto you that you shoulde not thinke your selfe so well learned but other men are as well learned as you neither of so good wit but other be as wise as you neither of so good memory but other haue as good memory as you Therfore mistrust your owne iudgement and come home to vs agayne I wis I neuer liked your Religion because it was set forth by violence and tyranny and that is no token of true Religion And I was that same maner of man then that I am now and a greate manye moe Mary for feare we held our peace and bare with that time Wherfore M. Philpot I would you did wel for I loue you therfore be content to come home with vs agayne into the catholicke church of Rome Phil. Where my Lorde as I may begin first to aunswere you you say that Religion is to be misliked which is set forth by tyranny I pray God you geue not meÌ„ occasion to thinke the same by yours at this day which haue none other argument to stand by but violence If you can shewe me by any good sufficient ground whereby to ground my conscience that the church of Rome is the true Catholicke church wherunto you cal me I wil gladly be of the same otherwise I can not so soone chaunge the Religion I haue learned these many yeares Bangor Where was your Religion I pray you an hundred yeares agoe that any man knew of it Phil. It was in Germany and in diuers other places apparant Worc. Iesus will you be still so singuler a man What is Germany to the whole world Boner My Lordes I pray you geue me leaue to tell you that I sent for him to heare masse this morning and wote you what excuse he made vnto me forsoothe that he was accursed alledging his own shame He playeth as the varlet Latimer did at Cambridge When the Uicechancellor sent for him who intended to haue excommunicated him for some of his heresies the Chancellor was coÌ„ming to hys chamber he hearing that the Chancellor was comming made answere that he was sick of the plague so deluded the Chancellor euen so this man sayth he is acursed because he will not come to masse Worc. My Lorde I am sure here doth behaue hymselfe like a father vnto you therfore be admonished by him and by vs that come now frendly vnto you and folow your fathers before you Phil. It is forbidden vs of God by the Prophet Ezechiel to folow our fathers neither to walke in theyr commaundementes Worc. It is written also in an other place Interroga patres Aske of your fathers Phil. We ought to aske in deed our fathers that haue more experience and knowledge then we of Gods will but no more to allow them then we perceiue they agree with the Scripture Worc. You will be a contentious man I see well and S. Paul saith that we neither the church of god haue no such custome Phil. I am not contentious but for the verity of my fayth in the which I ought to conteÌ„d with all such as do impugne the same without any iust obiection Worc. Let vs rise my Lord for I see we shall doe no good Boner Nay I pray you tary and heare the articles I laye to his charge And after he had recited them they arose after standing they reasoned with me a while Worc. Mayster Philpot I am very sory that you will bee so singular I neuer talked with none yet in my Dioces but after once coÌ„munication had with me they haue bene conteÌ„ted to reuoke theyr errors to teach the people how they were deceiued so do muche good as you may if you list For as I vnderstande you were Archdeacon of Winchester which is the eye of the Bishop and you maye doe much good in that countrey if you would forsake your errors and come to the catholicke church Phil. Wherwithall you so soone persuaded theÌ„ to your wil I see not Errour that I knowe I holde none and of the Catholicke Church I am sure I am Worc. The Catholicke Churche doeth acknowledge a reall presence of Christ in the Sacrament and so wyll not you Phil. That is not so For I acknowledge a very essentiall presence in the duely vsing of the sacrament Worc. What a reall presence Phil. Yea a reall presence by the spirite of God in the right administration Worc. That is well sayd and do you agree with the Catholicke church also Phil. I do agree with the true catholicke church Worc. My Lord of LondoÌ„ this man speaketh reasonably now Boner You do agree in generalities but wheÌ„ it shal come to the particularities you will farre disagree Worc. Well keepe your selfe here and you shall haue other learned Bishops to commoÌ„ further with you as my lord of Duresme and my Lord of Chichester whome I heare say you do like well Phil. I doe like them as I doe all other that speaketh the truth I haue once already spoken with them they fouÌ„de no fault with me Worc. Pray in the meane season for grace to God Phil. Prayer is the comfortablest exercise
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 inspiratioÌ„ 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 reuelatioÌ„ 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 meÌ„ 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 Phâ—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 answerâ— you to this argumeÌ„t 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 successioÌ„ 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 approbatioÌ„ 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 argumeÌ„t 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 vnderstaÌ„d 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 successioÌ„ 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 vpoÌ„ 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 vnderstaÌ„d 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 argumeÌ„t 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 vpoÌ„ theÌ„ to be sure of al things they staÌ„d 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 bettâ—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 conclusioÌ„ 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
the Bishop deliuered vnto Philpot two books one of the ciuill law and the other of the Canon out of the which he would haue proued that he had authority to proceede agaynst him in such sorte as he did M. Philpot then perusing the same and seeing the small and slender proofe that was there alledged sayd vnto the Bishop Philpot. I perceiue your law and Diuinity is all one for you haue knowledge in neither of them and I woulde ye did know your owne ignoraunce but ye daunce in a net and thinke that no man doth see you Hereupon they hadde much talke but what it was it is not yet knowne At last Boner spake vnto him and sayd Lond. Philpot as concerning your abiections agaynste my iurisdiction ye shall vnderstand that both the Ciuill Canon lawes make against you and as for your appeal it is not allowed in this case For it is written in the law A iudice dispositionem iuris exequente non est appellandum Phil. My Lord it appeareth by your interpretation of the law that ye haue no knowledge therin nor that ye do vnderstand the lawe for if ye did ye would not bring in that Text. Hereupon the Bishop recited a law of the Romaines that it was not lawful for a Iew to keepe a Christian man in captiuity and to vse him as his slaue laying then to the sayd Philpots charge that he did not vnderstand the law but did like a Iew. Wherunto Philpot aunswered Phil. No I am no Iewe but you my Lord are a Iewe. For you professe Christ and mainteine Antichrist you professe the Gospell maynteine superstition ye bee able to charge me with nothing Lond. and other Bish. With what can you charge vs Phil. You are enemies to all truth and all your doinges be noughte full of Idolatrye sauing the Article of the Trinity Whilest they were thus debating the matter there came thither syr William Garret knight then Maior of Londō Sir Martin Bowes knight and Thomas Leigh then Shiriffe of the same City and sat downe with the sayd byshops in the sayd Consistory where and what time bishop Boner spake these wordes in effect as foloweth Lond. Philpot before the comming of my Lord Maior because I would not enter with you into the matter wherewith I haue heretofore now intend to charge you with all vntill his comming I did rehearse vnto you a prayer both in English and in Latin which bishop Stokesly my predecessor vsed when he entended to proceede to geue sentence agaynst an hereticke And here they did agayne reade the sayd prayer both in English and also in Latin which being ended he spake agayne vnto him and sayd Lond. Philpot amongest other I haue to charge you especially with three thinges 1. First where you haue fallen from the vnity of Christs catholicke church you haue therupon bene inuited and required not onely by me but also by many diuers others catholicke Bishops and other learned men to return and come agayne to the same and also you haue bene offred by me that if you would so returne and confesse your errors and heresyes you should be mercifully receiued and haue so much fauour as I could shew vnto you 2. The second is that you haue blasphemously spoken agaynst the sacrifice of the Masse calling it Idolatry and abomination 3. And thirdly that you haue spoken and holden agaynst the Sacrament of the aulter denying the reall presence of Christes body and bloud to be in the same This being spoken the Bishop recited vnto him a certayne exhortation in English the tenour and forme wherof is this * Bishop Boners exhortation MAyster Philpot this is to be told you that if you not being yet reconciled to the vnity of the catholicke churche from whence ye did fall in the time of the late schisme here in this realme of England agaynst the sea Apostolick of Rome will now hartely obediently be reconciled to the vnity of the same catholicke church professing and promising to obserue keep to the best of your power the faith and christian Religion obserued and kept of all faythfull people of the same moreouer if ye whiche heretofore especially in the yere of our Lord. 1553. 1554. 1555. or in one of them haue offended and trespassed grieuously agaynst the sacrifice of the masse calling it idolatry and abominable and likewise haue offended trespassed agaynst the sacrament of the aulter denying the real presence of Christes body bloud to be there in the sacramēt of the aulter affirming also withal material bread and materiall wine to be in the sacrament of the aulter not the substaunce of the body and bloud of Christ if yee I say wil be reconciled as is afore and wil forsake your heresies and erroures before touched being heretical and damnable and will allowe also the sacrament of the Masse yee shal be mercifully receiued and charitable vsed with as muche fauoure as may be if not ye shal be reputed taken and iudged for an hereticke as yee be in deede Now do you chuse what ye wil doe you are counselled herein friendly and fauourable Ita est quod Ed. Boner Epis. Lond. The Bishoppes exhortation thus ended M. Philpot turned himselfe vnto the Lord Maior and sayd Phil. To you my Lorde Mayor bearing the sworde I am glad that it is my chance now to stand before that authoritie that hath defended the Gospell and the truth of gods word but I am sory to see that that authoritie whiche representeth the king and Queenes persons should now be chaunged and be at the commaundement of Antichrist And ye speaking to the Bishoppes pretend to be the fellowes of the Apostles of Christ yet be very Antichristes and deceauers of the people and I am glad that GOD hath geuen me power to stand here this daye and to declare and defend my faith which is founded on Christ. Therefore as touching your first obiection I say that I am of the Cotholicke church wherof I was neuer out and that your church whiche ye pretend to be the Catholicke churche is the churche of Rome and so the Babilonicall and not the catholicke church of that Church I am not As touching youre second obiection whiche is that I should speake agaynst the sacrifice of the Masse I doe say that I haue not spoken agaynst the true sacrifice but I haue spoken agaynst your priuate Masses that you vse in corners whiche is blasphemy to the true sacrifice for your sacrifice dayly reitered is a blasphemye agaynst Chrystes death and it is a lye of your own inuention And that abhominable sacrifice which ye set vppon the aulter and vse in your priuate Masses in steade of the liuing sacrifice is Idolatry and ye shal neuer proue it by Gods word therfore ye haue deceiued the people with that your sacrifice of the Masse which ye make a masking Thirdly where you lay to my charge that I
when he had done hee deliuered him to the Sheriffes and so two officers brought him thorough the Byshops house into Pater noster rowe there his seruaunt met him and when he saw him he said Ah deare mayster Then M. Philpot sayd to his man content thy self I shall do well enough for thou shalt see me agayne And so the Officers thrust him away had his mayster to Newgate And as hee went he sayde to the people Ah good people blessed be God for this day and so the Officers deliuered him to the keeper Then his man thrust to go in after his mayster and one of the Officers sayd vnto him hence fellow what shouldest thou haue And he sayd I would goe speake with my Mayster M. Philpot then turned him about and sayde to him to morow you shall speake with me Then the vnder keeper said to Mayster Philpot is this your man And he sayd yea So he did licence his man to go in with him and M. Philpot and his maÌ„ were turned into a litle chamber on the right hand and there remained a litle time vntil Alexander the chief keeper did come vnto hym who at his entring greeted him with these words Ah sayd he hast not thou done well to bringe thy selfe hether Well sayde M. Philpot I must bee content for it is Gods appointmeÌ„t I shal desire you to let me haue your gentle fauour for you and I haue bene of olde acquayntaunce Well sayd Alexander I will shew thee gentlenes and fauour so thou wilt be ruled by me Then sayd M. Philpot I pray you shew me what you would haue me to do He sayd if you would recaÌ„t I will shew you any pleasure I can Nay sayd M. Phil. I wil neuer recant whilest I haue my life that which I haue spoken for it is a most certayne truth and in witnesse hereof I will seale it wyth my bloud Then Alexander sayd This is the saying of all the whole packe of you heretickes Whereupon hee commaunded him to be set vpon the block and as many irons vpon his legges as he might beare for that he would not follow hys wicked minde Then the Clarke tolde AlexaÌ„der in his eare that maister Philpot hadde geuen hys man money And Alexander sayd to his man what money hath thy mayster geuen thee His man said my mayster hath geuen me none No sayd Alexander hath he geueÌ„ thee none that will I know for I will search thee Do with me what you list search me all that you can quoth hys sâ—ruaunt Hee hath geuen me a tokeÌ„ or two to send to hys frends as to hys brother and sister Ah sayd Alexander to M. Philpot Thou art a mayntayner of heretickes Thy man should haue gone to some of thyne affinitie but he shal be known wel enough Nay sayd M. Philpot I do send it to my frendes There he is let him make aunswere to it But good mayster Alexander be so much my frend that these irons may be taken of Well sayd Alexander geue me my fees and I will take them off if not thou shalt weare them still Then sayd Mayster Philpot sir what is your fees he sayd foure pound was his fees Ah sayd mayster Philpot I haue not so muche I am but a poore man and I haue bene long in prison What wilt thou geue me then said Alexander Syr sayd he I will geue you twenty shillings and that I will send my man for or elles I will lay my gowne to gage for the time is not long I am sure that I shal be with you for the bishop sayd vnto me that I shuld be soone dispatched Then sayd Alexander vnto him what is that to me with that he departed from him and commaunded hym to be had into Limbo and so his commaundement was fulfilled but before he could be taken from the blocke the clark would haue a grote Then one Wittrence Steward of the house took hym on his backe and caryed him downe hys manne knewe not whether Wherfore mayster Philpot sayd to his man go to maister Sheriffe and shew hym how I am vsed and desire maister Sheriffe to be good vnto me And so hys seruaunte went strayghtway and tooke an honest manne with him And when they came to mayster Sheriffe whiche was Maister Macham and shewed him howe mayster Phil. was handled in Newgate The Sheriffe hearyng this tooke his ring of from his finger and deliuered it vnto the honest man whiche came with M. Philpots man and bad him go vnto Alexander the keeper coÌ„manded him to take of his irons and to handle him more gentlye and to geue his man again that which he had taken from him And when they came agayn to the sayd AlexaÌ„der told their message from the Sheriffe Alexander tooke the ring and said Ah I perceaue that mayster Sheriffe is a bearer with him all such heretickes as he is therfore to morow I wil shew it to his betters Yet at x. of the clocke he went into Mayster Philpot where he lay and tooke of his irons gaue him such things as he had taken before from hys seruant Upon Tuesday at supper being the 17. day of December there came a messenger from the Sheriffes and bad M. Philpot make him ready for the next day he should suffer and be burned at a stake with fire M. Philpot aunswered and sayd I am ready God graunt me strength and a ioyfull resurrection And so he went vnto his chamber and poured out his spirit vnto the Lord God geuing him most harty thankes that he of his mercy had made hym worthy to suffer for his truth In the morning the Sheriffes came according to the order about viii of the clocke and calleth for him he most ioyfully came downe vnto them And there his man dyd meete him and sayd A deare maister farewell His mayster sayd vnto him serue God and he will helpe thee And so he went with the Sheriffes vnto the place of execution and when he was entring into Smithfield the way was foule two officers tooke him vp to beare him to the stake Then he sayd merily what will you make me a Pope I am content to goe to my iourneys end on foote But first comming into Smithfield he kneeled down there saying these wordes I will pay my vowes in thee O Smithfield And wheÌ„ he was come to the place of suffering he kissed the stake saide shall I disdayne to suffer at this stake seeing my redeemer did not refuse to suffer most vile death vpon the Crosse for me And then with an obedient hart full meekely he sayd the Cvi Cvii and Cviii. Psalms and when he had made an end of all hys prayers he said to the officers What haue you done for me euery one of theÌ„ declared what they had don he gaue to euery of theÌ„ mony Then they bound hym vnto the stake and set fire vnto that
Gods spirite in vs accordyng to the rule of the Gospell he that coÌ„formeth not him selfe to the same in godly conuersation may iustly treÌ„ble doubt that he is none of the elect children of God but of the viperous generation and a child of darkenesse For the children of light will walke in the workes of light and not of darkenes though they fall they do not lye still Let all vayne excusations be set a part and whiles ye haue light as Christ commaundeth beleue the light and abide in the same lest eternall darkenesse ouertake you vnwares The light is come into the world but alas men loue darkenesse more theÌ„ the light God geue vs his pure eyesalue to heale our blindnes in this behalfe O that men and women would be healed and not seeke to be wilfully blinded The Lord open their eyes that they may see how dauÌ„gerous a thyng it is to decline from the knowledge of truth contrary to their conscience But what sayd I conscience many affirme their conscience will beare them well enough to do all that they do and to go to the Idolatrous Church to seruice whose coÌ„scieÌ„ce is very large to satisfie man more then God And although their conscience can beare them so to do yet I am sure that a good conscience will not permit them so to doe which caÌ„ not be good vnlesse it be directed after the knowledge of Gods word and therfore in Latin this feelyng of mynde is called Conscientia which souÌ„deth by interpretation as much as with knowledge And therfore if our conscience be led of her selfe not after true knowledge yet we are not so to be excused as S. Paul beareth witnes saying Although my coÌ„science acseth me not yet in this I am not iustified And he ioineth a good coÌ„science with these 3. sisters charitie a pure heart vnfayned fayth Charitie keepeth Gods commaundements a pure hart loueth and feareth God aboue all vnfayned fayth is neuer ashamed of the profession of the Gospell whatsoeuer damage he shal suffer in body therby the lord which hath reuealed hys holy will vnto vs by hys word graunt vs neuer to be ashamed of it and geue vs grace so earnestly to cleaue to hys holy word and true church that for no maner of worldly respecte we become partakers of the workes of hipocrisie which God doth abhorre so that we may be found faythfull in the Lords Testament to the end both in hart word and deede to the glory of God and our euerlasting saluation Amen Ioh. Philpot prisoner in the Kinges Benche for the testimony of the truth 1555. * To hys deare frend in the Lord Iohn Careles prisoner in the kinges Benche MY dearely beloued brother Careles I haue receaued youre louing letters full of loue and compassion in somuch that they made my hard hart to weepe to see you so carefull for one that hath bene so vnprofitable a member as I haue bene and am in Christes church God make me worthy of that I am called vnto and I pray you cease not to pray for me but cease to weep for him who hath not deserued such gentle teares and prayse God with me for that I now approch to the company of them whose want you may worthily lament God geue your pittiful hart his inward consolation In deede my deare Careles I am in thys world in hell and in the shadow of death but he that hath brought me for my desertes downe vnto hell shall shortly lift me vpp to heauen where I shall looke continually for your commyng others my faythfull brethren in the kinges Benche And though I tell you that I am in hell in the iudgement of this world yet assuredly I feele in the same the consolation of heauen I prayse God and thys lothsome and horrible prison is as pleasaunt to me as the walke in the garden of the kinges Bench. You know brother Careles that the way to heauen out of this life is very narrow and wee must striue to enter in at a narrowe gate If God do mitigate the ouglenes of myne imprisonment what will he do in the rage of the fire whereunto I am appoynted And this hath happened vnto me that I might be hereafter an ensample of comfort if the like happen vnto you or to any other of my deare brethren with you in these cruell dayes in the which the deuill so rageth at the faythfull flock of Chryst but in vayne I trust against any of vs who be perswaded that neither lyfe neither death is able to seperate vs from the loue of Christs Gospell which is Gods high treasure committed to your brittle vessels to glorifie vs by the same God of hys mercye make vs faythfull stewardes to the end and geue vs grace to feare nothing what soeuer in hys good pleasure we shal suffer for the same That I haue not written vnto you eâ—st the cause is our strayt keepyng and the want of light by night for the day serueth vs but a while in our darke closet This is the first letter that I haue writteÌ„ since I came to prison besides the report of mine examinations and I am fayne to scribble it out in hast Commend me to al our faythfull brethren and bid theÌ„ with a good courage looke for theyr redemption frame themselues to be harty souldiours in Christ. They haue taken his prest money a great while and now let them shew themselues readye to serue hym faythfully and not to fly out of the Lordes campe into the world as many do Let them remeÌ„ber that in the Apocalips the fearfull be excluded the kingdome Let vs be of good cheare for our Lord ouercame the world that wee shoulde doe the like Blessed is the seruaunt whome when the Lord commeth he findeth watching O let vs watch and pray earnestly one for an other that we be not led into teÌ„ptation Be ioyful vnder the crosse prayse the Lord coÌ„tinually for this is the whole burnt sacrifice which the Lord delighteth in CoÌ„meÌ„d me to my father Hunt and desire him to loue and continue in the vnitie of Christs true Church which he hath begon and then shal he make me more more to ioy vnder my crosse with him Tel my brother Clements that he hath coÌ„forted me much by his louing token in significatioÌ„ of an vnfayned vnitie with vs let him encrease my ioy vnto the end perfectly The Lord of peace be with you al. Salute al my louyng frends M. Mering M. Crooche with the rest and specially M. Marshal his wife with great thaÌ„ks for his kindnes shewed vnto me Farewel my deare Careles I haue dalied with the deuil a while but now I am ouer the shoes God sende me well out Out of the Colehouse by your brother Iohn Philpot. An other letter to Iohn Careles profitable to be read of all them which mourne in repentaunce for theyr sinnes THe God
be Pray I beseech you that I may be stil careles in my careful estate as you haue cause to be carelesse in your easier condition Be thaÌ„kful and put away all care and then I shall be ioyfull in my straite present care Commend me to all our brethren and desire them to praye for me that I may ouercome my teÌ„ptations for the deuil rageth against me I am putte in the stockes in a place alone because I would not answer to such articles as they would charge me wtall in a corner at the bishops appoyntment and because I did not come to Masse when the bish sent for me I will sic all the dayes of my life in the stockes by Gods grace rather then I wil consent to the wicked generation Praise God be ioyfull that it hath pleased him to make vs worthy to suffer somwhat for his names sake The deuil must rage for 10. daies Commend me to maister F. and thanke him for his lawe bookes but lawe neither equitie wil take any place among these bloud thirsty I would for your sake their vniust dealing were noted vnto the parlament house if it might auaile God shorteÌ„ these euil daies I haue answered the bish meetely plaine already and I said to him if he wil cal me in open iudgement I wil answer him as plainly as he will require otherwise I haue refused because I feare they will condemne me in hugger mugger The peace of God be with you my dear brother I canne wryte no more for lacke of light and that I haue wrytten I can not reade my selfe and God knoweth it is wrytten farre vneasily I pray God you may picke out some vnderstanding of my minde towards you Wrytten in a Colehouse of darkenesse oute of a paire of paynefull stockes by thine owne in Christ. Iohn Philpot. An other letter of M. Philpot to certaine godlye women forsaking their owne countrey for the Gospell full of frutefull precepts and lessons for all good women THe spirite of truthe reuealed vnto you my dearely beloued by the Gospell of oure Sauiour Iesus Christe be continually abiding with you and augmented into a perfect building of you into the liuely temple of God through the mighty operation of hys power Amen I reade in the Euangelistes of certaine Godly women that ministred vnto Christ folowing him in the daies of his Passion and neuer forsoke him but being dead in his graue brought oyl to annoynt him vntill that he had shewed himselfe vnto them after his resurrection and bidden them shewe vnto his Disciples which at his Passion were dispearsed and tell them that he was riâ—en and that they shoulde see him in Galile To whome I may iustly compare you my louinge Sisters in Christe who of late haue seene him suffer in his meÌ„bers and haue ministred to theyr necessity annoynting them with the comfortable oyle of your charitable assistance euen to the death and now since yee haue seene Christ to liue in the ashes of them whome the tyrans haue 〈◊〉 he willeth you to go away vpon iust occasion offred you and to declare to our dispearsed brethren and sisters that he is 〈◊〉 and liueth in his electe members in Englande and by death doth ouercome infidelitye and that they shall see him in Galile which is by forsaking this world and by a faithful desire to passe out of this world by those waies which he with his holy Martyrs hath gone on before God therfore entire sisters directe your way as he did Abraham Tobias vnto a strange land God geue you health both of body and soule that ye may go from vertue to vertue and grow from strength to strength vntil yee may see face to face the God of Syon in his holy hil with the innumerable companye of hys blessed Martyrs and Saintes Let there be continuall ascensions vnto heauen in your hearts Let there be no decrease of any vertue which is already planted in you Be as the light of the iuste such as Salomon saith increaseth to the perfect day of the Lord. Let the strength of God be commended in your weake vessels as it is Be examples of faith and sobrietie to al that ye shal come in company with all Let your godly conuersation speake where your toung may not in the congregation Be swift to heare and slow to speake after the counsell of S. Iames. Be not curious about other mens doings but be occupied in praier and coÌ„tinual meditation with reuerent talking of the word of God wythout contention amongst the Saintes Lette your faith shine in a straunge countrey as it hath done in youre owne that your father which is in heauen may be glorified by you to the ende This farewel I send you not as a thing nedefull which know already what your duety is be desirous to performe the same but as one that would haue you vnderstand that he is mindeful of your godly conuersation wherof he hath had good experieÌ„ce and therfore wryteth this to be as a perpetual memorial betwixt you and him vntil our meeting together before God where we shall ioy that we haue here louingly put one an other in memory of our duetie to performe it Farewell againe mine owne bowels in Christ and take me with you where soeuer you goe and leaue your selues wyth me that in spirite we may be present one with an other Commende me to the whole congregation of Christe willing them not to leaue their countrey without witnesse of the Gospell after that we al be slaine which already be stalled vp and appoynted to the slaughter and in the meane season to praye earnestly for our coÌ„stancie that Christ may be glorified in vs and in them bothe by life and death Farewel in the Lord. Yours for euer Iohn Philpot. An exhortation to his owne sister constantly to sticke to the truth which she had frutefully professed GOd the eternall Father who hath iustified you by the bloud of his sonne Iesus Christ and called you to hallow his name through a good conuersation and profession of life he sanctifie you with daily encrease of vertue faith by his holy spirit that you may appeare a vessell of sanctification in the middest of this wicked peruerse generation to the laud and praise of the Gospel Amen I haue occasion mine owne deare sister to praise God in you for 2. causes the one that to your habilitie you are ready to shew your self a naturall louing sister to me your poore afflicted brother as by your geÌ„tle tokens you haue eftsoones testified being absent as also presently visiting me which wel declareth that you be a very naturall sister in dede and to be praised in this behalfe But in the other that you be also a sister to me in faith after Christes Gospell I am occasioned to thanke God so muche the more howe much the one excelleth the other and the spiritual consanguinitie is more perdurable then that which is of flesh bloud
to put you in remembraunce therof to wil you with the wise man to prepare your selues to temptatioÌ„s to beware that ye which yet do stand by the goodnes of God may not fall from your liuely knowledge and hope It is an easie thing to begin to do wel but to coÌ„tinue out in well doing is the onely property of the children of God and such as assuredly shal be saued For so sayth our Sauiour in his Gospel Blessed are they that perseuere to the ende Let not therefore this certaintye of your saluation which is coÌ„tinuance in the sincerity of faith slide froÌ„ you Esteme it more then al the riches pleasures of this world for it is the most acceptable treasure of eternall life This is that precious stone for the which the wise marchant man after the Gospell doeth sell all that he hath bieth the same God in the 3. of the Apocal. doth signifye to the church that there shall come a time of temptation vpon the whole world to trye the dwellers on the earth FroÌ„ the danger of which temptation al such shal be deliuered as obserue his worde which worde there is called the worde of patience to geue vs to vnderstande that we must be ready to suffer all kinde of iniuries and sclaunders for the profession thereof Therfore God coÌ„mandeth vs there to hold it fast that no man might berefte vs of our crowne of glorye and S Peter telleth vs now we are afflicted with diuers assaies as it is need it should so be That the triall of our faith being much more precious then gold that perisheth and yet is tried by fire might redound to the laud glory and honour of Iesus Christ. S. Paule to the Hebrues sheweth vs that Christe our Sauiour was in his humanitie made perfect by afflictions that we being called to perfection in him might more willingly susteine the troubles of the worlde by the which God geueth all them that be exercised in the same for his sake his holinesse And in the 12. chap. of the said Epistle is wrytten My sonne refuse not the correction of the Lord nor shrinke not when thou art rebuked of him for the Lord doth chastice euery sonne whome he receiueth c. Christ in the Gospell of S. Iohn biddeth his disciples to looke after afflictions saying in the worlde yee shall haue trouble but in me yee shall haue ioy And therefore in the middest of their trouble in the 21. of S. Luke hee biddeth them looke vp and lift vp their heads for your redemption sayeth he is at hand And in the 22 he sayth to all suche as be afflicted for him You are those that haue abidden with me in my temptations and therefore I appoynt vnto you a kingdom as my father hath appoynted for me to eate and drinke vpon my table in my kingdome O howe glorious be the crosses of Christe which bring the bearers of them vnto so blessed an ende Shall we not be glad to be partakers of such shame as may bring vs to so high a dignitie God open their eyes to see al things as they be and to iudge vprightly Then doubtlesse we would thinke with Moises that it is better to be afflicted with the people of God then to be counted the king of Egypts sonne Then should we ioyfully say with Dauid in all our aduersities and troubles It is good O Lord thou hast brought me lowe to the ende I might learne thy righteousnesse Therefore S. Paule woulde not glory in any other thyng of the worlde but in the crosse of Christ in other his infirmities We haue the commaundement of Christe daily to take vppe his crosse and follow him We haue the godly ensamples of all his apostles and holy martyrs which with great ioy and exultation haue suffered the losse of landes goods and life for the hope of a better reward which is laide vp for all those in heauen that vnfainedly cleaue to the gospel and neuer be ashamed therof Great is the felicitye of the world to the outwarde man and very pleasant are the transitory delights therof but the rewarde of the rightuous after the word of God doth incomparably excell them all in so much that S. Paul to the Rom. doth plainly affirme that all the tribulations of this world can not deserue that glory which shall be shewed vpon vs. Let vs therfore good brethren and sisterne be mery glad in these troublesome daies the which be sent of God to declare our faith and to bring vs to the ende and fruition of that which we hope for If we woulde enter into the Lordes Sanctuarie and behold what is prepared for vs we could not but desire the Lord to hast the day of our death in the which we might set forth by true confession his glory Neither should we be afraide to meete our aduersaries which so earnestly seeke our spoile and death as Christ did Iudas and that wicked route which came to appreheÌ„d him saying I am he whom ye seeke It is commaunded vs by the Gospel not to feare them that canne kill the bodye but to feare God who can cast both body and soule into hel fire So muche wee are bounde to obserue this commaundement as anye other which God hath geuen vs. The Lorde encrease our faith that we feare God more then man The Lord geue vs such loue towards him his truth that we may be content to forsake all followe him Nowe wil it appeare what we loue best for to that we loue we will sticke There is none to be counted woorthy a Christian except he can finde in his heart for Christes sake if the confession of his truth doth require it to renounce al which he hath and followe him and in so doing he gaineth an hundreth folde more in this life as our Sauiour sayde to Peter and heere after is assured of eternal life Beholde I pray you what he loseth whâ—ch in this life receiueth a 100. for one with assuraÌ„ce of eternall 〈◊〉 O hapy exchaunge Perchaunce your outward man will say if I were sure of this great recompence here I could be glad to forsake all But where is this 100. folde in this life to be founde Yes truely for in stead of worldly richesse which thou doest forsake which be but temporall thou hast found the euerlasting richesse of heauen which be glory honour and praise both before God aungels and men and for an earthly habitation hast an eternall mansion with Christ in heauen for euen now thou art of the citie and housholde of the Saints with God as it is verified in the 4 to the Philippians For worldly peace which canne last but a while thou doest possesse the peace of God which passeth al vnderstanding and for the losse of a few frends thou art made a felowe of the innumerable companye of heauen and a perpetuall frend of all those
triall of our faith that we might bring foorth that excelleÌ„t vertue pacience by the which we are made like to our redeemer Christ with whome we heere being like in suffering assuredly shall heereafter be pertakers of his eternall glory Therefore s. Paul saith God forbid that I should glory in any thing but in the crosse of our lord Iesus Christ. I that am vnder the crosse with you thankes be geuen to God therefore haue felt in the same more true ioye and consolation then euer I did by any benefite that God hath geuen mee in my life before For the more the world doth hate vs the nigher God is vnto vs and there is no perfect ioy but in God Wherefore Christ sayd In me you shall haue ioy but in the worlde affliction Blessed be God which sendeth vs this affliction that we mighte perfectly ioy in hym For this cause in the ripest time of iniquitie and in the moste feruent season of persecution of the true church which Christ in the 21. of Luke prophesied to come he willeth vs to be of good chere and to lift vp our heads for our redemption is at hand O that the Lorde would come and deliuer vs from this worlde which is a vale of miserie vnto his owne kingdome where floweth perpetuall ioy and consolation And verily that is the true and onely ioy which is conceiued not of the creature but of the Creator the which when we doe possesse no body canne take it away from vs. To the which ioy all other ioyes being compared are but mournings all delights sorrow al sweetenes sower all beauty filth and finally al other things that be counted pleasant are tediousnes Your owne selfe is better witnes of thys then I aske your selfe with whom you are best acquainted Doeth not the holy Ghost speake the same in your heart Haue you not perswaded your selfe this to be true before I wrote thereof For howe should you being a woman and a yong Gentlewoman beautifull and at your owne liberty haue ouercome this your fraile kinde and age and despised your excellent beautie and estate vnlesse all those things which be subiect to the senses had bene counted of you vile lâ—tle to be estemed in coÌ„parison of those things which inwardly do comfort you to ouercome the flesh the world and the deuil c. God encrease your ioy in all spirituall things and establish your hope to the day of eternal rest You haue forsaken darkenes and are entred into light God graunt the same may shine stil in you vntil the perfect day come of the Lord in the which is all our consolation Here we must be darkened that there we may appeare as brighte as the sunne in the face of the whole world of all them that now condemne vs for our wel doing whose iudges then we shall be to their horrible griefe though nowe wrongfully they iudge vs. Pray hartily that often that God once again for his Christes sake woulde be mercifull to his afflicted church in England Faithfull prayer is the onely remedy that we haue against the fierie dartes of the Deuil that be kindled against vs. By prayer the Amalechites shall be ouercome and the roarings of the Lion which seeketh still to deuoure vs shal be stopped put to silence The Lorde stoppe Leuiathans mouth that he swalow not vp Gods seely people according to his expectation Praise the Lord for the faithfull testimonie and sacrifice which 2. of our brethren of late haue through fire rendred to the truth of the gospell which nowe triumpheth by the death of godly Martyrs The Lorde is at hande therefore watche and pray The last of May. 1555. Captiue in the kings Bench. Yours with heart in Christ Iohn Philpot. An other letter of maister Philpot to the godly Ladie Vane GOd the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ encrease in your godly heart the faith of the gospell which is your eternall inheritance the holy ghost comfort your spirite with all spirituall consolation to the day of the Lord. Amen I can not but praise God moste highly earnestly my deare faithful lady for the great vnfained loue whych you beare vnto me in Christ declared oftentimes as wel now as of late by manifest and liberal tokens Blessed be God that hath made you so worthy a meÌ„ber in his kingdome For it can not be but such shal reape with abuÌ„dance in time of reward that here do sowe so plenteously in well doing Albeit I am moste vnwoorthy to receiue any suche benefit at your hands as in respect of a piller of Christes church which am scarse a shadow thereof But the zeale of Christes church in you wisheth me to be such a one as the time doth require God fulfill your desire of me that I may be fouÌ„d constant no wandring starre I am not worthy of the name of a prophet or of a minister of Gods woorde for that I haue being letted by the iniquitie of time little or nothing labored therein I am a friend of our common spouse Iesus and do reioyce of the veritie of his woorde for the which praised be hys name hee hath counted mee worthy to suffer and in deede who that geueth a draughte of water in the name of a disciple as Christ hath promised shall not lose his reward Therefore that your gentlenes doth in the name of him which I am not the Lorde recompence vnto you in all hys blessings which he is accustomed to powre on them which loue his flocke vnfainedly Good Lady you haue to ioy that the kingdome of God is thus continually before your eies and that you are not ashamed of the bands of Christ which you with his people in part do suffer They may be assured of the glory euerlasting which heere are not ashamed to take vp the crosse of Christ to folowe him Heere we must weepe and lament whiles the worlde laugheth triumpheth ouer vs but our teares shall shortly be turned into vnspeakeable ioy and we shall eternallye be merrye together when the world shall lament their infidelitie without ende c. I woulde I were able to doe any thing that myght shewe condigne thaÌ„ks for that sincere loue you beare vnto me in Christ. You adiure me as it were by your gentle letters to be bolde on you in all my needes I thanke God whych ceaseth not to prouide for his I lacke nothing at this present but only hability to thank your faithful hart for your goodnesse towards me I loue you and not yours as it is meete christians to loue one an other in God your faith which I beholde in you is more woorth vnto me then al your possessioÌ„s And I thinke I shal not neede long to be chargeable vnto you for that this weeke I looke for commissioners to sit on me my fellow prisoners in prison least the spirit of our breath might blowe further abroade The
to dwel in the Lords tabernacle Our Christe and his heauenly companye looke for vs let vs haste and runne thereto for beholde the Lord is ready to embrace vs. Mine owne bowels in the Lorde be merry in the Lorde with your afflicted brother who daily offereth your merciful almes which most vnworthely I do receiue still of you vnto the Lorde But nowe deare mother you neede not to burden so muche your selfe as my last letters did signifie for that my chargeable imprisonment is cut off and a litle nowe serueth me wherefore I praye you sende no more vntill I sende to you for I haue sufficient and abounde Gods peace be with you for euer Out of my Lord of Londons Colehouse the last of October Your owne Iohn Philpot. An other Letter of Maister Philpot to the sayde Ladie wherin partly he complaineth of the dissimulation and periurie of English men falling againe to the Pope and partlye he expresseth his ioy in his afflictions I Cannot but ioy with you my hearty beloued in Christ of the fall of Senacherib since it is to the glory of God and to the consolation of his church to see the fall of theyr enemies before their face according as it is wrytten The iust shall reioyce when hee seeth the vengeaunce of the wicked God make this your ioy perfite for as cōcerning my self I counte not to see those good dayes whereof you haue a glimmering in this life For although the Cockatrice be dead yet his pestilent chickens with the whore of Babylon yet liueth But a great hope there is of their shorte confusion because god doth not prosper their doings according to their expectation Most happiest shal he be whome the Lorde shall moste soonest take out of this life that he may not see the plagues which the manifest periurie and the manifolde idolatrie and detestable dissimulation and that of such as do know the truth do threaten to come The Lord is iust all vnrighteousnes displeaseth him either heere or els in an other world he will punish this grosse infidelity of the worlde but his elect and such as he loueth wil he punish here that they should not be condēned heereafter with the world eternally we haue nothing so much to reioyce in as in the crosse of Iesu Christ and in that we are partakers of his afflictions which be the earnest penie of that eternall kingdome which he vppon the crosse for vs hathe purchased For as Paule hys faithfull witnes saith If we suffer with him we shall raigne with him If we die with him we shall liue with him Wherefore mine owne deare bowels praise God with me moste intirely that it hath pleased him now mercifully to visite the sinnes of my youth my huge vnthankfulnes and by the same doth geue me such consolation that he assureth me of his great goodnesse mercy and turneth his fatherly castigation into my crown of glory O good God what am I on whome he should shew this great mercy To him that is immortal inuisible and onely wise be all honor praise and glory therfore Amen This is the day that the Lord hath made let vs reioyce and be glad in the same This is the way though it be narrow which is ful of the peace of God leadeth to eternal blisse O how my heart leapeth for ioy that I am so neare the apprehēsion therof God forgiue me mine vnthākfulnes and vnworthines of so great glory The swordes whyche pearced Maries hart in the passion of our Sauiour whych daily also go through your faithful hart be more glorious and to be desired then the golden Scepters of this world O blessed be they that mourne in this world to Godwarde for they shall eternally be comforted God make my stony heart to mourne more then it doth I haue so muche ioy of the reward that is prepared for me most wretched sinner that though I be in a place of darknes mourning yet I cā not lament but both night day am so ioyfull as though I were vnder no Crosse at all yea in all the dayes of my life I was neuer so merry the name of the Lorde be praised therfore for euer euer and he pardon mine vnthankfulnes Our enemies do freat fume and gnash their teeth to see and heare that we vnder this grieuous affliction in the world can be so mery We are of them counted as desperate persones for the certaine hope feeling which we haue of our euerlasting saluation and it is no maruell for the worldly man can not perceiue the things of God it is meere foolishnesse and abhomination to them Be thankefull vnto our God mine owne deare helper for his wonderous working in his chosen people Praye instantly that this ioy be neuer taken from vs for it passeth all the delightes of this worlde This is the peace of God which surmounteth all vnderstanding this peace the more his chosen be afflicted the more they feele therfore can not faint neither for fire neither for water Lette vs pray for our weake brethren sisters sake that it may please God to alleuiate the greeuous and intollerable burden of these cruel daies But touching our selues let vs hartily besech our sauiour to vouchsafe to geue vs this glorious gifte to suffer for hys Gospels sake and that we may thincke the shame of the world to be our glory as it is in deede God increase our faith and open our eyes to beholde what is prepared for vs. I lack nothing praise be to God I trust my marriage garment is ready I will send you my examinations as soone as I can get them wrytten if you be desirous of them God of his mercy fill your mercifull heart with all ioy and consolation of the hope to come Out of the colehouse the 19. of Nouember Your owne louer Iohn Philpot. A Letter of M. Philpot to a frende of his prisoner the same time in Newgate wherein is debated and discussed the matter or question of Infants to be baptised THe God of all lighte and vnderstanding lighten your heart wyth all true knowledge of his word and make you perfect to the day of our Lorde Iesus Christ wherevnto you are nowe called through the mighty operation of his holy spirite Amen I receiued yesternight from you deare brother S. and felow prisoner for the truth of Christes Gospell a Letter wherein you gently require my iudgement cōcerning the Baptisme of infantes which is the effect thereof And before I doe shewe you what I haue learned out of Gods word of his true infallible church touchyng the same I thinke it not out of the matter first to declare what vision I had the same night whiles musing on your letter I fell a sleepe knowing that God doth not without cause reueale to his people who haue their mynds fixed on him speciall and spirituall reuelations to their comfort as a tast of their ioy and kingdome
destruction And then I weene your new made Prosolites will be glad to couer their crowns with a Cowe turd sauyng your Lordships reuerence I should haue sayd first Well I rather desire the conuersion then confusion the Lord send the one of them shortly as may be most to his glory Amen I signifye also vnto your Lordshyp that the raylyng words which your lying preacher shewed forth of hys filthy fountayne vpon Sonday agaynst the deare seruaunt of God good M. Philpot doth greatly redounde to your Lordships dishonesty and much deface your spiritual honour Uerily I see that the great wrath of GOD hath so blynded your eyes that you see not what is with you nor what is against you but still you vomite out your owne shame and make all the world wonder vpon you Was it not enough for you to condemne hym most vniustly ye contrary to your own lawes and to kill his innocent body most tirannously but you must also set a lying limme of the Deuill to blaspheme slaunder and belye him now he is dead Oh viperous generation seed of the serpent right children of the deuill full well doe you counterfaite the fathers steps whom Christ calleth a murderer and a lyer from the beginnyng which two thinges be the onely weapons of your war wherwith you maintaine all your mischiefe that is to say lying and murder for those whom ye cannot ouercome with your lying perswasions them you kill most cruelly and then blaspheme belye them with railyng sentenses when they are deade But all this will not blynd the people of God nor yet make them any whit the lesse beleeue the truth nor abate their loue from the true preachers thereof yea it is a true signe and token that they are the very disciples of Christ for he hath sayd Blessed are ye when men reuile you and say all maner of euill sayings agaynst you for my names sake Reioyce be glad for great is your reward in heauen And doubtlesse great is that good mans reward in heauen by this time as your Lordships damnation shall be great in hel except you repent and surcease from sheddyng innocent bloud But it is to be feared your hart is hardned as Pharaoes was seyng that with Iudas ye haue sold and betraied your maister Take heed my Lord lest you come to the same ende or a worse then he did For verily I caÌ„not perceiue how you should escape it long Therfore say not but a womaÌ„ gaue you warning if you list to take it And as for the obteining of your popish purpose in suppressing the truth I put you out of doubt you shall not obtaine it so long as ye go this way to worke as you doe for verily I beleeue that you haue lost the harts of 20000. that were ranke papists with in this 12. months It is found very true that one holy doctor sayeth the bloud of the Martyrs is the seed of the Gospel when one is put to death a thousand doth rise for hym And that this is true you may well perceiue by the harty loue that the people shewed vnto good M· Philpot at his goyng to his death They went not about to make an Idoll of hym as your adders brood would beare meÌ„ in hand but they worshipped God which gaue such strength to his deare child to die so constantly for the testimony of his truth to the vtter destruction of that detestable idolatry which your lordship doth most diuelishly maintaine with the force of fire fagots and sword yea rather then faile to famish men in prison agayne as ye haue done already It is reported of your owne tormenters that the 6. prisoners that you haue in your prison be put into 6. seueral places al the day and euery night brought together and set in the stockes Forsooth my L. this doth get you a foule name all abroad the countrey and yet all will not helpe your lordships pestilent purpose but euery way hinder the fame For Zorobabell will bee founde no lyer which sayd The truth should haue victory you do but striue agaynst the streame and kicke against the pricke the Lord doth laugh your doyngs to scorne and will bring all your counsailes and deuises to naugh as knoweth the Lord God who of hys great mercy shortly conuert your Lordship or vtterly coÌ„found you and get his name a glory ouer you Amen Your Lordships Oratour who praieth daily to God that he may rewarde you according to your deeds * Anno. 1556. ¶ The Story of seuen Martyrs suffryng together at London for the lyke testimony of Christes Gospell THe Catholike prelates of the Popes band beyng as yet not satisfied with this their one â—eres bloudy murderyng of the reuerend lerned principal members of Christes church whereof there were now very few which either were not consumed by most cruel fire or els for the auoidyng of their popâ—sh rage compelled to flee their natural country continued still this next yere also which was an 1556. in no lesse crueltie towards the more simple inferior sort of people I meane in degree though God be praysed not in stedfastnes hauing yet sometimes amoÌ„gst them such as were both learned and of good estimation as in continuance of this history shall appeare Wherfore as the first fruites thereof to beginne this yeare withall about the 27. day of Ianuary were burned in Smithfield at London these seuen personnes hereafter followyng to witte Thomas Whittle Priest Barthelet Greene Gentleman Iohn Tudson Artificer Iohn Went Artificer Thomas Browne Isabel Foster wyfe Ioane Warren alias Lashford Mayd All whith seuen as they were burned together in one fire so were they likewyse all vppon one sort and forme of Articles condemned in one day Howbeit forasmuch as the gyfts of God in them were diuers some more abounding in knowledge then others their dealyngs wythall were also diuers as shall be more plainly perceiued in the discoursing of their seuerall processes hereafter folowing And therefore for the better vnderstandyng hereof I will first by the leaue of the Lord passing ouer their priuate articles and examinations had at sundry tymes in the bishops house set foorth their generall examinations in the publike Consistorie vpon the Bishops articles there ministred vnto them with their aunswers also vnto the same accordyng as they all agreed after one maner and sort together as here by the words both of the articles and theyr aunswers vnder written may appeare ¶ The forme and wordes of Boners Articles ministred to the seuen persons aboue mentioned in his Consistorie ANd first to behold the maner of speach in these bishops sittyng in their maiesty to terrifie the eares of the simple withall let vs heare the pontificall phrase of this Bishops beginnyng in this sort ¶ The within written articles and euery of them and euery part and parcell of them we Edmund by the permission of God Bishop of London do obiect and minister to thee Thomas Whittle c of our
of London PLeaseth your good Lordship to vnderstand that yesterday I dined with my Lord of Exceter who soon after my first coÌ„ming vnto him asked me what newes I answered none but good that I had heard No sayth he Why it is a rumour in the City that tomorowe the Queenes Grace will take her iourney towardes the king I aunswered that I thought it not to bee any whit true but an inuention of Heretickes yea and further sayeth he there is report made abroad of my Lorde our Mayster that he is in discomfort and therefore will suffer no man to come vnto him When I heard thus much I began to laugh and declare how vntrue this report was so that my Lord who before was very sad afterward knowing the truth reioyced much to heare that all was wel with your lordship and desired me to do his harty commendations to your Lordship One of my Lord of Penbrokes retinue a very handsome maÌ„ and as farre as I can yet learne Catholicke is a suter to your lordship to haue licence to erect a schoole and the order which he inteÌ„deth to vse is coÌ„teined in this printed paper which I send here in inclosed to your Lordship I would be gladde for my Lorde of Penbrokes sake that he vnderstood that vppon my motion your Lordship were content he should teach as he intendeth Mayster Iohnson and I haue trauelled with the Prieste and he hath subscribed his name to this draughte whiche is herein inclosed and hath promised he will stand to the same before your Lordship When I had written thus much sodenly came tydinges to me that Iordanis conuersus est retrorsum Cluney comming to the Priest found him lying prostrate groning as though he should haue dyed forthwith Then Cluney tooke him vppe and set hym vpon a stoole and came to me and told me of this reuell It chauÌ„ced that M. Iohnson was with me and we went to this fond hereticke fouÌ„d him lying all a long holding his hands vp looking hypocritically towardes heauen I caused Thomas More Cluney to set him on the stoole and with much adoe at length he tolde me that Sathan had bene with him in the night and tolde him that he was damned and weeping he prayed M. Iohnson and me to see the bill whereunto he subscribed and when he sawe it he tare out his name è libro scilicet viuentium Me thinketh by him he will needes burne a Fagot neither is there any other likelihood of the young woman I haue enquired of the two persons which sue to haue a licence to eat flesh And the woman of Christ Church is in deed very much diseased and hath bene long diseased and she and her husband both Catholicke Of the other yet I canne learne nothing Thus Iesus euermore preserue your good Lordship and my Mistres your Lordshippes sister with all yours This present Saterday Your Lordships most bounden seruaunt Iohn Harpsfield ¶ Here foloweth an other letter of Robert Iohnson Register touching Thomas Whittell written to Boner Bishop of London MY bounden duety premised pleaseth your Lordshyp to vnderstande that this laste Fridaye in the after noone Mayster Archdeacon of London did diligently trauell with Syr Thomas Whittell I being present and perceiuing his conformity as outwardlye appeared deuised a submission and hee being content therewith did subscribe the same But now this saterday morning Mayster Archdeacon and I vpon Cluneys report declaring that he fayned himselfe to be extracted of his senses went vnto hym to whom he declared that Sathan in the night time appeared vnto him and said that he was damned for that he had done against his conscience in subscribing the said submission with other like wordes c. And theÌ„ Mayster Archdeacon at his earnest request deliuered vnto him the submissioÌ„ And thereupon the sayd Whittell did teare out his subscription made in the foot of the same as your Lordshippe shall perceiue by the submission sent now vnto your Lordship by Mayster ArchdeacoÌ„ wherewith the sayd Whittell was somewhat quieted And as touching Ioane Lashford Mayster Archdeacon didde likewise trauell with her and shewing her Syr Thomas submission which I readde vnto her two times demaunded if she could bee content to make the like submission and she desired respite vntill this morning And beyng nowe eftsoones demaunded in likewise sayth that she will not make any thing in writing nor put any signe thereunto Mayster Archdeacon and I entend thyâ— after noone to examine the sayd Syr Thomas vpon Articles for as yet there doeth appeare nothing in writing agaynste hym as knoweth almighty GOD who preserue your good Lordshyp in prosperity long with honour to endure From London thys Saterday By your Lordships dayly bedesman and bounden seruaunt Robert Iohnson ¶ The Condemnation Death and Martyrdome of Thomas Whittell COncerning the woordes and aunsweres of the sayde Thomas Whittell at his laste examination before the Bishop vpon the xiiij day of Ianuary the yere aboue expressed Boner with his other felow Bonerlingeâ— sittyng in his Consistory at after noone first called forth Thomas Whittell with who he began in effect as foloweth because ye be a Priest sayth he as I and other Bishops here bee and did receiue the order of Priesthoode after the riâ—e and fourme of the Catholicke Churche ye shall not thinke but I will minister iustice as well vnto you as to other And then the sayd Boner in further communication did charge hym that when in tymes past he had sayde Masâ—e according to the order then vsed the same Whittell nowe of late had rayled and spoken agaynste the same saying that it was Idolatry and abhomination Whereunto Thomas Whittell aunswering agayne sayd that at such times as he so sayde Masse he was then ignoraunt c. adding moreouer that the eleuation of the Sacramente at the Masse geueth occasion of Idolatry to them that be ignoraunt vnlearned After this the bishop making hast to the Articles whiche in all his examinations euer he harped vpon came to this Article That thou wast in times past baptised in the fayth of the catholicke church To this the sayd Whittell inferred agayne I was baptised in the fayth of the catholicke church although I did forsake the Church of Rome And ye my Lord do call these heresies that be no heresies and do charge me therwith as heresies and ye ground your selfe vpon that religion whiche is not agreable to Gods word c. Then the sayd victorious souldiour and seruant of our Sauior constant in the verity receiued and professed was agayne admonished and with perswasions entreated by the bishop who because he would not agree vnto the same the bishop forthwith proceeded first to his actuall degradation that is to vnpriest him of all his priestly trinkets and clarkly habite The order and maner of whiche theyr popish and most vayne degradation before in the storye of Bishop Hooper pag. 1435. is to be sene
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
should mistake his meaning and mine I sayde yea my Lorde so that I maye haue bookes on both sides as Caluin and my Lord of Caunterburies bookes and such other Well ê™ my lordt I will satisfie thy minde therein also and they all were in grea hope that shortly I shoulde become a good Catholicke as they call it Then was I brought into my Lordes inner chamber where you were and there was put in a chamber with mayster Dee who entreated me very frendly That night I supped at my Lords table and lay with mayster d ee in the chamber you did see On the morrow I was serued at dinner from my Lordes table and at night did eate in the hall with his gentlemeÌ„ where I haue bene placed euer sithence and fared wonderfull well Yea to say the truth for my liberty within the bondes of his Lordships house for my lodging and fare scarce haue I bene at any time abroade in better case so long together and haue found so much gentlenesse of my Lorde and his Chaplaynes and other seruauntes that I should easily haue forgotten that I was in prison were it not that this great cheare was often pouthered with vnsauery sauses of examinations exhortations posinges and disputations For shortly after supper the first monday at night I was hadde into my Lordes bedde chamber and there he woulde know of me howe I came first into these heresies I sayde I was perswaded thereto by the scriptures and authorities of the Doctours alledged by Peter Martyr in hys Lectures vppon the xi Chapiter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians whiles hee intreated there on that place De coena domini by the space of a moneth together But then my Lord enforced the playnnesse of Chrystes woordes and his almightye power demaundinge of mee what reason shuld moue me from the litterall sense of the words but I hauing no lust to those matters woulde haue alledged that there were bookes sufficient of that matter as Peter Martyr Cranmer and Oecolampadius neuerthelesse when this shifte would not serue but I was constrayned to say somewhat I sayd I was moued from the litterall sense by the manner of speakyng by the circumstaunce and by conference of other places of the scriptures It is euident that Christ tooke breade and that hee shewed them they seeing it bread whiche hee affirmed to be his body Christ affirmed that bread was his body But that affirmation taken literally can by no meanes be true Ergo the wordes if they bee taken according to the letter cannot be true For this predication Panis est corpus Christi or corpus Christi est panis is neither identica nor accidentalis nor aessentialis praedicatio Wherfore of necessitie I must say it was spoken in the like sense as Christ was a dore a vyne and a waye Neyther can it serue to say that it was not of bread that he affirmed to bee his body and that for two causes For what soeuer he shewed that was bread for nought els was seene But that which he shewed he affirmed to be hys body Ergo he affirmed of bread that it was his body The second reason is for that it was not chaunged before seeyng benedixit is gratias egit or ells Christe affirmed no true proposition and you are without authoritie In the end of this letter there were noted these sentences following collected for confirmation of his former assertions videlicet Eadem locutio poculi i. The same phrase is vsed and spoken vpon the cup. Dicitur postea panis It is called bread in the same place afterward Eadem ratione reiecero corpus qua tu panem i. By the reason as it may be denyed to be bread it may be denyed to be the body Ascendit in coelum i. His body ascended into heauen Corpore nobis factus est similis in omnibus post natiuitatem At nostrum corpus non potest esse in duobus locis Ergo c. In body hee was lyke to vs in all thinges after his natiuitie sinne excepted Seeyng then our body cannot be in two places at once Ergo neyther his Discipuli non stupebant c. His Disciples tooke it as no miracle nor wonder The last examination and condemnation of Mayster Greene. THus as it seemeth for this tyme they lefte off But not long after the Byshop perceauyng Greenes learning and constancy to be suche as neyther hee nor any of his Doctours and Chaplaynes coulde by the scriptures refell beganne then to obiecte and put in practise hys chiefe and strongest argument agaynst him whiche was the rigour of the Lawe and crueltye of execution an argument I ensure you which without the speciall grace of our God to flesh is importable And therefore vsynge lawe as a cloke of hys tyrannye the xxviii daye of Nouember the sayde Byshoppe examined him vppon certayne poyntes of Christian Religion Whereunto when hee had aunswered the Byshop appointed the register as their most common manner is to draw there out an order of confession Whiche beyng afterwardes redd vnto Greene was also subscribed by him as a confirmation of hys former assertions The tenour whereof here ensueth ¶ The confession and saying of Bartlet Greene. BArtlet Greene borne in the Cittye of London in the Parish of Bassingshall of the Dioces of London and of the age of xxv yeares being examined in the Byshops palace the xxvii daye of Nouember anno 1555. vppon certayne articles aunswered as followeth Videlicet that neither in the tyme of K. Edw. after that the Masse by hym was put down neither in the time of Q. Mary after that the masse was restored agayn he hath heard any masse at al but he sayth that in the raygne of the sayd Queenes Maiesty he the sayde Bartlet two tymes to witte at two Easter tides or dayes in the chamber of Iohn Polline one of the Preachers in king Edwardes tyme within the paryshe of Saincte Michaels in Cornhill of the Dioces of London did receiue the Communion wyth the sayde Pulline and Christopher Goodman sometyme reader of the Dyuinitie Lecture in Oxford now gone beyond the sea and the second tyme with the sayd Pulline with one Runneger Mayster of Arte of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford and this Examinate also sayth that at both the sayd Communions he and the other before named did take and receiue bread and wyne whiche Bread and wyne hee called Sacramentall bread and sacramentall wyne whiche he sayth were vsed there by them Pulline onely readyng the wordes of the institution expressed in the boooke of Communion In which receiuyng and vsing this Examinate sayth that the other aforenamed dyd receaue the Sacramente of the Lordes Supper and that they receyued materyall bread and materiall wyne no substaunce therof changed and so no reall presence of the body and bloude of Chryste there beyng but onely grace added thereto And further this Examinate sayth that he had
heretofore duryng the raygne of the Queenes Maiestie aforesayd refused and so now doth refuse to come and heare Masse and to receiue the sacramente of the Aultar as they are now vsed and ministred in thys Churche of Englande because he saith that concerning the Masse he cannot bee perswaded in hys conscience that the sacrifice pretended to bee in the same is agreeable to Gods word or mayntaynable by the same or that wythout deadly offence he cannot worshyp the body and bloud of Chryst that is pretēded to be there And as concerning the sacrament of the Aultar this Examinate sayth that he heretofore duryng the sayd raygne hath refused and nowe doth refuse to receiue the same as is nowe vsed in thys Churche of Englande because it is not vsed accordynge to the institution of Chryste but bothe in a straunge tongue and also not ministred in bothe kyndes and besides that contrary to Gods worde it is there taughte that the thynge there minystred is to bee adored as the reall and true bodye of Chryste And furthermore this Examinate saythe that duryng the sayd raygne he hath not bene confessed to the Prieste nor receaued absolution at hys handes because hee is not bound by Gods word to make auricular confession Bartlet Greene. Many other sondrye conferences and publicke examinations they brought hym vnto But in the end seeyng hys steadfastnesse of faythe to bee suche as agaynst the whiche neither the threatninges nor yet their flattering promises could preuayle the xv day of Ianuary the Bishop caused him with the rest aboue named to be brought into the Consistory in Paules where being set in hys Iudgement seate accompanied with Fecknā then Deane of the same church and other his Chaplaines after he had condemned the other sixe he then called for Bartlet Grene began with these or the like wordes Honourable audience I thinke it best to open vnto you the conuersation of this man called Bartlet Greene. And because you shall not charge me that I go aboute to seeke any mans bloud here you shal heare the Councelles letters which they sēt with him vnto me The effect wherof is that where hee had bene of long time in the Tower of London for heresie they haue now sent him vnto me to be ordered according to the lawes therefore prouided And now to thee Bartlet Greene I propose these ix articles Then he read the Articles aboue mentioned whiche were generally obiected to all these seuen prisoners to wit Thomas Whittell Iohn Tudson Iohn Went Thomas Browne Isabell Foster Ioane Lashforde Bartlet Greene. But when M. Greene woulde haue aunswered them particularly he was putte to silence with promise that he should haue time to aunswere sufficiently and therfore the Byshoppe proceeding sayd that when Greene came first to his house he desired to haue thee bookes of the ancient Doctors of the Churche to read whiche hee sayd hee graunted him Whereunto Greene aunswered and sayde that if the Doctours were with indifferēt iudgement weighed they made more a greate deale wyth hym then they did with them Feck Upon which wordes Fecknam Deane of Paules stoode vp and marueiling why hee sayd so asked hym if he would be content to stand to the iudgemente of the Doctours Greene. Greene then sayd that he was content to stād to theyr Doctours iudgement Feck I will then propound vnto you quoth Feck the Doctours and interprete them your selfe So hee alledged a place of Chrisostome ad popul Antioch whiche was this Elias ascendens melotem suum post se reliquit Christus verò ascendens carnem suam assumpsit eandem post se reliquit and he demaunded Greene how he vnderstoode the place Greene. Then Greene prayed him that he would confer the Doctours saying together and therefore alledged the same Doctour agayne writing vpon the 1. Cor. 10. An non est panis quem nos benedicimus communicatio corporis Domini Non ne est Calix c. Whereby hee prooued that this Doctour called this sacrament but a signe of the Lordes body Many other wordes of brobation and denyal were betwixe them Feck At last Fecknam demaunded of hym how longe he had bene of his opinion For M. Greene said hee you confessed once to me that when you were at Oxforde at schoole you were called the rankest papist in that house being compelled to go to the lecture of Peter Martyr you were conuerted from your old doctrine Greene. And Greene confessed the same Feck Then agayne he sayd that Greene told him that the sayd Peter Martyr was a Papist in his first comming to Oxford Whereupon he made an exclamation and praied the people to consider howe vayne his doctrine that he professed was whiche was grounded vppon one man and that vpon so vnconstāt a man is Peter Martyr whiche perceiuing the wicked intent of the Counsel was content to please them and forsake the true and Catholicke fayth Greene. Greene sayd that hee grounded not his fayth vpō Martir nor any other nor did beleue so because martyr beleued the same but because that he hadde heard the Scriptures and the Doctours of the Church truely and wholesomely expounded by him neyther had he anye regard of the man but of the word which he spake And further he sayd that he heard the sayde M. Peter saye often that he had not as yet while he was a papiste read Chrysostome vpon the x. to the Corinthes nor many other places of the Doctours but when he had read them and wel considered them he was content to yelde to the Doctours hauing first humbled himselfe in prayer desiring God to illuminate hym and bring him to the true vnderstandyng of the scripture Whiche thinge sayde Greene if you my Lorde would doe I doe not doubt but God woulde open your eyes and shewe you his truthe no more then I doe doubt hys wordes be true that sayth Aske and it shall be geuen to you knocke and it shall be opened vnto you c. Feck Then Fecknam asked him what he thoughte of this article Sanctam ecclesiam catholicam Greene. And Greene aunswered that hee dyd beleeue one holye and vniuersall Churche throughoute all the worlde Feck Then Fecknam sayd that he woulde sayne haue a sure marke and token whereby hee might knowe thys Churche and therefore he prayed Greene to define vnto him this church Greene. Greene answered that his Church dyd agree in veritie of the true doctrine of Christ and was knowne by the true administration of hys sacramentes Feck Whereupon Fecknam sayd that he would proue the Church wherof he was to be neuer agreeyng in doctrine but alwayes to haue bene in controuersie in theyr religion For sayd he Luther and Zwinglius coulde neuer agree in theyr writinges or sayinges nor Oecolampadius with Carolostadius nor Caralostadius wyth eyther Zwinglius or Luther c. for Luther writing vppon the sacrament of the aultar said that in hoc pane vel
likewise after diuers examinations vppon the articles aforesayde in the Consistory attempted the lyke maner of perswasions with hym as he did to the other to recant and returne To whome in fewe wordes the sayde Went aunswered agayne he woulde not but that by the leaue of God he would stand firme and constant in that he had sayd And when the Bishop yet notwithstanding did still vrge and call vpon him with words and fayre gloses to geue ouer himselfe to theyr opinion he could haue no other answer of hym but this No I say as I haue sayd c. Whereuupon being condemned by the Bishops sentence he was committed vnto the Sheriffes whom that shameles shaueling at yâ— time abused for hys seruile Butchers and so brought to hys martyrdome which he with no lesse constancie suffered to the ende with the rest of that blessed societie of Martyrs aboue named 6. Isabell Foster Martyr WIth these fiue persons aboue recited and condemned were also two women in the foresayd company condemned the same tyme and likewise burned for the same cause the one a wife called Isabell Foster the other a mayde named Ioane Warne or otherwise Lashford This foresayd Isabell was borne in Grafestocke in the Dioces of Carlill and afterward maried to one Iohn Foster Cutler of the Parish of S. Brides in Fleetstreete beyng of the age of Lv. yeares She likewise for not commyng vnto the Churche beyng sent vnto Boner and so imprisoned was sundry tymes examined by the sayd Byshop but neuer ouercome nor remoued from the constant confession of Christes Gospell At length commyng vnto her finall examination before the Byshop in the Consistory the xv day of the sayd moneth of Ianuary she was moued agayne whether she would yet goe from her former aunsweres Whereunto she gaue a resolute aunswere in few wordes I will not sayth she goe from them by Gods grace and thereunto did adhere neither beyng cast downe by the manacyng threates of the Byshop nor yet yeldyng thorough his alluryng enticementes promising both lyfe and libertie if she would associate her selfe in the vnitie of the Catholicke Churche Whereunto she sayd agayne in this wise that she trusted she was neuer out of the Catholicke Church c. and so persisting in the same continued constaunt till the sentence diffinitiue was pronounced and theÌ„ she was committed by commaundemeÌ„t of the Byshop to the secular power and so brought a fewe dayes after to the stake the 27. day of the foresayd moneth where she like a faythfull witnesse of the Lordes truth with the other fiue aforesayd ended her troubles here to finde a better rest in the kyngdome of Christ our Sauiour 7. Ioane Lashford alias Ioane Warne Martyr IN a certaine place of these Actes and Monumentes heretofore meÌ„tion was made of one Elizabeth Warne pag. 1608. col 2. who with her husband Iohn Warne as is aforesayd in the begynnyng of Queene Maries Reigne was apprehended in Bowe Churchyard for beyng there at a CoÌ„munion and both suffered for the same first the man in the moneth of May then the wife in Iuly after and now the daughter in the moneth of Ianuary followed her parents in the same martyrdome Furthermore in the same place and page mention was made also of D. Storie who there we sayde was somewhat neare vnto the sayd parties eyther in kindred or alliance albeit as I vnderstande since of some there was no kindred betweene them but only that she was his seruant Yet notwythstanding the said D. Storie as it is aboue specified before he was Commissioner made intercession for the parties to D. Martine then Commissioner but afterwarde being placed in Commission hymselfe so farre forgat him selâ—e and hys olde seruaunt that hee became no small procurer of theyr deathes I will not heere expostulate wyth the hard heart of that man nor with hys incoÌ„stancie Who â—et notwythstanding after he had brought them to death was rested him selfe for lx pounde charged wyth dette in theyr behalfe which if it be true it may thereby appeare that he was in some peece of kindred ioyned or allied vnto them But leauing that persone vnto the good pleasure of the Lord let vs returne vnto that we haue in hand Thys Ioane Lashforde borne in the parishe of little Hallowes in Thames streete was the daughter of one Robert Lashford Cutler and of the foresayde Elizabeth who afterward was married to Iohn Warne vpholster who as is sayde was persecuted for the Gospell of God to the burning fire and after him his wife and after her thys Ioane Lashford theyr daughter Who about the age of xx yeares ministring to her father and mother in prisone suspected and knowen to bee of the same doctrine and religion was sent vp to Boner bishop of London by D. Storie as is aboue in her answeres to the articles declared and so committed to the Counter in the Poultrie where shee remained the space of 5. wekes and froÌ„ thence had to Newgate where shee continued the space of certaine moneths After that remaining prisonner in the custodie of the sayd Boner her confession was being examined that the whole xij moneth before and more she came vnto no popish masse seruice in the church neither would doe eyther to receiue the Sacrament of the aultare or to be confessed because her conscience would not suffer her so to doe confessing and protesting that in the sacrament of the aultar there is not the reall presence of Christes body and bloud nor that auricular coÌ„fession or absolution after the popish sort was necessary nor the Masse to be good or according vnto the scripture but sayd that both the sayd sacrament confession absolution and the Masse with all other theyr superfluous sacrameÌ„ts ceremonies and diuine seruice as then vsed in thys Realme of Englande were moste vile and contrary to Christes woordes and institution so that neyther they were at the beginning nor shal be at the latter ende Thys godly damosell feeble and tender of age yet strong by grace in this her Confession and faith stoode so firme that neyther the flattering promises nor the violent threates of the Byshops could â—ourne her but being mooued and exhorted by the Byshoppe to retourne to the catholicke vnitie of the church sayth boldly to him againe If yee wil leaue off your abhomination so I wil returne and otherwyse I will not Whereupon the Bishop yet againe promised her pardon of all her errours as he called them if shee would be conformed To thys shee answeared againe saying vnto the Bishop Doe as it pleaseth you and I pray God that you may doe that whych may please God And thus shee constantly perseueryng in the Lordes holy truthe was by the sentence definitiue coÌ„demned and committed vnto the Sheriffes by whom the foresayd 27. day of Ianuarie shee with the rest being brought vnto the stake there washed her clothes in the bloud of the lambe
you rehearsed the articles of your fayth but to what end I pray you els but to cloke that inwarde heresie rooted in you that you might blind the poore simple and vnlearned peoples eyes For what will they say or thinke if they do not thus say Good Lord what meaneth these men to say that he is an hereticke they are deceiued this is a good Christian he beleueth as we beleue But is this sufficient to escape the name of an hereticke To the simple and vnlearned it is sufficient but for you that haue professed a greater knowledge and hygher doctrine it is not enoughe to recite your beliefe For vnlesse as Origine sayth yee beleeue all thynges that the Churche hath decreed besides you are no Christian man In the whiche because you doe halte and wyll come to no conformitie from henceforthe yee are to bee taken for an hereticke with whome wee ought neither to dispute neyther to reason whom we ought rather to eschew and auoyd Neuerthelesse althoughe I doe not entende to reason with you but to geue you vp as an abiect and outcast froÌ„ Gods fauour yet because yee haue vttered to the annoying of the people such pestilent heresies as may do harme among some rude and vnlearned I thinke meete and not abs re somewhat to say herein not because I hope to haue any good at your handes which I would willingly wysh but that I may establish the simple people whiche be here present least they being seduced by youre diabolicall doctrine may pearish thereby And first as it behoueth euery man to purge himselfe first before he enter with anye other where you accuse me of an othe made agaynst the Byshop of Rome I confesse it and deny it not and therefore do say with the rest of this Realme good and catholicke men the saying of the Prophet Pec cauimus cum patribus nostris iniustè egimus iniquitatem fecimus i. Wee haue sinned with oure fathers wee haue done vniustly and wickedlye Delicta inuentutis meae ignorantias meas ne memineris Domine i. The sinnes of my youth and my ignoraunces O Lord doe not remember I was then a young man and as young a scholer here in the vniuersitie I knew not then what an othe did meane and yet to saye the truthe I did it compulsed compulsed I saye by you Mayster Cranmer and here were you the authoure and cause of my periury you are to be blamed herein and not I. Now where you say I made two othes the one contrary to the other it is not so for the othe I made to the Popes holinesse appertayneth onely to spirituall thinges The other othe that I made to the king pertayneth onely to Temporall thinges that is to saye that I doe acknowledge all my temporall liuinges to proceede onely from the kinge and from none els But all menne may see as you agree in this so ye agree in the rest of your opinions Now sir as concerning the Supremacye whiche is onely dew to the sea of Rome a worde or two Althoughe there be a number of places whiche do confirme that christ appoynted Peter head of the Churche yet this is a moste euident place When Christe demaunded of his Apostles whom men called him they aunswered some Elias some a Prophet c. But Christe replyed to Peter and sayde Whome sayest thou Peter that I am Peter aunswered Tu es Christus silius Dei and Christ replyed Tu es Petrus super hanc Petram aedificabo aecclesiam meam The Doctours enterpreting this place super hanc Petram expounded it id est non solum super fidem Petri sed super te Petre. And why did Christ chaunge his name from Simon to Peter whiche in latine is a stone but onely to declare that he was onely the foundation and head of the Churche Agayne where Christe demaunded of Peter beyng amongst the rest of his Apostles 3. tymes a rew Petre amas me he gaue him charge ouer his sheep Pasce oues meas pasce agnos meos Whiche place Chrysostome interpreting sayth Pasce hoc est loco mei esto praepositus caput fratrum tuoruÌ„ To conclude when they came that required Didrachina of Christ he commaunded Peter to cast his net into the sea and to take out of the fishes mouth that hee tooke staterem hoc est duplex Didrachma da inquit pro te me Petre Whiche wordes do signifie that when hee had payed for them two he had payd for all the rest For as in the old law there were appoynted two heades ouer the people of Israell Moyses and Aaron Moises as chiefe and Aaron nexte head vnder him so in the new law there were two heads of the church which were Christ and Peter Christ is head of all and Peter next vnder him S. Austine in 75. questione Veteris noui Testamenti Saluator inquit qùum pro se Petro dari iubebat Didrachma pro omnibus ipsum dari censuit ipsum enim constituit caput eorum i. Our Sauiour Christ sayth S. Austine commaunding the tribute to be geuen for hym and for Peter meant thereby the same to be geuen for all other for hee appoynted hym to be head of them What can be more plaine then this But I will not tary vpon this matter Nowe as touching the Popes lawes where you saye they be contrary because the seruice which should be as you say in English is in Latine I aunswere who soeuer wil take the paynes to peruse the chapter which is the xiiii of the first to the Corinthians shall finde that his meaning is concerning preaching and Obiter onely of praying Againe where you say that the Popes holinesse dothe take away one part of the sacrament from the lay men Christ would haue it vnder both ye can saye no more but this Bibite ex eo omnes Drinke ye all of thys And what followeth Et biberunt ex eo omnes i. And all drinke therof Now if a man would be so proâ—erâ—e with you he might say that Christ gaue it onely to his Apostles in whose places succeeded priestes and not lay men And admit that Christ commaunded it to bee receaued vnder both kindes yet the Churche hathe authoritie to chaunge that as well as other Ye read that Christ calling his Apostles together sayd vnto them Ite praedicate Euangelium omni nationi baptizantes in nomine patris filij spiritus sancti i. Go preach the Gospell to euery natioÌ„ baptising them in the name of the father of the sonne and the holy ghost But the Apostles being desirous to publish christes name euery where did baptise onely in Christes name Agayne Christ before his last Supper washed his Apostles feete saying Si ego laui pedes vestros dominus magister vos debetis alter alterius lauare pedes i. If I haue washed youre feet being your Lord and mayster
Paulum contra vetus nouum TestameÌ„tum 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 Iâ— 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 â—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 TeÌ„porall 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
Pope haue such power as he claimeth vntill such tyme as the lawes and customes of this Realme beyng contrary to his lawes be taken away blotted out of the law books And although there be many lawes of this Realme contrary to the lawes of Rome yet I named but a fewe as to conuict a Clarke before any temporall Iudge of this Realme for debt fellony murther or for any other crime which Clarkes by the Popes lawes bee so exempt frō the Kyngs lawes that they can be no where sued but before their ordinary Also the Pope by his lawes may geue all bishoprikes and benefices spiritual which by the lawes of this realm can be geuen but onely by the kyng and other patrones of the same except they fall into the lapse By the Popes lawes Ius patronatus shall be sued only before the Ecclesiasticall Iudge but by the lawes of the Realme it shall be sued before the temporall Iudge And to be short the lawes of this realm do agree with the Popes lawes like fire and water And yet the Kings of this realm haue prouided for their lawes by the premunire so that if any man haue let the execution of the lawes of this realme by any authority from the Sea of Rome he falleth into the premunire But to meete with this the Popes haue prouided for their lawes by cursing For whosoeuer letteth the Popes lawes to haue ful course within this realm by the Popes power standeth accursed So that the Popes power treadeth all the lawes and customs of this Realme vnder his feete cursing all that execute them vntil such tyme as they geue place vnto his lawes But it may be sayd that notwithstanding all the Popes decrees yet we do execute still the lawes and customes of this realme Nay not all quietly without interruption of the Pope And where we do execute them yet we do it vniustly if the Popes power be of force and for the same we stand excommunicate and shall do vntill we leaue the execution of our owne lawes and customes Thus we bee wel reconciled to Rome allowyng such authority wherby the Realme standeth accursed before God if the Pope haue any such authority These thynges as I suppose were not fully opened in the Parliament house when the Popes authority was receiued agayne within this realme for if they had I doe not beleeue that either the kyng or Queenes Maiesty or the noblest of this Realme or the Commons of the same would euer haue consented to receiue agayne such a forraine authority so iniurious hurtfull and preiudiciall as well to the crowne as to the lawes and customs and state of this Realme as whereby they must needes acknowledge themselues to be accursed But none coulde open this matter well but the Clergy and such of them as had red the Popes lawes whereby the Pope had made hymselfe as it were a God These seeke to maintaine the Pope whom they desired to haue their chiefe head to the intent they might haue as it were a kyngdome and lawes within themselues distinct from the lawes of the crowne and wherewith the crowne may not meddle and so being exempted from the lawes of the Realme might liue in this Realme lyke lordes and kings without damage or feare of any man so that they please their high and supreme hed at Rome For this consideration I weene some that knew the truth held their peace in the Parliament whereas if they had done their duties to the crowne whole realme they should haue opened their mouths declared the truth and shewed the perils and daungers that might ensue to the crowne and realme And if I should agree to allow such authoritie within this Realme whereby I must needes confesse that your most gracious highnes and also your realme should euer continue accursed vntill ye shall cease from the execution of your own lawes and customs of your realme I could not thinke myselfe true either to your highnesse or to this my naturall countrey knowyng that I do know Ignorance I know may excuse other men but he that knoweth how preiudiciall and iniurious the power and authoritie which he chalengeth euery where is to the crowne lawes and customes of this realme and yet wil allow the same I cannot see in any wyse how he can keepe his due allegeaunce fidelitie and truth to the crowne and state of this realme An other cause I alledged why I could not allow the authoritie of the Pope which is this That by his autoritie he subuerteth not onely the lawes of this realme but also the lawes of God so that whosoeuer be vnder hys authority he suffreth them not to be vnder Christes religion purely as Christ did commaund And for one example I brought foorth that wheras by gods lawes all christian people bee bounden diligently to learne his worde that they may know how to beleeue and liue accordingly for that purpose he ordeined holydayes when they ought leauyng apart al other businesse to geue themselues wholy to know and serue God Therefore Gods will commandement is that when the people be gathered together that Ministers should vse such language as the people may vnderstand and take profite thereby or els hold their peace For as an harpe or lute if it geue no certaine sounde that men may know what is striken who can dance after it for all the sound is in vayne so is it vayne profiteth nothyng sayth almighty God by the mouth of S. Paule if the priest speake to the people in a language which they know not For els he may profite hymselfe but profiteth not the people saith S. Paul But herein I was answered thus that Saint Paule spake onely of preachyng that the preacher should speake in a tong which the people did know or els his preaching auaileth nothing but if the preaching auaileth nothing beyng spoken in a language which the people vnderstand not how should any other seruice auaile them beyng spoken in the same language And yet that S. Paule ment not onely of preachyng it appeareth plainly by his owne words For he speaking by name expressely of praying singyng and thanking of God and of all other thynges which the priestes say in the Churches whereunto the people say Amen whiche they vse not in preaching but in other diuine seruice that whether the Priests reherse the wonderfull workes of God or the great benefites of God vnto mankynd aboue al other cretures or geue thanks vnto God or make open professiō of their fayth or humble confession of their sinnes with earnest request of mercy and forgeuenes or make sute or request vnto God for any thing then all the people vnderstāding what the priests say might geue their mynds and voyces with them and say Amen that is to say allowe what the priests say that the rehearsall of Gods vniuersall workes and benefites the geuyng of thanks the professiō of fayth the confession of sinnes
after that the scripture was translated into English by the faithfull Apostle of Englande W. Tindall became a diligent hearer and a feruent embracer of Gods true Religion so that he delighted in nothing so much as to heare and speak of Gods word neuer being without the new Testamēt about him although he could not read him selfe But when he came into any cōpany that could read his book was alwaies ready hauing a very good memory so that he could recite by hart most places of the new testamēt his conuersation and liuing being very honest and charitable as his neighbors are able to testify So it was that in the dayes of King Henry the eight at what time Doctour Trigonion and Doctour Lee dyd visite Abbayes the sayd Iohn Maundrell was brought before Doctour Trigonion at an Abbey called Edyngton within in the Countye of Wiltshyre aforesayde where he was accused that he had spoken agaynst the holy water holy bread and such like ceremonyes and for the same dyd weare a white sheete bearing a candle in his hand aboute the market in the Towne of the Deuises which is in the sayd coūty Neuertheles his feruēcy did not abate but by Gods mercifull assistaunce he tooke better hold as the sequele hereof will declare For in the dayes of Queene Mary when popery was restored agayne and Gods true religion put to silence the sayd Iohn Maūdrell left his owne house and departed into the County of Glocestershyre and into the North part of Wiltshyre wandring from one to an other to such men as he knew feared GOD with whome as a seruaunt to keepe their cattell he there did remayne with Iohn Bridges or some other at Kingeswoode but after a time he returned to his country and there comming to the Ueys to a frend of his named Anthony Clee had talk conference with him in a Garden of returning home to his house And when the other exhorted hym by the woordes of Scripture to flye from one Citty to an other he replying agayne by the wordes of the Apocalips 21. of them that be fearefull c. sayd that he needes must go home and so did Where he with Spicer and Coberley vsed at times to resort and conferre together At length vpon the Sonday folowing they agreed together to go to the parish Church called Keuell where the sayd Iohn Maundrell the other two seing the parishioners in the procession to folow worship the Idoll there caried aduertised thē to leaue the same to return to the liuing god namely speaking to one Rob. Barkesdale head man of the Parish but he tooke no regard to these wordes After this the Uicare came into the Pulpit who there being about to read his beadroll and to pray for the soules in Purgatory the sayde Iohn Maundrell speaking wyth an audible voyce sayd that that was the Popes pinfolde the other two affirming the same After which wordes by commaūdement of the Priest they were had to the stocks where they remained till theyr seruice was done and then were brought before a Iustice of peace and so the next day caried to Salisbury all three and presented before Bishop Capon and W. Geffrey being Chauncellor of the Dioces By whom they were imprisoned and oftētimes examined of theyr fayth in theyr houses but seldome openly And at theyr last examination these were the Articles whiche the Chauncellour alledged agaynst them being accompanied with the Sheriffe of the shyre one M. Saint Iohns other Popishe Priestes in the Parish Church of Fisherton Anger demaunding how they did beleue They aunswered as christen men should and ought to beleue and first they sayd they beleued in God the Father and in the Sonne and in the holy ghost the xij articles of the Creed the holy Scripture from the first of Genesis to the last of the Apocalips But that fayth the Chauncellour woulde not allowe Wherefore he apposed them in particular Articles Firste whether that they did not beleue that in the Sacrament of the aulter as he termed it after the wordes of consecratiō spoke by the priest at masse there remayned no substaunce of bread nor wine but Christes body flesh and bloud as he was borne of the virgine Mary Whereunto they aunswered negatiuely saying that the popish masse was abhominable Idolatry and iniurious to the bloud of Christ but confessing that in a faythfull Congregation receiuing the Sacrament of Christs body and bloud being duely ministred acccording to Christes institution Christes body and bloud is spiritually receiued of the faythfull beleuer Also being asked whether the Pope was supreame head of the Churche and Christes Uicar on earth they aunswered negatiuely saying that the Byshop of Rome doth vsurpe ouer Emperours and Kinges beyng Antichrist and Gods enemy The Chauncellour sayde will you haue the Churche without a head They aunswered Christ was head of his Church and vnder Christ the Queenes maiesty What sayd the Chaūcellour a woman head of the church yea sayd they within her graces dominions Also that the soules in purgatory were deliuered by the Popes pardons and the suffrages of the Church They said they beleued faithfully that the bloud of Christ had purged theyr sinnes and the sinnes of al thē that were saued vnto the end of the world so that they feared nothing the Popes Purgatory or estemed his pardons Also whether Images were necessary to be in the churches as lay mens bookes and Sayntes to be prayed vnto and worshipped They answered negatiuely Iohn Maundrell adding that wooden Images were good to rost a shoulder of mutton but euill in the Church whereby Idolatry was committed Those Articles thus aunswered for theyr Articles were one and theyr aunsweres in maner like the Chauncellor read theyr condemnation so deliuered them to the Shiriffe Then spake Iohn Spycer saying Oh M. Sheriffe now must you be theyr butcher that you may be guilty also with them of innocent bloud before the Lord. This was the 23. day of March an 1556. the 24. day of the same Moneth they were caryed out of the common Gayle to a place betwixt Salisbury Wiltom where were ij postes set for them to be burnt at Whiche men commyng to the place kneled downe and made theyr prayers secretly together then being disclothed to theyr shyrtes Iohn Maūdrell spake with a loud voyce not for all Salisbury Which wordes mē iudged to be an answere to the Shiriffe which offred him the queenes pardō if he would recant And after that in like maner spake Iohn Spicer saying this is the ioyfullest day that euer I sawe Thus were they 3. burnt at two stakes where most constauntly they gaue theyr bodyes to the fire and theyr soules to the Lord for testimony of his trueth As touching William Coberley this moreourr is to be noted that his wife also called Alice beyng apprehended was in the kepers house the same time deteined
me thinketh your apparell doth as much vary from an Apostle So then there spake one of the Bishops Gentlemen My Lord sayd he in mockadge geue him a chaire a toste and drinke and he wil be lusty But the Byshop bad haue him away and cōmaunded him to come before him agayn the next day at an houre appoynted But winchester for lacke of leasure or because of sickenes growing vpon him or for what cause els I know not either would not or could not attend vnto him but returned him agayne to his Ordinary Bishop from whence he came So william Tyms being put of agayne to Bishop Boner was placed together and coupled with the other fiue Martyrs aboue named and with them brought together to publicke examination before the Bishop the 21. day of March first in the Bishops Palace of London where the sayd Bishop after his accustomed maner proceeding agaynst them enquyred of them theyr fayth vpon the Sacrament of the aultar To whom they aunswered that the body of Christ was not in the sacrament of the aultar really and corporally after the wordes of consecration spoken by the Prieste of the whiche opinion they had bene of long time some later some sooner euē as God of his mercy dyd call them vnto the knowledge of his Gospell Then the Bishops Chapleines began to reason with thē but with no great authorities either of the scriptures or of the auncient fathers ye may be sure as other theyr large conferences with the learned do already declare An other examination of Tyms and Drakes and the rest before the Bishop of London THe xxiij day of the same moneth next after the Bishop sent agayne for Tyms and Drakes and Ex officio did obiect vnto them certayne Articles the summe and maner wherof were the same which before obiected to Whittell Greene Tudson Went Burn Eliza◠Foster Lashford looke pag. 1589. And the 26. day of the same month he sent for the other foure ministring vnto thē also the same generall articles Unto the which they all in effect answered in matters touching theyr fayth as did the sayd Bartl Grene and the rest Other appearinges they had as the Bishops common maner of proceding was more as I haue often sayd for order and forme of law thē for any zeale of iustice But in conclusion the xxviij day of this Moneth of March William Tyms and Robert Drakes with the other 4. aboue named were brought to the open Consistory in Paules before the sayd Bishop of London to be condēned for heresy The bishop first began in this or like sort Tyms quoth he I will begin with thee firste for thou art and hast bene the ringleader of these thy companions thou hast taughte them heresies confirmed them in their erroneous opinions and hast indeuored as much as in thee lyeth to make them like vnto thy selfe If thy faulte had not tended to the hurt of other I would thē haue vsed thee more charitably and not haue brought thee to this open rebuke I woulde according to the rule of Christ in the 18. of Mathew haue told thee thy fault betwene me thee if thou wouldest not haue heard me I would not so haue lefte thee but I wyth two or thre other would haue exhorted thee if that would not haue serued then woulde I haue told the Church c. But for that thy fault is open manifest to the world and thou thy selfe remainest stout in thine error this charitable dealing is not to be extended towardes thee I haue therfore thought good to proceed by an other rule whereof S. Paule speaketh 1. Tim. 5. Such as sinne rebuke thē openly that other may feare For this cause art thou brought before me in the face of this people to receiue iudgemēt according to thy deserts Let me see what thou canst say why I should not proceed agaynst thee as thine Ordinary My Lord quoth Tyms will you now geue me leaue to speake yea quoth the Bishop Then sayde Tyms My Lord I maruell that you will begin with a lye You call me the ringleader teacher of this cōpany but how vntruly you haue sayd shall shortly appeare for there is none of all these my brethren whiche are brought hither as prisoners but when they were at liberty and out of prison they dissented from you and your doinges as much as they do at this present and for that cause they are now prisoners So it is euident that they learned not their Religiō in prison And as for me I neuer knew them vntil such time as I by your commaundement was prisoner with them how could I then be their ringleader and teacher So that al the world may see how vntruly you haue spokē And as for my fault which you make so greuous whatsoeuer you iudge of me I am wel assured that I hold none other religiō thē Christ preached the Apostles witnessed the primatiue church receiued now of late the Apostolicall and Euangelical preachers of this realm haue faithfully taught for the which you haue cruelly burned them and now you seeke our bloud also Proceed on hardly by what rule you will I force not I do not refuse you for my Ordinary Then sayd the Bishoppe I perceyue thou wilt not be coūted their ringleader How sayst thou wilt thou submit thy selfe to the catholicke Church as an obedient childe in so doing thou shalt be receiued and do wel enough otherwise thou shalt haue iudgement as an hereticke Then one of the prisoners whose name is not certainly knowne sayd my Lord you are no vpright Iudge for you iudge after your owne lust But if you will iudge vs according to the holy Testament of Christe whiche is the word of truth we will accord to your iudgement for vnto that word we wholy submit our selues But as for your iudgement without that truth God shall condemne And this prisoner was very earnestly in hand with the bishop that they might be iudged by the word of God With this the Bishop was offended calling him busye knaue and commaunded him to holde his toung or els he should be had away to a place of smaller ease Then Tyms aunswered and sayd My Lord I doubt not but I am of the Catholicke Church whatsoeuer you iudge of me But as for your Church you haue before this day renounced it and by corporall oth promised neuer to consēt to the same Contrary to the which you haue receyued into this realme the Popes authority therefore you are falsly periured forsworne all the sort of you Besides this you haue both spoken and written very earnestly agaynst that vsurped power now you do burne men that will not acknowledge the Pope to be supreme head Haue I quoth the bishop Where haue I written any thing agaynst the church of Rome My Lord quoth Tyms the Bishoppe of Winchester wrote a very learned Oration intituled De vera obedientia
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
reuoke her selfe vnto the fellowshyp of the Catholicke faith openly protested saying I deny it to be God because it is a dumme God and made wyth mans handes Wherein the good and faithfull Martyr of Christe firmely persisting so receiued her sentence being condemned of Boner to the fire which shee wyth great constancie sustained by the grace and strength of the Lorde and dyd abide for the cause and loue of Christ. Ioane Hornes maid producted likewise to her iudgement and condemnation wyth like firmnesse and Christian fortitude declared her selfe a true Martyr and folower of Christes Testament geuing no place to the aduersary but being charged that she did not beleeue the Sacrament of Christes body and bloude to be Christe himselfe of the which Sacrament contrary to the nature of a Sacrament the aduersaries are woont to make an idoll seruice to this shee protesting openly her minde sayde as followeth If you can make your God to shed bloud or to shew any cōdition of a true liuely body then will I beleeue you but it is but bread as touching the substaunce therof meaning the matter whereof the Sacrament cōsisteth and that you call heresie I trust to serue my Lord God in c. And as concerning the Romish sea she said my Lord speaking to Boner I forsake all his abhominatiōs and from them good lord deliuer vs. From this her stable and constant assertion when the Bishop was too weake to remooue her and too ignorant to conuince her he knockt her downe wyth the butcherly axe of hys sentence And so the holy Uirgine and Martyr committed to the shambles of the secular sword was offered vp with her other felowes a burnt sacrifice to the Lord In odorem bonae fragrantiae in the sauour of a sweete and pleasant smell As touching Margaret Ellis shee likewise perseuering in her foresayde confession and resisting the false Catholicke errours and heresies of the Papistes was by the sayd Boner adiudged and condemned but before the time of her burning came preuented by death in Newgate prison departed and slept in the Lord. No lesse strength in the grace of the Lorde appeared in the other maide Elizabeth Thackuell whose hearte and minde the Lorde had so confirmed in hys truth so armed with patience that as her aduersaries could by no sufficient knowledge of Scripture conuicte her affirmation so by no forceable attempts they could remooue her confession Whereuppon shee standing to the death being in lyke sorte condemned by the sayd vnbyshoplyke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gaue her life willingly and mildely for the confirmation sealing vp of the sincere truth of Gods woord The Martyrdome of three women Thomas Drowry a blinde boy and Thomas Croker Bricklayer Martyrs YEe heard a litle before of two men the one blinde the other lame which suffered about the 15. of Maye And heere is not to be forgotten an other as Godly a couple whiche suffered the like passion and Martyrdome for the same cause of Religion at Glocester of the which two the one was the blind boy named Tho. Drowrie mentioned before in the hystorie of B. Hooper whom the sayd vertuous Byshop confirmed then in the Lorde and in the doctrine of hys woorde With him also was burned an other in the same place and at the same fire in Glocester about the fifth of Maye whose name was Thomas Croker Bricklayer Concerning the which blinde boy howe long he was in prison and in what yere he suffered I am not certaine Of this credible intelligence I haue receiued by the testimonie of the Register then of Glocester named Ihon Tailer aliàs Barker that the sayde blinde boy at his last examination and finall condemnation was brought by the Officers vnder whose custodie he had remained before doctour Williams then Chauncellour of Glocester sittinge Iudicially wyth the sayd Register in the consistorie neare vnto the Southe doore in the neather ende of the Churche of Glocester Where the sayde Chauncellour then ministred vnto the sayde Boye such vsuall articles as they are accustomed in such cases and are sondry times mentioned in thys booke Amongest which he chiefly vrged the article of Transubstantiation saying in effect as followeth Chauncellor Doest thou not beleue that after the words of consecration spoken by the Priest there remayneth the very reall body of Christ in the Sacrament of the altare Tho. To whome the blinde Boy answeared No that I doe not Chauncel Then thou art an hereticke and shalt be burned But who hath taught thee thys heresie Thom. You M. Chancellor Chancel Where I pray thee Thom. Euen in yonder place Poynting with his hande and tourning towardes the Pulpet standinge vppon the North side of the Church Chancel When did I teache thee so Tho. When you preached there namyng the day a Sermon to all men as well as to me vppon the Sacrament You sayd the Sacrament was to bee receiued spiritually by fayth and not carnally and really as the papistes haue heretofore taught Chanc. Then do as I haue done and thou shalt lyue as I do and escape burnyng Tho. Though you can so easily dispense with your self and mocke with God the world and your conscience yet I will not so do Chanc. Then God haue mercy vpon thee for I will read the condemnatory sentence against thee Tho. Gods will be fulfilled The Register beyng herewith somwhat mooued stood vp and said to the Chancellor Register Fie for shame man will you read the sentence against hym and condemne your selfe away away substitute some other to geue sentence and iudgement Chanc. No Register I will obey the lawe and geue sentence my selfe accordyng to myne office And so he red the sentence condemnatory agaynst the boy with an vnhappy tongue and a more vnhappy conscience deliuering him ouer vnto the secular power Who the said v. day of May brought the said blinde boy to the place of execution at Glocester together with one Thomas Croker a Bricklayer condemned also for the like testimony of the truth Where both together in one fire most constantly and ioyfully yelded their soules into the hands of the Lord Iesus Ex testimo Io. Lond. ¶ Persecution in Suffolke Three burnt at Beckles May. 21. AFter the death of these aboue rehersed were three men burnt at Beckles in Suffolke in one fire about the 21. day of May anno 1556. Whose names are here vnder specified Thomas Spicer of Winston Labourer Iohn Deny and Edmund Poole This Thomas Spicer was a single man of the age of 19. yeres and by vocation a Labourer dwellyng in Winston in the County of Suffolke there taken in his maisters house in Sommer about or anone after the rising of the Sunne beyng in his bed by Iames Ling and Iohn Keretch of the same towne and Wil. Dauies of Debnam in the sayd Countie The occasion of his taking was for that he would not go to their popish church to heare Masse and receiue their
they denied mans free will and that the Popes Church did erre and many other in that point with them rebuking their false confidence in workes and their false trust in mans righteousnesse Also when anye rebuked those persecuted for goyng so openly and talking so freely their aunswere was they knowledged confessed and beleeued and therefore they must speake and that their tribulation was Gods good wyll and prouidence that hys iudgements were right to punish them with other for their sinnes and that of very faythfulnesse and mercy God had caused them to be troubled so that one haire of their heds should not perish before the tyme but al things should worke vnto the best to them that loue GOD and that Christ Iesus was their lyfe and onely righteousnes and that onelye by fayth in hym and for hys sake all good thyngs were freely geuen them also forgiuenesse of sinnes and lyfe euerlastyng Many of these persecuted were of great substance and had possessions of theyr owne Geue God the praise ¶ For so much as we are now in the moneth of May before we ouerpasse the same and because the story is not long and not vnworthy peraduenture of notyng it shall not grieue the studious Reader a litle to geue the hearing thereof whereby to learne to meruaile and muse at the great workes of the Lord. They that go downe sayeth the Psalme into the sea labouryng vpon the water haue sene the workes of the Lord and his mighty wonders vpon the deep Psal. 106. c. The truth whereof may well appeare in this story followyng which story as it is signified and written to me by relation of the partie himself which was doer therof called Thomas Morse so I thought to purporte the same as followeth ¶ A story of one Gregory Crowe meruailously preserued with hys new Testament vpon the Seas May. 26. VPon Tuesday after Whitsonday which was the 26. day of May in this present yeare .1556 or els as hee rather thinketh in the yeare next before which was 1555. a certayne poore man whose name was Gregory Crowe dwelling in Maulden went to the Sea mynding to haue gone into Kent for Fullyng earth but by the way beyng foule weather was driuen vpon a Sand where presently the boate sanke and was ful of water so that the meÌ„ were forced to hold themselues by the mast of the boate and all thyngs that would swimme dyd swimme out of her Amongest which Crowe saw hys Testament in the water and caught it and put it in hys bosome Nowe it was ebbyng water so that within one houre the boat was dry but broken so as they coulde not saue her but they went themselues vpon the sand beyng x. myles at the lest from the land there made their prayers together that God would send some ship that way to saue them beyng two men one boy in all for they might not tary vppon the sand but halfe an houre but it would be floud In the which tyme they found their chest wherin was mony to the suÌ„me of v. pound vj. shillings viij pence the which money the man that was with the said Crow whose name I know not tooke gaue it to Crowe who was owner thereof he cast it into the sea saying if the Lord wil saue our liues he wil prouide vs a liuyng and so they went vpon the mast there hangyng by the armes and legs for the space of ten houres in the which tyme the boy was so weary beaten with the sea that he fell of and was drowned And when the water was gone agayne and the sande dry Crowe said to his man It were best for vs to tâ—ke downe our mastes and when the floud commeth we will sit vpon them and so it may please GOD to bryng vs to some ship that may take vs vp Which thing they did and so at x. of the clocke in the night of the same Tuesday the floud did beare vp the mast whereupon they sate And vpon the Wednesday in the night the man dyed beyng ouercome with hunger and watchyng So there was none left but this Crow who driuyng vp downe in the sea callyng vpon God as he could and myght not sleepe for feare that the sea would haue beaten him of So at length I my selfe sayth Thomas Morse being laden to Antwarpe with my Crayer goyng from Lee vpon Friday hauyng within my Crayer of Mariners and merchants to the number of 46. persons and so comming to the Foreland the wynde was not very good so that I was constrained to go somewhat out of my way beyng in the after noone about 6. of the clock where at the last we saw a thing a far of appearing vnto vs like a small Boye that fishermen do vse to lay with their hookes When we saw it some sayd let vs haue some fish And I sayd to him that was at the helme keepe your course away for we shall but hinder the fisherman and haue no fish neither and so at my commaundement he did But at length he at the helme standing higher then all we did said Me thinke Maister it is a man But yet they being in doubt that it was but a Fishers Boy returned the ship from him agayne to keepe their course Crow beholding the shipp to turne from him being then in vtter dispayre ready now to perish with watchching famine and moreouer miserabllye beaten with the Seas at last tooke his Marryners cap from his head and holding vp the same with his arme as high as he coulde thought by shaking it as well as he might to geue them some token of better sight Whereupon the Styreman more sensibly perceiuing a thing to moue aduertised vs agayne declaring how he did see playnly a mans arme and with that we all beheld hym well and so came to him and tooke him vp And as soone as we had had him in our ship he began to put hys hand in his bosome and one asked him if he had money there No sayd he I haue a booke here I think it be wet so drew out his Testament which we then dryed But the Sea had so beaten him that his eyes nose mouth was almost closed with salt that the heate of his face and the weather had made So we made a fire and shifted him with dry clothes and gaue him Aqua composita to drinke and such meate as was in the ship and then let him sleepe The next day when we awaked him about viij of the clocke in the morning and his bloud began somewhat to apeare in his flesh for wheÌ„ we tooke him vp his flesh was eueÌ„ as though it had bene sodden or as a drowned mans is and then we talked with him of all the matter before rehearsed And so sayling to Antwerp the Marchaunts which sawe the thing published the same in Antwerpe because it was wonderful the people there both men and women
came to the ship to see hym many of them Some gaue hym a petycoate and some a shyrt some hosen and some money alwayes noting how he cast away his money and kept his booke And many of the women wept when they heard and sawe hym And Maister Gouernour of the English nation there had hym before hym and talked with hym of all the matter and pitieng hys case commaunded the Officer of the English house to goe with hym to the free oste houses amongst the English merchaunts and I with them and at three houses there was giuen him vj. pound x. shillyngs And so from thence hee went with me to Roane where the people also came to hym to see hym meruailing at the great workes of God And thus much concerning this poore man with hys new Testament preserued in the sea which testament the Popes clergy condemneth on the land ye haue heard as I receiued by the relation of the partie aboue named who was the doer thereof and yet alyue dwellyng in Lee well knowen to all merchants of London In which story this by the way vnderstand good Reader which rightly may be supposed that if this poore man thus found preserued in the sea with a new Testament in his bosome had had in stead of that a pixe with a consecrated hoste about hym no doubt it had bene rong ere this tyme all christendom ouer for a miracle so far as the Pope hath any land But to let the Pope with his false miracles go let vs returne againe to our matter begun adioine another history of much lyke condition testified likewise by the information of the sayd Tho. Morse aboue mētioned to the intent to make known the worthy acts of the almighty that he may be magnified in all hys wonderous works The story is thus declared which happened an 1565. about Michaelmas ¶ Another like story of Gods prouidence vpon three men deliuered vpon the Sea THere was a ship saith the sayd Tho. Morse whereof I had a part goyng toward the Bay for salt with two ships of Bricklesey which were altogether goyng for salt as before is sayd At what tyme they were within x. myle of the North Foreland otherwyse called Tennet the wynd did come so contrary to our ship that they were forced to go cleane out of the way and the other two shippes kept their course still vntill our ship was almost out of sight of them And then they sawe a thing driuyng vpon the sea hoysed out their boat and went vnto it and it was three men sittyng vpon a piece of their ship which had sitten so two dayes and two nights There had bene in their shippe eight men more which were drowned beyng all Frenchmen dwelling in a place in France called Olloronne They had bene at Danswike and lost their ship about Orford Nas as might be learned by their words They were men that feared God the one of them was owner of the ship Their exercise while they wer in our ship was that after the comming in they gaue thankes for their deliueraunce both mornyng and euenyng they exercised praier and also before after meat and when they came into Fraunce our ships went to the same place where these men dwelled and one of them dyd sell vnto our men their ships lading of salt and did vse thē very curteously and friendly and not at that tyme onely but alwayes whensoeuer that ship commeth thether as she hath bene there twise since he alwayes doth for them so that they can lacke nothyng I should haue noted that after our ship had taken vp those iij. men out of the Sea they had the wynd fayre presently and came and ouertooke the other two ships agayne and so they proceeded in their voiage together ¶ For the more credite of this story aboue recited to satisfie eyther the doubtfull or to preuent the quareller I haue not only alledged the name of the partie which was the doer thereof but also expressed the matter in his owne wordes as I of him receiued it the partie reporter hymself beyng yet alyue dwellyng at Lee a man so wel known amongst the Merchants of London that who so heareth the name of Thomas Morse will neuer doubt thereof And agayne the matter it selfe beyng so notoriously knowen to Merchaunts as well here as at Andwerpe that though hys name were not expressed the story can lacke no witnesses ¶ The death of William Slech in the Kinges Bench. THe last day of the sayd moneth of May in the yeare aforesayde Wil. Slech beyng in prison for the sayd doctrine of the Lordes Gospel and the confession of his truth died in the kyngs Bench and was buried on the backside of the sayd prison for that the Romish catholike spiritualtie thought hym not worthy to come within their Pope-holy churchyards neither in any other christian burial as they call it ¶ The story of foure men condemned at Lewys the 6. day of Iune IN Iune next followyng about the sixt day of the same moneth 4. Martyrs suffered together at Lewys whose names were these Thomas Harland of Woodmancote Carpenter Iohn Oswald of Woodmancote Husbandman Thomas Auington of Ardingly Turner Thomas Read To Thomas Harland I finde in the bishop of Londons registers to be obiected for not comming to church Whereunto he answered that after the Masse was restored he neuer had will to heare the same because sayd he it was in Latine whiche hee dyd not vnderstande and therefore as good quoth hee neuer a whit as neuer the better Ioh. Oswalde denyed to aunswere any thyng vntill hys accusers should bee brought face to face before hym and neuerthelesse sayd that fire and Fagottes coulde not make hym afraid but as the good Preachers which were in Kyng Edwardes tyme haue suffered and gone before so was he ready to suffer and come after and woulde bee glad thereof These foure after long imprisonment in the Kynges Bench were burned together at Lewys in Sussex in one fire the day of the moneth aforesayd ¶ The Martyrdome of Thomas Whood and Thomas Milles. IN the same towne of Lewys and in the same moneth likewyse were burned Thomas Whoode Minister and Thomas Milles about the xx day of the same moneth for resisting the erroneous and hereticall doctrine of the pretensed catholike church of Rome ¶ Two dead in the Kyngs Bench. IN the which moneth likewyse William Adherall Minister imprisoned in the Kyngs Bench there dyed the xxiiij day of the same moneth was buried on the backside Also Iohn Clement Wheelewright who dying in the sayd pryson in lyke sort vpon the dunghill was buried in the backeside two dayes after videlicet the xxv day of Iune ¶ A Merchauntes seruaunt burnt at Leycester THe next day followyng of the sayd month of Iune we read of a certaine yong man a merchants seruant who for the lyke godlynes suffred cruell persecution of the Papists and
Lorde of all mercy and Father of all comfort through the merites and mediation of his deare sonne thy onely Lord and Sauiour hath clearely remitted and pardoned all thy offences whatsoeuer they bee that euer hitherto thou hast committed agaynst his maiesty and therefore he hath geuen to thee as to his childe deare Brother Iohn Careles in token that thy sinnes are pardoned he I say hath geuen vnto thee a penitent and beleuing hart that is a hart which desireth to repent and beleue For suche a one is taken of him he accepting the will for the deede for a penitent and beleuing hart in deed Wherefore my good Brother be mery gladde and of good cheare for the Lorde hath taken away thy sinnes thou shalt not dye Goe thy wayes the Lord hath put away thy sinnes The East is not so farre from the West as the Lord now hath put thy sinnes from thee Looke how the heauēs be in comparison of the earth so far hath his mercy preuayled towardes thee his deare chylde Iohn Careles through Christ the beloued Say therfore with Dauid prayse the Lord oh my soule and all that is within me prayse his holy name for he hath forgeuen thee all thy sinnes as truely he hath And hereof I desire to be a witnesse God make me worthy to heare from you the like true message for my selfe Myne owne dearly beloued you haue great cause to thanke God moste hartily that he hath geuen you such repētance and fayth the lord encrease the same in you and me a most miserable wretch whose hart is harder then the Adamant stone or elles I coulde not thus long haue stayed from writing vnto you If I liue and may I purpose and promise you to make amendes Praye for me my moste deare brother I hartely beseech you and forgeue me my long silence God our father be with vs for euer Amen Yours in the Lord Iohn Bradford ¶ To my most deare and faythfull brethren in Newgate condemned to dye for the testimony of Gods euerlasting truth THe euerlasting peace of God in Iesus Christ the cōtinual ioy strength and comfort of his most pure holy mighty spirite with the increase of fayth liuely feeling of his eternall mercy be with you my most deare faythfull louing brother Tyms with all the rest of my deare hartes in the Lord your faithfull felow souldiers most constant cōpanions in bonds yea of men condēned most cruelly for the sincere testimony of Gods euerlasting truth to the full finishing of that good worke which he hath so graciously begon in you all that the same may be to his glory the commodity of his poore afflicted church and to your euerlasting comfort in him Amen Ah my most sweet and louing brethrē and dearest hartes in the Lord what shall I say or how shall I write vnto you in the least poynt or part to vtter the great ioy that my poore hart hath cōceiued in God through the most godly example of your christian constancy and sincere confession of Christes verity Truely my tongue can not declare nor my pen expresse the aboūdance of spirituall myrth and gladnes that my minde and inward man hath felte euer since I heard of your harty boldnes and modest behauior before that bloudy butcher in the time of al your crafty examinations especially at your cruell condēnation in theyr cursed Consistory place Blessed be God the Father of all mercy praysed be his name for that he hath so graciously performed vpon you his deare darlinges his most sweete and comfortable promises in not onely geuing you the cōtinuall aide strength and comfort of his holye and mighty spirite to the faythfull confession of his Christ for whose cause O most happy mē ye are condemned to dye but also in geuing you such a mouth wisedom as al your wicked enemies were not able to resist but were fayne to cry Peace peace not suffer you to speake As truely as God liueth my deare brethrē this is not only vnto you a most euident probation that God is on our side and a sure certainty of your euerlasting saluatiō in him but also to your cruell aduersaries or rather gods cursed enemies a plaine demōstration of their iust eternall woe damnatiō which they shal be full sure shortly to feele whē ye shal ful sweetly possesse the place of felicity pleasure prepared for you frō the beginning Therefore my dearly beloued cease not so long as ye be in this life to prayse the Lord with a lusty courage for that of his great mercy and infinite goodnesse he hath vouched you worthy of this great dignity to suffer for his sake not onely the losse of goodes wife and childrē long imprisonment cruell oppressiō c. but also the very depriuation of this mortall life with the dissolution of your bodies in the fire The which is the greatest promotion that GOD can bring you or any other vnto in this vale of misery yea so great an honour as the highest Aungel in heauen is not permitted to haue yet hath the Lord for his dere sonne Christs sake reputed you worthy of the same yea and that before me and many other which haue both long looked longed for the same Ah my most deare brother Tyms whose time resteth altogether in the handes of the Lorde in a full happy time camest thou into this troublesome world but in a much more blessed houre shalt thou depart forth of the same so that the sweete saying of Salomon or rather of the holye ghost shall be full well verified vpon thee yea and all thy faythfull fellowes Better is the day of death sayth hee then the day of byrth This saying cannot be verified vpon euery man but vpon thee my deare brother and suche as thou art whose death is most precious before God full deare shal your bloud be in his sight Blessed be God for thee my deare brother Tymmes and blessed be God agayn that euer I knew thee for in a most happy time I came first into thy company Pray for me deare brother pray for me that God will once vouch me worthye of that great dignitie whereunto he hath now brought you Ah my louing brother Drake whose soule draweth now nigh vnto God of whom you haue receiued the same ful glad may you be that euer God gaue you a life to leaue for his sake Full well will he restore it to you agayne in a thousand fold more glorious wife Prayse God good brother as you haue great cause and pray for me I beseeche you which am so muche vnworthy so great are my sins of that great dignitie whereunto the Lord hath called you and the rest of your godly brethren whome I beseech you to comfort in the Lorde as you can full well praysed be God for his giftes which you haue hartily applyed to the setting forth of his glory and the commoditie of his
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
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
sake we suffer whose cause we defend and what glorious reward we shall haue at the day of our victory then doubtles the consolation of these things will make sweete all our suffringes soone swallowe vp all the sorrowes that we are sowâ—ed in for Gods sake I coulde recite diuers textes of the Scriptures to confirme this pointe But I neede not for I am well assured that you do knowe them most perfectly alreadye The Lorde geue you strength and assist you with his holy spirite that you may continually walke in all pointes according to your godly knowledge And then shall you not doe as the moste parte of our Gospellers doe nowe adaies the more is the pitie There are a greate manye in Englande that doe perfectlye knowe that the Idolatrous Masse is abhominable Deuelishe and detestable in the sight of God And yet alasse they be not afrayde to pollute and defile theyr bodyes whych oughte to be the temples of the holy Ghoste with being present at it so sinning against God and theyr owne conscience But dere sister K. do you flie from it both in body soule as you would flie from the very Deuill himselfe Drinke not of the whore of Babylons cuppe by no meanes for it will infecte the body and poyson the soule Be not partakers of her sinnes sayth the Aungell least you be partakers of the plagues that shortly shall be powred vppon her O what an aray is this that so many that know Gods truth wil nowe tourne againe and defile them selues in the filthy puddle of antichristes stinking religion They goe about to saue theyr liues wyth their dowble dissimulation but doubtlesse they shall loose euerlastinge life by it if they doe not repent in time and tourne vnto the Lorde But deare sister my trust is that you doe vtterly abhorre the comming to anye such thyng I hope that you wil not by any meanes turne backe into Egypt nowe but that you will boldly venter throughe the wildernesse of trouble and persecution that you may come into the lande that floweth with all kinde of heauenly pleasures and ioyfull delectations and possesse the same for euer Lette vs consider howe that euery one of vs doeth owe vnto God a death by nature and howe soone the Lord wil require it of vs we knowe not O howe happye are we then if God of hys goodnesse appoynt vs to pay natures dette wyth sufferyng for hys trueth and Gospels sake and so making vs his faithfull witnesses wyth the Prophetes Apostles Martyrs and Confessours yea wyth his dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christe to whome he doeth heere begin to fashion vs lyke in suffering that we myght be like hym also in glory Thus my dearely beloued sister I haue ben bold to trouble you a little with my rude simple letter being made in hast as it doth appeare Yet I desire you to take it in good woorthe as a token of my poore zeale vnto you and to accept my good will And if it please God to spaâ—e me life and libertye I trust heereafter to wryte vnto you more largely Fare yee well deare sister E.K. the Lorde blesse you and all yours and powre vpon you the heauenly dewe of his grace The Lorde endue you wyth plentifull knowledge of hys verity and fill you with hys holy and mighty spirite that you may continuallye reioyce in the comfortes of the same nowe and euer Amen Pray pray pray with stedfast faith Your daily Oratour Iohn Careles prisoner of the Lord. ¶ In the letters of William Tymmes ye heard before page 1897. much mention made of Agnes Glascock Thys Agnes Glascocke through infirmity and her husbandes perswasion was allured to goe to Masse For whyche cause shee falling in great sorrow and repentance was raised vppe againe by the comfortable Letters of William Tymmes and Iohn Careles as before you maye reade and after that was constante in the syncere profession of the verity and in danger for the same of persecution vnto whome Iohn Careles wryteth therefore thys letter as followeth A letter of Careles to Agnes Glascocke THe euerlasting peace of God in Iesus Christ the continuall aide strengthe and comfortes of his moste pure holye and mighty spirite be with you my deare faithfull sister Glascock to the good performance of that good woorke which God hath so graciously begun in you to his glory the commoditye of hys poore afflâ—cted Churche and to your owne eternall comfort in hym Amen In our Lorde I haue my most humble and hearty commendations vnto you my deare sister most faithfull mother Glascocke with all remembrance of you in my daily prayers geuing God most hearty laude praise and thankes for you and on your behalfe in that he of his great mercye hath hetherto so mightely strengthened you constantly to cleaue vnto youre Captayne Christ notwithstanding the great assaultes and manifold temptations that you haue had to the contrary Doubtles deare heart it can not be expressed what ioy and comfort it is vnto my very soule to see howe mightely the Lorde hathe magnified hym selfe in you and other his deare electe darlings whome hee will shortly glorify with himselfe as he hath done other of his sweete Sainctes that are gone before you Reioyce therefore be glad for verilye you haue good cause if you diligentlye consider the great dignitie that God hath called you vnto euen now in your olde age to be one of his woorthy witnesses vnto the worlde and I thinke you shall wyth mee and other youre brethren in bonds seale the Lords verity with the testimony of your bloud Surely sweete sister this is the greatest promotion that God caÌ„ bring you or any other vnto in this life and an honour that the highest aungel in heauen is not permitted to haue Therefore happye are you Oh faithfull daughter of Abraham that the Lorde will nowe preferre you before many other yea or any other of your age that I doe know in Englande Oh faithfull and vertuous matrone which wilt not be moued from the sure rocke Christe vppon whome you haue so firmely built your house that neither stormes nor tempestes neither yet bell gates or any other temptations shall euer be able once to preuaile against it Full wel doeth it appeare by your constant continuance that you haue played the parte of a wise builder in counting the cost afore hand belonging to the finishing of your tower And I doubt not but through Gods gift you haue sufficient to the performaunce thereof that the hypocrites of theyr parte shall haue no iuste cause to triumphe againste you or to mocke you saying loe thys woman beganne to builde but is not able to make an ende Therefore goe on boldlye and feare not for God is faithfull as S. Paule sayeth which will not suffer you to be tempted aboue your strength but eyther will hee geue you grace and strength to stande vnto the death whych is the gate and entraunce into
life or els hee will make suche an outscape for you as shall be to the setting foorth of hys glorye the whych aboue all other thinges we that are his chosen children oughte for to seeke yea euen with the losse of oure owne lyues beyng yet well assured that the same shall not be shortned one minute of an houre before the time that God hathe appoynted Cast therefore deare sister all your care vppon the Lorde whych as S. Peter sayeth careth for you Great is his prouidence for you and mighty is his loue and mercy towardes you Wyth his grace hee will defende you and with his holye spirite he will euermore guide you wherewith hee hath surely sealed you vnto the day of redemption hee hathe also geuen you the same in earnest for the recouerye of the purchased possession whych hee hath prepared for you before the foundation of the worlde was layed Be strong therefore and take a good heart as I heare say you be God for euer be blessed for you whych hath graft hys loue in your good heart that nothing is able to separate you from the same but will rather chuse to suffer aduersitie wyth the people of God then to enioy the pleasure of sinne for a little season Oh happye woman that canst finde in thine heart to esteeme the rebukes of Christe to be greater richâ—sse then all the treasures of the world as good Moyses did Doubtles great is your reward in heauen which you shall shortly receiue of his free gift and not of any deseruing Thus deare mother Glascocke I haue bene bolde to trouble you wyth my rude and simple letters desiring you to take them in good woorthe being done in great haste as it doeth appeare but yet proceeding from a poore hearte whych floweth ouer in loue towardes you as my dailye prayers for you can testifie whych I truste shall supplye that parte of my duetye towardes you that my penne nowe wanteth I thanke you deare hearte for all your louing tokens and for the great kindnesse you haue hetherto shewed vnto my poore brother Tymmes and hys wife and children wyth all other of Gods people to whom you daily doe good the Lorde recompence the same seuenfolde into your bosome as I doubte not but hee will according to hys vnfallible promises I praye you haue my hearty commendations vnto your husbande I beseeche the Lorde strength hym in the confession of hys truthe as my tâ—ust is that he will that we may all ioyfully rest with Abraham Isaac Iacob in the kingdome of God vnto the whych he bryng vs that with his most precious bloud hath bought vs. The blessing of God bee wyth you nowe and euer Amen Your daily Oratour and vnfayned louer Iohn Careles prisoner of the Lord. Pray pray pray A briefe admonition wrytten to Mistres Agnes Glascocke in a booke of hers when shee came to the prisone to visite him THere is nothyng that the holye Scripture throughout dothe so muche commende vnto vs as true Faithe and stedfaste trust in the promyses of Gods eternall mercies towardes vs in Iesus Christe For from the same as foorthe of the chiefe fountaine and well sprynge of life doe flowe all kindes of vertues and godlye fruites speciallye true loue towardes God in the whyche wee oughte purelye to serue hym all the dayes of oure lyfe and also Christian charitye towardes oure neyghbours as well to helpe them at all needes as also not to hurte them by any meanes Therefore praye earnestly for the increase of Faythe and liuely feelinge of Gods mercie for all thinges are possible vnto him that can vndoubtedly beleue Faith is that thing which assureth vs of Gods mercye and whereby we vanquishe all the fierye dartes of the deuill oure victorie that ouercommeth the worlde the knife that killeth and mortifieth the flesh and finally that whiche setteth vs at peace wyth God and quieteth oure consciences alwaies before him and maketh vs merry and ioyfull vnder the crosse wyth many moe things then I can now expresse Pray therefore for faith in faith And for the Lordes sake beware of Popery and Popish Idolatrye the Idol of the wicked Masse and other idolatrous seruice Make not your body which is a member of Christ a member of Antichrist Remember that we shall receiue of god according to that we do in the body be it good or euil Therfore glorifie god in your body which is derely bought Betray not the truthe least the Lorde deny you If God be God followe hym You can not serue two maisters I wryte not thys as doubting you but by the way of admonition God keepe you from all euill My sister deare God geue you grace With stedfast faith in Christes name His Gospell still for to embrace And liue according to the same To die therefore thinke it no shame But hope in God with faithfull trust And he will geue you praise with fame When you shall rise out of the dust For which most sweete and ioyfull day To God with faith your prayer make And thinke on me I do you pray The which did wryte this for your sake And thus to God I you betake Who is your castell and strong rocke He keepe you whether you sleepe or wake Farewell deare Mistres A Glascocke ¶ An other Letter of Iohn Careles to Mistres A.G. to comfort her in her repentaunce after shee had bene at Masse fruitefull for all them to be reade which haue fallen and are to be raised vp againe THe peace of God in Iesus Christe the eternall comfortes of hys sweete spirit be with you and strength and comfort you my deare and faithfull sister Amen Although the pearillous dayes be come wherof Christ prophesied that if it were possible the very elect should be deceyued yet let the true faithfull Christians reioyce and be gladde knowing that the Lorde him selfe is theyr keeper who will not suffer one haire of theyr heades to pearish wythout his almighty good will and pleasure neyther wil suffer them to be further tempted then hee will geue them strengthe to beare but will in the middest of theyr temptation make away for them to escape out So good and gracious a God is hee to all his chosen children And though sometimes he doe lette hys elect stumble and fall yet no doubt hee will raise them vppe againe to the further encrease of theyr comforte and to the setting foorth of hys glory and praise Which thing my deare and faithfull louing sister I trust shall be well verified on you For I doe heare say that by the manifolde allurementes inticements procurementes yea and enforcements that you deare hart haue had your fote hath chaunced to slippe foorth of the way to the greate discomfort of your soule and the heauinesse of your heart but my good sister be of good cheare for the Lorde wil not so leaue you but he will raise you vppe againe and make you stronger then euer you were so that
societie And so for this and other Popish pranckes continuing obstinate still he was expelled the house After hee was thus dispatched of his roume hee was faine for his owne maintenance to applie him selfe to be a teacher of children in the house of sir Frances Knolles in the whych trade hee continued vntill the commynge of Queene Mary And wheÌ„ her visitors were sent to Magdalene Colledge vnder a title of reformation wheras all thinges were better afore I meane to displace diuers of the fellowes that were learned and to put ryghte Catholickes as they called them in theyr roumes then came thys Iulins Palmer waiting to be restored to his liuing againe of which he had bene depriued before thinking by good right to be restored of them whose Faith and religion as he sayde he did to the vttermoste of his power defend and maintaine And in deede at length hee obtayned the same Then after he was restored againe to his house in Queene Maries raigne God dealt so mercifull wyth him that in the ende he became of an obstinate Papist an earnest and a zealous Gospeller Concerning whose conuersion to the truthe for the more credite to be geuen to the same we haue heere putte downe a letter wrytten by one M. Bullingham felow in some part of K. Edwardes time wyth the sayde Palmer then also of the same faction of religion with him and toward the latter end of the said Kings raigne a voluntary exile in Fraunce for papistrie In Queene Maries daies likewise a chaplaine vnto Steuen Gardiner B. of Wint. And after comming in of Queene Elizabeth suche a one as for his obstinacy was quite and cleane dispatched from all his liuings by her Maiesties commissioners And yet now God be praised therefore a most constant professor and earnest teacher of the woord of God This man at the request of a certain friend of his in LondoÌ„ being desirous to know the certaine truthe thereof wrate vnto hym concerning this Iulins The copie of which letter we thought good here to insert for that the parties being aliue can testifie the same to be true and certaine if any shall doubt thereof The letter of M. Bullingham is thys M. B. I wish you and all yours continual health in the Lorde Hitherto haue I not wrytten any thing vnto you concerning Iulines Palmer that constante witnesse of Gods truthe for that his doings and sayings known vnto me were worne out of my remembrance and to wryte an vntroth it were rather to deface blemish then to adorne and beutify him After his coÌ„uersion to the most holy gospel I neuer sawe his face Wherefore the lesse haue I to certifye you off But so much as seemeth to me to serue most vnto the purpose heere I commend vnto you and in witnesse that my sayings are true I subscribe my name willyng praying and beseechinge you to publishe the same to the whole world c. At what time I Bullingham entended to forsake England and to flie into Fraunce for the wicked Popes sake whych came to passe in dede for in Roane I was for a time this Iulines Palmer and Rich. Ducke brought me outwardes in my iourney til we came to London where on a day Iulines Palmer I walked to S. Iames the Quenes place and as we leaned at the great gate of that place Palmer spake thus vnto me Bullingham you know into what misery and calamities we are faln for the Pope his religion We are yong men abhorred of all men now presently and like to be abhorred more and more Let vs consider what hangeth ouer our heads You are departing into a strange country bothe frendless and monilesse where I fear me you shal taste of sowrer sauces then hetherto you haue done And as for me I am at my wits end The face of hell it self is as amiable vnto me as the sight of Magdalene colledge For there I am hated as a venemous Tode Woulde God I were raked vnder the earthe And as touching our religion euen our consciences beare witnesse that we taste not such an inward swetenesse in the profession therof as we vnderstand the gospellers to taste in theyr religion Yea to say the truthe we maintaine we wote not what rather of will then of knowledge But what then Rather then I wil yelde vnto them I wil beg my bread So Palmer bequeathed him selfe to the wide world and I passed ouer into Normandie At my returne into England againe my chance was to mete Palmer in Paules where a Roode was set vp This our meeting was in the beginning of Quene Maries raigne and our miserable departing not long before the ende of K. Edwardes daies Then after oure greting thus said Palmer Bullingham is this our God for whoÌ„ we haue smarted No Palmer quod I it is an image of him An Image quod he I tel thee plainly BullinghaÌ„ Ihon Caluin whose institutions I haue perused sith our departure telleth me plainly by Gods word that it is an idoll and that the Pope is Antichrist and his clergy the filthy sinke hole of hel and now I beleue it For I feele it sensibly O that God had reuealed these matters vnto me in times past I woulde haue bequeathed this Romish religion or rather irreligion to the Deuill of hell froÌ„ whence it came Beleue them not Bullingham I will rather haue these knees pared of then I will kneele to yonder Iacknapes meaning the rode God helpe me I am borne to trouble and aduersitie in this worlde Well Palmer sayd I is the winde in that corner with you I warrant you it will blow you to lâ—tle ease at the end I wil neuer haue to do with you agayne So I left Palmer walking in Paules who thorow the element of fier is exalted aboue the elementes where eternall rest is prepared for persecuted Martyrs Thus much is true and let it be knowen that I Bullingham affirme it to be true More I haue not to saye In these wordes and deedes it appeareth that God had elected him From Bridgewater Aprill 26. Anno. 1562. By me Iohn Bullingham When he was by the visiters restored to his Colledge although he began some thing to sauor and taste of Gods truthe by conference and company of certaine godly and zealous men abroade in time of his expulsion specially at the house of sir Frances Knowls yet was he not throughly perswaded but in most poyntes continued for a while either blinde or els doubtfull Neither could he chuse but vtter himself in priuate reasoning from time to time both in what poyntes he was fully resolued and also of what poynts he doubted For such was his nature alway both in Papistrie and in the Gospell vtterly to detest all dissimulation in so much that by the meanes of his plainnes and for that he could not flatter he suffred much woe both in K. Edwards and also in Quene Maries time Wheras hee mighte at the first haue liued in
Thornton Well doe yee not beleeue that hee is there really New No I beleue it not Thornton Well will ye stand to it New I must needes stande to it till I bee perswaded to a further truth Thornton Nay yee will not bee perswaded but stande to your owne opinion New Nay I stand not to mine owne opinion GOD I take to witnesse but onely to the scriptures of God and that can all those that stand here witnes with me and nothing but the scriptures and I take God to witnes that I do nothing of presumption but that that I do is onely my conscience and if there be a further trueth then I see excepte it appeare a trueth to me I cannot receiue it as a truth And seeing fayth is the gifte of God and commeth not of man for it is not you that can geue me fayth nor no man els therfore I trust ye will beare the more with me seing it must be wrought by God and when it shall please God to open a further truth to me I shall receiue it with all my hart and embrace it Thornton had many other questions which I did not beare away but as I doe vnderstand these are the chiefest as for tauntes foolish and vnlearned hee lacked none Prayse GOD for his giftes and GOD increase in vs strength * The argument of Iohn Newman If the body of Christ were really and bodily in the sacrament then who soeuer receiued the sacrament receiued also the body The wicked receiuing the sacrament receiue not the body of Christ. Ergo the bodye of Christe is not really in the Sacrament * Argument Ca They which eate the fleshe and drinke the bloude of Christ dwell in him and he in them mes The wicked dwell not in Christ nor he in them tres Ergo The wicked eate not the fleshe nor drinke the bloud of Christ. * Argument Ca They that haue Christ dwelling in them bring foorth much fruite Iohn 15. Hee that dwelleth in me and I in him bringeth forth much fruite c. mes The wicked bringeth forth no fruit of goodnes tres Ergo they haue not Christes body dwelling in them ¶ Argument Da Where remembrrunce is of a thing there is imported the absence thereof ti Remembraunce of Christes body is in the sacrament Do this in remembraunce of me c. si Ergo Christes body there is imported to be absent Mary they will say we see him not with our outward eyes but he is commended vnder the fourme of breade wine and that that we see is nothing but a quallitie or an accidence But let them shew me a quallitie or an accidence without a substaunce and I will beleue them And thus much concerning Newmans examinations and argumentes whose Martyrdome is before expressed ¶ The Martirdome of Ioane Wast a blynde woman in the Towne of Darbye THe first day of August in the yeare aboue specified suffered likewise at the Towne of Darby a certaine poore honest godly woman being blinde from her birth and vnmaryed about the age of xxii named Ioane Wast of the Parish of Alhallowes Of them that sate vpon this innocent womans bloude the chiefest was Raâ—e Bayne Bishop of the Dyoces Doctour Draycot hys Chauncellour sir Iohn Port Knight Henrye Uernon Esquire Peter Finshe officiall of Darby with the assistaunce also of diuers other Richard Warde and William Bembrige the same time being Bayliffes of the Towne of Darby c. First after the aboue named Byshoppe and Doct. Draycot had caused the sayd Ioane Waste to be apprehended in the Towne of Darby suspecting her to bee guilty of certayne heresies she was diuers times priuily examined as well in prison as out of Prison by Finsh the Officiall aforesayd After that brought to publicke examination before the Bishop at last was there burnt in Darby as is aboue sayd Touching whose life bringing vp conuersatioÌ„ somewhat more amply we mynd to discourse as by faythfull relation hath come to my handes First this Ioane Wast was the daughter of one William Wast an honest poore man and by hys science a Barber who some time also vsed to make Ropes His wife had the same Ioane and one other at one byrth and shee was borne blinde And when shee was about xij or xiiii yeares old she learned to knitte hosen and sleeues and other thinges which in time she could do very well Furthermore as time serued she would help her father to turn ropes and do such other thinges as she was able and in no case would be idle Thus continued she with her father and mother during their liues After whose departure then kept she with one Roger Wast her brother who in the time of king Edw. the 6. of blessed memory gaue her selfe dayly to go to the church to heare Diuine seruice read in the vulgar tongue And thus by hearing Homilies and sermons she became merueilously well affected to the Religion then taught So at length hauing by her labour gotten and saued so much mony as would buy her a newe testameÌ„t she caused one to be prouided for her And though she was of herselfe vnlearned and by reason of her blindnes vnable to read yet for the great desire shee had to vnderstand and haue printed in her memory the sayinges of holy scriptures conteined in the new Testament shee acquaynted her selfe chiefly with one Iohn Hurt then prisoner in the common Hall of Darby for debtes The same Iohn Hurt being a sober graue man of the age of three score and ten yeares by her earnest intreatie and being Prisoner and many times idle and without coÌ„pany did for his exercise dayly read vnto her some one chapter of the new Testament And if at any time he wer otherwise occupied or letted through sickenes she woulde repayre vnto one Iohn Pemerton Clarke of the Parishe Churche of all sayntes in the same towne of Darby or to some other person which could read and sometimes shee would geue a penny or two as shee might spare to suche persons as woulde not freely read vnto her appoyntyng vnto them aforehand how many Chapiters of the newe Testament they should read or how often they should repeate one Chapiter vpon a price Moreouer in the sayde Ioane Wast this was notoryous that she being vtterly blinde could not withstanding without a guide go to any Church within the sayd town of Darby or to any other place or person with whom she had any such exercise By which exercise shee so profited that she was able not onely to recite many Chapiters of the new testament without book but also could aptly impugne by diuers places of scriptures as well sinne as suche abuses in Religion as then were to much in vse in diuers and sondry persons As this godly woman thus dayly increased in the knowledge of Gods holy worde and no lesse in her life expressed the vertuous fruites and exercise of the same Not long after
desiring him that he might not liue so long as to cal euill good and good euill or light darkenes or darkenes light and so departed he home toward hys house where by the way homeward as it is affirmed he took his death and shortly after departed according to his prayer after he had endured in prison xii weekes After this Ioane his wife continued still in prison with her tender infant till at last she was brought before that Bishop to be examined Whereunto what her aunswers were it is not certainely knowne Howbeit most like it is what soeuer they were they pleased not the Bishoppe as appeared by his ire increased agaynst the poore woman her long continuance in the prison together with her tender babe which also remayned with her in the Iayle partaker of her Martyrdome so long as her milke would serue to geue it sucke till at length the childe being starued for colde and famine was sent away when it was past al remedie and so shortly after dyed And not long after the mother also followed besides the olde woman whiche was mother of the husband of the age of 80. yeares and vpwarde Who being left in the house after their apprehēsion for lacke of comfort there perished also And thus haue ye in one story the deathe of foure together first of the old woman then of the husband after that of the innocent childe and lastly of the mother What became of the other nine children I am not perfectly sure but that I partly vnderstand that they were all vndone by the same This story is reported and testified as well by other as namely by Mistres Bridges dwelling in the same town and partaker then of the like afflictions and hardly escaped with her life A Shomaker suffering in Northamton IN the moneth of October folowing was burned at the towne of Northampton a Shomaker a true witnesse and disciple of the Lorde who accordinge to the grace of God geuen vnto him cleauing fast to the sounde doctrin and preaching of Gods woord renounced the vntrue and false coloured religion of the Romish sea wherein manye a good man hath bene drowned After whom not long after in the same month of October died also in the Castle of Chichester thre godly confessors being there in bonds for the like cause of Christes Gospel who also should haue suffred the like Martyrdom had not theyr naturall deathe or rather as it is to be suspected the cruel handling of the papists made them away before and afterward buried them in the fielde I reade moreouer that in this present yeare to witte An. 1556. was burnt one called Hooke a true witnes of the Lordes truthe at Chester ¶ Fiue famished in Caunterbury Castell by the vnmercifull tyrannie of the Papistes about the beginning of Nouember AS among all the Bishops Boner bishop of London principally excelled in persecuting the poore members and Saintes of Christe so of all Archdeacons Nicholas Harpesfield Archdeacon of Cāterburie as may by mans sight appeare was the forest and of least compassion only Dunning of Norwich excepted by whose vnmercifull nature and agrest disposition verye many were putte to death in that dioces of Canterbury not onely in the bloudy time of that Queene but some also in the blessed beginning of this our moste renowmed Queene that nowe is as by the grace of Christ heereafter shall appeare Of those that suffered in Queene Maries time within the foresayd diocesse of Canterburie some be recited already with the order and fourme set downe of suche Articles as then were most commōly ministred to the examinates by Thorneton Suffragane of Douer and the sayde Nicholas Harpsefielde and other as before in the volume of this hystorie may appeare pag. 1683. Now to proceede in the order and course of time where we left next followeth the moneth of Nouember In the beginning whereof were together in the Castell of Caunterburie 15. godly and innocent Martyrs of which number not one escaped with theyr life but either were burned or els were famished in prisone Of that which two sortes which is the easier death God knoweth it is hard to iudge Notwithstāding the truth is that of these 15.10 were burned and suffered in the fire of whom in the next booke more shall follow hereafter the Lord willing The other 5. were pined and famished most vnmercifully in the straite prisone of whome we haue heere presently to entreate Whose names were these Whiche two were yet vncondemned 1. Iohn Clearke 2. Dunston Chittenden These were condemned to bee burnt 3. W. Foster of Stone 4. Alice Potkins wife of Stapleherst 5. Iohn Archer of Cranbroke weauer Of these 5. prisonners the firste two were vncondemned the other thre last were condemned and should haue bene burned but suffered no lesse tormentes then if they had abidde the fire being macerate and pined to death by famine What theyr articles and answers were it needeth not heere to recite seeing all they in that time of Queene Mary commonly suffered for one maner sort of cause that is for holding against the 7. Sacraments against the realtie of Christes being in his supper for speaking against the churche of Rome and determinations of the same against Images set vp and woorshipped in the churche for not comming to the church and such other like c. First William Foster answearing to these and like articles sayde that he beleeued well in all the Articles of the Creede but to beleeue to be m0e Sacraments then two and to pray to Saintes either to profite vs or to praye for soules in purgatorie to profit them that faith and works doe iustifie or to alow the popish ceremonies in the church that he denied Moreouer hee sayde to carie Candels vpon Candelmasse daye were as good for him as to carye a dungforke and that it is as necessary to cary the galowes about if his father were hanged as the crosse To come to the church he cannot sayd he with a safe conscience Concerning fish daies and flesh daies hee graunted it good to put difference therein except where necessity required the contrary This William Foster was a labouring man of the age of xl yeares He was apprehended and imprisoned by Sir Thomas Moyle Knight Alice Potkins for the like confession was condemned to be burned for that she was not neyther would be confessed to the Priest for that shee receiued not the sacrament of the aultare because shee would not pray to saincts nor creepe to the Crosse. c. Being demaunded of her age she sayde that shee was xlix yeares olde according to her olde age according to her yong age since she learned Christ shee was of one yeares age and was committed by maister Roberts to prisone The answer and confession of Iohn Archer of Crambroke was muche in like sorte And although certayne of these vpon ignorant simplicitie swarued a litle in the
the first second thyrd fourth fift ninth tenthe twelfth they generally graunted vnto sauing that they denyed the soules of the departed to sleepe til the day of iudgement as is mentioned in the ix article And as concerning the sixt obiection they thought thē selues bound to beleue the true Catholicke Church so far foorth as the same doth instructe them according to Gods holy word but not to follow the determinations of the erroneous and Babilonicall Church of Rome As for the seuenth eight and thirtenth they vtterly denyed that euer they were of any such absurde opinions as are contayned therein but they graunted that man of him selfe without the helpe and assistance of Gods spirite hath no power to do any good thing acceptable in Gods sight To the eleuenth they sayd that true fasting and prayer vsed according to Gods word are allowable and auaylable in his sight and that by the same word euery faythfull man may eate all meates at all times with thankesgeuing to God for the same After this the first day of Aprill were they agayne conuented before the Bishop in his palace at London where little appeareth to be done excepte it were to know whether they would stand to their aunsweres whether they would recant or no. But when they refused to recant and deny the receiued and infallible truthe the Byshop caused them to be brought into the open Consistory the third day of the same moneth of Aprill in the forenone where firste vnderstanding by them their immutable constauncye and stedfastnes he demaunded particularly of euery one what they had to say why he should not pronounce the Sentence of condemnation To whom Tho. Loseby firste aunswered God geue me grace and strength to stand agaynst you your Sentence also agaynst your law which is a deuouring law for it deuoureth the flocke of Christe And I perceiue there is no way with me but death except I would consent to your deuouring law and beleeue in that Idoll the Masse Next vnto him answered Thomas Thirtell saying my Lorde I say thus if you make me an hereticke then you make Christ and all the 12. Apostles heretickes for I am in the true fayth and right beliefe I will stand in it for I know full well I shall haue eternall lyfe therefore The Byshoppe then asked the lyke question of Henry Ramsey Who sayd agayne my Lord will you haue me to go from the truth that I am in I say vnto you that my opinions be the very truth which I will stand vnto and not go from them I say vnto you farther that there are two Churches vpon the earth and we meaning himselfe other true Martyrs and professours of Christ be of the true Church and ye be not Unto this question next aunswered Margaret Hide saying my Lord you haue no cause to giue Sentence agaynst me for I am in the true fayth and opinion will neuer forsake it I do wishe that I were more stronger in it then I am Last of all aunswered Agnes Stanley sayd I had rather euery heare of my head were burned if it were neuer so much worth then that I will forsake my fayth and opinion which is the true fayth The tyme being now spent they were commaunded to appeare agayne at afternoone in the same place which commaundement being obeyed the Bishop firste called for Loseby after his accustomed maner willed his Articles answeres to be read in reading thereof when mention was made of the Sacrament of the Aultar the Bishoppe with his Colleagues put of their cappes Whereat Loseby sayd my Lord seing you put of your cappe I will put on my cappe there withall did put on his cappe And after the Bishop continuing in his accustomable perswasions Loseby agayn sayd vnto him my Lorde I trust I haue the spirite of truth which you detest and abhorre for the wisdome of God is foolishnes vnto you Wherupon the Byshop pronounced the sentence of condemnation agaynst him And deliuering him vnto the Sheriffe called for Margaret Hide with whō he vsed the like order of exhortatōs To whom notwithstanding she sayd I will not depart from my sayinges till I bee burned and my Lorde quoth she I would see you instruct me with some parte of Gods word not to geue me instructiōs of holybread and holy water for it is no part of the scripture But he being neither himselfe nor any of his able rightly to accomplish her request to make short worke vsed his final reason of conuincement which was of the sentence of condēnation And therfore leauing her off called for an other videl Agnes Stanley who vpon the Bishoppes like perswasions made this aunswere My Lord wher you say I am an heretick I am none neither yet will I beleue you nor any man that is wyse will beleue as you do And as for these that ye say bee burnt for heresie I beleue are true martyrs before God therefore I will not go from my opinion and fayth as long as I liue Her talk thus ended she receaued the like reward that the other had And the bishop then turning his tale maner of inticement vnto Thomas Thyrtel receiued of him likewise this finall aunswere My Lord I will not holde with youre Idolatrous wayes as you do for I saye the Masse is Idolatry and will sticke to my fayth and beliefe so long as the breath is in my body Upon which wordes he was also condemned as an hereticke Last of all was Henry Rāsey demanded if he would as the rest stand vnto his aunsweres or els recanting the same come home agayn and be a member of their church Whereunto he aunswered I will not go from my religiō and belief as long as I liue and my Lord quoth he your doctrine is naught for it is not agreable to Gods worde * The cruell burning of 5. Martyrs in Smithfield Three burned in Sainct Georges field in Southwarke AFter these moreouer in the month of May followed 3. other that suffered in S. Georges field in Southwark William Morant Stephen Gratwicke with one king Among other histories after the persecuted and condemned saintes of God I find the condemnation of none more straunge nor vnlawfull thē of this Stephen Gratwicke Who first was condemned by the byshopp of Wynchester and the byshop of Rochester which where not hys Ordinaryes Secondly when he did appeale from those imcompetēt Iudges to hys right Ordinary his appeale coulde not be admitted Thirdly when they had no other shifte to colour theyr inordinate proceedings with all they suborned one of the priestes to come in for a counterfayt and a false Ordinary and sit vpon him Fourthly being openly conuinced and ouerturned in his own argumentes yet the sayd Byshop of Winchester D. White neyther would yeald to the force of trueth nor suffer any of the audience assistant once to say God strengthen him Fiftly as
they brought in a false Ordinarye to sit vpon him so they pretended false articles agaynst him whiche were no part of his examinations but of their deuising to haue his bloud Sixtly and lastly hauing no other groūd nor iust matters agaynst him but onely for saying these wordes that which I sayd I haue sayde they red the sentence of death vpon him And this was the dealing of these men whiche needes will be reputed for Catholicke fathers of the spirituality succeders of the Apostles disciples of Christ pillers of the holy Churche and leaders of the people Of whose doynges and proceedinges howe agreable they are to the example of Christ and his Apostles I leaue to discusse referryng the iudgement hereof to them which know the institution of Christes religion and doctrine Now least peraduēture the disordered misrule of these Christmas Lordes will not be credited vppon the simple narration of the story yee shall heare the whole discourse of this processe registred by the hand of the Martyr hymselfe who as he could tell best what was done so I am sure would not testifie otherwise then trueth was according as you shall heare by his owne declaration here following ¶ The declaration of Steuen Gratwicke concerning his owne story and condemnation VPon the xxv day of May in the yeare of our Lord 1557. I. Stephen Gratwick came before the Bishop of Winchester D. White into S. Georges Churche in Southwarke at eight of the clocke in the morning and then hee called me before him and sayd vnto me B. Winchester Stephen Gradwick how standeth the matter with thee now Art thou contented to reuoke thy heresies the which thou hast mayntayned and defended here within my Dioces oftentimes before me and also vppon Sonday last ye stoode vp in the face of the whole Churche mayntayning your heresies so that you haue offended with in the libertie of my Dioces and now I being your Ordinary you must aunswere to me directly whether you will reuoke them or not the which I haue here in writing and if so be that you wil not reuoke them then I will excommunicate you and therefore note well what you doe for now I read here the Articles agaynst you And so whē he had ended he bad me answer vnto them Grat. My Lord these articles whiche you haue here obiected agaynst me are not mine but of youe owne making For I neuer had any of mine examinations written at any time and therefore these be the obiections that you laye agaynst me as a snare to get my bloud Wherefore I desyer your lawfull fauour to allow my lawfull appeale vnto myne Ordinary for I haue nothing to do with you And whereas you do burden me that I haue offended within your Dioces it is nothing so for I haue not interprised neyther to preache nor teache within your Dioces but was apprehended by mine own Bishop sent prisoner into your Dioces by the consent of the Coūsell mine own Ordinary therefore I so being in your Dioces you haue no cause to let my lawfull appeale And with that there came the Bishop of Rochester was receaued at the B. of Winchesters hands with much gladnes according to their determinate purpose before inuented And so followed the Archdeacon of Canterbury And then the Bishop agayne start vp as a man halfe rauished of his wittes for ioye embracing him with many gētle wordes and sayd that he was very glad of his comming making himselfe ignorant thereof as he thought it should appeare to me Then sayd Winchester B. Win. Syr I am very glad of your cōming For here I haue one before me who hath appealed vnto you being his Ordinary Then sayd the Archdeacon of Canterbury Arch. Cant. I know this man very well He hath bene diuers times before me And then I aunswered and sayd Gratw My Lorde I am not of his Dioces not by fiue miles for his Dioces reacheth on that parties but to the Cliffes of Lewes I dwelled at Bright Hempson fiue miles beyond in the Dioces of the Bishop of Chichester and therefore I am not of his Dioces Then the the Bishop of Winchester the B. of Rochester and the Archdeacon of Canterbury cast their heades together laughed and thē they sayd my Ordinary wold be here by and by so they sent forth for a counterfayte in steede of mine Ordinary and then I saw them laugh and I spake vnto them and sayd Grat. Why do ye laugh are ye confederate together for my bloud and therein triumph you haue more cause to looke waightely vpon the matter For I stand here before you vpon life and death But you declare youre selues what you are for you are lapped in Lambes apparell but I would to God ye had coates according to your assemblye here which is scarlet gownes for I do here perceiue you are bent to haue my bloud And then came rushing in their counterfayted Bishop who was the hyred seruaunt to deliuer me into the hands of the high Priest the Bishop hearyng him come with haste enquired of his man who was there and he sayd my lord of Chichester Then the Bish. with hast rose vp and sayd Wint. Ye are most hartily welcome and required him to sit downe and then sayd the Bishop of Winchester to me Loe here is your Ordinary What haue you nowe to saye vnto him Grat. I haue nothing to say vnto him If he haue nothing to say vnto me I pray you let me depart Then aunswered my Counterfeyt Ordinary and sayd Counterf Here you stand before my Lords and me in triall of your fayth and if you bring the trueth wee shall by compulsion geue place vnto you as it is to be proued by the word and your doctrine to be heard and placed for a truth Grat. Then I demaunded of him whether hee meant by authoritie or by the iudgement of the spirite of GOD in his members And he aunswered me by authoritie as well as by the spirite Grat. Then I sayd Nowe will I turne your own Argument vpon you for Christ came before the high priests Scribes and Phariseis bringing the truth with him beyng the very truth hymselfe which truth cannot lye yet both he and his truth was condemned and took no place with them And also the Apostles and all the Martyrs that dyed since Christ therefore I turne your owne argument vpon you aunswere it if you can Counterf Then he with a great hast of coller sayd vnto the Bishop of Winchester obiect some Articles agaynst hym for he is obstinate and would fayne get out of our handes therefore holde him to some particular so that other aunswere could I not haue of his argument Wint. Then the Bishop of Winchester began to reade hys obiections of his owne making agaynst me and bad me aunswere vnto them And I sayd Grat. No except you would set the law apart because I see you are
mindfull of my bloud Wint. Now you may see hee will not aunswere to these but as he hath aforesayd Then spake the Counterfeit Ordinary agayne and sayd Counterf My Lord aske him what he sayth to the Sacrament of the aultar Then the Byshop asked me as my Counterfeit Ordinary required him Grat. My Lord I doe beleue that in the sacrament of the Supper of the Lord truely ministred in both kinds according to the institution of Christ vnto the worthy receauer he eateth mistically by fayth the body and bloud of Chryst. Then I asked him if it were not the truth And hee sayde yes Then sayd I beare witnesse of the truth Winchester Then the Bishop of Winchester whose head being subtilest to gather vpon my wordes sayd My Lord see you not how he creepeth away with his heresies and couereth them priuely Note how hee here seperateth the Sacrament of the aulter from the supper of the Lord meaning it not to be the true sacrament also how he condemneth our ministration in one kinde and alloweth that the vnworthy receauer doth not eate and drinke the body and bloud of Christ which be sore matters truely wayed being couered very craftely with his subtill shiftes of sophistry but he shall aunswere directly or euer he depart Grat. My Lord this is but your gathering of my wordes for you before confessed the same sayinges to be the truth this you catch at me and fayne woulde haue a vauntage for my bloud but seeing you iudge me not to meane the sacramēt of the aultar nowe come to the probatiō of the same sacrament and proue it to be the true sacrament and I am with you or els if you can proue your Church to be the true Church I am also with you But then he called to memory the last probation of the Churche and sacramentes howe hee before was driuen to forsake the scriptures and to shew me by good reason how they might minister the sacrament in one kinde his reason was this Like as a man or woman dyeth on a sodayn and so when we haue geuen him the body of Christ in the meane time the partie dyeth and so he eateth the bodye of Christ not drinketh his bloud And this was his simple shift in the prouing of their Sacramentes so that he was now halfe abashed to begin that matter agayne But yet a little subtile shift he brought in and sayd Winc. What sayest thou by the administration of the priests euery day for them selues and they minister in bothe kindes To that I aunswered you haue two administrations for I am sure at Easter you minister but in one kinde and therfore it is not according to the institution of Christ but after your owne imaginations Winc. Why then what sayest thou to these wordes Take eate this is my body These are the wordes of Christe Wilt thou deny them Grat. My Lord they are the words of scripture I affirme them and not deny them Rochest Why then thou doest confesse in the sacrament of the aulter to be a reall presence the selfe same body that was borne of the Uirgine Mary and is ascended vp into heauen Grat. My Lord what do you now meane do you not also meane a visible body for it cannot be but of necessitie if it be a reall presence and a materiall body it must be a visible body also Winc. Nay I say vnto thee it is a reall presence and a materiall body and an inuisible body to Grat. My Lord then it must needes be a phantastical body for if it shoulde bee materiall and inuisible as you affirme then it must needes be a phantasticall body for it is aparaunt that Christes humayne body was visible and seene Winc. Then the Bishop brake out and said when diddest thou see him I pray thee tell me Grat. To that I aunswered and sayd a simple argument it is Because our corporall eyes cannot comprehend christ doth that proue or follow that he is inuisible because wee cannot see him Winc. And with that the Bishop began to waxe weary of his argument and remoued his talke to Iudas in eatyng the sacrament said he eat him wholy as the Apostles did Grat. And then I asked him if he meant Christes flesh and bloud the which he speaketh of in the 6. of Iohn and saith he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall lyfe in me Winc. To that he aunswered and sayd yea Grat. Then sayd I of necessitie Iudas must needes be saued because hee eate the fleshe and dranke the bloude of Christ as you haue affirmed and also all the vngodly that dye without repentance because they haue eaten your sacrament which you say is the flesh bloud of Christ therfore of necessitie they shall receiue the benefite thereof that is eternall life Which is a great absurditie to graunt then of necessitie it must follow that all that eate not drynke not of your sacrament shall finally pearish and bee damned for Christ sayth except you eate my fleshe and drinke my bloud you can haue no life in me And you haue afore sayd that your sacrament which you say is the same flesh bloud that Christ speaketh of and here I proue that all children then that dye vnder age to receaue the sacrament by your owne argument they must be damned whiche is horrible blasphemy to speake Nowe here I turne your owne argument vpon you aunswere it if you can Winc. My Lord do you not see what deceitful arguments he bringeth in here agaynst vs mingled with sophistry keepeth himselfe in vauntage so that we can get no holde vpon him But I say vnto thee thou peruerse hereticke I see now thou art a peruerse fellowe I had a better opinion of thee but now I see we lose our time about thee yet I aunswere thee S. Paule doth open the sixte of Iohn playne if thou wilt see for he sayth they eate Christes body and drinke his bloud vnworthely and that was the cause of their damnation Grat. My Lord take heede ye doe not adde vnto the texte for he that addeth vnto the text is accursed of God and I am sure here you haue brought more then Paule hath spoken for he sayth not because they haue eaten his body and dronke his bloud vnworthily but S. Paule sayth Who so euer shall eate of this bread and drinke of the Cuppe vnworthely shall be giltie of the body and bloud of Christ. Note my lord he saith not as you haue affirmed but clene contrary And with that they were all in a great rage Winch. And the bish of Winchester said I belied the text Grat. And then I called for the text Winch. And he said I asked thee euen now if thou vnderstoodest Latine and thou saidest whether I can or no the people shall beare witnesse in English Grat. And so I called againe for the Testament whether it were Latin or English for the
triall of the text Winch. And then when the bish of Winchester sawe that I cared not whether of the Translations I had he stoode vp thinking to beguile some simple man that had a booke there bad him that had an English Testament to bring it in that he might get some hold at him that should bring a testament but God disappointed him therof so he flue away from his matter and began to raile vpon me said my subtill Arguments shuld not serue for if I would not answer directly I should neuerthelesse be excommunicated for sayd he I see a madde â—oy in thine head thou gloriest muche in thy talke and thinkest nowe the people are come about thee that thou shalt encourage them with thy constant heretical opinion For the last day when thou wast before me vpon Sonday in s. Mary Oueries church thou there reprouedst my sermon haddest a thousand by thee at the lest to bid God strengthen thee but now let me see him here that dare open his mouth to bid God streÌ„gthen thee he shall die the death that thou shalt die Grat. To that I answered my Lord I know your crueltie doth extend more largelier then your pity Good experience so I haue to say for you kepe men in prison â— yeare or two taking their bookes from them permitting theÌ„ not so muche as a Testament to looke vppon for theyr soules comfort the which all men oughte to haue and so you entreat them more like brute beastes then Christen men Winch. No syr we will vse you as we will vse the childe for if the childe will hurte himselfe with the knife we will kepe the knife from him So because you wil damne your soule with the woord therefore you shall not haue it Grat. My lord a simple argument you bring for to maintaine and couer your fault Are you not ashamed to make the woord the cause of our damnation I neuer knew any man but only you that did not affirm our sinnes to be the cause of our damnation and not the word as you say and therfore if your Argument be good then this is good also Because that some men do abuse drinke therefore the benefite of drinke should be taken from al men or any other such like good gift Winch. My lordes here we lose much time for this felow is peruerse speaking nothing but sophistrie and peruerse questions so that we can get no aduantage vpon him Then spake my Counterfait Ordinarie as one halfe a sleepe al this while yet somwhat with hast when he was awaked he began to tell his tale and sayde Counterf Read these articles against him once more and if he wil not answer them take him vpon his first words That which I said that I haue said Winch. Then the Bishop of Winchester began to reade them againe Grat. But I sayd vnto him I would not aunswere them because they were none of mine examinations but obiections of their owne making because they would haue my bloud But yet I said if they would set the lawe a part I would talke my conscience freely to them Counterf Then my counterfet Ordinarie began to speake againe charging mee with the saying of S. Peter that I should render account of such hope as was in me Grat. So can I do and yet shal I not please you for here I now render my hope as S. Peter willeth me I beleue only in Iesus Christ to haue my saluatioÌ„ in him by him and through him but I perceiue you would haue me reÌ„der my faith in such sorte as you may haue my bloud and therfore you bring good Scriptures and euil apply them Win. Why this felow is peruerted we shal get no more at his hands then we haue already therfore lette vs pronounce sentence against him for we do but lose our time Grat. Nay good my lordes seeing you wil nedes haue my bloud let me say a little more for my selfe Upon sonday last wheÌ„ I was before you you preached this which was a truth agreeable to the doctrine of the apostle s. Iames and said If any maÌ„ thinke himself a religious man in the meane time seduce his toung or hys heart the same mans religion is a vain religion and so my lord you staÌ„ding there in the pulpit in the mean time seduced your toÌ„g to slander vs pore prisoners being there present in yron bondes burdening vs with the sect of Arrians and with the sect of HerodiaÌ„s and with the sect of Anabaptists and with the sect of sacramentaries with the secte of PelagiaÌ„s And when we stoode vp to purge our selues therof you saide you would cut out our tonges cause vs to be pulled out of the church by violeÌ„ce But there you gaue your selfe a shrewde blow for your toungue in the meane time slandered your neighbor For I my Lord wil geue my life against all these heresies the which you ther burdened vs withall euen as I will geue my life against that wherein I now stand before you And with that he was raging angry and caught my condemnation and said Win. Thou wilt graunt here no more but this word that I haue said I haue said and here I gather mater enough to condemne thee for this is a confirmation of all that thou hast heretofore said Grat. Then I answered If you can proue that euer any of mine examinatioÌ„s were written it were inough but you haue nothiÌ„g agaiÌ„st me but obiectioÌ„s of your own makiÌ„g Win. Haue at thee now If thou wil not yelde I wil pronounce sentence against thee and so he proceded forth onward apace curssing and banning in Latin so that I told him If the people might heare it in English they would thinke you an vncharitable bishop Grat. And then I said stay my Lorde and note what you doe for you haue neither temporall law nor spiritual here against me in any cause Then stepped foorth a gentleman said vnto my Lord take hede what you do for he doth hear say that you haue no title nor cause why you should condemne him Then the bish looked about him againe and asked me if I would recant I asked him whereof I should recant Then saide the bish are you there nay then I knowe what I haue to do and so he proceded forth in reading my condemnation And there was an other gentlemaÌ„ which began to snap and snatch at me and then said I I would God I had knowen this or euer I had come from home I would surely haue put on breeche and not had my skin thus torne And all this while the Bishop red foorth still At last his chaplains cried stop stop my Lord for now he will recant and then the bishop asked me againe And I answered sayd my lord my faith is grounded more stedfastly then to change in a momeÌ„t it is no proces of time can alter me vnles my faith
her first comming into this place she did greuously bewaile with great sorrowe lamentation and reasoned with her selfe why her Lorde God did with his so heauy iustice suffer her to be sequestred from her louing fellowes into so extreeme miserie In these dolorous mournings did shee continue til on a night as shee was in her sorrowful supplications in rehearsing thys verse of the Psalme Why arte thou so heauie O my soule And againe The right hande of the most highest can chaunge all shee receiued comforte in the middest of her miseries And after that continued very ioyfull vntill her deliuerie from the same About the 25. day of March in the yeare of our Lorde 1557. shee was called before the Bishop who demaunded of her whether shee would nowe goe home and go to the church or no promising her great fauour if she woulde be reformed and doe as they did To whom she answered I am throughly perswaded by the great extremitie that you haue already shewed me that you are not of God neither can your doings be godly and I see sayeth she that you seeke my vtter destruction shewing how lame she then was of cold taken for lacke of foode while she lay in that painful prison whereby shee was not able to mooue her selfe without great paine Then did the bish deliuer her frō that filthy hole and sent her to Westgate whereas after she had bene changed and for a while ben cleane kept her skin did wholy so pill scale off as if she had bene with some mortal venome poysoned Heere she continued till the latter end of Aprill At which time they called her before them and with others condemned her committing her then to the prisone called the Castle Where shee continued till the slaughter daye which was the 19. day of Iune when by terrible fire they tooke away her life When she was at the stake she cast her handkerchiefe vnto one Iohn Bankes requiring him to kepe the same in the memorie of her and from about her middle she tooke a white lace which she gaue to the keeper desiring him to geue the same to her brother Roger Hall and to tell hym that it was the last band that she was bound with except the chaine A shilling also of Phillip and Mary shee tooke foorth which her father had bowed and sent her when shee was first sent to prison desiring that her said brother should with obedient salutations render the same to her father againe shew him that it was the first peece of mony that he sent her after her troubles begon which as shee protested she had kept now sent him to do him to vnderstand that shee neuer lacked money while shee was in prison With this Alice Benden were burned also the residue of the other blessed Martyrs aboue named being seuen in number Who being brought to the place where they shuld suffer for the Lordes cause at Canterbury vndressed them selues ioyfully to the fire and being ready thereto they all like the communion of Saints kneled downe and made their humble praiers vnto the Lorde with such zeale and affection as euen the enemies of the Crosse of Christ coulde not but like it When they had made inuocation together they roase and went to the stake where being compassed with horrible flames of fire they yeelded their soules and liues gloriously into the handes of the Lord. The burning of seuen Martyrs at Caunterburie The troubles and examinations of Mathew Plase VNto these holy martyrs of Kent aboue specified wher of seuen suffered at Maidstone and seuen at Canterb. I thought not vnmeete heere also to be adioyned the examination of Mathew Plase a Weauer of the same Countie of Kent and a faithful christian Who being apprehended and imprisoned likewise for the testimonie of a good conscience in the Castell of Canterbury was brought to examination before the Bishop of Douer and Harpsfield the Archdeacon as here is to be red and seene The examination and answeres of Mathewe Plase Weauer of the Parish of Stone in the Countie of Kent before Thornton Bishop of Douer Harpesfield Archdeacon Collins Commissarie other Inquisitours An. 1557. FIrst when I came before the bishop he asked me whether I were not of that Dioces and where I dwelt for that was my first Article Ans. I aunsweared I was of the Parishe of Stone in Kent and subiect vnto the King Queene of England Bish. Then he sayd I was indicted by xij men at Ashford at the Sessions for heresie Auns I sayd that was sooner sayd then prooued Bish. Then he sayde it was the truthe that he had spoken to me for he had whereby to prooue it Auns Then I desired him to let me heare it and I would answere to it Bish. But he sayd he would not so do but I should aunswere to my Article yea or nay Auns I said he could not for I was not at Ashforde and therfore he had nothing to lay to my charge But nowe I perceiue you goe about to lay a net to haue my bloud Arch. After many woordes betwixt the bishop and me the Archdeacon said peace peace we do not desire thy bloud but we are glad to heare that thou art no hereticke wyth many flattering woordes and said yet I was suspected of heresie and if I woulde be content to confesse howe I did beleeue as concerning those Articles they woulde gladly teache me Auns But I sayd I did not so thinke for I talked wyth one of your doctors and after long talke he would nedes know how I did beleeue in the Sacrament and I recited vnto him the text and because I would not make him an exposition he would teach me nothing yet I praied hym for my learning to wryte his minde if it were the truth I would beleeue him and this I did desire him for the loue of God but it would not be Arch. Then sayd he it was not so he durst sweare vpon a booke Auns I sayd it would be so prooued Arch. Then he stoode vp with a long processe and sayd he would tell me the truth and was sure that the same Doctour did beleeue as he did Auns I asked him how he knew that seing S. Paul doth say that no man knoweth what is in man but the spirite which dwelleth in him but if you wist what Christ meant by these woords I require mercy and not sacrifice you wold not kill innocents Bishop The Bishop began with me againe and charged me in the king and Queenes name and the Lord Cardinals to answere yea or nay to the Articles that followed Auns Then I commanded him in his name that should come in flaming fire with his mighty Aungels to render vengeance to the disobedient and to all those that beleued not the gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which should be punished with euerlasting damnation that he should speake nothing but the truth grounded vpon Christ and
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
burden that I looked for So when they perceiued that I feared not imprisonment but rather reioyced as they well perceiued Then said the B. Me thinkes he is not afraid of the prison Wood. No I praise the liuyng God Story This is an heretike in deed He hath the right terms of all heretikes the liuing God I pray you be there dead Gods that you say the liuyng God Wood. Be you angry with me because I speak the words which are written in the Bible Story Bibble babble bibble babble What speakest thou of the Bible There is no such worde written in all the Bible Wood. Then I am much to blame if it bee not so written Behold for the offences that you haue done you shall bee caried away captiue by Nabuchodonoser to Babylon and there ye shall be seuen generations and when you be there you shall see gods of gold of siluer of wood and of stone borne before you behynd you vpon mens shoulders to cast out a feare among the Heathen When you shall see all these abhominations then say in your heart It is the liuyng God that ought to bee worshipped Here I prooue my saying true both that there is a liuyng God and that there be dead Gods Also Dauid sayth in his Psalmes My soule hath a desire and longyng to enter into the courtes of the Lord My heart and my flesh reioyce in the liuing God with diuers other places that I coulde recite Wherfore I meruaile that you rebuke me for speaking the truth Chich. I doe not deny but it is written and is the truth and I know it as well as you but such is the speach of all heretikes Story My Lord I will tell you how you shall knowe an heretike by his words because I haue bene more vsed to them then you haue bene that is they will say the Lord and we prayse God and the liuyng GOD. By these words you shall know an heretike Wood. All these wordes are written for our learnyng and we are commanded of the Prophets to vse them daily as this The Lordes name be praysed frō the rising vp of the sunne vnto the goyng downe of the same Also As many as feare the Lord say alwayes the Lord be praysed Story My Lord send hym to prison you shall do no good with hym I will go to church and leaue you here This is an old heretike Wast thou neuer before me ere now Wood. Yes forsooth that I haue Story Yea I trowe so and I sent thee to the B. of London and he released thee and thou promisedst him to be an honest man and that thou wouldst be of the true Catholike church which thou hast not fulfilled Wood. I promised him nothing but I haue fulfilled it No man shall be able to prooue the contrary Story Well it will be tried well enough My Lorde I will take my leaue I feare me you shall doe this man no good Chich. I would not haue you to vse such speach as you do as the Lord be praysed and the liuing God with such like words Can you not say as wel our Lord or our God as otherwyse Wood. I meruaile why you should reprooue me therefore seeing it is the words of God I do not refuse to saye our God or our Lorde when I talke the Scriptures where it is written If I should it must follow that I denied the wordes of God and must needs be an heretike but I do not Wherefore I meruaile what you meane to finde fault therein It seemeth to me that you mistrust that I beleeue not as you do Chich. Yea that is my meanyng in deed Woodman I beleue in the liuyng God if you doe not so then our beliefes be not alike in deede But if it please you to examine me vpon any perticular matter now or at any other tyme I will make you answer thereto by Gods helpe Chich. Though you beleeue in God I can prooue you beleeue not as you ought to do as I can shew you by your hand writing You haue denied the catholike church Wherfore he that erreth from the church it cannot be sayde that his faith is good Wherefore be ruled by the Church from the whiche ye haue erred I canne shewe you perillous things of your writing if it should be known but ye shall not be hurt for me if you will come to any good order But I promise you I would not for three thousand poūd some had so much against me as I cā shew against you of your owne hand writing which you cannot deny Wood. I will not deny my hand by Gods helpe For I know well I haue written nothing at any tyme but the truth There may be things written against me reporting it to be myne and yet be not but my hand cannot well be counterfeited there be enow that know my hand Chich. Do you know it your selfe if you see it Wood. Yea that I do Then he arose and fet a great bundle of writings and opened them and bade me come see I looked on them and it was my hand in deed Chich. How say you is it not your owne writing Wood. Yes surely it is Chich. How say you to this is not this your hand also Wood. I looked and it was And I said Yes verily is it Chich. Well you know what it meaneth I dare say Wood. Yea I know it very well here is a great deale the which I had thought had bene in my house but I thanke God that it is here for in this you shall try whether it be true or not For in this is conteined all the talke that was betwixt the Commissioners and me when I was before them fiue tymes and also before the Bishop of London diuers tymes and I am sure you nor they shall finde no words false therein written and I thinke the shirifs mē when they searched my house for me when I was taken found this and caried it with them but I neuer knew it before now But I am not sory for it but am rather glad For herein you may see all the wrong that I receyued at their hands how long I was in prisō and how I was tossed vp and down and how I was deliuered at length and by this you may try whether it be so or not I dare say they that found it they that brought it to you had thoght it would haue turned me to displeasure but in very deed all things worke for the best to them that feare God Chic In deed I find no great fault in this but here is perillous geare here is sedition This was set vp vpon the church dore you know it well enough Wood. In deed I wrote it to the Priest and to other that tooke vpon them to fetch my childe out of my house without my leaue and vsed it at their plesure when they knew it was baptised already as they were wel
you be your selues You will go to hell all the sorte of you if you condemne me if you repent iâ— not with speede Wood. Then my keeper and the Sheriffes deputie Fuller rebuked me because I spake so sharpely to them And I sayde I praye you let me alone I aunswere for my life Then there was muche adoe that I shoulde keepe silence and so I held my peace Then spake the Bishop of Winchester and the Archdeacon of Caunterbury saying we go not about to condemne thee but goe aboute to saue thy soule if thou wilt be ruled ane doe as we would haue thee Wood. To saue my soule nay you can not saue my soule My soule is saued already I praise God therefore There can no man saue my soule but Iesus Christ and hee it is that hath saued my soule before the foundation of that would was layd The fat Priest What an heresie is that my Lorde here is an heresie He sayth hys soule was saued before the foundations weâ—e layd Thou canst not tell what thou saiest Was thy soule saued before it was Wood. Yes I prayse God I can tell what I say I say the truth Looke in the first of the Ephesians and there you shall finde it where Paule sayth Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ whiche hath blessâ—d vs with all maner of spirituall blessinges in heauenly thinges by Christ according as hee hathe chosen vs in himselfe before the foundation of the earth was layd that we shuld be holy and without blame before him through loue and thereto were wee predâ—stinated These be the wordes of Paule and I beleue they be moste true And therefore it is my fayth in and by Iesus Christe that saueth and not you or any man els The fat priest What fayth without workes Saint Iames sayth faythe without workes is dead and wee haue free will to do good workes Wood. I would not that any of you should think that I do disallow good workes For a good fayth cannot be wtout good works Yet not of our selues but it is the gift of God as sayth S. Paule to the Phillippians the 2. Chapt. It is God that worketh in vs both the wil and also the deed euen of good will Winchester Make an ende aunswere to me Here is your Ordinary the Archdeacon of Caunterbury hee is made your Ordinary by my Lord Cardinall and he hath authoritie to examine you of your fayth vppon a booke to aunswere to such Articles as he will laye to you And I praye you refuse it not for the daunger is great if you do Wherfore we desire you shew your selfe a subiect in this matter Then they spake al and said loe my Lord desireth you gently to aunswere to him and so we do all For if you refuse to take an othe hee may excommunicate you For my Lord Cardinall may put whom he wil in the Bishops office vntill he is consecrated Wood. I know not so much If you will geue me time to learne the trueth of it if I can proue it be as you saye I will tell you my mind in any thing that he shall demauÌ„d of me without any flattering Priest My Lord and all we tell thee it is true therefore aunswere to him Wood. I will beleue none of you all for you be turne coates chaungelinges be wauering minded as sayth S. Iames you be neither hoate nor colde as sayth S. Iohn therfore God will spue you out of his mouth Wherfore I can beleue none of you all I tell you truth Winchest What be we turne coates and chaungelinges what meanest thou by that Wood. I meane that in king Edwardes time you taught the doctrine that was set forth then euery one of you and now you teach the contrary and therfore I call you turne coates and chaungelinges as I may well enough Which wordes made the most part of them to quake Winc. Nay not all as it chaunced Wood No I pray you where were you then Winch. I was in the Tower as the Lieutenaunt wyll beare me record Wood. If you were in the Tower it was not therefore I dare say it was for some other matter TheÌ„ they tooke all hart of grace and sayd my Lord he coÌ„meth to examine you we think if he will not answere to the Articles you were best to excommunicate him Winch. He is the naughtiest verlet hereticke that euer I knew I will read the sentence agaynst him Wood. Then they spake all at once and I aunswered then as fast as I could But I can not remember it all the wordes came out so thicke that I spared them not I prayse God therfore for I spake freely Then they that stood by rebuked me sayd you caÌ„ not tell to whom you speake I thinke Wood. No thinke you so they be but men I am sure I haue spoken to as good as they bee and better then they will euer be for any thing that I can see if they repent not with speed Winc. Geue eare for I will read sentence agaynst you Wood. Will you so wherefore will you you haue no iuste cause to excommunicate me and therefore if you doe condemne me you wil be condemned in hell if you repent not and I prayse God I am not afrayd to dye for Gods sake if I had a hundred liues Winch. For Gods sake nay for the Deuilles sake Thou sayest thou art not afrayde to dye No more was Iudas that hanged himselfe as thou wilt kill thy selfe wilfully because thou wilt not be ruled Wood. Nay I defye the deuill Iudas and all their members And Iudas flesh was not afrayd but his spirite and conscience was afrayde and therefore despayred and hong himselfe But I prayse God I feele no lothsomnes in my flesh to dye but a ioyfull conscience and a willing mynde thereto Wherfore my flesh is subdued to it I prayse God and therfore I am not afrayd of death Chichester Woodman for Gods sake be ruled You know what you sayd to me at my house I coulde say more if I would Wood. Say what you can the most fault that you founde in me was because I praysed the liuing God and because I sayd I prayse God and the Lorde which you ought to be ashamed of if you haue any grace for I told you where the wordes were written Winc. Well how say you will you confesse that Iudas receiued the body of Christ vnworthely tell me playnely Wood. My Lord if you or any of you all can proue before all this audience in all the bible that any man euer eat the body of Christ vnworthely then I will be with you in all thinges that you will demaund of me of the which matter I desire all this people to be witnes Priest Will you so then we shall agree well enough S. Paule sayth so Woodman I pray you where sayeth he so rehearse the wordes Priest In
himselfe about towards the East and exhorted the people there likewise Now it chaunced on a bancke to stande three Archpapistes George Boyes Henry Barley Gray all three of Trinity Colledge This Boyes was one of the Proctors of the Uniuersity that yeare To whome Mayster Graye spake saying heare ye not maister Proctor what blasphemy this felow vttereth surely it is euil done to suffer him At whose words this Boyes spake with a loud voice M. Maior what meane ye if ye suffer him thus to talke at liberty I tell ye the Counsell shall heare of it and we take you not to be the Queenes frend He is a pernitious person and may do more harme then ye wote of Wherat simple Hullier as meeke as a Lambe taking the matter very patiently made no answere but made him ready vttering his prayer Which done he went meekely himselfe to the stake and with chaines being bound was beset with reed wood stāding in a pitchbarrell the fire being set to not marking the winde it blew the flame to his backe Thē he feeling it began earnestly to call vpon God Neuertheles his frendes perceiuing the fire to be ill kindled caused the Sergeantes to turne it and fire it in that place where the winde might blow it to his face That done there was a cōpany of bookes which were cast into the fire and by chaunce a Communion booke fell betwene his handes who receyuing it ioyfully opened it read so long as the force of the flame smoke caused him that he could see no more and then he fell agayne to prayer holding his handes vp to heauen the booke betwixte his armes next his hart thanking God for sending him it and at that time the day being a very fayre day a whote yet the winde was somewhat vp and it caused the fier to be the fiercer and when al the people thought he bad bene dead he sodenly vttered these wordes Lord Iesu receaue my spirit dying very meekely The place where he was burned is called Iesus grene not farre from Iesus Colledge Seager gaue him certeine gunpouder but little to the purpose for he was dead before it took fire All the people praied for him and many a teare was shed for him Which the Papistes seing cried he was not to be prayed for being but a dāned man it could profit him nothing neuertheles they cōtinued praying Wherat the Papistes fell in such a rage that they manaced them with terrible threatninges to ward His flesh beyng cōsumed his bones stood vpright euē as if they had bene aliue Of the people some took as they could get of him as pieces of bones One had his hart◠the which was distributed so farre as it would go one took the scalpe and looked for the toung but it was consumed except the very roote One roūded him in the eare and desired him to be constaunt to the end at which he spake nothing but shewed a ioyful countenaunce and so continued both constaunt and ioyfull to the end A Note of Thomas Rede THo Rede who was burned at Lewes as it appeareth aboue pag. 1807. before he was in prison determined with himselfe to go to church The night following he sawe in a vision a company of talle young men in white very pleasant to behold to whō he would haue ioyned himself but it would not be Then he looked on himselfe and he was full of spottes therewith waked tooke hold and stood to the truth god be thanked therefore and so constantly was burned wyth his felowes as is aboue specified pag. 2095. ¶ Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper burnt at Norwich IN the Moneth of Iulye nexte ensued the Martyrdome of Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper This Simon dwelling then in the Towne of Linne a Godly and zealous man in the knowledge of the Lord and of his trueth detesting and abhorring the contrary enforced Religiō thē set forth came from Linne to Norwich where he standing in the prease and hearing of the people comming out the same time from their popish seruice ended in the Churche began to aske them comming out of the Church where he might go to haue the communiō At which wordes diuers much maruelling to heare see his boldnes one that was an euill disposed Papist hearing the same said that if he would needs go to a communion he would go bring him thither where he should be sped of his purpose Wherupō shortly after hee was brought to the Chauncellour of Norwiche whose name was Dunning who after a few wordes small talk passed with this examinate committed him to Warde In the meane while as he was in examination he had in his shoo his confession written in a certein paper wherof a peece appearing aboue his shoo was spyed and taken out The Chauncellour asking if he would stand to the cōfession of the same fayth therin conteined he constantly affirmed the same Wherupō as is sayd he was committed Thus the sayd Simon being in the Bishops house vnder custody of the keper there called M. Felow how it happened it is not certayne whether by gentlenesse of the keper who was somewhat gentle that wayes or by leaue geuē of the Bishop or els whether he had cōdescended of a purpose to theyr articles he was dismissed and went home to his house at Linne Where hee continued a certayne space while he had disposed and set there all things in order That done he returned againe to the bishops house to his prison and keeper till the time at length he cōstantly abiding in his professed purpose defence of Gods trueth was by the sayd byshop and his Chauncellour cōdemned and committed to the fire about the xiij day of Iuly ¶ Elizabeth Cooper Martyr WIth this Simon Miller also was burnt one Elizabeth Cooper as is aforesayde a Pewterers Wife dwelling in Saynt Andrewes parish in Norwich where she had before recanted and beyng vnquyet for the same and greatlye troubled inwardlye at the last came into the sayd Saynt Andrewes Church the people beyng at theyr popish seruice and there standing in the same sayde she reuoked her recantation before made in that place and was hartely sorye that euer she did it willing the people not to bee deceiued neither to take her doynges before for an example c. These or suche like woordes shee spake in the Church Then cryed one Bacon of the sayd Parish laying hys armes abroade saying Mayster Shiriffe will you suffer this and repeating the same vrged hym to goe from the church to her house at whose knocking she came downe was taken and sent to prison This Shiriffe named M. Thomas Sutterton she had bene seruauntes together before in one house for the frendship he bare vnto her the more for the gospels sake he was very loth to do it but that he was inforced by those other persons before
Robert Maynard the Bayliffe and such like which Maynard commonly when he sate in iudgment vpon life and death would sit sleeping on the Bench many times so careful was his mind on his Office Further shee willed halting Gospellers to beware of bloud for that would cry for vengeaunce c. And in the end she told them all laying her hand on the Barre if they dâ—d not repent their wicked doynges therin that vndoubtedly the very barre should be a witnes agaynst them at the day of iudgement that they had there that day shed innocente bloud This Elizabeth Folkes the day before she was condemned was examined onely vpon this article whether she beleued that there was a Catholicke Church of Christ or no. Unto which she answered Yea. Then was she immediately by Bowsels meanes the Scribe deliuered vnto her vncle Holt of the same towne of Colchester to keep who caried her home vnto hys house shee being there might haue departed thence many tymes if she had wold for there was meanes offered to conuey her awaye But she hearyng that some doubted that shee hadde yealded to the Pope although it was most vntrue would in no wise content her selfe but wept and was in suche anguishe of minde and terrour of conscience that no remedye shee woulde to the Papistes agayne for any perswasions that could bee and commyng before them at Cosins house at the white Harte in Colchester she was at vtter defiaunce with them and their doctrine and so had as ye haue heard in the end a papisticall reward as the rest of her brethren had ¶ The Lordes faythfull prisoners in Colchester Castle WIlliam Munt of Muchbentley in Essex of the age of 61. yeares sayde that the sacrament of the Aultar was an abhominable Idoll and that if he should obserue any part of their popish proceedinges he should dysplease God and bring his curse vpon him and therfore for feare of his vengeaÌ„ce he durst not doe it This good father was examined of many thinges but God be thanked he stoode to the truth and in the end therfore had sentence of condemnation read agaynst hym Iohn Iohnson of Thorpe in Essex wydower of the age of xxxiiii yeares was examined as the rest and made answere in suche sorte as the Papistes counted them none of theirs and therefore condemned him with theyr bloudye senteÌ„ce as they had done the rest before This Ioh. Iohnson affirmed that in the receauing of the sacrament accordyng to Christes institution he receiueth the body of christ spiritually c. Alice Munt the wife of the sayde William Munt of the age of xli yeares being also examined as the rest sayd and confirmed the same in effect as her husband dyd and was therefore also condemned by their bloudy sentence in lyke maner Rose Allyn mayd the daughter of the sayd Alice Munt of the age of twenty yeares being examined of auricular confession goyng to the church to heare Masse of the Popish seuen sacramentes c. aunswered stoutlye that they stanke in the face of God and she durst not haue to do with them for her life neyther was she she sayde anye member of theirs for they were the members of Antichriste and so shuld haue if they repented not the reward of Antichrist Being asked further what she could saye of the Sea of the Bishop of Rome whethere she would obey hys authoritie or no she aunswered boldly that she was none of hys As for hys See quoth she it is for Crowes kytes owles and Rauens to swimme in such as you be for by the grace of God I shall not swimme in that See while I lyue neither will I haue any thing to doe therewith Then read they the sentence of condemnation agaynst her and so sent her vnto prison agayne vnto the rest where she song with great ioy to the wonder of many Thus these poore condemned Lambes beyng deliuered into the handes of the secular power were committed agayn euery one vnto the Prison from whence they came where they remayned with much ioy great comfort in continuall reading and inuocating the name of God euer looking and expecting the happy day of their dissolution In which time the cruell Papistes left not their mischieuous attemptes agaynst them although they would seeme now to haue no more to doe with theÌ„ for bloudy Boner whose throte neuer cryed ho shortly aâ—ter got a writ for the burning of the foresayd ten good creatures and to shewe the more dilligence in the cause he sent hys owne trusty man downe with it named Edward Cosin and with hym also his letter for the furtheraunce of the matter the thirtye day of Iuly the next month after the condemnation The writ being thus receiued of the sayde Bayliffes they hauing then no leysure thereaboutes appoynted the day of the executioÌ„ therof to be the second day of August next following And because the faythfull soules were in two seuerall Prisons as the Castle was for the Countrey and Mote Hall for the Towne therfore it was agreed among them that they in Mote Hall should be burnt in the forenoone and those at the Castle by the Sheriffe of the Shyre in the after noone as here thou mayest see it more playne how it came to passe accordingly ¶ The martyrdome of three men and three women at Colchester burned in the forenoone besides 4 other burned at after noone When all sixe were also nayled likewise at their stakes and the fire about them they clapped their handes for ioy in the fire that the standers by which were by estimation thousandes cryed generally all almost The Lord strengtheÌ„ them the Lord comfort them the Lord poure his mercies vpon them with such like wordes as was wonderfull to heare Thus yealded they vp theyr soules and bodyes into the Lordes handes for the true testimony of his trueth The Lord graunt we may imitate the same in the like quarrell if hee so vouche vs worthye for hys mercies sake Amen In like manner the sayde day in the afternoone was brought forth into the Castle yard to a place appoynted for the same W. Munt Iohn Iohnson Alice Munt and Rose Allyn aforesayd which godly constant persons after they had made theyr praiers and were ioyfully â—yed to the stakes calling vpon the name of God and exhorting the people earnestly to flee from Idolatry suffered their martyrdome with such triumphe and ioye that the people did no lesse showte therat to see it then at the other that were burnt the same day in the morning Thus ended all these glorious x. soules that day their happy liues vnto the Lord whose ages all did growe to the summe of 406. yeares or thereaboutes The Lord graunt we may well spend our yeares and dayes likewise to his glory Amen ¶ Iohn Thurston dyed in Colchester Castle BEfore you haue heard of the taking of one I. Thurston at Muchbentley in the house of one William Munt
to Gods woorde And where as you doe laye vnto my charge that I shoulde denye the woordes of our Sauiour Iesus Christ Oh good Lord from whence commeth this rash hastie and vntrue iudgement Forsooth not from the spirite of truthe for he leadeth men into all truthe and is not the father of liers Whereupon should your Lordship gather or say of me so diffamously Wherefore I beseeche you if I denie the Scriptures Canonicall or anye parte thereof then let me die Tie the Priest My Lord he is a very sedicious fellow and perswadeth other men to doe as he himselfe doth contrary to the order appoynted by the Queenes highnesse and the Clergie of this Realme For a great sorte of the parish will be gathered one day to one place and an other day to an other place to heare him so that very fewe commeth to the Church to heare diuine seruice and this was not onely before that he was taken and brought vnto the Councell but also since his retourne home againe he hath done much harme For where both men and women were honestly disposed before by Saint Anne now are they as ill as he almoste And furthermore hee was not ashamed to withstande me before all the Parish saying that we were of the malignant churche of Antichrist and not of the true Church of Christ alledging a great manye of Scriptures to serue for his purpose saying Good people take heede and beware of these bloudthirsty dogges c. And then I commaunded the Constable to apprehend hym and so he did Neuerthelesse after thys apprehension the Constable let him goe about his businesse all the next day so that wythout putting in of suerties he lette him go into Suffolke and other places for no goodnesse I warrante you my Lorde It were almes to teache suche Officers theyr duetie howe they should let such rebels go at their owne libertie after that they be apprehended and taken but to keepe them fast in the stockes vntill they bring them before a Iustice. Rafe As I sayde before so say I nowe againe thou arte not of the Churche of Christe and that will I prooue if I may be suffered And where you said that you commaunded the Constable to apprehende mee you did so in deede contrary to the Lawes of this Realme hauing neither to lay vnto my charge Treason Fellonie nor murther no neither had you Precept Processe nor Warrante to serue on me and therefore I say without a law was I apprehended And whereas you seeke to trouble the Constable because he kept mee not in the stockes three dayes three nightes it doth shewe a parte what you are And my going into Suffolke was not for any euill but only to buye halfe a bushell of corne for bread for my poore wife children knowing that I had no longer time to tarrye wyth them But if I had runne away then you woulde surely haue laid somewhat to his charge Boner Goe to thou art a Marchant in deede Ah syrrha before God thou shalt be burnt with fire Thou knowest Richard Roth doest thou not Is hee of the same minde that thou art off or no canst thou tell Rafe He is of age to answer let him speake for himselfe for I heare say that he is in your house Boner Loe what a knaue heere is Goe Clunie fetche me Roth hither By my trouth he is a false knaue but yet thou art woorse then he Ah Syrha did not you sette your hand to a wryting the tenoure whereof was that if thou shoulde any time say or doe heretically then it shoulde be lawfull for mee to take thee as a Relaps and to proceede in sentence against thee Rafe Yea that is so But heere is to be asked whether it be sufficient that my hād or name wryting be able to geue authoritie to you or to any other to kill mee For if I by wryting canne doe so muche then must my authoritye be greater then yours Neuerthelesse I haue neither sayde nor done heretically but like a true Christian man haue I behaued my selfe And so I was committed into prison againe and the 24. day of the same month I was brought before the Bishop the Lord North D. Story and others and after a long talke in Latine amongst themselues vnto the which I gaue no answere because they spake not to mee although they spake of me at the last the Byshoppe sayde Boner How say you syrrha tell me briefly at one woord wilt thou be contented to goe to Fulham with me there to kneele thee downe at masse shewing thy self outwardly as though thou didst it with a good wil Go to speake Rafe I will not say so Boner Away with him away with him The 2. day of May I was brought before the byshop and three noble men of the counsell whose names I doe not remember Boner Lo my Lordes the same is this fellowe that was sent vnto me from the Counsell and did submit himselfe so that I had halfe a hope of him but by S. Anne I was alwayes in doubt of him Neuerthelesse he was with me and fared well and when I deliuered him I gaue hym money in his purse How sayest thou was it not so as I tell my Lordes heere Rafe In deede my Lorde I hadde meate and drynke enough but I neuer came in bed all the while And at my departing you gaue mee xij d howe be it I neuer asked none nor would haue done A Lorde Be good to him my Lorde Hee will be an honest man Boner Before God howe should I trust him He hathe once deceiued me already But ye shall heare what he wil say to the blessed Sacrament of the altare Howe say you sirha after the woordes of consecration be spoken by the priest there remaineth no bread but the very bodye of our sauiour Iesus Christ God and man and none other substance vnder the forme of bread Rafe Where finde you that my Lord wrytten Boner Lo Syr. Why Doeth not Christ saye This is my body Howe sayest thou Wilt thou denye these woordes of our Sauiour Christ Or els was he a dissembler speaking one thing and meaning an other Goe to nowe I haue taken you Rafe Yea my Lord you haue taken me in dede and will kepe me vntill you kill me How be it my Lord I maruel why you leaue out the beginning of the institution of the supper of our Lord For Christ sayde Take yee and eate yee this is my bodye And if it will please you to ioyne the former woordes to the latter then shall I make you an aunswer For sure I am that Christe was no dissembler neyther did he say one thing and meane an other Boner Why Then must thou needes saye that it is hys body for he sayeth it him selfe and thou confessest that he will not lie Rafe No my Lorde he is true and all menne are lyers Notwithstanding I vtterly refuse to take the woordes of our Sauior so
fantastically as you teach vs to take them for then should we conspire with certaine heretickes called the Nestorians for they denie that Christ hadde a true naturall body and so me thinke you doe my Lord. If you wil affirm his body to be there as you say he is then must you needes also affirme that it is a fantasticall bodye and therfore looke to it for Gods sake and let these wordes go before Take yee and eate ye without which wordes the rest are sufficient but when the worthy receiuers do take and eat euen then is fulfilled the words of our Sauiour vnto him or euery of them that so receiueth Boner Ah I see well thou canste not vnderstand these woordes I will shewe thee a Parable If I should set a peece of beefe before thee and say eate is it no beefe And then take part of it away send it to my cooke and he shal change the fashion thereof and make it looke like breade What wouldest thou saye that it were no Beefe because it hath not the fashion of beefe Rafe Let me vnderstand a little further my Lorde shall the Cooke adde nothing therunto nor take nothing there from Boner What is that to the matter whether he do or no so long as the shape is changed into an other likenesse Rafe Ah will you so my Lord your Sophistrie will not serue the truth wil haue the victorie neuerthelesse as Esay sayth He that restraineth himselfe from euill must be spoyled And Amos hath suche like woordes also For the wise must be faine to holde their peace so wicked a time it is sayth he Neuertheles he that can speake the truth and will not shall geue a strait accounts for the same A Doctor By my Lords leaue here me thinks thou speakest like a foole Wilt thou be a iudge of the scripture Nay thou must stand to learne and not to teache for the whole congregation hath determined the matter long agoe A priest No by your leaue we haue a Church and not a congâ—egation You mistake that worde master Doctor Rafe Then sayd I to my fellowe prisoners standing by My brethren doe yee not heare howe these men helpe one an other Let vs doe so also But we neuer came all in together after that time but seuerallye one after an other Then was I caried away for that time The xix daye of May I was brought before the Bishop of Rochester and Chichester with others B Rochest Were you a companion of George Eagles otherwise called Trudgeouer My Lord of London telleth me that you were his fellow companion Rafe I know him very well my Lord. Rochest By my faith I had him once and then hee was as dronke as an Ape for he stonke so of drinke that I coulde not abide him and so sent him away Rafe My Lorde I dare saye you tooke your markes amisse It was either your selfe or some of your own companie for he did neither drinke Wine Ale nor Beere in a quarter of a yeare before that time and therefore it was not he forsooth The rest of mine examinations you shal haue when I am condemned if I can haue any time after my comming into Newgate the which I trust shall touch the matter a great deale more plainly for the pithie matters are yet vnwrytten Thus fare you well good frendes all Yea I say farewel for euer in this present world Greete yee one an other and be ioyfull in the Lord. Salute the good widowes among you with all the rest of the congregation in Barfold Dedham and Colchester This promise of hys being either not perfourmed for that he might not thereto be permitted or els if he did wryte the same not comming to my hands I am faine in the rest of his examinations to follow the only report of the Register who witnesseth that the 15. day of May. An. 1557. in the Byshops palace at London he was examined vppon certaine interrogatories the contents wherof be these FIrst that he was of the parish of Muchbentley and so of the Diocesse of London Secondly that the 10. daye of Ianuarie then last past M. Iohn Morant preaching at Paules the said Rafe Allerton did there openly submit himselfe vnto the Churche of Rome with the rites and Ceremonies thereof Thirdly that he did consent and subscribe aswell vnto the same submission as also to one other bil in the which he graunted that if he should at any time turn againe vnto his former opinions it shoulde be then lawfull for the Bishop immediately to denounce and adiudge hym as an hereticke Fourthly that he had subscribed to a bill wherein hee affirmed that in the sacrament after the woordes of consecration be spokâ—n by the Priest there remaineth still materiall bread and materiall wine and that he beleueth that the bread is the breade of thankesgeuing and the memoriall of Christes death and that when he receiueth it he receiueth the body of Christ spiritually in his soule but materiall bread in substaunce Fiftly that he had openly affirmed and also aduisedly spoken that which is contained in the sayde former fourth article last before specified Sixthly that hee hadde spoken against the Bishop of Rome wyth the Church and Sea of the same and also against the seuen Sacraments and other Ceremonies and ordinaunces of the same Churche vsed then wythin thys Realme Seuenthly that hee had allowed and commended the opinions and faith of M. Cranmer Ridley Latimer and others of late burned within this Realme and beleeued that theyr opinions were good and godly Eightly that he hadde diuers times affirmed that the religion vsed within this realme at the time of his apprehension was neither good nor agreeable to Gods woord and that he coulde not conforme himselfe thereunto Ninthly that he had affirmed that the booke of Common prayer sette foorth in the raigne of king Edward the vj. was in all partes good and godly and that the sayd Rafe and his company prisoners did daily vse amongst themselues in prison some part of the booke Tenthly that hee had affirmed that if hee were out of prison he would not come to Masse Mattins nor Euensong nor beare Taper Candle or Palme nor goe in procession nor would receiue holy water holy breade ashes or paxe or any other ceremonie of the Churche then vsed within this Realme Eleuenthly that he had affirmed that if he were at libertie he would not confesse his sinnes to any Priest nor receiue absolution of him nor yet would receiue the Sacrament of the altar as it was then vsed Twelfly that he had affirmed that praying to saints and prayers for the deade were neither good nor profitable and that a man is not bounde to fast and praye but at his owne wil and pleasure neither that it is lawful to reserue the Sacrament or to woorship it Thirtenthly that the sayd Allerton hath according to these his affirmations abstained refused to come vnto his parishe Churche euer
many promoters and vnneighborly neighbors to help them forwards By which kinde of people it is not vnlike these two godly yokefellowes were accused and taken and being once deliuered into the pitiles haÌ„dling of Boner their examinations ye may be sure were not long deferred For the 16. day of Iuly 1557. they were brought before him into hys palace at London Wher first he demaÌ„ded of the said Iames Austoo amongst other questions where he had bene confessed in Lent and whether he receiued the sacrament of the altare at Easter or not To whom he answered that in dede he had ben confessed of the curate of Aâ—halowes Barking â—e to the tower of London but that he had not receiued the sacrament of the altar for he defied it from the bottome of his heart Why quoth the Bishop doest thou not beleeue that in the sacrament of the altare there is the true body bloude of Christ. No sayd Austoo not in the Sacrament of the altar but in the Supper of the Lorde to the faithfull receiuer is the very body and bloud of Christ by faith Boner not well pleased with this talke asked then the wife how she did like the religion then vsed in this courâ—h of England Shee answered that shee beleeued that the same was not according to Gods word but false and corrupted and that they which did goe thereunto did it more for feare of the law then otherwise Then hee againe asked her if shee woulde goe to the Churche and heare Masse and pray for the prosperous estate of the king being then abroad in his affaires Whereunto she said that she defied the Masse with all her heart and that she would not come into any Churche wherein were Idols After this the Bish. obiected vnto them certaine articles to the number of 18. The tenor whereof because they touch only such common trifling matters as are already mentioned in diuers sondry places before I do here for breuitie sake omit and passe ouer geuing you yet this much to vnderstand that in the maters of faith they were as souÌ„d and answered as truly God be therfore praised as euer any did especially the woman to whom the Lord had geuen the greater knowledge and more feruentnes of spirit Notwithstanding according to the measure of grace that God gaue them they both stood most firmly vnto the truthe And therefore to conclude the 10. day of Sept. they were with Rafe Allerton of whoÌ„ ye haue heard brought againe before the bishop within his chappell at Fulham where he speaking vnto them said first on this wise Austoo doest thou knowe where thou art nowe and in what place and before whom and what thou hast to doe Yea quoth Austoo I knowe where I am For I am in an idols temple After which wordes their articles being againe red their constancie in faith perceiued Boner pronounced against either of them seuerally the sentence of coÌ„demnation and deliuering them vnto the sheriff there present did rid his hands as he thought of them but the Lorde in the ende will iudge that to whome I referre his cause It so happened vpon a night that as this Margerie Austoo was in the bishops prisone which prison I suppose was his dogge kennel for it was as is reported vnder a paire of staires by the bishops procurement there was sent a stoute champion as appeared about 12. of the clocke at nighte who suddenly opened the doore and with a knife drawen or ready prepared fell vppon her to the intent to haue cut her throte Which she by reason of the clearnes of the Moone perceiuing and calling vnto God for helpe he but who it was she knewe not geuing a grunt and fearing belike to commit so cruel a dede departed his waies without any more hurt doing The next night following they caused a great rumbeling to be made ouer her head which semed to her to haue bene some great thuÌ„der which they did for to haue feared her out of her wittes but yet thanks be to God they missed of their purpose Richard Roth. IN the godly felowship of the forenamed three Martyrs was also this Rich. Roth as is alreadye specified Who being apprehended and brought vp vnto the bish of London was by him examined the 4. day of Iuly at what time the bish did earnestly trauel to induce him to beleeue that there were 7. sacraments in Christes churche and that in the sacrament of the altar after the words of consecration duely spoken there remained the very substance of Christes body and bloud and none other Wherunto at the present he made only this aunsweare that if the scriptures did so teach him and that he might be by the same so perswaded he would so beleue otherwise not But at another examination which was the 9. day of Sept. he declared plainly that in the said sacrameÌ„t of the altar as it was then vsed there was not the very body and bloud of Christ but that it was a dead God and that the Masse was detestable and contrary to Gods holy woorde and will from the which faith and opinion he would not goe or decline The next daye being the 10. day of the same moneth of September the Bishop at his house at Fulham by waye of an article laid and obiected against him that he was a comforter and boldener of hereticks and therefore hadde wrytten a letter to that effect vnto certaine that were burned at Colchester the copie whereof ensueth A letter wrytten by Rich. Roth vnto certaine brethren and sisters in Christ condemned at Colchester and ready to be burned for the testimonie of the truth O Deare brethren and sisters how much haue you to reioyce in God that he hath geuen you such faith to ouercome thys bloud thirsty tyrants thus far and no doubt he that hathe begon that good worke in you wil fulfil it vnto the end O deâ—◠〈…〉 in Christ what a crowne of glory shall ye receiue with Christe in the kingdom of God Oh that it had bene the good will of God that I had ben ready to haue gon with you For I lie in my 〈◊〉 little ease in the day and in the night I lie in the Colehouse froÌ„ Rafe Allerton or any other and we loke euery day wheÌ„ we 〈◊〉 be condemned For he said that I shoulde be burned wythin 〈◊〉 daies before Easter but I lie still at the pooles brinke and euery man goeth in before mee but we abide paciently the lordes lâ—isure with many bandes in setters and stockes by the whiche we haue receiued great ioy in God And nowe fare you well deare brethren and sisters in this worlde but I trust to see you in the heauens face to face Oh brother Munt with your wife and my deare sister Rose how blessed are you in the Lord that God hath found you worthy to suffer for his sake with all the rest of my deare brethren sisters knowen vnknowen O be ioyful euen
taught What can I do more Consider with your selues that I haue done it for the confirmation of Gods trueth Pray that I may continue vnto the end The greatest part of the assault is paste I prayse my God I haue in all my assaultes felt the present ayde of my God I geue him most harty thankes therefore Looke not backe nor be ye ashamed of Christes Gospell nor of the bonds I haue suffered for the same thereby ye may be assured it is the true word of God The holy ones haue bene sealed with the same marke It is no time for the losse of one man in the battell for the campe to turne backe Vp with mennes hartes blowe downe the dawbed walles of heresies Let one take the Banner and the other the Trumpette I meane not to make corporall resistaunce but pray and ye shall haue Elias defence and Elizeus company to fight for you The cause is the Lordes Nowe my brethren I can write no more time will not suffer and my harte with panges of death is assaulted but I am at home with my God yet aliue Pray for me salute one another with the holy kisse The peace of god rest with you all Amen From Newgate prison in haste the day of my condemnation Iohn Rough. An other letter of Iohn Rough written vnto the Congregation two dayes before he suffered THe spirite of all consolation be with you ayde you and make you strong to runne to the fight that is layde before you wherewithall God in all ages hath tryed hys elect and hath found them worthy of himselfe by copling to theyr head Iesus Christ in whome who so desireth to liue Godly the same must needes suffer persecution For it is geuen vnto them not onely to beleeue but also to suffer And the Seruaunt or Scholer can not be greater then his Lord or Mayster but by the same way the head is entered the members must folow no life is in the members which are cutte from the body likewise we haue no life but in Christ for by him we liue moue and haue our being My deare sonne now departing this life to my great aduauntage I make chaūge of mortality with immortality of corruption to put on incorruption to make my body like to the corne cast into the ground which except it die first it can bring forth no good fruite Wherefore death is to my great vauntage for therby the body ceaseth from sinne and after turneth into the first originall but after shall be chaunged and made brighter then the Sonne or Moone What shall I write of this corporall death seeing it is decreed of God that all men shall once die happy are they that die in the Lord which is to dye in the fayth of Christ professing and confessing the same before many witnesses I prayse my God I haue passed the same iourney by manye temptations the deuill is very busye to perswade the world to entise with promises and fayre wordes which I omitte to write least some might thinke I did hunt after vayne glorye whiche is farthest from my hart Lastly the daunger of some false brethren who before the Byshop of London purposed to confesse an vntrueth to my face yet the God that ruled Balaam moued theyr hartes where they thought to speake to my accusation hee made them speake to my purgation What a iourney by Gods power I haue made these eight dayes before this date it is aboue flesh and bloud to beare but as Paule sayth I may do all thinges in hym which worketh in me Iesus Christ. My course brethrē haue I run I haue fought a good fight the crowne of righteousnes is layd vp for me my daye to receiue it is not long too Praye Brethren for the enemye doth yet assaulte Stande constaunt vnto the ende then shall you possesse your Soules Walke worthely in that vocation wherein you are called Comfort the Bretheren Salute one another in my name Be not ashamed of the Gospell of the Crosse by me preached nor yet of my suffering for with my bloud I affirme the same I go before I suffer first the bayting of the Butchers Dogges yet I haue not done what I should haue done but my weaknes I doubt not is supplied in the strēgth of Iesus christ and your wisedomes learning will accept that small talent which I haue distributed vnto you as I trust as a faythfull stewarde and if what was vndone impute that to my frayltye and ignoraunce and with your loue couer that which is and was naked in me God knoweth ye all are tender vnto me my hart bursteth for the loue of you Ye are not without your great pastor of your soule who so loueth you that if men were not to bee sought out as God be praysed there is no want of men he would cause stones to minister vnto you Cast your care on that Rock the wind of temptation shall not preuayle fast and praye for the dayes are euill Looke vp with your eyes of hope for the redemption is not farre off but my wickednesse hath deserued that I shall not see it And also that which is behind of the bloud of our brethren which shall also be layd vnder the aulter shall crye for your reliefe Time wil not now suffer me to write longer Letters The spirite of God guid you in and out rising sitting couer you with the shadow of his winges defend you agaynst the tyrannye of the wicked and bring you happely vnto the Porte of eternall felicitye where all teares shall be wyped from your eyes and you shall alwayes abyde wyth the Lambe Iohn Rough. ¶ Margaret Mearing Martyr IT is declared that in the companye of Iohn Roughe was burned one Margaret Mearyng who as the Register maketh mention was at one time and day brought wyth the sayde Rough foorth to examination where the Byshop hauynge no priuate matters to charge her withall did the eightenth daye of December obiecte agaynste her those common and accustomable Articles mentioned before pag 1585. To which she aunswered as followeth FIrst that there is here in earth a catholicke Churche and that there is the true fayth of Christ obserued and kept in the same Church 2 Item that there were onely two sacramentes in the Church namely the sacrament of the bodye and bloud of Christ and the sacrament of Baptisme 3 Item that she was baptised in the fayth beliefe of the sayd Church renouncing there by her Godfathers and Godmothers the Deuill and all his workes c. 4 Item that when she came to the age of fouretene yeares shee did not knowe what her true beliefe was because shee was not then of discretion to vnderstande the same neyther yet was taught it 5 Item that she had not gone from the catholicke fayth at any time but she sayde that the Masse was abhominable before the sight of God and before the sight of all true Christian people and that it is the
Roger Holland THe last examination of Roger Holland was when he with his fellow prisoners were brought into the consistorie there excommunicated all sauing Roger redy to haue their senteÌ„ce of iudgement geuen with many threatning words to feare them withall the Lord Strange syr Tho. Iarret M. Eagleston Esquier and diuers other of worship both of Cheshire Lankeshire that were Rog. Hollands kinsmeÌ„ and friends being there present which had beene earnest suters to the Bishop in hys fauour hoping of his safetie of life Nowe the Bishop hoping yet to winne him with his faire and flattering woordes began after this maner Boner Rog. I haue diuers times called thee before home to my house and haue conferred with thee and being not learned in the latine toung it doth appeare vnto me thou art of a good memorie of a very sensible talke but something ouerhastie which is a naturall disease to some men And surely they are not the worst natured men For I my selfe shall now and then be hastie but mine anger is soone past So Roger surely I haue a good opinion of you that you wil not with these lewd fellowes cast your selfe headlong from the church of your parents your frendes that are here very good catholikes as it is reported vnto me And as I meane thee good so Roger play the wisemans part and come home with the lost sonne and say I haue runne into the church of schismatikes and heretikes from the catholicke church of Rome and you shall I warrante you not only finde fauor at Gods hands but the Church that hath authoritie shall absolue you and put newe garments vppon you and kill the fatling to make thee good cheare withall That is in so doing as meate doth refresh and chearish the minde so shalt thou finde as much quietnesse of conscience in comming home to the church as dyd the hungry sonne that had ben fed afore with the hogs as you haue done with these heretikes that seuer them selues from the church I giue them a homely name but they be worse putting his hand to his cap for reuereÌ„ce sake then hogs For they know the church and will not followe it If I shoulde saye thus muche to a Turke hee woulde I thinke beleue me But Roger if I did not beare thee and thy friendes good will I woulde not haue sayde so muche as I haue done but I would haue let mine Ordinarie alone with you At these wordes his frendes that were there gaue the Bishop thankes for his good will and paines that he had taken in his and theyr behalfe Boner Wel Roger how say you nowe Do you not beleeue that after the Priest hath spoken the words of consecration there remaineth the body of Christ really corporally vnder the formes of bread and wine I meane that selfe same body that was borne of the virgine Mary that was crucified vpon the crosse that rose againe the third day Holland Your Lordship sayth the same body which was borne of the virgin Marie which was crucified vpon the Crosse which rose againe the third day but you leaue out which ascended into heauen and the Scripture sayeth he shall there remaine vntil he come to iudge the quicke and the deade Then he is not contained vnder the formes of bread and wine by Hoc est corpus meum c. Boner Roger I perceiue my paines and good will will not preuaile and if I shoulde argue with thee thou art so wilâ—ul as all thy fellowes be standing in thine owne singularitie foolish conceit that thou wouldest still talke to no purpose this 7. yere if thou mightest be suffered Aunswer whether thou wilt confesse the reall corporall presence of Christes body in the Sacrament or wilt not Holland My Lord although that God by his sufferaunce hath nere placed you to set forth his truth and glory in vs his faithful seruantes notwithstanding your meaning is farre from the zeale of Christ and for all your words you haue the same zeal that Annas and Caiphas had trusting to their authoritie traditions and ceremonies more then to the woorde of God Boner If I should suffer hym he would fall from reasoning to railing as a franticke heretike Lord Straunge Roger sayth the Lord Straunge I perceiue my Lorde woulde haue you to tell him whether you will submit your selfe vnto him or no. Boner Yea sayeth Boner and confesse this presence that I haue spoken of With this Roger turning him to the Lorde Strange and the rest of his kinsmen and frendes very chearefully kneled downe vpon his knees and said God by the mouth of his seruant S. Paul hath said Let euery soule submit him selfe vnto the higher powers and he that resisteth receiueth hys owne damnation and as you are â— Magistrate appoynted by the will of God so do I submit my selfe vnto you and to all such as are appoynted for Magistrates Boner That is well sayde I see you are no Anabaptist Howe saye you then to the presence of Chrâ—stes bodye and bloud in the Sacrament of the altare Holland I say and I beseeche you all to marke and beare witnes with me for so you shal doe before the iudgement seate of God what I speake for heere is the Conclusion And ye my deare frendes turning him to his kinsmen I pray you shew my father what I doe say that he may vnderstand I am a christian man I say and beleeue and am therein fully persuaded by the scriptures that the Sacrament of the Supper of oure Lorde ministred in the holye Communion according to Christes institution I beinge penitent sorie for my sinnes and minding to amend and lead a new life and so coÌ„ming worthely vnto Gods bord in perfect loue charity do there receiue by faith the body bloud of Christ. And though Christ in his humane person sitte at the right hand of his father yet by saith I say his death his passion his merites are mine and by faithe I dwell in him and he in me And as for the Masse transubstantiation the worshipping of the Sacrament they are meere impietie and horrible idolatrie Boner I thought so much sayth Boner suffering him to speake no more how he wold proue a very blasphemous hereticke as euer I heard Howe vnreuerently doeth hee speake of the blessed Masse and so read his bloudy senteÌ„ce of condemnation adiudging him to be burned All this while Roger was verye patient quiet and when he should depart he sayd my lord I besech you suffer me to speake 2. words The B. wold not hear him but bad him away Notwtstanding being requested by one of his frendes he sayd speake what hast thou to say Holland Euen now I told you that your authority was from God and by his sufferance and now I tel you God hath heard the praier of his seruaÌ„ts which hath ben powred forth with feares for his afflicted sainctes which daily you persecute as now you
their condemnatiō And thus these foure blessed Martyrs seruants of Christ innocently suffred together at s. Edmundsbury as is aforesayd about the beginnyng of August not long before the sicknes of Queene Mary ¶ The Martyrdome of two godly persons sufferyng at Ipswich for the Gospell of Christ and his euerlastyng testament named Alexander Gouche and Alice Driuer MAister Noone a iustice in Suffolk dwelling in Martlesham huntyng after good men to apprehend them as he was a bloudy tyraunt in the dayes of triall at the length had vnderstanding of one Gouche of Woodbridge Driuers wyfe of Grosborough to bee at Grosborough together a little from his house immediately tooke his mē with hym and went thether and made diligent search for them where the poore man and woman were compelled to step into an hay golph to hide themselues frō their cruelty At the last they came to search the hay for them and by gaging thereof with pitchforkes at the last found them so they tooke them led them to Melton Gaole where they remainyng a tyme at the length were caried to Bury against the Assise at S. Iames tide and beyng there examined of matters of fayth did boldly stand to confesse Christ crucified defiyng the Pope with all his papisticall trashe And among other thyngs Driuers wife likened Queene Mary in her persecution to Iezabell and so in that sense callyng her Iezabel for that sir Clement Higham beyng chiefe Iudge there adiudged her eares immediately to be cut off which was accomplished accordingly and she ioyfully yelded her selfe to the punishment and thought her selfe happy that she was coūted worthy to suffer any thing for the name of Christ. After the Assise at Bury they were caried to Melton Gaole agayne where they remained a tyme. This Alexāder Gouch was a man of the age of 36. yeares or thereabouts and by his occupation was a Weauer of shredding Couerlets dwellyng at Woodbridge in Suffolke borne at Ufford in the same Countie Driuers wife was a woman about the age of 30. yeares dwelt at Grosborough where they were taken in Suffolke Her husband did vse husbandry These two were caried from Melton Gaole to Ipswich where they remayned were examined The which their examination as it came to our hands hereafter followeth The examination of Driuers wyfe before Doct. Spenser the Chauncellor of Norwich FIrst she comming into the place where she should bee examined with a smiling countenance Doct. Spenser said Why woman doest thou laugh vs to scorne Driuers wyfe Whether I do or no I might well enough to see what fooles ye be Doct. Spenser Then the Chauncellour asked her wherfore she was brought before hym and why she was layed in prison Dry. Wherefore I thinke I neede not to tell you for ye know it better then I. Spens No by my troth woman I know not why Dry. Then haue ye done me muche wrong quoth shee thus to imprison me and know no cause why for I know no euill that I haue done I thank God and I hope there is no man that can accuse me of any notorious fact that I haue done iustly Spenser Woman woman what sayest thou to the blessed Sacrament of the aultar Doest thou not beleeue that it is very flesh and bloud after the words be spoken of consecration Driuers wife at those words helde her peace made no answer Then a great chuffeheaded priest that stood by spake and asked her why shee made not the Chauncellour an aunswere With that the sayd Driuers wyfe looked vpon hym austerely and sayde Why Priest I come not to talke with thee but I come to talke with thy Maister but if thou wilt I shall talke with thee commaunde thy Maister to holde his peace And with that the Priest put his nose in hys cappe and spake neuer a worde more Then the Chauncellor bade her make aunswere to that he demaunded of her Dry. Sir sayd she pardon me though I make no aunswer for I cannot tell what you meane thereby for in all my lyfe I neuer heard nor read of any such Sacrament in all the Scripture Spens Why what scriptures haue you read I pray you Dry. I haue I thanke God read Gods booke Spens Why what maner of Booke is that you call Gods booke Dry. It is the old and new Testament What call you it Spens That is Gods booke in deed I cannot deny Dry. That same booke haue I read thoroughout but yet neuer could find any such sacrament there for that cause I cannot make you aunswer to that thing I knowe not Notwithstanding for all that I will grant you a Sacrament called the Lords supper and therfore seyng I haue graunted you a Sacrament I pray you shew me what a sacrament is Spens It is a signe And one D. Gascoine beyng by confirmed the same that it was the signe of an holy thing Dry. You haue sayd the truth sir sayd she It is a signe in deede I must needes graunt it and therefore seyng it is a signe it cannot be the thyng signified also Thus farre we do agree for I haue graunted your owne saying Then stoode vp the sayd Gascoine and made an Oration wyth many fayre wordes but little to purpose both offensiue odious to the myndes of the godly In the ende of which long tale he asked her if shee did not beleeue the omnipotencie of God and that he was almighty and able to performe that he spake She answered yes and said I do beleeue that God is almighty and able to performe that hee spake and promised Gasc Uery well Then he sayd to his disciples Take eate this is my body Ergo it was his body For he was able to performe that he spake and God vseth not to lye Dry. I pray you did he euer make any such promise to his disciples that he would make the bread his body Gasc Those be the wordes Can you deny it Dry. No they be the very wordes in deed I cannot deny it but I pray you was it not breade that hee gaue vnto them Gasc No it was his body Dry. Then was it his body that they did eat ouer night Gasc Yea it was his body Dry. What body was it then that was crucified the nexte day Gasc It was Christes body Dry. How could that be when his disciples had eaten him vp ouer night except he had two bodies as by your argument he had one they did eate ouer night and another was crucified the next day Such a Doctor such doctrine Be you not ashamed to teach the people that Christ had two bodies In the 22. of Luke He tooke bread and brake it and gaue it to his disciples saying Take c. and do this in the remembraunce of me Saint Paule also sayeth 1. Cor. 11. Do this in the remembraunce of me for as often as ye shall eate this bread and drinke this cup ye shall shewe the Lordes death
bene brought vp Wom. I haue vpon the sondayes visited the sermons and there haue I learned suche thinges as are so fixed in my brest that death shall not separate them Bish. O foolish woman who wil wast his breath vpoÌ„ thee or such as thou art But how chaunceth it that thou wentest away from thy husbande if thou were an honest woman thou wouldest not haue left thyne husband and children and runne about the country like a fugitiue Wom. Syr I laboured for my liuing And as my mayster Christ counselleth me when I was persecuted in one city I fled vnto another Bish. Who persecuted thee Wom. My husband and my children For when I woulde haue him to leaue Idolatry and to worship God in heauen he would not heare me but he with his children rebuked me and troubled me I fled not for whoredom nor for theft but because I would be no partaker with him his of that foule Idoll the Masse And whersoeuer I was as oft as I could vpon sondayes and holy dayes I made excuses not to go to the popish church Bish. Belike theÌ„ you are a good houswife to flee from your husband and also from the church Wom. My houswifry is but small but God geue me grace to go to the true church Bish. The true church what doest thou meane Woman Not your Popish Church full of Idolles and abominations but where three or foure are gathered together in the name of God to that Church wil I go as long as I liue Bish. Belike then you haue a Church of your owne Well let this mad woman be put down to prison vntil we send for her husband Wom. No I haue but one husband which is here already in this city and in prison with me from whom I will neuer depart and so theyr communication for that day brake of Blackstone and others perswaded the Bishop that she was a mazed creature and not in her perfect wit which is no new thing for the wisedome of God to appere foolishnes to carnall men of this world therfore they consulted together that she should haue liberty and go at large So the keper of the bishops prison had her home to his house where shee fell to spinning and carding and did all other worke as a seruant in the said kepers house went about the city when and whither she would and diuers had delight to talke with her And euer shee continued talking of the sacrament of the aultar Which of all thing they coulde least abide Then was her husband sent for but she refused to go home with him with the blemish of the cause and religion in defence wherof she there stood before the Bishop and the priestes Then diuers of the Priestes had her in handling perswading her to leaue her wicked opinion about the sacrament of the aultar the naturall body and bloud of our Sauiour Christ. But she made them aunsweare that it was nothing but very bread and wine and that they might be ashamed to say that a piece of bread should be turned by a man into the naturall body of Christ which bread doth vinow and Mice oftentimes do eate it and it doth â—ould is burned And sayde she Gods owne body wyll not be so handled nor kept in prison or boxes or aumbries Let it be your God it shall not be mine for my Sauiour sitteth on the right hand of God doth pray for me And to make that sacrameÌ„tal or significatiue bread instituted for a remeÌ„brance the very bodye of Christ and to worship it it is very foolishnes and deuillish deceit Now truly sayd they the deuill hath deceiued thee No sayd she I trust the liuing God hath opened mine eyes and caused me to vnderstand the right vse of the blessed sacrament which the true church doth vse but the false church doth abuse Then stept forth an old Frier and asked what she said of the holy Pope I sayd she say that he is Antichrist and the deuill Then they all laughed Nay sayde she you had more neede to weepe then to laugh to be sory that euer you were borne to be the chapleines of that whore of Babilon I defie him and all hys falshood and get you away froÌ„ me you do but trouble my conscience You would haue me folow your doinges I will first loose my life I pray you depart Why thou foolish woman sayd they we come to thee for thy profite and soules health O Lord God sayd she what profite riseth by you that teach nothing but lyes for trueth how saue you Soules when you preach nothing but damnable lyes and destroy soules How prouest thou that sayd they Do you not damne soules sayd she when you teache the people to worship Idolles Stockes and Stones the worke of mens handes and to worship a false GOD of your owne making of a piece of breade and teach that the Pope is Gods Uicar and hath power to forgeue sinnes and that there is a Purgatory when Gods sonne hath by his Passion purged all and say you make God and sacrifice him when Christes bodye was a Sacrifice once for all Doe you not teach the people to number theyr sinnes in your eares and say they be damned if they confesse not all when Gods word sayth Who can number hys sinnes Do you not promise them Trentals and Diriges masses for soules and sell your prayers for money and make them buy pardons and trust to such foolish inuentions of your owne imaginations Do you not altogether against God Doe you not teache vs to pray vpon Beades and to pray vnto Sayntes and say they can pray for vs Do you not make holy water and holy bread to fray Deuils Doe you not a thousand more abhominatioÌ„s And yet you say you come for my profite and to saue my soule No no one hath saued me Farewell you with your saluation Muche other talke there was betwene her and them which here were too tedious to be expressed In the meane time during this her monethes libertye graunted to her by the Byshop which we spake of before it happened that she entring in saynt Peters Church beheld there a cunning Dutchman how he made new noses to certayne fine Images whiche were disfigured in Kyng Edwardes time What a madde man art thou sayde she to make them new noses which within a few dayes shall all lose theyr heades The Dutchman accused her layde it hard to her charge And she sayd vnto him Thou art accursed and so are thy Images He called her Whoore. Nay sayd she thy Images are Whoores and thou art a Whore hunter for doth not GOD say You go a whoryng after straunge Gods figures of your owne making and thou art one of them Then was she sent for and clapped fast and from that time she had no more liberty Duringe the time of her imprisonment diuers resorted to her to visit her some sent of the byshop some of their
owne voluntary will amongest whō was one Daniell a great doer and preacher sometimes of the Gospell in the dayes of king Edward in those parties of Cornewall and Deuonshyre whom after that she perceiued by his owne confession to haue reuolted from that whiche he preached before through the grieuous imprisonmentes as he sayd and feare of persecution whiche he had partly susteined by the cruell Iustices in those parties earnestly she exhorted him to repent with Peter and to be more constant in his profession Moreouer there resorted to her a certeine worthy gentlewoman the wife of one Walter Rauley a womā of noble wit and of a good godly opinion came to the prisō talked with her she sayd her creede to the gentlewoman when she came to the Article· He ascended there she stayed and bade the Gentlewoman to seeke his blessed bodye in heauen not in earth told her playnly that God dwelleth not in temples made with handes that sacrament to be nothing els but a remembrance of his blessed passion yet sayd she as they now vse it it is but an Idoll far wide from any remembrance of Christes body which sayd she will not long continue so take it good maistres So that as soone as she came home to her husband she declared to him that in her life she neuer heard a woman of such simplicity to see to talk so godly so perfectly so sincerely so earnestly in so muche that if God were not with her shee could not speak such things to the which I am not able to answere her sayd she who can read and she can not Also there came to her one William Kede and Iohn his brother not onely brethren in the flesh but also in the truth and men in that Country of great credite whose father Robert Kede all his life suffered nothing but trouble for the Gospell These two good and faythfull brethrē were present with her both in the hall and also at the prison as they reported they neuer heard the like woman of so godly talke so faythfull or so constant as godly exhortations she gaue them Thus this good matrone the very seruant and handmayd of Christ was by many wayes tried both by harde prisonment threatninges tauntes and scornes called an Anabaptist a madde woman a drunkard a whoore a runnagate She was prooued by liberty to goe whither she would she was tryed by flattery with many fayre promises she was tryed with her husband her goodes and childred but nothing could preuayle her hart was fixed shee had cast her anker vtterly contēning this wicked world A rare ensample of constancy to all professors of Christes holy Gospell In the bill of my Information it is so reported to me that albeit shee was of suche simplicity and without learning yet you could declare no place of Scripture but she would tell you the Chapter yea she woulde recite to you the names of all the bookes of the Bible For whiche cause one Gregory Basset a rancke Papist sayd she was out of her wit and talked of the Scripture as a dogge rangeth farre of from his mayster whē he walketh in the fieldes or as a stolen sheepe out of his maisters handes she wist not wherat as all heretickes do with many other such taūtes which she vtterly defyed Whereby as almightye God is highly to be praysed working so mightely in such a weake vessell so men of stronger and stouter nature haue also to take example how to stand in like case whē as we see this poore woman how manfully she went through with such constancy and pacience At the last when they perceiued her to be past remedy and had consumed all theyr threatninges that by neyther prisonmēt nor liberty by manaces nor flattery they could bring her to sing any other song nor win her to their vanities and superstitious doinges then they cryed out An Anabaptist an Anabaptist Then at a daye they brought her from the Bishops prison to the Guildhall after that deliuered her to the tēporall power according to their custome where shee was by the Gentlemen of the countrey exhorted yet to call for grace to leaue her fond opinions And go home to thy husband sayd they thou art an vnlearned woman thou art not able to answere to such high matters I am not sayd she yet with my death I am content to be a witnes of Christs death and I pray you make no lōger delay with me my hart is fixed I will neuer otherwise say nor turne to theyr superstitious doinges Then the bishop sayd the deuill did lead her No my Lord sayd she it is the spirite of God whiche leadeth me and which called me in my bed at midnight opened his truth to me Thā was there a great shout and laughing among the priestes and other During the time that this good poore woman was thus vnder these priestes handes amongest many other baytinges and sore conflictes whiche she susteyned by thē here is moreouer not to be forgotten howe that Mayster Blaxton aforesayd being treasurer of the Church had a concubine which sundry times resorted to him with other of his gossips so that alwayes when they came this sayde good woman was called forth to his house there to make his miniō with the rest of the company some myrth he examining her with suche mocking gyruing deriding the truth that it would haue vexed any christian hart to haue seene it Then when he had long vsed his foolishnes in this sort had sported himselfe enough in deriding this christian martyr in the end he sent her to prison agayne and there kept her very miserablye sauing that sometimes he would send for her when his foresayd guest came to him to vse with her his accustomed folly aforesaid But in sine these vile wretches after many combates and scoffing perswasions whē they had played the part of the cat with the mouse at length condemned her and deliuered her ouer to the secular power Then the Indictment beyng geuen and read whiche was that she should go to the place whence she came and from thence to be led to the place of execution then there to bee burned with flames till shee shoulde bee consumed shee lifted vppe her voyce and thanked GOD saying I thanke thee my Lord my God this daye haue I founde that which I haue long sought But such outcries as ther were agayne and such mockings were neuer seene vpō a poore seely woman Al which she most paciently took And yet this fauour they pretended after her iudgement that her life should be spared if she would turne recant Nay that will I not sayd she God forbyd that I shoulde loose the life eternall for this carnall and shorte life I wyll neuer turne from my heauenly husband to my earthly husband from the feloshippe of aungels to mortall children And if my husband and children be faythfull then am I
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 â—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 NotinghaÌ„shiere 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 wheÌ„ 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 aâ—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 weÌ„t 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 woÌ„ted 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 theÌ„ 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
immediatly and I am sure you receiued them for I committed the truste of them to no worsse man but to Mayster Solicitour and I shall make you an example to all Lyncolnshyre for your obstinacy M. Berty denying the receipt of any humbly prayed his Lordship to suspend his displeasure the punishment till he had good trial therof then if it pleased him to double the payne for the fault if any were Well quoth the Byshoppe I haue appoynted my selfe this day according to the holines of the same for deuotion and I will not further trouble me with you but I enioyn you in a thousand pouÌ„d not to depart without leaue and to be here againe to morow at 7. of the clocke M. Berty well obserued the houre and no â—ote â—ayled At whiche time the B. had with him M. Seriant Stampford to whoÌ„ he moued certayn questions of the sayd M. Berty because M. Serieaunt was towardes the Lorde Wriothesley late Earle of Southhampton and Chauncellour of England with whom the said M. Berty was brought vp M. Seriant made very frendly report of M. Berty of hys owne knowledge for the time of theyr conuersation together Wherupon the Bishop caused M. Berty to be brought in and first making a false trayne as God would without fire before he woulde descend to the quarrell of Religion he assaulted him in this maner Winch. The Queenes pleasure is quoth the Byshoppe that you shall make present payment of 4000. pound due to her father by Duke Charles late husband to the Duchesse your wife whose executor she was Bert. Pleaseth it your Lordshippe quoth M. Berty that debt is estalled and is according to that estallement truly aunswered Winch. Tush quoth the Byshop the Queene will not be bounde to estallementes in the time of Kettes gouernement for so I esteme the late gouernement Bert. The estallement quoth M. Berty was appoynted by king Henry the 8. besides the same was by speciall coÌ„missioners confirmed in king Edwardes tyme and the Lord treasurer being an executor also to the Duke Charles soly and wholly tooke vpon him before the sayd Commissioners to discharge the same Winch. If it be true that you saye quoth the Byshoppe I will shew you fauor But of an other thing M. Berty I will admonish you as meaning you well I heare euill of your Religion yet I hardly can thinke euil of you whose mother I know to be as Godlye and Catholicke as any within this Lande your selfe brought vp with a mayster whose education if I should disallow I might be charged as author of his errour Besides partly I know you my selfe and vnderstande of my frendes enough to make me your frend wherefore I will not doubt of you but I pray you if I may aske the question of my Ladye your wife is she now as ready to set vp the Masse as she was lately to pull it downe when she caused in her progresse a dog in a Rochet to be caried called by name or doth she think her lambes now safe enough which sayd to me wheÌ„ I vailed my bonnet to her out of my chamber window in the tower that it was mery with the lambes now the Wolfe was shut vp Another time my Lord her husband hauing inuited me and diuers Ladies to dinner desired euery Lady to choose him whom she loued best and so place themselues My Ladye your wife taking me by the hande for that my Lord would not haue her to take himselfe sayd that for so much as she could not sit downe with my Lord whom she loued best she had chosen me whom she loued worst Of the deuise of the Dogge quoth M. Berty she was neither the author nor the allower The wordes though in that season they sounded bitter to your Lordship yet if it should please you without offence to know the cause I am sure the one will purge the other As touching setting vp of Masse which she learned not onely by strong perswasions of diuers excellent learned men but by vniuersall consent and order whole vj. yeares past inwardly to abhorre if she should outwardly allowe she should both to Christ shew her selfe a false Christian and to her prince a masquing subiect You know my Lord one by iudgemeÌ„t reformed is more worth then a thousand transformed teÌ„porizers To force a confession of Religion by mouth coÌ„trary to that in the hart worketh damnation where saluation is pretended Yea mary quoth the Bishop that deliberation would do well iâ— she neuer required to come from an old Religion to a new But now she is to returne from a newe to an auncient Religion Wherin when she made me her gossip she was as earnest as any For that my Lord sayd M. Berty not long sithen she aunswered a frend of hers vâ—ing your Lordships speach that Religion went not by age but by truth and therefore she was to be turned by persuasion and not by commaundement I pray you quoth the Bishop thinke you it possible to persuade her Yea verely sayd M. Berty with the truth for she is reasonable enough The bishop thereunto replying sayd it will be a maruellous griefe to the Prince of Spayne and to all the nobility that shall come with him when they shall finde but two noble personages of the spanish race within this laÌ„d the Queene and my Lady your wife and one of theÌ„ gone from the fayth M. Berty aunswered that he trusted they should find no fruites of infidelity in her So the Bishop perswading M. Berty to trauell earnestly for the reformation of her opinion and offring large frendship released him of his bande from further appearaunce The Duchesse and her husband dayly more and more by their frendes vnderstanding that the Bishop meant to call her to an accouÌ„t of her fayth whereby extremity might followe deuised wayes how by the Queenes licence they might passe the Seas M. Berty had a ready meane for there rested great summes of mony due to the old Duke of Suffolke one of whose executers the Duches was beyond the Seas the Emperour himselfe being one of those debters M. Berty communicated this his purposed sute for licence to passe the Seas and the cause to the Bishop-adding that he tooke this time most meet to deale with the Emperour by reason of likelyhoode of Mariage betwene the Queene and his sonne I like your deuise well quoth the bishop but I think it better that you tary the Princes comming and I will procure you his letters also to his father Nay quoth M. Berty vnder your Lordships correction and pardon of so liberall speache I suppose the tyme will then be lesse conuenient for when the Mariage is coÌ„suÌ„mate the Emperour hath his desire but till then he will refuse nothing to win credit with vs. By S. Mary quoth the Bishoppe smiling you gesse shrewdly Well proceed in your sute to the Queene and it shall not lacke my helping hand M.
with him that night but committed him to the Clinke tyl Tuesday after * The first examination of Thomas Rose before Winchester at saint Mary Oueryes ON Thursday being brought before the B. of Winchester at S. Mary Oueries the said Tho. Rose spake as followeth Rose It maketh me to maruayle my Lord quoth he that I should be thus troubled for that which by the worde of God hath bene established by the lawes of this Realme allowed by your own writing so notably in your booke De vera obedientia confirmed Bysh. Ah sirha hast thou gotten that Rose Yea my Lord I thanke God and do confesse my self much thereby confirmed For as touching the doctrine of the supremacie agaynst the B. of Romes vsurped authoritie no man hath sayde further And as I remember you confesse in it that when this truth was reuealed vnto you you thought the scales to fall from your eyes Bishop Thou lyest like a varlet there is no such thinge in my booke but I shall handle thee and suche as thou art well enough I haue lōg looked for thee at length haue caught thee I will knowe who be thy maynteiners or els I will make thee a foote longer Rose My Lord you shall doe as much as pleaseth God no more yet the lawe is in our hand but I haue God for my maynteiner none other At these wordes one of his seruāts stepped forth and said my lord I heard this man preach by Norwich in sir Iohn Robsters house in hys praier he desired God to turne Q. Maries hart or elles to take her out of the world and this was in K. Edw. time Rose My Lord I made no such prayer but next after the king I prayed for her after this sort saying Ye shall pray for my Lady Maries grace that God wil vouchsafe to indue her with his spirite that she graciously may perceiue the misteries conteined within his holy lawes and so render vnto him her hart purified with true fayth true loyall obedience to her soueraigne lord and king to the good ensample of the inferiour subiects And this my Lord is already aunswered in mine own hand writing to the counsel Unto this he sayd little but turning his face to certayne that were by him This is he quoth the Bishop that my Lord of Norwich told me had begotten his mayd with chylde Rose This is no heresie my Lord although it be a lye In deed certayn wicked persons raysed this report of me for the hatred they bare to the doctrine whiche I preached but for purgatiō of my self herein I had no lesse then 6. of the counsails hands that there might be due dilligent examination for this matter in the country by men of worship appointed for that purpose who can al testifie I thank god that I am most cleare frō such wickednes in deede they haue cleared me frō it therfore I doubt not but all good mē will espye the mischieuous deuise of mine aduersaryes whych when other wayes fayled by such sinister means went about to draw me into discredite hatred but God which is the helper of the innocēt searcher of mens harts hath doth defend me hath layd open thinges that wer hid to their shame One of the chief reporters of this that I should so abuse my self was one M. Clarke seruaunt in some estimation with the old Lord Treasurer of England reputed taken for a coniurer who afterwards for his good demerites hanged himself in the Tower Then the bishop commanded that I shoulde be caryed to the tower be kept safely where I did lye til it was the weeke before Whitsōtide Before which time I was twise called when as the bish came to the tower about other prisoners Notwythstanding the B. had no great talk with me but spake frēdly Howbeit one sir Rich. Southwell knight still accused me for my prayer sayde I did put a difference betwixte Lady Mary Lady Elizabeth for that I prayed in king Edwardes fayth prayed that he would confirme Lady Elizabeth in that which was well begō in her Unto this the bish sayde little but in the weeke before Pentecost I was conueyed from the tower to Norwich there to be examined by the bish and his clergy as concerning my faith the maner wherof here followeth ¶ The second examination of Tho. Rose before the bishop of Norwiche Hopkins by name in his owne Palace in the presence of sir William Woodhouse knight M. Stewarde the Chauncellor Doct. Barret with diuers others the Wednesday in Whitson weeke an Domini 1553. AFter I was presented by my keeper the bishop immediately asked me what I was I told him I had bene a Minister Bishop What is this to the purpose were yee a Fryer or a Priest Rose Fryer was I neuer but a Prieste haue I bene and beneficed by the kinges Maiesty Byshop Where were ye made Priest Rose In Exceter in the county where I was borne Thē the bishop required of me my letters of orders I told hym I knew not where they were become for they wer things of me not greatly regarded Byshop Well you are sent to me to be examined what say you will you submit your selfe to the order of the Churche of England Rose My Lord I trust I am not out of the order of chrystes Church in England neither do I knowe my selfe an offender there agaynst Bysh. What ye◠ye haue here preached moste damnable deuilish doctrine Rose Not so my lord The doctrine by me here preached was both true sincere holy But in deede the doctrine that is now set forth is most wicked and damnable yea that both agaynst Gods lawes mans But as for the doctrin by me preached it is grounded vpon the word of God set out also by the authoritie of two most mighty kings with the consent of all the Nobilitie and clergy of the same so that I preached nothing but their lawfull proceedinges hauing their lawfull authoritie vnder their broad Seales for confirmation of the same for which my doyng ye cannot iustly charge me For why sithens the lawe ceased I haue kept silence so that the Counsaile which sent me vnto you haue not charged me therwith Wherefore ye doe me open wrong to burden me with that wherein I am free Chanc. What sir ye are very captious answerest thou my Lord after such a sort Rose Syr sayd I I aunswere for my selfe and accordyng to the truth wherwith ye ought not to be offended if ye be of God Chaunc Thou art an euill man Wast thou not abiured before now Rose No ye vntruely report me and are in no wise able to proue that whiche ye haue spoken so that your wordes appeare to proceede altogether of malice whiche I haue not deserued at your handes But in this I well perceiue ye are made an instrument to vtter other mennes malice conceiued of olde Chaunc
was I caryed away vnto my lodging and so ended the second day of mine appearaunce whiche was the Friday in Whitson weeke and then was I appoynted to appeare agayne on the monday following Howbeit vppon what occasiō I know not it was deferred vnto the Wednesday which was Corpus Christi Euen His talke with the Earle of Sussex sir William Woodhouse and the Bishops chaplaines IN the meane time the Byshop sent two of his chaplens to me with whome I had communication about the reall presence and after long reasoning to fro concerning this poynt at length I droue them to this issue whether they did confesse that Christ in the selfe same bodye whiche was conceiued of the virgin Mary and wherein he suffered and rose agayne do in the selfe same body naturally substancially and really sit at the right hande of God the father without returne from thence vntill the daye of the generall iudgement or not Whereunto they aunswered Yes truely sayd they we confesse it hold it and beleeue it Then I agayne demaunded of them whether they did affirme after the wordes pronounced by the minister ther to remayne flesh bloud bones heare nayles as is wonte most grossely to bee preached or not And they with great deliberation aunswered that they did not onely abhorre the teaching of such grosse doctrine but also would detest thē selues if they should so thinke At which two principall poyntes wherein they fully confirmed my doctrine which I euer taught I was not a little comforted and reioyced but marueilously encouraged Wherupon I demaunded againe of them what maner of body they then affirmed to be in the Sacrament Forsooth sayd they not a visible palpable or circumscriptible bodye for that is alwaies at the fathers right hande but in the sacrament it is inuisible and can neither be felt seene nor occupy any place but is there by the omnipotēcie of Gods woorde they knowe not howe And for this they brought in S. Augustine although of them not truly vnderstanded yet would they admit none other sense then their owne but would take vppon them to confirme it with Martine Luther Melanchthon Bucer and Caluine so that I perceiuing their obstinacie in that behalfe gaue them ouer for that time afterwardes talked with Doctour Barret whome I also found of the same iudgement in that behalfe For sayd he if ye shoulde dissent from the Fathers of the Primatiue churche in thys behalfe of which S. Augustine is one ye shall be counted to die out of the fauour of God Well all this their obstinacie and blasphemous errours imprinted and deepely weighed in my minde I gaue them al ouer and the more quietly to bring them to confesse that openly whiche they vnto me had graunted priuately I graunted them according to the scriptures and my former protestation a presence although not as they supposed After all this came there vnto me the honorable Earle of Sussex and that gentle knight sir William Woodhouse wyth great perswasions vnto whome I sayd after long talke that I woulde doe all that I might sauing my conscience whiche I woulde in no wise pollute and no more I haue as knoweth God by whome all menne must be iudged * His last appearance before the Bishop NOw to come to my last appearaunce after I was before the Bishop presented he forthwith demaunded of me whether I were resolued as hee had hearde say To whom I aunsweared that euen as alwayes I had sayde before that euen so I was now Unto whom by low bowing my knee I gaue my due reuerence and the rather for that the honorable Earle of Sussex was there Wherewith some which would be counted great Gospellers were contrary to all Christianitye sore offended Then I sayde that what soeuer lawes were set forth for the establishment of Christes true religion that according to the doctrine of Christes holy Apostles the faithful fathers of the primitiue church I did not only obey them but most earnestly imbrace and beleue them Yea and yet to the further blynding of theyr eyes I sayd that yf any thing could iustly be proued by gods holy worde by me heretofore preached or taught vntruly either for lacke of learning slide of tongue or of ignorāce yet by better knowledge whē it shall iustly be tryed examined by the same I shall not refuse the thing perfectly approued to reuoke the same Prouided alwayes the word of God herein to be iudge Al this spake I as God knoweth to keepe them from suspecting that which I went about and that they should haue none occasion to iudge me of obstinacy Then sayd I moreouer Al you must of force confesse that the doctrine by me heretofore preached had besides the authority of Gods eternall veritye the authority of two most noble mighty princes with the aduice and counsel of al the Nobility and Clergy of the same and that with great deliberation from time to time with open disputations in both the Uniuersities enacted also by parlament with the consent of the whole body and Commons of the same and that without any resistance or gainsaying established as a religion most pure perfect most earnestly and sincerely preached by the principall Bishops and Doctors and that before the kinges maiesties person I as one being called to that office did the like with all the rest and in the zeale of God wyth a pure conscience did set forth the same as the onely absolute truth of God and the iust and most true procedings of my soueraigne Lord and king and I had then my head at that present euen where it now standeth betwixt myne eares altogether applying the same to apprehende wyth all dilligence that which then was established and taught as the onely and absolute truth and a thing vnto me most desirous and well liking without my desire to heare the contrary till now through this my captiuitie I am compelled to heare the contrary part speak who are euen here present and which my Lord sent vnto me Of whom after long disputations priuately to and fro before this time had betwixt vs at length I haue heard by them a cōtrary doctrine which I neuer before had heard and therefore must confesse myne owne ignoraunce in the same For quoth I after I had inforced these men here present meaning the Bishops two Chapleynes to confesse Iesus Christes naturall body with his full complete members in the due order and proportiō of a perfect mans body to be present at the right hand of God the father and that wtout returne from thence vntill the last iudgement and also that after the woordes pronounced by the Priest there remaineth no suche grosse presence of flesh bloude bones heare and nailes as was wont to be preached but that after I had demaunded of them what maner of body they affirmed to be present they saide A body inuisible by the omnipotencie of Gods word which neither can be felt nor seene nor
least or euer any hadde recourse vnto her At length came the L. William Haward who maruellous honorably vsed her grace Whereat shee tooke much comfort and requested him to be a meane that shee might speake with some of the Counsell To whome not long after came the Bishop of Winchester the Lord of Arundel the Lord of Shrewsbury and Secretary Peter who with great humilitie humbled them selues to her grace Shee againe likewise saluting them sayde My Lordes quoth shee I am glad to see you for me thinke I haue ben kept a great while from you desolately alone Wherefore I would desire you to be a meane to the Kyng and Queenes Maiesties that I maye be deliuered from prison wherein I haue bene kept a long space as to you my Lordes it is not vnknowen When she had spoken Steuen Gardiner the bishop of Winchester kneeled downe and requested that she would submit her selfe to the Queenes grace and in so doing hee had no doubt but that her Maiestie woulde be good vnto her shee making answere that rather then she woulde so doe shee wold lie in prison all the dayes of her life adding that she craued no mercy at her maiesties hand but rather desired the Lawe if euer shee did offende her Maiestie in thought woorde or deede And besides this in yealdinge quoth shee I should speake against my selfe and confesse my selfe to be an offender which neuer was towards her Maiestie by occasion whereof the King and the Queene might euer heereafter conceiue of mee an ill opinion And therefore I say my Lordes it were better for me to lye in prison for the truth then to be abroad and suspected of my Prince And so they departed promising to declare her message to the Queene On the next day the bish of Winchester came againe vnto her grace and kneelinge downe declared that the Queene marueiled that she would so stoutly vse her selfe not confessing to haue offended so that it should seme the Queenes Maiestie wrongfully to haue imprisonned her grace Nay quoth the Lady Elizabeth it please her to punish me as shee thinketh good Well quoth Gardiner her Maiestie willeth me to tell you that you must tell an other tale ere that you be sette at libertie Her grace answered that she had as liefe be in prison with honesty truth as to be abroad suspected of her maiestie and this that I haue said I wil said she stand vnto for I wil neuer bely my selfe Winchester againe kneled down and said Then your grace hath the vantage of me other the Lordes for your long and wrong imprisonment What vantage I haue quoth she you knowe takyng God to record I seeke no vantage at your hands for your so dealing with me but God forgeue you me also With that the rest kneeled desiring her grace that all myght bee forgotten and so departed shee beyng fast locked vppe agayne A seuen night after the Queene sent for her grace at x. of the clocke in the nyght to speake with her for shee had not seene her in two yeares before Yet for all that shee was amased at the sodayne sendyng for thinkyng it had bene worse then afterwardes it prooued and desired her Gentlemen and Gentlewomen to pray for her for that shee could not tell whether euer shee should see them aagayne or no. At which tyme Sir Henry Benifield with Maistresse Clarencius comming in her grace was brought into the garden vnto a staires foote that went into the Queenes lodgyng her graces Gentlewomen waiting vppon her her Gentleman Usher her Groomes going before with torches where her Gentlemen and Gentlewomen being commanded to stay all sauing one woman maistres Clarencius conducted her to the Queens bed chamber where her maiestie was At the sight of whome her grace kneeled downe and desired God to preserue her Maiestie not mistrusting but that she should try her selfe as true a subiect towards her Maiestie as euer did any and desired her Maiestie euen so to Iudge of her and sayde that shee should not finde her to the contrary what so euer reporte otherwyse had gone of her To whom the Queene aunswered you will not confesse your offence but stand stoutly to your truth I pray God it may so fall out If it doth not quoth the Ladye Elizabeth I request neyther fauour nor pardon at your Maiesties hands Wel sayd the Queene you stifly still perseuere in your truth Belike you wil not confesse but that you haue ben wrongfully punished I must not say so if it please your Maiesty to you Why then sayd the Queene belyke you wyll to other No if it please your Maiesty quoth she I haue borne the burden and must beare it I humbly beseeche your Maiestie to haue a good opinion of me and to thynke me to be your true subiect not onely from the beginnyng hitherto but for euer as long as lyfe lasteth and so they departed with very few comfortable words of the Queene in English but what she sayd in Spanish God knoweth It is thought that king Phillip was there behynde a cloth and not seene and that he shewed himselfe a verye friend in that matter c. Thus her grace departyng went to her lodgyng agayne and the seuen night after was released of Sir Henry Benifield her Gaoler as she termed hym and his soldiours and so her grace beyng set at libertie from imprisonment went into the countrey and had appoynted to go with her Sir Thomas Pope one of Queene Maries Counsailors and one of her Gentlemen Ushers Maister Bage and thus straitly was she looked to all Queene Maries tyme. And this is the discourse of her highnesse imprisonment Then there came to Lamheyre M. Ierningham and M. Norris Gentleman Usher Queene Maries men who tooke away from her grace Maistresse Ashley to the Fleete and three other of her Gentlewomen to the Tower which thing was no little trouble to her grace saying that she thought they would fetche all away at the ende But god be praysed shortly after was fetched away Gardiner through the mercifull prouidence of the Lords goodnes by occasion of whose opportune decease as is partly touched in this story before pag. 1705. the lyfe of this excellent Princesse the wealth of all England was preserued For this is credible to be supposed that the said wicked Gardiner of Winchester had long laboured his wits and to this onely most principall marke bent all hys deuises to bring this our happy and deare soueraigne out of the way as both by his words and doyngs before notified may sufficiently appeare But such was the gracious and fauourable prouidēce of the Lord to the preseruation not onely of her royal maiestie but also the miserable and woful state of this whole Iland and poore subiectes of the same whereby the proud platformes and peeuish practises of this wretched Achitophel preuayled not but contrarywise both he and all the snares and trappes of his
the Bailiffe turned his Religion likewise and so he moued the Parish to shew themselues the Queenes friendes to set vp the Masse speedely Neuertheles the most substauntiall of the Parish marueling much at the Bailiffes inconstant lightnes considering also his abominable lyfe and hauing no great deuotion vnto his request knowing moreouer that their duty frendship to the Queene stoode not in setting vp the Masse spared to prouide for it as lōg as they might but the Bailiffe called on them still in the Queenes name At last when he saw his wordes were not regarded purposing to wynne his spurres by playing the man in the Masses behalfe and the Queenes he got him to the church vpon a sunday morning when the Curate was beginning the Englishe seruice according to the Statute secte forth by King Edward the vj. the Bailiffe commeth in a great rage to the Curate sayth Syrrha will you not say Masse buckle your selfe to Masse you knaue or by Gods bloud I shall sheathe my dagger in your shoulder The poore Curate for feare fetled himselfe to Masse Not long after this the Bailiffe rode from home vpō certaine busines accompanyed with one of his neighbors and as they came ryding togeather vpon the Fennebanke homeward agayne a Crow sitting in a willow tree tooke her flighte ouer hys head singing after her woonted note knaue knaue withall let fall vpon his face so that her excrements ran from the top of his nose down to his beard The poysoned sent sauour whereof so noyed his stomacke that he neuer ceased vomiting vntil he came home wherwith his hart was so sore his body so distempered that for extreme sicknes he got him to bed and so lying he was not able for the stincke in his stomacke and paynefull vomiting to receaue any reliefe of meate or drinke but cryed out still sorowfully complayning of that stincke with no smal othes cursing the Crow that had poysoned him To make short he continued but a fewe daies but with extreme paine of vomiting and crying he desperately died without any token of repentance of his former life Reported and testified for a certaintie by diuers of his neighbours both honest and credible persons Of Iames Abbes Martyr ye heard before In the time of whose Martyrdom what befell vppon a wicked railer against him now ye shall further vnderstand Wherby all such railing persecutors may learne to feare Gods hand and to take heede howe or what they speake againste his seruaunts As this Iames Abbes was led by the sheriffe toward his execution diuers poore people stood in that way and asked their almes He then hauing no money to geue them and desirous yet to distribute some thing amongest them did pull off all his apparell sauing hys shirt gaue the same vnto them to some one thing to some an other in the geuing wherof he exhorted them to be strong in the Lord and as faithful followers of Christ to stand stedfast vnto the truthe of the Gospell which hee through Gods helpe would then in their sight seale and confirme with hys bloud Whiles he was thus charitably occupied and zealously instructing the people a seruaunt of the Sheriffes going by hearing him cried out aloude vnto them and blasphemously sayd beleue him not good people He is an hereticke and a mad man out of his wit beleue him not for it is heresy that he saith And as the other continued in his godly admonitions so did thys wicked wretche still blowe foorthe his blasphemous exclamations vntill they came vnto the stake where he should suffer Unto the which this constant Martyr was tied in the ende cruelly burned as in his storie more fully is already declared But immediatly after the fire was put vnto him such was the fearfull stroke of Gods iustice vpon this blasphemous railer that he was there presently in the sight of all the people stricken with a frenesy wherewith he had before mooste railingly charged that good Martyr of God who in this furious rage and madnesse castinge off hys shoes with all the rest of his cloathes cried out vnto the people and sayde Thus did Iames Abbes the true seruaunt of God who is saued but I am damned And thus ranne hee rounde about the Towne of Burie still crying out that Iames Abbes was a good man and saued but he was damned The Sheriffe then being amazed and caused him to be taken tied in a darke house and by force compelled hym againe to put on his cloathes thinking thereby wythin a while to bring him to some quietnes But he all that notwithstanding as soone as they were gone continued his former raging and casting of his cloathes cried as he did before Iames Abbes is the seruant of God and is saued but I am damned At length he was tied in a carte brought home vnto his Maisters house and wythin halfe a yeare or thereaboutes he being at the poynt of death the priest of the parish was sent for who comming vnto him brought wyth him the Crucifixe and theyr houseling host of the aultare Which geare when the poore wretch sawe he cried oute of the Priest and defied all that baggage saying that the Priest wyth suche other as he was was the cause of his damnation and that Iames Abbes was a good man and saued And so shortly after he died Clarke an open enemie to the Gospell and all Godly preachers in king Edwards daies hanged him self in the Tower of London The great and notable papist called Troling Smith of late fell downe sodenly in the streete and died Dale the Promoter was eaten into his body with Lice and so died as it is well knowen of manye and confessed also by his fellow Iohn Auales before credible witnesse Coxe an earnest protestant in king Edwardes dayes and in Quene Maries time a papist and a Promoter going wel and in health to bed as it seemed was deade before the morning Testified by diuers of the neighbours Alexander the Keeper of Newgate a cruell enemie to those that lay there for Religion died very miserably being so swollen that he was more like a monster then a man and so rotten within that no man could abide the smell of him This cruell wretch to hasten the poore lambes to the slaughter would go to Boner Story Cholmley other crying out rid my prison rid my prison I am too muche pestered with these heretickes The sonne of the saide Alexander called Iames hauing left vnto him by his father great substaunce within three yeres wasted al to nought And whē some marueled how he spent those goodes so fast O sayde he euill gotten euill spent and shortly after as hee went in Newgate market fell downe sodenly and there wretchedly died Iohn Peter sonne in lawe to this Alexander an horrible blasphemer of God no lesse cruell to the said prisoners rotted away and so
that is to stande in feare and doubt of hys iustification and to worke his saluation by merites and deedes of the lawe he began more and more to growe in doubtfull despaire and discomfort of mynd as the nature of that doctrine is vtterly to pluck away a mans mynd from all certaintie and true liberty of spirit to a seruile doubtfulnes full of discomfort and bondage of soule Thus the yong man seduced and peruerted thorough this blynd doctrine of ignoraunce and dubitation fell into a great agonie of mynde wandryng and wrestlyng in him selfe a long space till at length beyng ouercome with despaire and not hauyng in the popish doctrine wherewith to rayse vp his soule he went out of the citie on a tyme to walke accompanied with three other Studentes of the same Uniuersitie his speciall familiars Who after their walke as they returned home agayne Arnoldus for wearinesse as it seemed sate down by a spring side to rest him a while The other supposing none other but that hee for wearines there rested to refresh hymselfe went forward a little past hym In the meane tyme what doth Arnoldus but sodainly taketh out his dagger and stroke himself into the body His fellowes seeyng him shrinking downe and the fountaine to be all coloured with the bloude which issued out of the wound came runnyng to him to take hym vp and so searching his body where the wound should be at length found what he had done and how hee had striken hymselfe with hys dagger into the brest Whereupon they tooke hym and brought hym into an house next at hande and there exhorted hym as well as they could to repente hys fact who then by outwarde gesture seemed to geue some shew of repentance Notwithstanding the sayd Arnoldus espiyng one of hys friendes there busie aboute hym to haue a knyfe hangyng at hys girdle violentlye plucked out the knife and with mayne force stabbed hymselfe to the hart By these Louanian examples as we haue all to learn no man to be sure of his life but that he alwayes needeth to craue and cal vnto the Lord to blesse him with his truth and grace so especially would I wish our English Louanians which nowe make fortes in that Uniuersitie against the open truth of Christs gospel to be wise in time and not to spurne so against the pricke Ne forte c. Or if they thinke yet these examples not enough for sufficient admonition let them ioyne hereto the remembraunce also of Iacobus Latomus a chiefe and principall captayne of the same Uniuersitie of Louane Who after he had bene at Bruxels and there thinkyng to do a great acte agaynst Luther and his fellowes made an Oration before the Emperour so foolishly and ridiculously that hee was laughed to scorne almost of the whole Courte Then returnyng from thence to Louan agayne in his publike Lecture he fell in an open fury and madnesse vttring such words of desperation and blasphemous impietie that the other Diuines which were there and namely Ruardus Anchusianus were fayne to cary him away as he was rauyng and so shut him into a close chamber From that tyme vnto his last breath Latomus had neuer any thyng els in hys mouth but that he was damned and reiected of God and that there was no hope of saluation for hym because that wittingly and against his knowledge he withstoode the manifest truth of his word Ex Epist. Senarclaei ante hist. de morte Diazij Item ex Oratione Pauli Eberi in comitijs Wittembergae habita Thus almighty God not onely by his worde but by examples also diuers and sundry wise doth warne vs first to seeke to knowe the perfect will and decree of the Lord our God appoynted in his worde The perfect will and full testament of the Lord in his word is this that he hath sent and geuen his onely sonne vnto vs beyng fully contented to accept our fayth onely vpon him for our perfect iustification and full satisfaction for all our transgressions and this is called in Scripture Iusticia Dei To this will and righteousnesse of God they that humbly submit themselues finde place and rest in their soules that no maÌ„ is able to expresse and haue strength enough agaynst all the inuasions and temptations of Sathan Contrarywise they that will not yeld their obedience vnto the wyll and ordinaunce of GOD â—xpressed in hys worde but will seeke their owne righteousnesse which is of man labouryng by their merites and satisfactions to serue and please God these not onely do finde with God no righteousnesse at all but in stead of hys fauour procure to themselues his horrible indignation in steade of comfort heape to themselues desperation and in the end what inconuenience they come to by these aboue recited examples of Guarlacus Bomelius and Latomus it is euident to see And out of this fountayne springeth not onely the punishmentes of these men but also all other inconueniences whiche happen amongest men where so euer this pernicious and erroneous doctrine of the Papistes taketh place A Dominike Frier of Mounster as he was inueighyng in the Pulpitte agaynst the Doctrine of the Gospell then springyng vp was striken with a sodayne flashe of lightnyng and so ended his lyfe Ex Pantal. in 2. parte Rerum memor Manlius in his booke De dictis Philippi Melancth maketh mention of a certaine Tailors seruaunte in Lypsia who receiuing first the Sacrament in both kyndes wyth the Gospellers and afterward beyng perswaded by the papists receiued with them vnder one kynd Whereupon beyng admonished of his maister to come to the Communion againe in the Church of the Gospellers hee stoode a great while and made no answer At last crying out vpon a sodaine he ran to the window thereby and so cast hymselfe out and brake his necke In the same Manlius mention is also made of a certayne Gentleman of name and authoritie but he nameth hym not who hearyng these wordes in a song Ein feste burg ist vnser Gott that is Our onely holde or fortresse is our God Psalme 46. aunswered and sayd Ich will helffeÌ„ die burg zerschiessé oder ich wil nit leben that is I wil help to shoote agaynst thy staye or forte or els I will not liue And so within three dayes after hee dyed without repentaunce or confessing his fayth Ex Manlio De dictis Philip. Melancth Of Sadoletus the learned Cardinall likewise it is reported of some that he dyed not without great tormentes of conscience and desperation The Commendator of S. Anthony who sate as spirituall Iudge ouer that godly learned man Wolfgangus burned in Lotharing in Germany and gaue sentence of his condemnation fell sodenly dead shortly after Read before pag. 884. Also his fellow the Abbot of Clarilocus and Suffragan to the bishop of Metz at the cracke of gunnes sodenly fell downe and dyed pag.
not to alleadge for themselues any reason they assay to make odious to your maiesty the Lutherans as they call vs and say if their sayinges take place ye shall be faine to remaine a priuate person that there is neuer change of religion but there is also chaunge of princedome A thyng as false as when they accuse vs to be Sacramentaries and that we deny the authoritie of Magistrates vnder the shadow of certaine furious Anabaptists which Satan hath raysed in our tyme to darken the light of the Gospell For the histories of the Emperours which haue begun to receiue the Christian religion and that which is come to passe in our tyme shew the contrary Was there euer Prince more feared and obeyed then Constantine in receiuing the Christian Religion was hee therefore put from the Empire No he was thereby the more confirmed established in the same and also his posterity which ruled themselues by his prouidence But such as haue fallen away and folowed mens traditions God hath destroyed and theyr race is no more knowne in earth So much doth God detest them that forsake him And in our time the late kinges of England and Germanye were they coÌ„strayned in reprouing superstitions which the wickednes of the time had brought in to forsake their kingdomes princedomes Al men see the contrary and what honor fidelity and obedience the people in our time that haue receiued the reformation of the Gospell do vnder theyr princes and superiors Yea I may say that the princes knew not before what it was to be obeyed at that time when the rude and ignoraunt people receiued so readily the dispeÌ„sations of the Pope to dâ—iue out their owne kinges and naturall Lordes The true and onely remedy sir is that ye cause to be holden a holy and free Counsell where ye shouâ—d be chiefe and not the Pope his who ought but onely to defende their causes by the holy scriptures that in the meane while ye may seeke out meÌ„ not corrupted suspected nor partial whoÌ„ ye may charge to geue report faythfully vnto you of the true sence of the holy scriptures And this done after the example of the good kinges Iosaphath Ezechias Iosias ye shall take out of the Churche all Idolatry superstition abuse which is found directly contrary to the holy scriptures of the old and new testament by that meanes ye shall guid youâ— people in the true pure seruiâ—e of God not regarding in the meane time the cauilling pretenses of the papists which say that such questioÌ„s haue bene already answered at generall Counsels for it is knowne well enougâ— thaâ— no Counsell hath bene lawfull since the Popes haue 〈◊〉 the principality tyranny vpon mens soules but they haue made them serue to their couetousnes ambition and cruelâ—y 〈◊〉 the contrariety which is amoÌ„g those couÌ„sels maketh enough for their disproofe beside a hundred thousand other absurdities agâ—inâ—â— the word of God which be in them The true proofe for such matters is in the true holy Scriptures to the which no time nor age hath any prescription to be alledged agaynst theÌ„ foâ— by them we receiue the Counsels founded vpon the worde of God and also by the same we reiect that doctrine which is repugnant And if ye do thus Syr God will blesse your enterprise he will encrease confirme your raigne and Empyre and your posterity If otherwise destruction is at your gate and vnhappy are the people which shall dwell vnder your obedieÌ„ce There is no doubt but God will hardeÌ„ your hart as he did Phaâ—aos and take of the crowne from your head as he did to Ieroboam Nâ—dab Baza Achab and to many other kinges which haue folowed mâ—ns traditions agaynst the commaundemeÌ„t of God and geue it to your enemies to triumph ouer you and your children And if the Emperour Antonine the meek although he were a Pagan Idolater seing himselfe bewrapt with so many wars ceased the persecutioÌ„s which were in his time agaynst the christians and determined in the ende to heare their causes and reasons how muche more ought you that beare the name of moste Christian king to be carefull and diligent to cease 〈◊〉 persecutions agaynst the poore Christians seing they hâ—ue not tâ—oubled nor doe trouble in any wise the state of your kingdome your affayres considering also that the Iewes be suffeâ—ed through all Christendome although they be mortall enemies oâ— our Lorde Iesus Christ which we holde by common accorde and consent for our God Redeemer and Sauiour and that vntill you haue heard lawfully debated and vnderstand our reasons takeÌ„ of the holy Scriptures and that your Maiestye haue iudged if we bee worthy of such punishmentes For if we be not ouercome by the worde of God the fires the sworde nor the câ—â—â—â—lest tormentes shall make vs afrayd These be the exercises that God hath promised to his of the which he foretolde shoulde come in the laste times that they should not be troubled when such persecutions shall come vpon them Translated out of the French booke intituled Commentaries of the state of the Church and publicke weale c. pag. 7. ¶ The story and end of the french king WHosoeuer was the authour or authours of this letter aboue prefixed herein thou seest good Reader good counsell geuen to the king if he had the grace to receiue it and had folowed the same no doubt but Gods blessing working with him he had not onely set that Realme in a blessed staye from much disturbaunce but also had continued himselfe in all florishing felicity of princely honour and dignity For so doth the lord commonly blesse and aduaunce such kinges Princes as seeke hys honor and submit their wils to his obedience But coÌ„monly the fault of kinges and Potentates of this world is that being set about with Parasites either they seldom heare the truth told theÌ„ or if they do yet will they not lightly be put from theyr owne willes disdayning to be admonished by their inferiors be theyr counsell neuer so holsom godly Which thing many times turneth them to great plages calamitie as by plentiful exaÌ„ples of kings destroyed wouÌ„ded imprisoned deposed drowned poysoned c. may wel to theÌ„ that read histories appeare but especially in this preseÌ„t example of Henry French king the seconde of that name is in this our age notoriously to be considered Who bâ—ing well warned before as may seeme would not yet surcease his cruell persecution agaynst the Lordes people but rather was the more hardened in hart and inflamed against them in so muche that he sayd to Anne du Bourg one of the high Court of Parliament in Paris threatning hym that he would see him burne with his own eyes Further how his purpose was to extende his power and force likewise agaynst other places moe in persecutyng the Gospell of Christe and professours thereof to the vttermost of his abilitie I
the publike state of your Realme well ordered For in what body gods word lacketh the vnitie and charitie that ought to bee among the members thereof and which knitteth them together is soone extincted Where the youth is neglected there can no good successe bee hoped no more then the husbandman can look for a good crop where he sowed no good seed And where iustice is not truely and rightly ministred there the more laws and statutes together be heaped the more they be contemned And surely if this thing could not without exceeding charges be compassed as God forbid that charges should be weyed be they neuer so great where Gods glory and the wealth of the realme may be furthered yet ought it not to be neglected What charges did K. Dauid the father king Salomon his sonne employ to build the stony house of God Howe much more charges should a christian prince employ to build set vp the liuely house of God But verily I am fully perswaded that it shall not be chargeable to do this No a great deale of superfluous charges which otherwise your grace shall be forced to sustaine shal thus be cleane cut away and so your reuenues by a meane most profitable to no good person hurtfull encreased Wherefore for Gods sake noble Queene let not the oportunitie now by God offered be by your Grace omitted A Phisition can in nothing so much declare his good will and cunnyng nor purchase hymselfe so great estimation as when he findeth his pacient thoroughly sicke and weakened and doth restore hym to his perfect health and perfection Likewyse if a Prince should desire of God a thyng whereby he might declare the zeale that he beareth to GOD or whereby hee myght winne fame and glory he could desire nothyng so much as to come into a state corrupted as this Realme of England at this present is not to destroy it as did Caesar but to make it as did Romulus If your grace can bring this to passe as I am out of all doubt ye may quickly Ye shall doe more then any of your progenitours did before you All men shall confesse that you are not onely for proximitie of bloude preferred but rather of God specially sent and ordeined And as the Queene of Saba came from farre of to see the glory of K. Salomon a woman to a man Euen so shall the Princes of our tyme come men to a woman and Kinges maruell at the vertue of Queene Elizabeth Thus shall wee your subiects be most bound to prayse God and to thinke our selues most happy that beyng so sodainly from the worse be forthwith preferred to the best rid from extremest calamitie and brought to the greatest felicitie and it shall be besides an example for all euil Princes to leaue their persecution of Christ and his members to cease from their tiranny wherewith they continually oppresse theyr poore subiectes And so all people not onelye wee of this your Realme but of all other nations shall haue iust cause to pray for your graces health and ancrease of honour This Oration of M. Hales beyng premised now let vs prosecute the Lord willing that which we promised concernyng the Disputation or Conference had at Westminster The copy whereof here followeth ⧠The Conference or Disceptation had and begun at Westminster the last of March vpon certaine Questions or Articles of Religion proposed and also of the breaking vp of the same by the Papistes default at the first beginning of Queene ELIZABETH SO it pleased the Queenes most excellent maiestie hauyng heard of diuersitie of opinions in certaine matters of religion amongst sundry of her louyng subiects and beyng very desirous to haue the same reduced to some godly and Christian concord by the aduise of the Lordes and others of the priuy Counsaile as well for the satisfaction of persons doubtfull as also for the knowledge of the very truth in certaine matters of difference to haue a conuenient chosen number of the best learned of eyther part and to conferre together their opinions and reasons and thereby to come to some good and charitable agreement And hereuppon by her Maiesties commaundement certaine of her priuy Counsaile declared this purpose to the Archbishoppe of Yorke beyng also one of the same priuy Counsaile and required hym that he would imparte the same to some of the Bishops and to make choise of viij ix or x. of them and that there should be the like number named of the other part And further also declared to hym as then was supposed what the matter should be And as for the tyme it was thought meet to be as soone as possible might be agreed vpon And then after certaine dayes past it was signified by the sayd Archbishoppe that there was appointed by such of the Bishops to whome hee had imparted this matter eight persons that is to say 4. Bishops and 4. Doctours The names of whom here follow vnder written c. * The Papistes The B. of Winchest The B. of Lich. The B. of Chest. The B. of Carlile The B. of Linc. D. Cole D. Harpsfield D. Langdale D. Chedsey * The Protestants D. Scory B. of Chich. D. Coxe M. Whitehed M Grindall M Horne M Doct. Sands M. Gest. M. Aelmer M. Iuell Who were content at the Queenes Maiesties commaundement to shewe their opinions and as the sayde Archbishop termed it render accompte of their fayth in those matters which were mentioned and that especially in writyng although he sayd they thought the same so determined as there was no cause to dispute vppon them The matter which they should talke vpon was comprehended in these three propositions here vnder specified 1. It is agaynst the worde of God and the custome of the auncient Church to vse a tongue vnknowen to the people in common prayer and the administration of the Sacraments 2. Euery Church hath authoritie to appointe take away and change ceremonies and Ecclesiasticall rites so the same be to edification 3. It cannot be prooued by the worde of God that there is in the Masse offered vp a sacrifice propitiatorie for the quicke and the dead It was hereupon fully resolued by the Queenes maiestie with the aduise aforesayd that according to their desire it should be in writing on both partes for auoyding of much alteration in wordes and that the sayd Bishops should because they were in authoritie of degree superiours first declare their myndes and opinions to the matter with their reasons in writyng And the other number beyng also viij men of good degree in schooles and some hauyng bene in dignitie in the church of England if they had any thing to say to the contrary should the same day declare their opinions in lyke manner and so eche of them should deliuer their writings to the other to bee considered what were to bee improoued therein and the same to declare agayne in writyng at some other conuenient day and the like order to bee kept in all the rest
of the matters All this was fully agreed vpon with the Archb. of Yorke and so also signified to both parties And immediately hereupon diuers of the Nobilitie and states of the realme vnderstanding that such a meting and conference shoulde bee and that in certaine matters whereupon the Courte of Parliament consequently followyng some lawes might be grounded They made ernest meanes to her Maiestie that the parties of this conference might put and read their assertions in the English tongue and that in the presence of them of the Nobilitie and others of her Parliament house for the better satisfaction and enabling of their owne iudgements to treat and conclude of such lawes as might depend hereupon This also beyng thought very reasonable was signified to both parties and so â—ully agreed vpon and the daye appoynted for the first meetyng to bee the Friday in the forenoone beyng the last of March at Westminster church At which foresayd day and place both for good order for honour of the conference by the Queenes maiesties commandement the Lordes and others of the priuy counsaile were present and a great parte of the nobilitie also And notwithstanding this former order appoynted and consented vnto by both partes yet the Bishop of Winchester his Colleagues alledging they had mistaken that their assertions and reasons should be written and so onely recited out of the booke sayd their booke was not ready theâ—â— written but they were ready to argue and dispute and therefore they would for that tyme repeate in speache that which they had to say to the first probation This variation from the former order and specially from that which themselues had by the sayde Archbishop in writyng before required adding thereto the reason of the Apostle that to contend with wordes is profitable to nothyng but to subuersion of the hearer seemed to the Queenes maiesties counsaile somewhat strange and yet was it permitted without any great reprehension because they excused themselues with mistakyng the order and agreed that they would not faile but put it in writing and accordyng to the former order deliuer it to the other part and so the sayd Bishop of Winchester and hys Colleagues appoynted Doctour Cole Deane of Paules to be the vtterer of their myndes woo partly by speech onely and partly by readyng of authorities written and at certaine tymes beyng enformed of his Colleagues what to say made a declaration of their meanynges and their reasons to their first proposition which being ended they were asked by the priuy Counsaile if any of them had any more to be sayd and they sayd no. So as the other parâ—e was licenced to shewe their myndes which they dyd accordyng to the first order exhibityng all that whiche they ment to be propounded in a booke written which after a prayer and inuocation made most humbly to almightye God for the enduyng of them with his holy spirite and a protestation also to stand to the doctrine of the Catholike Church builded vpon the Scriptures and the doctrine of the Prophets and the Apostles was distinctly red by one Robert Horne Bacheler in Diuinitie late Deane of Duresme and after Bishoppe of Winchester The Copye of which their Protestation here followeth accordyng as it was by him penned and exhibited with their preface also before the same as is here expressed FOrasmuch as it is thought good vnto the Queenes most excellent Maiesty vnto whom in the Lord all obedience is due that we should declare our iudgement in writyng vpon certaine propositions we as becommeth vs to doe herein most gladly obey Seeâ—ng that Christ is our onely maister whome the father hath commaunded vs to heare and seyng also hys worde is the truth from the which it is not lawfull for vs to depart not one haire bredth and against the which as the Apostle saith we can do nothing we doe in all thinges submitte our selues vnto this truth and doe protest that we will affirme nothyng agaynst the same And forasmuch as we haue for our mother the true and catholike Church of Christ which is grounded vpon the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophetes and is of Christ the head in all things gouerned we do reuerence her iudgement we obey her authoritie as becommeth children and we do deuoutly professe and in all points follow the faith which is conteined in the three Creedes that is to say of the Apostles of the Councell of Nice and of Athanasius And seyng that we neuer departed neither froÌ„ the doctrine of God which is contained in the holy Canonicall Scriptures nor yet from the fayth of the true and catholike church of Christ but haue preached truely the worde of God and haue sincerely ministred the sacraments accordyng to the institution of Christ vnto the which our doctrine and fayth the most part also of our aduersaries did subscribe not many yeares past although now as vnnaturall they are reuolted from the same wee desire that they render accompt of their backsliding and shewe some cause wherefore they do not only resist that doctrine which they haue before professed but also persecute the same by all meanes they can We do not doubt but through the equitie of the Queenes most excellent maiesty we shall in these disputations be entreated more gently then in yeres late past when we were handled most vniustly scantly after the common maner of men As for the iudgement of the whole controuersie we referre vnto the most holy scriptures and the catholike church of Christ whose iudgement vnto vs ought to be most sacred notwithstanding by the catholike church we vnsterstand not the Romish church whereunto our aduersaries attribute suche reuerence but that which S. Augustine other fathers affirme ought to be sought in the holy scriptures and which is gouerned and led by the spirite of Christ. It is against the worde of God and the custome of the Primitiue Church to vse a tong vnknowen to the people in common praiers administration of the sacraments By these words the word of God we meane only the written word of God or canonicall scriptures And by the custome of the primitiue church we meane the order most generally vsed in the church for the space of 500. yeres after Christ in which times liued the most notable fathers as Iustine Ireneus Tertullian Cyprian Basill Chrysostome Hierome Ambrose Austine c. This assertion aboue written hath two partes Fyrst that the vse of the tongue not vnderstanded of the people in common prayers of the Church or in the administration of the Sacramentes is agaynst Gods worde The second that the same is agaynst the vse of the primatiue Church The first parte is most manifestly prooued by the 14. chapiter of the Epistle to the Corinthians almost thorow out the whole chapter In the whiche chapter Saynt Paule intreateth of this matter ex professo purposely And although some do cauel that Saint Paule speaketh not in that chapter of praying but
barbarous nations of all countries and sortes of men were they neuer so wylde euermore made their prayes and sacrifices to their Gods in their owne mother tongue Which is a manifest declaratioÌ„ that it is the very light and voyce of nature ¶ Thus much vpon the ground of S. Paule and other reasons out of the Scriptures ioyning therewith the common vsage of all nations as a testimony of the lawe of nature Now for the second part of the assertion which is that the vse of a strange tongue in publike prayer and administration of sacraments is against the custome of the Primitiue church which is a matter so cleare that the deniall of it must needes proceed either of great ignorance or els of wilfull malice For first of all Iustinus Martyr describing the order of the communion in his tyme sayth thus Die solis vrbanorum ac rusticorum coetus fiunt vbi Apostolorum prophetarumque literae quoad fieri potest praeleguntur Deinde cessante lectore praepositus verba facit adhortatoria ad imitationeÌ„ tam honestarum rerum inuitans Posthaec consurgimus omnes preces offerrimus quibus sinitis profertur vt diximus panis vinum aqua tum praepositus quantum potest preces offert gratiarum actiones plebs vero Amen accinit That is to saye Uppon the Sonday assemblies are made both of the citizens and countreymen whereas the writings of the Apostles and of the Prophets are red as much as may be Afterwards when the Reader doth cease the head minister maketh an exhortation exhortyng them to folâ—ow so honest thyngs After this we rise altogether and offer praiers which beyng ended as we haue sayde bread wine water are brought forth Then the hed Minister offreth prayers and thansgeuing as much as he can and the people answereth Amen ☞ These wordes of Iustine who liued about 160. yeares after Christ considered with their circumstaunce declare playnely that not onely the Scriptures were red but also that the prayers and administration of the Lords supper were done in a tongue vnderstanded Both the Liturgies of Basil and Chrysostom declare that in the celebration of the Communion the people wer appointed to answer to the prayer of the Minister sometymes Amen sometymes Lord haue mercy vppon vs sometymes and with thy spirite and we haue our hartes lifted vp vnto the Lord c. Which aunswers they coulde not haue made in due tyme if the prayers had not bene made in a tong vnderstanded And for further proofe let vs heare what Basill writeth in this matter to the Clarkes of Neocaesarea Caeterum ad obiectum in Psalmodijs crimen quo maxime simpliciores terrent calumniatores c. As touching that is layed to our charge in Psalmodies and songs wherwith our slaunderers doe fraie the simple I haue thus to say that our customes and vsages in all Churches be vniforme and agreeable For in the night the people with vs riseth goeth to thâ— house of prayer and in trauaile tribulation and continual teares they confesse themselues to God and at the last rising agayne go to their songs or Psalmody where being deuided into two partes sing by course together both deepely weying and confirmyng the matter of the heauenly sayinges and also stirring vp their attention and deuotion of heart which by other meanes bee alienated and plucked away Then appoynting one to beginne the song the rest followe and so with diuers songes and prayers passing ouer the nyght at the dawnyng of the day altogether euen as it were with one mouthe and one heart they sing vnto the Lord a song of Confession euery man framyng to hymselfe meete wordes of repentaunce If you will flie vs from hencefoorth for these thynges ye must flie also the Egyptians and both the Libianes ye must eschew the Thebanes Palestines Arabians the Phenices the Syrians and those that dwell besides Euphrates And to be short all those with whome watchinges prayers and common singyng of Psalmes are had in honour ⧠Testimonies of S. Ambrose written vpon the 14. to the Corinth the first epistle Super illud qui enim loquitur linguis HOc est quod dicit quia qui loquitur incognita lingua c. This is it that he sayth because he which speaketh in an vnknowen tongue speaketh to God For he knoweth all thyngs but men know not therfore there is no profit of this thyng ¶ The same author afterwardes Super illud si benedixeris spiritu Hoc est si laudem dei lingua loquaris ignota c. Uppon these wordes if thou blesse or geue thanks with the spirit how shall he that occupieth the roume of the vnlearned say Amen at the geuyng of thankes seeyng he vnderstandeth not what thou sayest That is sayth Ambrose if thou speake the prayse of God in a tongue vnknowen to the hearers For the vnlearned hearing that which he vnderstandeth not knoweth not the end of the prayer and he answereth not AmeÌ„ That is as much to say as true that the blessing or thaÌ„ksgeuing may bee confirmed For the confirmation of the prayer is fulfilled by them which do answer Amen That all things spoken might be confirmed in the mindes of the hearers through the testimony of the truth ¶ Afterward in the same place vpon these wordes if any Infidell or vnlearned come in Quum enim intelligit intelligitur c. For when hee vnderstandeth and is vnderstanded hearing God to bee praysed and Christ to bee worshipped he seeth perfectly that the religion is true and to be reuerenced wherein he seeth nothyng to be done colourably nothyng in darkenesse as among the Heathen whose eyes are couered that they seyng not the thyngs which they call holy might perceyue themselues to be deluded with diuers vanities For all falsehood seketh darkenes and sheweth false things for true Therefore with vs nothing is done priuily nothing couertly but one God is simply praysed of whom are all things and one Lord Iesus by whom are all things For if there be none which can vnderstand or of whome hee may be tried he may say there is some deceit and vanitie which is therfore song in tongues not vnderstanded hee meaneth because it is a shame to open it Vpon this place Omnia ad aedificationem fiant Conclusio haec est vt nihil incassum in ecclesia geratur hocque elaborandum magis vt imperiti proficiant ne quid sit corporis per imperitiam tenebrosum Let all thyngs be done to edifie This is the conclusion that nothyng should be done in the Church in vayne and that this thyng ought chiefly to bee laboured for that the vnlearned also myght profite least any part of the body should bee darke thorough ignoraunce Agayne Si non fuerit interpres taceat in Ecclesia Hoc est intra se tacitè oret aut loquatur deo qui audit muta omnia In Ecclesia enim ille debet loqui qui
your selues when it shall come to iust triall of the matter and that theÌ„ it be not proued agaynst you that ye complayne without cause when the order and your maner towardes it shal be duely wayed I am willing and ready to heare you after the order taken and appoynted for you to reason therein and farther or contrary to that I cannot deale with you Lich. Cou. Let vs suffer no misorder or iniury herein but be heaâ—d with indifference that is to say conuenient and meet we should haue here L. Keper I praye you Syrs heare me and marke it you well It was concluded on by my Lordes of the counsell who you wel know of that theyr writing whiche ye are now so willing to haue heard should haue bene read the first day and then did we vnderstande that Mayster Cole had sayd what you would haue him and as much as you willed him to say and vpon that indifferency emonges I iudge ye were asked in the ende of Mayster Coles rehersall whether that whiche he spake was it ye woulde haue him say and ye graunted it Then whether ye would that he shuld say any more in the matter Ye answered no wherupon the other part was hard which you hearing then in deede without all good indifferencie or playne dealing ye pretended that ye had more to saye So marke you wyth how small equitie you vsed your selfe The B. We had in deede more to say if we might haue bene indifferently heard L. Keeper Geue me leaue I saye and looke what gaynes you should haue if your present request should be granted you that call so muche of indifferent vsing howe you shoulde vse those other men For many who are here presently were then away so would you haue your writyng now red to them whiche heard not this Marke ye whether it had not bene more fit that ye had prouided it against the first day when they orderly read theyrs sith to my knowledge and as farre as I haue hadde to doe in the matter you were of both sides I am sure warned at one tyme. Howbeit to satisfy your importunacie and earnestnes of this crying out to haue your first writing heard I might well allow if it so pleased the rest of the Queenes most honorable Counsell that you dispatching the worke on the second question appoynted for this daye and geue vs vp your writing for the first so that when the daye commeth that each of you shall aunswer the other in confirmation of the first question that then the same daye ye shall haue time to read this your first writing whiche ye now would so fayne read To this order all the Counsel willingly condescended Lich Co. Nay my Lordes they reading one and we two bookes in one day wee shoulde not haue time enough to read them both It would occupy to much time L. Keeper For my part I might well stay at the hearing of them both and I iudge the rest of the Counsell and lykewise the whole audience At whiche saying there was a shoute crying on all sides yea yea wee woulde heare it gladly Lincolne We cannot read them both at one time for theyr writing I am sure would require an houre and a halfe if so be it be so long as theyr laste was and then our aunswere woulde require no lesse time after the fyrste question L. Keeper I haue shewed you we could be well contented to tary out the time when it commeth thereunto Therefore ye neede not to be therein so curious and wee graunting you thus muche and yet ye will obey no orders I cannot tell what I shall say vnto you Lincoln We haue bene wonderfully troubled in the order of this disputation For first it was appoynted vs by my Lord the Archbishop that we shoulde dispute and that in Latine and then had wee an other commaundement that we should prouide a Latine writing and nowe at last we willed to bring forth our writinges in english At these wordes the Lord keeper of the great seale the Archbishop with all the Counsell muche mused and many murmured at such his wrong report of the order well taken Whereupon with an admiration the Lorde keeper aunswered I maruaile much of the vsing of your selfe in this poynt sith I am assured the order was neuer otherwise taken then that you shoulde bring forth in Englishe writing what you had to say for your purpose Hereupon the Byshops of Lichfield and Chichester to excuse my Lord of Lincolne sayd we so vnderstood the order my Lordes L. Keeper Howe likely is that sith that it was so playnely told you But to end these delayes I pray you follow the order appoynted and beginne to entreate of the seconde question Lich. Co. We were appoynted this day by youre honours to bring in what we had to say in the first question At the which saying the audience much grudged who heard the former talke contrary to such his reporte L. Keeper The order was taken for that your writinges were not ready the last time that ye shoulde yeld the same to these men meaning the Protestantes as soone as ye might and vpon the receipt of your writinges you shuld haue theyrs and this day ye should entreate of the second question and of the thyrd if that ye had leysure enoughe This was the order my Lordes except my memory much fayle me The same all the Counsell affirmed Lincoln We were willed then to bring in this daye oure writing for the first question also Lorde Keeper Ah syrs if ye bee so harde to bee satisfied and to encline to the trueth let my Lordes here say what was then determined B. Yorke Ye are to blame to stand in this issue for there was a playne decreed order taken for you to intreat of the second Question Wherefore leaue you your contention herein and shew what ye haue to say in the second Question L. Keper Go to now begin my Lordes Linc. Couen It is coÌ„trary to the order in disputatioÌ„s that we should begin Chester We haue the negatiue the affirmatiue therefore they must begin Lich. Couen· They must first speake what they can bring in agaynst vs sith that we are the defending part Chester So is the schole maner and likewise the maner in Westminster hall is that the plaintifes part should speak first and then the accused party to answere Lich. Couen I pray you let the proposition be read then let vs see who hath the negatiue part and so let the other begin L. Keper The order was taken that ye should begin Lich. Couen But then we should do agaynst the Schoole order L. Keper My maisters ye inforce much the schole orders I wonder muche at it sith diuers of those orders are ofte times taken for the exercise of youth and ought to mainteine a fashion and many prescriptions whiche we neede not here to recite much lesse obserue We are come hither to keepe the order of God and to set forth his truth
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 begâ—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 takeÌ„ 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 theÌ„ TheÌ„ 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
please your honours I iudge that my Lordes here stay most on this poynt that they feare when they shall begin first and the other aunswere thereupon there shall be no time geuen to them to speake whiche my Lord misliketh L. Keeper Howe can it otherwise be in a talke appoynted in such assembly and audience thinke you that there can be continuall aunswering one another when shouldeâ—â— after that sort haue an end Lich. Couen It must bee so in a disputation to seeke out the trueth L. Keper But how say you my Lord Abbot are you of the mynde it shal be read Abbot Yea forsooth my lord I am very wel pleased with all Harpesfield being inquired his mind thought as the other did L. Keper My Lordes sith that ye are not willing but refuse to read your writing after the order taken wee wyll breake vp and departe and for that ye willl not that wee should heare you you may perhaps shortly heare of vs. THus haue we declared the order and maner of this coÌ„munication or conference at Westminster betweene these two parties wherin if any law or order were brokeÌ„ iudge good reader wher the fault was and consider with al what these Papistes be from whoÌ„ if ye take away their sword and authority from them you see all their cunning how soone it lyeth in the dust or els why would they not abide the triall of writing why would they or durst they not stande to the order agreed vpon Whether shoulde we say ignoraunce or stubbernes to be in them more or both together Who first being gently as is sayd and fauorably required to keep the order appointed they would not Then being secondly as appeared by the Lord Keepers words pressed more earnestly they neither regarding the authority c. of that place nor their owne reputation nor the credite of the cause vtterly refused that to doe And finally being agayne particularly euery of them aparte distinctly by name required to vnderstande theyr opinions therin they al sauing one which was the Abbot of Westminster hauing some more consideratioÌ„ of order and hys duety of obedience then the other vtterly and playnly denyed to haue theyr booke read some of them as more earnestly then other some so also some other more vndiscretly and vnreuerently then others Wherupon geuing such example of disorder stubbernes and selfe will as hath not bene seene and suffered in such an honorable assembly being of the two estates of this Realme the nobility and the commons beside the presence of the Queenes Maiestyes most honorable priuy counsell the same assembly was dis missed and the Godly and most Christian purpose of the Queenes Maiesty made frustrate And afterward for the contempt so notoriously made the Byshop of Wincester Lincolne hauing most obstinatly both disobeyed commoÌ„ authority and varyed manifestly from theyr owne order and specially Lincoln who shewed more folly then the other were condignely committed to the Tower of London and the rest sauing the Abbot of Westminster stoode bound to make dayly theyr personall appearaunce before the counsell and not to depart the Cittye of London and Westminster vntill further order were taken with theÌ„ for their disobedience and contempt Besides the former protestation or libell written and exhibited by the Protestantes concerning the first question there was also an other like writing of the fayde Protestantes made of the second question but not published which if it come to our hand we wil likewise impart vnto thee As these Byshops aboue named were committed to the Tower so Boner Bishop of London about the same time was commaunded to the Marshalsea whereas hee both in his blinde bloudy heresy and also in his deserued captiuity long remayned abiding the Queenes pleasure gods pleasure I beseech him so be wrought on that person that the Church of Christes flocke if they can take or looke for no goodnesse of that man to come yet they maye take of him and of other no more harme herafter theÌ„ they haue done alredy We al beseech thee this O Lord eternal per Christum Dominum nostrum Amen Aboute this time at the beginning of the flourishing reigne of Queene Elizabeth was a Parliament summoned and holden at Westminster wherin was much debating about matters touching religion and great study on both parties employed the one to reteine still the other to impugne the doctrine and faction which before in queene Maries time had bene established But especially here is to be noted that though ther lacked no industry on the papistes side to holde fast that which they most cruelly from time to time had studied by al meanes practised to come by Yet notwithstanding such was the prouidence of God at that time that for lacke of the other bishops whome the Lorde had taken away by death a little before the residue that there were left could doe the lesse and in very deede God be praysed therefore did nothing at all in effect Although yet notwithstanding there lacked in them neyther will nor labour to do what they could if their cruell abilitie there might haue serued But namely amongest all other not onely the industrious courage of Doctor Story but also his wordes in this Parliament are worthy to be knowne of posteritie who like a stout and furious champion of the popes side to declare himselfe howe lustie hee was what he had and would do in his maisters quarrell shamed not openly in the saide Parliament house to brast out into such impudent sort of words as was wonder to all good eares to heare and no lesse worthy of history The summe of which his shameles talke was vttered to this effect First beginning with himselfe hee declared that where as he was noted commonly abroad and much complayned of to haue bene a great doer and a â—eâ—ter forth of such religion orders and proceedinges as of hys late soueraigne that dead is Queene Mary were set forth in this Realme hee denied nothing the same protestyng moreouer that he therein had done nothing but that both his conscience did lead him thereunto and also his commission did as wel then commaund him as now also doth discharge hym for the same being no lesse ready now also to doe the like and more in case hee by this Queene were authorised likewise and commaunded thereunto Wherefore as I see sayth he nothing to be ashamed of so lesse I see to be sory for but rather sayd that he was sory for thys because he had done no more theÌ„ he did and that in executing those lawes they had not bene more vehement and seuere Wherein he sayd there was no default in him but in them whom he both ofte and earnestly had exhorted to the same being therefore not a little greeued with them for that they laboured onely about the young and little sprigges and twigges whyle they should haue stroken at the roote and cleane haue rooted it out c. And concerning his persecuting
and burning them hee denyed not but that he was once at the burning of an herewygge fo◠so he termed it at Uxbridge where he tost a faggot at his face as hee was singing Psalmes and set a wynbushe of thornes vnder his feete a little to pricke him wyth many other words of like effect In the whiche words he named moreouer syr Phillip Hobby an other knight of Kent with such other of the richer and higher degree whom his Counsell was to plucke at to bring them vnder coram wherein sayd he if they had followed my aduise then had they done well and wisely This or much like was the effect of the shameles and tyrannicall excuse of hym selfe more meete to speake with the voyce of a beast then of a man Although in this Parliament some diuersitie there was of iudgement opinion betweene parties yet notwithstanding through the mercifull goodnes of the Lord the true cause of the Gospell had the vpper hand the Papistes hope was frustrate and theyr rage abated the order and proceedinges of king Edwardes time concerning religion was reuiued agayne the supremacie of the Pope abolished the articles and bloudy statutes of Queene Mary repealed briefly the furious firebrandes of cruell persecution which had consumed so many poore mens bodyes were now extinct and quenched Finally the olde Byshops deposed for that they refused the othe in renouncing the pope and not subscribing to the Queenes iust and lawfull title In whose rowmes and places first for Cardinall Poole succeeded D. Mathew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury In the place of Heth succeeded D. Young In steede of Boner Edmund Grindall was Bishop of London For Hopton Thurlby Tonstall Pates Christoferson Peto Coates Morgan Feasy White Oglethorpe c. were placed Doctor Iohn Parkust in Norwich D. Coxe in Ely Iuell in Salisbury Pilkenton in Duresme Doctor Sandes in Worcester Mayster Downam in Westchester Bentam in Couentry and Lichfield Dauid in S. Dauies Ally in Exceter Horn in Winchester Scory in Hereford Best in Carlile Bullingham in Lincoln Scamler in Peterbury Bart let in Bath Gest in Rochester Barlo in Chi. c. ¶ And here to make an end of this Story Now it remayneth to proceed further to the Appendix in supplying such thinges as haue either bene omitted or newly inserted as foloweth ⧠The Appendix of such Notes and Matters as either haue bene in this History omitted or newly inserted IN this Story of Sir Roger Acton aboue mentioned pag. 587. I finde that with him were taken many other persōs that all the prisons in about London were replenished with people The chiefe of thē which were 29. were condemned of heresy atteynted of high treason as mouers of war agaynst theyr king by the temporall law in the Guild hall the 12. day of December and adiudged to be drawne and hanged for treasō and for heresy to be consumed with fire Gallowes and all which iudgement was executed in Ianuary following on the sayde Syr Roger Acton and 28. other Some say that the occasion of theyr death was the cōueyance of the Lord Cobham out of Prison Other write that it was both for treason as the aduersaries termed it and heresy Certayne affirme that it was for feyned causes surmised by the spiritualty more of displeasure thē truth as seemeth more neare to the truth * Concerning Iohn Frith of his life and story this foloweth more to be added and to be referred to the page 103◠FIrst this Iohn Frith was borne in the Towne of Westrame in Kent who after by diligent especialles was takē in Essex flying beyond the seas brought before the Counsaile Syr Thomas More thē being Chauncellor and so from them committed vnto the Tower where he remayned prisoner the space of a quarter of a yeare or there about It chaunced that Doctour Curreyne ordinary Chapleyne vnto King Henry the eighte preached a Sermō in Lent before his Maiesty And there verye sore enueying agaynste the Sacramentaryes as they thē termed and named which fauored not the grosse opinion that Christes body was carnally reall in the Sacrament he so farre discoursed in that matter that at the length he brake out thus far and sayd It is no maruayle though this abhominable heresye doe muche preuayle among vs for there is one nowe in the Tower of London so bolde as to write in the defence of that heresye and yet no man goeth about his reformation meaning Iohn Fryth who then had aunsweared Syr Thomas More in writing agaynste a confutation of that erroneous opinion which of late before the sayd Maister More had writen agaynst Iohn Frythes assertion in that behalfe This Sermon of purpose was deuised and appoynted by the Byshop of Winchester and other to seeke the destruction of Fryth by putting the king in remembraunce that the sayd Fryth was in the Tower there stayd rather for hys sauegarde then for his punishment by suche as fauoured hym as the Lorde Cromwell who being Uicegerent in causes Ecclesiasticall came then into suspition therefore For in suche sorte was the matter handeled before the Kyng that all men mighte well vnderstande what they meant The Kynge then being in no poynte resolued of the true and sincere vnderstanding of the doctrine of that Article but rather a peruerse stout Aduersary to the contrary called to hym my Lorde of Caunterburye and my Lord Cromwell and willed them forthwith to call Fryth vnto examination so that he might eyther be compelled to recant or elles by the Lawe to suffer condigne punishment Frythes long protract in the Tower withouten examination was so heynously taken of the King that nowe my Lorde of Caunterburye with other Byshoppes as Stokesly thē bishop of London other learned mē were vndelayedly appoynted to examine Fryth And for that there shuld be no concourse of Citizens at the sayd examination my L. of Canterbury remoued to Croydon vnto whome resorted the rest of the Commissioners Nowe before the day of execution appointed my Lord of Cant. sent one of his gentlemen and one of his porters whose name was Perlebene a Welchman borne to fetche Iohn Frith from the Tower vnto Croydon This gentleman hadde both my Lords letters and the kings ring vnto my Lord Fitzwilliams Constable of the Tower then lying in Canon row at Westminster in extreme anguish and payne of the strangulion for the deliuery of the prisoner Mayster Fytzwilliams more passionate then patient vnderstanding for what purpose my Lordes gentleman was come banned and cursed Frith and all other heretickes saying take this my King vnto the Lieuetenaunt of the Tower and receiue your man your hereticke with you and I am glad that I am ridde of him When Frith was deliuered vnto my Lord of Canterburyes Gentleman they twaine with Parlebeane sitting in a Wherry and rowing towardes Lambeth The sayd Gentleman much lamenting in his mind the infelicitie of the sayd Frith began in this wise to exhort him to consider in what estate
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 theÌ„ 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 â—t to remaine the very body of Christ after the wordes of consecration pronounced by the priest and I sayd no. TheÌ„ 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 theÌ„ 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
thy oblation because it is none of thine I left it thee to relieue thy poore neighbors and thou hast not therein done according vnto this my commaundement misericordiam volo non sacrificium I had rather haue mercy done then sacrifice or oblation Wherfore vntil thou doest the one more then the other I will not accept thine oblation Euermore bestow the greatest partes of thy good in workes of mercy the lesse part in voluntary workes Uoluntary workes bee called all maner of offering in the Churche except your foure offring dayes and your tythes setting vp candles gilding and paynting building of Churches geuing of ornamēts going on pilgrimages making of high wayes and such other be called voluntary workes which works be of themselues maruellous good and conuenient to bee done Necessary workes and workes of mercy are called the commaundementes the foure offering dayes your tithe and such other that longeth to the commaundementes and workes of mercy consisteth in relieuing and vysiting thy poore neighbors Now then if men be so foolish of themselues that they will bestow the most part of theyr good in voluntary workes which they be not bounde to keepe but willingly and by theyr deuotion and leaue the necessary workes vndone which they are bounde to doe they and all theyr voluntary workes are like to goe vnto euerlasting damnation And I promise you if you builde a hundred Churches geue as much as you can make to gilding of Sayntes and honouring of the Church and if thou goe as many pilgrimages as thy body can well suffer and offer as great candles as okes if thou leaue the workes of mercye and the commaundementes vndone these workes shall nothing auaile thee No doubt the voluntary workes be good ought to be done but yet they must be so done that by theyr occasion the necessary workes and the workes of mercy be not decayed and forgotten if thou wilt builde a glorious Church vnto God see first your selues to be in charity with your neighbours suffer not them to be offended by your works Thē when you come into your parish Churche you bring with you the holy temple of God as Saynt Paule sayth you your selues be the very holy temples of God and Christ sayth by his Prophet in you I wil rest and intend to make my mansion and abiding place agayne if you list to gild and paynt Christ in your Churches and honour him in vestimentes see that before your eyes the poore people dye not for lacke of meat drinke and clothing Then do you decke the very true temple of God and honour him in rich vestures that will neuer be worne and so forth vse your selues according vnto the commaundementes and then finally set vp your candles they will report what a glorious light remayneth in your hartes for it is not sitting to see a dead man light candles Then I say go your pilgrimages builde your materiall Churches doe all your voluntary workes they will then represent vnto God and testify with you that you haue prouided him a gloryous place in your hartes But beware I say agayne that you doe not runne so farre into your voluntarye workes that ye do quite forget your necessary workes of mercye which you are bound to keepe you must haue euer a good respect vnto the best and worthiest workes toward God to be done first and with more efficacy and the other to be done secondarilye Thus if you doe with the other that I haue spoken of before you may come according to the tenor of your cardes and offer your oblations and prayers to our Lord Iesu Christ who will both heare and accept them to your euerlasting ioy and glory to the whiche he bring vs and all those whom he suffered deathe for Amen ¶ A note of William Gie. ONe William Gie seruant with Mayster Reuet marchant bought a Bible and seruice booke of Richard Waterson who then dwelt with maister Duixle in Pauls Churchyarde and one Spilman bound the booke and when the sayd Gye had enquired for the sayde Richard to haue his booke at Duxele aunswere was made that hee was not within and so the sayde Gie went his way to Spilmans for the booke and because it was not done left it there and immediately searche was made in Spilmans house and the sayd bible and seruice booke was founde caryed to Boner then Bishop of London hee hauing the bookes commaunded Spilman for the binding thereof to Lollardes Tower and as Cluny went for the key therof Spilman conueyed himselfe awaye After that Waterson and Gie being apprehended by Robin Caly Iohn Hil Iohn Auales and being two dayes in the Counter were brought before Boner and other Commissioners Beyng examined D. Story demanded Gye Wherfore he bought the Bible He aunswered to serue God withal Then said Boner our Lady matines would serue a christen man to serue God The Bible sayd Story would breed heresies a bibble babel were more fit thee So they concluded that eyther of them shoulde haue xl stripes lacking one and Boner sayd it was the law And they sayd to Waterson if he would pay xl poūd he should be released of his stripes at length they came to x. li when they saw he would not they made a warrāt to mayster Grafton and sent Waterson and Gie to Bride well to be beaten vpon the Crosse. And because the matter shoulde not be slightly handled Story was sent with thē to see it done Gie being whipped vpon the Crosse intercession was made that he might be forgeuen part of his penaunce ¶ A note of Michaels wyfe MIchaels wife afore mentioned pag. 1893. being prisoner in Ipswiche for religion resorted dayly from the prison to her husbandes house and returned agayn keeping fayth and promise And her husband thereat beyng fearefull she would comfort him saying she came not to trouble him neither shoulde hee susteyne trouble by her Wherfore she would will him to be of good cheare for her comming was of good will to see him and her children not to bring him into trouble but to shew her duety therin while she might haue libertie ¶ A note of Iohn Spycer IN Queene Maryes time there was one Iohn Spicer of whome mention is made pag. 1894. he being at the stake ready to geue his lyfe for the truth a bagge of gonpouder was brought him by his sonne And an other stāding by one named maister Beckinham tooke the gonpowder of his sonne and put it vnder the girdle of the sayd Spicer and exhorted him to be strong in the Lord also diuers of the sheriffes seruaunts comforted him in like maner and desired him not to faynt Unto whome Spicer aunswered Doubt ye not of me sayth he my soule is quiet but be you strong and stand fast in the Lord Iesus and commit your selfe to him in the confession of his holy mame and profession of his truth ¶ A note of Mandrell MAndrell standing at the stake
as is mentioned before pag. 1894. Doctor Ieffray the Chauncellour spake to him wishing him to yelde to the Doctoures who many hundreth yeares had taught otherwise then hee doth beleue c. Unto whome Mandrell aunswered M. Chauncellour sayd he trouble me with none of youre Doctours whatsoeuer they say but bring me the booke of God the olde Testament and the new and I will aunswere you What sayest thou Mandrel quod he by the sayntes in the Church the image of our Lady of the crucifixe and other holy Sayntes be they not necessary c. yes M. Chauncellour sayd hee very necessary to rost a shoulder of mutton Then Doctor Billing a frier once standing by sayd Mayster Chauncellour quod hee heare howe these heretickes speake agaynst the crucifixe and the holy crosse and yet the holy Crosse is mentioned in all the tongues both Hebrew Greek and Latine For in Latine it is called t. in Greeke tau c. Whereupon one Thomas Gilford a marchaunt of Poole standing by sayd ah mercifull Lord sayd he is not this a maruellous matter for a poore man thus to be charged and put to the paynes of fire for t. tau When Maundrell and Spicer were examined before the Chauncellour the Chauncellour called them saying Come on come on sayth he thou Spicer art to blame for thou haste taught Maundrell these heresies Thou arte by thy occupation a Brickeleyer Yea that I am And can sing in the Quyre Yea that I can sayth he And can play on the Orgaynes True sayth hee Well then sayde the Chauncellour and thou hast marred this poore man and hast taught him all these heresies No Mayster Chauncellour quoth he I haue not taught him but I haue read to him He is able thankes be to God to teache both you and me ¶ A note of Elizabeth Pepper ELizabeth Pepper before mentioned pag. 1916. when she was burned at Stratford was xj weekes gone with child as she then testified to one Bosomes wife who then vnloosed her neckerchiefe saying moreouer whē she was asked why she did not tell them aunswered why quoth she they know it well enough Oh suche is the bloudy hartes of this cruell generation that no occasion can stay them from their mischieuous murdering of the saintes of the Lord that truly professe Christ crucified onely and alone for the satisfaction of their sinnes ¶ A note of one confessing Gods truth at the Gallowes A Notorious fellone one Dick Adams beyng vpon the gallowes making his confession and ready to be caste downe from the ladder was desired at that instant by one maistres Harries the Grammer schoolemaisters wyfe to remember the blessed sacrament before he died to whome the said Adams sayde marrie maistresse neuer in better tyme who went vp to the toppe of the ladder and sayde it was the most abhominable idoll that euer was and willed all men to take it so for we haue bene greatly deceyued thereby Whereupon the Shiriffe caused him to holde his peace and to take his death patiently He went down to his place and was cast from the ladder speaking to his last worde that it was an abhominable Idoll his bodye therfore was buryed out of the Church yarde by the high way who although he was a chiefe in his life yet he earnestly repented thereof that I doubt not but he dyed the childe of God and not vnworthy to be put in the register of the Lordes accepted Confessors ¶ A note of Gertrude Crokehay IN the late dayes of queene Mary among other straūge dealinge of the Papistes with the faythfull this is not with the rest to be forgotten that a godly Matrone named Gertrude Crokhay the wife of Mayster Robert Crokehay dwellinge then at S. Katherins by the Tower of London absteyned her selfe from the Popish church And she being in her husbands house it happened in an 1556. that the foolish popishe Saynt Nicholas went aboute the Parish which she vnderstanding shut her doores agaynst him and would not suffer him to come within her house Then Doctor Mallet hearing therof and being thē maister of the sayd Saint Katherins the next day came to her with xx at his tayle thinking belike to fray her and asked why she would not the night before let in Saynt Nicholas and receiue his blessing c. To whom she aunswered thus Syr I know no Saynt Nicholas sayd she that came hither Yes quoth Mallet here was one that represēted S. Nicolas In deed sir sayd she here was one that is my neighbours childe but not S. Nicholas For S. Nicholas is in heauen I was afrayd of them that came with him to haue had my purse cutte by them For I haue heard of men robbed by Saint Nicholas Clerkes c. So Mallet perceiuing nothing to be gotten at her handes went his way as he came and she for that time so escaped Then in an 1557. a litle before Whitsontide it happened that the sayd Gertrude aunswered for a childe that was baptised of one Thomas Saunders whiche childe was christened secretly in a house after the order of the seruice booke in king Edwardes time and that being shortly knowne to her enemies she was sought for which vnderstanding nothing therof wēt beyond the sea into Gelderland for to see certayne lands that should haue come to her childrē in the right of her first husband who was a straūger borne And being there about a quarter of a yeare at the length comming homeward by Antwarpe chaunced to meet with one Iohn Iohnson a dutch man alias Iohn Dewille of Antwarpe shipper who seing her there went of malice to the Margraue and accused her to be an Anabaptist whereby she was taken and caried to prison The cause why this noughtye man did thus was for that hee claymed of Mayster Crokhay her husband a piece of money which was not his due for a shippe that the sayd master Crokhay bought of him and for that he could not get it wrought this displeasure Well she being in prison lay there a fortnight in whiche time she sawe some that were Prisoners there who priuily were drowned in Renishe wine fattes and after secretly put in sackes and cast into the Riuer Now she good woman thinking to be so serued tooke thereby such feare that it brought the beginning of her sickenes of the which at length she dyed Then at the last she was called before the Margraue and charged with Anabaptistrye which shee there vtterly denyed detested the error declaring before him in dutch her fayth boldly without any feare So the Margraue hearing the same in the ende being well pleased with her profession at the sute of some of her frendes deliuered her out of prison but tooke away her booke and so she came ouer into England agayne And being at home in her husbandes house he thinking to finde meanes to gette her to go abroad made one Uicars a yeoman of the Tower hys frend who was great with Boner to worke that liberty for her
euill world according to the will of God our father to whome be praise for euer and euer Amen Oh my brethren of Hadley why are ye so soone turned from them which called you in the grace of Christ vnto an other doctrine whiche is nothing els but that there be some which trouble you and entēd to peruert the gospell of the Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ. Neuerthelesse though these shoulde come vnto you that haue bene your true preachers and preache an other way of saluatiō then by Iesus Christes death and passion hold them accursed Yea if it were an Aungell came from heauen and woulde tell you that the sacrifice of Christes body vpon the crosse oute for all euer for all the sinnes of all those which shal be saued were not sufficient accursed be he If he were an aungell or what soeuer he were that would say that our seruice in English were not right Gods seruice but will better allow that moste wicked mumming that you nowe haue Those what soeuer they be except they doe repent allow the Gospell of Iesus Christ they shall neuer come into that kingdome that Christ hath prepared for those that be his Wherefore my dearly beloued brethren of Hadley remember you well what you haue bene taught heretofore of the Lorde Gods true and simple Prophetes that onely did wish your health and consolation Do not my good brethren I pray you forget the comfortable worde of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christe Come vnto me all you that are troubled and loden with the daungers that yeare in these stormy dayes and heare my wordes and beleue them and you shal see the vnspeakable comfort that you shal receue The Lord is my shepheard sayth the Prophet Dauid so that I cā want nothyng He feedeth his sheepe in greene pastures and leadeth thē vnto cleare and holsome waters of comfort I am that good Shepheard sayth our Sauiour Iesus Christe for I geue my lyfe for my sheepe and I knowe my sheepe and my sheepe know me but my sheepe will not know an hyerling for hee careth not but onely for his God the belly and so seeketh the destruction of theyr soules Therefore beware of hirelinges you that count your selues the sheep of Iesus Christ. Be sure that ye know his voyce and obey it and be not deceiued through straunge voyces but goe from them and earnestly abide by your professiō that you haue made in your baptisme and shrinke not from it For if you do you shall declare your selues to be a vayne people and without vnderstanding And for this cause doth God plague his people and suffereth them to be deceiued with false Prophets wicked men I pray you note what that Prophet Esay sayth to the people of those dayes because they were slipping from the Lord theyr God which had done so maruellous workes for them as you well do know in the historyes of the Bible Heare O heauen sayeth he and harken thou earth for the Lord hath spoken I haue nourished and brought vppe children but they haue done wickedly agaynst me The Oxe hath knowne hys owner and the Asse his maysters Cribbe but Israel hath receiued no knowledge My people hath no vnderstanding Alas for this sinnefull nation a people of great iniquity a froward generation vnnaturall children They haue forsaken the Lorde they haue prouoked his wrath are gone backeward Harken also what the Prophet Hieremy sayth Be astonyed ye heauens be afrayde and ashamed at suche a thing sayeth the Lorde for my people hath done two euilles They haue forsaken me the well of the waters of life and digged them brokē pittes that can hold no water Is Israel a bond seruaunt or one of the householde of the Lord Why then is he so spoiled Why then do they roare and cry vpō him as a Lyon Understand those thinges now in these dayes that the Prophet spake of thē O my brethren of Hadley Why commeth this plague vpon vs that we haue now in these dayes and other times Harken what the Prophets say commeth not this vpon thee because thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God Thyne owne wickednesse shall reproue thee and thy turning away shall condemne thee that thou mayst know and vnderstand how euill and hurtful a thing it is that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God and not feared him sayth the Lord God of hostes the holy one of Israell that is to say he that maketh Israell holy And vnderstande by Israell the children of God and those things that were spoken to the carnall Israel are spoken vnto vs that are or should be the spirituall Israell Grace be with you all Amen Yours Iohn Alcock Prisoner for Gods word in Newgate at London * The second Epistle of Iohn Alcock MY Brethren of Hadley note well what S. Paul said in the x. chap. to the Corinth Brethren I would you should not be ignoraunt of this that our fathers were all vnder the cloud and all passed through the Sea and were baptised vnder Moyses in the cloud and in the sea dyd all eate one spirituall meate and dronke of one spirituall drinke They dronke of that spiritual rocke that foloweth them which rocke was Christ neuerthelesse in manye of them had God no delight for they were ouer smittē in the wildernesse These are examples vnto vs tha◠we should not lust after euill thinges as they lusted that is to say we should stand forth to defend the verity of God which we do right well alas were it not for losse of goodes we do so much lust after them that we will rather say there is no God then we will professe his word to be truth to the losing of our goodes And our Sauiour Christ sayth he that is not content to forsake Father and Mother Wife and children house and lande corne and cattell yea and hys owne life for my truthes sake is not meete for me And if we bee not for our Lorde God then we muste needes be meete for the Deuill and we must needes be seruauntes to one of them If we bee not ashamed of the Gospell of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ but earnestly confesse it to the vttermost of our power thē are we sure to be confessed of our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ and that before the Angels in heauen to be his seruants But if we will so lust to keepe our goodes and rather deny hym then to loose our goodes then doth it folow whose seruantes we are Therefore my deare brethren of Hadley beware that you doe not consent to any thing agaynst your conscience For if you do beware of Gods great wrath I exhort you therfore my beloued brethren in the Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ to stand fast in your profession and become not manifest runne awayes from the truth of our Lord God but stick earnestly to it and doubt not but our Lord God wil
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
for her godly zeale to the truth detestatioÌ„ of papistry 2145.2146 Crosse in this life a token of Gods election .1652 oughte paciently to be borne of euery true Christian man .1835 what fruit it bringeth ibid. Crosbowmaker his story 1229. Creed not made al by the Apostles 684.685 Crosmans wife her trouble deliuery 2073 Cromwell his notable Story his rare commendation .1177 hys voyage to Rome with his actes there .1178 receiued into the Cardinalles seruice complayned of to the king made knight M. of the Roles and Earle of Essex .1179 he was a great suppressor of Abbeyes 1181. his Oration to the Byshoppes .1182 his curtesy to his olde frendes .1186 appreheÌ„ded and crimes laid agaynst him 1187. his death 1190 Cromwell the onely preferrer of Boner 1088 C V. Cup debarred in the administratioÌ„ of the Lordes supper 1778 Custome for woll raysed 388 Custome letteth Edwine to bee Christened 121 Custome and Ueritye a Dialogue betwene them 1388 Custome without truth agaynst truth what 121 Custome of sinne a perilous and daungerous matter 1932 Cuspinianus girdeth the pope 304 Cutbert Symson his story .2031 his fingers grated thorow wyth an arrow racked .2032 his visioÌ„ 2033. articles ministred agaynst him .2033 his martirdome 2034 Cutbert Archbishop of Caunterbury his synodall decrees 128 Cuthlake a Popish Saint .125 his lying miracles ibid. Cursse of the pope hurteth not but rather profiteth the godly 545.546 Cursing with booke bell and candle 202.1038 Curssinges of Papistes taken for great blessinges 1038 Curde Martyr burned at Northhampton 202â— C Y. Cyprian his Apollogy for the christians 68 Cyprian banished for the Gospell and writeth to the chrisâ—iaâ—s out of exile exhorting them to constancy in the trueth .66 his countrey and education he was elect Byshop of Carthage his modestye patience visions and moste constaunt Martyrdome for the truth of Christes Gospell .69 his Sentences 70 Cyprians diuers of that name 71 D. A. DAbney his trouble happy deliuerance 2071. Dale a popishe promoter eaten wyth lice 2101. Dale troubled for the gospels truth and dyed in prison 2045.2046 Dalaber his story 1195.1196.1197.1198 Damiâ—ta taken of the Christians 273.268 Damasus the 2. Pope 168. Damasus subdued of the Sarazens 737. Damlip persecuted in Calice .1223 his martyrdome 1229. Danes and their story 135. they inuade England ibid. Danes driuen froÌ„ Norfolke Chester and diuers other places .142 at the last expelled England 163. Danes by conspiracy slayne thorough out all England 161. Danes field at Merton 141. Dane gilt released 199. Dane gilt 160. Dante 's an Italian writer against the Pope 390. Dandalus submitteth himselfe for his crueltie 368. Daruell Gatheren a filthy idoll in Wales 1100. Daughter compelled to set fire to her father 774. Dangerfield and his wife theyr tragicall history 1953. Dauies a childe vnder 12. yeares of age condemned for the sixe articles and preserued 2073. Dauid of Wales 119. Dauid king of Scottes inuadeth England and is taken prisoner 386. Dauid beaten a persecutor his fearfull dâ—ath 1272. Dauids stocke feared of the Empyre of Rome .40.48 is sought for and murthered ibid. Day martyr his story 2037 D. E. Dead men excommunicate by the Pope 393. Death of Martyrs the life of the Gospell 1932. Death of Charles 9. frenche kyng with the Cardinall of Lorayne 2154. Death of Hus and Hierome of Prage reuenged 656. Death of king Lucius 107. Debnam hanged for taking downe Douer Court Roode 1031. Decius Emperoure a persecutor 59.60 Decius a tyraunt a cruell persecutor of poore Christians his death 66. Declaration of the preachers in prison 1469. Decretall Epistles confuted 58. Decree that no secular man should geue any spiritual liuing 169. Decree beginning ego Ludouicus proued false 5. Decrees of the councell of Basill godly 696. Decrees of Fabianus forged 60 Decrees of Anselme 194. Decrees of Laterane councell in Rome 230. Decree of Spyres resisted by the Protestantes 872. Decrees of Pope Urbanus 185. Dedication of Churches 53. Dedication of Churches 1404. Degradation of an archbishop wiâ—h the order and ridiculous manner thereof 2133.2134.2135 Degradation froÌ„ the order of deaconship subdeaconship Benet and Colet exorcising readership dorekeeper or sextonship 2134.2135 Degradation of Thom. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury 2133.2134.1883 Degradation ridiculous of the popes best maner 517. Degradation of M. Hooper 1768. Degradation popishe the manner thereof 879. Deicham why so called 115. Degrees in the Church distincted 21. Degrees of Mariage forbid by the Pope 859. Degrees prohibited by the lawes of God to mary in 1053 Defence of Richard Hunne against Syr Thomas More and Alanus Copus 811. Defence of the Lord Cobham agaynst Ala. Copus 568. Defence of M. Bilney agaynst sir Thomas More 1008.1009 Deposition concerning the murthering of Richard Hunne 810. Defence of Wickliffe by Ioh. Hus in Prage 451.452 Defence of the Garnesey story agaynst M. Harding 1946.1947 1948. Defender of the fayth no meete title for any man 1754. Defection of the Romish Church from the old fayth and church of Rome 23.29 Demaundes for the Papistes to aunswere vnto 17. Denyers returne agayne to theyr former profession 37. Denie Martyr hys story and martyrdome 1912. Denis Burgis Martyr his story 1983.1994 Denley martyr his story and martyrdome 1683.1684.1686.1688 Denton burned in his owne house 2103. Deposition agaynst M. Bilney 1000. Derifall his story and martyrdom 1914.1915.1916 Description of Lollardes Tower with the sondry kindes of tormentes therein 1703. Descension of Christ into hell 873 Deuotion without knowledge is hurtfull 1114. Deuill and the pope alike 1890. Deuenish martyr 2033.2034 Deuill tame his story 2108. D. I. Diadumenus Emperour 57. Dialogue betweene Tho. Bilney and frier Brusiard 1002. Dialogue betweene custome and truth 1388. Dicke Adams his confession of the truth at the gallows dehortation from papistry 2145 Didacy a crafty Fryer temptyng Iohn Hus. 600. Didimus a good christian souldier martyr preseruer of Theodora her chastitie 63. Diet of Norenberge 854. Difference betweene Byshoppes and Priestes how it is come 1066. Difference betweene the Churche of Rome that nowe is and the Churche of Rome that was 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.12.14.20.281.107 Difference betweene Priests and Monkes 150.1181 Difference betweene the Greeke Churche the Romayn church 286.287.186 Difference about the celebration of Easter 44.45.54 Difference betweene the law and the Gospell 26. Difference betweene Peter and the Pope 1120. Difference betweene Christes naturall body and the sacrament thereof 1145. Difference betweene the Papistes and the Protestantes in the reall presence of the Lordes supper 1761 Dignities ecclesiasticall in the haÌ„ds of strangers valued 429 Dighton murtherer of his Prince 728 Dionisius Corinthius an ecclesiasticall writer 53 Dionisius willed by God to flie persecution 62 Dionisius Areopagita hys booke de Hierarchia suspected 53 Dionisius bishop of Alexandria with others banished his story .72 his death 73 Dionisius bishop of AlexaÌ„dria writeth to Fabius 61 Dionisius Alexandrinus his Epistle to Germanus 62. Dines Martyr his story and martyrdome 2042 Dioclesian Emperor a tyrant raiser
from his enemies 210 Masse not of Christes institution 1602 Masse layd downe first in Wittenberge 854 Masse brought into Hadley wyth sword and buckler 1519 Masses priuate abhominable 1151 Masse iniurious to the death of Christ .1397 how old it is 2040 how it sprang vp by piecemeale by sundry men at sundry times 1401 Masses for the dead theyr foundations .508 vnprofitable 665 Masse put downe at Zuricke .869 ouerthrowen at Berne Basill Geneua Constance Strausburgh other places 871.872 Masses 3. appoynted on Christmas day by whome 1404. Massey her story and martyrdome 1943.1944 Mattens of our Lady full of popish blasphemies 1598. Mattens saying instituted by man 1114. Mathias Parisiensis a writer agaynst the Pope hys doctrine and protestation 419. Mathias stoned and beheaded 33. Mathias Huniades sonne his worthy acts against the Turk .722 his great learning and library 723 Mathew the Apostle put to death 33. Mathew Bradbrige martyr hys story and martyrdome 1970. Mathew Richarbie martyr hys story and martyrdome 2037.2038.2039 Mathew Plaise his trouble examination and aunsweres 1982.1983 Matild the Empresse her ariuance in England agaynst king Stephen 201. Matild daughter of king Henry heyre to the Crowne 199. Maturus and Sanctio Martyrs 47. Mantels theyr execution and apollogie against the slaunder of reuolting 1468. Mauricius his story .80 he and his companie martyred 81. Maundrell hys trouble for the gospell with his constancie therein 2144. Maximilianus Emperour his mariage .729 his edicte agaynst the Pope 734. Maximilian Emperour writer of hys owne storyes .730 maryeth the Duches of Burgoyn 729. Maximilian Emperour his death 847. Maximinus his finall decree for the christians with hys large graūt his deathe 86.87 Maximinus Cesar Emperour 59 hys bloudy edicte agaynst the Christians grauen in brasse 83. Maximinus with 6. moe martyrs 63. Maximinus described killeth hys Phisitions is plagued of God hys countermaund in the behalf of the Christians 82. Maximinus the Yonger his bloudy persecution 83. Maxentius a sorcerer feared for his exorcismes .85 drowned in a riuer ibid. Maxentius Cesar hys shamefull inconstancie and incontinency 84. Maydes 2. racked for Christ. 39. Maydes two sisters and martyrs 78. Maxentius and Pharao both drowned in theyr harnes 2115. Maximinus eaten vp with lice 2115. M E. Measures of England made after the length of K. Henries arme 191 Meates indifferent with thankesgeuyng 16 Medleton Martyr his story and martyrdome 1673.1676 Mediator one and what a mediator is 1109 Mediator one onely is namelye Christ Iesus 28 Memento for the dead 1404 Men sold by the Pope like beasts 346 Mendlesam in Suffolke persecuted 1912 Menas an Egiptian his story and lyfe 90 Menna began to vsurpe the name of vniuersall bishop 12. Mekins Martyr his story martyrdome for the truth 1202 Mellitus the first Bishop of London 118 Meluin his trouble for the gospell with his letter concernyng the sacrament of the Lordes supper out of Newgate 2140.2141 Mercy pity commended amongst Christians 488 Mercia deuided into v. bishoprikes 124 Merindoll and Cabriers their tragicall history and persecution for the truth of Christes Gospell and constant profession thereof 943 Merindoll and Cabriers destroyed by the papists with most bloudy cruelty 952.953.954 Mercuria with other Martyrs 62. Meriall his trouble story 1257. Merimouth compiler of King Edwards story 395 Messengers of the Popes hanged 393 Merton colledge in Oxford built 351 Messana wonne by the Christian Englishmen 243 Metra a godly Martyr 61 Methodius prophesies of the turkes 708 Metrodorus with others Martyrs 44 M I. Michaels wyfe of Ipswich troubled for the Gospell 2144 Michaels wyfe Martyr 1704 Michael generall of the black Friers excommunicate for an heretike 389 Michael house in Cambridge foūded 373 Michael de causis enemy to Iohn Hus his lyfe described 599. Miles Forrest murtherer of hys Prince 728. Miles Couerdale correcter of the Bibles printed at Paris 1191 Milles his story and scourgyng by Boner 2044.2045 Millers and Bakers their punishment first inuented where and by whom 339 Miltiades ecclesiasticall writer .53 last bishop of Rome in danger of persecution 97 Milke issuyng forth at the beheadyng of S. Paule 35 Milke of our Lady .1110 spouted into the eyes of S. Bernard 1213 Milles Martyr his story Martyrdome 2042 Militzius a Bohemian persecuted by the Pope 237 Minorite Friers 259 Minerius a bloudy persecuter .951 his wretched death 953 Minerius plagued of God 2107 Minge his trouble for the Gospell died in prison 1665 Minard his sodaine death 2112 Miracle wrought by Narcissus 54 Miracles of Images reprooued how the deuill may worke miracles in them 535 Miracles lying reprooued 156 Miracles of Tho. Becket Archb. of Canterbury and traitor to the crowne false and counterfeit 225.226 Miracle of an herbe touching the hein of Christes picture to heale all diseases 75 Miracle false wel spyed forth by K. Edward .1 351 Miracles fayned 35.125 Miracles 3. noted in Martin Luther 864 Mistery and sacrament what difference betwixt them 1990 Mistically what it is 2001 Missa from whence deriued howe deduced to suche corruption as now it is come to 959.1397 Missa falsely deriued from the Hebrew 959.960 Misia how conquered of the Turkes 1125 Mischiefes arising by restrayning of mariage 29 M O. Monkes of Bangor comming to Chester to pray were all slayne and murthered 119 Monkes their deuice to driue away theyr guestes 2108 Monkes of the olde time differed from the Monkes of latter daies and wherein .153 of 2. sortes in the primitiue Church ibid. Monkes of Canterbury striue for the election of theyr Archbishop 239.250 Monkes of Cluniacke order by whom 154 Monkes put out of Euesham Abbey 150 Monkes of Dyrham in contention with theyr king 172 Monkes of Canterbury their dissention with King Henry the 3. 272.258 Monks how they differ from priestes and how they began in England 150 Monkes of the old time 154.1180 Monkes of Caunterbury slayne tithed 161 Monkes displaced seculer priestes put in 152.249 Monkes of Norwich in contentiō with the Citizens 339. Monkes .6 for denying the supremacy executed 1210 Monkes Fryers c. enemies to spirituall pouerty 1752 Monkes of Caunterbury at strife with the Canons of Liechfield 272 Monks whē they began to swarm in England 152 Monke absolued for poysoninge of king Iohn 256 Monkery howe it first beganne in England 150 Monkery mother of superstition 154 Monasteries of floriacke 150 Monasteries and Abbeyes builte whereupon and for what causes for the most part 154.279 1180 Monasteries builte by the Saxon kinges 133 Money comming out of Englande to the Pope of Bishoprickes benefices collations and such lyke deuises infinite 285.288 Money made of lether 310 Montanus the Hereticke inuentor of fast and of lent 53 Morden Monk of Feuersham his sermon of confession 540 Moone and his wife theyr trouble for the Gospell preserued frō the fire by Gods wonderfull prouidence 1941.1942 Moone his trouble and persecution 665.666 Mourning how it ought to be measured 1927 Montgomery slew Henry the french king in
and martyrdome 667.668 Reall presence with the absurdities and inconueniences therof 1443 Reasons why matters of controsy are not to be caried out of the Countries where they fel to the Pope to be decided 10 Reasons prouing that no Christian may resort to the popish masse Mattens and Euensong with a good conscience 1647 Reasons proouing the Religion in Q. Maryes tune to be nought 1727 Rebellion in Cornewall and Deuonshyre with theyr Articles .1303 discomfited 1304·1305 1307 Rebellion in Northfolke Yorkeshyre and diuers other places in the realme agaynst K. Edward 6 1308 Rebellion in Lincolneshyre repressed .1086 in Yorkeshyre .1087 in Deuonshire and Cornwall 1305 Recantation of Cranmer with his repentaunce for the same 1884 Redman Doctor his iudgement in cases of Religion 1360 Reseruation of the Church how it began and when 840 Reseruation of the Sacrament by whom introduced 1404 Regiment of the Popes Churche how far it differeth from the regiment of the primitiue church 19 Register booke in euery Parish 1096 Reimundus the good king of Tholouse disinherited by the Pope .269 excommunicate 271 Religion of the Protestantes elder then the Religion of the sedicious Papistes by 1000. yeares 1821 Religion reformed at Zuricke .867 at Berne Constance Geneua Strausburgh 870 Religion set forth in the daies of K. Edwarde the sixte commended 1902 Religion Christian when it began .50 esteemed by Auncestors and Graundfathers by time place 1993 Religion of the Papistes more hurt full to the state of the Churche then the doctrine of the Lutherans 2110 Religion reformed in king Edward 6. his dayes 1298.1299 Religion going backeward in England and the causes why .1134 hindered by discord 1373 Religion of Christ and of the pope 2. cleane contrary thinges 29 Reliques adored 28 Reliques offering and Sacrifice brought into the masse by whom 129 Remission of sinnes foure thinges therein to be considered necessarily concurring 27 Remission of sinnes sold for mony 860 Remedies agaynst the temptations of the Deuill and the worlde 1830. Replye of the Prelates of Fraunce agaynst the Lord Peter 354 Renold Pecocke his story 709 Remerius Inquisitour agaynst the Waldenses 236 Repington Canon of Leicester after Bishop of Lincolne a cruell persecutour 442 Repington of a zelous Professour become a most cruel and a bloudy persecutor of Christes poore meÌ„bers 437.444.530.539 Reuet his fearefull and straunge death 1917.1918 Reuenewes goynge yearlye oute of Englande to the Pope muche more then the Crowne it selfe 326 Reynold Eastland Martir his story and Martirdome 2037.2038 2039. Resistance agaynste the Pope no new thing 317 Restitution of Abbey landes by Q. Mary 1559.1560 R I. Richard 1. crowned king of England 235 Richard king of England Phillippe King of Fraunce theyr coÌ„clusion to go to the holy land 235 Richarde Kyng of Englande hys voyage to the holy land .241.251 his Actes and Exploytes by the way and there achieued .243.244 chargeth the french kyng with falshood 244. taken prisoner â—ould to the Emperour and is raunsomed 248. Richard the 2. hys commission and letters against the Gospellers 505. his letter to the Pope 506. Rich .2 his letters to Pope Boniface 9.509 his vertues and vices deposed with articles against him .513 hee beheaded his vncle innocently .513 is committed to the Tower and dyed in prison 514. Richard 3. vsurper crowned kyng of England .728 hys death 729. Richard king of Almayne hys death 339. Richard Archbishop of Caunterbury stayed froÌ„ goyng to Rome by the king 233. Richard Atkins Martyr his cruell death and Martyrdome at Rome for the Gospell and the constaunt profession thereof 2151. Richard Belward hys trouble and persecution 660. Richard Belward hys testimony for the Lord Cobham 577. Richard Bayfield Marty his story .1021 articles obiected against him ibid. hys aunsweres to the same .1022 hys condemnation and degradatian .1023 his constant martyrdome for the trueth of Christes Gospell 1024. Richard Dobbes Alderman of London and knight his commeÌ„dations 1774. Richard Earle Marshall hys admonition to the king .278 hys death 280. Richard Chauncellour of Lincoln made archbishop of Caunterbury complayneth of his king of Hubert Earle of Kent and others to the Pope and dyeth in comming from Rome 274 Richard Day martyr hys story 2037. Richard Feurus Martyr 914 Richard Grafton printer of the great Bibles 1191. Richard Houeden Martyr 665.666 Richard Lush Martyr hys story and condemnation and martyrdome 2004. Richard Denton burnt in hys own house who before woulde not burne in the Lordes cause 1717 Richarby Martyr his story 2037.2038.2039 Richard Spencer Martyr his story 1202. Richard Spurge his story 1895. Richard Sharpe Martyr his story and martyrdome 2052. Richard Turner a faithfull preacher of Christes veritie in Kent hys trouble for the same 1868.1869 Richard Turming his story and martyrdome 639.640 Richard Monke recanted 642. Richard Gibson Martyr his story and Martyrdome .2025.2026.2027 his Articles propounded to Boner to be aunswered vnto 2034. Richard Nichols Martyr hys story and martyrdome 1909. Richard Lee notary 477. Richard Webbe his trouble for the Gospell 1601 Richard Wich Priest and Martyr taken for a Sainct 701. Richard Wilmot scourged for the Gospell 2058. Richard Wright Richard Colliare and 4. others martyrs at Canterbury 1688. Richard White confessor hys story â—054 Richard Woodman Martyr hys tragicall story .1983.1984 hys apprehension 1985. his first examination .1986 his second examination and aunsweres .1989.1990 his 3. examination .1992 his fourth examination .1997.1998 his fift examination .1999.2000 his last examination and aunsweres .2001.2002 his condemnation martyrdome 2003. Ridleyes talke with Bourne 1426. Richard Rothe Martyr his story and Martyrdome 2013.2014.2015.2016.2017 Richard Yeoman Martyr burned at Norwiche for the Gospell and the true profession thereof 2045. Richard Hook Martyred at Chichester for the trueth of the Gospell 1688 Richard Hunne his story .805 articles obiected agaynst him wyth his aunsweres .806 murthered in Prison .806.807 his Corpes burned after his death sentence definitiue agaynste him beinge deade .808 his Defence agaynste Syr Thomas More and Alanus Copus 811 Richard Mekins his story martyrdome 1202 Richarde Pottâ— Persecutour hys death 2103 Richard Pacie his story 989 Ringing of Curphew by Thomas Arundell 554 Ringing in the Archbishoppe at S. Albons 555 Rigges UicechauÌ„cellor of Oxford 502 Rictionarus a cruell Helhounde to the poore Christians he made riuers of theyr bloud 79 Ridley his treatise against the worshipping of Images and setting of them vp in churches and temples 2128.2129.2130.2131 Ridley refused of Queene Mary to preach before her .1396 sent to Oxford to dispute 1428 Ridley his excellent story .1717 his conference with Mayster Latimer in prison .1718.1719 articles ministred agaynst him .1760 hys Examinations and Aunsweres .1761 his supplication to Quene Mary .1768 his death and constant martyrdome for Gods truth 1769.1770 his letters and farewelles to England 1770.1774.1777.1779.1784.1786 Riches and pride of the Cleargy the fountayne of mischiefe 210â— Riches of the Popes Clergy how they ought to be employed 2109 Riding of the Pope the
No man so 〈◊〉 but he may learne The copy of Syr Edward BayntoÌ„s letter to M. Latimer These friendes of M. Bayâ—toÌ„ 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. BayntoÌ„ will follow the most number Note the proceedynge of the Popeâ— Church which would not haue the people certayne of Gods truth and religion Errour and false doctrine would fayne lye still in peace and noâ— be stirred Vnity in the Lord in Baptisme in fayth The Chayne of christen charity Answere of M. Latimer to M. BayntoÌ„s 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◠〈◊〉 Certaâ—ne knowledge Clâ—are knowledge M. Latimer not 〈◊〉 of the 〈…〉 Which 〈…〉 had knowledg without any 〈…〉 while thâ—y knowing the will of God doe nothing theâ— after 1. 〈…〉 that alâ—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 â—â—rnall and Philosophicall vnderstanding of Gods 〈◊〉 is not the wisedome of God which is hidde from the wiâ—e and iâ— reuealed to litle ones Euery Preacher ought to be suâ—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 theÌ„ 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 wherâ—â—pon disseÌ„tion comâ—eth iâ— the 〈…〉 He 〈…〉 Pope and his Papists which 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 K. Henry and 〈◊〉 brâ—thers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be taken where 〈◊〉 is geuen The church of the Galathians Erasmus in 〈◊〉 epistle set before the Paraâ—â—rase in â—â— 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 mouÌ„taines 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 witâ— 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 iudgmeÌ„t 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 wilâ— be busie with Vâ— Vobis let him looke shortly for coraÌ„ nobis Iohannes do tuâ—â—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 malignaÌ„t 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 â—â—tter of M. â—aâ—imer to â— Henry August ad Caâ—ulaâ—uÌ„ Chrisost. M. Latimer tâ—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 conâ—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. 1â— 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 deâ—struction Vnder the 〈…〉 Christes Gospell Obiection preuented and aunswered The cause and causeâ—s of 〈◊〉 kinges Proclamation against â—he reading of Scripture booke in 〈◊〉 He meaneâ—h oâ— Cronmer Cromwell one or two moâ— agaynst whom the Bishop of Winchester his faction
1â— 2. Cor. â— An other 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 〈◊〉 16. Math. 26. Marke 24. Luke 22. 2. Cor. 11. No sacrifice of the Masse is to be made for sinne Heb. 9.10 Luke 11. Apocalip 18. Peter 4.3 Apocalip 23. An other letter of Thomas Whittell to a godly womaâ— To be strong agaynst Sathan and not to feare persecution Good counsell not to forsake the Lord for persecution The story of M. Bartlet Grene gentleman and Martyr Ianuary 27. Bartlet Grene student at Oxford M· Grene conuerted by the Lecture of Peter Martyr Iohn 4. M. Grene studeÌ„t in the Temple at London A good note or lesson for young Lawyers to marke and follow What leaude company doth i. Agreement of mindes ioyning in vnitye of fayth growing vp in charitye is true and stedfast amitye Farewell my Bartrame and remember me that euer we may be like together fare wel at Newgate Ianuary 20. An. 1556. Large 〈◊〉 offered 〈◊〉 M. 〈◊〉 by Doctâ—â— Bartlet 〈◊〉 returne to the Church of Rome Friendship betweene Christopher Goodman and M. Grene. Occasion of apprehending of M. Grene came by letters intercepted M. Grene examined by the counsell of his fayth Iohn Bourne a stirrer of persecution A letter from thâ— Counseâ—l to Boner Post script M Grene presented before B. Boner M. d ee was â—et vnder band of recognisance for the good â—â—earing sorth comming till Christmas next after M. Grene committed 〈◊〉 to the Fleete and vpon what occasion D. Chadsey witnesseth agaynst M. Grene. Talke betweene M. Grene and the Commissioners Perswasion of M. Welch to M. Grene. Aunswere of M. Grene to M. Welche Modestye of M. Grene. Rom. 9. The spirite of God addicted neyther to person nor place The end of all controuersies is to know the true Church Markes of the true Church * By this instrument he meaneth Peter Martyr M. Grene seeking his knowledge of God with teares M. Welche replyeth to M. Grene. * Where Philpot was he meaneth to whom he wrote this letter Friendly entertaynment of M. Grene in Bishop Boners house for a time M. Grene had in priuate examination before the Bishop M. Grene vrged with the literall sense of the wordes this is my body Causes mouing M. Grene from the literall sense of the woedes aforesayd Argument Why the words of Christ of his body must be taken Spiritually Argument Reasons mouing M. Grene to take the wordes Spiritually not literally The last exâ—aminatioÌ„ of M. Grene. A draught of Mayster Grenes confession gathered by the Bishops Register Ex Regist. Transubstantiatioâ— denyed M. Grene refusing to heare massâ— Sacrifice of the Masse not maintaynable by Gods word M. Grene agaynst the Sacrament of the Altar Auricular confession refused M. Grene 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 â—rought 〈◊〉 the CoÌ„sistory â— Articles 〈…〉 M. Grene. M. Grene 〈…〉 Doctors 〈◊〉 with â—ifferent â—â—â—gement 〈◊〉 more agaynst the Papistes 〈◊〉 with them Chrisost. Ad popul Aâ—tioch * 〈…〉 vp 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 behind him but Christ aâ—cending 〈◊〉 â—ooke 〈◊〉 and also 〈…〉 him Chrisost. in 1. Cor. 10. 〈◊〉 not the 〈◊〉 which we 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the Lordes body M. Grene 〈◊〉 a ranke Papist 〈◊〉 report of Peter Martyr Peter Martyr first 〈◊〉 froÌ„ Popery to the truth iâ— prayer and reading 〈◊〉 Doctors One holy Catholicke church True markes of the Church Disagreement noted amongest piofessors of the Gospell by Fecknam The Gospellers in words seeme to discent but in effect do agreeâ— with the worâ— Boner forbiddeth M. Grene to be called Maister Note the blind ignorance of Pendleton as though the kingdome of Christ was not gotten at the death of Christ. This Bishop belyke was the Bishop of Winchester In the old time excommunicatioÌ„ was the greatest penalty in matters of fayth and conscience Sentence geuen agaynst M. Grene. The wordes of M. Grene to his friendes by the way going to Newgate Verses of M. Grene written in his friendes booke The singular modesty and humble nature of M. Grene. The 〈◊〉 nature of M. Grene. A letter of M. Bartlet Grene to certayne of his louing friendes in the Temple What true frendship is True frendship is not measured by distance of place or of personâ— Loue onely coupleth together All other thinges fayle loue onely indureth for euer Loue vnfained neuer endeth The sute of M. Grene for the sauing of certayne poorâ— prisoners in Newgate An other letter of 〈…〉 to Miâ—tres Elizabeth Clarke 1. Tim. 5. â— Cor. 5. 1. Tim. 5. Psalm 3◠〈◊〉 2. Iudith 8. Ephesian 6. 1. Tim. 5. 1. Reg. 2. 1. Reg. 15. 1. Reg 8. â— Reg. 13. â— Reg. 1. â— Maâ—h 7. 1. Tim. 5. The office 〈◊〉 exercise of christen widowes 〈◊〉 the primâ—tiue Church * S. Ambrose tooke from the church gaue to the poore we take from the poore their tithes and improperations giue them to Churches and ministers where is nothing but singing and idlenes An other certayne writing of M. Bartlet Grene. A commendatioÌ„ of Lawyers Ex Regist. Tho. Browne Martyr Ianuary 27. Tho. Browne presented by the Constable of S. Brides Browne kneeleth among the trees at the Masse tyme. B. Boners words to Tho. Browne B. Boner charged to be a bloudsucker The aunswere of Thomas Browne to Bishop Boner Sentence read against Thomas Browne Iohn Tudson Martyr Ianuary 27. Of these articles read before pag. 215. The constant persisting of Iohn Tudson Sentence read against Iohn Tudson Iohn· Went Martyr Ianuary 27. Iohn Went withstandeth the Bishops perswasioÌ„s Iohn Went coÌ„demned Isabel Foster Martyr Ianuary 27. Isabell Foster constaÌ„t in confessing Christes Gospell The wordes of Isabell Foster of her last examination Isabell Foster condemned Ioane Lashford alias Ioane Warne Martyr Ianuary 27. The confession of Ioane Lashford before the Bishop Superfluous and Popish Ceremonyes The worthy constancye of a mayde The wordes of Ioane Lashford at her last examination The Sentence and condemnation of Ioane Lashford Ianuary 27. 〈◊〉 31. 4. Women and one man Martir Iohn Lomas Martyr The aunswere of Iohn Lomas at his examination The Sacrament of the Altar denyed Realty of Christ neyther vnder forme nor tressel Sentence against Iohn Lomas Ianuary 31. Confession auricular refused The Sacrament how to be receaued Penaunce is denyed to be a Sacrament Agnes Snoth condemned and committed to the secular power Anne Albright Martyr Auricular confession The wordes of Anne Albright to the Priestes Anne Albright denyeth the Sacrament of the Altar Condemnation of Anne Albright Ianuary 18. Ioane Sole Martyr Ionuary 31. Condemnation of Ioane Sole Ianuary 18. Ioâ—â—e Catmer martyr Ianuary 31. Persecutoâ—â— March 21. Thomas Cranmer Archb. of Canterbury and Martyr Thomas Cranmer a gentleman borne Of this Campeius and discourse of his legacy read before pag. 1049. Stephen Gardiner Doct. Foxe chiefe stirrers of the kinges diuorce D. Stephens D. Foxe D. Cranmer conferring together in the kinges cause D. Cranmers aunswere in the question of the kinges diuorce D. Cranmers deuise well liked of The king troubled about the diuorce D. Cranmers deuise reported
of Richard White Condemnation of Iohn Hunt Richard White The Christen zeale of M. Clifford Example of Christian pietye in a Shrieffe to be noted A note to be obserued concerning the Papists dealinges The Papistes charged with manifest dissimumulation Burning without a sufficient Writtâ— Rich. White now Vicar of Malbrough in Wilshire M. Miâ—hell vnder Sheriffe bâ—â—neth the writte Gods 〈◊〉 kinges 〈…〉 the death 〈◊〉 D. Geffrey Chauncellour of Salisbury The story of Iohn Fetty and Martyrdome oâ— his childâ— Gods dreadfull hand vpon a wife seeking the destruction of her husband The wyfe persecuting her husband Iohn Fetty agayne apprehended The strayte handling of Iohn Fetty by Syr Iohn Mordant Richard Smith dead in prison through cruell handling The cruell handling and scourgâ—â—â— of Iohn Fettyes childe The miserable tyrranny of the Papists in scourging a 〈◊〉 The childe all bloudy brought to his father in prison Cluny caryeth the 〈◊〉 agayne to the Byshops houâ—e The wordes betweene Boner and Iohn Fetty Boners Crucifixe B. Boner compared to Cayphas B. Boner for feare of the law in murdering a childe deliuered the father out of prison The Martyrdome of a childe scourged to death in Boners house The story of Nicholas Burton Martyr in Spayne Nicholas BurtoÌ„ Londoner Nich. Burton layd in prison they hauing no cause to charge him with Nich. Burton caryed to Ciuilâ— Nich. Burton brought to iudgement after a disguised maner The trouble of Iohn FrontoÌ„ Citizen of Bristow in Spaine Note the rauening extortion of these Inquisitours The vyle procedingâ—â— of the Inquisitors of Spayne Iohn Fronton imprisoned by the Spanish Inquisitors for asking his owne goodes Anno 1558. Iâ—hn Fronton iudged 〈◊〉 an heretike for not reding to Aue Maria 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 Scripâ—â—re hath 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 Maâ—chaunt 〈…〉 of his goodes An other â—â—â—lishe 〈◊〉 burnt 〈◊〉 Spayne 〈◊〉 afore 〈◊〉 907. 〈◊〉 Baker 〈◊〉 â—urgate 〈…〉 in 〈◊〉 Marke Burges burnt in Lushborne The scourging of Richard Wilmot and Tho. Fayrefaxe D. Cromeâ— Sermon D Cromes recantation D. Crome caused to recant the second tyme. Richard Wilmot Prentise in Bow lane Lewes one of the Garde a Welchman a Popishe persecutour Wilmot defendeth D. Cromeâ— Sermon The Lord Cromwell wrongfully accused The doinges of the Lord Cromwell defended The common reason of the Papistes why the Scriptures sâ—ould not be in Englishe Gods truth goeth not alwayes by tytle fame of great learning Learned men how farre they are to be credited Wilmot complayned of to his Mayster M. Daubnies seruaunt called Thomas Fayrefaxe taketh Wilmots part Wilmot and Thomas Fayrefaxe sent for to the Lord Mayor Rich. Wilmot and Thomas Fayrefaxe examined before the Lord Mayor and M. Cholmley S. Paules doctrine made heresie with the Papistes Wilmot Fayrefaxe committed to prison Sute made bâ— the company of Drapers for Richard Wilmot and Thomas Fayrefaxe M. Brooke Maâ—ster of tâ—e compaâ—â— of Drapers â—â—ch Wilâ—â—t and â—â—â—mas â—â—â—refaxe â—â—â—urged in Drapers 〈◊〉 The scourâ—â—â—â— of â—â—â—mas Grâ—ene The Master promoteth the serâ—â—â—nt Thomas Greene put in the stockes Thomas Greene examined before Doctour Story D. Story scoffeâ—â— at Christes seruauntes An other examination of Tho. Greene before D. Story Mistres Story sheweth her charitable hart Greene agayne examined before Doctour Story Greene xamined of his belief D. Stories blasphemous scoffing in matterâ— of our fayth The Masse Greene sent agayne to the Colehouse The strayte handling of Greene in prison Talke betweene Thomas Greene and B. Boner Two prisoners brought to B. Boners Salthouse Cruelty shewed vpon prisoners for singing Psalmes Thomas Greene brought before D. Storye and the Commissioners This woman was one Youngs wyfe Thomas Greene examined before M. Hussey Dixon in Bâ—â—chin Lane Iohn Beanâ— Prentise with M. Tottle Thomas Greene adiudged to be whipped Thomas Greene brought to the Gray Fryers Thomas Greene agayne appeareth before D. Story and two gentlemâ—n The scourging of Tho. Greene before Doct. Story 〈…〉 his brother Stephen Cotton twise beatâ—n by Byshop Boner Iames Harâ—â—â— scourged â—eade before pag. 1804. Iames Harris repenteth his comming to the Popish Church The cause of Iames Harris â—courging The scourging of Robert Williams B. Boner causeth certayne boyes to be beaten Boners pityfull hart Boners deuoute Orâ—â—ons A poore begger whipt at Salisbury for not receiuing with the Papistes at Easter Actes 5. A treatise of Gods mercy and prouidence in preseruing good men women in the tyme of this persecution The deliuerance of W. Liuing his wyfe and of Iohn Lithall Deane Constable George Hancocke Beadle persecutors Talke betweene Darbyshire and W Liuing Priest Cluny playeth the theefe Note the couetous dealing of these Papistes W. Liuing layd in the Lollardes tower William Liuing deliuered Talke betweene Darbyshire Liuingeâ— wyfe Liuinges wyfe commaunded to the Lollardes Tower Dale a Promotor Marke the hope of the Papistes The Constable of S. Brides surety for Iulian Liuing Liuing and his wyfe deliuered 〈◊〉 the death of Q. Mary Ioh. Lithall brought to examinatioÌ„ by Iohn Auales Lithall brought before D. Darbyshire Chauncellour Talke betweene Lithall and the Chauncellour Iustification â—y fâ—yth 〈◊〉 Lithall denyeth to kneele before the Roode Lithals neighbours make sute for him S. Iames expounded Esay 65. Actes 16. Heb. â—â— Lithall refuseth to 〈◊〉 in â—onde Apoc. 13. Math. 18. His neighbours 〈◊〉 into bonde for him Edward Grew and Appline his vvyfe M. Browne of Suffolke Robert Blomefield persecutor Edward Goulding vnder Shâ—â—â—ffe Syr Thomas Corn 〈◊〉 high Shrieffe M. Browne persecuâ—â—â—â— and taken M. Browne deliuered Example of Gods punishment vpon a parsecutor The first examination of Elâ—zaâ—beth YouÌ„g Elizabeth Young refuseth to go to masse Elizabeth Young denyeth to sweare and 〈◊〉 The 2. examination of Elizabeâ—h YouÌ„g Elizabeth Young for bringing ouer bookes D. Martyn â—â—reatneth her with the racke Elizabeth Young charged for speaking agaynst the Queene Elizabeth YouÌ„g and her husband deliuered by D. Martyn Elyzabeth YouÌ„g commaunded to close prison to haue one day bread an other day water The 3. examination of Elizabeth Young D. Martyn seeketh to know how many gentlemen were fled ouer the Sea Elizabeth YouÌ„g againe threatned with the racke Shee agayne refuseth to sweare to accuse other Elizabeth YouÌ„g commaunded agayne to the Clinke The 4 examination of Elizabeth Young D. Martyn presenteth her to the Commissiners The booke called Antichrist Elizabeth Young a great while in the Clinke Elizabeth Young refuseth to sweare and why Elizabeth Young thought to be no womaÌ„ Sacrament of the Aultar The confession and fayth of Elizabeth Young The Sacrament to be receaued in spirite and fayth Cholmley cannot abyde spirite and fayth Institution of the Sacrament by Christ onely once for all Confession of Cholmleys fayth Elizabeth Young caryed into the stockhouse The 5 examination of Elizabeth Young Elizabeth Young offereth agayne to declare her beliefe Really Corporally Substantially Fayth commeth of God Ergo no vntruth ought to be beleued Christ is fleshe of our fleshe but not in our fleshe Iohn 6. This man dare not
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 FutichiaÌ„s 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 conâ—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
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 oâ— 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 â—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 yâ— 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 Noâ—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
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
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 coÌ„modities 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 coÌ„pare 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 weÌ„t into a wood to hang himselfe and wheÌ„ 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 pouÌ„des 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 meÌ„ 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 conteÌ„tation 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 huÌ„dreth 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 conteÌ„t to be of the Church which euer hath â—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 coÌ„ming 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
doubted thereof Phil. If it be an vndoubted trueth you may the sooner proue it for I doubt much thereof Cosins Why I wyll prooue it It is the signe of a holy thing Ergo it is a Sacrament Phil. I deny your antecedent Cosins What wyll you so then there is no reasoning with you Thus master Cosins gaue ouer in the plaine fielde for want of further proofe And then the morowe Masse Chaplein began to speake for his occupation with that M. Harpsfield came out from my Lord with S. Austines Epistles saying Harps My Lorde hath sent you here S. Austine to looke vpon and I pray you looeke what he sayth in a certayne Epistle which he writeth I wyll reade ouer the whole Here may you heare the celebration of the Masse howe he reproueth them that went a haukyng and huntyng before the celebration of the same on the Sabboth and holy dayes Phil. I perceiue the contentes of this Epistle and I see nothing herein against me neither nothing that maketh for the profe of your Sacrament of the Masse Harps No doth he not make mention of the Masse the celebration thereof what can be spoken more playne Phil. S. Austine meaneth of the celebration of the Communion and of the true vse of the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ and not of your priuate Masse which you of late yeares haue erected in the steede thereof For this worde Masse hath bene an old terme attributed to the Communion euen from the Primitiue Churche And I pray you tell me what Missa doth signifie I thinke not many that say Masse can well tell Cosins No can that is maruell Phil. Then tel if you can But M. Cosins my morow masse Chaplaine were dumbe looking vpon M. Harpsfield for helpe and at length he spake Harps You thinke it coÌ„meth of the Hebrue word Massah as though none were seene in the Hebrue but you Phil. I haue not gone so long to Schole to deriue the signification of Missa which is a Latine worde out of Hebrue but I haue learned to interprete Greeke wordes by Greeke and Latine by Latine and Hebrue by Hebrue I take the Communion to be called Missa á mittendo of such thinges as at the celebration of the Communion were sent by such as were of abilitie to the reliefe of the poore where the rich brought after their deuotion abilitie and required the Minister in the celebration of the Communion to pray vnto God for them and to accept their common almes whiche they at suche times did sende for the helpe of their poore brethren and sisters and for this cause was it called Missa as learned men doe witnesse At the which celebration of the Masse all that were present did communicate vnder both kindes accordyng to Christes institution as they dyd in Saint Augustines tyme. But vnlesse you can shew that your Masse is vsed as theÌ„ was ye shall neuer by the name of Masse which saint Austine attributed to the true vse of the Communion proue your priuate Masse to be a Sacrament vnlesse ye can proue the same nowe to be in your Masses as was then whiche is cleane contrary Harps What deny you the Masse to be a Sacrament For shame speake it not Phil. I wyll not be ashamed to denye it if you can not proue it Har. Why it is a sacrifice which is more theÌ„ a sacrament Phil. You may make of it as muche as you list but you shall neuer make it a Sacrifice as you imagine thereof but first it must be a Sacrament for of the Sacrament you deduce your Sacrifice Harps Why doth not Christe say This is my body and doth not the Priest pronounce the same that Christ did Phil. The pronunciation is not only enough vnlesse the wordes be therewithall applied to the vse as Christ spake them to For though you speake the wordes of Baptisme ouer water neuer so many tymes yet there is no Baptisme vnlesse there be a Christian person to be baptised Harps Nay that is not lyke for Hoc est corpus meum is an indicatiue proposition shewing a working of God in the substance of bread and wine Phil. It is not onely an indicatiue proposition but also imperatiue or commaundyng For he that sayd Hoc est corpus meum i. This is my body sayde also Accepite manducate i. Take ye eate ye And except the former part of the institution of Christes Sacrament be accomplished accordyng to the Communion the latter This is my body can haue no verification take it which way you wyll and how you wyll Morowmasse Chap. Why then you wyll make the Sacrament to stand in the receiuing and that receiuing maketh it a Sacrament Phil. I do not say that the receiuing maketh it the Sacrament onely but I say that a common receiuing must needes be conâ—urrent with the true Sacrament as a necessary member without the which it can not be a Sacrament because Christe hath made this a principall parte of the Sacrament Take ye eate ye whiche you doe not in your Masse accordyng to Christes institution wherefore it can be no Sacrament for that it wanteth of Christes institution Cosins We do forbyd none to come to it but as many as lyst may be partakers with vs at the Masse if they require it Phil. Nay that they shal not though they require it You wyll minister but one kinde vnto them which is not after Christes institution Besides that you ought before you go to Masse to exhort al that be present to make a Sacrifice of thankes geuing for Christes passion with you and to exhort them to be partakers with you accordyng to Christes commaundemet saying vnto all that be present Take ye eate ye and likewyse by preaching shew forth the Lordes death which you do not Cosins What and if al things be done euen as you would haue it and whilest the Minister is about to minister the Sacrament before any haue receyued it there rise a sodain onely burly that the communicants be compelled to go away is it not a sacrament for all that none hath communicated beside the priest Phil. In this case where all thyngs are appoynted to bee done according to gods word if incident necessity had not let I can not say but it is a sacrament and that hee which hath receiued hath receiued the true sacrament After this the morowmasse priest made this apish reason The morowmasse priest If the sacrament of the masse be no Sacrament vnlesse all do receiue it because Christ sayde Take ye eate ye then the sacrament of Baptisme is no Sacrament where there is but one baptised because Christ sayd to his Apostles Go preach the Gospell to all creatures baptising all nations in the name of the father c. Phil. In that saying of Christ Baptising all nations is a coÌ„maundement to the Apostles to baptise all sorts of men to exclude none that do beleeue be
vnderstandyng in the contentes of the same article 4. To the fourth he aunswered that hee did well like the Communion vsed in Kyng Edwardes dayes but sayde that he had not ministred or receyued the same here in England since the Queenes reygne neyther yet knewe any that had the bookes thereof But on the other side he knew many that had those bookes and that there also hee hadde receiued the Communion in sundrye places 5. The contentes of the fift he graunted to be true 6. To the sixt he confessed that he had bene familiar with diuers Englishe menne and women being in Friseland and agreed with them in opinion as Maister Scory Thomas Young George Roo and others to the number of one hundreth persons whiche fled thither for Religion vsing there the order set forth in the reigne of king Edward and otherwise he denyeth the contentes of thys Article 7. The contentes of the seuenth hee graunted in euery poynt to be true 8. To the eight he aunswered and confessed that sithens his last comming into England which was aboue the x. day of Nouember he had in sundry places in the suburbes of London prayed and read such prayers and seruice as is appoynted in the booke of the communion and hadde willed others to doe the like both men and women which he did know by sight but not by name Howbeit he didde neyther cause any to withdrawe themselues from the Latine seruice but he sayed that it were better to pray in a tongue that they didde vnderstande then in an vnknowne tongue 9. To the ninth he confessed that the time and place articulate he was present to heare and see a playe and there was apprehended by the Queenes Maiesties Vicechamberleyne with one Cutbert a taylour and one Hugh a hosier and diuers other both men and women whose names he knewe not and by him was brought before the Counsell who sent him vnto Newgate and from thence he was brought to the bishop And othewise he denieth the contentes of this Article Upon these answeres he was dismissed and the nexte day being the xix of December he was agayne brought before the sayd Byshop and others Who when they perceiued his constantnesse determined the nexte day after to bring him openly into the Consistory there to adiudge condemne him as an hereticke Whiche purpose they accomplished For the xx day at afternoone in the presence of the Byshops of London and S. Dauides with Fecknam Abbot of Westminster and others he was there produced Where after muche and many fayre perswasions Boner read vnto him the articles and aunsweres before mentioned in the which they charged him to haue receyued the orders of the church and therefore might not mary and that he had refused to consent vnto the Latine seruice then vsed in the Church Whereunto he then aunswered and sayde that theyr orders were no thing at all and that he being a Prieste might lawfully mary and that hys children whiche he had by his wife were lawfull And as touching the seruice then vsed he vtterly detested it saying that if he should liue as long as did Methusalach yet he would neuer come to the Church to heare the abhominable Masse and other seruice being as it was then Upō which wordes the Bishop proceeded to the actuall degradation of the sayde Rough exempting him from all the benefites and priuiledges of theyr Church and after condemning him as an hereticke committed his body to the secular power who taking him into their charge and custody caried him vnto Newgate Moreouer as touching the sayde M. Rough this is further to be noted that he being in the North country in the dayes of king Edward the sixt was the meane to saue Doctor Watsons life who in queene Maryes tyme was Byshop of Lincolne for a Sermon that hee made there The sayd Watson after that in the sayde dayes of Queene Marye being with Boner at the examination of the sayde M. Rough to requite the good turne in sauing his life de tected him there to be a pernicious hereticke who did more hurt in the North partes then an hundreth besides of hys opinions Unto whom M. Rough sayd agayne Why sir is this the rewarde I haue for sauing your life when you preached erroneous doctrine in the dayes of king Edward the sixt This M. Rough sayd he had liued thirty yeares and yet had neuer bowed his knee to Baall and being before Boner among other talke he affirmed that he hadde bene twise at Rome and there had sene playnely with his eyes whiche he had manye times heard of before namelye that the pope was the very Antichrist for there he saw him caried on mens shoulders and the false named sacrament borne before him Yet was there more reuerence geuen to him then to that which they counted to be theyr GOD. Whē Boner heard this rising vp and making as though he would haue torne his garmentes hast thou sayd hee bene at Rome and sene our holy father the Pope doest thou blaspheme him after this sort and with that flying vpon him he plucked of a piece of his beard and after making speedy haste to his death he burnt him half an houre before sixe of the clocke in the morning because the day belike shoulde not be farre spent before he had done a mischieuous deed Furthermore note that this Mayster Rough being at the burning of Austoo in Smithfield and returning home ward agayne met with one Mayster Farrar a Marchant of Hallifaxe who asked him where hee had beene Unto whō he aunswered I haue bene saith he where I would not for one of mine eyes but I had bene Where haue you bene sayd M. Farrar Forsoothe sayth hee to learne the way And so he tolde hym hee had bene at the burning of Austoo where shortly after he was burned hymselfe ¶ A letter written by Iohn Rough vnto certeine of his godly frendes confirming and strengthning them in the truth which he had before taught THe comfort of the holy Ghost make you able to geue consolation to others in these daungerous dayes when Sathan is let lose but to the triall onely of the chosen when it pleaseth our God to sift his wheat from the Chaffe I haue not leysure tyme to write the great tēptations I haue bene vnder I speak to Gods glory my care was to haue the senses of my soule open to perceiue the voyce of God saying Who so euer denyeth me before men him will I deny before my father and his aungels And to saue the life corporall is to lose the life eternall And he that will not suffer with Christ shall not reigne with him Therefore most tender ones I haue by Gods spirite geuen ouer the flesh with the fight of my soule and the spirite hath the victory The fleshe shall now ere it be long leaue of to sinne the spirite shall reigne eternally I haue chosē the death to confirme the truth by me
electis Salutem Esdr. 4. ¶ Hoc Seculum fecit altissimus propter multos futurum autem propter paucos ¶ The almighty Lorde hath made this worlde for many but the world or life or come but for a few MOst certayne it is dearely beloued that Christes elect be but few in comparisō of that great number which go in the broad way to euerlasting perdition whiche lyfe after the flesh louing this present euill world deny God in word and deed whose eies are blinded and their harts hardened Most certaine it is also that our Sauior Iesus Christ hath and knoweth his owne whose names are written in the booke of life redemed with the most precious bloud of our sauiour Iesus Christ. So that the eternall Father knoweth them which be his The almighty and eternall God graunt that we may haue the testimony of our conscience and the spirit of god to beare record with our spirites that we be his elect children walking in the spirite not fulfilling the lustes of the flesh but as Christes members hauing Christ Iesu fixed before our eyes he being to vs the true way the infallible verity the eternall life Christ hath geuē vs example let vs folow him as deare children for Gods delight is to beholde his Saintes which be in the earth Let vs put on the whole armour of God and walke in the light in these euill dayes in the whiche Sathan in his Aungels seeketh whom he may deuour The almighty Lorde deliuer vs from the mouthes of those vnshamefast dogs They truely seeke ours and not vs vnto the Lord. Esdras sayth and writeth truely the world is made for them and they for the world Dearly bought let vs remember Christ which sayth I haue chosen you out of the world you shal be hated of al worldly men Did euer the couetous Idolaters Oppressors or Whoremongers loue vs Nay they loue Masse Mongers which say peace peace when there is no peace Nay either then flatter the eares or els they say no thing as dum dogges not able to barke of whom be you ware of for though they come in sheepes clothing they be rauening Wolues whose damnation sleepeth not from whose captiuitye the holy will of God saue and preserue you Amen Dearely beloued we hauing the record of our conscience that we be very members in Christes body separate from that malignant Antichristes Church Let vs reioyce in conscience and in the Lord hauing heauenly hope in al his promises which be eternall and most sure to vs in Christ our Sauiour who looseth none of all them whom the eternall Father hath geuen him but at his appearing to be our mercifull Iudge shall rayse vs vppe at that last day for the trumpe of God shall blow and be heard of all Adams posterity sounding Venite ad iuditium Come vnto iudgement come and be iudged Let vs therfore be prepared hauing the wedding garment yea the whole armour of God the mariage garment cleare Lampes that is pure hartes and burning heauenly light in the same Let vs prepare our selues richly to restore to our Lord and Mayster our talentes with the increase of heauenly liuing and occupying then without all doubt we shall heare that most blessed wish of our alone Sauiour Iesus Christ who shall then say reioyce good seruauntes I will make you Stewardes ouer many thinges Enter into the euerlasting rest and kingdome whiche hath bene prepared for you from the beginning This is the Kingdome of Iesus Christ whiche at this present is in Babilon and banished to the desert the troublesome waters of Sathan in the Antichrist and his shauelings spiewed out of Christs mouth The Lord be our ayde auenger and deliuerer when his holy will is Amen Dearely bought with the most precious bloud of our Sauior Iesus Christ that we be not deceiued by the Antichrist let vs ponder wey marke and study the heauenly doctrine of our Sauiour Christ in his last Supper the text is Bene dixit dixit bene gratias egit he spake heauenly and well he gaue thankes he tooke bread brake it gaue it to his Disciples saying take eate this Sacramentall bread and me the breade of life whiche came downe from heauen which geueth life to the worlde take true fayth heauenly hope kindled with christen charitie thankes geuing for my death let these heauēly vertues enter in your soules then enter I. This is my body This is the true eating of my body which is geuen to the death of the crosse for the ransome and sinnes of Gods elect Likewise after supper he tooke the cup hee spake well gaue thankes and gaue it them saying drinke ye all of this drinke I say by this infallible veritie and euerlasting word ioyned and anexed with this cup my bloud which is shed from before the beginning of the world for many in remission of sins he or shee that thus dwelleth in me and I in him eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud Sainct Augustine sayth why preparest thou thy tooth and belly beleeue and thou hast eaten Sainct Barnarde saith when fayth hope christian loue and thankes geuing for Christes death enter in a Christian Christ entereth and agayn S. Augustine sayth vpon these wordes of Christ you shal alwayes haue the poore with you but me shall ye not haue alwayes with you The Church had him but a few dayes touching his humanitie nowe they haue him by fayth with these eyes they do not see him O Iesus Christ thou sonne of the liuing God whiche art in the bosome of thy father God with God the very Image of God the father eternall geue vs victory ouer this Antichrist in thy most precious bloud Be faythfull to the ende and oure sauiour shall crown vs in glory let vs sanctify the name of God in thought word and deede I say vnto the Papist and will not flatter our God is in heauen whome they will not see And is no such little prety mattere as their God the Pope faineth him to be Pray for all the preachers of the veritie that God may geue vs grace and constancie They sing and say they haue him in a string tye not the dog so for feare of hanging To all the faythfull whose names in generall in the booke of lyfe by Christ are written all The godly thought and patient minde doth liberty in prison finde Who so to patience can attayne shall finde in prison is no payne Thrall trouble bownd or free as pleaseth God so shall all be Wherefore I neuer will forsake what pleaseth God lay on my backe Iohn Meluine preacher and priprisoner in Newgate ¶ A note concerning the trouble of Iulius Palmer lately come to my handes To his assured friend and brother in Chryst Mayster Perry preacher at Beuerstone geue these MAyster Perry after my harty commendations in the Lord Iesus Christ vnto you and your wife c. wheras you haue written vnto me
for my help in stoppyng the malicious and enuious mouth of Thomas Thackam I would be as glad as any man to testifie the truth both for that I know of the shameles malice of the sayd party agaynst the members of Christ as also the godly and vertuous behauiour of Palmer both before he was in prison and after in prison with the credite of that good and godly worke of that history but surely many thinges are out of my hed which I cannot as yet remember And for these things I know I wryte vnto you And first as touching the frendship shewed vnto the Lady Uane and hys zeale therein vttered trueth it is that hee receaued her into hys house for mony for a small space in the whiche time they two did not well agree for that she coulde not suffer hys wickednes of wordes and gestures vnreproued but that his wife many times being of more honesty made the matter well agayne but to be short suche was his frendshyp in the ende towardes that good Lady being out of hys house that she feared no man more for her lyfe then him And I being her man she gaue me great charge alwayes to beware of him As touching his frendship towardes Iohn Bolton in prison I am sure he neuer found any as they that vsed to visite him can somewhat say Except you accompt this friendship that he beyng bereft of hys senses Thac wrought him to yeld vnto the papistes and as a right member of them became his suretie to be obedient vnto them And hee beyng burdened in conscience therewith fled away vnto Geneua for the which flieng Thac had nothing sayd vnto hym which sheweth that he was their instrument And this friendship to Iohn Bolton for Downer I haue heard no euill of him for Gateley and Radley now Uicar of S. Laurence and Bowyer a Tanner they three left no meanes vnpractised to catche and persecute the members of Christ as I my selfe can well prooue As touching Palmer for that I many tymes frequented his company in his lodging he woulde vtter sometymes vnto me the griefe of his mynd Among other things once he told me that for that he heard he was somwhat suspected with the womaÌ„ of the house he was much grieued withall the which he vttred with many teares I then counsailing him to depart thence to auoyd the occasion of offence he sayd no but the Lord should try him or it were long for sayd he Thac hath let me his schole and now would haue it againe and because I will not let him haue it this he hath brought vppon me but God forgeue him Afterward beyng in prison I talking with hym at the grate he shewed me his iudgement of the scriptures and deliuered it vnto me what became of it I knowe not now He praysed God highly for his estate and then hee sayd he trusted it would appeare whether Thac had sayd of him well or not And further he sayd that now Thack hath his will to haue his schoole agayne for if I woulde haue yelded vp the schoole he would haue sent me away I neuer trusted him so well sayd he to communicate my mynd vnto hym before witnesse but sometyme alone and therfore he hath deuised a letter in my name and brought it to light to cause me to bee examined of my conscience This is as much as I can say at this tyme. Thus fare you well in the Lord Amen From Corsly this 18. of May. Yours to commaund in Christ Iohn Moyer Minister Haue me commended I pray you to all my friends at Readyng A note of Iulius Palmer ALso being at Magdalene colledge about a moneth before he was burned and reasoning against â—ne Barwike Maister of Arte sometyme his familiar friende and olde acquaintance in the sayd Colledge after much talke Barwike said vnto him Well Palmer Now thou talkest boldly and stoutly at thy pleasure if thou were brought to a stake thou wouldst tell me another tale Take heed it is an hard matter to burne Hereunto Palmer answered In deed it is an hard matter for him to burne that hath his soule linked to his body as a thiefes foote is tied in a paire of fetters But if a man be once able through Gods helpe to seperate and deuide the soule from the body for him it is no harder a thing to burne theÌ„ for me to eat this crumme of bread ¶ A true Copy of the Confession of Patricke Patingham sent out of Newgate to certayn of his frends I Patricke Patingham being condemned for the veritie of Gods trueth that is to say in confessing of one God which was the creatour of all things visible and inuisible and also that he made those by his sonne whome he hath made heyre of all thinges And also I confesse that he is the onely begotten sonne of God in whome we haue redemption euen the forgeuenes of sinnes And also in confessing Gods most holy Church being builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophetes Iesus Christ being the head corner stone In whome sayth S. Paule euery building coupled together groweth to an holy temple in the Lord in whome I beleeue I am builded together as a member and made an habitation for God in the spirite And also I confesse that Christ is the head of the holy Church as S. Paule sayth and that God is Christs head And also I had x. articles that is to say agaynst theyr wicked traditions and commaundementes whiche they vse whiche are agaynst the commaundementes of God whereof they did condemne me not suffering me to speake in the consistory house but condemning me not my cause heard But yet I did protest vnto them that their Church or synagogue is of Sathan that is to say Sathan beyng the head thereof Furthermore my friend or friendes vnknown I haue receiued your letter and red it ouer wherin you say that I am in a blasphemous errour In deede frends I confesse that it is an error If you will make my beliefe that is to say that Christ is the sonne of the liuyng God to be an errour and to beleeue that there is one god as S. Paule saith and one mediatour betwixt God and man euen the man Christ Iesus And although there bee that are called Gods whether in heauen or in earth as there be Gods many and Lordes many yet vnto vs is there but one God which is the father of whome are all things and we in hym and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all thyngs and we by him I beleeue that there is but one Lord one fayth one Baptisme and one God in all and aboue all and thorough all which onely God as S. Paule sayeth worketh in all creatures that beleeue in him and speaketh in them as S. Paule sayeth God in tymes past diuersly and many wayes spake vnto the fathers by prophets but in these last daies he spake vnto vs by his sonne whom he hath made heire of all thyngs