after whose birth Queene Iane his mother the second daye after dyed in childbed left the king agayne a widower which so continued the space of two yeres together Upon the death of whiche Queene Iane Prince Edward borne and vppon the birth of prince Edward her sonne these two verses were made which follow Phoenix Iana iacet nato Phoenice Queene Iane dyed in childe-bed dolendum Secula Phoenices nulla tulisse duas Here is by the waye to be vnderstand that during all this season since the time that the king of Englande had reiected the pope out of the Realme both the Emperour These verses were thought to be made by M. Armigyl Wade y e French king and the king of Scottes with other forreine potentates which were yet in subiection vnder the Pope bare no him do great good fauour inwardly what soeuer outwardly they pretended Neither was here lacking pryuy setters on nor secret working among themselues how to compasse vngracious mischiefes if God by cōtrary occasions had not stopped their intended deuises For first y e Pope had sent Cardinall Poole to the French king to stir him to warre agaynst the realme of England Secondly where as the Frenche king The Pope stirreth warre agaynst England by Cardinall Poole The Emperour the French king and the king of Scottes set agaynst the king of England by treaty of perpetuall peace was bound yearly to paye to the king of England at the first dayes of May and Nouember about xcv thousand crownes of the summe and odde mony and ouer that 10000. crownes at y e sayd ij termes for recōpēce of salt due as the treates therof did purporte that pension remayned now vnpayed iiij yeares and more Furthermore the Emperour and the Frenche K. both reteined Grancetor a traiterous rebell against the king condemned by Act of Parliament with certayn other traitors moe and yet would not deliuer him to the king at his earnest suite and request The Frenche king also digressing from his promise and treaty made alliance wyth the Bishop of Rome Clement in marying the Dolphine to hys Niece called Katherine de Medicis The sayd Frenche kyng moreouer contrary to his contracte made married his daughter to the king of Scottes All which were preiudiciall and put the kinge no doubt in some feare and perplexity though otherwise a stout and valiant Prince to see the Pope the Emperour the French king and king of Scottes so bent against him And yet all this notwithstanding the Lord stil defended the iustnes of his cause against them all For although the French king was so sette on by the Pope and so linked in mariage with the Scots and sacked nothing now but only occasion to inuade the realme of England yet notwythstanding he hearing now of the birth of Prince Edwarde the kinges sonne by Queene Iane and vnderstandinge also by the death of the sayde Queene Iane that the Kyng was a widower and perceiuing moreouer talk to be that the king would ioyne in mariage with the Germains began to waxe more calme and colde and to geue much more gentle wordes and to demeane him selfe more curtuously labouring to mary the Queene of Nauare hys sister to the king The Ambassadors resident then in France for the king were Ste. Gardiner with Docto◠Thirleby c. Whyche Steuen Gard. what he wrought secreately for the Popes deuotion I haue not expressely to charge him Whether he so did or what he did the Lord knoweth all But thys is certaine that when D. Boner Archedeacon then of Leicester was sente into Fraunce by the Kinge throughe the meanes of the Lord Cromwell to succeede Steuen Gardinar in Ambassie which was about the yeare of our Lord 1538. he found such dealing in the sayd Bishop of Winchester as was not greatly to be trusted beside the vnkynde partes of the sayde Byshop againste the foresayde Boner Anno. 1538. comming then from the King and Lorde Cromwell as was not to be liked Long it is to recite from the beginning few men peruenture woulde beleeue Doct. Boner the kyngs Ambassadour in Fraunce the brawling matters the priuie complaints the contentious quarels and bitter dissentiōs betwene these two and especially what despightful contumelies D. Boner receiued at the hands of Winchester For vnderstande good Reader that this doctor Boner all this while remained yet as he seemed a good man Doct. Boner in the beginning a fauourer of the truth and a Lutherane and was a great furtherer of the kinges proceedings and a fauourer of Luthers doctrine and was aduanced only by the Lorde Cromwel Whose promotions here to reherse first he was Archdeacon of Leycester persone of Bledon of Dereham Cheswike and Cheriburton Then was made Byshop of Hereford and at last preferred to be Bish. of London The chiefe of which preferments and dignities were conferred vnto him only by the meanes and fauour of the L. Cromwel L. Cromwel the onely setter vp of Doct. Boner who was then his chiefe and only patrone and setter vp as the said Boner himselfe in al his letters doth manifestly protest and declare The Copies of which his letters I could heere produce and exhibite but for prolonging my story with superfluous matter Yet that the worlde and all posteritie may see how the comming vp of D. Boner was onely by the Gospell howsoeuer he was after vnkind vnto the Gospell this one letter of his Doct. Boners cōming vp was by the Gospell which I wil heere inferre written to the Lorde Cromwel out of Fraunce may stand for a perpetuall testimonie the tenour whereof here ensueth * A letter of Doctor Boner the kings Ambassadour resident in Fraunce sent to the Lord Cromwell declaring the order of his promotions and comming vp MY very singular especiall good Lord as one most bounden I most humbly commende mee vnto your honourable good Lordship Out of Boners owne hand writing And wheras in times passed in hath liked the same without any my desertes or merites euen only of your singular exceding goodnes to bestowe a great deale of loue beneuolence and good affection vpon me so poore a man and of so small qualities expressing in deede sondry wayes the good effectes therof to my great preferment I was very much bounde thereby vnto your honourable good Lordshippe and thought it alway my duetie as in deede it was both to beare my true hart againe vnto your Lordship D. Boner cōfesseth himselfe much bound to the L. Crōwell and also remembring suche kindnes to doe vnto the same all such seruice pleasure as might then lie in my smal power to do But where of your infinite inestimable goodnes it hath further liked you of late first to aduance me vnto the office of Legation from such a Prince as my soueraigne Lorde is vnto the Emperour and French king and next after to procure and obtayne mine aduauncement to so honourable a promotion as the Byshoprike of Hereford
rooted out Scriptures reduced to the knowledge of the vulgarr tongue and the state of the Church and religion redressed Concerning all whyche things in the processe of thys volume heere folowing wee will endeuour Christe willing particularly and in order to discourse after that first we shall comprehende a fewe matters which within the beginning of hys raigne are to be noted and collected Where leauing of to write of Empson and Dudley who in the time of king Henry 7. being great doers in executing the penall lawes ouer the people at that time and purchasing thereby more malyce then lands with that whych they had gotten were shortly after the entring of this king beheaded the one a Knight the other an Esquier leauing also to intermeddle w t hys wars triumphes and other temporal affaires we meane in this volume principally to bestowe our trauaile in declaration of matters concerning moste chiefly the state of the Church and of religion as well in this Church of England as also of the whole Church of Rome Wherein first commeth to our handes a turbulent tragedie and a fierce contention which long before had troubled the Churche and nowe thys present yeare 1509. was renewed afresh betweene two certaine orders of begging friers to wit the Dominike friers and the Franciscanes about the Conception of the virgine Marye the mother of Christe The Franciscanes were they which did holde of S. Fraunces Franciscane Friers followed the rule of his testament commonly called Gray friers or Minorites Their opiniō was this that the virgine Mary preuented by the grace of the holy Ghost was so sanctified Dominicke Fryers that shee was neuer subiecte one moment in her conception to Original sinne The Dominike Friers were they which holding of Dominike were commonly called Blacke friers or preaching friers Theyr opinion was that the virgine Mary was conceiued as all other children of Adam be so that thys priuiledge onely belongeth to Christe to be conceiued wythout Originall sinne notwithstanding the sayd blessed virgin was sanctified in her mothers wombe and purged from her Original sinne so as was Iohn Baptist Ieremie or any other priuileged person This friuolous questiō kindling and gendring betweene these two sectes of friers brast out in suche a flame of partes and sides taking that it occupyed the heades and wits scholes and vniuersities almost through the whole Church some holding one parte wyth Scotus A troublous dissention in the Church for the conception of the Virgin Mary some the other parte with Thom. Aquine The Minorites holding with Scotus their maister disputed and concluded that she was conceiued without al spot or note of Original sinne and therupon caused the feast and seruice of the conception of S. Mary the virgine to be celebrate and solemnised in the Church Contrary the Dominike Friers taking side wyth Aquinas Whether the Virgin Mary was conceaued without originall sinne preached that it was heresie to affirme that the blessed virgine was conceiued without the guilte of Originall sinne and that they which did celebrate the feast of her Conception or sayd any Masses thereof did sinne greeuously and mortally In the meane time as thys fantasie waxed hote in the church the one side preaching against the other came pope Sixtus 4. Anno 1476. who ioyning side wyth the Minorites or Franciscanes first sent forth his decree by authoritie Apostolique willing ordaining and commaunding all men to solemnise thys new found feast of the conception in holy Church for euermore offering to al men and women A new foūd feast of the conception of the virgin Mary which deuoutly frequenting the church wold heare masse and seruice from the first euensong of the sayde feast to the Octaues of the same as many dayes of pardone as Pope Urbane the 4. and Pope Mactin the 5. did graunt for hearing the seruice of Corpus Christi day c. and thys Decree was geuen and dated at Rome An. 1476. Moreouer the same Pope to the entent that the deuotion of the people myght bee the more encouraged to the celebration of thys Conception hee added a clause more to the Aue Maria A new Aue Maria of the Popes making graunting great indulgence and release of sinnes to all such as woulde inuocate the blessed Uirgine wyth the same addition saying thus Aue Maria gratia plena Dominus tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus Christus benedicta sit Anna mater tua de qua sine macula tua processit caro virginea Amen That is Haile Marie full of grace the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among women blessed is the fruite of thy wombe Iesus Christ The Pope addeth to the wordes of the scripture and blessed is Anna thy mother of whome thy virgines flesh hath proceeded wythout blot of originall sinne Amen Wherin thou maist note gentle reader for thy learning three things First how the Pope turneth that vnproperly into a prayer whiche properly was sent of God for a message or tidinges Secondly howe the Pope addeth to the wordes of the Scripture 3. absurdities to be noted in this decree of the pope contrary to the expresse precept of the Lorde Thirdly howe the Pope exempteth Marye the blessed virgine not onely from the seede of Abraham and Adam but also frō the condition of a mortall creature For if there be in her no originall sinne then she beareth not the Image of Adam neither doth shee descende of that seede of whose sede euil proceedeth vpon al men and women to cōdemnation as S. Paul doth teach Rom. 5. Wherfore if she descende of that seede Rom. 5. then the infection of Originall euill must necessarily proceede vnto her If she descend not therof then commeth she not of the seede of Abraham nor of the seede of Dauid c. Againe seeing that death is the effect and stipende of sinne by the doctrine of S. Paule Roma 6. then had her flesh iniurye by the lawe as Christe hym selfe had to suffer the malediction and punishment of death Rom. 6. and so should neuer haue died if originall sinne had no place in her c. But to returne vnto our storie Thys constitution of the Pope being set foorth for the conception of the blessed virgin which was the yeare of our Lorde 1476. it was not long after but the sayde Pope Sixtus perceiuing that the Dominike friers with their complices wold not conforme themselues hereunto The tenour of the popes Bull for the conception of the virgin to be without original sinne directed foorth by the authority Apostolicall a Bul in effect as foloweth Sane cum sancta Romana ecclesia de intemeratae semperque virginis c In English Whereas the holy Churche of Rome hath ordained a speciall and proper seruice for the publique solemnising of the feast of the conception of the blessed virgin Mary certaine orders of the Blacke friers in their publique sermons to the
voices what were to be done therin This notwithstanding the Papists still continuing in their former purpose began more stoutly to inuey against the other parte and because they were so suffered by the Magistrate without punishment it was therefore doubted by the coÌ„mons that they had some priuie maintainers amonge the Senators Whereupon certaine of the Citizens were appoynted in the name of the whole commons to sue to the Senators and to put them in remembrance of theyr promise Whose suite and request was thys that those Senators which were the aiders and supporters of the papists might be displaced for that it did as well tende to the contempt of the former decree made as also to the publicke disturbance of the Citie But when this coulde not be obtained of the Senate the commons vppon the 8. day of February the yeare aboue sayde assembled themselues in the gray Friers Churthe and there considering wyth themselues vppon the matter The Popishe Senatours displaced at Basill repaired againe with theyr suite vnto the Senate but not in suche humble wise as before and therewithall gathered themselues in the publicke places of the Citie to fortifie the same all be it as yet wythout armor The same euening the Senate sent them woorde that at theyr request they graunted that those Senatours although remaining still in office yet shoulde not sitte in counsaile what time any matter of Religion shoulde come in talke By thys aunswere the Commons gathering that the whole state was ruled by a few Religion in Basill defended by the commons tooke thereat grief and displeasure protesting openly that they would take counsell by them selues heereafter what they had to doe not onely in cases of Religion but also in other matters of ciuile gouernment and foorthwith tooke them to armour keeping the towers and gates and other conuenient places of the Citie with watche and warde in as forcible wise as if the enemie had bene at hand The next day the Senate requiring respite to deliberate was contented to commit the matter to them whome the commons before had sent as suters vnto them Which offer the Citizens did not refuse but wyth this condition that those Senatours whych were guiltie shoulde in the meane season followe their pleey as priuate persones vpon theyr owne priuate costes and charges the other which defended the publicke cause for the behoofe of the posterity should be mainteined by the publicke charges of the Citie This the Senate was glad to graunt vnto w t some other like matters of lighter weight to appease theyr rage It happened the very same day that certaine of the citizens Gods handy work in throwing downe Images in Basill such as were appoynted to goe about the Citie for the vewing of things came into the highe Churche where one of them thrusting at a certaine image wyth his staffe eftsoones it fell downe and brake By the occasion whereof other Images also in like sorte were serued after the same deuotion But when the Priestes came runnynge to them which seemed to be greatly offended therewith they because they would not passe their Commission staid their handes and departed It folowed vppon this that when word heereof was brought to the Citizens which stoode in the market place and the matter being made worse to them then it was they incontinent discharged out CCC armed men to rescue their felowes in the church supposing them to be in daunger Who comming to the Church Images throweÌ„ downe at Basill and not fineding theyr felowes there and all things quiet saue onely a few Images broken downe they likewise least they shuld haue lost all theyr labour threwe downe all the other Idols and Images whyche they founde there standing and so passing thorowe all other Churches in the citie did there also the like and when certaine of the Senate came foorth to appease the tumult the Citizens sayde that whiche you haue stande aboute these three yeares consulting and aduising whether it were best to be done or not that shall wee dispatche in one houre that from henceforth neuer more contention shall growe betweene vs for Images and so the Senate permitted them free leaue wythout any more resistaunce 12. Senatours displaced at Basill and 12. Senatours were displaced from theyr order all be it wythout note of reproche or dishonestie Also a decree the same time was made that as well wythin the Citie of Basill as wythout through all theyr iurisdiction the Masse with all Idols shoulde be abandoned Masse put downe at Basill and further that in all suche matters and cases as concerned the glory of God and the affaires of the publique wealth besides the number of the other Senators two hundreth and three score of the Burgers or Citizens shoulde be appoynted out of euery warde in the Citie to sit with them in couÌ„sell These decrees being established after they had kepte watch and warde about the Citie 3. daies and 3. nightes euery one retourned againe to his house quiet and ioyfull without any bloud or stroke geuen or anger wrcked but onely vpon the Images On the thirde day which was Ash wednesday as the Popes ceremoniall Church doth call it all the wooden Images were distributed among the poore of the Citie Ex Farrag Epist. Eraâ— to serue them for fire woode But when they coulde not well agre in diuiding the pray but â—el to brawling among them selues it was agreed that the saide images should be brent all together so that in nine great heapes all the stocks and Idolles there the same day were brent to ashes before the great Church doore And thus by Gods ordinance it came to passe that the same day wherein the Popes priestes are wont to shew forth all their mourning do marke mens foreheades wyth ashes in remembraunce that they be but ashes was to the whole citie festiuall ioyfull for turning theyr Images to ashes and to is obserued and celebrate euery yere stil vnto this present day with al mirth playes and pastimes Ashe wensday at Basill a day of all pastime A true AshweÌ„sday of Gods owne making in remembraunce of the same ashes whych day may there be called a ryghte Ash wednesday of Gods owne making The men of Zurike of Berne and of Solodure hearing what busines was at Basill sent their ambassadors to be a meane betwene them but before the ambassadors came all was ceased and at quiet All this meane space the Emperor the French king were together occupied in warres and strife Whych as it turned to the great dammage and detriment of the French king Gods prouideÌ„ce to be noted for the successe of the Gospell who in the sayde warres was taken prisoner by the Emperor so it hapned commodious and oportune for the successe of the Gospell for els it is to be thought that these Heluetians and other Germanes shuld not haue had that leisure rest to reforme religion and to linke them selues in league
together as they did But thus almightie God of his secret wisdome disposeth times occasions to serue his wil purpose in al things All be it Ferdinandus the Emperours brother deputie in Germanie remitted no time nor diligence to do what he could in resisting the procedings of the protestants as appeared both by the decree set foorth at Ratisâ—one and also at Spires In the whych Councel of Spires Ferdinandus at the same time whych was the yeare of our Lorde 1529. had decreed agaynste the protestants in effect as followeth The decree made at Spyres by Ferdinandus First that the edict of the Emperour made at Wormes should stand in force through all Germanie till the time of the general councel which should shortly folow Also that they whiche alredy had altered their religion now could not reuoke the same again for feare of sedition should stay themselues and attempt no more innouations heereafter till time of the generall Councell Item that the doctrine of them which hold the Lordes Supper otherwise then the Church doth teach should not be receiued nor the masse shuld be altered and there where as the doctrine of religion was altered shuld be no impediment to the contrary but that they which were disposed to come to Masse might safely therein vse their deuotion against Anabaptists likewise and that all ministers of the Church should be enioyned to vse no other interpretation of holy Scripture but accordyng to the exposition of the Church doctors other matters that were disputable not to be touched Moreouer that all persons and states shuld keepe peace so that for Religion neither the one part shuld inferre molestation to the other nor receiue anye confederates vnder theyr protection and safegarde All whych decrees they which shoulde transgresse to be outlawed and exiled Unto this sitting at Spires first the Ambassadours of Strausburgh were not admitted but repelled by Ferdinandus because they had reiected the masse and therefore the sayd citie of Strausburgh denied to pay any contribution against the Turk except they wyth other Germanes might be likewise admitted into their counsels The other princes which were receiued and not repelled The decree of Spires resisted by the Protestantes as the duke of Saxonie George of Brandeburgh Ernestus Franciscus Earles of Luneburgh Lantgraue Anhaldius did vtterly gainstand the decre shewed their cause in a large protestation written why they so did which done all such cities which subscribed and consented to the sayd protestation of the princes eftsones conioyned them selues in a coÌ„mon league with them whereuppon they had their name called thereof Protestants The names of the Cities were these The name of Protestantes how it first beganne Sancto gallum Argentina or Strausburgh Noriberge Vlmes Constance Rutelinge Winssemium Meminge Lindauia Campodunum Hailbrunum Isna Wisseburgum Norlinge Sangallum Furthermore as touching the Heluetians from wheÌ„ce we haue somewhat digressed howe the Citie of Berne and Zurick had consented and ioyned together in reformation of true religion ye hard before Wherfore the other Pages in Heluetia Quinque pag. The popish Pages in Heluetia coÌ„federate with Ferdinandus which were of contrary profession in like maner confederated them selues in league with FerdinaÌ„dus the number and names of which Pages especially were 5. to witte Lucernates Vraui Suitenses Vnterualdij and Tugiani whych was in the yeare aboue sayd to the intent that they conioyning their power together might ouerrunne the religion of Christ and the professours of the same Who also for hatred despite hanged vp the Armes of the foresaide cities of Zuricke and of Berne vppon the gallowes beside many other iniuries and greeuaunces whych they wrought against them For the which cause the said Cities of Berne and Zuricke raised their power intending to set vpon the foresaid Suitzers as vpoÌ„ their capital enemies But as they were in the field ready to encouÌ„ter one army against y e other through the meanes of the citie of Strausburgh and other intercessours they were parted for that time and so returned As touching the Councell of Auspurge The Couâ—â—cell of Aâ—â—â—purge The confessioÌ„ of 〈◊〉 Protestaâ—â— at Auspuâ—â—â— which followed the next yeare after the assemble of Spires An. 1530. howe the Princes and Protestantes of Germanie in the same Councell exhibited their confession and what labour was sought to confute it and how constantly Duke Fridericke persisted in defence of his conscience against the threatning woordes and replications of the Emperour also in what danger the said princes had ben in had not the Lantgraue priuily by night slipt out of the citie parteineth not to thys place presently to discourse To returne therefore vnto Zuinglius and the Heluetians of whome we haue heere presently to intreate you heard before howe the tumulte and commotion betweene the two Cities of Zuricke and Berne and the other v. Cities of the Cantons was pacified by the meanes of intercession which peace so continued the space of two yeares After that the olde wound waxing rawe againe began to burst out gather to an head which was by reason of certaine iniuries and opprobrious words and contumelies which the reformed cities had receiued of the other wherfore the Tigurines and the Bernates stopping al passages and streits would permit no corne nor victual to passe vnto them This was in the yeare of our Lord. 1531 And when great trouble was like to kindle therby the Frenche king with certaine other towneships of Suitzerland as the Glarians Friburgians Soloturnians Warres betweene the Gospelleâ—â— and the 〈◊〉 Popishe townes of SuitzerlaÌ„d and other comming betweene them laboured to set them at agrement drawing out certain coÌ„ditions of peace betwene them Whyche conditions were these that all contumelies iniuries past should be forgotten That hereafter neither parte shoulde molest the other That they which were banished for religion should againe be restored That the v. Pages might remaine without disturbaunce in their religion so that none should be restrained amongst them from the reading of the olde and new Testament Condition of peace drawen 〈◊〉 not kepte That no kind of disquietnesse should be procured against them of Berne and Zuricke and that either part should conferre mutuall helpes together one to succour the other as in times past But the fiue Pagemen wold not obserue those couenants made The Tygurines prouoked and â—â—pelled to warre against their enemies neither would their malicious hearts be brought to any conformitie Wherfore the Bernates and Tigurines shewing declaring first theyr cause in publicke wryting to purge and excuse the necessity of their warre being pressed wyth so many wrongs and in manner constrained to take the sword in hande did as before beset the hye wayes and passages that no furniture of victuall or other forage could come to the other Pages By reason whereof when they of the fiue towns began to be pinched with want and penurie they armed themselues secretly and set forewarde
Apostles and other holy Martirs did Fridericke asked them if they required anye miracle No sayd they and so stoode mute saue onelye that Democares prayed them to consider wel what they had sayd vnto them Doct. Maillard gageth hys soule Maillard also added that he woulde gage his soule to be damned but it was true Fridericke aunswered that he knewe it was contrary At last being brought to the place of execution a Crosse agayne was offered them which they refused Then a Priest standing by bad them beleeue in the virgine Mary Let God sayd they reigne alone The people standing by ah mischieuous Lutherane sayd they Nay a true Christian I am said he When they were tyed to theyr stakes after theyr prayers made when they were bid to be dispatched one of them comforting the other sayde be strong my brother be strong Satan away from vs. As they were thus exhorting one standing by sayd These Lutheranes do call vpon Satan Iohn Morel was afterward burned One Iohn Morell whiche afterward dyed a martyr then standing by at liberty aunswered I pray you let vs heare sayd hee what they say and we shall heare them inuocate the name of God Whereupon the people listened better vnto them to harkeÌ„ as wel as they could what they said they crying stil as much as much as their mouthes being stopped could vtter The death and martyrdome of Ribezies and Danuile Assiste vs O Lorde and so they rendring vp their spirites to the handes of the Lord did consummate their valiant Martyrdome Ex Crisp. Lib. 6. ¶ After the martyrdome of these two abouesayd the intention of the Iudges was to dispatch y e rest one after an other in like sorte and had procured already proces agaynst xij or xiij ready to be iudged But a certayne gentlewoman then prisoner amoÌ„gst them had presented causes of exceptions or refusals agaynst them wherby the cruel rage of the enemies was stayed to the month of Iuly following In the which meane time as this persecution was spread into other countryes The Suitzers make supplication to the French king for the martyrs first the faythfull Cantons of Suitziers perceiuing these good men to be afflicted for the same doctrine which they preached in theyr Churches sent their Ambassadours to the kinge to make supplication for them The same time also came letters from the county Palatine Elector tendyng to the same end to sollicite the king for them Countie Palatine maketh intercession to the French kyng for the Châ—istian prisoners the king standing the same tyme in great neede of the Germaynes for his warres was contented at least that they should proceed more gently with them and so the fire for the same tyme ceased Most of them were sent to Abbayes where they were kept at the charge of the Priours to bee constrayned to bee present at the seruice of Idolatry especially the young schollers of whome some shronke backe other being more loosly kept escaped away The most part were brought before the Officiall to make their confession and to receiue absolution ordinary Diuers made their confession ambiguous and doubtful c. Ex. Ioan. Crisp. lib. 6. Ex PaÌ„tal lib. xi  René Seau Iohn Almaricke At Paris An. 1552. These two young men were also of the company aboue specified René Seaâ— Iohn Almaricke dyed in prison and were in prison where they sustayned such cruelty beyng almost racked to death that Almericke coulde not go when hee was called to the courte to be iudged and beyng vpon the racke he rebuked their crueltye and spake so freely as though he had felt no grief and as they sayd whiche came to visite hym he testified vnto them that hee felte no dolour so long as hee was vppon it Both these dyed in prison continuing still firme and constant in y e pure confession of Christes church Ibidem VillegagnoÌ„ a Frenche captayne Iohn Bordel Math· Vermeil Peter Bourdon Andrew de Fou. At the countrey of Bresill Ann. 1558. Mention is made in the French storye of one Uillegaignon Iohn Bordell Math. Vermeil Pet. BurdoÌ„ martyrs Lieuetenaunt for the Frenche kinge who made a vyage into the land of Bresill wyth certaine French ships and tooke an Ilande nere to the same adioyning and made therin a fortresse After they had bene there a while Uillegaignon for lack of victuals as he pretended sent certayn of them away in a shippe to y e riuer of Plate toward the Pole Antarticke Hee sent them farre enough because they should neuer returne pretending that he lacked victuall but the cause was religion a thousand miles of in the whiche shipp were these foure here mentioned Who forsaking their shyp by occasion of tempest were caryed backe agayne and so came to the laÌ„de of Bresill and afterward to theyr owne countreyman Uillegaignon being much agreeued thereat first charged them with departing without his leaue Moreouer being terrified in hys minde with false suspicion and vayne dreames fearing and dreaming least they had bene sent as priuye spyes by the Bresilians because they came from them and had bene friendly intertained of them he began to deuise howe he might put them to death vndersome colour of treason but the cause was religion For albeit some tyme he had ben a professour of the Gospell yet afterward growing in some dignitie he fell to be an Apostata and cruell persecutor of hys fellowes But when no proofe or coniecture probable could be found to serue his cruell purpose he knowing them to be earnest protestantes drew out certayn articles of religion for theÌ„ to aunswere and so intrapping them vppon theyr confession he layd them in irons and in prison and secretly with one executor and his page he took one after an other beginning with Iohn Bordell first brought hym to the topp of a rocke and there being halfe strangled without any iudgement threw hym into the sea and after the like maner ordered also the rest Of whoÌ„ 3. were thus cruelly murdered drowned to wit Iohn Bordel Mat. Uermeil and Peter Burdon The 4. which was Andrew de Fou he caused by manifold allurementes somewhat to inclyne to hys sayinges and so he escaped the daunger not without great offence taken of a great part of the Frenchmen in that country Ex Crisp. lib. 6. Ex CoÌ„ment Gallic de statu Religionis Reipub. The kynges Lieuetenaunt Geffrey Varagle Geffrey Varagle martyr At Thurin in Piedmont Ann. 1558. In the same yeare 1558. suffered also Gefreye Uaragle preacher in the Ualley of Angroigne at y e town of Thurin in Piedmont who first was a monkâ— and sayd masse the space of xxvii yeares Afterward returning from Busque toward Angroigne to preach as he had vsed before to doe sent by the ministers of Geneneua and other faythfull brethren was apprehended in the town of Barges brought before the kings Lieutenant Where he was questioned with touching diuers Articles of religion as of iustification
reproue any thing in them for feare to be called hereticke and then they would make him smoke or beare a Fagot And the Cardinall himselfe was so elated that he thought himselfe equall with the King and when he had sayd Masse he made Dukes Earles to serue him of wine with a say taken and to hold the bason at the Lauatories Furthermore as he was Ambassadour sent to the Emperour at Bruxels he had ouer with him the great Seale of England and was serued with his seruitours kneeling on their knees and many noble men of England wayting vpon him to the great admiration of all the Germaines that beheld it such was his monstrous pompe and pride Ex Parâ—lip Abb. Vrspur This glorious Cardinall in his tragicall doyngs dyd exceede so farre all measure of a good subiect that he became more like a Prince then a Priest for although y e King bare the sword yet he bare the stroke makyng in a maner the whole Realme to bend at his becke to daunce after hys pipe Such practises and fetches he had that when he had well stored his own cofers first he fetched the greatest part of the Kings treasure out of the realme in xij great barels ful of gold siluer to serue the Popes warres And as his auaritious mind was neuer satisfied in getting so his restles head was so busie ruffling in publicke matters that he neuer ceassed before he had let both England Fraunce Flaunders Spayne and Italy together by the cares Thus this Legate well following the steppes of hys maister the Pope and both of them well declaring the nature of their religion vnder the pretence of y e Church practised great hipocrisie and vnder the authoritie of y e King he vsed great extortion with excessiue taxes and lones and valuation of euery mans substance The pilling 〈…〉 Cardinall so pilling the commoÌ„s and Marchaunts that euery man complayned but no redresse was had Neither yet were the Churchmen altogether free from the pillax and pollax from the pilling polling I meane of this Cardinall who vnder his power Legantine gaue by preueÌ„tions all benefices belonging to spirituall persons by which hard it is to say whether he purchased to himselfe more riches then hatred of the spiritualty So farre his licence stretched that he had power to suppresse diuers Abbeyes Priories and Monasteries and so did taking from them all their goodes moueables and not moueables except it were a little pension left onely to the heads of certayne houses By the saide power Legantine he kept also generall visitations through y e Realme sending Doctor Iohn Alein his Chaplein riding in hys gowne of veluet The Fryers obseruaunts 〈◊〉 of the Cardiâ—â—ll with a great traine to visit all religious houses whereat the Friers obseruants much grudged would in no wise coÌ„descend thereunto wherfore they were openly accursed at Paules crosse by frier Forest one of the same order so that the Cardinall at length preuayled both against them Of Fryer 〈◊〉 Vid. 〈…〉 Reg. Henriâ— 8. and all other Against whom great disdayne arose among the people perceauing how he by visitatioÌ„s making of Abbots probates of testamentes graunting of faculties licences and other pollings in his courtes Legantine had made his treasure equall with the Kings and yet euery yeare he sent great summes to Rome And thys was their dayly talke against the Cardinall Beside many other matters and greeuances which stirred the harts of the commons against the Cardinall thys was one which much pinched them for that the sayd Cardinall had sent out certain strait commissions in the Kings name that euery man should pay the vj. part of his goods Wherupon there folowed great muttering amongst y e coÌ„mons 〈…〉 19. Reg. Henriâ— 8. in such sort y t it had almost growen to some riotous commotion or tumult especially in the partes of Suffolke had not the Dukes of Northfolke and Suffolke with wisedome and gentlenes stept in and appeased the same Another thing that rubbed the stomackes of many or rather which moued them to laugh at the Cardinall was this to see his insolent presumption so highly to take vpon him as the Kings chiefe counsailer to set a reformation in the order of the Kings houshold making and establishing new ordinances in the same He likewise made new officers in y e house of the Duke of Richmond which was then newly begon In like maner he ordeined a Counsell established another houshold for y e Lady Mary then being princes so that all thing was done by his coÌ„sent by none other All this with much more tooke he vpoÌ„ him making the King beleeue y t all should be to his honour and y t he needed not to take any paine insomuch that the charge of all things was committed vnto him whereat many men smiled to see his great folly and presumption At this tyme the Cardinall gaue the King the lease of the Manour of Hampton Court which he had of the Lord of S. Iohns and on which he had done great coste Therfore y e King again of his geÌ„tle nature licenced him to lie in his Manour of Richmond so he lay there certain times But when the common people and specially such as were King Henry the vij seruantes sawe the Cardinall keepe house in the royall Manour of Richmond which K. Henry the vij so much esteemed it was a maruaile to here how they grudged saieng See a butchers dogge lie in the Manour of Richmond These with many other opprobrious wordes were spoken agaynst the Cardinall whose pride was so hygh that he regarded nothyng yet was he hated of all men And now to expresse some part of the 〈◊〉 practises and busie intermedlynges of this Cardinall in Princes warres first here is to be noted The Cardinall ruffling in matters and warres of Princes that after loÌ„g warres betwene England Fraunce 1524. in the which warres kyng Henry takyng the Emperours part agaynst FrauÌ„ces the French kyng had waged with his money y e Duke of Bourbon and a great part of the Emperours army to inuade and disturbe certaine partes of Fraunce it happened that the French kyng commyng with his armye toward Millan at the siege of Pauia was there takeÌ„ by the Duke of Bourbon Uiceroy of Neaples Fraunces 〈◊〉 French king taken prisoner and so led prisoner into Spayne Here note by the way that all this while the Cardinall held with the Emperour hopyng by hym to be made Pope but when that would not be he went cleane from the Emperour to the French kyng as the Lord willyng ye shall heare After this victory gotten and the French kyng beyng taken prisoner who remayned in custody about a yeare halfe at leÌ„gth through great labour solicitation as well of other as namely of the Cardinall and kyng Henry an order was taken The French king prisoner a yeare and a halfe and conditions propouÌ„ded
quatuor or the Cardinall of Pouche was slayne and with him were a M. Prelates and Priests fiue hundred Gentlemen fiue hundred Souldiers wherefore immediately the Captaines determined to lay siege to the Castle of S. Angell least they within might issue out and turne them to damage wherefore sodeinly a siege was planted round about the Castle The castell of S. Angel besieged In the meane season the souldiers fell to spoyle Neuer was Rome so pilled either of the Gothes or Uandales for the Souldiers were not content with the spoyle of the Citizens Rome spoyled but they robbed y e Churches brake vp the houses of close religious persons and ouerthrew the Cloisters and spoyled virgines and rauished maried women Men were tormented if they had not to geue euery new asker or demaunder some were strangled some were punished by the priuie members to cause them to confesse their treasure This woodnes continued a great while some man might thinke that wheÌ„ they had gotten so much then they would cease be quiet but that was not so for they plaied continually at dyce some v. C. some a M. Ducates at a cast and he that came to play ladeÌ„ with plate went againe almost naked and then fell to rifeling againe Many of the Citizens which could not paciently suffer that vexation drowned themselues in Tyber The Pope mocked and scorned opâ—nly in Rome before his owne face The Souldiers daily that lay at the siege made Iestes of the Pope Sometime they had one riding like the Pope with a whore behinde hym sometime he blessed and sometime he cursed sometyme they would with one voyce call him Antichrist and they went about to vndermine the Castle and to haue throwne it downe on his head but the water that enuironeth the Castle disappointed their purpose In this season the Duke of Urbine with xv M. men came to ayde the Pope but hearing that Rome was takeÌ„ he taried xl myle from Rome till he heard other worde The Marques of Saluce and Sir Frederico de Bodso with xv M. footemen and a M. horsemeÌ„ were at 〈◊〉 be the tenth day of May where they hearing that the Citie of Rome was taken also taried The Cardinall of Colume came with an army of Neapolitans to helpe the Emperours men but when he saw the cruelty of the Souldiers he did little to helpe them but he hated them much The Byshop of Rome was thus besieged till the eight Ides of Iuly The Pope besieged and taken at which day he yelded himselfe for necessitie and penury of all things in the Castle and theÌ„ he was restored to geue Graces and graunt Bulles as he did before but he taried still in the Castle of S. Angell and had a great number of Almaines Spanyards to keepe him but the Spanyards bare most rule in the Castle for no maÌ„ entred nor came out of the Castle but by them When the moneth of Iuly came corne began to fayle in Rome and the pestilence began to waxe strong wherfore the great army remoued to a place called Narma xl mile from Rome Warre and pestilence is Rome leauing behind them such as kept the Byshop of Rome When they were departed the Spanyards neuer were contented till they had gotten the Almaynes out of the Castle of S. Angell and so they had the whole custody of the Pope And thus much for the sacking of Rome Ex Paralip Abbat Vrsper When the Cardinall heere in England heard how hys father of Rome was taken prisoner The Cardynall bestirreth him for the Pope hee began to styrre coales and hearyng of his captiuitie he laboured with the King all that he might to stirre hym vp to fight with the sayd Pope against the Emperour and to be a defendour of the Churche whiche if hee would do the Cardinall perswaded him that hee shoulde receiue great rewarde at Gods hand To whome the King aunswered againe and sayd in this maner My Lord I more lament this euill chaunce then my tong can tell but where you say I am y e defendour of the faith I assure you that this war betwene the Emperour the Pope is not for the faith The Pope fighteth for temporall possessions but for teÌ„porall possessions and dominioÌ„s and now sith Pope ClemeÌ„t is taken by men of warre what should I do My person nor my people can not rescue him but if my treasure may helpe him take that which seemeth to you most coÌ„uenient Thus the Cardinall when he could not obteine at the Kings hands what he would in stirring him vp to mortall warre 12. score thousand Poundes conueyed out of England by the Carâ—inall A new fouÌ„d Letanye of the Lord Cardinalls making he made out of y e Kings treasure xij score thousand poundes which he caried ouer the Sea with him After this the Cardinall sent his commission as Legate to all the Bishops commaunding fastings and solemne processions to be had wherein they did sing the Letany after this sort Sancta Maria ora pro Clemente Papa Sancte Petre ora pro Clemente Papa and so forth all the Letanie This Cardinall passing the Seas with the foresayde summes of money departed out of Callis accompanyed with Cuthbert Tunstall Byshop of London the Lorde Sandes the Kings Chamberlaine the Earle of Darby Syr Henry Guilford and Syr Thomas Moore wyth many other Knightes and Squiers to the number of xij hundred horse hauing in his cariage lxxx wagonnes and threescore Moyles and sumpter horses It were long to discourse in this place the manifold abuses and treasons which he practised wheÌ„ he came to the French Court at Amias conuerting the greate summes of money Warre waged by the Cardinall whiche before you heard he had obteined of the King for the reliefe raunsome of Pope Clement which at that time was prisoner in the Emperours armye and bestowed the same in the hyring of souldiers furnishing out the French Kings armye appoynting also certayne English Captaynes in the King of Englandes name to go against the Emperour to rescue the Pope all whiche army was payd with the King of Englands money Besides that he priuely by his letters caused Clarentius king of the armes to ioyne with the French Herauld and openly to defie the Emperour whereby there began great displeasure to rise betwen y e Emperour the King but that the Emperour of his politike nature would take no occasion of displeasure agaynst the Kyng of England Now agayne he vttered another of his practises for vpon the sayd defiaunce the Cardinall surmising whispering in the Kings eare that y e Emperour had euill intreated and imprisoned the Kings Ambassadours in Spaâ—ne The craftye practise of the Cardinall caused Hugo de Mendosa the Emperours Ambassadour in England to be attached put in safe keeping and hys house with all his goodes to be seased Which so remained vntill y e manifest letters came of the gentle intreatye of the kings
for the singulare promptnesse in the Italian toung wherein hee seemed nothing inferior neither to Peter Uanne here in Englande the kings Secretary for the Italian toung nor yet to any other which were the best in that toung in all Uenice For opinion fame of lerning he was so notoriously accepted not onely here in England w t Linacre Grecinus More other but also knowen reported abroad in such sort that in all the great heap of Erasmus Epistles he wrote almost to none so many as he wrote to thys Richard Pacie As the sayde Pacie was resident Ambassadour at Uenice the king hauing warre the same time Richard Pacie Ambassadour at Venice with Fraunces the French king as is afore rehersed through the conducting of the duke of Bourbon whom he then waged w t hys expenses sent commandement to Pacie to geue attēdance to the duke of Bourbon The Duke of Bourbon waged with the king of Englāds money concerning the receite of that money and other necessities exploits to that expedition appertaining In the meane while as the French king wyth his army and the Duke of Bourbon were approchyng in battel together neare about the citie of Pauia it so hapned some thinke through the craftie packing of the Cardinall that the kings money was not so ready The Duke of Bourbon disapointed of the kinges money as it was looked for By reason wherof y e duke of Bourbon perceiuing his soldiors about to shrinke from him to the French king for lacke of paiment called to him the Ambassador cōplaining vnto him how the king of England had deceiued him and broke promise with him to hys great dishonor vtter vndoing c. Pacie then being sure of the kings wil and suspecting the crafty fetch of the Cardinall desired y e duke not to take discomfort nor any diffidence of the Kings assured promise excusing the delay of y e money as wel as he could by intercipation or other causes by the way incident rather then for any lacke of fidelitie on the kings behalfe adding moreouer that if it would please him happely to proceede as he had couragiously begon Richard Pacie helpeth the Duke of Bourbō with money he should not stay for the kings mony so sure he was of the kings mind therin that he would supply the lacke of that paiment vppon hys owne credite amongest his frendes at Uenice and so did Wherupon the soldiors being sufficiētly satisfied with paiment of theyr wages proceeded foorth wyth the Duke vnto the battaile In the which battaile the foresayde French king the same time before the Citie of Pauie Richard Pacie was the meanes why the French king was taken was taken prisoner as is afore declared Which being eftsoones knowen to the king of Englande Pacie had bothe condigne thankes for his faithfull seruice and also his money repaid againe with the vttermost as he wel deserued But as the laude and the renowmed praise of men for theyr woorthy prowesses commonly in this world neuer go vnaccompanied without some priuie canker of enuie and disdaine following after so the singulare industrie of Pacie as it wan much commendation with many so it could not auoyd the secrete sting of some Serpents The Cardinall hated Pacie For the conceiued hatred of this Cardinal so kindled against him that he neuer ceased till first he brought hym out of the kings fauour and at last also out of his perfect wittes The occasion howe hee fell beside hymselfe was thys for that the Cardinall after the death of Pope Adrian hoping no lesse but that he should haue bene aduaunced vnto the Papacie and yet missing thereof hee supposed wyth him selfe the faulte chiefly to rest in Pacies negligence by whose great witte and learning and earnest meanes and sute he thought easily he might haue acheued and compassed the triple crowne Wherfore he seing it otherwise come to passe and inflamed against Pacie for the same wrought such wayes and meanes that by the space almoste of two yeares The Cardinall practiseth against Pacie Pacie continuing at Uenice had neither wrytinge from the king nor his counsaile what he shuld do nor yet any maner of allowaunce for his diet although he wrote and sent letters for the same to England very often for the Cardinall had altogether incensed the king against hym Whereupon the sayd Pacie tooke such an inward thoughte and conceite that his wittes began to faile hym he beynge notwithstanding in such fauour among the Senatours of Uenice Pacie in great credite with the Venetians that neyther for gold nor siluer he could there haue lacked By some it is reported that the Uenitian Legate heere in Englande comming to the Cardinall required if he would commaunde any thyng to the Englishe Ambassadour at Uenice The Cardinall falsely belyeth Pacie To whome he should aunswer agayne in high woordes sayinge Paceus decepit Regem Whyche wordes comming to Pacies eares so deepely pearced hys stomacke that he fel quite besides himself I hard it moreouer of an other thus testified who had a brother the same time dwelling wyth Pacie that the Cardinall aboute the returning of Pacie from Uenice sent him a letter so powdered wyth what spices I can not tell that at the reading therof Pacie then being in the fieldes fell sodenly in such a mighty running for the space of 2 miles that his seruants had much a do to take him and bring him home This pitious case of Pacie was not a litle lamented by the whole Senate and chiefe learned men in Uenice in so much that the king was not onely certified therof by Thomas Lupset who then was chiefe man about Pacie Pacie be straught of his wittes and his Secretarye for that Ambassage but also the sayde Senate of Uenice wrote in such sharpe vehement wise vnto their Ambassador then being in England that he should signifie to the king touching Pacies case that thereby the king knowing the trueth and the whole circumstaunce of the matter was not a litle sorowful therefore Whereupon Pacie was forthwith sent for home and when hee came to England he was commanded by the king to be specially well tended to lacke no keeping In so much that within a small processe of time he was pretely well come agayne to his wittes began to studie the Hebrew tongue wyth Wakefield Pacie pretely recouered so that the Cardinall then being absent suche waies was founde by his frendes that he was brought to the king lying then at Richmond where he and the kynge secretely communed together by the space of 2. houres and more Pacie brought to the kinges speech not wythout greate reioycing to the king as it was perceiued to see him so well amended returned to hymselfe againe geuing likewise strait charge and commaundement that he should lacke nothing The Cardinall being then not present when he heard of this fearing least he had disclosed somewhat to the king
when he sawe and discerned all this For as I vnderstand Copes Dâ—alogues suspected not to be his owne M. Cope being yet at this present scarse come to the age of xl yeares he could not be then aboue nine yeare olde the other suffering ann 1535. in the which age in my minde M. Cope had small discretion to iudge either of any such angelical proportion of mans personage or of his diuine qualities and heroical celsitude of his mind as yet he remembreth in his Dialogues Which thing among many other probabilities maketh me vehemently to suspect y t these Dialogues printed in Aâ—twerp ann 1566. were brought ouer by M. Cope there to be printed but were penned framed by an other Pseudocopus whatsoeuer or in what Fleete so euer he was vnlesse my marks do greatly faile me But as the case is of no great weight so I let it passe returning to other matters of more importance Shortly after the ouerthrow of the Pope consequently began by litle and litle to follow the ruine of Abbeyes religious houses in Englande in a right order methode by Gods diuine prouidence For neither coulde the fall of Monasteries haue followed after vnlesse that suppression of the Pope had gone before neither could any true reformation of the church haue bene attempted vnles y e subuersion of those superstitious houses had ben ioyned withal Whereupon the same yere in the moneth of October the king hauing then Tho. Cromwell of his Counsel Suppression of Abbeyes first beginneth in England sent Doct. Lee to visite the Abbeys Priories and Nunryes in all England to set at libertie all such religious persons as desired to be tree all other that were vnder the age of 24. yeares Prouiding withal y t such Monkes Chanons Fryers as were dimissed Religious men vnder age let out of monasteryes should haue giuen theÌ„ by the Abbot or Prior in steede of their habite a secular Priestes gowne and xl shillings of money likewise the Nunnes to haue such apparel as secular women did then coÌ„monly vse and suffered to goe where they would At which time also from the sayde Abbeyes and Monasteries were taken their chiefe iewels and reliques The king first beginneth with the iâ—els of Abbeyes WHen the king had thus established his supremacie all things were well quieted within the Realme he like a wise prince Anno. 1536. hauing wise counsaile about him forecasting with himselfe what forreine daungers might fall vnto him by other countries about whiche all were yet in subiection to the Bishoppe of Rome saue onely a fewe Germane princes and misdouting the malice of the pope to prouide therefore by time for perilles that might ensue thought good to keepe in by all meanes possible with other Princes And first to entertaine the fauour of the French king who had ben sicke a litle before A solemne procession in LondoÌ„ for ioy of the French kings health and now was lately recouered to health in signification of publique ioy and frendship the king coÌ„manded a solemne and famous procession to be ordeined through the city of London with the Waits and children of Grammer schooles with the maisters and vshers in their array Then folowed the orders of the friers and Chanons and the Priours with their pompe of Copes Crosses Candlestickes and vergers before them After these folowed the next pagean of Clerkes priestes of London all in Copes likewise Then the monkes of Westminster and other Abeys with their glorious gardeuiance of Crosses Candlestickes and Uergers before them in like sort Last of all came the queere of Pauls with their residensaries the Bishop of London and the Abbots folowing after in their Pontificalibus After these courses of the Clergie went the companies of the citie with y e lord Maior AldermeÌ„ in their best apparel after their degrees And least it might be thought this Procession of the church of LoÌ„don to make but a small or beggerly shewe the furniture of the gay Copes there worne was counted to the number of 714. Moreouer to fill vp the ioy of this procession and for the more high seruice to almightie God beside the singing queeres chaunting of the priestes there lacked no minstrels withal to pipe at the processions Briefly here lacked nothing els but only y e ordinaÌ„ce to shoot of also A pyping procession But because that is vsed in the Processions at Rome therefore for difference sake the same is reserued onely for the Popes owne Processions and for none other in the moneth of October This grand processon was appointed for a triumphe or a thankes giuing for the late recouerye of the Frenche kinges health as is aforesayd Ouer and besides this the king to nourish and reteine amitie with kings and princes Ambassadours sent to sundry kinges least the Pope being exiled now out of England should incite them to warre against him directed sundry Ambassadours and messengers with letters and instructions To the Emperour was sent syr Tho. Wyat to the French king syr Fraunces Brian and Doct. Edw. Foxe who was also sent to the Princes of Germanie to the Scottes king was sent sir Raffe Sadler gentleman of the kinges priuie chamber In Scotlande the same time were cast abroade diuers railing ballets and slaunderous rimes against the king of England for casting of the Ladye Dowager and for abolishing the Pope Syr Raffe Sadler ambassadour to the Scottes king for the which cause the foresaid Sir Raffe Sadler being sent into Scotland with lessons and instructions howe to addresse himselfe accordingly after he had obteyned accesse vnto the king and audience to be hearde first declareth the effectuous harty coÌ„mendations from the kinges maiestie his graces vncle and withal deliuered his letters of credence Which done after a fewe wordes of courtly entertainement as occasion serued him to speake the sayde Syr Raffe Saddler obteining audience thus beganne in the king his maisters behalfe to declare as followeth * The Oration of the kynges ambassadour WHeras there is nothing after the glory of almighty God The Oration of Sir Raffe Sadler to the Scottish king in this world so much to be tendred by kings Princes or any honest persons or so highly to be regarded and defended as their honor estimatioÌ„ good fame name which whosoeuer neglecteth is to be esteemed vnnatural and vnlesse a man labor to auoide and extinguish the false reportes slanders and diffamations made of him by malitious persons he may wel be suspected in coÌ„science to coÌ„demne himselfe the king your vncle considering y e same and hearing of sundry ballets criminations and famous libels made and vntruly forged and deuised in Scotland against his grace by your graces subiectes not only vpon trust to find with your grace such natural affection frendship and amitie as the nerenes of bloud betweene vncle nephew necessitude of reuerence proximitie both of kinne of dominions together doth require but
tooke what stirre hee kept and what practises hee wrought wyth Cardinall Poole to stirre vp other natioÌ„s to warre against vs what difficultie also there was w t the Emperor with the French king and with the king of Scottes about the matter and what labour was vsed on the kings parte to concile these Princes for hys owne indemnitie to keepe him from their warres and inuasions and especially to obtein the Popes approbation and to auoide his censures of excommunication and finally what despitefull iniuries open wrongs the Pope wrought against hym vpon the which Pope the king had bestowed so much money and great treasors before all this likewise by the premisses may appeare Wherefore to end now with these and to go forwarde in our storie as the order and computation of yeares doe giue we haue now consequently to enter into the storie of the good Martyr of God William Tindal being this present yeare falsly betraied and put to death Whych William Tyndall as he was a speciall organe of the Lord appoynted and as Gods mattock to shake the inward rootes and foundation of the Popes proud prelacie so the great prince of darknes with his impious impes hauing a special malice against him left no way vnsought how craftely to entrap him and falsly to betray him maliciously to spil his life as by the proces of his story here folowing may apear ¶ The life and storie of the true seruaunt and Martyr of God William Tyndall Who for his notable paines and trauell maye well be called the Apostle of England in this our latter age WIlliam Tindall the faithfull Minister and constant Martyr of Christ W. Tindall Martyr was borne about the borders of Wales and brought vp from a childe in the Uniuersitie of Oxforde Anno 1536. where he by long continuance grewe vp and increased as well in the knowledge of tounges and other liberall Artes as especially in the knowledge of the Scriptures The first taste of gods truth in Magdalen Coâ—ledge by the meanes of M. â—indall wherunto his mind was singularly addicted In so much that hee lying then in Magdalene Hall read priuely to certaine students and felowes of Magdalen Colledge some parcell of Diuinitie instructinge them in the knowledge and truth of the Scriptures Whose maners also and conuersation being correspondent to the same were suche that all they which knewe him reputed and esteemed hym to be a manne of most vertuous disposition and of life vnspotted Thus he in the Uniuersitie of Oxforde increasing more and more in learning and proceeding in degrees of the schooles spying his time remoued from thence to the Uniuersitie of Cambridge where after hee had likewyse made his aboade a certaine space being nowe further ripened in the knowledge of Gods worde leauing that Uniuersitie also he resorted to one M. Welche a Knight of Glocestershire and was there Scholemaister to his children and in good fauour with his master This Gentleman as he kept a good ordinarie commoÌ„ly at his table ther resorted to him many times sondry Abbots Deanes Archdeacons wyth other diuers Doctors and great beneficed men who there together with M. Tindall sitting at the same table did vse many times to enter communication and talke of learned men as of Luther and of Erasmus Also of diuers other controuersies and questions vpon the Scripture Then maister Tindall Tindall dispâ—ting with the Doctours as hee was learned and well practised in Gods matters so he spared not to shewe vnto them simply and plainely hys iudgement in matters as hee thought and when as they at any time did varie from Tyndal in opinions and iudgement he would shew them in the booke and lay plainly before them the open and manifest places of the Scriptures to confute their errors and to confirme his sayings And thus coÌ„tinued they for a certaine season reasoning and conteÌ„ding together diuers and sondry times till at lengthe they waxed weary and bare a secrete grudge in their hearts against him Not longe after thys it happened that certaine of these great Doctours had inuited M. Welche and his wife to a banket where they had talke at wil and pleasure vttering their blindnesse and ignoraunce without any resistance or gainesaying Then M. Welche and his wife commynge home and calling for M. Tyndall began to reason w t him about those matters whereof the Priestes had talked before at their banket M. Tyndall answering by scriptures maintained the truthe and reproued their false opinions Then sayde the Ladye Welche a stoute and a wise woman as Tyndall reported Well sayd shee there was suche a Doctour which may dispend a C.li. and an other CC.li. an other CCC.li and what were it reason think you Tindall instructeth M. Welch and his wyfe in the truth that we should beleue you before them Maister Tindall gaue her no answere at that time nor also after that because hee sawe it would not auaile he talked but little in those matters At that time hee was about the translation of a booke called Enchiridion militâ—s Christiani which being translated he deliuered to his maister and Ladie Who after they had read well perused the same Enchiridion a booke of Erasmus translated by Tindall the Doctorly Prelates were no more so often called to the house neyther had they the cheare countenance when they came as before they had Which thyng they marking and well perceiuing and supposing no lesse but it came by the meanes of M. Tyndall refrained them selues and at last vtterly withdrew themselues and came no more there As thys grewe on the Priestes of the Countrey clustring together The priestes stâ—rme agaynst Tindall began to grudge and storme against Tindall railing againste him in Alehouses and other places Of whome Tyndall him selfe in his Prologue before the first booke of Moses this testifieth in his own words and reporteth that he suffred much in that countrey by a sort of vnlearned Priestes being full rude and ignoraunt sayeth hee God knoweth which haue seene no more Latine then that onely which they read in their Portesses Missalles whyche yet many of them can scarsely reade excepte it be Albertus de secretis mulierum The rudenes of the countrey priestes in which yet thoughe they be neuer so sorily learned they pore day and night and make notes therein and all to teache the midwiues as they say and also an other called Lynwood a booke of constitutions to gather tythes mortuaries offerings customes and other pillage which they call not theirs but Gods part the duetie of holy Church to discharge theyr consciences withall For they are bound that they shal not diminish but encrease all things vnto y e vttermost of theyr powers which pertaine to holy church Thus these blind rude Priestes flocking together to the Alehouse for that was their preaching place raged and raiâ—ed againste him affirming that his sayings were heresie Tindal troubled by the priests of the
that we our nobles can nor wil suffer this iniury at your hands vnreueÌ„ged if ye geue not place to vs of soueraignetie shew your selues as bounden and obedient subiects and no more to entermeddle your selues from hencefoorth wyth the waightie affaires of the Realme the direction whereof onely appertaineth to vs your king and such noble men and counsailours as we list to electe and choose to haue the ordering of the same And thus wee pray vnto almightie God to geue you graee to doe your dueties to vse your selues towardes vs like true and faithfull subiectes so as wee may haue cause to order you therafter and rather obediently to consent amongest you to deliuer into the hands of our Lieutenant a hundreth persons to be ordered according to their demerites at our will and pleasure then by your obstinacie and wilfulnes to put your selues your wines children lands goodes and cattels beside the indignation of God in the vtter aduenture of total destruction vtter ruine by force and violence of the sword After the Lyncolneshyre menne had receiued thys the Kynges aunswere aforesayd The commotion of Lyncolnshire asswaged made to theyr petitions eche mistrusting other who shoulde be noted to be the greatest meddler euen very sodeinly they began to shrinke and out of hand they were all deuided and euery man at home in his owne house in peace but the Captaines of these rebels escaped not all cleare but were after apprehended and had as they deserued Ex Edw. Hallo After thys immediately wythin sixe dayes vpon the same followed a newe insurrection in Yorkeshire for the same causes A Popishe insurrection in yorkshire through the instigation and lying tales of seditious persons especially Monkes and Priests making them beleeue that their siluer chalices crosses iewels and other ornaments shoulde be taken out of their Churches and that no man should be maried or eate any good meate in his house but should geue tribute therfore to the King but their speciall malice was against Cromwell and certaine other Counsailours The number of these rebelles were neare about 40. M. hauing for their badges the 5. woundes The badges of the rebels wyth the signe of the Sacrament and Iesus wrytten in the middest This their deuilish rebellion they termed by the name of a holy pilgrimage A holy Pilgrimage but they serued a wrong and a naughty Saint They had also in the field their streamers and banners whereuppon was painted Christ hanging vpon the Crosse on the one side and a chalice with a painted cake in it on the other side with other such ensignes of like hypocrisie and fayned sanctitie pretending thereby to fight for the faith and right of holy Church As soone as the king was certified of this newe seditious insurrection hee sent with all speede against them the Duke of Northfolke The kinges power agaynst the â—ebels in the North. Duke of Suffolke Marques of Excetor Earle of Shrewsbury other wyth a great armye forthwith to encounter with the rebels These noble Captaines and Counsailours thus well furnished with habilement of warre approching towarde the rebels and vnderstaÌ„ding both their number and howe they were ful bent to battaile first with policy went about to assay and practise how to appease all without bloudsheding The blinde â—â—â—burnnes â—f superstitiâ—us people â—ebelling â—here they â—â—ue no 〈◊〉 but the Northern men stoutly and sturdely standing to their wicked cause and wretched enterprise wold in no case relent froÌ„ their attempts Which when the nobles perceiued saw no other way to pacifie their furious mindes vtterly sette on mischiefe determined vppon a battel The place was appoynted the day assigned and the houre set but see y t wanderous worke of Gods gracious prouideÌ„ce The night before the day of battaile came as testifieth Edward Hall fell a small raine nothing to speake of A great 〈◊〉 of God in dâ—â—feÌ„ding the 〈◊〉 of his Gospelâ— but yet as it were by a great miracle of God the water which was but a very small forde and that men in maner y e day before might haue gone brishod ouer sodenly rose of suche a height deepenes and breadth that the like no man that there did inhabite could tell that euer they sawe afore so y t the day euen when the houre of battayle shoulde come it was impossible for the one army to come at the other After this y e appoyntment made betweene both y e armies being thus disappoynted as it is to be thought onely by God who extended his great mercye and had compassion on the great number of innocent persons that in that deadly slaughter had like to haue bene murthered could take no place then by the great wisedome and pollicie of y e said Captaines a communication was had a pardon of the kings Maiestie obteined for al the captayns and chiefe doers of this insurrection and they promised y t such thinges as they found themselues agreeued with all they shoulde gently be heard and theyr reasonable peticions graunted that their articles shoulde be presented to the king that by his highnesse authoritie and wisedome of his Counsayle all thinges shoulde be brought to good order and conclusion and with this order euery man quietly departed and those which before were bent as hote as fire to fight being letted therof by God went now peaceably to their houses and were as cold as water A Domino factum est istud In the time of this ruffle in Yorkeshyre and the king lying the same time at Windsore there was a Butcher dwelling within 5. miles of the saide towne of Windsore Popishe priesteâ— rebelling against the king whiche caused a Priest to preach that all they that tooke part with the Yorkshire men whom he called Gods people did fight in Gods quarrell for the whiche both he and the priest were apprehended and executed Diuers other priestes also with other about the same tyme committing in like sorte treason agaynst the king suffered the like execution Such a busines had the Kyng then to ridde the realme from the seruitude of the Romish yokes Tantae molis erat Romanam euertere sedem But Gods haÌ„d did still worke with all in vpholding hys Gospell and troden truth against all seditious sturres coÌ„motions rebellions and what soeuer was to the contrary as both by these storyes aforepassed and by suche also as hereafter follow may notoriously appeare The yere next after this which was of the Lord. 1537. after that great execution had bene done vpon certayne rebellious Priestes and a fewe other lay men Anno. 1537. with certayne noble persons also and gentlemen amongest whome was the Lord Darcy the Lorde Hussy Syr Robert Constable Syr Thomas Percy Syr Frances Bygot Syr Stephen Hamelton Syr Iohn Bulmer and his wife William Lomeley Nicholas Tempest with the Abbottes of Gerney and of Riuers c. in the month of October the same yeare folowing was borne Prince Edward Shortly
as a certayne instrument of the popes sentence definitiue against K. Henries first deuorse w t Lady Katherine Dowager hath of late come to our handes conteining matter neither impertinent nor vnmeet to be committed to history I thought here presently to place the same to the intent that the Reader seing the arrogant and impudent presumption of the Pope in the sayde sentence going about by force authority so to constrayne coÌ„pell kings and princes agaynst theyr willes agaynst right scripture to apply to his imperious purpose may the better vnderstand thereby what was the true cause grouÌ„d why the king first began to take stomacke against the pope and to send him cleane packing out of this realme But before I shall produce this foresayd sentence of the Pope definitiue to make the matter more plain to y e reader it shal not be amisse first to discipher rip vp the originall of such occasions as shal induce the reader to the better vnderstaÌ„ding of this falling out betwene the king and the Pope For so I finde by the letters of D. Stephen Gardener written to Cardinall Wolsey froÌ„ Rome at what time he Foxe were sent Ambassadors by the king to Pope Clement the 7. about the expedition of the kings diuorce Ann. 1632. that the sayd Pope Clement with the counsell of the Cardinall Sanctorum quatuor and other Cardinals at first was well willing and very inclinable to the accomplishment and satisfaction of the kinges desire in that behalfe and that for diuers respectes As first for the great benefites receiued The 〈◊〉 mouing 〈◊〉 Pope at 〈◊〉 first to fauour the 〈◊〉 cause of 〈◊〉 kinges diâ—uorce and the singuler deuotion of the king toward the sea Apostolicke in taking warre for the Churches cause in surceasing warre at the Popes desire and especially in procuring the Popes deliueraunce whereby the Pope then thought himselfe with his whole Sea much obliged to the king mail respectes to passe by his authority whatsoeueâ— reasonable might be graunted in gratifiyng the kinges so ample merites and desertes Secondly for the euident reasons and substantiall argumentes in the * This 〈◊〉 called the kinges 〈◊〉 booke 〈◊〉 a certainâ— treatise â—â—â—â—cerning 〈◊〉 reasons 〈◊〉 argumenâ— of diuers learned for the laâ—â—full dissoâ—â—â—tion of the kinges marriage 〈◊〉 aunswerâ— also to the contrary obiection of Abellâ—â— others And this booke the king 〈◊〉 sent to thâ— Pope The 〈◊〉 cause The 〈◊〉 dealing 〈◊〉 the Pope with kinâ— Henry The Popâ— false doâ—â—ble and câ—â—â—trary to himselfe kinges booke conteyned which seemed well to satisfy the Popes liking and to remoue away all scruples Thirdly for the good opinion confidence that y e pope had in the excellent wisedome profouÌ„d learning and mature iudgement of the king which the Pope as he sayd in formall words would soner leane vnto then to any other learned mans minde or sentence so that the kinges reasoÌ„s he sayd must needes be of great efficacy and strength of himselfe to order and direct this matter The fourth cause mouing the Pope to sauor the kings request was for the quiet and tranquility of his conscience which otherwise in that vnlawful Mariage with his brothers wife could not be settled The fift cause was for the consideration of the perils daungers which otherwise might happen to the realm by the pretensed titles of the king of Scottes other without an heyre male to establish the kinges succession for the auoyding of which perils and also for the other causes aboue rehearsed the pope shewed himselfe at that time propense and forward to promote and set forward the kinges desired purpose in that behalfe And thus much touching this by matter I thought here to suggest repeat to the reader albeit the same is also sufficiently expressed before pag. 1057. and 1058. to the end that the studious Reader pondering these first proceedinges of the Pope comparing them with this sentence definitiue which vnder foloweth may y e better vnderstaÌ„d what inconstant lenity what false dealing what craftye packing and what contrariety in it selfe is in this Popes holy Sea of Rome as by this case of the Pope may well appeare who in short time after all this was so clean altered from that he was that whereas before he pretended to esteme so gratefully the kinges trauell and benefites exhibited to the sea Apostolicke in his defence agaynst the Emperor and the Spanyardes now he ioyneth vtterly wyth the Cesarians agaynst the king And where before he so greatly magnified the kinges profound learning mature iudgement esteming his minde Sentence aboue al other learned meÌ„ to be as a iudge sufficient in the directioÌ„ of this case now turning head to the tayle he vtterly refuseth to bring the matter in iudiciuÌ„ orbis but will needes deteine it at home Agayne where before he preteÌ„ded a teÌ„der prouision for the state of this Realme now he setteth all other realmes against it The Poâ—â— how preâ—suÌ„ptuousâ—â— he 〈…〉 and commaâ—â—â—deth kiâ—â— Princâ— And finally where he before semed to respect the quiet tranquility of the kinges conscience now he goeth about to commaund compell the king agaynst his will and coÌ„science to do cleane contrary to that which he himselfe before in his iudgemeÌ„t had alowed thinking to haue the king at his becke and to doe and vndoe what he lifted and commaunded as by the tenor and true copy of this his Sentence definitiue ye may vnderstand Which as it came newly to our haÌ„ds I thought here to exhibite vnto the world that al meÌ„ might see what iust cause the king had being so presuÌ„ptuously prouoked by the pope to shake of his proud authority vtterly to exile him out of his realme Marke I pray thee the maner of the popes proud Sentence how presumptuously it procedeth ⧠Anglici Matrimonij ¶ Sententia diffinitiua ¶ Lata per Sanctissimum Dominum nostrum D. Clementem Papam vij in sacro Consistorio de Reuerendissimorum S. R. E. Cardinalium consilio super validitate Matrimonij inter Serenissimos Henricum VIII Catherinam Angliae Reges contracti PRO Eadem Serenissima Catherina Angliae Regina CONTRA Serenissimum Henricum VIII Angliae Regem Clemens Papa 7. CHRISTI nomine inuocato in Throno iustitiae pro tribunali sedentes solum Deum prae oculis habentes per hanc nostram diffinitiuam sententiam quam de Venerabilium FratruÌ„ nostrorum Sanctae Ro. Ec. Car. Consistorialiter coram nobis coÌ„gregatoruÌ„ Consilio assensu ferimus in his scriptis pronunciamus deâ—ernimus declaramus in causa causis ad nos Sedem Apostolicam per appellationem per charissimam in Christo FiliaÌ„ Catherinam Angliae Reginam Illustrem a nostris Sedis Apostolicae Legatis in Regno Angliae deputatis interpositaÌ„ legitimè deuolutis aduocatis inter praedictaÌ„ Catherinam Reginam Charissimum in Christo Filium Henricum VIII Angliae RegeÌ„
the Emperour and nobles of Germany acompanied with the Emperours Heraulde and the rest of his company hauing onely xxi dayes to him graunted for his returne and no more In the which meane space of his returne hee writeth to the Emperour and to other nobles of the Empyre repeating briefely to them the whole action and order of things there done desiring of them theyr lawfull good will and fauour which as he hath alwayes stand neede of so now he moste earnestly craueth especially in this that hys cause whiche is not his but the cause of the whole church vniuersall may be hearde with indifferency and equitye and may be decised by the rule and authority of holy Scripture signifying moreouer that when so euer they shall please to send for him he shall bee ready at theyr commaundement at any time or place vppon theyr promise of safety to appeare c. During the time of these doinges the Doctours and Schoolmen of Paris were not behinde with theyr partes The doctors of Parts condemne the bookes of Luther but to shewe theyr cunning condemned the bookes of Luther extracting out of the same especially out of hys booke De Captiuitate Babilonica certayne Articles as touching the Sacramentes lawes and decrees of the Church equalitye of workes vowes contrition absolution satisfaction Purgatory free will priuiledges of holy Church coūcelles punishment of heretiques Philosophye Schole diuinity with other more Philip Melancton answereth the Parisians Unto whom Philip Melancton maketh aunsweare and also Luther himselfe albeit pleasantly and iestingly It was not long after this but Charles the new Emperour Luther outlawed by the Emperour to purchase fauor with the Pope because hee was not yet confirmed in his Empyre prouideth and directeth out a solemne writ of outlawry agaynst Luther all them that take his part commaunding the said Luther where so euer he might be gotten to be apprehended and his bookes burned By which decree proclaymed agaynst Luther the Emperour procured no small thanke with the Pope in so much that the Pope ceasing to take part with the French king ioyned himselfe whollye to the Emperour In the meane time Duke Fridericke to geue some place for the time to the Emperors Proclamation M. Luther kept aside for a while conueyed Luther a litle out of sight secretly by the helpe of certain noble men whom he well know to be faythfull and trusty vnto him in that behalfe There Luther being close and out of company wrote diuers Epistles and certayne bookes also vnto his frendes among which he dedicated one to his companye of Augustine Fryers entituled De abroganda Missa Which Friers the same time being encouraged by him Luthers booke De Abroganda Missa ad Augustinenses beganne first to lay downe theyr priuate Masses Duke Fridericke fearing least that would breede some great styrre or tumult caused the censure and iudgementes of the whole Uniuersity of Wittenberge to be asked in the matter committing the doing thereof to foure Iustus Ionas Philip Melancthō Nic. Ambsdorssius Ioh. Dulcius The mindes of the whole Uniuersity being searched it was shewed to the Duke that he shoulde doe well and Godly The Masse laide downe first at Wittenberge by the whole aduise of the learned there to commaund the vse of Masse to be abrogate through his dominion and though it could not be done without tumult yet that was no let why the course of true doctrine should be stayed The iudgement of the Vniuersitie of Wittenberge against the Masse for the multitude which commonly ouercommeth the better part Neyther ought such disturbaunce to be imputed to the doctrine taught but to the aduersaryes which willingly and wickedly kicke agaynst the trueth wherof Christ also geueth vs forewarning before For feare of such tumults therefore we ought not to surcease frō that which we know is to be done but constantly must go forward in defence of Gods truth how so euer the world doth esteeme vs or rage against it Thus shewed they their iudgemēt to Duke Fridericke Anno. 1521. It happened moreouer about the same yeare and time that king Henry also pretending an occasion to impugne the booke De Captiuitate Babylonica wrote agaynst Luther In which booke 1. He reproueth Luthers opinion about the Popes pardons 2. He defendeth the supremacy of the Byshop of Rome 3. He laboreth to refell all his doctrine of the Sacramēts of the Church This booke albeit it carryed the kinges name in the title K. Henry wryteth agaynst M. Luther yet it was an other that ministred the motion an other that framed the stile But who so euer had the labor of this booke the king had the thanke and also the rewarde For consequently vpon the same the bishop of Rome gaue to the sayd king Henry for the style agaynst Luther K. Henry made defender of the fayth by the Pope y e style and title of Defender of the Christen fayth and to his successors for euer Shortly after this within the compasse of the same yere Pope Leo after he had warred agaynst the Frenche men and had gotten from them through the Emperors ayd the Citties of Parma Placentia and Millen c. he sitting at supper reioycing at three great giftes that God had bestowed vpō him 1. That he being banished out of his coūtry was restored to Florence agayn with glory 2. That he had deserued to be called Apostolique The death of Pope Leo in the midst of his tryumphe 3. That he had driuē the Frenchmen out of Italy after he had spokē these wordes he was stroken with a sodayne feuer and dyed shortly after being of the age of 47. yeares albeit some suspect that he dyed of poyson Successour to whom was Pope Adrian the vi scholemayster sometime to Charles the Emperour Pope Adrian the 6. who liued not much aboue one yeare and a halfe in his Papacy During whose small time these three especiall thinges were incident A great pestilence in Rome wherein aboue an hundreth thousande people were consumed A great pestilence in Rome The losse of Rhodes by the Turke And thyrdly the capitall warre which the sayd Pope Adrian with the emperour and the Uenetians and the king of Englande dyd hold agaynst Fraunces the French king This pope Adrian was a Germane borne brought vp at Louane Adrian a Germaine Pope and not vnlearned and as in learning he exceded the common sort of Popes so in moderatiō of life and maners he semed not all together so intēperate as some other Popes haue bene and yet like a right Pope nothing degenerating from hys Sea Pope Adrian a great enemie to Luther he was a mortall enemy against Martin Luther and his partakers In his time shortly after the Councell of Wormes was broken vppe an other meeting or assemble was appoynted by the Emperor at Norenberge of y e princes nobles and states of Germany an 1522. Unto this assemble the sayde
honour which notoriously will be disteined The 3. cause if they which most excell in nobility and authority among the Germaines shall not bend all theyr power to expell these heresyes First for that they shall appeare to degenerate from theyr progenitors who being present at the condemnatioÌ„ of Iohn Hus of other heretickes are sayd some of theÌ„ with theyr owne hands to haue led Iohn Hus to the fire Secondly for that they or the greater part of theÌ„ approuing with theyr authority * This edict of the Emperor aboue touched pag. 827. was deuised and set out not knowing to diuers of the Princes there And semeth chiefly to be brought about by the Pope and his flatterers about him Looke more hereof in the story of Sledan Lib. 3. the emperiall edict set forth of late in coÌ„demnatioÌ„ of M. Luther now except they shall folow the execution of y e same shall be noted inconstant or may be thought to fauor the same seing it is manifest that they may easily exterminate him if they were disposed The fourth cause is the iniury wrought by Luther to them their parentes The 4. cause and progenitors for as much as their fathers progenitors and themselues also haue alwayes holden the same fayth which the catholick church of Rome hath appoynted contrary to which fayth Luther with his sectaryes now doeth holde saying that many thinges are not to be beleued which theyr foresaid aunceters haue holden to be of fayth it is manifest therfore that they be condeÌ„ned of Luther for infidels and hereticks and so consequeÌ„tly by Luthers doctrine all theyr foreelders progenitors which haue deceased in this our fayth be in hell for errour in fayth importeth damnation The fift cause to moue them is that they should wel aduise consider the end The 5. reason or cause whereunto all these Lutherians do teÌ„d * The doctrine of Luther tendeth against the vsurped power of the Sea of Rome Ergo the doctrine of Luther dissolueth all obedience due to Magistrates This consequent is to be denied for the power of Magistrates is of God and he that resisteth them resisteth God So is not the vsurped power of the Pope which is that vnder the shadow of Euangelicall liberty they may abolish all superiority and power For although at the first beginning they pretended onely to adnul and represse our power ecclesiasticall as being falsely tyrannously vsurped agaynst the Gospell yet for as much as liberty is all theyr foundation and pretence by the which liberty the seculer power and magistrates can not binde men by any commaundementes be they neuer so iust or so reasonable * If the Pope doe say that no preceptes of Magistrates do oblige vnder paine of mortall sinne he sayth not true if hee say that Luther so teacheth he belyeth Luther who teacheth al men to be subiects vnto Magistrates no man more to obey theÌ„ vnder paine of mortall sinne it is manifest that theyr scope is to enfeeble and infringe as much or more the seculer state also although couertly they pretend to salue it to the end that when the seculer Princes shall beleue this theyr working not to be directed against them but onely agaynst the vsurped domination of the church and churchmeÌ„ then the laity which commonly hath bene alwayes agaynst men of the Church holding with them shall suffer the Church-men to be deuoured Which done no doubt but * Who so coÌ„sidereth the doctrine of Luther De Libertate Christiana shal finde this to be a false slaunder For how is it like that he meaneth any rebellion who describing a Christian calleth him a seruant and an vnderling to all men they will afterward practise the like vpon the secular Princes and potestates which now they attempt agaynst our ecclesiasticall iurisdiction The sixte cause to mooue and perswade them agaynst Luther is this for them to consider the fruites which folow of that sect The 6. cause as slaunders offences disturbaunce robberyes murders * The cause why the Pope doth charge the Lutherians with sedition dyd ryse vpon this because one Franciscus Sickyngus a valiant man and a great fauourer of Luther dyd warre agaynste the Archbyshop of Triers for 〈◊〉 two certain persons froÌ„ 〈◊〉 which should haue 〈◊〉 and by his meanes did not seditions dissentions which this sect hath and dayly doth styrre vp through whole Germany Also blasphemyes * As for sclaunderous words 〈◊〉 tauntes with what face 〈◊〉 Pope charge Luther being 〈◊〉 so impudent and bytter as in 〈◊〉 his present letter is manifest to 〈◊〉 seene wherein he sheweth himâ—â—â—â— in his own colours what he is slaunderous wordes scoffing iestes and bitter tauntes whiche are euer in theyr mouthes Agaynst which vnles that they shall finde a present remedy it is to be feared least the desolation of Gods wrath will fall vpon Germany being so diuided or rather vpoÌ„ the Princes of Germany who hauing the sword geuen of God into theyr hands for the suppression of malefactors suffer such enormities amongst theyr subiectes Ier. 48. Cursed is he sayth the Prophet which doth the worke of the Lorde negligently and holdeth backe his sworde from the bloud of wicked doers The seuenth reason is The 7. cause or reason that the princes should consider how Luther vseth the same way of seducing the people of Christ as hath the venimous vyper * If the doings properties of Mahumet be rightly considered 〈◊〉 should be found so aptly to resemâ—lâ— hym as the pope him self He decâ—â—neth from the word of God seâ—teth vp an other lawe so doeth 〈◊〉 Pope Hee killeth and sleyeth 〈◊〉 contrary part so doth the Pope He holdeth Saluation by workes of 〈◊〉 law so doth the Pope And if Mahumet giue liberty of flesh so 〈◊〉 not Luther but the Pope both â—â—keth it and also dispenseth with 〈◊〉 same Mahumet would not haue 〈◊〉 Religion reasoned vpon no 〈◊〉 will the Pope Briefly as the 〈◊〉 Mahumet is deuided into many suâ—dry sorts of Religion and of Religâ—ous meÌ„ so hath the sect of the pope hys Friers Monks Nunnes Hermâ—â— and other swarmes of an infinite varietie Mahumet practised in deceiuing so many thousands of soules in permitting to them the libertye of those thinges which flesh desireth and afterward in exempting them from such thinges as be more sharp in the law but that Luther a litle more temperately handleth the matter whereby he may deceiue more effectually For Mahumet geueth licence to haue many wiues and to diuorce and mary other at their pleasure This Luther to drawe vnto him the fauor of nunnes monks and priests such as be lasciuious in flesh preacheth that vowes of perpetuall continencye be vnlawfull much lesse to be obligatory and therfore permitteth vnto theÌ„ that they may mary forgetting by the way what the Apostle writeth of youÌ„g widowes saying 1. Tim. 5. That when they waxe wanton agaynst Christ then will they marrye hauing
the hie tippe of the Apostolicall dignitie and yeelde to God most hartie thankes for the same praying also from the bottome of their hearts for his excellent clemencie and perpetuall glory of his name and for healthe of soules and incolumitie of the vniuersall Churche that GOD wil geue his holines long continuance of felicity Hauing no misdout but that by such a ful consenting election of such a pastor of the vniuersall catholike church great profite and commoditie will ensue Which thing to hope and looke for his holinesse openeth to them an euident declaration in his owne letters testifying and protesting what a care it is to him both day night how to discharge his pastorall function in studying for the health of the flocke to him committed and especially in conuertinge the minds of Christian princes from warre to peace declaring moreouer what subsidie and reliefe his holinesse hath sent to the souldiers of Rhodes c. All which things they perpeÌ„ding with them selues conceiue exceeding hope and comfort in their mindes thus reputing and trusting that this coÌ„cord of Christian princes wil be a gâ—eat helpe and stay to the better quieting of things now out of frame without which neither the state of the coÌ„mon welth nor of Christian religion can be rightly redressed and much lesse the tyrannie of the barbarous Turke repressed Wherfore the excellent prince Lord Lieutenant to the Emperors maiestie with the other princes Electors and orders of this present assemble most hartily doe pray that his holines wil persist in this his purpose diligence as he hath vertuously begun leauing no stone vnremoued how the disagreeing hearts of ChristeÌ„ princes may be reduced to quiet and peace Can any good thing come out of Rome or if that will not be yet at least some truce and intermission of domestical dissentions may be obtained for the necessity of the time now present wherby all Christians may ioyne their power together with the helpe of God to go against the Turke to deliuer the people of Christ from his barbarous tyrannie and bondage Whereunto both the noble prince Lord Lieutenant and other princes of Germany wil put to their helping hands to the best of their abilitie And wheras by the letters of his holines with his instruction also exhibited vnto them by his Legate they vnderstand that hys holines is aflicted with great sorow for the prospering of Luthers sect The Pope much greeued for the prospering of Luther wherby innumerable soules committed to his charge are in danger of perdition therefore his holines vehemently desireth some speedy remedy against the same to be prouided with an explication of certaine necessary reasons causes wherby to moue the Germane princes therunto and that they will tender the execution of the Apostolique sentence and also of the Emperours edict set forth touching the suppression of Luther to these the L. Lieutenant and other princes and states doe answere that it is to them no lesse griefe and sorow then to his holines and also do lament as much for these impieties and perils of soules and inconueniences which grow in the religion of Christ either by the sect of Luther or any otherwise Further what help or counsel shall lie in them for the extirping of errors decay of soules health what their moderation can do they are willing and ready to performe considering how they stand bound subiect as wel to the Popes holines as also to the Emperours maiestie But why the sentence of the Apostolike see the Emperours edict against Luther hath not ben put in execution hetherto ther haue bene said they causes great and vrgent which haue led theÌ„ therto Causes why the princes haue not proceded by the Popes sentence against Luther as first in weying and considering with them selues that great euils inconuenience wold therupon ensue For the greatest part of the people of Germany haue alwaies had thys persuasion now by reading of Luthers bokes are more therin coÌ„firmed that great greeuances and inconueniences haue come to this nation of Germanie by the courte of Rome and therefore if they shuld haue proceded with any rigor in executing the Popes sentence Greeuances receaued by the court of Rome the emperors edict the multitude would conceiue suspect in their minds this to be done for subuerting the verity of the gospell for supporting confirming the former abuses greuances wherupon great warres tumults no doubt would haue ensued which thing vnto the princes states ther hath ben wel perceiued by many arguments For the auoiding wherof they thought to vse more gentle remedies seruing more oportunely for the time Againe wheras the reuerend L. Legate said they in the name of the Popes holines hath ben instructed to declare vnto theÌ„ that God suffreth this persecution to rise in the Church for the sins of men The Pope aunswered with his owne wordes that his holines doth promise therefore to begin the reformation with his owne court that as the corruption first spraÌ„g from thence to the inferior parts so the redres of al againe should first begin with the same Also wheras his holines of a good fatherly heart doth testify in his letters that he himselfe did alwaies mislike that the Court of Rome should intermeddle so muche and derogate from the coÌ„cordates of the princes and that his holines doeth fully purpose in that behalfe during his papacie neuer to practise the like but so to endeuor that euery one and especially the nation of the Germanes may haue their proper due and right graunting especially to the sayde nation his peculiar fauour who setteth not by these premisses but that this moste holy B. omitteth nothing which a good father or a deuout pastor may or ought to do to his sheepe Or who wil not be moued hereby to a louing reuerence and to amendement of his defaultes namely seeing hys holinesse so intendeth to accomplish the same in deede which in word he promiseth according as he hath begon And thus vndoubtedly both the noble L. Lieutenant all other princes states of the empire wel hope that he wil and pray most hartily that he may doe to the glory of our eternall God to the health of soules to the tranquilitie of the publike state For vnles such abuses and greuances with certain other articles also which the seculare princes assigned purposely for the same shall draw out in wryting shall be faithfully reformed Greuanceâ— of the Germaynes coÌ„plained of to the pope Vide infra there is no true peace coÌ„cord betwene the ecclesiasticall seculer estates nor any true extirpation of this tumult errors in Germanie that caÌ„ be hoped For partly by loÌ„g warres partly by reason of other greuances hinderances this nation of Germanie hath bene so wasted and consumed in money that vnneth it is able to sustaine it selfe in priuate affaires and necessary
the apple After long refusing wheÌ„ the wofull father could not otherwise choose by force constreined but must leauill at the apple as God would he mist the child and stroke the marke This Tell being thus compelled by the tirant to shoote at his sonne had brought with him two shaftes thinking that if he had stroke the child with the one the other he would haue let driue at the tyraunt Which being vnderstand he was apprehended and led to the rulers house but by the way escaping out of the boate betweene Urania and Brun and passing thorough the mountaines with as much speede as he might Pride and tyrannye well rewarded he lay in the way secretly as the ruler should passe where he discharged his arow at the tyraunt and slue him And thus were these cruell gouernours vtterly expelled out of these three valleyes or pages aforesayd and after that such order was taken by the Emperour Henricus 7. and also by the Emperours Ludouicus duke of Bauaria that henceforth no iudge should be set ouer them but only of their owne companie Ex Sebast. MuÌ„st Cosmog lib. 3. and towne dwellers Ex Seb. Munst. Cosmog lib. 3. It folowed after this in the yeare of our Lord 1315. that great contention and war fell betweene Fridericke Duke of Austria and Ludouicke Duke of Bauaria striuing and fighting the space of eight yeares together about the Empire With Ludouicus held the three pages aforesayd who had diuers conflicts with Lupoldus brother to the forenamed Fridericke Duke of Austria fighting in his brothers quarell As Lupoldus had reared a mighty army of twenty thousand footemen and horsemen and was come to Egree so to passe ouer the mountaines to subdue the pages he began to take aduise of his counsaile by what way or passage best he might direct his iourney toward the Suitzers Whereupon as they were busy in consulting there stoode a foole by named Kune de Stocken which hearing their aduise A fooles bolt somtimes hits the marke thought also to shoote his bolt withall and told them that their counsaile did not like him For all you quoth he consult how we should enter into yonder countrey but none of you geueth any counsaile how to come out againe after we be entred And in conclusion as the foole said so they found it true For when Lupoldus with his hoste had entred into the straites and valleys betweene the rockes and mountaines the Suitzers wyth their neighbours of Urania and Siluania lieng in priuie waite had theÌ„ at such aduantage with tumbling downe stones from the rockes and sodeine comming vpon theyr backes in blinde lanes did so encomber them that neither they had conuenient standing to fight nor roome almost to flie away By reason whereof a great part of Lupoldus army there being enclosed about y e place called MorgarteÌ„ lost their liues many in the flight were slaine Lupoldus with theÌ„ that remained retired and escaped to Thurgoia This battaile was fought anno 1315. Nouember 16. After this the burgers of these three villages being continually vexed by Fridericke Duke of Austria The first league betweene the 3. Pages for that they would not knowledge him for Emperour assembled them selues in the towne of Urania an 1316. and there entred a mutuall league and bond of perpetuall societie and coniunction ioining and swearing themselues as in one bodie of a common wealth and publike administration together After that came to them Lucernates then Tugiani after them the Tigurines next to them folowed Bernates the last almost of all were the Basilians then followed after the other seauen pages aboue recited And thus haue ye the names the freedome and confederatioÌ„ of these Suitzâ—rs or Cantons or pages of Heluetia with the occasions circumstaÌ„ces therof briefly expressed Now to the purpose of our story intended which is to declare the successe of Christes Gospel and true Religion receaued amoÌ„g these Heluetians also touching the life doctrine of Zuinglius order of his death as heere insueth ¶ The actes and life of Zuinglius and of receauing the Gospell in Zuitzerland IN the tractation of Luthers story mention was made before of Uldricus Zuinglius Vldricus Zuinglius who first abiding at Glarona in a place called then our Lords Ermitage from thence remoued to Zuricke about the yeare of our Lorde 1519. and there began to teach dwelling in the Minster among the Canons or Priestes of that close vsing with them the same rites and ceremonies during the space of ij or iij. yeares where he continued reading and explaining the Scriptures vnto the people with great trauaile Zuinglius reading the scriptures at Zurike Zuinglius against the Popes pardons and no lesse dexteritie And because Pope Leo the same yeare had renued his pardons againe through all countreys as is aboue declared Zuinglius zelously withstood the same detecting the abuses thereof by the Scriptures and of other corruptions reigning then in the Church and so continued by the space of two yeares and more till at length Hugo Bishop of Constance to whose iurisdiction Zuricke then also did belong hearing thereof Anno. 1521. wrote his letters to the Senate of the said Citie of Zuricke The Bishop of ConstaÌ„ce complayneth against Zuinglius complayning greeuously of Zuinglius who also wrote another letter to the colledge of Canons where Zuinglius was the same time dwelling complaining likewise of such new teachers which troubled the Churche and exhorted them earnestly to beware and to take diligent heede to themselues And forsomuch as both the Pope and the Emperours Maiestie had condemned all such new doctrine by their decrees and Edicts he willed them therefore to admit no such new innouations of doctrine without the coÌ„mon consent of them to whome the same did appertayne Zuinglius hearing therof referreth his cause to the iudgemeÌ„t and hearing of the Senate not refusing to render vnto them accompt of his faith And forsomuch as the Byshops letter was read openly in the colledge Zuinglius directeth another letter to the Bishop againe declaring that the sayd letter proceeded not froÌ„ the Bishop nor that he was ignoraunt who were the authors thereof desiring him not to follow their sinister counsailes for that truth said he is a thing inuincible and can not be resisted After the same tenour certaine other of the Citie likewise wrote vnto the Bishop desiring him that he would attempt nothing that should be preiudiciall to the libertie and free course of the Gospell requiring moreouer that he would forbeare no longer the filthie and infamous life of priests but that he woulde permit them to haue theyr lawfull wiues c. This was in the yeare of our Lord 1522. Besides this Zuinglius writeth to the Heluetians Zuinglius wrote also another letter to the whose nation of the Heluetians monishing them in no case to hinder the passage of sincere doctrine nor to inferre any molestation to Priests that were maried For
where he shoulde take horse where was a certayne Gentleman a straunger who drinkyng to him in a cup of wine desired hym to haue pity vpon him selfe and if he would not fauour his life yet that he would fauour his owne soule To whome sayd Austen after he had thanked hym for his good will what care I haue sayd he of my soule you may see by this that I had rather geue my body to be burned then to do that thing that were agaynst my conscience WheÌ„ he was come to the towne of Bellimont where he should be burned the same day there was a great buriall of the Duke Ariscotus his sonne which was slayne a litle before as is before touched by the occasion whereof many nobles and gentlemen were there present The death and martyrdome of Austen which hearing of this Austen came to him and talked with him When the day came of hys martyrdome the people being offended at his coÌ„stancy cryed out to haue him drawne at an horse tayle to the place of burning but the Lord would not suffer that In fine being tyed to the stake and fire set vnto him hartely he prayed to the Lord so in the fire paciently departed Ex Crisp. alijs The names of the persecutours be not expressed in the story Ex Ioan Sled lib. â—2 A certayne woman of Auspurge At Auspurge An. 1550. At Auspurge a certayne woman there dwelling seeing a priest to cary the hoste to a sicke person wyth Taper lyght as the maner is asked hym what he meant so to goe with candle lyght at noone daye For thys shee was apprehended and in great daunger had it not bene for the earnest sute and prayer of the women of that City and at the intercession of Mary the Emperours sister Ex Ioan Sled lib. 22.  Two Virgins In the Dioces of Bamberge An. 1551. In the Dyoces of Bamberge 2. maydes were ledde out to slaughter Two Virgins Martyrs whych they susteyned wyth patient hartes and cheereful couÌ„tenauÌ„ces They had garlands of straw putte on theyr heades Whereupon one comforting the other going to theyr martyrdome seing Christ sayd she for vs bare a Crowne of thorne why shoulde wee sticke to beare a Crowne of straw No doubt but the lorde wil render to vs agayne better then Crownes of golde some sayd that they were Anabaptistes And it might be sayd Melanct that they had some fond opinion admixed withal yet they did hold sayth he the foundation of the Articles of our fayth and they dyed blessedly in a good conscience and knowledge of the sonne of God Fewe doe liue without errors Flatter not your selues thinking your selues so cleere that you can not erre Haec Philip. Melancth The names of the persecutors appeare not in the story The Christian City of Magdeburge An. 1551. When Charles the emperour had almost gotte all his purpose in Germany Constancie to be noted in the citie of Magdeburge in obtruding hys Religion of Interim into all places which was receiued of the most part of all the chiefe Princes and Cittyes onely the Citty of Magdeburge continuing in the constancy of their doctrine reformed refused to admit the same Wherefore warre was raysed agaynst them theyr City besieged and great violence vsed so that many honest and religious Citizens for the Gospels cause susteyned great perils and daunger of death At last when they had manfully and constantly endured such great distresse and calamity the space of a whole yere thorow the blessed prouideÌ„ce of almighty God who about the same time sent warre betwene the French king and the Emperour honest reconciliation was made betwene them and the Emperor whereby they were receiued into fauor and suffered to enioy theyr former religion quietly Ex Ioan. Sled lib. 23. Iames Hesselius ChaÌ„berlayne of Gaunt and the Friers there Hostius other wise called George At Gaunt An. 1555. This Hostius borne at Gaunt Hostius martyr was cunning in grauing in armour and in steele He first was in the French Church here in England during the reigne of King Edward After the comminge of Queene Mary he weÌ„t to Norden in Friseland wyth hys Wyfe and Children From thence hauing businesse hee came to Gaunt where after a certayne space that hee hadde there continued instructing diuers of hys friendes he heard that there was a blacke Fryer which vsed to preach good doctrine to the people Wherefore he being desirous to heare came to hys Sermon where the Frier contrarye to his expectation preached in defence of transubstantiation At the hearing whereof his hart was so full that he had muche a doe to refrayne while the Sermon was finished As soone as the Frier was come downe he braste out and charged him with false doctrine persuadyng the people as well as he could be heard by the scriptures that the bread was but a Sacrament onelye of the Lordes body The Fryer not willing to heare him made signes vnto him to depart Also the throÌ„g of the people was such that it caryed hym out of the dores He had not gone far but Hesselius the Chamberlaine ouertooke him caried him to prison Then were Doctours and other Friers as Pistorius and Bunderius brought to reason with him of the Sacrament of Inuocation of Saintes and Purgatory He euer stood to the triall onely of the scripture whiche they refused Then was it agreed that he shoulde declare his mind in writing which he did He wrote also to his wyfe at Emden comforting her and requiring her to take care for Samuel and Sara hys children When he was condemned he was coÌ„mauÌ„ded not to speake to the people Hesselius the Officer made great hast to haue him dispatched Wherfore he myldely like a lambe praying for his enemyes gaue him selfe to bee bounde paciently taking that they would doe agaynst him whom first they strangled then consumed his body being dead wyth fire And this was the Martyrdome of Hostius Ex Lud. Rabo lib. 6.  Iohn Frisius Abbot Ioan. Frisius Abbot In Bauaria An. 1554. Ioanne Sled Lib. 25. maketh recorde of one Ioan. Frisius Abbotte of Newstat within the Dioces of the B. Herbipolensis in Bauaria who being suspected of Lutheranisme was called to accompt of his fayth and stroÌ„gly persisting in his assertions and defeÌ„ding the same by the scriptures he was therefore displaced and remooued from all hys iurisdictions .25 of Iune an 1554. Ex Sled The Bayliffe of Hennegow The pittious martirdome of Bertrand le Blas gouernour of the towne and Castle of Dornic Peter De uentiere LieuetenauÌ„t to the sayd Bayliffe Philip de Cordis chiefe couÌ„sellour in criminall causes Nic. Chambree Pet. Rachelier Iames de Clerke Nicholas of Fernague M. Hermes of Wingles one of the counsell for the sayd Baliwicke Bertrand le Blas At Dornic An. 1555. The Story of Bertrand is lamentable his tormentes vncredible the tyrannye shewed vnto him horrible the constancye of the Martyr admyrable This Bertrand beyng a Sylkeweauer
to haue the Rats excommunicate Whereupon it was ordeined decreed by the sayd Officiall after he had heard the plaintife of the Procurator fiscall that before he would proceede to excommunication they should haue admonition and warning accordyng to the order of iustice For this cause it was ordeined that by the sound of a trūpet open proclamation made throughout all y e streetes of the towne of Authun the Rats should be cited to appeare within three dayes and if they did not appeare then to proceede agaynst them The three dayes were passed the Procurator came into the Court agaynst the rats for lacke of appearaūce obteyned default by vertue whereof he required that they would proceede to the excōmunication Wherupon it was iudicially acknowledged that the said Rats beyng absent should haue their Aduocate appointed them to heare their defence for somuch as y e question was for y e whole destructiō banishyng of the sayd Rats The President Chassane chosen Aduocat for the Rattes And you my Lord Presidēt beyng at that tyme the kynges Aduocate at Authun were then chosen to be the Aduocate to defend the Rattes And hauyng takē the charge vpō you in pleadyng y e matter it was by you there declared that the citatiō was of no effect for certaine causes reasons by you there alledged Then was it decreed that the sayd Rats should be once againe cited throughout the Parishes whereas they were Then after the citatiōs were duely serued the Procurator came agayne into the Court as before there it was alledged by you my Lord President how that y e terme of appearaunce geuen vnto the Rats was to short that there were so many Cats in euery Towne and Uillage as they should passe through that they had iust cause to be absent The perswation of the Lord of Alenc to Chassane to returne his army from Merindoll Wherfore my Lord Presidēt you ought not so lightly to proceede agaynst these poore mē but you ought to looke vpon the holy Scriptures and there you shall finde how you ought to proceede in this matter and you my Lord haue alleged many places of the Scripture concerning the same as appeareth more at large in your sayd booke and by this plea of a matter which seemeth to be but of small importance you haue obteined great fame and honour for the vpright declaration of the maner forme how iudges ought grauely to proceede in criminall causes Then my Lord President you which haue taught others will you not also learne by your owne bookes the which will manifestly condemne you if you proceede any further to the destruction of these poore men of Merindoll For are not they Christian men and ought you not as well to minister right and iustice vnto them as you haue done vnto the Rattes By these and such like demonstrations the President was persuaded and immediately called backe his commission which he had geuen out and caused the army to retire the which was already come neere vnto Merindoll euen within one mile and a halfe Then the Merindolians vnderstanding that the army was retired gaue thankes vnto God comforting one another with admonition and exhortation alwaies to haue y e feare of God before their eies to be obediēt vnto his holy commandements The Lords prouidence for the Merindolians subiect to his most holy wil and euery man to submit himselfe vnto his prouidence paciently attending and looking for the hope of the blessed that is to say the true life and the euerlasting riches hauing alwaies before their eies for example our Lord Iesu Christ the very sonne of God who hath entred into his glory by many tribulations Thus the Merindolians prepared themselues to endure and abide all the afflictions that it should please God to lay vpon them and such was their answere to all those that either pitied or else sought their destructiō Wherupon the brute and noise was so great as well of the Arrest Fraunces the French kyng sēdeth Mounsieur Langeay to enquire better of the Merindolians as of the enterprise of the execution and also of the pacience and constancie of the Merindolians that it was not hidden or kepte secrete from King Fraunces a Kyng of noble courage and great iudgement Who gaue cōmandement vnto the noble and vertuous Lorde Mounsieur de Langeay which then was his Lieutenant in Thurin a Citie in Piemont that he should diligently enquire and search out the truth of all this matter Whereupon the sayd Mounsieur de Langeay sent vnto Prouince two men of fame and estimation geuing them in charge to bring vnto him the copie of the Arrest and diligently to enquire out all that followed and ensued thereupon and likewise to make diligent inquisition of the life and maners of the said Merindolians and others which were persecuted in the countrey of Prouince These deputies brought the copie of the Arrest and of all that happened thereupon vnto the sayd Mounsieur de Langeay declaring vnto him the great iniuries polings extorcions exactions tirannies cruelties which y e Iudges A testimonie in the commenda-of the Merindolians as well secular as Ecclesiasticall vsed agaynst them of Merindoll and others As touching the behauiour and disposition of those which were persecuted they reported that the most part of the men of Prouince affirmed them to be men geuen to great labour and trauaile and that about 200. yeares passed as it is reported they came out of the countrey of Piemont to dwell in Prouince and tooke to tillage and to inhabite many hamlets villages destroyed by the warres and other desert and waste places which they had so well occupied that now there was great store of wynes The godly conuersation of the Merindolians oyles hony and cattell wherewith straungers were greatly relieued and holpē Besides that before they came into the countrey to dwell the place of Merindoll was taxed but at foure crownes which before the last destruction payed yearely vnto the Lord for taxes and tallages aboue 350. crownes beside other charges The like was also reported of Lormarin and diuers other places of Prouince whereas there was nothyng but robberie before they came to inhabite there so that none coulde passe that way but in great daunger Moreouer they of the countrey of Prouince affirmed that the inhabitaunts of Merindoll and the other that were persecuted were peaceable quiet people beloued of all their neighbours men of good behauiour cōstant in keeping of their promise and paieng of their debtes without trauersing or pleading of the law That they were also charitable men geuing of almes releeuing the poore and suffered none amongst them to lacke or be in necessitie Also they gaue almes to strangers and to y e poore passengers harbouring nourishing and helping them in all their necessities according to their power Moreouer that they were knowne by this throughout all y e countrey of Prouince that they would not
not necessary that you should speake so manifestly against the Pastours of the Churche For my parte I desire youre welfare and would be sory that you should be so spoyled or destroyed as they do pretende And to the ende you shall the better vnderstande my amity and friendship towards you shortly I will be at my house by Cabriers whether ye may resort vnto me eyther in greater or smaller number as you will and returne safely without any hurt or damage and there I will aduertise you of all things that I thinke meete for your profite and health The Bishop of CauailloÌ„ seeketh the destruction of Cabriers About this time which was the yeare of our Lord 1542. the Uicelegate of Auinion assembled a great number of men of warre at the sure of the B. of Cauaillon to destroy Cabriers When the army was come within a mile of Cabriers the Cardinall Sadolet went with speede vnto the Uicelegate and shewed him the request of the inhabitants of Cabriers with the Articles of their confession and the offers that they made so that for that present the army retired without any damage or hurt done vnto y e inhabitaÌ„ts of Cabriers Card. Sadolet returned backe the armye comming against Cabriers After this the Cardinall Sadolet went vnto Rome but before his departure he sent for diuers of Cabriers and certaine farmers of his owne whom he knew to be of y e number of those which were called Lutheranes and told theÌ„ that he would haue them in remembrance as soone as he came vnto Rome and coÌ„municate their Articles and confession vnto the Cardinals The promise of Sadolet to his tenauntes of Cabriers trusting to finde a meane to haue some good reformation that God should be thereby glorified all Christendome brought to an vnitie and concord at the least nothing at all doubting but that the foulest abuses should be corrected and ameÌ„ded aduertising them in the meane time to be wise and circumspect to watch and pray for that they had many enemies Wyth this Oration of Cardinall Sadolet they of Cabriers were greatly comforted trusting that at y e sute of Cardinal Sadolet they should haue aunswer of their confession But at his returne they vnderstoode that he founde all thinges so corrupt at Rome that there was no hope of any reformation there to be had but rather mortall warre agaynst all such as would not liue according to the ordinances of the Church of Rome Likewise sayde the Treasurer of Carpentras The tresurer of Carpentras a priuye frende to them of Cabriers who albeit he payed out money to furnish souldioures that were hired for the destruction of Cabriers notwithstanding he did ayde them secretly all that he might Howbeit he could not do it so secretly but that it came to the knowledge of the Legate whereupon he was constreined to withdraw himselfe On the other parte the Byshop of Aix and Cauaillon pursued still the execution of the arest of Merindoll Then it was ordeyned by the court of parliament that according to the kings letters Iohn Durand couÌ„sailer of the Court of parliament with a Secretarie and the Bishop of Cauaillon with a doctor of diuinitie should go vnto Merindoll and there declare vnto y e inhabitants the errours and heresies which they knew to be coÌ„teined in their coÌ„fession and make them apparant by good and sufficient information and hauing so conuicted them by the worde of God they should make them to renounce abiure the sayde heresies And if the Merindolians did refuse to abiure then they should make relatioÌ„ therof that the Court might appoint how they should further proceede After this decree was made the Bishop of Cauaillon would not tary vntil the time which was appointed by the Court for the execution of this matter but he hymselfe with a Doctour of Diuinitie The Bishop of CauailloÌ„ commeth againe to Merindoll came vnto Merindoll to make them to abiure Unto whom the Merindolians aunswered that he enterprised against the authoritie of the Parliament and that it was against his commission so to do NotwithstaÌ„ding he was very earnest with theÌ„ that they should abiure promised them if they would so doe to take them vnder his wynges protection euen as the hen doth her chickens that they should be no more robbed or spoyled TheÌ„ they required that he would declare vnto theÌ„ what they should abiure The Popes Byshops will come to no reasoning The Bysh. auÌ„swered that y e matter needed no disputation that he required but onely a generall abiuratioÌ„ of all errours which would be no damage or preiudice to them For he himselfe would not sticke to make the lyke abiuration The Merindolians aunswered him agayne that they would do nothing contrary to the decree ordinaunce of the Court or the kyngs letters wherein he coÌ„maunded that first the errours should bee declared vnto theÌ„ wherof they were accused wherefore they were resolued to vnderstaÌ„d what those errours heresies were that being enformed therof by the word of God they might satisfie the kyngs letters otherwise it were but hypocrisie dissimulation to doe as he required them And if he could make it to appeare vnto them by good sufficieÌ„t information that they had holdeÌ„ any errours heresies The Bishops condemne the Merindolians for heresie and yet can shewe no heresies in theÌ„ by the word of God or should be conuict therupon by the word of God they would willingly abiure or if in their confession there were any word contrary to the Scriptures they would reuoke the same Contrarywise if it were not made manifest vnto them that they had holden any heresies but that they had alwayes liued accordyng to the doctrine of the Gospell and that their confession was grounded vpon the same they ought by no meanes to moue or constrayne them to abiure any errours which they held not that it were plainly agaynst all equitie and iustice so to do Then the Byshyp of Cauaillon was maruelously angry would heare no word spoken of any demonstration to be made by the word of God The bishop soâ—e agreued to haue heresie tryed by Gods word but in a furie cursed and gaue him to the deuill that first inuented that meane TheÌ„ the Doctour of Diuinitie whom the Bishop brought thether demaunded what Articles they were that were presented by the inhabitaunts of Merindoll for the Byshop of CauailloÌ„ had not yet shewed theÌ„ vnto him TheÌ„ the bishop of Cauaillon deliuered the Doctour the confession Whiche after he had read the Byshop of Cauaillon sayd what will you any more witnesse or declaration this is full of heresie TheÌ„ they of Merindoll demauÌ„ded in what point Whereunto the Byshop knew not what to aunswere Then y e Doctour demaunded to haue tyme to looke vpon the Articles of the coÌ„fession and to consider whether they were agaynst the Scriptures or no. Thus the Byshop departed beyng very sore agreeued
euening Prayers and exhortations the men departed that night to auoyde a greater inconuenience When they had gone all the night long and had passed ouer y e great hill of Libron they might see many villages and farmes set on fire Miniers in the meane time had deuided his army into two partes marching himselfe with the one towardes the Towne of Merindoll and hauing knowledge by espiall whether the Merindolians were fled he sendeth the other parte to set vpon them and to shewe theyr accustomed crueltie vpon them Yet before they came to the place where they were some of Miniers armye eyther of good will or mooued with pitie priuily conueyed themselues awaye and came vnto them to geue theÌ„ warning that their enemies were comming and one from the top of an high rocke where he thought that the Merindolians were vnderneath casteth downe two stones and afterward although he could not see them he calleth vnto them that they should immediately flye from thence But the enemies suddenly came vpon them The Merindolians ouertaken of their enemies finding them all assembled together at praiers and spoyled them of all that they had pulling off their garments from their backes some they rauished some they whipped and scourged some they sold away like cattell practising what cruelty and villanie soeuer they could deuise against them The women were in number about fiue hundreth In the meane time Miniers came to Merindoll where he founde none but a young man named Maurice Blanc who had yelded himselfe to a souldiour promising him for his raunsome two French crownes Miniers woulde haue had him away by force but it was answered that the souldiour ought not to lose his prisoner Miniers therefore paying the two crownes himselfe tooke the young man and caused him to be tyed to an Oliue tree and shot thorough with harquebushes and most cruelly martired Vile cruelty shewed vpon a youÌ„g man of Merindoll Many Gentlemen which accompanied Miniers against their willes seeyng thys cruell spectacle were mooued wyth greate compassion and could not forbeare teares For albeit this yong man was not yet very well instructed neyther had before dwelt at Merindoll yet in all hys tormentes hauyng alwayes hys eyes lyfted vp to heauen wyth a loude voyce he ceased not still to call vpon God and the last words that he spake were these Lord God these men take away my life full of miserie but thou wilt giue vnto me life euerlasting by thy sonne Iesus Christ to whome be glory So was Merindoll without any resistance valiantly taken ransackt burnt rased The towne of Merindol destroyed of the Papists and layed euen with the ground And albeit there was no man to resist yet this valiant Captaine of Opede armed from toppe to toe trembled for feare and was seene to chaunge his colour very much When he had destroyed Merindoll he layed seege to Cabriers and battered it with his ordinaunce The towne of Cabriers falsely takeÌ„ but when hee coulde not winne it by force he with the Lorde of the Towne and Poulin his chiefe Captaine persuaded wyth the inhabitauntes to open their gates solemnely promising that if they would so do they would lay downe theyr armour and also that their cause should be heard in iudgement with all equitie and Iustice and no violence or iniurie should be shewed against them Upon this Othe and promise brokeÌ„ of the Papistes they opened their gates and let in Miniers with his Captaynes and all his army But the Tyraunt when he was once entred falsified his promise and raged like a beast For first of all he picked out about thirtie men 30. men Martyrs causing them to be bound and caried into a medowe neare to the Towne and there to be miserably cut and hewen in peeces of hys souldiours Then because he would leaue no kinde of crueltie vnattempted 40. Women Martyrs hee also exercised outrage and fury vppon the poore selly women and caused fortie of them to be taken of whome diuers were great with child and put them into a barne full of strawe and hey and caused it to be set on fire at foure corners And when the sely women running to the great window where the hey is wont to be cast into the barne woulde haue leaped out they were kepte in with pikes and halberdes Then there was a souldyoure which moued with pitie at the crieng out and lamentation of the women opened a dore to let them out but as they were comming out the Tyraunt caused them to be slaine and cut in peeces opening their belyes that theyr children fell out whome they trode vnder their feete Many were fled into the wineseller of the Castell Cruelty Neronicall or rather furye diabolicall and many hid themselues in caues whereof some were caryed into the medowe and there stripped naked were slaine othersome were bound two and two together and caried into the hall of the Castell where they were slaine by the Captaynes reioysing in theyr bloudy butcherie and horrible slaughter That done this Tyraunt more cruell then euer was Herode commaunded Captayne Iohn de Gay wyth a bande of ruffians to go into the Churche where was a great number of women children and yong infantes to kill all that he founde there Which the Captayne refused at the first to do sayeng that were a crueltie vnused among men of warre Whereat Miniers being displeased charged him vpon payne of rebellion and disobedience to the King to do as he had commaunded hym The Captaine fearing that myght ensue entred with hys men and destroyed them all sparing neither young nor olde In this meane while certaine souldiors went to ransacke the houses for the spoyle where they founde many poore men that had there hidden themselues in sellers and other priuy places flying vpon them and crying out kill kill The other souldiors that were without the town killed all that they could meete with The noÌ„ber of those that were so vnmercifully murdered Aboue a â—000 Martyrs of Cabriers were about M. persons of men women and children The infantes that escaped their furie were baptised againe of their enemies In token of this ioly victory the Popes Officers caused a piller to be erected in the said place of Cabriers in the whych was engrauen the yeare and the day of the taking and sacking of this Towne by Iohn Miniers Lorde of Opede chiefe President of the Parlament of Prouince for a memoriall for euer of the barbarous crueltie the like whereof was yet neuer heard of Whereupon we withall our posterity haue to vnderstand what be the reasons and arguments wherewith the Antichrist of Rome is wont to vphold the impious seate of his abhomination Who now is come to such excesse and profunditie of all kindes of iniquitie The argumentes wherevpoÌ„ the doctrine of the popes church staÌ„deth that all iustice equitie and veritie being set a side he seeketh the defence of his cause by no other thyng then only
in the litle children also which feruently called vpō God threw stones at their enemies and gaue courage also vnto the men So did also the wemen and the vulgare sort that is to say God geueth victorye by the handes of a fewe those which were meete for no feates of warre remaining vppon the mountaine and beholding these furious combates kneeling vpon the ground and hauing their faces lifted vp towards heauen with teares and gronings they cried Lord helpe vs. Who heard their praiers After that these three assaults were geuen there came one vnto them crying Be of good courage God hath sent those of Angrongne to succour vs hee meant that they of Angrongne were fighting for them in an other place that is to say towardes Tailleret where the thirde parte of the army was The people perceiuing y t they of Angrongne were come to that place to succour them began to cry blessed be God who hathe sent vs succour they of Angrongne be here they of Angrongne be here to succour vs. The enemies 〈◊〉 The ennemies hearing thys were astonished and sodenly blew a retreit and retired into the plaine That troupe whith was gone towards Tailleret deuided themselues into three companies The first marched by the side of the mountaine burning many houses The Angronians helpe their fellowes ioyned with the maine armie The seconde companie whyche was of seuen score marched hygher thinking to take the people at vnwares But they were by seuen men strongly resisted and driuen backe The third company attained the toppe of the mountain thinking to enclose the people but as God woulde they of Angrongne which came to succor them encountred with them wyth great force put them to flight They of Uillars of whom mention is made before after they had refreshed them selues with a little breade and wine for the most part of them had eaten nothing all that day chased their enemies til it was almost night so fiersly that the maister of the campe was faine to send to the Lord of Trinitie whiche was at Toure for succoure or else all would haue bene lost Which he did and immediately hee roade with all speede to Luserne to saue him selfe hearing the alarme which was geuen at S. Iohn by those of Angrongne fearing least the way should haue ben stopped The armye retired with great difficultie notwithstanding the newe aide whiche was sent them and wyth great losse of their men The persecutors put to flight One of their captaines confessed since that if they had bene pursued any further they had fledde all that night longe Since that time they neuer returned againe into the valley of Luserne On Monday being the 17. day of Marche next folowing the Lorde of Trinitie to be reuenged of those of the medow of Tour assembled al the force that he could make with the Gentlemen of the Countrey In so muche that whereas before his army was commonly but foure thousand it was nowe betweene sixe and seuen thousande and secretly in the night season he encamped with parte of hys army in the middest of Angrongne from whence the poore inhabitants were fled before The next morning after the Sermon and praiers were ended they perceiued the other parte of the army to be encamped at the foote of the mountaine of Angrongne on the East side Sone after they perceiued how both partes of the army coasted the hilles side the one towards the other being such a multitude so glittering in their harnesse marching in such araye that the pore people at the first were astonished therat Notwythstanding the assemble fell downe vpon their knees 3. or 4. times crying Help vs O Lord beseching him to haue regarde to the glory of his holy name The Angroniās fall to prayer to staye the effusion of bloud if it were his good pleasure to turne the hearts of their enemies to the trueth of his holy Gospell These two partes of the army ioyned together nere to the bulwarks of the medow of Toure gaue the assault in three seuerall places One of the bands mounted secretly by the rockes thinking to haue enclosed the people in their Bulwarkes But assoone as they which kept the bulwarke be lowe had espied them they forsooke their place and marched straight towardes them as they marched they met with the aide which was sent vnto them from the vally of Luserne very luckily and comming as it were from heauen whych ioyning together sone discomfited their enemies w t stones and harquebushes They pursued them fiersly in y e rockes and vexed them woonderfully because the rockes are so steepe that no man can ascende or descende without great paine and difficultie The Captaine of this band was named Bastian of Uergil a man very expert in the affaires of warre The proud threates of Amman Hee at his going out of his lodging threatned y t he would do great terrible things that day His hostesse hearing that said vnto him Monsieur if our religiō be better then theirs you shall haue the victorie but if theyrs be better then ours you shall not preuaile Shortly after the captaine was brought againe into his Inne so wounded and so feeble that he was not like to liue Then sayde hys hostesse vnto him Monsieur it is nowe wel seene that their religion is better then oures There was also an other bande that kept the top of the hill to assault the bulwarkes from thence The middlemost bulwarke was then assaulted in the which were very fewe to defend the same the which seeing the number of their enemies retired backe leauing therein but 5. onely to defend it There was a huge cocke not farre from the foresayd bulwarke behinde the same a great number of the enemies were hid And anone there issued out two ensigns assuring them selues to winne the bulwarke but immediately one of their ensigne bearers was wounded to death Whereupon many reculed backe The other set vp his ensigne vpon the bulwarke They which were wythin had neither halbard nor any other long weapon but only one Pike The Bulwarke manfully defended and the same without an yron the which one of the 5. tooke and threw downe the ensigne and manfully beate backe the sealers and threwe them downe to the grounde Diuers of the enemies were entred into the bulwarke by a doore belowe and slue one of the fiue which kept y e middle parte of the bulwarke The other foure looked to be destroyed out of hande Then one of the foure chased awaye those which had entred belowe with stones and the other three leauing their handguns defended themselues likewise with great stones and perceiuing the bande whych was on the rockes to flee they tooke courage and w tstoode their enemies valiantly til their companions were returned from the chase In the meane time the Bulwarke which was vppon the side of the mountaine was furiously assailed by the one halfe of the armie Those that were within
limites dwell not oute of them and they which be of the townes villages of the said valleis dwel not out of them nor of their borders The liberty of Trafficke graunted and in so doing they shall not be molested by any meanes and shall not be offended nor troubled in body or goods but shall remaine vnder the protection and sauegarde of his highnesse Furthermore his highnes shal set order to stay al troubles inconueniences secret cōspiracies of wicked persons after such sort The elders of the Valleys of Pyemont that they shall remaine quietly in theyr religion For obseruation whereof George Monastier one of the elders of Angrongne Constantion Dialestini otherwise called Rembaldo one of the Elders of Uillars Pirrone Arduino sent frō the comminaltie of Boby Michael Ramondet sent from the comminaltie of Tailleret and of la Rua de Bonet bordering vpon Tour Iohn Malenote sent from certaine persons of S. Iohn Peter Paschal sent from the comminaltie of the valley of S. Martin Thom. Roman of S. Germain sent from the comminaltie of the same place and of all the Ualley of Perouse promise for thē and their comminalties seuerally that the cōtents of these conclusions aforesayd shall be inuiolately kepte and for breach thereof do submit themselues to such punishment as shall please his hignes promising likewise to cause the chiefe of the families of the comminalties to allow and confirme the sayd promise The honourable Lorde of Raconis doth promise that the Dukes highnes shall confirme and allow the foresayde conclusions to them both generally and perticularly The Lord of Raconnis at the intercession and especiall fauour of the noble Lady the Princesse The Lady Princes intercessour for the Waldoys In testimonie whereof the foresayde Lord of Raconis hath confirmed these present conclusions wyth hys owne hand and the Ministers haue lykewise subscribed in the name of all the sayd Ualleys and they which can write in the name of all theyr comminalties At Cauor the v. of Iune 1561. Phillip of Sauoy Fraunces Valla Minister of Villars Claudius Bergius Minister of Taillaret Georgius Monasterius Michael Raymundet THis accord being thus made and passed by the meanes of the Duchesse of Sauoy the poore Waldoys haue ben in quiet vntill this present and God of his infinite goodnes hauyng deliuered them out of so many troubles and conflicts hath set them at libertie to serue him purely and with quietnes of conscience Wherfore there is none at this present except he be altogether blind or senceles but he seeth and well perceiueth that God would make it knowen by experience to these poore Waldoys All thinges turne to the best to thē that loue the Lord. and al other faithful people that al things turne to the best to them which loue and feare hym For by all these afflictions which they suffered as is before rehearsed this good heauenly father hath brought them to repentance and amendement of life He hath effectuously taught them to haue recourse to his fatherly mercy and to embrace Iesus Christ for their onely Sauiour and redeemer Furthermore he hath taught them to tame the desires and lustes of the flesh to withdrawe their harts from the world and lift them vp to heauen and to be alwayes in a readines to come to him as vnto their most louing and pitifull father To be short hee hath set them to the schoole of hys children to the end they should profite in patience and hope to make them to mourne weepe and cry vnto hym And aboue all he hath made them so oft to proue his succours at time of need to see them before their eyes to feele and touch them with their handes as a man would say after such sort that they haue had good occasion and all the faithfull with them neuer to distrust so good a father and so carefull for the health of his children but to assure themselues neuer to be confounded what thing soeuer happen And yet to see thys more manifestly and that euery man may take profite therof it shal be good to vnderstand what this poore people did whiles they were in these combates and conflictes The behauiour of these good men in their persecutiōs So soone as they sawe the armye of theyr enemies approch they cryed altogether for ayde and succour to the Lord and before they begā to defend thēselues they fell to prayer and in fighting lifted vp their hartes and sighed to the Lorde As long as the enemyes were at rest euery one of these poore people on their knees called vpon God When the combate was ended they gaue him thankes for the comfort and succour which they had felte In the meane time the rest of the people with the Ministers made their harty prayer vnto God with sighes and teares and that from the morning vntill the euening When night was come they assembled agayne together They which had fought rehearsed the woonderfull ayde and succour which God had sent them and so altogether rendred thankes vnto hym for hys fatherly goodnes Alwayes he chaunged their sorrow into ioye In the morning trouble and affliction appeared before them wyth great terrour on all sides but by the euening they were deliuered and had great cause of reioysing and comfort Warre and famine two enemies against these men This poore people had two terrible enemies warre and famine which kepte them vnder in such sort that a man would haue thought they had bene vtterly lost destroyed But God of his endles mercy deliuered thē from such dangers and restored them to their houses where they remained afterwards in peace and quietnes al they which had declared themselues to be their open enemyes were brought to confusion as well those whiche fought to get their goodes as those whiche onely desired to shedde their bloud For proofe wherof the onely exāple of two Gentlemen of the Ualley of Luserne shall suffice These not onely moued cruell warre agaynst their poore tenauntes and others but most shamefully spoyled them and tooke vntollerable fines of all those that disobeyed their Edictes to keepe a good conscience Besides this Example of Gods fauour toward his seruantes cōfusion toward their persecutors they went about to sease all their goodes as forfaite waytyng to haue the whole forfayture thereof themselues And for this cause they did not onely incense the Duke with false reportes and with greeuous complayntes and accusations agaynst these poore Waldoys but also pursued the same so long and with such charges that they were fayne to sell their inheritaunce in hope to bring their purpose to passe and to enioy that goodly pray which they thought could not escape their handes But in the ende for their rewarde they got nothyng but shame and confusion And as for the Monkes and Priestes whiche by such meanes thought to aduaunce themselues to bryng their trumpery to estimation they haue lost the litle rule which they had ouer
betwene the French kyng and the Emperour among which other diuers conditions it was agreed that they should resist the Turkes oppresse the Lutheranes and so was the kyng set at libertie leauyng behynd him his ij eldest sonnes for pledges But shortly after he reuoked his othe beyng absolued by y e Byshop of Rome sayd The pope absolueth the French king froÌ„ his othe that he was forced to sweare or els he should neuer haue bene deliuered Which was an 1526. Pope Clement vij seyng the French kyng restored to libertie misdoubting the puissance and domination of the Emperour in Italy so neare vnder his nose absolueth the French king froÌ„ his othe also ioyneth together a confederacie of Uenetians other Princes agaynst the Emperour bearyng great hatred agaynst all theÌ„ that any thyng fauored the Emperours part especially the familie of Columna in Rome which familie was then Imperiall therfore to shew his hatred against them he sayd to Pompey Cardinall of the same familie in threatnyng words that he would take away his Cardinals hatte To whoÌ„ it was aunswered agayne of the Cardinall that if he so did he would put on a helmet The answerâ— of the Cardinall to the Pope to ouerthrow the Popes triple crowne Whereby it may appeare here by the way what holynesse and vertue lyeth in the Pope and Cardinals in that Catholicke sea of Rome Thus the false Pope vnder the lying title of holynes was the father of much mischiefe of great warres which after ensued The Pope stirreth vp warres For the Duke of Bourbon and other of the Emperours Captaines hauyng intelligeÌ„ce of the Popes purpose confederacie gathered their army together and after much bloudshed and fightyng about MillaÌ„ Hawde and Cremona at length they approched bent their siege agaynst Rome after three sharpe assaultes obteined the Citie with the whole spoyle therof where also they besieged the foresayd Pope with his Cardinals in the mount of AdriaÌ„ and tooke him prisoner an 1527. As touchyng the cause of the besiegyng of Rome now ye haue heard for the maner of taking of Rome and of the Pope the order therof is thus described in Hall and other ¶ The sackyng of Rome and takyng of Pope Clement THe Emperours army departyng from FloreÌ„ce to the Citie of Seynes where they lost their ordinauÌ„ce The taking of Rome tooke counsaile there to go to Rome and so much they trauailed by night and day commoÌ„ly passing xl myle day and night their good will was such that the vi day of May with baÌ„ners displayed Ex Paralip Abbat Vrsp. they came before the Citie of Rome beyng Saterday the same day and on Sonday the Romaines made Bulwarkes Rampires and other defences and layd ordinaunce on the walles and shot at them without fiercely The Duke of BourboÌ„ determined that it was not best to lye still without and be slayne with ordinaunce The Duke of BourBon coÌ„sideryng that they were all naked people without great ordinaunce wherfore he determined to take the chaunce to geue the assault and so maÌ„fully they approched the walles betwene the Burgo Nouo old Rome But the Romaines valiauntly defeÌ„ded them with haÌ„dgunnes pykes stones and other weapons so that the enemyes were fayne to retreit Then the Romaines were glad and set many fayre banners on their towers and bulwarkes and made great shoutes whiche seyng the Duke of Bourbon cryed to a new assault Threâ— assaultes against Rome Then the drumsâ—ades blew and euery man with a ladder mounted and at first encounter againe the Romaynes put them a little backe Which the Duke of Bourbon p 〈…〉 uing cryed God and the Emperour Then euery man manfully set on There was a sore fight many an arrow shot and many a man felled but at last the Emperors men got the wall and betweene euery assault fell a mist so that they within could not see what part they without would assayle which was profitable to the Emperours partie At the three assaultes were slaine three C. Switzers of the Popes gard In this last assault was the Duke of Bourbon striken in the thigh with a handgonne The Duke of 〈◊〉 wounded of the which he shortly dyed in a chappell of S. Sist whether his souldiors had brought him and this chance notwithstanding the army entred into Rome and tooke the Popes palace and set vp the Emperors armes The same daye that these three assaultes were made Pope Clement passed little on the Emperours army The Pope curseth his enemies for he had accursed them on the Saterday before and in hys curse he called the Almaynes Lutheranes and the Spanyards Murreines or Mores and when he was hearing of Masse sodeinly the Almaines entred into the Church and slue his Barde and diuers other He seeing that fledde in all haste by a priuie way The Pope flieth to the Castle of S. Angell and all they that folowed him that way and could not enter were slayne and if he in that fury had bene taken he had bene slayne The Cardinals and other Prelates fled to y e Castle of S. Angell ouer the bridge where many of the common people were ouerpressed and trodden downe as they gaue way to the Cardinals and other estates that passed toward the Castle for succour The Cardinals besieged The Cardinall of Senes of Sesarine of Tudertine of Iacobace and of the Ualle taried so long that they could not get to the Castle for the multitude of people wherfore they were compelled to take an other house called the Palace of S. George where they kept themselues for a while as secretly as they might You must vnderstand through the Citie of Rome runneth a famous Riuer called Tiber and on the one side of the Riuer standeth the Castle of S. Angell or the Borough of S. Angell and the other side is called Burgo Nouo or the New Borough Thys Bridge is called the Bridge of Sixte which lyeth directly before the Castle At the ende of this Bridge was a woonderfull strong Bulwarke well ordinanced and well manned The Emperours men saw that they could do nothing to the Pope nor to that porte of y e City but by the bridge determined to assault the Bulwarke and so as men without feare came on the bridge and the Romaynes so well defended them that they fiue almost iiij M. men That seeing the Prince of Orenge The Bulwarke of the Romaines besieged takeÌ„ and the Marques of Gnasto with all speede gaue assault and notwithstanding that the Romaynes shot great ordinances handgunnes quarels and all that might be shot yet the Imperiall persons neuer shranke but manly entered the Bulwarke and slue threw downe out of the loupes all the Romaynes that they found and after rased the Bulwarke to the grounde The Pope was in the Castle of S. Angell and beheld this fight and with him were xxiij Cardinals of whiche one called the Cardinall Sanctorum
the cause why he did it not And if he had sayd neuer a word yet thou knowest well what a witty part it is for a man to suspend his iudgemente and not to be too rash in geuing of sentence It is an olde sayd sawe Mary Magdalene profited vs lesse in her quicke beliefe that Christ was risen Wint. wryteth againâ—t the pope with aduised iudgement then Thomas that was longer in doubt A man may rightly call him Fabius that with his aduised taking of leasure restored the matter Albeit I speake not this as though Winchester had not boulted out this matter secretly with hymselfe before hand for he without doubt tried it out long ago but that running faire and softly he woulde firste with his paynefull study plucke the matter out of the darke although of it selfe it was cleare enough but by reason of sondry opinions it was lapped vp in darkenes and then did he debate it wittely too and fro and so at last after long and great deliberation had in the matter because there is no better counseller then leasure anâ— time he would resolutely with his learned and coÌ„summate iudgement confirme it Thou shouldest gentle Reader esteeme his censure and authoritie to be of more weighty credence No newe matter 〈◊〉 write againâ— the Byshop of Rome in as much as the matter was not rashly and at all aduentures but with iudgemente as thou seest and with wisedome examined and discussed And this is no new example to be against the tyrany of the Byshop of Rome seeing that not only this man but many men often times yea and right great learned men afore now haue done the same euen in writing whereby they both painted him out in his right colours and made his sleightes falshoode fraudes and deceiptfull wyles openly knowne to the world Therefore if thou at any time heeretofore haue doubted either of true obedience or of the Kinges Maiesties mariage or title either else of the Bishop of Romes false pretensed supremacy as if thou haddest a good smelling nose and a sound iudgemente I thinke thou diddest not yet hauing read this Oration which if thou fauour the truth and hate the tyranny of the Byshop of Rome and his Sathanicall fraudulente falshode shall doubtles wonderfully content thee forsake thyne errour and acknowledge the truth now freely offered thee at length considering with thy selfe that it is better late so to doo then neuer to repent Fare thou hartily well most gentle Reader Note and not only loue this most valiant King of England of France who vndoubtedly was by the prouideÌ„ce of God borne to defend the Gospell but also honor him and serue him most obediently As for this Winchester who was long ago without doubt reputed among the greatest learned men geue him thy good word wyth highest commendation The end of Byshop Boners Prologue What man reading and aduising this booke of Winchester De vera obedientia The inconstant mutabilitye of Wint. and Boner with Boners Preface before the same would euer haue thought any alteration coulde so worke in mans hart to make these men thus to turne the catte as they say in the panne and to start so sodenly from the truth so manifestly knowne so pithâ—ly proued so vehemently defended and as it seemed so faithfully subscribed If they dissembled all this that they wrote subscribed and sware vnto what periury most execrable was it before God and man If they meant good fayth and spake then as they thought what pestilent blindnes is this so sodenly fallen vpon them to make that false nowe whiche was true before or that to be now true which before was false Thus to say vnsay then to say againe to doe and vndo as a maÌ„ would say to play fast or loose with truth truly a man may say is not the doing of a man whiche is in any case to be trusted whatsoeuer he doth or saith But heere a man may see what man is of himselfe when Gods good humble spirit lacked to be his guide Furthermore to adde vnto them the iudgement also and argumentes of Tonstall Bishop of Duresme let vs see how he agreeth with them or rather much exceedeth The sermon of Tonstall before the king made on Palme Sonday them in his Sermon made before King Henry vpon Palmesonday remayning yet in print In the whiche Sermon disputing against the wrongfull supremacie of the Bishop of Rome he proueth by manifest groundes most effectuously both out of the Scripture auncient Doctors and of Councels not only that the Bishop of Rome hath no such authoritie by the worde of God committed to him as hee doth chalenge but also in requiring chaleÌ„ging the same he reproueth condemneth him with great zeale ardent spirit to be a proude Lucifer disobediente to the ordinarie Powers of God set ouer him contrary to Christ and Peter and finally in raising vp warre against vs for y e same he therefore rebuketh and defieth him as a most detestable sower of discord and murtherer of Christian men FIrst by the scripture he reasoneth thus proueth That popes and Byshops ought to be subiecte to theer soueraigns 1. Pet. 2. that all good meÌ„ ought to obey the potestates Gouernors of y e world as Emperours Kings Princes of all sortes what name soeuer the sayde supreme powers do beare or vse for theyr countreys in whiche they be for so S. Peter doth playnely teach vs 1. Pet. 2. sayeng Be yee subiect to euerye humane creature for Gods cause whether it be Kyng as chiefe head or Dukes or Gouernours c. So that S. Peter in his Epistle commaundeth all worldly Princes in their office to be obeyed as the Ministers of God by all Christian men And according vnto the same S. Paule Ro. 13. saith Let euery liuing man be subiect to the high powers Whosoeuer resisteth the high powers resisteth God The Pope resisteth the highe powers Ergo the Pope resisteth God for the high powers bee of God and who soeuer resisteth the high powers resisteth the ordinaunce of God and purchaseth thereby to himselfe damnation c. And in the same place of Tonstall it foloweth and least men should forget their duetie of obedience to their Princes it is thrise repeated that they be the ministers of God whose place in their gouernance they represent so that vnto them all men must obey Apostles Patriarches Primates Archbyshops Bishops Priestes and all of the Clergy c. And therefore saith he the Bishop of Rome oweth to his seueraigne and superior like subiection by the word of God taught vnto vs by Peter and Paule as other Bishops do to theyr princes vnder whom they be c. Also an other expresse commaundement wee haue of Christ. Luk. 22. who vpon the occasion of his disciples striuing for superiority discusseth the matter saying on thys 〈◊〉 The kinges of the people and nations haue dominion ouer them and those that haue
his word will be aboue theyr gouernours in refusing to obey them Secondly beside this rebellious disobedience in these Bishops of Rome not sufferable The pride of the Pope described theyr pride moreouer so farre exceedeth all measure that they will haue theyr princes to whoÌ„ they owe subiection prostrate vpon y e ground to adore them by godly honor vpon the earth and to kysse theyr feet as if they were God where as they be but wretched men and yet they looke that theyr princes should do it vnto them and also all other christen men owing them no subiection should do the same And who be these I pray you that men may knowe them Surely sayth he the Bishoppes of Rome be these whom I do meane Who following the pride of Lucifer theyr father make themselues fellowes to God and do exalâ— theyr seate aboue the starres of God and do ascend aboue the cloudes and will be like to almighty God The starres of God be ment the aungels of heauen for as stars doe shew vnto vs in part the light of heauen so do Aungelles sent vnto men shew the heauenly light of the grace of God to those to whom they be sent And the cloudes signified in the olde Testament the Prophettes and in the new doe signify the Apostles and Preachers of the woord of God For as the cloudes do conceiue and gather in the skye moysture The Pope 〈◊〉 aboue the cloudes and the 〈◊〉 of heauen which they after poure downe vpon the ground to make it thereby more fruitfull so the Prophets in the olde Testament and the Apostles and Preachers in the newe do poure into our eares the moysture of theyr heauenly doctrine of the word of God to make therewith by grace our soules beinge scere and drye to bring foorth fruit of the spirite Thus doe all auncient expositours and amongest them Saynt Augustine interpret to be ment in Scripture starres and cloudes in the exposition of the 45. Psalme But S. Iohn the Euangelist writeth in the 19. chapter of the Apocalips Apoc. 19.22 in the 22. also that wheÌ„ he would haue fallen downe at the Aungels foote that did shew him those visions there written to haue adored him with godly worship the Aungell sayd vnto him See thou do not so for I am the seruaunt of God as thou art Geue adoration and Godly worship to God and not to me Here it appeareth that the Bishops of Rome suffering all men prostrate before them to kisse theyr feet yea the same Princes The Pope exalted aboue Angels to whom they owe subiection do clime vp aboue the starres and Aungels too offering their feet to be kissed with shoes and all For so I saw my selfe being present 34. yeares ago wheÌ„ Iulius theÌ„ Bishop of Rome stood on his feet and one of his chamberlaynes held vp his skyrâ— because it stood not as he thought with his dignity that he should do it himselfe that his shoo might appeare whiles a noble man of great age did prostrate himselfe vpon the ground and kissed his shoo which he stately suffered to be done as of duety Where me think I saw Cornelius the Centurion Captayn of the Italians â—and spoken of in the tenth Chapiter of the Actes submitting himselfe to Peter and much honoring him but I saw not Peter there to take him vp and to bidde him rise saying I am a man as thou art as Saynt Peter did say to Cornelius The Pope climeth aboue the Apostles so that the Bishops of Rome admittting such adoration due vnto God doe clime aboue the heauenlye cloudes that is to say aboue the Apostles sent into the world by Christ to water the earthly and carnal hartes of men by theyr heauenly doctrine of the word of God Thus Bishop Tonstall hauing described the passing pride of the Pope surmounting like Lucifer aboue Byshops Apostles Aungelles and starres of heauen proceeding then further to the latter ende of his Sermon commeth to speake of his rage and malice most furious and pestilent The Pope stirreth vp warre agaynst England in that he being iustly put from his kingdome here to wreake his spitefull malice styrreth vppe warre against vs bloweth y e horn of mischief in geuing our land for a spoyle and pray to all whosoeuer at his setting on will come and inuade vs. The treason of Cardinal Poole But let vs heare his owne wordes preaching to the king and all Englishmen touchyng both the popes malice and the treason of Cardinall Poole Now sayth he because he can no longer in this realm wrongfully vse his vsurped power in all thinges as he was wont to do and sucke out of this Realme by auarice insatiable innumerable summes of money yearely to the great exhausting of the same he therefore moued and repleat with furious ire and pestilent malice goeth about to styrre all Christen nations that will geue eares to hys deuillish enchauntmentes to moue warre agaynst this realme of England geuing it in pray to all those that by hys instigation will inuade it And here expounding these foresayd wordes to geue in pray he declareth what great mischiefe they conteyne and willeth euery true Englisheman well to marke the same First to make this realme sayth he a pray to all veÌ„turers The Pope geueth England away for a pray all spoylers all snappehaunses all forlornehopes all cormorantes all rauenors of the world that will inuade this Realme is to say thou possessioner of any landes of thys Realme of what degree soeuer thou be from the highest to the lowest shalt be slayne and destroyed and thy lands taken from thee by those that will haue all for themselues thou mayest be sure to be slayne for they will not suffer thee nor none of thy progeny to liue to make any claime afterwarde or to be reuenged for that were theyr vnsurety Thy wife shal be abused before thy face thy daughter lykewise defloured before thee thy children slayne before thine eyes thy house spoyled thy cattell driuâ—n away sold before thy visage thy plate thy mony by force taken froÌ„ thee all thy goodes wherin thou hast any delight or hast gathered for thy children rauened broken and diâ—tributed â—n thy presence that euery rauenour may haue his share Thou Marchaunt art sure to be slaine for thou hast either money or ware or both which they search for Thou Byshoppe or priest whatsoeuer thou be shalt neuer escape because thou wouldest not take the Bishop of Romes part and rebell agaynst God and thy Prince as he doth If thou shalt fiâ—e and escape for a season whatsoeuer thou be thou shalt see and heare of so much misery and abhomination that thou shalt iudge them happy that be dead before for sure it is thou shalt not finally escape For to take the whol realme in pray is to kill the whole people and to take the place for themselues as they will do if they can And the Bishop of Rome now
S. Ambrose writing as is aforesayde affirmeth the same And that the mother of all Churches is Ierusalem as afore is saide and not Rome the scripture is plaine bothe in the Prophette Esaye Out of Syon shall the law proceed Esa. 2. and the word of the Lord out of Ierusalem Vpon the which place S. Hierome sayth In Hierusalem primum fundata ecclesia totius orbis ecclesias seminauit Out of the Church being first founded in Hierusalem sprong all other churches of the whole worlde And also in the Gospell whiche Christ before his ascension commaunded his Apostles to preache throughout al the world beginning first at Ierusalem So that the byshop of Romes vniuersal power by him claymed ouer all can not by any scripture be iustified as if you haue read the auncient fathers expositions of the said scriptures as we suppose you haue sith your letters sent hyther concerning this matter and would giue more credence to their humble and plaine speaking then to the latter contentious and ambitious writers of that high and aboue the Ideas of Plato his subtilitie which passeth as you write the lawiers learning and capacitie we doubt not but that you perceiue and thinke the same A Prince may be â—â—ad of his churh and yet not preach nor minister Sacramentes And where you thinke that the king can not be taken as supreme head of the Church because he can not exercise the chiefe office of the Church in preaching and ministring of the sacramentes it is not requisite in euerie bodie naturall that the head should exercise eyther all maner of offices of the body or the chiefe office of the same For albeit the head is the highest chief member of the naturall body yet the distribution of life to al the members of the body as well to the head as to other members commeth from the heart and it is the minister of life to the whole body as the chiefe act of the body Neyther yet hath this similitude his full place in a mysticall body that a king shoulde haue the chiefe office of administration in the same And yet notwithstanding the scripture speaking of king Saule sayth I made thee head amongest the tribes of Israell Reg. 15. And if a king amongest the Iewes were the head in the tribes of Israell in the time of the lawe muche more is a Christian king head in the tribes of spirituall Israell that is of such as by true fayth see Christ who is the end of the law The office deputed to the byshops in the misticall body is to be as eyes to the whole body Ezech. 3. A bishop is a eye in the head but not the head of the mystical bodye as almighty God saith to the prophet Ezechiell I haue made thee an ouerseer ouer the house of Israell And what Byshops soeuer refuseth to vse the office of an eye in the misticall body to shew vnto the body the right way of beleeuing and liuing which appertayneth to the spirituall eye to doe shall shew himselfe to be a blinde eye and if hee shall take anye other office in hand then appertayneth to the right eye he shall make a confusion in the body taking vppon hym an other office then is geuen him of God Wherfore if the eye will not take vpon him the office of the whole head it may be aunswered it cannot so do for it lacketh brayne And examples shew likewise that it is not necessary alway that the head should haue the facultie or chiefe office of administration as you may see in a nauie by sea where the admirall who is captayne ouer all doth not meddle with stering or gouerning of euery ship but euery mayster particular must direct the shyp to passe the sea in breaking the waues by his steryng and gouernaunce The office of a head standeth not in doing but in coÌ„maunding whiche the admirall the head of all doth not hymselfe nor yet hath the facultie to doe but commaundeth the maysters of the ship to do it And likewise many a captayne of great armyes whiche is not able nor neuer coulde peraduenture shoote or breake a speare by hys own strength yet by his wisedome and commaundement onely atchieueth the warres and attayneth the victory And where you thinke that vnitie standeth not onely in the agreeing in one fayth and doctrine of the Church Vnity what it is and where in it consisteth but also in agreeing in one head if you meane the very onely head ouer all the churche our Sauiour Christ Whome the Father hath set ouer all the Churche which is his body wherein all good Christen men doe agree therin you say truth But if you meane of any one mortall man to be head ouer all the Church and that to be the bishop of Rome we do not agree with you For you doe there erre in the true vnderstanding of Scripture or els you must say that the sayd Councell of Nice and other most auncient did erre which deuided the administration of Churches the Orient from the Occident and the South from the North as is before expressed and that Christ the vniuersal head is present in euery church the Gospell sheweth Where two or three be gathered together in my name Math. 28. â— there am I in the middes of them And in an other place Behold I am wyth you vntill the end of the world Math. 28. By which it may appeare christ the vniuersall head euery where to be with hys misticall body the Church who by hys spirite worketh in all places how far so euer they be distaunt the vnitie and concorde of the same And as for any other vniuersall head to be euer all then christ himselfe Scripture prooueth not as it is shewed before And yet for a further proofe to take away the scruples that peraduenture doe to your appearaunce rise of certayne wordes in some auncient authors and especially in S. Cyprians epistles as that the vnitie of the church stood in the vnity with the bishop of Rome though they neuer call him supreme head Aunswere to S. Ciprian if you will wey and conferre all their sayinges together you shal perceiue that they neither spake nor ment otherwise but wheÌ„ the bishop of Rome was once lawfully elected and enthroned if then anye other woulde by faction might force or otherwise the other liuing and doing his office enterprise to put him downe and vsurpe the same Bishopricke or exercise the others office himselfe as Nouatianus did attempt in the tyme of Cornelius then the sayd fathers reckoned them Catholicks that did communicate with him that was so lawfully elected and the custome was one primacye to haue to doe with an other by congratulatorye letters soone after the certayntye of theyr election was knowne to keepe the vnity of the Church and that they that did take part or mayntayne the vsurper to be schismatickes because that vsurper was a schismaticke Quia non sit fas
consecration of the Priest remaine onely a Sacrament and are not the very selfe body and bloude of oure Lorde Iesu Christ neither canne be handled or broken wyth the priestes handes or chewed with the teethe of the faithfull otherwise then onely by maner of a Sacrament Consenting now to the holy and Apostolicall Church of Rome The effecte of Berengarius recantation he professed wyth mouth and heart to holde the same faith touching the Sacraments of the Lordes masse which the Lorde Pope Nicholas with his Synode heere present doth holde and commaundeth to be holden by hys Euangelicall and Aposticall authoritie that is that the bread and wine vpon the Altar after consecration are not only a Sacramēt but also are the very true and selfe body and bloud of our Lorde Iesu Christ and are sensibly felt and broken with handes and chewed with teethe swearing by the holy Euangelistes that whosoeuer shall holde or say to the contrary he shal holde them perpetually accursed and if he himselfe shall hereafter presume to preach or teach against the same he shall be content to abide the seueritie and rigour of the Canons c. This cowardly recantation of Berengarius as it offended a great number of the godly sorte so it gaue to the cōtrary part no litle triumph wherby euer since they haue taken the greater courage to tread downe the truth It happened shortlye after this that Hildebrande the Popes graunde Captaine in the behalfe of hys Mayster Pope Nicolas went in warfare against the Normandes Which warre being finished shortly after he set vppon a new viage to fight for Pope Alexander against Cadolus which victory being also atchieued it was not long but he put the new Pope Alexander beside the cushion and was made Pope himselfe so that during the busie stirre of these warres the Popes holinesse had no laisure to attende the debating of this controuersie of the Sacrament Concilium Romanum 3. At length when al was quieted and Pope Hildebrand now was where he woulde be hys restlesse brayne coulde not be vnoccupied but eftsoone summoneth a new Councell at Rome in the Church of Laterane to reuiue agayne the olde disceptation of Berengarius about the yeare as some holde 1079. Thus Berengarius beyng toste by these Monkes and Phariseis was so confounded and bayted on euery side that partly for worldly feare straining him on the one side partly for shame and griefe of conscience that he had nowe twise renied the truth on the other side that the man as is of hym reported after these suche turbulent tragedies forsaking his goods his studies learning and former state of life became a labourer and wrought wyth hys handes for liuing all the residue of his life The opinion which Berengarius sustained touchyng the Sacrament as by his owne wordes in Lancfranckes booke may appeare was thys The true opiniō and iudgement of Berengarius of the sacramēt Ex lib. Lancfranci Archiepisc contra Bereng The sacrifice of the Churche consisteth of two things The one visible the other inuisible that is of the Sacrament and of the thing or matter of the Sacrament Which thing which is to meane the body of Christe if it were here present before our eyes it were a thing visible to be sene but being lift vp into heauen and sitting on the right hand of his father to the time of restoring of all thing as S. Peter sayeth it can not be called downe from thence For the person of Christ consisteth of God and man the Sacrament of the Lords table consisteth of bread and wine which being consecrate are not chaunged but remaine in their substances hauing a certaine resemblance or similitude of those things wherof they be sacraments c. Ex Lib. Lancfranci By these wordes of Berengarius doctrine all indifferent readers may see iudge that he affirmed nothing but that was agreable to the holy scripture beleuing wyth S. Austen and all other auncient elders of the Churche that in the holy supper all faithful beleuers be refreshed spiritually with the body bloud of the Lord vnto euerlasting life The doctrine of Berengarius falsely sclaundered Wherefore most impudently they doe misreporte hym as they doe many other besides whych falsely lay to hys charge as though his teaching should be that in the sacred supper of the Lord nothing els were receiued of y e faithful besides onely y e bare signes which is the bread the wine And nowe that you haue seene the doctrine of Berengarius let vs also take a vewe of the contrary teaching of Lanfrancus and his fellowes conferring and comparyng together the institution of the one side with the institution of the other to marke and cōsider whych of them soundeth nearer to the truth of the scriptures The wordes of Lanfrancke be these I beleue the earthly substances which vpon the Lordes table are diuinely sanctified through the ministration of the Priest to be conuerted vnspeakeably incomprehensibly and miraculously by the operation of Gods mightye power into the essence of the Lordes body The grosse opinion of Lancfrancus and the Papistes concerning the Sacrament the outward formes only of the things themselues and certaine qualities reserued and that for two respectes The one least the sight of the rawe and bloudy flesh might otherwyse make men to abhorre from eating thereof for that they whiche beleeue the thinge they see not might haue the greater merite for their beliefe The conuersion of which earthly substances into the essence of the Lordes body notwithstanding yet is the selfe same body of the Lorde in heauen and there hathe hys essentiall being at the right hande of hys father immortall inuiolate perfect vndeminished and vncorrupted so that truely it may be affirmed the selfe same body both to be receiued of vs and yet not the selfe same The impious grosse opinion of Guimundus of transubstantiation The self same I meane as touching the essence propertie and vertue of his true nature and yet not the selfe same as touching the formes of breade and wine and other outwarde qualities incurring to our outwarde senses c. And thus haue ye the confession of Lancfranke Archb. of Cant. From thys confession of Lancfranke the opinion and assertion also of Guimundus Archb. of Auersane doth nothing differ in grosenesse and impietie but rather passeth the same thus affirming and defending That the bodye of Christ is pressed and torne with teethe euen like as it was felt and touched with the handes of Thomas And moreouer the sayde Guimundus if his booke be not rather counterfaited at Louaine in the same place answearing to an obiection put out that it is not lawfull for Christe to be torne in pieces with teethe doubteth not to pronounce that whether we take tearing for hard bitinge or soft biting it is not repugnant nor disagreeing but that by the will of God agreeing therunto the body of Christ may be touched with handes bitten
to deathe and that by an Assise for violatinge as was alleaged the Acte of Parliament in reasoning and conferrynge vppon Scriptures for eating flesh vppon dayes forbidden for interrupting the holy frier in the pulpitte for dishonouryng of Images and blaspheming of the virgine Mary as they alleaged After sentence geuen theyr handes were bounde and the men cruelly entreated Which thing the woman beholding desired likewise to be bounde by the sergeantes with her husband for Christes sake There was great intercession made by the Towne in the meane season for the lifâ— of these persones aforenamed to the Gouernour who of him self was willing so to haue done that they myght haue bene deliuered But the Gouernour was so subiect to the appetite of the cruel priestes that he could not do that which he would Yea they manaced to assist his ennemies and to depose him except he assisted their crueltie There were certaine priestes in the Citie who did eate and drinke before in these honest mens houses to whoÌ„ the priestes were much bounden These priestes were earnestly desired to entreate for their hostesse at the Cardinalles handes but they altogether refused desiring rather theyr death then preseruation So cruell are these beastes from the lowest to the highest Then after they were caried by a great band of armed men for they feared rebellion in the towne except they had theyr men of warre to the place of execution whych was common to all theeues that to make their cause appeare more odious to the people Robert Lambe at the gallowes foote made his exhortation to the people desiring them to feare God and leaue the leauen of Papisticall abominations The Marâ—tyrdome 〈◊〉 these 〈◊〉 manifestly there prophesyed of the ruine and plague whych came vpon the Cardinall thereafter So euerye one comforting an other and assuring them selues to sup together in the kingdome of heauen that night commended themselues to God and died constantly in the Lord. The woman desired earnestly to die with her husband but shee was not suffered yet folowing him to the place of execution shee gaue him comfort exhorting hym to perseueraunce and pacience for Christes sake and parting from him with a kisse sayd on this maner Husband reioyce for we haue liued together many ioyful dayes but this day in which we must die ought to be most ioyfull to vs both because we must haue ioy for euer Therefore I will not bid you good night for we shall sodainely meete with ioy in the kingdome of heauen The woman after was taken to a place to be drowned and albeit she had a child sucking on her brest yet this moued nothing the vnmercifull hearts of the enemies So after she had commended her children to the neighbors of the towne for Gods sake and the sucking barne was geuen to the nurse she sealed vp the truth by her death Ex Registris instrumentis à Scotia missis * The condemnation of M. George Wiseheart Gentleman who suffered Martyrdome for the faith of Christ Iesus at saint Andrewes in Scotland An. 1546. Marche 1. wyth the Articles obiected againste him and his answeares to the same WIth most tender affection and vnfained heart consider gentle Reader the vncharitable manner of y e accusation of M. George Wiseheart Anno 1546 made by y e bloudy enemies of Christs faith Note also the articles whereof he was accused by order digested and hys meeke answeares The exaâ—â—ation of George 〈◊〉 so farre as he had leaue and leisure to speake Finally ponder with no dissembling spirite the furious rage and tragicall cruelnes of the malignant Church in persecuting of thys blessed man of God and of the contrary hys humble pacient and most godly answeres made to them sodainly without all feare not hauing respect to their glorious manasings and boysterous threats but charitably and wythout stop answearing not moouing his countenaunce nor changing his visage as in his accusation hereafter folowing manifestly shall appeare But before I enter into his Articles I thoughte it not impertinent somewhat to touche concerning the life and conuersation of this godlye man according as of late came to my handes certified in wryting by a certaine scholler of hys sometime named Emerey Tylney whose wordes of testimoniall as he wrote them to me here folow Aboute the yeare of oure Lorde a thousande fiue hundreth fortie and thre there was in the vniuersitie of Cambridge one maister George Wiseheart commonlye called maister George of Bennettes Colledge who was a man of talle stature polled headed and on the same a rounde Frenche cappe of the best Iudged of Melancholye complexion by his Phisiognomie blacke heared long â—earded comelye of personnage well spoken after his countrey of ScotlaÌ„d courteous lowly louely glad to teach desirous to learn was wel traueled hauing on him for his habit or clothing neuer but a mantell friese gowne to the showes a blacke Millian fustian dowblet and plaine blacke hosen course newe canuesse for his Shirtes and whyte fallinge Bandes and Cuffes at the handes All the whych Apparell hee gaue to the poore some weekelye some monethly some quarterlye as hee liked sauing hys Frenche cappe whyche hee kepte the whole yeare of my being with hym Hee was a manne modest temperate fearinge God hatinge Couetousnesse For his Charitie had neuer ende nyghte noone nor daye hee forbare one meale in three one daye in foure for the moste parte except somethyng to comforte nature Hee lay harde vppon a pouffe of straw course newe canuesse Sheetes whyche when hee chaunged hee gaue awaye hee hadde commonly by his beddes side a tubbe of water In the whyche hys people being in hedde the candell puâ—te out and all quiet he vsed to bathe hymselfe as I being very yong being assured often heard him and in one light nighte descerned hym hee loued mee tenderly and I him for my age as effectually He taught wyth great modestie and grauitie so that some of his people thought hym seuere and woulde haue slaine hym but the Lorde was hys defence And hee after due correction for their malice by good exhortation amended them and he went hys way O that the Lord hadde left hym to me his poore boye that hee might haue finished that he hadde begonne For in his Religion he was as you see heere in the rest of hys life when he went into Scotland with diuers of the Nobilitie that came for a treatie to kinge Henry the eighte Hys learning no lesse sufficient then his desire alwayes prest and readye to doe good in that hee was able bothe in the house priuately and in the Schoole publikely professing and reading diners authours If I shoulde declare hys loue to mee and all menne hys Charitie to the poore in geuinge relieuinge caringe helpinge prouidinge yea infinitelye studyinge howe to doe good vnto all and hurte to none I shoulde sooner wante woordes then iuste cause to commende All thys I testifie wyth my whole heart and trueth of thys Godly manne
Queene Mary and her childe turned out of Latin into Englishe and ineuitable malediction and hast enioyned them that they should conceiue in sinne and beyng conceiued should be subiect to many and grieuous tormentes and finally be deliuered with the danger and ieopardy of their lyfe We beseech thee for thine exceeding great goodnes and bottomlesse mercy to mittigate the straightnes of that law Asswage thine anger for a while and cherish in the bosome of thy fauour and mercye our most gracious Queene Mary beyng now at the poynt of her deliuerance So helpe her that without danger of her lyfe she may ouercome the sorow and in due season bring forth a chyld in body beautifull and comely in mynd noble and valiant So that afterward she forgetting the trouble may with ioy laude prayse the bountifulnesse of thy mercy Anno 1554. Ianuary and together with vs praise and blesse both thee and thy holy name world withouten ende This Oh Lord we desire thee we beseeche thee and most hartily craue of thee Heare vs oh Lord and graunt vs our petition Let not the enemies of thy faith and of thy Church say Where is theyr God ¶ A solemne prayer made for king Phillip and Queene Maries childe that it may be a male chylde welfauoured and wittie c. A deuout prayer made by the Catholickes for Q Mary being great quicke with childe O Most mighty Lord God which regardest the prayer of the humble and despisest not their request bowe downe from thine high habitation of the heauens the eies of thy mercy vnto vs wretched sinners bowing y e knees of our hartes and with many and deepe sighes bewayling oure sinnes offences humbly with eyes intent hands displayed praying beseeching thee with the shield of thy protection to defend Mary thy seruant and our Queene who hath none other helper but thee and whom through thy grace thou hast willed to be conceiued with chyld and at the time of her trauaile graciously with the helpe of thy right hand deliuer her and from all danger with the child in her conceiued mercifully preserue It hath seemed good in thy sight mercifull Father by thy seruaunt Mary to worke these woÌ„ders that is to say in her hands to vanquish and ouerthrow the stout enemy to deliuer vs thy people out of the hands of * The Papistes call the Protestantes hereticks and enemies to the crosse of Christ euen as Achab called Elias the disturber of â—sraell when he was onely the disturber himselfe heretikes Infidels enemies to thee and to the crosse of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ that of thy seruaunt thou mightest speake in farre countreys Therefore for these wonderfull workes which thou doest to thy seruaunts thou art magnified Lord God for euer and we thy people blesse thee the God of heauen which hast wrought vpon vs this great mercy and hast excluded from vs the heretike the enemy of truth the persecuter of thy church We know we know that we haue grieuously Lord sinned that we haue bene deceiued by vanitie and that we haue forsaken thee our God Our iniquities be multiplied on our head and our sinnes be increased vp to heauen and we our selues haue offended and our princes our priests for these our sinnes haue deserued an hypocrite to our prince our sinnes haue deserued a Tyrant to our Gouernour that should bryng our lyfe to bitternes We be not worthy to haue so gentle and mercifull a Queene so godly a ruler finally so vertuous a prince at the very beginning of whose raigne a new light as it were of Gods religion seemed to vs for to spring rise Q. Mary compared of the Papistes to Q. Iudith The Iews did blesse y e widow Iudith with one voice saying Thou art the glory of Ierusalem thou art the ioy of Israell thou art the honor of our people for that thou hast loued chastity and thou shalt be blessed for euer And we the English people with one agreeable consent do cry Make how forgetting his prayer he falleth to the praysing of Q Mary Thou Mary art the glory of England our ioy the honour of thy people for that thou hast embraced chastitie thine heart is strengthened for the hand of our Lord hath comforted thee and therfore thou shalt be blessed for euer But bow downe O most mercifull Father thine eare and open thine eyes and behold our affliction and our humble confession Thou knowest Lord that against Phillip not by humane but by thy ordinaunce our king and against thy seruaunt Mary by thy prouidence our Queene the restorers and maintainers of thy Testament of the faith most constaÌ„t defenders of thy church thou knowest I say that against these our two gouernors the enimies of thy holy * The TestameÌ„t setteth vp onely the glory of Christ. Testament of the Church thy spouse be most ranke Rebels and spitefull murmurers walking after their lustes whose mouth speaketh wordes of pride to the end they may set vp the kingdome of heretikes schismatikes By the power of their handes they would * If the chaunging of Gods promises destroying his inheritance stopping the mouthes of Gods people if contentions warres and schismes be tokens of heretickes who so great heretickes as the papists be chaunge thy promises and destroy thine inheritaunce and stop and shut vp the mouthes of them y t praise thee and extinguish the glory of thy catholike Church and aultar It is manifest and plaine how many contentioÌ„s how many conspiracies and seditions how great wars what tumults how many how great troublesome vexations how many heresies schismes for these be the most ready deuises and euident tokens of heretickes for our sinnes do hang ouer vs if thy seruant be taken from this life for we acknowledge that our Lord is omnipotent who hath pitched his dwellyng place in the midst of his people to y e intent to deliuer vs out of y e hands of our enemies Turne therfore thy countenance vnto vs shew vnto vs O Lord thy face Punish vs for our sinnes according to thy will pleasure onely now deliuer vs. We bowing the knees of our hart beseech thee that thou wilt not reserue vnto vs punishment for euer we shall prayse thee all the days of our life Heare our cry and the praier of thy people open to them the treasure of thy mercy thy gracious sauour the spring of liuely water Thou that hast begon make in the hand of the seruaunt a perfect worke Suffer not we pray thee the * Cry 〈◊〉 lowder 〈◊〉 Priest◠〈…〉 your God a sleepe The Lordâ— gaue a 〈◊〉 to Sâ—â—ra 〈◊〉 Eliâ—zabeth so did he noâ— to Q Maâ—â— faythlesse rebels to say of thy seruaunt and her Counsellours that they haue deuised matters which they cannot performe And graunt vnto thy seruant an happy and an easie trauail For it is not impossible to thy power nor indecent to thy