of September and was committed to the tower close prisoner hauing his seruant Austine to attend vpon him The same day the Archbishop of Canterbury appearing before the Counsell was commaunded to appeare againe the next day at after noone in the starre chamber where hauing charged him with treason and spreading abroade seditious libels Cranmer to the Tower he was committed from thence to the tower there to remaine till farther iustice at the Quéenes pleasure The 15. of September there was a letter sent to maister Horne Deane of Durham for his appearance and another the 7. of October for his spéedy appearance The 16. of Septem there were letters sent to the maiors of Douer and Rye to suffer all French protestants to passe out of this Realme French protestants suffered to passe hence except such whose names should be signified to them by the French Ambassadour The first day of October Quéene Marie Mary crowned was crowned at Westminster and the tenth day of the same moneth beganne the Parlament A parlement with a solemne masse of the holie Ghost in the pallace of Westminster To the which among other Lords should come the Bishops which yet remained vndeposed which were the Archbishoppe of Yorke Doctor Taylor of Lincolne Iohn Harley Bishop of Hereford of the Bishops Doctor Taylor and maister Harley presenting themselues according to their duetie and taking their place amongest the Lordes after they sawe the masse beginne not abiding the sight thereof withdrew themselues from the companie for the which cause the Bishop of Lincolne béeing examined and protesting his faith was vpon the same commanded to attend Who not long after at Anker wicke by sicknesse departed Maister Harley because he was married was excluded both from the Parlement and from his Bishopricke This statute repealed Statutes repealed all the statutes made in the time king Henrie the viij for Premunire and statutes made in king Edward the vj. time for the administration of common bread and the Sacraments in the English tongue In this meane while many men were forward in erecting of Altars and Masses in Churches and such as would sticke to the Lawes made in K. Edwards time till other were established some of them were marked and some presently apprehēded Among whom sir Iames Hales Sir I Hales of kent apprehended and imprisoned a knight in kent and Iustice in the common place was one Who notwithstanding he had ventured his life in Q. Maries cause yet for that he did at a Quarter Sessions geue charge vpon the statutes made in king Edwards time and Henrie the eight for the supremacie and religion he was imprisoned in the Marshalsea Counter and Fléet and so cruelly handled and put in feare by talke that he thought to ridde himselfe out of his life by wounding him selfe with a knife and afterward was contented to say what they willed him Whereupon he was discharged but after that he neuer rested The lamentable end of Sir Iames Hales till he had drowned him selfe in a Riuer halfe a mile from his house in Kent During the time of the parlament the Cleargie had also their Conuocation with a disputation appointed by the Q. commaundement at Paules about the 18. of October In which Conuocation Harpsfield preached and D. Weston Deane of Westminster was chosen Prolocutor The disputation continued vj. dayes Disputation of vi dayes about the matter of the Sacrament wherein D. Weston was chéefe on the popes part The first day D. Weston inueyeth against the Catechisme and booke of Common prayer of king Edward and signified that on Friday next the xx of October it should be lawful for all men fréely to speake their consciences in matters of Religion The Friday being come in steade of disputation the Prolocutor exhibited two seuerall Billes vnto the House the one of the naturall presence of Christ in the sacrament and the other that the Catechisme was not set out by the houses consent requiring all to subscribe to these Billes as he himselfe had done To which motion all did assent sauing the Deane of Rochester the Dean of Exceter the Archdeacon of Winchester the Archdeacon of Hertforde and the Archdeacon of Stow and one other And while the rest were subscribing Iohn Philpot stoode vp and declared that the Catechisme was set out by the assent of the house and as touching the poynt of naturall presence that it was against reason that men should subscribe before the matter were discussed and withall desired the Prolocutor that he would be a meane to the Counsell that some of those that were the setters out of the same catechisme might be brought into the house to shew their learning that moued them to set forth the same and that D. Ridley M. Rogers with two or thrée more might be licensed to be present at this disputation and to be associated with them The bishops made answere it was not for them to cal such persons vnto the house since some of them were prisoners but they would be Petitioners in this behalfe to the Counsell and in case that any were absent that ought to be of the house they willed them to be taken in vnto them if they listed After this they minding to haue entered into disputation worde was geuen that the Lorde great Master and the Earle of Deuonshire woulde be present at the Disputation and therefore the Prolocutor deferred the same till the next Mundaye at one of the Clocke at after Noone At which time many Nobles being assembled to heare the Disputation the Prolocutor sayde that they of the house had appointed this Disputation not to call the trueth in doubt the which they had all subscribed sauing fiue or sixe but that those gainesayers might be resolued Then hée demaunded of Master Haddon whether hée woulde reason against the questions proposed To whome he answered hée would seing the request for those learned men to assist would not bée graunted and so aunswered M. Elmer and said that little or nothing it might auaile for the trueth since now all they were determined to the contrarie After this he demaunded of Maister Cheney who allowed of the presence but denied the transubstantiation Master Cheney answered he would gladly haue his doubts resolued on that point and so propounding his doubts the Prolocutor assigned M. Mooreman to aunswere By this meanes Maister Elmer was driuen to stand vp and so M. Philpot who reasoned against M. Mooreman and grauelled him Then stood vp the deane of Rochester M. Philpot who disputed of the real presence whom Weston answered and Watson tooke his parte Vpon whome Philpot replieth againe and in the end the disputation grew to be confused The disputation confused by reason many would take vpon them to answere On Wednesday the xxv of October Iohn Philpot according to the appointment was ready to dispute about the reall presence and was ready to enter into a Latine oration made to interpret the question this the Prolocutor
his bodie touched the ground After all this hee was brought before the Mayor of Reading and there those false Brethren which before had robbed his studie obiected against him Treason Sedition Murther and Adulterie c. Which when they coulde not proue they laide vnto his charge the writings that they had stolne out of his Studie Wherefore once againe he was called out of pryson and appeared before the Mayor and Byrd the officiall and two other Iustices to render an accompt of his faith And when they had gathered of his owne mouth sufficient matter to entrap him they deuised a byll of instructions against him to be directed to Doctor Geffery who had determined to hold his visitation the next tuesday at Newbery beyng the sixtéenth day of Iuly So he was sent to Newbery and came thether on the Munday at night and with him Thomas Askins his felow prisoner where they found Iohn Grome their faithfull brother in the Lord. So the xv of Iuly the prysoners appeared before Doctor Geffery and other Commissioners where after reasoning of the authoritie and vniuersalitie of the church of Rome and of the presence in the Sacrament c. when no allurements nor perswasions would preuayle they were all thrée condemned and burned together Being at the place of their martyrdome Palmer comforteth his fellowes with the promises of God and pronounced with an audible voice the xxxj Psalme But the other two made their prayers secretly to almightie God all thrée falling to the ground and as Palmer beganne to rise there came behind him a popish priest exhorting him to recant to whome Palmer Palmer at the stake answered Away away tempt me no longer away I said from mée all yée that worke iniquitie for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my teares And foorthwith they put of their rayment went to the stake and kissed it and when they were bound to the post Palmer said good people pray for vs that we may perseuere to the end and for Christes sake beware of popish teachers for they deceiue you Which as hée spake a seruaunt of one of the Bayliffes threwe a faggot at his face that the bloud gushed out in diuerse places Thus fire being put to them they all crying Lord Iesu strengthen vs Lord Iesu assist vs Lord Iesu receiue our soules they ended this mortall life Palmer was about 24. yeares old when he suffered The last time of his being at Oxford one Barwicke then fellow of Trinitie Colledge a rancke papist began to reason with him and perceiuing him to be earnest and zealous said vnto him in the hearing of Maister Thomas Perrey others there present Well Palmer well now thou art stoute and hardie in thyne opinion but if thou were once brought to the stake I beléeue thou wouldest tell me another tale I aduise thée beware of the fire it is a shrewd matter to burne Truly said Palmer Palmer diuers times in daunger of burning I haue bene in daunger of burning once or twise and hetherto I thanke God I haue escaped it but I iudge verily it wil be mine end at the last welcom be it by the grace of God In déed it is an hard matter for them to burne that haue the minde and soule linked to the bodie as a théefe is tyed in a paire of Fetters But if a man be once able through the helpe of Gods spirite to separate and deuide the soule from the bodie for him it is no more maisterie to burne then for me to eate a péece of bread For whom it is easy to burne About the same moneth of Iuly Agnes Wardal of the towne of Ipswich a vertuous woman and one that hated the Romish trash was persecuted by Richard Argentine a phisition in the towne Phillip Vlmes Edmond Leach Iohn Steward and Mathew Butler malicious enemies of Gods children But by Gods great prouidence they escaped their handes and was deliuered In the same moneth also Peter Mone a Tailer of the towne of Ipswich with his wife were called before the B. kéeping visitation at Ipswich and through frailtie yelded to the Byshop Whereof after they fsll into great griefe of conscience when they came home to their house and looking when they should be sent for againe to the B. the next day who had appointed them then to appeare The time appointed drawing nigh they heard the belles ring for the B. departure out of the towne So they escaped farther trial Against these was one Richard Smart a Portman of the towne an earnest member of the Popish Church but afterwardes he repented him thereof with teares In the Isle of Gernesey 3. women Katherine Couches Catherine Couches Guillemme Gilbert Perotine Massey The mother and 2. daughters at Gernsey the mother and one Guillemme Gilbert and Perotine Massey her daughters were burned for the cause of the Gospel refusing to come to Church Notwithstanding they protested to hold nothing against the Popish Church neither was there heard any information against them neither were they examined before of their religion at anye time yet were they condemned by Syr Iames Amy Dean and the Curates of the Isle to be burned for Heretikes Which when the Bayliefes and Iurates vnderstood howe they had not examined them of their faith yet condemned them for heretikes they would not sit in iudgement that day but ordeyned they should first bée examined of them Which being done an Act and sentence was deliuered against them to the former effect that they should be executed as heretikes no accuser hauing béene heard against them Cruelty against the mother and her 2. daughters and the innocent parties protesting they would entirely obey the ordinances of the Church So sentence being giuen against them by Elier Gosseline Bailieffe notwithstanding they had appealed from the same to the king Quéene and Councel yet were they the 18. of Iuly all burned together at 3. stakes the mother in the middest the eldest daughter on the right side and the youngest on the left They were first strangled but the rope brake before they were dead so the poore women fell into the fire Marueilous cruelty Perotine great with child brast asunder by the vehemencie of the fire and her infant being a faire manchild fell into the fire and eftsoones taken out of the fire by one W. Howse was laid vppon the grasse from thence it was had to the prouost and from him to the Baylife Whose censure was that it should be caried backe and cast into the fire so was the child baptized in his owne blood to fil vp the number of the saints Néere about the same time that these 3. women with the infant were burned there suffered for the doctrine of the Gospel at Gréenstéed in Sussex two men Thomas Dungate Tho. Dungate and Iohn Foreman Iohn Forman and one woman called mother Dree the 18. of Iuly About the 26. of Iune one Tho. Moore Tho. More of the age of
contrary wil mainteyn defend the law of our Lord Iesu Christ and the deuout hūble and constant preachers thereof euen to the shedding of our blood dated at Sternberg ann 1415. c. Round about the same letters were 54 seales hāging and the names of them whose seales they were 54. seales to the letter subscribed An. 1414. by Henry Chichley Archb. of Cāterbury much was the affliction and trouble of good men here in England which cruelty Iohn Claydon Iohn Claydon currier of London Richard Turming Rich. Turming first tasted of The 17. day of August an 1415. Iohn Claydon did personally appeare arrested by the mayor of London for suspition of heresie before Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury in Paules Church who being demaunded Constancy denied it not but frankly confessed that for 20. yéeres space he had bin suspected therof for which also he had suffered 2. yéeres imprisonment at Conuey thrée yéeres in the Fléete out of which prison he in the raigne of king Henrie the fourth was brought before L. Iohn Scarle then Chancelour to the king and there did abiure all heresie and errour And being demanded of the Archbishop confessed that since his abiuration he had in his house written English bookes of religion and had frequented the company of diuers godly mē Which confession being made the Archb. did command the bookes to be deliuered to maister Robert Gilbert Doctor of diuinity William Lindwood Doct. of both lawes and other Clearkes to bee examined And in the meane time Dauid Beare Alexander Phillip and Balthasar Mero were taken for witnesses against him and were committed to bee examined to maister Iohn Escourt general examiner of Cāterbury This done the Archb. continued his session til munday next in the same place which was the 20. day of the same moneth and maister Escourt publikely exhibited the witnesses which being read there were after that read diuers tractations found in his house out of which especially out of a booke called the Lantern of light The Lanterne of light that Claidon at his owne costs caused to be written by one called Ioh. Grime being examined diuers points were gathered and noted for heresie Articles First that the Pope was Antichrist and the enimy that sowed tares among the lawes of Christ That the Archbishops and Bishops speaking indifferently are the seats of the Beast Antichrist That the Bishoppes license for a man to preach the worde of God is the Character of the Beast That the Court of Rome is the head of Antichrist and the Bishoppes the bodie That no reprobate is a member of the Church That Christ did neuer plant priuate religions That the materiall Churche shoulde not bée decked with golde The causes of persecution That Priestes vnlawfully kéeping temporall goodes and vnsatiable begging of Friers were the twoo chiefe causes of the persecution of Christians That almes were to be giuen to the honour of GOD onely of goodes iustly gotten to bée giuen to one that is in charitie and to those that haue néede That often singing in the Church is not founded on the scripture That bread and wine remaine in the Sacrament That all Ecclesiasticall suffrages doe profite all godly persons indifferently That the Popes Indulgences bee vnprofitable That the Laytie is not bound to obey the prelates in what so euer they command except the prelates doe watch to geue God a iust accompt of their soules That Images are not to bée sought to by pilgrimages For these articles the archb with the rest did condemne and burne I. Claydons bookes and procéeded to a definitiue sentence of condemnation against him and shortly after hée was had to Smithfield where méekly he was made a burnt offering vnto the Lord an 1415. R. Fabian addeth that Richard Turning Baker was the same time also burned in Smithfield The next yere 1416. the archb of Canterburie in his Conuocation holden at London maketh sharper constitutitions then were before Sharper constitutions then before against the Lollards During the time of which Conuocation two priestes noted for Heretikes were brought before the Bishops the one Iohn Barton and the other Robert Chappel Iohn Barton Robert Chappell Barton because he had béene excommunicated and so stoode 6. or 7. yeres before vpon articles of religion yet sought no reconciliation which being proued against him he was committed to Philip B. of Lincoln to be kept in prison til otherwise it were determined R. Chappel otherwise Holbech sometime chaplen to the L. Cobham because he being vnder excōmunication 3. or 4. yeres did yet in contēpt of the keyes continue saying masse preaching sought no reconciliation So the session brake vp for the time which was about the end of May 1416. The 12. of Iulie next following Chappel submitteth Chappel appeared againe and submitting himselfe with much a doe receiued pardon and was in stead of penance enioyned certayne articles to publish at Paules Crosse As Articles enioyned Chappel that Prelates might lawfullie holde Temporall Lawes That it were vniust and vnlawfull for temporall men vpon any occasion to take away the Prelates temporalties notwithstanding the abuses of them That peregrinations are auaileable to the remission of sinnes That to worship Images doth profite Christians That auricular confession is necessarie That though a priest be in mortall sinne yet may he make the body of Christ That Priestes ought not to preach without the Bishoppes licence That priuate religions are profitable to the vniuersall Church That hee woulde promise and sweare neuer to holde any thing against the premisses Diuers caused to abiure After the setting out of the constitutions of H. Chichesly Archb. of Canterburie diuers godly men were sore vexed and caused outwardly to abiure as Iohn Tayler of the parish of S. Maries at Querne William Iames Master of art and Phisitian who had long time remayned in prison also Iohn Duerfer Iohn Gourdeley of Lincolnshire wel commended for his learning Katherin Dertford a Spinster the Parson of Hyggley in Lincolnshire named M. Robert William Henrie of Tenderden Iohn Gall a Priest of London Richard Monke Vicar of Chesham in Lincolnshire with other mo Collection for the P. to war against the Bohemians During the time of the Conuocation prouinciall Pope Martin had sent down to the cleargie of England for a subsidie to be gathered of the Church to mainteine the Popes warre against the Lollards of Bohemia Also another subsidie was demanded to persecute William Clarke master of arte in Oxford who sayling out of England was at the councell of Basill disputing on the Bohemians side and thirdly another subsidie was also required W. Clarke W. Russel to persecute William Russel which was Wardē of the Gray Friers in London who the same time was fledde and there escaped out of prison Among the rest which were at this time troubled for their faith was Radulph Mungin R Mungin priest against whom it was articulated at
in the Scriptures and in the ciuil law altered againe the presidents mind and so the commission was called barke and the army retired which was come within a mile a half of the town of Merindol to do the execution God heareth their praiers The Merindolians hearing therof gaue thankes to God and determined to subiect thēselues vnto Gods will and to endure whatsoeuer affliction should be layd vpon them The fame of them and also of the arrest came to the king Francis eares who gaue commandement to the noble vertuous Lord monsieur de Langeay at that time his Lieutenant in Thurim a citie of Piedmount diligently to enquire the trueth of the matter who sent 2. deputies to enquire the which deputies made report of the vertue diligence of the poore Merindoliās in such sort that they had by their labour fructified Merindol that wheras before it was taxed but at 4. crowns before the destruction oppression which it suffered paid yeerly to the Lord 350. crowns besides other charges they declared also the great oppression which they had suffered Besides they had good testimonie giuen of their neighbors of Prouence what they held also also against the popes religion was truly reported and the copye of the arrest brought whereof the king was aduertised by monsieur de Langeay who vnderstanding these things King Frauncis pardoneth the Merindoliās sent letters to them of grace and pardon not to those onely which were condemned for lacke of appearance but also for all the rest of the countrey of Prouence which were accused and suspected in like case commanding the Parlement that they should not hereafter so procéed but if there were any that could be proued by sufficient information to haue swerued from christian religion that then hee shoulde haue demonstration made vnto him by the word of God out of the old and new testament so by gentlenes bée reduced to the church of God cōmanding also that those which were conuicted of heresie should abiure that all prisoners should be set at libertie which either were accused or suspected of Lutheranisme By vertue of which commandement letters of the king they were permitted to declare their cause Whervpon A confession of the Merindolians faith they made a cōfession of their faith which was presented first to the court of parlement afterward more at large with articles therunto annexed it was deliuered to the B. of Cabillon and to Cardinall Sadolet About this time the yéere 1542. the vicelegate of Auinion assembled a great number of men of war at the request of the B. of Cauailon to destroy Cabriers 1542 Cabriers when the army was come within a mile of Cabriers the Cardinall Sadolet went with spéede vnto the Vicelegate and shewed the articles of the confession of Cabriers Sadolet helped Cabriers and how they offered to bée informed wherin they had erred by the word of God whervppon at that time the army retired Afterward it was ordained by the court of Parlement that according to the kings letters Ioh. Durand counseller of the court of parlement with a secretary and the Bish of Cauaillon with a Doctor of diuinitie should goe vnto Merindoll and there declare vnto the Inhabitants the heresies which they knew to be cōteined in their cōfession to make them apparant by good and sufficient information And hauing so conuicted them by the word of god they should make them renounce and abiure the said heresies c. Whereupon Durandus signified the day that he woulde be present at Merindol that none of the Inhabitants might be absent At the day appointed the parties aboue mentioned came vnto Merindoll whereas also were present diuers Gentlemen and men of vnderstanding of all sortes There was called foorth Anthonie Mailard Examination of the Merindolians Bailiffe of the towne of Merindoll Ienon Romane and Michelin Maynard Sindiques Iohn Cabrie and Iohn Palenc Ancients of Merindoll and Iohn Brunerol vnder-bayliffe who requiring that they might because they were vnlearned answere by Aduocate were denyed either to answere by Aduocate or by wryting but only in their owne persons who notwithstanding did by Gods assistance so answere that the aduersaries were ashamed and durst put in no information of heresie against their articles But the B. spake a lōg tale in the Cōmissioners day and would declare nothing and the Doctor made a long tale in latin and would geue no otherwise any information against them Many that came thether to heare this disputation were much touched and moued to require copies of their confession and answeres Whereupon many were conuerted to the faith namelie 3. doctors who went about to disswade the Merindolians from the trueth whose ministerie God vsed afterwarde in the preaching of the Gospel Of whom one was D. Comband Prior of S. Maximinie afterwardes Preacher in the territorie of the Lords of Bern another was D. Semanti who was also a preacher in the Bayliwike of Touon the other was D. Herandi pastor and minister in the Countie of Newcastle After this the Inhabitantes of Merindoll were in quiet for a time vntill Iohn Miniers an excéeding bloudy tirant began a new persecution This Miniers being Lord of Opedie néere to Merindol first began to vexe the poore Christians by polling and extortion getting from them what he could to inlarge his own Lordshippe which before was very base For this cause he put 5. or 6. of his owne Tenants into a Cistern vnder the ground and cloasing it vp there kept them till they died for hunger pretēding that they wer Lutherans to haue their goods and possessions By this and such other practises this wretch was aduāced in a short space to great wealth and dignitie and at lēgth became the Kings Lieutenant generall in the Countrey of Prouence in the absence of the L. Grigitane then being at the Councell of Wormes in Germanie this wretch impudently and falsly geueth the king to vnderstand that they of Merindoll and Snatre about the number of twelue or fiftéene thousande were in the field in armour with Ensigne displayde entending to take the towne of Marcelle to make it one of the Cantons of the Suitzers By which lie he obteined the kings letters patentes and through the helpe of the Cardinal of Tournon commanded the sentence of the former arrest to be executed against the Merindoliās After this he gathered all the Kings armie which was then in Prouence ready to go against the Englishmen and tooke vp all besides that were redy to beare armour in the chéefe townes of Prouence and ioyned them with the army which the popes Legate had leuied for that purpose in Auinion and all the Countrey of Venice and employed the same to the destruction of Merindoll and Cabriers and of other Townes and Villages to the number of 22. geuing commission to his Souldiers to spoile ransacke burn destroy al together and to kil man woman child without al pity
thereof fel madde The yéere 1556. the ministers of the valley of S. Martins preached openly At that time certaine Gentlemen of the valley of S. Martin took a good mā Bartholomew a book-binder prisoner as he passed by the valley who they sent by by to Turim and there with a maruellous cōstancy after he had made a good confession of his faith he suffered death And moreouer they of the Parlement of Turim sent one named the President of S. Iulian associating vnto him one named de Ecclesia and others to hinder their enterprise admonishing them in the Kinges name and the Parlament of Turim to returne to the obedience of the Pope vpon paine of losse of goods and life and vtter destruction of their town withal he recited vnto thē the pitiful destructiō of Merindoll and Cabriers and other Townes néere about in the Countrey of Prouence To whom they answered that if it were shewed in anie point by the worde of God wherin they erred they were ready to be reformed so remained constant notwithstanding they receiued great vexatiōs frō the president insomuch that they with one accord presented a briefe confession of their faith with an answere to certaine interrogations made by the president touching the Masse Auricular confession Purgatory Councels c. requiring that séeing it is permitted to Turkes Saracens and Iewes to dwell quietly in the fairest citties of Christendome they might be suffered to inhabite the desolate mountaines and valleis hauing their whole religion founded vpon the true word and Gospell of Iesus Christ These articles returned to the Kings court where they remained a whole yéere without any answere made during which time they of the valleys liued in great quietnesse whereby the number of the faithfull so increased that throughout the valleies Gods word was truely preached and his sacraments duly administred and no masse saide in Angroign nor in diuers places The yere following the president of S. Iulian returned with his associates to Pigneroll sent for thither the chief rulers of Angroign and of the valley of Lucerne that is for 6. of Angroign for two of euery parish beside saying vnto them that their confession was found to be heretical that therfore the K. commanded them to returne to the obedience of the church of Rome vnder paine of losse both of life goods enioyning them moreouer to giue him answere within 3. daies from thence he went to the vallie of Lucern threatned them greatly But this notwithstanding they persisted constant and desired that their confession might be amēded by the word of God if any fault were and they would yeld thereunto With which answere the President was not cōtent Now at the same season the princes of Germanie certain of the Switzers Suitzers sue for the valley sent vnto the French K. desiring him to haue pitie of those churches so that from that time for 3. yeres after the people were not molested by any of the K. officers but yet they were sore vexed by the monks of Pigneroll and the gentlemen of the valley of S. Martin At the same time a Minister of Angroign named Geffrey Variala Geffrey Variala was taken at Berge going to visite those churches and from thence carried to Turin and there put to death A few daies after a minister of the valley of Luserne was taken prisoner at Suse and soone after sent to Turin where he was condemned to be burnt but the hangman at the time of the execution fained himselfe sicke and conueied himselfe away and so did another serue them wherevpon the minister was committed againe to prison where after long and painefull endurance seing the prison dore open he escaped and returned to his cure Now foure yéeres being past Anno 1559. there was a peace concluded betwéene the French king and the king of Spaine wherevpon the countrie of Piedmount certain towns excepted were restored to the Duke of Sauoy vnder whose regiment the foresaid Churches and all other faithfull people of Piedmont continued in great quietnesse the Duke himself being contented they should vse their former religion But the Pope and his Cardinals coulde not beare it and the popes Legat who followed the Court perswaded the Duke by all meanes not to suffer this people the people foreséeing their danger wrote to the Duke with cōmon consent shewing that the cause why they were so hated was their religion which they desired to be tried by the word of God but it is not certaine whether this aduertisement were deliuered to the Duke or not for in the moneth of March following there was great persecution raysed among the poor Christians which were at Carignon among whom there were certaine godly persons taken burnt within 4. dayes after Persecution that is to say one Mathurine and his wife and Iohn de Carquignan dwelling in the Valley of Lucern taken prisoner as he went to the market of Pigneroll Many at that time fled away others fearing the crueltie returned to the church of Rome Within few dayes after the Churches of Lelarch Meroun Meane and Suse were woonderfully assaulted The minister of Suse and Mean among others were taken who was put to death in the fire Of Larch and Meroun some were sent to the galleyes other some yealded Those that yelded more cruelly handled then those that were constant and some fled away It is certainly knowen that such as yelded were more cruelly handled than they that continued constant The beginning of this horrible persecution rose of Proclamations made in al places that none should resort to the sermons of the Lutherans but should liue after the custome of Rome vpon paine of the forfeyture of their goods and to be condemned to the Gallies for euer or to lose their liues Thrée of the most cruell persons that could be found were appointed to execute this commission The first was one Thomas Iaconel a Sodomite and a monster against God and nature He was a Monke an Inquisitor of the Romish faith and a false Apostata The second was Collaterall Corbis who after their refusals of going to masse vsed to burne them within 3. daies But it is certainly reported that séeing the constancie and hearing the confession of the poor martirs féeling a remorse and torment in his conscience he gaue ouer and protested he would meddle no more The 3. was the Prouost de la Iustice a cruel and crafty wretch In that season one named Charles de Comptes of the Valley of Luserne and one of the Lords of Angroigne did write vnto the Commissioners that they shoulde vse some lenitie towardes them of the Valley of Luserne by reason whereof they were a while more gently entreated then the rest but the Monkes of Pigneroll with certaine ruffians about them did torment and burne and sent to the gallies such as were of the churches néere vnto them The gentlemen of the Valley of S. Martin intreated their tenants very roughly
the L. Graie Sir George Carew and Sir Richard Greenfield who purged the town of the slander although for a time they were in displeasure yet wtin a while after they came into greater fauor then before and were rewarded with xx l. a yéere a péece at the least Rockwood one of the fearcest persecutors fell into dispaire Rockwood a persecutor despaireth Gods iudgements and at the last breath cried he was vtterly damned for that he said malitiously he sought the death of such good men The Vndermarshall also another persecutor suddenly fell downe in the counsell chamber and neuer spake worde and the rest of the persecutors had the reuenging hand of God following after them Adam Damlip Adam Damlip taken againe who before escaped lay hid in the West-country teaching a schoole about a yéere or two by the miserable inquisition of the six articles was againe taken and brought vp to London where he was by St. Gardiner commanded to the Marshalsea there lay the space of other two yéeres where thinking he had béene forgotten he in the Latine tongue wrote an epistle to the B. of Winchester wherin he said he would write his obedience submission for said he I had rather die then here to remaine and not to be suffered to vse my talent to Gods glorie This he said to M. Marbecke then prisoner in the Marshalsea This epistle he deliuered to his kéeper about Saturday in the morning which was about the ij wéeke before Whitsontide desiring him to deliuer it at the court to the B. of Winchester which he did The B. made such quicke dispatch that the kéeper came home at night very late brought with him a precept for the executiō of Adam Damlip So vpon munday early in the morning the kéeper other of the knight Marshals men cōueied Adam vnto Calice vpon the Ascension euen there cōmitted him to the Maiors prison because they could not burthen him with any thing within a sufficient cōpasse of time to condemne him they laid to his charge he had receiued a French crowne of cardinall Poole at Rome where before his first comming to Calice he was requested to read thrée lectures a wéeke in Cardinall Pooles house therefore they condemned him and executed him for treason Adam Damlip put to death which death he most méekely and hartely tooke Iohn Butler and sir Daniell the curate before mentioned after ix moneths imprisonment were with much labour permitted to returne to Calice againe William Steuens aboue mentioned who had remained all this time in the Tower was condemned also of treason with his guest Adam Damlip pardoned by the king Adam Damlip had sometimes béene a great papist chaplaine to Fisher B. of Rochester after the death of his maister trauelled France Dutchland and Italie and came to Rome where he would not for the wickednes of the place abide to remaine though cardinall Poole offered him maintenance to read iij. lectures a wéeke in his house which he refused for receiuing onely a French crowne he was condemned and executed for treason he receiued it at the Cardinals hand to drinke and beare some charge of expence By the preaching of Adam Damlip in Calice among others there was a poore mā whose name is not yet certainly knowne who was conuerted to the truth therfore condemned by one Haruey there being cōmissarie whom this Haruey in time of his iudgement called Hereticke and said he should die a vile death the poore man aunswered againe and said that he was no hereticke but was in the faith of Christ and whereas thou saidest said he that I shall die a vile death thou thy self shalt die a viler death and that shortly And so it came to passe for within half a yéere after Haruey was hanged Gods iudgement drawne and quartered for treason in the same towne of Calice After the burning of this poore man there was also a certaine other schooler coūted to be a dutchman named Dodde who comming out of Germany was there taken with certaine Germane bookes about him being examined standing stoutly to the doctrine of the gospell he was burned A little before this time Will. Bolton alias Crosbowmaker for saying the Pope wanted Charitie if he could and would not release soules out of Purgatorye by Doctor Darlie parson of our Ladies Church in Calice then Commissarie for Archbishoppe Warham was made to beare a fagotte and lost his wages which was vi pence a day who complaining thereof to the king and declaring vnto his maiestie the cause sent him to Calice againe and after that gaue him viij pence a day As for the vi articles many good men were put to death so for the Popes supremacie diuerse suffered And about this time Larke a priest of Chelsey for the supremacie and Germine Gardiner néere kinseman to Stephen Gardiner and his secretarie for practising for the Pope against the King were put to death By an act of parlament holden An. 1544. 1544. The rigour of vi articles mitigated the rigour of the vi articles was asswaged a little at the first time it was permitted that they which offended against them might recant which if they refused to doe and offended againe they should beare a fagot and should be admitted to abiure if the third time they offended then they should sustaine punishment according to law Notwithstanding this Parlament had thus mittigated the rigor yet remained the poison and all manner of bookes bearing the name of Williām Tindall or what other booke soeuer contained any thing against the vi articles were debarred In this Parlament also it was permitted onely to noblemen and gentlemen Noblemen and Gentlemē permitted to reade the scripture to reade the scriptures to their edifying so they did it without discussing or vrging therevpon In this Parlament also it was permitted to the party detected to trye his cause by witnesses as many or more in number as the other which deposed against him Anno 1545. 1545. Sixe articles more qualified the vi articles were yet much more qualified by Act of Parlament whereby it was also decréed that the king should haue full power to appoint 32. persons to wit sixetéene of the Cleargie and sixetéene of the temporaltie to peruse and ouersée examine the Canons constitutions and ordinances of the canon law aswell prouinciall as synodall and so according to their discretions to establish an order of ecclesiastical lawes such as should be thought by the king most conuenient This yeere 1544. Iohn Heywood recanted the Popes supremacie and Iohn At h the trueth of the sacrament About the yeere 1546. 1546 Saxy hanged one Saixe a priest was hanged in the porters lodge of Stephen Gardiner not without the consent of the Bishop as it is supposed there was also a seruant in Colchester named Henrie burned for the testimony of the trueth Henry burned This yeere 1546. One Kerby Kerby was
indignation that their olde doctrine should be impugned and stirred vp a Gray fryer called Frier Toyttes to teach the people to pray yet to Saints A controuersie in Scotland whether the Lords prayer should be said to Saints or not Whereupon fel such a schisme that not only the Cleargie but also the people were deuided among themselues for the matter in so much that there rose a prouerbe to whom say you your Pater noster And the cleargie for to decide the same controuersie to put the people out of doubt assembled thēselues yet notwithstanding it so depended that it was thought good to call a principal coūsel to decide the matter which being assēbled at Edēburgh the papists wāting reason brast out into vnséemly spéech as frier Toyt being asked to whom he should say his pater noster The Fryer biddeth say the pater noster to the deuil answered say it to the deuil knaue In the end they that were called churchmē were deuided for some of the bishops and diuines consented that it should be said to saints but the B. of S. Andrewes Caitenes and Athenies refused vtterly to subscribe to the same Finally it was declared vnto the people that it should be said vnto God with certeine restrictions and so by little and little the bruite ceassed Anno 1558. W Mill 1539. Walter Mill. was the last that was burned in Scotland for the doctrine of the gospel the xx day of April before the B. of S. Andrewes Murray Brechin a number of other prelates He was brought to the metropolitane church where he was put in a pulpet before the bishops to be accused his weakenes partly of age ill vsage being such as it was thought he should not be able to be heard speake But when he began to speake he made the church ring sound againe to the confusion of the aduersaries and comfort of the godly And being long in his praiers sir Andrew Oliphant one of the Bishops priests called him sir Walter Mill arise and answeare to the Articles for you hold my Lord here ouer long In déede said he I haue béene ouer long one of the Popes knights for he had béene before a Papist but I am called Walter and not Sir When neither threates nor allurements could preuaile they condemned him for the article of Priestes marriages the seuen Sacraments the sacrament of the Altar pilgrimage Before sentence was pronounced Oliphant asked him wilt thou not recant thine erroneous opinions and if thou wilt not I will pronounce sentence against thée I am accused of my life saide hée againe I knowe I must die once friend therfore as Christ said to Iudas doe it quickly yée shall knowe that I will not recant the truth for I am corne I am no chaffe I wil not be blown away with the wind nor burst with the flaile but I wil abide both A notable speech of the martyr Such was his maruellous boldnesse constancie which did so moue the hearts of many that the B. steward of his regaltie prouost of the towne called Patrike Learmend refused to be his temporal Iudge to whom it appertained Also the Bishoppes Chamberlaine being therewith charged would in no wise take vpon him so vngodly an office Yea the whole town was so offended with his vniust condemnation that the bishops seruāts could not get for their money so much as one corde to tie him to the stake or Tarre barrell to burne him but were constrayned to cut the cords of their masters owne Pauilion to serue their turne So being tied to the stake hauing exhorted the people and praied fire being put vnto him he ended in the Lord with such chéerfulnes and constancie enduring his martyrdome that he was the last martyr in Scotland this was in the time of Mary Longawale Quéene regent of Scotland and Iohn Hamelton bishop of Saint Andrewes and primate of Scotland Anno 1511. Vnder William Warrham Archb. of Canturburie certaine martyrs that were omitted whiche suffered at that time with him because they are not to be forgotten are to be referred to that yéere They suffered for deniyng the Sacrament of the Altar c for auricular confession the extréeme vnction images pilgrimages prayer to saints holy bread holy water c. They denie all that they had vttered any thing against those popishe pointes yet witnesses who had partly abiured before and others against nature as the husband against the wife and children against the mother being brought forth they were condemned and put to death Their names were William Carder of Tenderden Weauer Agnes Grebill of the same towne of thréescore yéere old Robert Lawson of Halden of the age 60. Iohn Browne of Ashford Edward Walker of Maidston Cutler who all notwithstanding they promised to submitte themselues yet were they condemned The cause why the good woman so stood as she did to the deniall of those articles obiected against her was for that she neuer thought that her husband and her owne children who only were priuie of her religion would haue testified against her which when she perceiued she repented the time that euer she bare those children of her bodie So notwithstanding that she offered conformitie she was condemned and put to death Her husbandes name was Iohn Grebill her sonnes Christopher and Iohn Besides these which were put to death a number vnder Warren were forced to abiure the trueth against the reall presence confession sacrament of matrimony vnction pilgrimages Images Saintes holie water holie bread c. Also omitted before anno 1539. Iohn a Painter and Giles Germaine who were accused and condemned for heresie at London before the Bishop and other Iudges where by chaunce comming in one of the kings seruaunts named Lancelot a very tall man and séeming by his countenance and gesture to fauour the cause of the poore men was also examined and condemned with them and the next day at fiue a clocke in the morning was carried with them into Saint Giles fieldes and there burned Also about the latter end of Tonstals time bishop of London one Stile was burned in Smithfield with the Apocalips whereon he vsed to read about his necke Stile burned with the Apocalips about his necke Which booke when he saw fastened to the stake with him hée lifted vp his voice and said O blessed Apocalips how happie am I that I shall be burned with thée and so with the booke was he consumed with fire Also ouerpassed before about the second yéere of the raigne of king Henry the eight Iohn Browne of Ashford after xl daies imprisonment when the Archbishop and Doctor Fisher had burned his féete with hote coles to the stumps to make him recant On Friday before Whitsunday he was sent to Ashford where he dwelt the next day to be burned and a yoong maide of his house espying him in the stockes told hir mistresse who ranne and sat by him also all night to whome hée gaue exhortation and declared
and therefore hath not God graunted your desire But I am a poore simple man as you sée and God hath heard my complaint and I trust he will strengthen me in his owne cause When their prayer would not preuaile they aduised to say a masse to sée what that would worke In the meane time Rawlins be tooke him to prayer in a secrete place till such time as the Priest came to the sacring When Rawlins heard the sacring bell ring he rose out of his place and came to the quire dore and standing a while turned himselfe to the people speaking these wordes Good people if there be at the least but one brother among you the same one shall beare witnesse at the day of iudgement that I howe not to this Idoll meaning the host that the Priest helde ouer his head Masse being ended and Rawlins persisting constant the Bishoppe procéedeth to sentence and hauing condemned him dismisseth him to be carried againe to Cardiffe there to be put into the prison of the towne called Clockemacell a very dark lothsome and most vile prison where Rawlins passed the time in singing of Psalmes About thrée or foure wéekes after he hauing intelligence that his tyme of death drewe néere sendeth foorthwith to his wife and willeth her by the messenger that in any wise she should make readie Rawlins wedding garmēts and send vnto him his wedding garments meanyng a shirte which afterwarde hée was burned in Whiche was accomplished accordyng to his mynde Now apparelled in his wedding garments when the houre was come and he passed to his death in the way his poore wife and children stood wéeping and making lamentation which so pearced his heart that hee let fall teares from his eyes but soone after as though he had misliked his infirmitie beganne to be angry with himselfe insomuch that striking his brest with his hande hée vsed these wordes Ah flesh stayest thou me so wouldest thou faine preuaile Rawlins a worthy martyr Well I tell thée do what thou canst thou shalt not by Gods grace haue the victorie By this time hée came to the stake and going towards it he fell down vpon his knées and kissed the ground and in rising againe the earth a little sticking on his face he saide these words Earth vnto earth and dust vnto dust thou art my mother and to thée shall I returne Then went he cherefully and very ioyfully to the stake and set his backe close thereunto and when hée had stoode there a while he cast his eye vpon the Reporter of this History calling him vnto him and sayde I féele a great fighting betwixt the Fleshe and the Spirit and the Fleshe woulde very fayne haue his swinge and therefore I pray you when you séeme any thing tempted holde your finger vp to me and I trust I shall remember my selfe After the Smith had made him fast to the Stake according as hée had required him being afrayde of his infirmitie and the Officers began to laie wood to him with strawe and réede hée himselfe as farre as hée could reach would catcht the same and very chéerefully disposed it about his bodie When all thinges were readie then stept vp a Priest addressing himselfe to speake and to peruert the people Which when Rawlins Rawlins perceiued hée beckened with his hand to the people and said come hither good people and heare not a false prophet preach And then said vnto the preacher oh thou naughtie hypocrite doost thou presume to prooue thy false doctrine by Scripture Looke in the text what followeth did not Christ say doo this in remembrance of mée after which wordes the Priest beyng amazed held his peace Then some that stood by cried put too fire put to fire which being put to he bathed his handes so long in the flame till the sinewes shrunke and the fatte dropped away and once he did as it were wipe his face with one of them All this while which was somewhat long he cried with a loud voice O Lord receiue my soule vntill he could not open his mouth He was at the same time of his death about 60. yéeres of age About this time Anno 1555. the 28. of March Quéene Marie was fully resolued and declared so much to foure of her Counsell to restore the Abbey landes againe to the Church And the moneth before the 19. of Februarie the Bishoppe of Ely with the Lord Montague and viij score horse were sent as Ambassadors from the king Quéene vnto Rome very likely for the cause of Abbey landes as it appeareth by the sequele For it was not long after but the Pope did set foorth in print a Bull of excommunication for all manner such persons without exception that kept any of the Church landes The P. excommunicateth those that hold Abbey lands Pope Iulius the monster dyeth And also all such as did not put the same Bull in execution About the latter end of this Moneth Pope Iulius dyed a monster of nature who missing on a time his Porke and answere being made that his Phisition forbad it because of his goute bursting out into a rage he vttered these wordes bring me my porke flesh in the despight of God An other time missing his cold Peacocke Popes Peacocke most horribly blasphemyng God he brake into a rage Wherevpon when one of his cardinals sitting by labored to pacifie him what said Iulius the Pope if God was so angry for one apple that hée cast our first parents out of Paradice therefore A blasphemous Pope why may not I being his vicar be angry then for my Peacocke sithence a Peacocke is a greater matter then an apple Hée confirmed the idoll of Lauretane Vpon Shrouesunday which was about the iij. of March the same yéere a préest in Kent named Nightingall parson of Crondall besides Canturbury reioycing at the alteration of religion and reading to the people the popes Bull of pardon that was sent into England hée sayd hée thanked God that euer hée had liued to sée that daie adding moreouer that hée beléeued that by the vertue of that Bull hee was as cléere of sinne as the night that he was borne and immediatly vpon the same fell suddenly downe out of the Pulpit Gods iudgement and neuer stirred hand nor foot but so died Testified by Robert Austen of Cartham who both heard and saw the same and it is witnessed also of the whole country round about In the moneth of Aprill and the second day Iohn Awcocke died in pryson and was buried in the fieldes The first of Aprill Anno 1555. a letter was sent to the Shiriffe of Kent to apprehend Thomas Woodgate and William Maynard for preachyng secréetly and to send them vp to the Counsell The vij day of the same moneth was sent another letter to the said Shiriffe for the apprehension of one Hardwich who went about with a boy with him preaching from place to place The fiftenth of Aprill a letter was directed
fayth in Christ shall ouercome them c. In fine Chadsey perswaded him to consider of himselfe and to be wel aduised To whom M. Philpot said he would his burning day were to morow for this delay said he is euery day to die yet not to be dead So for that time they dismissed him The 12. examination was on Wednesday the fourth of December before the Bishop of London Worcester Bangor After Masse the Byshop called him before him into his Chappell and recited the Articles which often tymes he had done before with depositions of witnesses of whom some were not examined Philpot againe refused him for Iudge So he was had away and anone after he was called for to come before him the Byshop of Bangor Who being before them they cauilled with him where his religion was an hundreth yeare ago accusing him of singularitie c. and so dismissed him til after noone At which time he appeared againe and after reasoning with him touching the reall presence they againe dismissed him till Thursday after which was the 13. examination On which day he appeared before the Archb. of Yorke and other Bishops as the bishop of Chichester Bathe London c they reasoned with him touching the true Church and the authority thereof and vniuersality But being not able to deale or preuayle with him in strength of argument nor verity of their cause they departed The same day at night againe Boner called for him and required him to say directly whether he would be conformable or not To whom he answered that he required a sure proofe of that Church whereto Boner called him which when Boner could not prooue they gaue him ouer vntil the xiij or xiiij daye of December On which dayes the Bishop sitting iudicially in his Consistorie at Paules caused him to be brought thither before him and others and obiected vnto him 3. articles 1. That he refused to be reconciled to the Church 2. That he had blasphemed the masse Articles against M. Philpot. and called it Idolatrie 3. That he denied the reall presence And exhorted him to recant and to returne to his Romish Church Whereto when M. Philpot had shewed that he was not out of the church that he had not spoken against the masse nor sacrament of the Altar He was once againe dismissed till the sixtéenth day of the same moneth on which day when neither threatninges nor faire allurementes could mooue him The B. after he had brought foorth a certaine instrument containing articles and questions agréed vppon both in Oxforde and Cambridge and had exhibited two bookes in print the one the Catechisme made in King Edwardes dayes anno 1552. The other concerning the true reporte of the disputation in the Conuocation house which Philpot acknowledged to bée his penning without any iust cause he could pretend against him by forme of lawe Boner condemneth Philpot procéeded to his tyrannical sentence of condemnation so commited him to the Sheriffe whose officers led him away And in Pater noster row his seruaunt méeting him lamented to whom Philpot said content thy selfe I shal do well ynough thou shalt sée me againe So the officers had maister Philpot to Newgate whom Alexander the kéeper vsed very rigorously and would not strike off his yrons vnder foure pound but put him in Limbo Whereof the Sheriffe vnderstanding caused Alexander to vse him more gently Vpon Tuesday at supper being the 17. of December he had worde from the Sheriffe to prepare himselfe for the next day he should be burned Maister Philpot answered and said I am readie God graunt me strength and a ioyfull resurrection In the morning the sherifes came about viij of the clocke and called for him and hee most ioyfully came down vnto them When he was entred into Smithfield because the way was foule two Officers tooke him vp to bear him to the stake To whom he said merily what will you make me a Pope I am content to goe vnto my Iourneyes ende on my feete But first comming to Smithfielde M. Philpot payeth his vowes in Smithfield hée there knéeled downe vpon his knées saying with a loude voice these wordes I wil pay my vowes in thée O Smithfield When he was come to the place where he should suffer he kissed the stake and said Shal I disdaine to suffer at this stake séeing my Redéemer did not refuse to suffer most vile death on the crosse for me Then méekely he said the 10. 107. and 108. Psalmes The fire being put vnto him hee yelded his soule vnto God whose trueth he had witnessed the eyghtéenth day of December He wrote many fruitfull Letters Anno. 1556. 1556 Seuen persons burned together in Smithfield To beginne the new yere withall about the xxvij of Ianuarie were burned in Smithfield these seuē persons following Thomas Whittle Priest Bartlet Green Gentleman Iohn Tudson Artificer Iohn Went Artificer Thomas Browne Elizabeth Foster wife Ioane Warren alias Lashford maide all together in one fire The Articles obiected against them were touching the seuen Sacramēts the Sacrifice of the Masse the Sea of Rome c. Thomas Whittle was apprehended by one Edmund Alabaster and caried to the Bishop of Winchester lying sick hoping to be preferred for his diligence but the Bishop repulsed him So he was had to Boner who did beate buffet him and cast him into prison D. Harpsfielde offered him a Bill to subscribe vnto consisting of generall tearmes the rather to deceiue Whittle So he subscribed but afterwarde felt such horror in his conscience that he could not be in quiet till he had gotten his bill againe T. Whittle repenteth and is condemned T. Whittles Letters and rent away his name from it So the Bishoppe condemned him after many perswasions to haue made him recant and committed him to the Secular power He wrote diuers Letters of comforte and exhortation The next day after was Bartlet Greene condemned He had béene Student in Oxford and there by hearing the lectures of Peter Martir hee came to haue knowledge of the trueth Afterward he was Student of the common lawes in the Temple The cause of his first trouble was an answere to a letter of Master Goodmans banished at that time beyonde the Seas Wherein hee wrote that Quéene Marie was not dead whereof Master Goodman desired to bee satisfied These Letters came into the Counsels handes and they would haue made treason thereof if the lawes would haue serued But after they had long deteyned him in the tower and elswhere they sent him to Bishop Boner to be ordered after their Ecclesiasticall manner Against whom Sir Iohn Bourne then Secretarie to the Quéene was a principall dooer The xvij of Nouember at two of the clock in the after noone he was presented before the Bishop of London and two other Bishops Master Deane M. Roper M. Welch Doctor Harpsfielde D. Dale Master George Mordant and Master Dee Before whom after he had shewed the cause
AN ABRIDGEMENT OF THE BOOKE OF ACTS AND MONVMENTES OF THE CHVRCH Written by that Reuerend Father Maister Iohn Fox and now abridged by Timothe Bright Doctour of Phisicke for such as either through want of leysure or abilitie haue not the vse of so necessary an history All day long are we counted as Sheepe for the slaughter Psal 44. How long Lord holy and true Apocal. Cap. 6. verse 10. Imprinted at London by I. Windet at the assignment of Master Tim Bright and are to be sold at Pauls wharf at the signe of the Crosse-keyes 1589. Cum gratia Privilegio Regia Maiestatis To the Christian Reader COnsidering the great vse and profite of that worthie worke of Actes and Monumentes written by Master Iohn Fox of blessed memorie and by reason of the largenes of the volume and great price how the most were bereaued of the benefite of so necessarie an Historie J often wished some man would take the paines to draw the same into an Abridgement that both those that are busied in affaires or not able to reach to the price of so great a booke might also haue vse of the historie with them that neither want leisure nor hability sufficient But seeing hetherto nothing done that way nor hearing of any that had it in purpose J vētured vpon the labor my self thus haue performed it for thy vse wherein J haue omitted nothing to my remembrance and as my iudgement serued me that is materiall to the historie so farre as the nature of an Abridgement would permitte As for Treatises Disputations Epistles and such like J leaue them to be read all together in the large Booke which I doe exhort thee gentle Reader the rather for my Abridgements sake to buy and vse For as the copiousnes of that notable worke hath hid the riche treasures of the same through charge of price and mens affaires So this my labour may geue thee an assay and appetite to know further whereof thou maist here take as it were the taste J assure thee in mine opinion there is not a booke vnder the Scriptures more necessarie for a Christian to be conuersant in There is no Burgesse of a Citie that hath care of his corporation but would be glad to know how in times past the world went with his Corporatiō that therby he may vnderstād the better how to be haue himselfe therein as occasion shall serue and not onely woulde desire to knowe the lawes of the same but also what examples haue any way beene geuen touching the same Euen so it becommeth much more Christians that are Citizens of the church of Christ and haue a communitie in that bodie to know not onely the lawes of this Citie which is the word of God but also what hath befallen either good or bad and euerye accident whereupon experience may arise by example and wisdome thereof to be put in vse accordingly We may read what hath befallen the worthiest Commonwealths in this world and what stormes they haue endured and all sunke vnder them This Common-wealth of the Church standeth for euer though the stormes that haue blowen vpon it haue beene more boysterous than any other state hath endured And by reason of cōtinuāce geueth great varietie of examples of Gods prouidence of his mercie of his fatherly chastizements and correction and of that holy faith which hath ministred inuincible strength of constancie patience to this heauenly state of Christes Church in the middest of all stormes of tryall And here mayst thou reade not onely what hath beene suffered of the olde Fathers of the church who haue with their bloud purchased vnto vs this freedome of the Gospell but of late times what thy father thy mother thy broher and thy friēd haue suffered for like testimonie wherby the sincerity of the Gospel standeth at this day When I say in this Abridgement thou maist reade these things J mean much more in the large volume where all such matters lie open at the full and whereto I pray thee let this my labour be as it were an introduction And if thy hability serue thee or any other disposition thereto J pray thee let not this booke withdraw thee For Abridgements in all kinde of learning haue byn vsed for such respects as J haue before mentioned besides the memorie embraceth them more readily and not to hinder great volumes Neither doo they of their own nature work such effect If slouth of some persons neglect them so are they punished therfore in wanting that belongeth vnto them to know yet through Abridgementes haue some furniture of that profitable instruction whereof otherwise they would be vtterly ignorant It is said Iustines Abridgement lost Trogus Pompeius Trogus peraduenture is lost but whether through Iustines Abridgement that hardly can be proued and had it not beene for Iustine we had lost with Trogus the history too The case is far otherwise since printing was knowen for who would lose a leafe of Liuie for any Abridgement Before it may be charge of written Copies might be some cause why the large volumes were not so vniuersall And I pray thee if the Author him self the fittest of all men being an History so meet euen for the meanest Christian especially in these times and conteyning recordes of such things as are els no where to be had had takē it in hand had it not byn thanks-woorthy Yet so had beene greater danger in decaying the booke at large in regard of the more sufficient performance of the worke than by this of mine I trust the matter needeth no An Abridgement of the first volume of the Ecclesiasticall history of Acts and Monuments of Martyrs The History is deuided into fiue partes 1 The first is of the suffering time of the Church 300. yeere after Christ 2 The growyng and florishing time of the same other 300. yeeres 3 The declining time other 300. vntill the losing of Sathan about the thousand yeere after Christ 4 The time of Antichrist which cōtinued in full swinge 400. yeeres 5 The time of reformation these later 288. yeeres IN the 17. of the raigne of Tiberius Nero Tiberius Nero. Christ Christ suffered the 34. yéere of his age Tiberius raysed no further persecutiō yet liued he seuen yéeres after the death of Christ and raigned in all 23. yéeres Him succéeded C. Caligula C. Caligula hée commaunded his Image to be set vp in the temple at Ierusalem and to be worshipped And after him succéeded C. Nero C. Nero. D. Nero. D. Nero. Claudius raigned 13. yéeres Domitius 14. In the latter end of whose raigne Peter Paule Peter and Paule were put to death for the faith of Christ Anno 69. About this time an 73. and 40. yéeres after the passiō of Christ the 3. yéere after the suffering of Peter and Paule the Iewes were destroied Titus Vespasian Iewes destroyed by Titus and Vespasian his father who succéeded Nero to the number of eleuen hundred
thousand besides a great number Vespasian slue in subduing Galile seuentéene thousands mo that were sold for slaues Stephen Stephen the Deacon was the first martyr put to death at Ierusalem and stoned by the Iewes After Stephen suffered Iames Iames. the brother of Iohn whom Herod Herod slew with the sword and with him the partie that was cause of his persecution who beyng moued in conscience as Iames went to execution confessed himselfe to be a Christian also and were both beheaded together The same day that Stephen suffered Nicanor Nicanor one of the 7. deacons with 2000. 2000. other christians suffered for the faith Simon Simon one of the deacons and afterward bishop of Bosrum in Arabia was there burned and Parmenas Parmenas also an other of the Deacons suffered for the faith Thomas Thomas who preached to the Parthians Medes Persians Germans Heraconies Bactries and Magies suffered in Calamina a citie in Iudea beyng slaine with a dart Simon Zelotes Simon Zelotes who preached in Mauritania and in the countrie of Aphrike and in Britaine was crucified Iudas Iudas brother of Iames called Thaddeus and Lebeus who preached to the Edissens and to al Mesopotamia was slaine vnder Augarus Augarus king of the Edissens in Berito Simon Simon brother to Iude and Iames the yoonger which were sonnes of Mary Cleopha and of Alpheus called Cananeus bishop of Ierusalem after Iames as Dorotheus recordeth was crucified in a citie of Egipt in the time of Traianus Traianus Emperour but as Abdias writeth he was slaine with his brother Iude by a tumult of the people of Suanir a citie of Persidis Marke the Euangelist first B. of Alexandria preached the Gospel in Egypt and there being drawn with ropes to the fire was burned and afterward buried in a place called there Bucolus vnder the reigne of Traianus the Emperor Bartholomeus Bartholomeus is said to haue preached to the Indians and to haue conuerted the Gospel of S. Mathew into their tongue where he continued a great space doing many miracles At last in Albania a citie of great Armenia after diuers persecutions he was beaten downe with staues then crucified and after being excoriate hee was at length beheaded Iohan. de monte regali Andrew Andrew the Apostle and brother of Peter was crucified at Patris a citie in Achaia by the Gouernour Egeas Egeas embracing the crosse and ioying therein the day before the Kalends of December Matthew Matthew otherwise called Leui first a publicane then an Apostle after that he had conuerted to the faith Ethiopia and all Egypt Hircanus Hircanus their king sent one to runne him through with a speare Iohan. de monte regali Matthias Matthias also after that he had preached to the Iewes was stoned and beheaded by them Philip the Apostle Philip and his daughters after he had much laboured among the barbarous nations was crucified and stoned to death in Hierapolis a citie of Phrygia where he was buried and his daughters with him Isodor Iames Iames. being required of the Iewes to disswade the people from the faith of Christ Other and that he should stand speak from the battlements of the temple that he might more conueniently be heard The Iewes he contrary to their expectation preaching Christ was throwne downe from the battlementes headlong and stoned and one being present tooke a Fullers instrument wherewith they beate cloth and smote him on the head whereof he died and was buried in that place At which time also other were put to death among the Iewes for the testimony of Christ The first Persecution THe first was stirred vp by Nero Domitius Nero Domit. the 6. Emperour about the yere 67. Whose cruelty was such against Christians that he had neither regarde of sexe condition of life or age so that open stréetes were spread with the dead carkases of Christians He caused persecution throughout al the prouinces of the Romaine empire and endeuoured vtterly to abolish the name of Christians In that persecution Peter Peter was crucified his head downward himselfe requiring it should be so as vnworthy to be in all manner executed like Christ Iesus The cause was thought to be the reuenge of the death of Simon Magus Simon Magus who pretending to the people of Rome to flée from the mount Capitolinus vp into heauē by the praier of Peter was brought headlong downe wherwith his legges ioynts being broken he died At that time also Peters wife Peters wife suffered béeing much encouraged by the words of her husband Peter whiles he hanged vpon the crosse Vnder the same Nero Paul Paul was beheaded in the 14. yéere of Nero the same day that Peter was crucified and was buried in the way of Ostia But others as Prudentius in his Peristephano writeth that they were put to death in one day but Paule a yeere after Peter The second Persecution THe Church hauing had some rest vnder Vespasian Domitian Domitian brother to Titus moued not long after the 2. persecution He put to death al the nephews of Iuda Nephewes of Iuda called the Lords brother and caused to be sought out and slain al that could be found of the stock of Dauid as Vespasian also did before him least yet he were to come of the stocke of Dauid that should enioy the kingdome In the time of this tirant Simeon Simeon Bishop of Ierusalem after other torments was crucified to death whom Iustus Iustus afterward succéeded in that bishoprick This Tyrant exiled Iohn Iohn the Apostle and Euāgelist into Pathmos an 97. And vnder Pertinax he was released and came to Ephesus anno 100. where he continued vntill the time of Traianus and there gouerned the Church in Asia where also he wrote his gospel And so liued til the yere 68. which was the yere of his age 99. Euseb Flauia Flauia daughter to Flauius Clemens one of the Roman Consuls suffered for the name of the Lord Iesus and was with many other banished out of Rome into the I le Pontia Euseb lib. 3 A remnant of the flock of Dauid as yet remayned who being brought to Domitian to be slaine and hee percyuing them to be poore and vnderstanding from them that the kingdome of Christ should not be a worldly but an heauenuenlie kingdome let them goe and staied the persecution They being dismissed had afterwarde the gouernment of Churches and so continued in peace till the time of Traianus Egesip Euseb lib. 3. cap. 20. In these persecutions no kind of torment was omitted that could be deuised against the Christians The 2. persecution and no kinde of slaunder kept back that might empaire their credite their bodies after death not being suffered to be buried and yet the Church did dayly more and more encrease Euaristus Euaristus Bishop of Rome next to Clement succéeded in the
brethren in a Citie of Spaine called Complutum Likewise Symphronissa the wife of Getulus the martyr with her seuen children Symphronissa and her seuen children is said about the same time to suffer who first was much and often beaten and scourged afterward hanged vp by the haire of the head At last hauing an huge stone fastned about her necke was cast into the riuer And after that her seuen children with sundrye and diuers kindes of punishments were martyred by the Tyrants Getulus or Getulius was a minister or teacher in the Citie of Tibur who with Cerdelis Amantius and Primitiuus by the commaundement of Adrian were condemned to the fire The names of the seuen sonnes of Symphronissa were Crescens Iulianus Nemesius Primitiuus Iustinus Stateus and Eugenius who by the commaundement of Adrian were tied to seuen stakes and so racked with a pulley and last of all thrust through Crescens in the neck Iulianus in the breast Nemesius in the heart Primitiuus about the nauell Iustinus cut in euery ioynt of his body Stateus runne through with speares Eugenius cut asunder from the brest to the lower partes and then cast into a déepe pit hauing the name by their idolatrous Priests entituled Ad septem Biothanatos After the death of whom Symphronissa the mother did likewise suffer Getulus The children of Symphorosa Crescens Iulianus Nemesius Primitiuus Iustinus Stateas Eugenius Cerdelis Amantius Primitiuus Sophia and her two children Sophia with her two children Serapia and Salma did suffer vnder some tyrant about the the yéere 130. While Hadrian the Emperour was at Athens he purposed to visite the citie of Elewsina which he did where he sacrificing to the Gentiles gods gaue frée libertie to kill the Christians whosoeuer would Wherevpon Quadratus Quadratus Bishoppe of Athens and Aristides Aristides a philosopher of Athens and another Serenus Gramus Serenus a man of great nobilitie wrote Apologies for the Christians vnto the Emperour with such eloquence and learning laying out their innocencie that he directed his letters to Minutius Fundanus Proconsul of Asia Persecution asswaged in Asia willing him from hencefoorth to exercise no more crueltie vpon the Christians nor to condemne them for that cause Thus the Christians had some quiet for a time After Hadrian succéeded Antoninus Pius Anton. Pius who although he moued no persecution against the Christians yet the tumultuous rage of the heathen did not ceasse to disquiet the people of God The Emperours affection might appeare by a letter or edict of his to the Commons of Asia to stay their rage against Christians except they had committed anie thing against the lawes of the Empire willing them to consider the Christians patience in their tormentes and boldnesse in times of Earthquakes Persecution ceasseth and tempestes when as other tremble and quake for feare This edict was proclaimed at Ephesus in the publike assemblie of all Asia So by this meanes the tempest of persecution in those dayes began to be appeased After Antoninus Pius M. Antoninus Verus M. Antoninus verus succéeded with his brother Lucius Lucius about the yéere 162. These were sharp and fierse against the Christians and after Nero moued the fourth persecution The fourth Persecution IN Antoninus Verus time suffered many Christians with diuerse kinds of torments namely at Smyrna some of thē were whipped that the inward arteries veines appeared euen their very intrailes and bowels were séene after that were set vpon sharpe shels taken out of the sea edged sharp and certain nailes thorns laid for the martirs to go vpō sharpned pointed called obelisci And lastly were they thrown to beasts to be deuoured Among whō one Germanicus Germanicus very cōstantly suffred to the admiration of the enimies But most famous aboue the rest was the martirdom of Polycarpus Polycarpus disciple to the Apostles and 86. yéeres of age who had serued in the ministery about the space of 70. yéeres and was placed of S. Iohn in Smirna whose disciple he was He suffered about the yéere of our Lord 170. and in the 7. yéere of Antoninus Verus The manner of his death and martyrdome was thus These persecutions being begun in Smyrna Polycarpus was perswaded by certaine that were about him to conuey himselfe away and to hide him in a Village not farre from the Citie which hee did and there abiding with a fewe more of his companie was night and day in supplication for the peace of the Congregation Three daies before his apprehension hee sawe in a vision by night the bed set on fire vnder him and sodainly to be consumed And when he waked he interpreted it that he should suffer martirdome by fire At the last being found by the pursuers vnderstanding that they were armed he came frō the chamber where he was entertained thē with chéerful countenaunce and made them dine and required that hée might haue one houres respite to make his prayers which being grāted him he did it in such sort as they which heard him were astonied His prayers being ended they brought him to the citie vpon an Asse on a solemne feast day there met him Irenarchus Irenarchus Herodes Herodes and his father Nicetes Nicetes which causing him to come vp into the chariot where they sat perswaded him to do sacrifice Which when he refused with rough wordes they molested him and thrust him going downe the chariot that he might hurt or breake his legs but he went merily on to the place appointed To whome there came a voice from heauen that comforted him bad him be of good chéere as he was going to the place of iudgement Whither when hee came the Proconsul disswaded him from the faith and willed him to say with him and the rest Destroy these naughty men Then Polycarpus beholding with constant countenance the whole multitude and giuing a great sigh looked vp to heauen and said Thou thou it is that wilt destroy these wicked men meaning the Lord. Then the proconsul thus being earnest with him said vnto him take thine oath and I will discharge thée Deste Christ Polycarpus answered 86. yéeres haue I béen his seruant yet in all this time hath he not so much as once hurt me how then may I speake euil of my soueraign Lord and king which hath thus preserued me Then the Proconsul vsed al maner of threatnings against him which when they could not preuaile Policarpus still denying with great constancie Philip the Gouernor of Asia was commaunded to let lose the Lion to Policarpus who made answere that he might not so doe because he had his pray alredy Then the people required with one voice that he would burn Policarpus aliue Which was perfourmed And hauing made himselfe readie to the stake they would haue nayled him thereto with Iron hoopes but he said let me alone as I am for hee that hath geuen mee strength to suffer and
the chief doers were Optimus the vnderconsul Secundianus Verianus Marcellinus c. In the time of Decius Alexander Alexander was B. of Hierusalem where he continued a very aged man about the terme of xl yeres till the 1. yere of Decius At what time being brought from Ierusalem to Cesarea he died in prison After whom succéeded Mezananes Mezananes the xxxvj Bishop of that citie after Iames the Apostle Vnder this Decius Babylas B. of Antioch who succéeded zebinus died in prison which followed after Philetus an 232. and sate xij yeres Which Philetus succéeded Asclepiades after Serapion an 214 and sate vij yeres Babilas because he resisted a certaine Emperour who had most cruelly slaine against his promis a kinges sonne whom he receiued in Hostage and woulde not suffer him to enter the tēple of the christians was by him put to death In the raigne of Constantinus afterward Gallus then made ouerseer of the East parts caused the body of Babylas to be translated into the suburbes of Antioch called Daphnes where was an oracle of Apollo which after the bringing in of the body of Babylas ceassed to giue answere alleging his body to be the cause and so it continued til the time of Iulianus who therefore caused it to be remoued away by the Christians which was no sooner departed the temple but the temple was consumed with fire This Babylas is mentioned of Chrysostom who is like to be another diuerse from him that died In Decius time Nicephorus in his fifth booke maketh mention of an other Babylas besides this that was Bishoppe of Nicomedia and suffered vnder Decius In these times in the Citie of Antioch suffered fourtie Virgins xl Virgins in the daies of Decius In Phrigia suffered one Peter Peter in the Towne of Lampsur vnder Optimus the Proconsul In Troada also other martyrs suffered whose names were Andrew Andrew Paul Paul Nichomachus Nichomach and Dionisia Dionysia a Virgin Also in Babylonia diuers Christian Confessors were founde by Decius and were ledde away into Spaine there to be executed In the Countrie of Cappadocia at the citie of Cesarea Germanus Germanus Theophilus Theophilus Cesarius Cesarius Vitalis Vitalis suffered martirdome Likewise Polichronius Polychronius Bishop of Babylon and Nestor Nestor in Pāphilia Bishop of the same place At Persida in the Towne of Cardala suffered Olimpiades Olympiades and Maximus Maximus In Tyrus Anatolia Anatolia a Virgin and Audax Audax gaue their liues for the faith In these times diuers suffered diuersly in Alexandria a whole yeare before any Proclamation by reason of a Soothsayer Soothsayers which stirred vp the people Who first flying vpon a Priest called Metra Metra apprehended him and layde vpon him with staues and clubbes and with sharpe réedes pricked his face and eyes and afterwarde in the Suburbes stoned him to death Then tooke they Quinta a faithfull woman and bound her féete and drew her through the stréetes vpon the harde stones And so dashing her against the milstones and scourging her with whips slue her in the Suburbes of the Citie This done they spoyled all the Christians who auoided the City and tooke the losse patiently Among other that were taken there was one Apollonia Apollonia an auncient Virgin whom they brought forth and dashing al her téeth out of her iawes made a great fire before the Citie threatning to cast her into the same except she would denie Christ Whereat she staying a while as one that would take a pause sodainly leapt into the middest of the fire and so was burned They also tooke one Serapion Serapion in his owne house whō hauing broken almost all the ioyntes of his bodie they cast him downe from an vpper lofte and so he died Thus raging against the Christians at last they fell at debate among themselues and so for a time the furie staied which was so great that no place could hide the Christians from the rage of the heathen Shortly after this came the Edict of the Emperour against the Christians whereupon the persecution grew in all places more grieuous thā before In so much that some reuolted voluntarilie Reuolt some by imprisonment tormēt Other continued constant to the death of whom one was Iulianus Iulianus a man diseased with the gout not able to go but was caried by two men of whom the one quickly denied the other Cronion Cronion surnamed Eunus Eunus with Iulianus the olde man were laide vpon Camels and there scourged at length cast into the fire for the testimonie of Iesus When the aforesaide were going to martirdom there was a souldier A souldier tooke parte with them and so was presentlie apprehended beheaded Likewise was one Macer Macer a Lybian burned aliue for his confessing of Christ After these suffered Epymachus Epimachus and Alexander Alexander which hauing suffered bonds torments with rasors and scourges were burned with iiij other womē Likewise Ammonarion Ammonarion a holy virgin and an aged matrone named Mercuria Mercuria with another called Dyonisia Dionysia being a mother of many faire children after many tormēts were slaine by the sword Ammonarion suffered before the rest after Heron Heron. and Isidorus Isodorus Egyptians and with them Dioscorus Dioscorus of the age of xv yeres With whom the Iudge first began and could not preuaile either by perswasions or torments The rest after grieuous torments he caused to bée burned and respited Dioscorus for his tender age being astonied at his graue answeres and constancie Nemesian Nemesian also an Egyptian was first accused to be a cōpaniō of theues but being purged thereof before the Cēturion was thē accused of christianity Wherfore being more gréeuously scourged thā the other théeues he was burned with them There were standing before the Tribunall seat certaine warriors or knights whose names were Ammon Ammon Zenon Zenon Ptolomeus Ptolomeus Ingenius Ingenius and with them a certaine aged man called Theophilus Theophilus who séeing a certain Christian fainting and fearful to confesse his faith emboldned him by signes gaue him courage Which being noted the stāders by readie to lay hands on them they preased vp of their own accord professing themselues to be Christians Wherat the Iudge and his assistants were greatly amazed and the Christians emboldened to suffer So they departed glad for the testimonie they had geuen of their faith Also one Ischrion Ischrion being oftentimes moued by his master to do sacrifice and he refusing was of him run through with a pike and slaine In these times infinite numbers wādred in wildernesses suffering hunger colde danger of wilde beastes in the number of whom was Cheremon Cheremon Bishop of a towne called Nilus an aged man who with his wife flying to the mountain of Arabia could neuer
the time of Licinius till Iohn Wickliffe was bound vp Sathan bound vp til Wicliffe Constantine deferred baptisme till his old age because he determined a iourney into Persia and thought in Iordan to haue béene baptized He entered into the Empire Anno 311. and raigned 30. yéeres as Letus saith 32. lacking two moneths Constantine borne in England Helena daughter of king Coilus Constantines mother He was borne in Brytaine His mothers name was Helena daughter of king Coilus He greatly trauelled for the peace of Christians and before hée had conquered Licinius wrote to his subiects inhabiting the East in their fauour He set also peace among the Bishops in the Church who were at dissention and made prouision for ministers and teachers of the people and caused all to be restored vnto the Christians that had béene taken from them in the persecutions Constantine a father of the Church writing to Syluius his chiefe Captaine to that end and commaunded him that in Affrica where he had to doo and where Cecilianus was bishop that Clarkes and ministers should be freed from all manner publike duties burthens He was greatly studious in taking vp causes among the bishops and wrote to that end to diuers as to Miltiades bishop of Rome to Crescēs bishop of Siracusa to Cecilianus bishop of Carthage also to Eusebius for the edifying of new Churches And after he had gathered the Nicene Councell Nicene councell for the vnitie of the Church he writeth to Alexander and Arrius to the same entent He prescribed a certaine prayer for euery one of his souldiers in stead of a brief Catechisme caused them to learne the same Constantine teacheth his souldiers a prayer which is this Wée acknowledge thée onely to be our God we confesse thée onely to be our king we call vpon thée our onely helper by thée we obtaine our victories by thée we vanquish our enemies to thée we attribute whatsoeuer commodities we presently enioy and by thée we hope for good things to come vnto thée we direct all our suits and peticions most humbly beséeching thée to kéepe Constantine our Emperour and his noble children to continew in long life and to giue them victory ouer all their enimies through Christ our Lord. Amen He graunted great immunities to the ministers that they might appeale from the ciuil iudge to their bishop Appeale granted by Constantine whose sētence was of as great value in such cases as if the Emperour himselfe had pronounced it He prouided also maintenance for liberall artes and sciences for the professors Prouision for learning their wiues and children and gaue thē great immunities He wrote also to Eusebius the B. of Nicomedia to procure 50. volumes of parchment wel boūd and cause to be written out of the scripture therein in a legeable hand The scriptures written for the vse of the church such things as were profitable for the instruction of the Church and allowed him two ministers for the businesse Finally he was a father to the Church and enforced himselfe euery way to set forth the Gospel and euery good thing and endeuoured to suppresse the contrary Constantine baptised a little before his death He was baptised at Nicomedia of Eusebius Bishoppe of Nicomedia in the 31. yéere of his raigne a little before his death The end of the ten persecutions The rest of this history concerneth chiefly the affaires of the Church of England and Scotland The rest of this history concerneth chiefly England and Scotland England receiued the Gospel in Tyberius time GIldas affirmeth that Britain receiued the Gospel in the time of Tiberius the Emperor vnder whom Christ suffred and that Ioseph of Arimathea after the dispersiō of the Iews was sent of Philip the apostle out of France into Britain ann 63. And here remained al his time and laid the foundation of the Gospel Easter kept in England after the maner of the East church The Gospel came into Enland from the Cast and not from Rome In the time of Bede almost a thousand yeeres after Christ as he testifieth Easter was kept after the manner of the East Church in the full moone what day of the wéeke soeuer it fell and not on the sunday as we doe now Wherby it may appeare that the preaching of the Gospell came into this land from the East and not from Rome About the yéere 180. King Lucius sonne of Coilus king of Britains which now are called English men hearing of the miracles done by Christians in diuers places K. Lucius the first Christian K. of England Fugatius and Damianus at that time wrote to Eleutherius B. of Rome to receiue of him the Christian faith who sent him therevpon certain preachers Fugatius or by some Faganus and Damianus or Dimianus which conuerted first the king and the people of Britain and baptized them and subuerted the temples and monuments of idolatrie And the 28 Flamines they turned to bishops and thrée Achflamines to thrée Archbishops hauing their seates in thrée head cities London Yorke and Glamorgantia by Wales This king also sent to him for the Romane lawes to frame his people therafter who answered that the lawes of God was to be his direction for lawes and not the Romanes that might be reproued the other being without exception Thus was the Christian faith confirmed in this lande by the meanes of Eleutherius Eleutherius and therein it continued two hundred and sixtéene yeres till the comming of the Pagane Saxons King Lucius raigned 77. yeres and died without issue the yere of our Lord 201. the xiiij yere after his baptisme some say the iiij and some the tenth and was buried at Glocester By reason that the king died without issue the Lande was spoyled and the Romanes inuaded and became sometimes masters When they raigned Gentilisme was aduaunced and when the Britaines the Gospell Albeit no persecution touched the Britaines that is read of Almost all Christianitie destroyed in England before the last persecution of Dioclesian and Maximinianus Herculeus At which time all Christianitie was almost in the whole land destroyed Now the Britanes being greatly distressed and brought to miserie the Archbishop of London called Gnetelinus procured helpe out of lesse Britanie and brought ouer Constantinus the kings brother by whose meanes the state of Religion and Common-wealth was in some quiet all the time of Constantine and the Archbishop till Vortiger cruellie caused his Prince to be slaine and inuaded the Crown Gnetelinus Archb. of London And fearing the other two brethren of Constantine his Prince Aurelius and Vter in litle Britaine he caused aide to be sent for to the Saxons being then Infidels and married him selfe also with Rowen an Infidel the daughter of Hengist Which Hengist depriued him and his people and droue the Britaines out of their Countrey after that the Saxons had slaine of their Nobles two hundred thrée score and eleuen some say foure
no money for baptizing of infants 10. The L praier and Creed in the English tongue That they should both learn teach the Lords prayer and the Créede in the English tongue 11. That al should ioyne together after one vniforme order in their Ministerie 12. That with a modest voyce they should sing in the Church 13. That all Holidayes should be celebrated at one time 14. That the Sabboth day be reuerently obserued 15. That the seuen houres Canonicall be euery day obserued 16. That the Rogation dayes both greater and lesser should not be omitted 17. That the feast of Saint Gregorie and Saint Augustine our Patron should be obserued 18. That the Feast of the foure times shoulde be kept 19. That Monks and Nunnes should goe regularlie apparrelled 20. That Bishops should sée these Decrées not to be neglected 21. That the Churchmen should not geue themselues to drunkennes 22. That the communion shoulde not be neglected of the Churchmen 23. That the same also should be obserued of the Lay men as time required 24. That Lay men shoulde first be wel tried before they enter into Monkerie 25. That almes be not neglected 26 That Bishops should sée these decrées notified to the people 27 They disputed also of the profite of almesse 28 Of the profite of singing Psalmes 29 That the congregation should be constitute after the habilitie of their goods 30 That Monkes should not dwell among lay men 31 That the publike prayer should be made for Kings and Princes These decrées among them concluded Cutbert Cutbert the Archbishop sendeth the copie thereof to Boniface Boniface the Pope an Englishman otherwise called Winfride an English man that was then Archbishop of Mentz This Boniface wrote a letter to Ethelbald who was present at the former Synod Boniface a great maintainer of nunnes admonishing him of his vicious life of his Nobles wantonnes euen with the Nunnes of which order this Boniface was a great setter vp maintainer afterward This Ethelbald after the departing of K. Celulph to his monkery spoiled the country of Northumberland and exercised mortall warre a great while against Cudred of some called Cutbert K. of West-saxons who encountering with Ethelbald that had the greater power by means of a certaine warriour a Consull called Edellim ouerthrew him Notwithstanding the next yéere he renewed battell was slaine of one Beornered after he had raigned 41. yéeres in Mercia where Beornered raigned after in that dition but a small time For Offa nephew to the said Ethelbald expulsed Beornered and succéeded king in that prouince of Mercia after he had raigned 39. yéeres Boniface before mētioned Religious fathers permitted to carry Nunnes about with them a preaching permitted religious fathers to carry about nunnes with them a preaching founded many monasteries canonized many Saints Among other he founded the great monastery of Fulde in Germany of English monkes into the which no women might enter but Libda Tecla Libda Tecla two English nunnes He deposed Childericus king of Fraunce by authoritie from Pope Zacharie Childerike deposed by the Pope and Pipinus the betrayer of his Maister was confirmed From this Boniface procéeded that detestable doctrine that although the Pope led with him innumerable soules into Hell A detestable doctrine of Boniface yet ought no man to rebuke him In the time of this Archbishop Pope Gregory the second Great maisteries wrought against the Greeke Emp. by Popes Philippicus the Emp. lost both his eyes and Empyre also Gregory the third and pope Zacharie and before these Pope Constantine the first wrought great maisteries against the Gréeke Emperours Philippicus and Leo and others for the maintayning of Images to be set vp in the Churches of whom Philippicus lost both his eies and his Empire Leo for the same cause was excommunicated of Gregory the third This Gregory the third is like to be he which wrote the 4. bookes of Dialogs in Gréeke falsly bearing the name of Gregory the first which bookes afterward Zacharie his successor translated into Latine Also this Gregory the third brought into the Masse Canon The clause for reliques the memoriall and offerings for the dead the clause for Reliques beginning Quorum solemnitates hodie in conspectu c. Item he brought into the same the memoriall the offering and sacrifice for the dead Like as Zacharie brought in the Priests vesture and ornaments And Constantinus the first The Priests vesture was he that gaue his féete to be kissed of the Emperour Constantinus the first gaue his feete to be kissed of the Emperour In the time of Egbert king of Northumberland Sigibert or Sigbert raigned in the West Saxonie and was for his cruelty deposed and wandering in a wood alone without comfort was slaine by the Swineherd of the earle Combranus whome hée before had slaine for giuing him counsell to gouerne his people and himselfe after a better sort This Sigebert beyng slaine in his place succéeded Kenulphus Anno 748. who with the agréement of the West-saxons was one of the chéefe doers against Sigebert his master Kenulphus reigned 31. yéeres till hée resorted to a paramour of his whō he kept at Merton where he was beset and slaine by a kinsman of Sigebert named Clito or Cliton Moreouer in the raigne of the foresaid Egbert king of Northumberland and the eight yéere of Kenulphus king of West Saxons Offa after he had slaine the tyrant Beornredus who before had slaine Ethelwald king of Mercia vncle to this foresaid Offa reigned king of that prouince Offa had such displeasure against the citizens of Canterburie that he remoued the Arthbishops sea and the lands of Lambrith Archbish of Canterbury by the agréement of Pope Adrian vnto Lichfield Lambrith to Lichfield About the later time of the raigne of Offa king of Mercia Ethelbert king of Eastangels came to sue to marrye with Offas daughter but the Quéene suspecting worse matter without cause caused him to be beheaded hauing trained him into a conuenient place by one Gnimbertus the yeere 793. but the Quéene liued not thrée moneths after and at her death was so tormented that shée bit and rent her tongue asunder with her téeth The K. giueth the tenth of his goods to the Church And Offa vnderstanding of the innocencie of this king gaue the tenth part of his owne good to holye Churche and to the Church of Hereford in remembrance of this Ethelbert he bestowed great lands Moreouer hee builded the abbey of Saint Albones c and went after to Rome to doe penance where he gaue to the Church of Saint Peter a peny through euery house in his dominion which was commonly called Romescot or Peter-pence Romescot or Peter-pence and there at length was transformed from a King to a Monke Anno 794. with Kenredus king of Northumberland although some denie that hée was a Monke After Offa when he had reigned 39. yéeres succéeded
Oskitellus hauing his sea in the Cathedrall Church there of S. Peter after he had first assaied the Canons and priests by faire meanes to become monkes and not preuailing néere to the same Church of S. Peter in the Churchyard he builded another Church of our Lady which when he had replenished with monks there he continually frequented and so the people left the other Church naked Wherevpon the priests did eyther become monks or depart from the place So did Ethelwold driue out the Canons and priests from the new monasterie in Winchester afterward called Hida and placed his monks The cause was pretēded for that they were thought slacke and negligent in their Church seruice and set in Vicars in their stéed Then the K. gaue to the same Vicars the land which belonged before to the Prebendaries who also not long after shewed them selues as negligent as the other Wherefore king Edgar by the consent of Pope Iohn voyded cléerelie the Priestes and ordeyned there Monkes Which Monkes did greatly differ and doe at this day disagrée with the auncient Monkes of olde time that were Lay men onely The new mōks differ from the olde who were lay men and were forbidden by the Councell of Chalcedon in any sorte to deale with matters of the Church and were such as by the Tyranny of Persecution were either constrained to hide themselues in solitarie places or els of their owne voluntarie deuotion withdrewe themselues from company hauing nothing proper of their owne or all things common with other Afterward Bonifacius the fourth made a decrée Anno 606. that Monkes might vse the office of preachyng of baptizing and hearing confession and assoiling them of their sinnes and in processe of time they so incroched vpon the office of ministers that at length priestes were discharged out of their cathedrall Churches and Monkes placed in their roomes King Edgar a mainteiner of learning King Edgar was a great mainteiner of religion and learning To auoid excessiue drinking by the example of the Danes which dwelt in diuerse places of the realme he ordained certaine cups with pinnes or nailes set in them adding thereto a law that what person did drinke past that mark at one draught should forfeite a certaine pennie the halfe part whereof should fall to the accuser the other to the ruler of the towne where the offence was done He was a noble Prince wise and victorious but fauoured the monkish superstition ouermuch and is reported by some to haue builded so many monasteries for them as there are Sundaies in the yéere or as Edmer reporteth 48. 48. monasteries builded by K. Edgar Notwithstanding he was much giuen to adulterie and fornication and vsed among others Egelfleda or Elfleda called the white daughter of Duke Odorere of whom he begate Edward in bastardie for the which he was enioyned by Dunstan seuen yeres penance and kept back from his Coronation so long till the one and thirtie yere of his age anno 974 although he began his Raigne at sixtéene His penance appoynted by Dunstane The K. enioyned penance by Dunstan was that he should weare on his head no crowne for the space of seuen yeares that he should fast twise in the wéeke that he should distribute the tribute left him by his ancesters liberally vnto the poore that he should build a Monasterie of Nuns at Shaftsburie Moreouer he should expell Clarkes of euill life meaning such Priestes as had wiues and children out of Churches and places couents of Monkes c. He raigned sixtéene yeeres was crowned onely thrée yeeres He adopted to succéede him Edward that was borne of the harlot Among other lawes of this king he ordained that the Sunday should be solemnized from Saturday at nine of the clocke till Munday morning The Saboth to be solemnised from Saturday nine of the clocke till Munday morning By reason of the displacing of the Priestes before there arose a great contention after Edgars death one part standing with them so that they called also the crowne in question another part fauouring Edward Great strife betwixt priests and monkes the other Egfride the lawfull sonne in which sturre Dunstan Archbishop of Canterburie and Oswald of Yorke with diuerse other Bishops Dukes and Lordes assembled a Councell where Dunstan comming with his crosse in his hand and bringing Edward with him so perswaded the Lordes that Edward was receiued king whom Dunstan hoped would become a patron of Monkery and aduaunce that estate but it fell out contrary to his expectation For shortly after the coronation Duke Alferus of Mercia droue out the Monkes from the Cathedrall Churches and restored the Priestes with their wiues In the end vpon this controuersie was holden a Councell of Bishops and other of the Clergie first at Winchester where the greater part of nobles commons iudged the Priests to haue great wrong and sought by all meanes to redresse it anno 977. Yet notwithstanding the strife ceased not in so much that a new assembly of clergy men other was appointed afterward in a place called the stréete of Calue where the Councell was kept on an vpper loft where diuerse cōplaints were made against Dunstan but he preuailed notwithstanding Not long after about the fourth yéere he was slaine with a dagger drinking on horsebacke by the procurement of the mother of Egelred whom he came to visite his brother her sonne Egelred He was buried not beyng knowne who he was at the towne of Warham thrée yéeres after was taken vp by Duke Alfere and with honor was remooued to the Minster of Shaftsbury there bestowed in the place called Edwardstow This Edward they hold for a martyr and say that the Quéene in repentance of her fact builded after two nunneries one at Amesbury by Salisbury the other at Werewell where she kept her selfe in continuall repentance all the dayes of her life Him succéeded Egelredus his brother Pope Iohn the thirtinth of whom Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury receiued his pall is noted to be monstrously vitious A monsterous vitious pope he was an whoremaster adulterous incestuous libidinous a gamester an extorcioner periured a fighter a murtherer cruell and tyrannous of his Cardinals some he put out their eies from some he cut out their tounges some their fingers some their noses c. In a generall councell before Otho the first Emperour of the Germanes these obiections were articulate against him first that he neuer said his seruice that in saying his Masse he did not communicate that he ordained Deacons in a stable that hée committed incest with two of his sisters that playing at dice he called for the Diuell to help that for mony he made boies bishops that he defloured virgins and straungers that of the palace of Laterane he made a stewes that he lay with Stephana his fathers concubine likewise with Ramera and with Anna and her néece that he put out the eies of bishop Benedict that he caused houses to
monethes died K. Edw. dieth and was buried in the Monasterie of Westminster which he had greatly augmented and repayred Diuers lawes were before in diuers Countryes of this land vsed as the Law first of Danwallo Molunicius with the lawes of Mercia called Mercinelega then the lawes of West-saxon kings as of Iue Offa Alfrede c. which was called Westsaxonilega The thirde were the lawes of Canutus and of Danes called Danelega Of al these lawes K. Edward compiled one vniuersal and common law K. Edwarde beginneth the coÌ„mon law for all the people through his land which were called King Edwards Lawes so iust and seruing the publike weale of all Estates that the people did long after rebell against their heads to haue the same lawes againe being takeÌ„ froÌ„ them but could not obteine them For though Duke William did sweare to the maintenance of them yet he forsware himselfe and abrogating them brought in much worse more obscure yet was he compelled through the clamor of the people to take some of Edwards Lawes The law at this day Duke W. contrarie to his oath ouerthroweth the lawes but omitted the most part contrarie to his oath at his coronation placing the most of his own lawes in his owne Language to serue his purpose and so they remaine to this day Harold the second sonne of Earle Godwin tooke on him through force and might to succéede Edward notwithstanding his oath to Duke William of Normandie an 1066. wherof he hearing sent Embassadors admonishing him of couenants which Harold refused to performe WhereupoÌ„ D. William prepared to inuade and sent to Rome to Pope AlexaÌ„der touching his title and voiage into England The Pope confirmeth the same and sent vnto him a Banner willing him to beare it in the shippe wherein hee him selfe should sayle So he tooke shipping at the hauen of saint Valeria and landed at Hastings in Sussex From whence he sent a monke to Harold and offered him thrée conditions Conditions of peace offered by D. Wil. to Harold 1 Either to render vnto him possession of the land and so to take it againe of him vnder tribute raigning vnder him 2 Or els to stand to the Popes arbitrement betwéen them 3 Or els to defend his quarrell in his owne person against the Duke without any further bloudshed All which conditions he refused and ioyning battayll with the Normans was shotte into the left eye with an arrowe and died after he had reigned ix moneths and so was he the last that reigned of the Saxons Which reckoning from Hengistus first reigne in Kent was the space of 591. yeres And if it be reckoned from the yeres of the West-saxons Saxons ende after 591. or 560. yeres then it endured the space of 565. yeres Now after Elfegus whom the Danes stoned at Gréenwich Liningus succéeded in the Sea of Canterburie Archb of Canterburie and after him Egelnothus then Robertus a Norman after whoÌ„ Stigandus as they say inuaded the Sea by Simonie being both Archbishop of Canterburie bishop of Winchester and Abbotte of another place Where hee continued a long space till Duke William cast him into prison there kept him placing in his roome Lanfrancus a Lombard borne About the yere of our Lord one thousand lacking one or two Siluester the second succéeded after Gregorie the fift in the Sea of Rome This Siluester was a Sorcerer and compacted with the deuill to be made Pope He sate four yeres one moneth and eight dayes Siiuester couenanteth with the deuil for the popedome He vpon a certaine time demaunded of the deuill an answere how long he should enioy the Popedome to whoÌ„ hée answered againe vntill thou say masse at Ierusalem thou shalt liue At length the fourth yere of his Popedome saying Masse in the Lent time at the temple of the holy crosse being then called Ierusalem there he knew the time was come that he must die whereupon being stroken with repentance he confessed his fault before the people desiring them to cut his bodie in péeces which he before had vowed to the deuil Siluester is deceiued by the deuil and so being heweÌ„ in péeces they would lay it on a cart and burie it there where the horses would stay of their owne accord So the horses stayed at the church of Lateran there he was buried wheras commonly by the ratling of his bones within the tombe The ratling of Syluesters bones is portended the death of Popes as the common report goeth Iohannes Stellas After Siluester succéeded Iohannes 19. by whom was brought in the feast of Alsoules The feast of Alsoules as Volaterane saith Anno 1004. Through the meanes of one Odilo abbot of Cluniake to be celebrated next to the feast of Alsaints Not long after came Iohannes 20. and Sergius the 4. after whom succéeded Benedictus the eight then Iohn 21. who beyng promoted by arte Magicke through Theophilact his Nephew Gratianus Brazutus and other sorcerors brought in first the fast of the éeuen of S. Iohn Baptist and and S. Laurence after him Benedictus the 9. by magick also who resisting the Emperour Henricus the 3. son to Conradus The Popedom solde and placing in his roome Petrus the king of Hungary with this verse Petra dedit Romam Petra dedit c Petro tibi Papa coronam after for feare of Henricus preuailing in battell hee was faine to sel his seate to his successour Gratianus called Gregorius 6. for 1500. pounds At which time were thrée Popes together in Rome one raging against another Benedictus 9. Siluester 3. Gregorius 6. Three Popes together For the which cause Henricus surnamed Niger the Emperour comming to Rome displaced these 3. monsters at one time placing for them Clemens the 2. and therevpon enacted that no Pope thencefoorth should be chosen without confirmation of the Emperour No P. without the Emperor The Romans also made an oath to the Emperor that they would not intermeddle in the election of the Bishoppes further then the Emperors assent should agree withall But within ix moneths after they forgat their oth and poysoned the B. Which fact some impute to Steuen his successor called Damasus the second some to Brazutus who as histories record wtin xiij yeres poisoned 6. popes One poysoneth sixe popes ClemeÌ„s the secoÌ„d Damasus 2 Leo 9 Victor 2 Steph. 9 Nicolaê° 2. Damasus entred neither by consent of the people nor election of the Emperor but by plain inuasioÌ„ and wtin 23. daies being poisoned An. 1049. much contention was at Rome about the papall sea so that the Romanes by consent of the Cardinals desired the Emperour to giue them a Bishop which he did one named Bruno an Almaigne and Bishop of Collen afterward named Leo the ninth who comming from the Emperour to Rome in his Pontificalibus was met of the Abbot of Cluniake and Hildebrande a monke that al to rated him because he would take his authoritie of the Emperour
William of York Hée was poysoned in his chalis Archb. poysoned in his chalice by his Chaplains In the xvi yere of the reigne of this king Theobaldus Archbishoppe of Canterburie and Legate to the Pope held a Councell at London wherein was concluded appellations from Councels to the Pope found out by Henry Bishop of Winchester In the time of King Steeuen died Gracianus a Monke of Bononia who compiled the booke called The Popes decrées also his brother Petrus Lombardus Petrus Lombardus Bishop of Paris Maister of Sentences wrote his foure bookes of Sentences These two were the greatest doers in finding out that the similitude onely of bread and wine remained in the sacramentes Some write that Petrus Comestor Petrus Comestor the writer of the Scholasticall history was the third brother In this time also liued Hildegard the Nunne and prophetisse Hildegard the nunne and prophetisse in Almaigne By this K. was builded the abbey of Feuersham where his sonne and he were buried He builded the monasterie of Finerneys and of Fomitance Much about the same time came vp the order of the Gilbertines Gilbertines by one Gilbert sonne to Iacoline a knight of Lincolnshire Theobald Priests no rulers in worldly matters the Archb. of Canterb. among other matters decréed that priests should not be rulers of worldly matters and that they should teach the Lords praier Créed in english Mattheus Parisiensis writeth how Stephen K. of England reserued to himselfe the bestowing of spiritual liuings and inuesting of prelats ann 1133. At which time also Lotharius the Emperour began to doe the like had not Bernardus giuen him contrary councel Then came into the Church the manner of cursing with booke bell and candle Booke bel and candle deuised in the Councell at London holden by William B. of Winchester vnder P. Celestinus who succéeded after Innocentius an 1142. Also Lotharius who succéeded after Innocentius an 1142. Also Lotharius succéeded in the Empire Conradus the nenew of Henricus 5. an 1138. Who onely among the Emperors is founde not to haue receaued the Crowne at the popes hand In the dayes of this Emperour who reigned fiftéene yeares were diuers Popes as Celestinus 2. Lucius 2. Eugenius 3. Betwixt P. Lucius Lucius and the Romanes was great strife for the Romanes would haue recouered their auncient libertie in choosing their consuls and Pope Lucius in the fight was well beaten and liued not long after Pope Eugenius Eugenius after him followed the same course An. 1145. and compelled them to abolish their consuls and to take such Senators as he should assigne Then followed Anastasius Anastasius the 4. And after him Adrianus the 4. an Englishman Adrianus pope an Englishmā by his name called Breake speare belonging once to S. Albons He likewise kept great stur preuailed against the Romanes for the former causes and thundered against Fredericus the Emperour Hildegardis a Nunne and as many iudged euen the papistes themselues a Prophetisse liued anno 1146. and prophecied against the whole rowte of Romish prelats and of the fal of that Church especially against the senior Friers and such other bellies of the same In a certain place she hath these wordes And now is the law neglected among the spirituall people Hildegard prophecieth against the kingdome of the Pope which neglect to teach and to doe good things The maister likewise and the Prelates doe sleepe despising iustice and laying it aside c. And in another place Then shall the crowne of Apostolicall honour be deuided because there shal be no religion among the Apostolicall order and for that cause shall they despise the dignitie of that name shall set ouer them other men and other Archbishops In so much that the Apostolike sea of that time by the diminution of his honor shall haue scarce Rome and a fewe other Countreyes thereabout vnder his dominion And these things shall come to passe partly by incursiō of warres and partly by a common Councell Iustice flourish when the Pope is ouerthrowen and consent of the Spirituall and Secular persons Then shall Iustice flourish so that in those dayes men shall honestly applie themselues to the ancient customes and discipline of auncient men and shal obserue them as men in times past haue done c. Shee prophecied also of the Friers In those dayes shall rise a senselesse people proud gréedie without faith and subtill which shall eate the sinnes of the people holding a certain order of foolish deuotion vnder the fained cloke of beggery c. But this order shall be accursed of all wise men and faithfull Christians they shall cease from all labour and giue themselues ouer to idlenesse choosing rather to liue by flattery and begging hauing familiaritie with women teaching them how to deceiue their husbandes by their flattery and deceitfull wordes and to robbe for them for they will take all these stolen euill gotten goods and say giue it vnto vs we will pray for you so that they beyng curious to hide other mens faults do vtterly forget their owne And alas they will receiue all things of rouers pickers spoilers théeues sacrilegious persons vsurers adulterers heretikes schismatikes apostataes whores and bawdes of noblemen periurers merchants false iudges souldiers tyrants princes of such as liue contrary to the law and of many peruerse and wicked men following the perswasion of the Diuell the swéetnesse of sinne a delicate and transitorie life and fulnes euen vnto eternall damnation c. Henry the 2. sonne of Ieffrey Plantagenet and of Mawd the Empresse and daughter of king Henry the first raigned after Stephen and continued 35. yéeres Within a yéere or twaine after the entry of his raigne he made Thomas Becket Thomas Becket Lord Chauncellor of England About the yéere of our Lord 1158. Gerhardus and Dulcinus Nauarrensis did earnestly preach agaynst the Church of Rome mainteyning Gerhardus against the church of Rome that prayer is not more holie in one place then in another that the Pope is Antichrist Pope Antichrist that the Clergie and Prelates of Rome were reiect and the very whore of Babilon Whore of Babilon prefigured in the Apocalips c. These two Anno one thousand one hundred and fiftie eight brought with them thirtie into England who by the king and prelates were burned in the forehead and so sent out of the realme And after as Illyricus writeth were put to death by the Pope Put to death by the Pope The Emperour Fredericus successor to Conradus marched vp to Italy to subdue there certaine rebels The Pope hearing thereof came to méet him with his Cardinals at Sutrium the Emperour seing the Bishop alighted of his horse to receyue him The Emp. holdeth the popes stirrop on the wrong side holding the stirrop on the left side whereat the Pope shewed himselfe somewhat agréeued but the next day with holding the right stirrop
and Peter Cantor a Parisian for him grounding himselfe vpon myracles which hée was reported to haue doone after his death 270. myracles done by Becket and his quarrell for the Churches sake his miracles are reported to haue béene 270. Of this Thomas the papistes sing this blasphemous Antheme or Collect in English thus A blasphemous Antheme For the blood of Thomas which he for thée did spend Graunt vs Christ to climbe where Thomas did ascend But as it appeareth by the testimony of Robert Crickladensis the Péeres and nobles of this land néere about the king gaue out in straight charge vpon paine of death None shoulde hold Becket a martyr or preach his miracle The kings penance confiscation of all their goods that no man should be so hardy as to name Thomas a martir or to preach of his miracles The king for this fact was vpon his oath inioyned this penance First that he should send so much to the holy land as should find 200. knights for the defence of the land also that from Christmas day next following he should in his owne person fight for the holy land except he were otherwise dispensed with 3. yéeres Also that he should fight against the Saracens in Spaine Item that he should not hinder any appellations made to the Pope of Rome Also that neither he nor his sonne should euer depart from the pope his successors Itē that the possessions of the church of Canterbury should bée fully restored that the outlawes for Beckets cause should be restored Also that his decrées stablished against the church should be void besides other fastings and alms c. It is mētioned also in stories of the said king that returning out of Normandy into England he came first to Canterbury and so soon as he had séene Beckets Church lighting of his horse putting off his shoes he went barefoote to his tombe Sharpe penāce whose steps were found bloody through the roughnes of the stones and not onely that but also receiued farther penance of euery monke in the cloyster certaine discipline of a rodde Ann. 1174. In which yere the minster of Canterbury was clean burnt and almost all the citie Canterbury burnt The yéere 1175 was in the Conuocation at Westminster the contention renewed about the obedience of York to Cant. Also about Lincolne Chichester Worcester Hereford whether those churches were vnder the sea of York Contention betwixt Yorke and Canterb. or not About those matters grew such contention betwixt the seas that appeale was made to the sea of Rome on the one partie and a Cardinall was sent downe to make peace betwixt them for 5. yeres til they should haue full determination of their cause and that the Archb. should abstaine from the claime to the church of S. Oswald at Glocester and molest the sea of Yorke no more therein In the yéere 1176. Richard Archb. of Canterbury made 3. archdeacons in his dioces where there was wont to bée but one About which time also it was graunted by the king to the popes legate that a Clearke shold not be called before a temporall iudge except for offence in the forrest or for his lay fée which he holdeth Item that no Archb. or Bishoprick should remaine in the kings hands No bishoprick remain longer then one yeere in the K. hand aboue one yéere without great cause The same yéere there was one at Canterbury to be elect abbot in the house of S. Austen named Albert who required the Archbishop to cōsecrate him in his owne Church which the Archb. refused requiring him to come to him rather The matter grew hot betwixt thē so that appellation was made to Alexander the pope who through pence tooke the Abbots part and inioyned the Archb. to satisfie Alberts request who picked out a time when the Abbot was about his houshold affaires absent from home not finding him departed pretēding the fault of the abbot in great disdain So the abbot disappointed filled his purse and went to Rome and had his consecration of the Pope himselfe Contention againe betwixt the Archbishops This yéere began again the contention betwixt the Archbishops for superiority at a councel at Westminster where Yorke took the right hand of the Cardinal the popes legate where about grew such a cōtention that words begate blowes and the Archb. of Canterburies part pulled York from his seat to the ground and al to teare his casule chimer and Rochet from his backe and put the legate in such feare From wordes to blowes that he ranne away The next day after Yorke appealeth to Rome This king though his dominions were greater then euer before him yet neuer put taske on his subiects nor vpon the spiritualtie any first fruits or appropriations of benefices yet his treasure after his death amounted to 900000. No taske nor first fruites pounds besides Iewels and furniture Anno 1181. The archbishop died and his goods came to the king which extended to 11000. pounds beside plate This king died after he had liued with estimatiō of great valure and wisedome in the gouernment 35. yéeres The king died Pope Alexander sat 21. yéeres or as Grisburgensis writeth 23. yéeres This pope among many other his acts had certaine Councels some in France and some at Rome in Laterane by whom it was decréed that no Archb. should receiue his pall except he should first sweare The forme of the words wherby the pope is wont to giue his pal are these To the honor of almighty God The forme of words in giuing the pall of blessed Mary the virgin and of blessed S. Peter and Paul and of our Lord pope N. and of the holy church of Rome and also of the Church of N. committed to our charge we giue to you the pall taken from from the body of S. Peter as a fulnes of the office pontificiall which you may weare within your owne church vpon certaine daies that bee expressed in the priuileges of the same church granted by the sea Apostolike The pope might weare the pall at all times Order of the pall and in all places at his pleasure It must be asked within 3. moneths without the which any might be displaced Also it must be buryed with him to whom it belonged The bishops make this oath to the Pope I M B. of N. from this houre hencefoorth will be faithfull The B. oath to the Pope and obedient to blessed S. Peter to the holy apostolike church of Rome and to my Lord N. the Pope I shall be in no Councell nor helpe either with any consent or déede where by either of them or any of them may be empaired or whereby they may be taken with any euill taking The Councell which they shal commit to me either by themselues messengers or by letters wittingly or willingly I shall vtter to none to their hinderance and damage To the mainteining of the
in one day by the P. did holde that euery day was frée for eating of flesh so it be done soberly Also that they did wickedly which restrayned Ministers from their lawfull wiues For which cause this Pope and his Bishops caused an hundred of them to be burned in one day Nauclerus reporteth that at the same time many were in the Citie of Millan of the said doctrine which vsed to sende Collects vnto the foresaid Saints of Alsatia The Rablement of Religious Orders in the Popish Church AVstinians Ambrosians two sortes 490 Antonians heremites 324 Austines heremites 498 Austines obseruants 490 Armenians sect Ammonites and Moabites Basilius order 384 Benets order 324 Bernardes order 1120 Barefooted friers 1222 Brigets order 1370 Beghart or white Spirites 1399 Brethren of Ierusalem 1103 Brethren of S. Iohn de ciuitate black friers 1220 Brethren of wilful pouertie Cluniacensis order 913 Canons of S. Augustine 7080 Charterhouse order 1086 Cistercian order 1098 Crossebearers or Crossed friers 1216 Carmelites or white friers 1212 Clares order 1225 Celestines order 1297 Camaldulensis order 950 Crostarred brethren Constantino politanish order Crosse-bearers Chapter monkes Duch order 1216 Dominick black friers 1220 Franciscans 1224 Grandmontensis order 1076 Gregorian order 594 Georges order 1407 Guilhelmites 1246 Gerundinesis order Galileans Heremites Helenes brethren Humiliati 1166 Hospitall brethren Holy Ghost order Ieroms order two sorts 1412 Iohns heremites Iustines order 1432 Iohannites or knights of the Rhodes 380 Iniesuati 1308 Ieromes heremites 1365 Iosephs order 490 Iacobites sect Iames brethrens order Iames brethren with the sword Indians order Katherin of Senes order 1455 Keyed mōks K. of the Rhodes Lazarites or Marimagdalins or our Ladies brethren 1034 Lords of Vngarie Minorires which be deuided into Conuentuales Obseruants Reformate Collectane De Capucio De Euangelio Amedes Clarini c. Minorites 1224 Maries seruants 1304 Monks of mount Oliuet 1046 Marouinies sect Monorites sect Monache Monachi Morbonei Merestei Menalaish Iasonish sect New chanons of S. Austin 1430 Nestorini Nalhart brethren New order of our Ladie Nazarei Paules heremites 345 Premonstratensis order 1119 Preachers order or black friers Peter the Apostles order 1009 Purgatorie brethren Rechabites Sarrabites Sambanites 1199 Scourgers the first sect 1266 Souldiers of Iesus Christ 1323 Scopenites or saint Saluators order 1367 Specularii or Glasse order Sepulchres order Shere order Swerds order Starrid monkes Starrid friers Sclauonie order Scourgers the second secte called Niniuites Stoole brethren Scotland brethren order Sicarii S. Sophis order Templars order 1110 Templar knights 1120 The vale of Iosaphats order Vallis Vmbrosae 1400 Waldensis sect Wentzelaus order Wilhelmes order White monkes of mount Oliuet 1406 Zelotes order IN the daies of pope Innocent the 3. began the two sects of Friers one called the Preachers order Dominicks Minorits friers or blacke friers of S. Dominicks the other called the Minorits of S. Francis The Preachers order began of one Dominicke a Spaniard about the partes of Tholouse who after he had laboured 10. yéeres in preaching against the Albingenses afterward comming vp to the Councell with Fulco B. of Tholouse desired the pope to haue his order of preaching cōfirmed which the pope a great while refused till at length thorough a dreame he dreamed he perswadeth the Pope His dreame was that Laterane Church was ready to fall he with his shoulders was faine to hold it wherevpon Dominick had his petitition granted The rule which they folow séemeth to be taken out of S. August Their profession stādeth vpō 3. special point 1. Hauing charity 2 Holding humility 3. Possessing wilful pouerty their habit clothing is blacke The minorities descend from one Francis an Italian of the citie of Assissium who hearing that Christ sent forth his disciples to preach thought to imitate the same in himselfe his disciples and so left of shoes had but one coate The perfection of the Gospel and that of a coorse cloth in stéed of a latchet to his shoe and a girdle tooke a Hempen cord and apparrelled his disciples teaching them as he said the perfection of the Gospel to apprehend pouerty and to walke in the way of holy simplicity He left in wryting to his Disciples and followers his rule which he called the Rule of the Gospell He was very seuere in outward chastising of him selfe so that in Winter he couered his bodie with I se and snowe He called pouertie his Ladie He kept nothing ouer night So desirous he was of martirdome that he went into Siria to the Souldan who receiued him honorablie for he tolde him not the trueth as Iohn Baptist did to Herod Many sectes of Franciscans The Franciscans be deuided into many Sectes some goe in tréene shooes or pattins some barefooted some regular Frāciscās or obseruāts some minors some minimi other of the gospel other de caputio About the same time sprang vp the Crooched friers Crooched friers taking their originall of Innocent the 3. who raised vp an army signed with the crosse on their brest to fight against the Albingenses whom the Pope and his sect accompted for heretiks about the part of Tholouse The Albingenses denied the Popes authoritie and his traditions they were against Images pardons purgatorie and chiefly they were abhorred of the Pope because they set vp a contrary pope against him in the coastes of Burgarorum Of these Albingenses were slaine at times and burned a great multitude by the meanes of the Pope and Simon de monte forti with other more About this season or not not much before died Pope Innocent the third in the 19. yéere of his Popedome to whose custody Fredericus the nephew of Fredericke Barbarossa being yong was committed by the empresse his mother After this Innocent succéeded Honorius 3. and after Honorius when he had gouerned ten yéeres followed Gregorius 9. which popes were in the raigne of Henry 3. About the yéere 1218. Becket 50. yeeres after his death was taken vp and shrined for a new Saint made of an olde rebel Becket shrined after his death to whose shrining came such resort of people of England and France that the countrey of Kent was not sufficient to sustaine them About the yeare 1220. the young king was the seconde time crowned againe at Westminster About which time was begun the new building of our Lady Church at Westminster By reason the Realme through king Iohn was made tributarie to the Pope the exactions vpon all estates from the Sea of Rome especiallie vpon beneficed men Incredible exactions from Rome and such as held any thing of the church were incredible so that certaine of the Nobles assented with the king to make a restraint of such rents and exactions The Pope required by Cardinall Otho of all the churches two prebends one for the bishops part one for the chapter also of the monasteries where be diuerse portions The Popes request in England one for the Abbot another for
almost to Rome and after that Vmbria and Picena yet for Christian and publicke tranquillitie sake hée sendeth vnto him his Legates to entreate a peace declaring that hée would if no other conceyued grudge were then pretended make to him an accompt voluntarily of all things that hée had doone in his life The Emp. offereth to giue accompt of his things to the Pope and that hée would and was contented to submit himselfe vnto the Church and that for this cause hée willingly offered vnto him both dutie and obseruancie and sent him Princes and Dukes of the Empyre to entreate for this peace yet was the popes insolencie such that hée would not that yéere be brought to any agréement but the next yéere after with much adoe Peace betwixt the Emp. and the pope a peace was made and concluded betwixt them by the helpe and industrie of Leopaldus of Austria and Hermannus Captaine of the Duitch souldiers and the President of Messana The Pope then absoluing the Emperour of his excommunication tooke therefore of him an hundred and twentie thousand ounces of golde 120000. ounces of gold to the Pope for the Emperours absolution and promised him the titles both of the empire and also of his kingdomes yet kept he not promise with him for besides other breaches he neither restored the customs in the land of Sicil neither yet the city Castellana Yet notwithstanding Frederike for peace sake bare the iniury and studied by liberall giftes to make the Pope his trustie frend But no meanes would serue so that he moued Henrie the Emperors sonne in his absence to rebell against his father The P. moueth the Emp. sonne to rebel against his father besides other conspiracies procured against the Emperor who returning into Italie to punish those that had rebelled with his sonne The P. admonished those that were faultie to ioyne themselues together and to furnish their Townes and Cities with garisons to send for ayde to their frendes and to prouide weapons méete for war And furthermore sendeth his Ambassador to the Emp. to whō vnder pretence of peace he sendeth out commandemēt to interdict him and his land so soone as he came within the borders of Italie yet the Emperour marcheth forth into Italie notwithstanding the Popes forbidding and brought vnder the cities that rebelled as Mantua The Emp. preuaileth for all the Popes curse Verona Ternisium Patauium and others ouerthrew the Popes confederates whereat the pope being somewhat dismaid began to feare the Emperor and now goeth about to depriue him which hée vnderstanding sendeth foure Legates vnto him that might answere and refute the crimes layd against him With which Embassadours the Pope refuseth to speake and at a day appointed pronounceth the sentence of proscription against the Emperour The pope pronounceth the sentence of proscription against the Emperour depriuing him of all his dignities honours titles prerogatiues kingdomes and the whole empire and and sollicited against him Tewepolus the Venetian who yet stood fast and faithfull to the Emperour Yet certaine princes of Germanie by the Popes meanes reuolted from the Emperour as Otho the Gouernour of Rhemes and Duke Boiora who also caused thrée other Princes and Dukes Reuolt from the Emperour to the Pope to reuolt from the Emperour to the Pope as Vuenceslaus and Belus Princes of che Hungarians and Henrie Duke of Polonia to whom also came Fredericus Austriacus his sonne These gathering a Councell when they had thought to haue translated the empire vnto the kings sonne of Denmarke desired to haue the Popes Legates to be sent from him to the effect of that election These newes being brought to the Emperor at Patauium hee purgeth himselfe of the crimes to the Christian Princes and denounceth a solemne Councell of all the princes and other Nobilitie of the Empire at Aegera to whom resorted diuers States The Church spoiled to maintaine the popes warres and Nobles The pope on the other side soliciting against the Emperor all that hee might so that some had tithes geuen them to fight against the Emperor other Glebe-lands and benefices other the spoyle of such Colledges and Monasteries as tooke not part with the Pope And to some other were geuen Colledges and Monasteries themselues yea there were certaine of the popes owne birdes that had their ecclesiasticall tithes taken from them and other some had the rentes and reuenewes of their Colleges pluckt away by force The Emp. preuaileth to the maintenaunce of the popes quarrell against the Emperour But the Emperour preuayled and came to Viterbium which draue the Pope into a feare least he would also come to Rome wherefore he caused a supplicatiō to be drawne pourtraying about the same the heads of Peter and Paule Euerlasting life promised to such as wold fight against the Emperor and with a sharpe and cōtumelious Oration he much defaced the Emperour promising them euerlasting life and giuing the badge of the crosse to as many as would arme themselues and fight against the Emperour as against the most wicked enemy of God and his church yet the Emperour by Gods blessing preuailed and subdued the popes confederates Now while this stir was betwixt the Emperour and the pope Ochodarius the Emperour of the Tartarians sonne with a great power inuaded the borders next adioyning vnto him there wan Ropolanum Rodolium Mūdanum with diuerse other cities townes killing man woman child and destroyed all Hungarie made great spoile in both the Pannonias Mesiarum Bulgaria Seruia When Belus the king of Hungarie had gotten to Pola a citie of Histria vnto Otho duke of Dalmatia hée sent his Legates to Fredericke the Emperour promising if that he would send him aid to expell the Tartars Hungarie should euer after bée vnder the iurisdiction of the Empire The Emperour was in respect of the common cause of Christians The pope hindereth the defence of christendome very willing to satisfie his request but the pope with his confederats hindered the same as he signified to the king of Hungarie by his letters Notwithstanding he sent Conradus Caesar king of Bohemia and other Princes more of Germanie to withstand the enemy as much as lay in them to doo But the great armie and number of souldiers that ware the crosse by the Popes assignement differed their iourney agaynst the Tartarians and had commaundement giuen them by Albertus the Popes procurator to abide at home till they should be called for in battle to fight against the Emperour and notwithstanding this spoile and hauocke of Polonia Bohemia and Hungaria by the Tartarians it was determined that at Libussa the Princes confederate should be assembled about the deposing of the Emperour and creating an other the league with him and the French king by the popes means The Emp. wasteth about Rome either was vtterly infringed or else in variable suspence Wherefore Fredericke now seing no other remedie prosecuteth his warre to
the vttermost and wasteth all the countrie about Rome The pope dieth for anger wherewith the Pope was so dismaide that beyng in dispaire to obtaine his purpose hée died for very anger and thought This Gregory brought into the Church much horrible impietie blasphemy wickednes among others brought in that most detestable Canticle Salue Regina brought into the Church Salue Regina in which hée attributeth the honour and worshippe onely due to Iesus Christ vnto the virgin his mother This is hée in whose name the booke of the Decretals The decretals was set out a sinke of folly and impietie Pope Celestine Pope dieth After this Gregory was placed Celestine borne in Mediolanum among the Castellians who as Blondus declared by fained promises offered a league with Fredericke and the 18. day after he was created he died Now Fredericke thinking himselfe void of feare lenieth an army against the Tartarians An army against the Tartarians for the reliefe of the Christians who hearing of the comming of the Emperour returned another way by the riuer Danubius to Tanricia and so through the fennes of Meotida and by the riuer Tanaum into Sarmatia Asiatica After Celestine the cardinals made choyse of Simbaldus a Genouais for pope whom they called Innocentius the 4. Innocentius 4. which election Fredericke was well pleased with as hée signified by letters and Legates gratulatorie to the pope The legats of Frederick with the furtherance of Baldronius Emperour of Constantinople laboured very diligently for conclusion of promised peace but all in vaine for while the Emperours legats attended for answer of peace Ramerus the Cardinall went secretly and tooke Viterbium which was on the Emperours part The Emperour notwithstanding there séemed no hope of peace doubted not but if he might himselfe speake with the Pope he vpon reasonable conditions should well inough accord with him wherefore he desired him by his legats to appoint a place where the Emperour might speake with him The Emperour seeketh peace The Pope will none The Pope séemed to be content therewith but on a sudden went to Lyons and called a councell and with a lowd voice sommoneth Frederick and appointing him a day commaunded him there personally to appeare to pleade his cause The Emperour agréed but required conuenient time to trauaile thether The pope would not so much as graunt 3. dayes but being both iudge and accuser Pope iudge accuser condemneth him before he could come thether without proofe of any crime or his cause suffered to be pleaded But Gods iudgement failed him not for the writers of the annals accord that when Frederick the Emperour and Conradus his sonne were dead and the pope gaping for the inheritance of Naples and Sicil and thinking by force to subdue the same coming to Naples with a great armie of men there was heard manifestly in the Popes court a voice pronouncing these wordes Thou wretch come to receiue thy iudgemēt A voice heard Thou wretch come and receiue thy iudgement And the next day the pope was found dead all blacke and blew as though he had bin beaten with battes When the Emperour had vnderstanding of this cruell sentence he signified the iniurie to all Christian Princes by his letters and prouided euery way to withstand the P. and his confederats and after diuers aduenturs variablenes of thinges The Emp. dieth hee came into a certaine castle of his in Apulia called Florentinum where hee fell sicke of an ague and died Hauing had purpose as Pandolphus Colonuthius writeth of some maruellous exploite great attempt Frederike died willingly and gladly in the yéere 1240. the 13. day of December the 57. yéere of his age and 37. of his raigne and was buried at Panorium The pope counted him an enemie of the Church and so both Innocentius the fourth pronounced him and the same sentence haue other Popes registred in their 6. Booke of decretals and established the same for a law that he ought to bee taken for no lesse In the Countrey of Sueuia about the time of Frederike the second anno 1240. or néere about the same were manie preachers Preachers bold against Pope which preached fréely against the Pope preached that he was an heretike and that his bishops Prelats were Simoniakes and heretikes and that the inferiour priestes had no authoritie to binde and loose but were seducers and that such cities and countries as were then vnder the popes curse might notwithstanding lawfully resort to the receiuing of the sacrament as wel as before Item that Friers Dominick Franciscan did subuert the church with their preaching c. And not long after these rose vp Arnoldus de noua villa Arnoldus de noua villa was condemned a Spaniard a man famously learned a great writer ann 1250. whom the pope condemned amōg heretikes for holding and writing against the corrupt errors of the popish church His teaching was that christiā people are led by the pope into hel Item that cloisterers are voyd of charitie and denyed that masses are not to be celebrated that they ought not to do sacrifice for the dead c. And as this Arnoldus was condemned so likewise the same time Iohannes Seneca Iohannes Seneca appealeth from the pope to a Councell the glosewriter of the popes decrées and prouost of Halberster was excommunicated and depriued of of his prouostship for resisting Pope Clement the fourth gathering certaine exactions in Germanie and therefore hée appealed from the Pope to a generall Councell and had manie great fauourers on his side till at last both the Pope and he died After this folowed Guilielmus de sancto amore G. de sancto amore against the Pope a Master of Paris and a chiefe Ruler then of that Vniuersitie Al testimonies of Scripture that make against Antichrist he applyeth them against the cleargie of Prelates and against the popes spiritualtie The same Guilielmus is thought to be the author of the Booke which is attributed to the Schoole of Paris and intituled De periculis ecclesiae De periculis Ecclesiae where he proueth by thirtie and nine arguments that friers be false Apostles 39. arguments that Friers be false Apostles Hee was by Antichrist and his rablement condemned for an heretike exiled and his bookes burned In the dayes of this Guilielmus there was a most detestable and blasphemous booke set foorth by the Friers mētioned also in Matthias Parisiensis which they called Euangelium aeternum Spiritus sancti Euangelium aeternum spiritus sancti the euerlasting Gospell or the Gospell of the holie Ghost In which booke many abhominable errors of the Papistes were conteyned so that the Gospel of Iesus Christ was vtterly defaced Which sayde booke was not to be compared to this euerlasting Gospel no more then the shell was to be compared to the kernel The shell to the kernell or the darkenesse to light c.
called Peter de Cugnerijs P. de Cugneriis being one of the kinges Councell rose vp and spake on the kings behalfe taking for his Theame Render vnto Caesar that which is his and vnto God that which is Gods which he prosecuted very effectuallie and deliuered a bil of 64. articles wherin the Spiritualty vsurped vpon the temporaltie and gaue the Prelates time to deliberate 64. Articles against the spiritualtie which was til the Friday next ensuing On which day the B. Edwine and Archb. of S. Senon elect in the name of the whole Clergie answered for them all before the King and endeuoured to proue that a person ecclesiasticall might haue temporall iurisdiction by the example of Melchizedech who was k of Salem Priest c. And in the conclusion of his replie said because a byl of many articles was exhibited parte whereof did infringe the whole Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction to the defence wherof wée wil stand vnto the death said he some other of them contain onelie certayne abuses which we beléeue none such to be but if there be we will sée redresse therein to the quietnesse of the people and praise of almightie God The next Friday following the Bishop of Eduen taking the Psalme 89. Lord thou art our refuge extolled the kings person sitting with his Barons and Counsellers about him and prosecuted an answere to the Lord Peter of Cugners oration and proued both swordes to belong vnto the Pope and answered particularlie the Articles aboue mentioned The next Friday after this the Prelates assembled againe at Vicenas before the king to heare their answere where the Lord Peter of Cugner beyng Prolocutor for the king tooke for his Theame I am peace vnto you doo not feare wherevpon he signified that they should haue no feare nor be troubled for any thing that there had béene spoken for that the entent of the King was to kéepe the rites of the Church and Prelates which they had by law and by good and reasonable custome but yet proued that the knowledge of ciuill causes belonged not to them Knowledge of ciuill causes belongeth not to the clergy which notwithstanding he said the K. was ready to heare the informatiō of thē that would instruct him of any custome and those customes which were good reasonable he would obserue which answere liked not the B. Edwin but he replied again in the prelates defence and in cōclusion beséeched the K. that it would please him to giue them a more comfortable answere that they might not depart from his presence all pensiue and sad whereby occasion might be giuen to the Laitie to impugne the rites and liberties of the Church It was answered againe that the kings intent was not to impugne the customes of the Church The Sunday followyng at Vicenas they had answere and assurance from the King that they should suffer no damage in his tyme yea and that hée would defend their rightes and customes because it should not bée sayd that hée would giue examples to others to impugne the Church and that if the Bishoppes and Prelates would sée reformation of those things that were to be amended Reformation to be doone whereabout he would take respite betwéene this and Christmasse next following his grace would innouate nothing and if in the foresayd space they would not reforme that which was amisse his Maiestie would appoynt such order as should be acceptable to God and his subiects After this the Prelates and Cleargie had leaue of the King to depart and went home This Parlement of the French is to be referred to the yéere 1329. Anno 1307. King Edward marching toward Scotland died after whom succéeded his sonne Edward the second The K. dieth About the yéere 1310. or the next following came in first the Crooched friers Crooched friers and also began first the Knights of the order of Iohn Baptist called otherwise the Knights of the Rhodes Knights of the Rhodes for that they by manly knighthood put the Turks out of the Rhodes 54. Templars burned at Paris This yéere the French K. caused to be burned 54. Templars at Paris with the great Maister of the order and by his procurement Pope Clement the fifth who succéeded Benedict called a Councell at Vienna where the whole order and sect of Templars beyng condemned was shortly after by the consent of all Christian kings deposed all in one day The Tēplars put downe vniuersally The cause why those vngodly Tēplars were put downe was so abhominable and filthy that it is not with modestie to be named After the deposing of the Templars the King of France thought to make his sonne king of Ierusalem and to conuert to him all the landes of the Templars but Pope Clement would not thereto agrée transferring all their landes to the order of the Hospitallers The Pope selleth the Templars landes for a great summe of mony giuen for the same In the same Councell it was also decréed by Pope Clement that all religious orders exempted should be subiect vnder the common lawes as other were but the Cistercian Monkes with mony and great giftes redéemed their priuiledges and exemptions of the Pope and so had them graunted Cistercian monks exēpt Rob. Auesb. But the Franciscans sped vnhappily with their suite of which Franciscans when certaine had offered vnto the Pope Clement foure thousand Florens of gold beside other siluer that the Pope would dispence with them to haue landes and possessions against their rule the Pope asked them where that mony was and they answered in the marchauntes handes The Pope absolued the marchauntes of their bondes and commaunded all that money to bée imployed to his vse declaring vnto the Friers that hée woulde not infringe the rule of Saint Francis The pope conseneth the Frāciscan Friers lately canonized neyther ought hee to doe it for anie money Thus the Friers lost their money and their indulgence Ex eodem Sabellicus writeth that Clement the fift excommunicated the Venetians The Venetiās cursed of the popa for ayding and preferring of Aroda vnto the estate of Ferrarie and wrote his letters throughout all Europe condemning them as enemies of the church and giuing their goodes as a lawfull pray vnto all men which caused them to sustayne great harme So that Fancis Dandulus a noble man of Venice beeing Embassadour A monstrous tyrannie was fayne so to humble himselfe before this proude tyrannicall Prelate that hée suffered a chayne of yron to bee tyed about his necke and to lye downe flat before his table and so to catch the bones and fragmentes that fell as if he had béene a dogge til the Popes fury was toward them asswaged About this time Rob. Winchelsey Archb. of Canterbury whom the kings father had banished before was released and returned home from Rome Great disturbance rose betwixt the king and the nobles who hauing their power lying about Dunstable sent message vnto the king at
London to haue their former acts confirmed at which time came two Cardinalles from Rome with letters sent vnto the nobles from the pope The nobles answered to the message of the Cardinals that as touching themselues they should be at all times welcome vnto them but as for their letters forasmuch as they were men vnlettered and onely brought vp in feats of warre therfore cared they not for séeing the same neither would they speak with the Legates concerning their busines Yet at the last through the mediation of the Archb and the Earle of Glocester the matter was taken vp betwixt the King and the Nobles Anno 1313 Robert Winchelsey died in whose roome Robert Cobham was elected by the King and Church of Canterbury but the Pope did frustrate that election and placed Walter Renald Walter Renald Bishop of Worcester About this time died Pope Clement the 5. Clement 5. dieth who kéeping in Fraunce neuer came to the sea of Rome after whose death the Papacie stood voide two yeares Papacie voide two yeares After Clement succéeded pope Iohn the 22. who sent two Legates from Rome vnder pretence to set agréement betwixt the king of EnglaÌ„d and the Scots they for their charges and expeÌ„ces required of euery spiritual person iiii d. in euery mark Iohn 22. Pope maketh profite of the variance of princes but all in vaine For the legates as they were in the North partes about Derlington with their whole familie and traine were robbed spoiled of their horses treasure apparel and whatsoeuer else they had and so with an euil fauoured handling retired backe againe to Duresme where they staied a while waiting for an answere from the Scots But when neither the popes legacie neither his curse would take any place with the Scots they returned againe to London where they first excommunicated and cursed as blacke as soote all those arrogant and presumptuous robbers of Northumberland Secondly for supplying of the losses receiued they exacted of the clergie to be giuen vnto them 8. pence in euery marke But the Clergie thereunto would not agrée séeing it was their owne couetousnes as they said that made them venture farther then they néeded viii d. in euery marke only they were contented to relieue them after 4. pence in the marke further they would not graunt And so they departed to the popes court againe Michael house founded in Cambridge In the time of this king the Colledge in Cambridge called Michaell house was founded by Sir Henry Stanton knight About the same time also was Nicholaus de Lyra Nicholaus de lyra which wrote the ordinarie glosse of the Bible also Guilielmus Occham Guilielmus Occham a worthie deuine of a right sincere iudgement as the times then would eyther giue or suffer Among others which the King did trouble and take reuenge of for the rebellion of the Barons was one Adam Adam Bishoppe of Hereford who beyng appeached of treason with other more was at length arrested in the Parlement to appeare and answere to that should be layd against him To which the Bishop answered I an humble minister and member of the Church of God and Bishop consecrate albeit vnworthy can not neyther ought to answere to these so high matters without the authoritie of the Archbishop of Canterbury my direct iudge and next vnder the high Bishoppe of Rome whose suffragane also I am and the consent likewise of other my fellow Bishops After which woordes the Archbishop and other Bishops made humble sute for him to the King But when the King would not be woon nor turned with any supplication the Bishops together with the Archbishops and Clergie comming with their crosses tooke him away chalenging him for the church without any further answere making charging moreouer vnder the censures of the church and excommunication none to presume to lay any further handes vpon him The king commanded notwithstanding to procéede in iudgement and the iurie of twelue men to goe vpon the inquisition of his cause who finding and pronouncing the bishop to be guiltie the king caused immediatlie all his goods and possessions to be confiscate to himselfe Moreouer made his plate and all his houshold stuffe to be throwen out of his house into the streete But yet he remayned still vnder the protection of the Archbishop This Archb. was called W. Winchelsey after whom succéeded S. Mepham Anno one thousand thrée hundred Simon M. and twentie seuen R. Auesb. After P. Clement v. by whose decease the Romane Sea stood vacant two yéeres and thrée moneths Next was elected pope Iohn 22. Clement 5. a Cistercian Monke who sat in the papacie 18. yéeres a man so stout inflexible and giuen much to heaping vp of riches A great heresie that he proclaimed them Heretikes that taught that Christ his Apostles had no possessions of their owne in the world At this time was Emperour Ludouicus Bauarus Ludouicus Bauarus Emperour a worthy man who with this Pope and other that followed him had no lesse contention then had Fredericus before Contention betwixt the pope Emp. 24. yeeres in somuch that this contention continued 24. yéeres The cause thereof rose of the constitution of Clement 5. predecessor to this Pope by whom it was ordeined that Emperours elected by the Germanine princes might be called kings of the Romanes but might not enioy the title and right of the empire without their confirmation giuen by the pope Wherfore this Emperour because he vsed the imperiall dignitie in Italie before he was authorized by the P he excommunicated him and notwithstaÌ„ding the Emperour did oftentimes offer vp himself to make intreatie of peace Pope hath full power to create and depose Emperors at his pleasure yet the inflexible pope would not bend mainteining that he had full power to create and depose kings and Emperours at his pleasure In the same time were diuers learned men who did greatly disallow the B. of Romes doings among whoÌ„ was Guilielmus Occham whose Tractations were afterwarde condemned by the Pope for writing against the Temporal iurisdiction of their Sea and another named Marsilinê° Patauinus Marsilius Patauinus who wrote the booke called Defensor pacis Defensor pacis giuen vp to the handes of the Emperor wherein the controuersie of the Popes vsurped iurisdiction in thinges Temporall is largely disputed the vsurping authoritie of the same sea set foorth to the vttermost At length when the Emperor after much suite at Auinion could not obteine his Coronation CoÌ„ming to Rome he was there receaued with great honor where he with his wife were both crowned by the ful consent of all the Lords and Cardinals there and another Pope there set vp called Nicholas the fifte After which things Pope Nicholas v. the Pope not long after died at Auinion in France whome succéeded Benedictus the twelft Benedict xii a Monke of Benedictus order and reigned vij yeres Who by
Towneshippe was condemned in sixe score thousand pound The Towne of Bury fined at 120000. poūd to be paide for damages of the house Iohn Berton Alderman with two and thirtie Priestes thirtéene women and one hundreth thirtie and eight others of the same Towne were outlawed of whom certaine confederated priuilie in the night burst to the Abbot of Chemington The Abbat of Cheuington and tooke him and secretelie conueyed him ouer Sea to Dist in Brabant where they kept him in great penurie and miserie till at length being knowen where he was hee was brought home with procession and restored to his house againe Nich. Trimet Flor. hist After Edward the 2. succéeded his sonne Edward 3. K. Edward 3. about the age of 15. and raigned 50. yéeres An. 1344. The clergy of England graunted to the king a tenth for thrée yéeres for the which the king againe in recompence graunted vnto them his charter A charter from the king to the clergy contayning these priuiledges That no Archbishop or Bishop should be arraigned before his iustices Siue ad sectam suam siue partis If the said clarke doo submit and claime his clergie professing himselfe to be a member of the holy Church who so doing shall not bée bound to come to his answere before the Iustices and if it shall be layd vnto them to haue married two wiues or to haue married a widow the Iustices shall haue no power to procéede against them to inquire for the matter so that the cause shall bée reserued to the spirituall court c. About this age as before God raysed vp learned men who layd open the abuses of the Church as Gregorius Arminensis Gregorius Arminensis according to Trithemius who dissented from the Papistes and Sophisters as wée doo in doctrine of Fréewill counting the Papistes and Sophisters in that point worse then the Pelagians Taulerus Taulerus a preacher of Germany in Argentine taught anno 1350. against mens merites and inuocation of Saints and was an enemy to all superstition to whom may be added Franciscus Petrarcha Franciscus Petrarcha of the same age who calleth Rome the whore of Babilon the mother of errour the Temple of Heresie c. and higher in the yéere one thousand thrée hundred and fortie Iohannes de rupe Scissa Iohannes de rupe Scissa was cast in pryson for rebuking the Spiritualtie of their great enormities hée called the Church of Rome the whore of Babylon Rome the whore of Babilon and the Pope the minister of Antichrist and the Cardinals false Prophetes beyng in pryson hée wrote a booke of prophestes touching the affliction that honge ouer the heades of the Spiritualtie calling his Booke Vade mecum in tribulatione Vade mecum in tribulatione About the yéere 1340. in the citie of Herbipone was one named Maister Conradus Hager M. Conradus Hager who is recorded to haue maintained and taught the space of foure and twentie yéeres the Masse to be no manner of Sacrifice for which his doctrine hée was taken and inclosed in pryson Not long after this about the yéere 1350. Gerhardus Rhiddor Gerhardus Rhiddor wrot against the Monkes and Friers a booke intituled Lachrima Ecclesiae Lachryma Ecclesiae About the yéere 1322. liued Michaell Cesenas Michael Cefenas principall of the Grayfriers and Petrus de Corbana of whom writeth Antonius in quarta parte summae and saith they were condemned in the extrauagant of Pope Iohn with one Iohannes de Poliaco Iohannes de Poliaco Their opinions were that Peter was no more the head of the Church then the other Apostles that the Pope hath no authoritie to depose Emperours that Priests are equall in authoritie Michaell wrote against the pryde tyrannie and primacie of the Pope accusing him to be Antichrist and the Church of Rome the whore of Babylon drunken with the bloud of Saints Rome Babylon drunken with the blood of the Saints c. For this cause hée was depriued of his dignitie and condemned of the Pope hée left behind him many followers of whom a great parte were slayne by the pope some were burned as Iohannes de Castilion Iohannes de Castilion and Franciscus de Alcatara Franciscus de Alcatara In extrauag Iohannis 23. With the foresaid Michaell was also condemned Iohannes de Poliaco whose assertions were that euery Pastor in his owne Church ought to suffice to heare confession that pastors and bishops had their authoritie immediatly from Christ and his Apostles and not from the Pope c. After Simon Mepham Archbishop of Canterburie who liued not long succéeded Iohn Stretford after whome came Iohn Offord and liued but ten moneths in whose roome succéeded Thomas and raigned but one yéere Anno 1350. and after him succéeded Simō Iselip Simon Iselip which was made by Pope Clement 6. who sat seuentéene yéeres and builded Canterbury Colledge in Oxforde Canterbury Colledge in Oxford which Simon Iselip succéeded the Bishoppe of Ely named Simon Langham who within two yéeres was made Cardinall In whose steade Pope Vrban the 5. ordeyned William Witlesey Bishop of Worcester to be archbishop of Canterbury ann 1366. In which yéere William Bishoppe of Winchester The new Colledge in Oxford founded the new Colledge in Oxford In the order of Popes next vnto Clement the sixt ann 1353. succéeded pope Innocent the sixt In the first yéere of which Pope two Friers Minors or Franciscans P. Innocent 6. were put to death at Auinion for certaine opinions that séemed to the Pope and his Cardinals erroneous whose names were one Iohannes Rochetailada or Hayabalus who béeyng a Frier minorite beganne first in time of Pope Clement the sixt Anno 1345. to preach that the Church of Rome was the whore of Babylon Rome the whore of Babylon and the Pope with his Cardinalles to be very Antichrist c. In the meane time of his accusation it happened that a certaine priest comming before the Pope cast the Popes bull downe before his féete saying Loe heere take the Bull vnto you for it doeth me no good at all I haue laboured nowe these thrée yéeres with it and yet cannot get my right The pope hearing this caused the poore Priest to bée scourged and imprisoned with the Frier Of Fryer Rachetailada Froyssard maketh mention in his first volume chap. 211. and sayth that Pope Innocent the sixt helde him in prison in the Castle of Baignour for shewing that manie thinges shoulde fall on the Prelates of the Churche for greate superfluitie and pride then vsed amongest them About the same time happened a contention betwéene the Frenche Prelates and the Friers of Paris Contention betwixt the French prelates and the Friers because they preached and hearde Confessions and after much adoo in fine the matter comming vnto open disputation it was concluded by maister Giles one of the Augustine Friers that after his iudgement the Prelates were more on the
or learning his name was Richard Fitzrafe Richard Fitzrafe he was brought vp in the vniuersitie of Oxford vnder Iohn Badenthorp Iohn Badenthorp who was a great enemy to begging Friers whose steps also the scholer following began to doo the like and being called vp to London made seuen or eight Sermons wherein hée propounded nine Conclusions against the Friers 9. Conclusions against the Friers for the which hée was by the Friers cited vp before Pope Innocent the sixt before whom he valiantly defended himselfe and continued constant therein vntill his dying day his sufferings and deliuerances were maruellous great The controuersie for the Friers helde very long in the church they had of popes some mainteiners A long controuersie of the Friers Their fauourers some aduersaries Mainteiners Honorius 3. Gregory 9 Alexander 4. Clemens 4. Boniface 8. Clemens 5. Against them Innocētius 3. Innocentius 4. Martinus 4 Benedictus 11. The learned men that disputed against the Friers Their assistants were these which either were condemned by the Popes or caused to recant Guilielmus de sancto amore Bernardus super capitulum Omnis vtriusque sexus Godfridus de fontibus Henricus de Gandauo Guilielmus de Landuno Iohannes Monachus Cardini Iohannes de Poliaco who was caused by the Pope to recant at Paris Armachanus who wrote a Booke Defensorium Curatotorum Defensorium Curatorum and for his defense of Curates against the Fryers hée was banished besides other vexations seuen or eight yéeres and died in the same banished at Auinion of whose death a certaine Cardinall hearing openly protested that the same day a mighty piller of Christes Church was fallen Against this Armachanus Armachanus a mighty pillar of Gods church wrote diuers Friers After the death of Pope Innocent was Pope Vrban 5. who by the fathers side was an Englishman he mainteyned and kindled greate warres in Italie sending Egidius his Cardinall and Legate and after him Ardiminus a Burgundian his Legate and Abbot with a great puisance and much money against sundry cities in Italie by whose meanes Cities and townes which before had broken from the pope were oppressed Also Bernabes Galeaceus princes of Millaine vanquished by whose example others béeing feared submitted themselues to the church of Rome How Rome commeth by her patrimony and thus came that wicked Church by her great possessions which her patrones would néedes father vpon Constantine the godly Emperour In the time of this Pope and in the second yéere of his raigne about the beginning of the yéere 1364. vppon the euen of the natiuitie of the Lord the fourth Sunday of Aduent one Nicholaus Orem Nicholaus Orem preached a Sermon before the Pope and his Cardinalles in which he rebuked the Prelats priestes of his time and threatneth their destruction not to be far off by certain signes taken from their corrupt life c. His Text was out of the sixe and fifty of Esaie My sauing health is neere at hand to come and my righteousnes to be reuealed Iesuits begin In the fift yéere of Pope Vrban began first the order of Iesuites Vnto this time which was about the yeare 1367. the offices here in England as the L. Chancelour L. Treasurer and of the priuy seale were wont to be in the handes of the Cleargy Offices remoued from the Cleargie to the Laity but about this yéere through the motion of the Lordes in the Parlement and partly for hatred of the Cleargie all those offices were remooued to the Lords temporall The P. remoueth from France to Rome againe After the death of Vrban succéeded Gregorie the eleuēth who among his other actes first reduced agayne the papacie out of Fraunce vnto Rome which had nowe beene from thence the space of seuentie yeres being therto mooued as Sabellicus recordeth by a Bishoppe who being blamed by the Pope for long absence from his charge answered and why are you so long absent from the place where your Church doth lye Wherevpon the pope sought all meanes after that to remoue his Court out of Fraunce into Rome This Pope Gregorie 9 in a certaine Bull of his sent to the Archb. of Prage maketh mention of one named Melitzing a Bohemian Melitzing a Bohemian and saith in the same that he should teach Anno 1366. that Antichrist was alreadie come and that the same Melitzing had certayne congregations following him and in the same congregations certaine harlots who being conuerted frō their wickednes were brought to a godly life which harlots hee vsed to prefer before al the holie religious virgins wherefore he commaunded the Archb. to excommunicate and persecute the said Melitzing which hée did and also imprisoned him King Edward the third holding a Parlement in the third yéere of this Pope sent his Embassadours to him desiring him that hée from thencefoorth would abstaine from his reseruations of benefices vsed in the court of England and that spirituall men within this Realme promoted vnto Bishoprickes might fréely enioy their elections within the Realme and be confirmed by their Metropolitane according to the auncient custome of the land whereto the Pope sent an answere but when it is not recorded sauing that the yeare following Anno 1374. there was a tractation at Bruges vppon certaine of the said articles betwixt the King and the Pope which did hang two yéeres in suspence so at the length it was thus agréed betwixt them that the Pope should no more vse these reseruations of Benefices in Englande The P. should no more vse reseruations of benefices in England and likewise the King shoulde no more giue Benefices vppon the Writte Quare impedit c. But nothing was touched concerning the fréedomes of elections confirmed by the Metropolitanes As touching these reseruations prouisions and collations with the elections of Archbishops Bishops beneficed men c. wherewith the Pope vexed the lande the king in the fiue and twentie yere of his reigne enacted according to the Statute made in the thirtie yeare of the reigne of his Grandfather king Edward the first against the like pillage and rauening but not put in practise reuiued it and inlarged the same adding moreouer thereunto other straight and sharpe penalties against such as offended in any parte of the same And in the Parlements holden the 27. and 28. yeares of his reigne it was decreed that whosoeuer for any cause of controuersie in law either Spirituall or Temporall whether they were personall or reall Premunire to make appeale to Rome for any cause should appeale or consent to any appeale to be made to the sea of Rome should incur the daunger of a Premunire About this time beyng the yéere of our Lord 1370. liued holy Brigit whom the Church of Rome hath not onely canonized for a Saint Holy Brigit a great rebuker of the popish clergy but also for a prophetesse yet in her bookes of Reuelations she was a great rebuker
Popes letters 18. hereticall opinions against Wickliffe that were held for erroneous were about 18. as first none hath power but Christ to ordaine that Peter and all his ofspring should politikely rule ouer the world for euer 2. God cannot giue to any man for him and his heires any ciuill dominion for euer All writings of men as touching perpetuall inheritance are impossible 4. Euery man being in grace iustifying hath right ouer all the good thinges of God 5. A man cannot but onely ministratoriously giue any temporall or continuall gift either to his naturall sonne or to his sonne by adoption 6. The temporall Lordes may lawfully take away the riches from the church when they do offend habitualiter 7. The Pope cannot any way make able or disable any man 8. A man cannot take hurt by excommunication except he be principally excommunicate by him selfe 6 No man ought but in Gods cause to procéed to any ecclesiastical censure 10. An excommunication doth onely binde when it is against the aduersary of Gods law 11. Ther is no power giuen to excommunicate any subiect for denying any temporalites 12. The Disciples of Christ haue no power to exact by any ciuill authoritie temporalities by censures 13. It is not possible by reason of the absolute power of God that any can bind or lose the people or whatsoeuer christian he be 14. The vicar of Christ doth onely binde and loose when he worketh conformably by the ordinaunce of Christ 15. any priest duly ordained hath power to minister the sacramentes and consequently absolue any man confessing his faultes being penitent for the same 16. Agréeth with the 6. 17. Whosoeuer haue endued any church with temporalities it is lawful for them to take them away by way of medicine for to auoide sinne notwithstanding any excommunication c. For as much as they are not giuen but vnder a condition 18. The Bishoppe of Rome or any Ecclesiasticall minister may lawfully bée rebuked of his subiects and for the profite of the Church bée accused eyther of the Cleargy or of the Laitie These letters made the Bishops maruellous bolde and bragge but God by a small occasion did lightly ouerthrow their deuises for the day of examination being come a certaine personage of the Princes Court of no great noble byrth named Lewis Clifford entring in among the Bishoppes commanded them that they should not procéede in any definitiue sentence against Iohn Wickliffe By which wordes they were amazed and durst not procéede and thus escaped Wickliffe the second time Wickliffe escapeth the second time and was by them cléerely dismissed with a certaine declaration made of his articles and protestation that hée woulde while hée liued mainteyne the lawe of Christ and if through ignoraunce c. Iohn Wickliffe was greately supported by the Londoners Wickliffe greatly supported by the Londoners by whose meanes hée escaped the handes of the Bishoppes the second time and procéeded publishing and preaching the trueth whom also it greatly helped because in the same yéere or the next following Gregorie the Pope dyed Pope Gregory dieth After whom ensued such schisme betwixt two Popes that it continued in the Church nine and thirty yéeres till the time of the councell of Constance A schisme betwixt 2. Popes 39. yeere the occasion of which schisme was through the pride of Vrban the sixt From whome about the same cause of his Cardinalles the most part and other Princes shronke and set vp another French Pope against him named Clement Clement who raigned eleuen yéeres and after him Benedictus 13. Benedict 13 that raigned sixe and twentie yéeres Again of the contrary side after Vrbanus 6. succéeded Boniface 9. Innocentius 8. Gregorius 12. Boniface 9. Innocent 8. Gregory 12. Alexander 5. Iohn 13. in this order Vrban 6. eleuen yéeres and eight moneths Boniface 9.14 yéeres 9. moneths Popes and Antipopes Antipopes Clement 11. yéers Benedictus the 13. 26. yéeres Pope Innocentius the 8. two yéeres Gregorius the 12. two yéeres 7. moneths Alexander 5. 11. moneths Iohannes 13. fiue yeres tenne moneths In which miserable schisme fell out many horrible tragedies as sheding of bloud imprisonment of priests Crueltie among the clergie during the Schisme murthering of Otho Duke of Brunswike Prince of Tarentū Ioan Quéene of Ierusalem and Sicilia his wife strangled in prison racking of Cardinals on gibets to death the beheading of fiue Cardinals together after long torments the slaughter of fiftie thousand slaine in battaile on both sides with a number of other cruelties practised among them which Theodorick Niem who was present at P. Vrbanus death doeth most largely discourse About thrée yeres after there fell a dissention betwéene the nobilitie and commons of the land in which tumult the rude people tooke and beheaded Simon Sudburie S. Sudburie beheaded by the rude people Archb. of Canterburie In whose place succéeded William Courtney who was very diligent in rooting out Heretikes notwithstanding in the meane season Wickliffes parte increased priuilie and dayly grew to great force vntill the time that William Barton Vicechancellor of the Vniuersitie of Oxford about the yere 1380. had the whole rule of that Vniuersitie who calling together eight Monastical Doctors with foure other and the rest of his affinitie W. Barton Vicechanceler of Oxford enemie to Wickliff putting the common seale of the Vniuersitie to a certaine writing set foorth an Edict declaring vnto euery man and threatning them vnder gréeuous penalty that no man should be so hardie hereafter as to associate themselues with any of Wickliffes sauourers and vnto Wickliffe himselfe he threateneth the greatest excommunication and further imprisonment and to all his fautors vnlesse that they after thrée dayes canonicall admonition did repent and amend Which thing when Wickliffe vnderstoode forsaking the Pope and all his Cleargie he thought to appeale vnto the Kinges Maiestie But the Duke of Lancaster forbad him that and counselled him to submitte himself to the censure and iudgement of his Ordinarie whereto he granted and made such qualifying of his assertions that he did mitigate the rigour of his enemies Wickliffe mittigateth his enemies The next yeare after 1382. by the commaundement of William Archb. of Canterbury there was a cōuocation holden at London where Iohn Wickliffe was commaunded to be present but whether he appeared personally or not it is not in stories certainly recorded In which councell Wickliffes articles were some of them condemned for heretical and other for erronious The articles condemned for hereticall are these Articles of Wickl condemned 1 There is no transubstantiation after the wordes of conconsecration 2. The accidentes remaine not without the substaunce after the wordes 3. Christ is not corporally present in the Sacrament 4. If a B. or Priest be in deadly sinne he can not order consecrate or baptize which article seemeth to be falsly taken 5 A man truly penitent needeth not outwardly to be confessed 6. Christ did not
ordeine the Masse 7. If the Pope be an euil man hee hath no power ouer faithfull Christians except it be giuen him from the Emperour 8 Since the time of Vrban 6. there is none to be receiued for Pope but to liue after the manner of the Greeks 9. That church goods may be taken from the Clergie if they so deserue The erronius opinions were these 10 That no prelate ought to excōmunicate any man except he knew him first to be excmōunicated of God 11 That he which doth so excommunicate is therby himself excommunicated or an heretick 12 That any person excōmunicating him that hath appealed to the king or counsel is thereby himselfe a traitor 13 That they that for feare leaue the hearing or preaching of the word of God are therefore already excommunicated and in the day of iudgement shall be counted as traitors to God 14 That it is lawfull for any Deacon or Prieste to Preache without licence of the Pope or Popishe Clergie 15. That so long as a man is in deadly sinne he is neither Bishop or prelate in the church of God which article séemeth to be hardly gathered of them 16. That all the temporall Lordes may take away temporall goods from the churchmen if they so deserue 17. That tenths are pure almesse Tenths are pure almesse 18. That all speciall prayers applied to any priuate or particular person by any religious man or Prelate doth no more profite the same person then generall or vniuersall prayers doo profite others which be in like state with them 19. That whosoeuer entereth into any priuate religion is thereby made the more vnapt to kéepe the commaundements of God 20. That holy men which haue instituted priuate religions haue grieuously offended 21. That religious men in their pryuate religions are not of the Christian religion 22. That Friers ought to liue by their labour 23. That whosoeuer giueth almesse fo Friers is in daunger of cursse Now when the Archbishop Suffraganes and Prelates c. were assembled at the Grayfriers in London vpon saint Dunstons day after dinner about two of the clocke and should go about their busines a terrible earthquake A terrible earthquake fell thorough all England The Archbishop endeuored by all means to abolish Wickliffe and his doctrine and to that effect wrote both to the Bishop of London to the commissary of Oxford and also sollicited the king against the same Vpon Wickliffes conclusions were examined Nicholas Herford Phillip Repington and Iohn Ashton bachelers of diuinitie who at length with somwhat adoo confessed Wickliffes articles to be heretical or erronious after a sort some of them being taken in some sense construed which kind of answere because it pleased not the prelats they were appointed to be examined againe of certaine speciall points where their answere was not direct and full before In the examination of Iohn Ashton the archb required that he would answere in the Latine tongue because of the Lay people that stood about him but Ashton refused so to do and answered in his mother tongue and so behaued himselfe that the Archbishop called him hereticke and erronious Persecution and at the same time the archbishop being desirous as he pretēded to be informed by Thomas Hilman bacheler of diuinitie there being present somewhat fauouring Iohn Ashton what his iudgement was touching the said conclusions assigned vnto him also a deliberation to appeare with Nicholas Herford Phillip Repingdon at which time Thomas appeared and pronounced the articles all hereticall or erronious Nicholas and Phillip for not appéering were excommunicated for contumacie Against which excommunication the parties excōmunicated exhibited an appeale vnto the B. of Rome which appeale the archb vtterly reiected sent a letter to M. Rigge cōmissary of Oxford to make diligent search for Nicholas Herford Phillip Repington to apprehend them to send them vp personally to appéere at a certaine day prescribed for the same and sollicited the King to ioyne his sword to assist him whereto he also yéelded and directeth his letters to that effect both to the Archb. and to the Vicechancellor of Oxford which was anno 1382. The vicechancellor the same time was Robert Rigges the proctors Iohn Huntman and Walter Dish who then as far as they durst fauoured the cause of Iohn Wickliffe that side in so much that the same time yéere 1382. when certaine sermons publike should be customably appointed at the feast of the Ascension and of Corpus Christi to be preached in the cloister of S. Frisewide now called Christ church before the people by the Vicechancellor the Proctors the doing thereof was committed to Phillip Repington The fauourers of Wickliffe appointed to preach Nicholas Herford so that Nicholas should preach on the Ascēsion day Repington on the Corpus Christi day In which sermon on Corpus Christi day Phillip preached among other matters that the Pope and Bishops ought not to be recommended aboue temporall Lords and that in all moral matters he would defende Wickliffe as a true Catholike Doctor And finally his sermon concluded hee dismissed the people with this sentence saying I will in the speculatiue doctrine as pertaining to the matter of the Sacrament of the altar kéepe silence till such time as GOD otherwise shall instruct and illuminate the heartes of the Cleargy Against this Philip Peter Stokes a Carmelite Stokes an enimy to Wickliff was a great aduersarie And a while after the Vicechauncelor and Brightwell went vp to London to purge themselues and their adherentes of the accusations of this Frier and béeing examined vppon the articles of Iohn Wickliffe they did consent that they were woorthely condemned and so were with somewhat adoe discharged and commaunded séeke out the fauourers of Iohn Wickliffe whereof Nicholas Herford and Philip Repington hauing priuy warning by the Vicechauncellour conueyed themselues away and fledde to the Duke of Lancaster Duke of Lancaster forsaked the scholers of Wickliffe who yet forsooke them for feare or somewhat else not expressed So soone as they were fledde the Archbishoppe directeth letters to the Vicechancellour and to the Bishop of London named Robert Braisbrocke to excommunicate them and to lay for them both in Oxford and in London that they might bée apprehended This was the fourtéenth of Iuly Anno 1382 after which Repington in the same yéere the thrée and twētieth of October was reconciled to the Archb. and so was Iohn Ashton About the 23. of September the same yéere Repington reconciled and so Aishton the king called a parlement for a subsidy and the Archbishops and Prelats a Conuocation in the monastery of Saint Friswide in Oxford where in the third day of the assembly in the presence of the prelates Philip Repington Repington abiureth otherwise called of the brethren afterward Rampington abiured his former conclusions and the doctrine of Wickliffe immediatly after was brought in Iohn Aishton who refused to answere and
but hée giueth full remission of all manner of sinnes whatsoeuer to all them that would bestow any thing to the Monastery of S. Bartholmew by Smithfield resorting to the said Church any of these daies following On maundy thursday goodfriday the feast of the Annunciation from the first ensuing to the latter But within the same yéere hée died and after him succéeded Iohn 23. Pope Iohn 23. In the time of Alexander great trouble grew in Bohemia by reason of the bookes of Iohn Wickliffe which were embraced of diuerse but specially of Iohn Husse Iohn Husse by whose means the people began to grow to great knowledge wherof complaint was made to Alexander 5. that caused by by Iohn Husse to be cited vp to Rome when he came not directed his letters to the archb Swinco charging him to forbid that way condemne such as he should apprehend for heretikes except they would recant Against which Bull Husse obiected many things shewed how it stood against the word of God An appeale to the same better aduised and therefore saith he from this mandate of pope Alexander I doo appeale to the said Alexander being better aduised And so as he was prosecuting his appeale immediatly Alexander died Then Swinco when he saw that Iohn Husse contemned the bull and had no hope in Vinceslaus the king of redresse he wēt to complaine to Sigismund king of Hungary and brother to Vinceslaus with whom after hée had spoken immediatly he died for sorrow By reason of whose death the Gospell tooke roote among the Bohemians Pope Iohn 23. bendeth all his power against the Bohemiās which held not long for Iohn the 23. bent all his might against the Bohemians About the yéere 1412. Thomas Arūdell brought into England the tolling of Auies in honor of our lady with certaine Auies to bee saide The tolling o Auies and daies of pardon to bee giuen for the same and for the ratifying hereof he directeth his mandate to the B. of London He graunted to euery one that shoulde say the Lords praier and salutation of the Angel fiue times at the morning peale with a deuout mind totiens quotiens 40. daies of pardon for saying Auies how oft soeuer 40. daies of pardon This Archb. was so proud that because the bels of London did not ring at his comming to the citie Bels steeple organs suspended by a proud Bishop he suspended both belles stéeple and organs til the ministers of such churches might attaine to the benefite of grace and mercie For this cause of ringing belles debate also fel betwéene the B. of Worcester and Pryor of the towne insomuch that the Archb. was saine to take vp the matter betwixt them such was the pompe and pride of Prelates in those daies Not vnlike was the dealing of William Courtney Predecessour to Arundell who because certaine poore men did not bring litter for his horse in cartes but in sackes did call and cite them before him sitting in his tribunal seate Pro littera A contention pro littera for litter that is for litter after his owne Latine and after their submission enioyned them penance that they going leisurely before procession Penance for bringing litter in sacks not in Carts euery one of them should carry openly his sacke or bagge stuffed with hay and straw so that the hay and straw might appeare hanging out of the mouths of the sacks being open the names of the poore men were Hugh Pennie Iohn Forestall Iohn Boy Iohn Wanderton William Hayward and Iohn White tenaunts to the Lorde of Wingham In this kings time diuers actes were established against the authoritie of the Pope and excesse of his Cleargy In the first yéere it was obiected against Richard 2. that he procured letters Apostolicall from the Pope to confirme certaine statutes of his which seemed to the Parlement to tend to the disgrace of the crowne and dignity and against the liberties of the land In the 2. yéere it was required in the Parlement that all such persons as should be arrested by force of the statute made against the Lollards in the 2. yeere of king Henry the the fourth may bée bayled and fréely make their purgation In the eight yéere it was propounded that none shoulde sue to the Church of Rome for anie Benefice collation or presentation of the same vnder paine of the statute of Prouisoes made in the 13. yéere of Richard the 2. whereunto the king graunted Item in the same parlement it was put vp in petition that the King might enioy halfe of the profites of anye Parsons benefice not resident thereon wherevnto the king answered that Ordinaries shoulde doe their dueties therein or els he woulde prouide further remedy or staye their pluralities The 9. yéere of the kings raigne the commons required the king that none presented be receiued by any ordinarie to haue any benefice of any incumbent for any cause of priuation or inhabitation wherof the processe is not foūded vpon Citation made within the realme and also that such incumbents may remaine in all their benefices vntil it be proued by due inquest in the court of the K that the citations whervpon such priuations inhabitations are granted were made within the realme if such ordinaries do or haue presented or others doe present to the contrary that thē they and their procurators c. incurre the pain conteined in the statute made against prouisoes ann 13. Richard 2. Also that no Popes collectour shoulde from thenceforth leuie any money within the realme for first fruits of any ecclesiastical dignitie vnder paine of incurring the statute of prouisoes A bill in Parlement to take the temporalties from the Cleargy Besides in the same parlement the commons of the land put vp a bill vnto the king to take the temporalties out of the spiritual mens hand The effect of the bill was that the temporalties disorderly wasted by men of the Church might suffice to finde the king fiftéene Earles fiftéene hundred knights sixe thousand two hundred Squires and an hundred houses of almes more then were in those dayes in the land And ouer all these charges the K. might put yerelie in his Cofers 20000. l. Prouided that euery Earle should haue of yerelie rent 3000. markes euery knight 100 markes and foure Plow land euery Squire 40. markes by the yere with two plow land and euery almes house with ouersight of two true Seculars to euerie house and also with prouision that euerie Township should kéepe al poore people Towne-dwellers which might not labor for their liuing with condition that if mo fell in a towne than it was able to mainteine the said almes houses to reléeue such townes And to beare these charges they alledged by their bill that the Temporalties being in the possession of Spiritual men amounted to thrée hundred and two and twentie thousande markes by the yere whereof they affirmed to be in the sea
vpon Vigill dayes Who after their purgation made escaped more easilie away Whose names followe here subscribed Robert Skirring of Harlestone William Skirring Iohn Terry of Ersham Iohn Aibre of Ersham Iohn Middleton of Haluergate Iohn Warde of Ersham Richard Clark of Sething Thomas VVhite of Bedingham Master Robert Beert of Berrie and Richard Page of Clepslie The other were more cruellie handled and some of them burned among whome speciall mention is made of these 3. Father Abraham Father Abraham William White priest I. Wad priest burned of Colchester VVilliam VVhite Priest and Iohn VVaddon Priest The residue abiured and suffered penance as Iohn Beuerley I. VVardon Io. Middleton Iohn Baker I. Knight Margerie Baxter Iohn Skillie Iohn Godhold Tomas Albeck Iohn Pierce Nicholas Canon of Ey Thomas Pie Iohn Mendham Io. Middleton Thomas Chatris Thomas VVade VVilliam Taylour Iohn Capper Vicar of Tunstall with thrée score and two other The articles which they held were these Against auricular confession That there remayneth bread and wine after the wordes of consecration and that no priest can make the bodie of Christ That euery true Christian is a Priest to God Articles That no man is bound to Lent or any dayes prohibited by the Church of Rome That the pope is Antichrist That necessitie vrging it is lawfull to doe bodilie labour on holie-daies That Priestes may marrie That Ecclesiasticall censures of the Prelates are not to be regarded Against swearing in priuate causes Against Pilgrimage Against honouring of Images Against holy water That the death of Becket was neither holy nor meritorious That Relikes ought not to be worshipped That prayers in all places are acceptable vnto God That no Saint is to bée prayed vnto That Bel-ringing was ordeyned to fill Priestes purses That it is no sinne to withstand the Ecclesiasticall processes That the Catholike Church is only the congregation of Gods elect In these articles they all agréed and it séemeth Williā White scholler to Wickliffe they had the doctrine from William White who was scholer and follower of Iohn Wickliffe This William White gaue ouer his priesthood benefice and tooke vnto him a godly woman to his wife named Ione yet ceassed not he from his dutie of teaching but preached continually wrote and instructed the people at Canterbury Before time he had recanted these points That men should séeke for the forgiuenes of sinnes onely at Gods hands That the wicked liuing of the pope and his holy ones is a diuelish and heauy yooke of Antichrist That men ought not to worship images nor holy men after they be dead That the Romish church is the fig trée which Christ accursed That such as weare coules or be annointed or shorne are the launceknights of Lucifer c. Which articles he abiured An. 1424. before Henry Chichesly at Canterb. but now being stronger in the truth endured to the end was condemned of 30. White burned in Norwich articles was burned at Norwich in the moneth of September 1428. hauing labored diligently before in teaching the people of Norfolke He was a man very godly deuout in somuch that all the people had him in great reuerence were woont to desire him to pray for them When he was come vnto the stake thinking to open his mouth to speake vnto the people to exhort and cōfirme them in the truth one of the Bishops seruāts stroke him on the mouth Crueltie thereby to force him to kéepe silence and so there patiently he ended his course being made a witnes of Christ Iesus His wife Ione followed her husbands footesteps and confirmed many in the truth and therefore suffered much trouble punishment at the Bishops handes the same yéere About the same time also suffered by burning father Abraham of Colchester and Iohn Waddon priest for the like articles Iohn Beuerly alias Batild was enioyned that the Friday and Saturday next after his dismission he should fast bread and water and vppon the Saturday to be whipped from the Palace of Norwich goyng round about by the Tomlands and by S. Michaels Church by Cottell Row and about the market hauing in his hand a waxe candle of two pence to offer to the Image of the Trinitie after hée had doone his penance c. and this doone hée should depart out of the Dioces and neuer come there any more Besides the same yéere diuerse did penaunce and abiured and the yéere following 1429. diuerse did the like penance to the number of 16. or 17. An. 1430. R. Houedon Rich. Houedō a woolwinder citizen of Lōdon was burnt at the Towrehill for the doctrine of Wickliffe Anno 1431. Thomas Bagley Thom. Bagley a Priest vicar of Monenden beside Malden beyng a valiant disciple of Wickliffe was condemned of Heresie by the Bishops at London about the midst of Lent was disgraded and burned in Smithfield The same yéere also Paule Craw Paule Crawe a Bohemian was takē at S. Andrewes by the Bishop Henry deliuered ouer to the secular power to be burnt for holding against the faith of Rome touching the sacrament of the Lords supper worshipping of Saints auricular confession with other of Wickliffes opinions Tho. Rhedon at Rome An. 1436. Th. Rhedon a Frenchman and a Carmelite frier was burned at Rome for these articles which notwithstanding they gathered falsly against him That the church lacketh reformation and that it shall be punished and reformed Articles That Infidels Iewes Turkes and Mores shall be cōuerted vnto Christ in the later daies That abominations are vsed at Rome That the vniust excommunication of the Pope is not to be feared Eugenius at this time was Pope Eugenius Pope and succéeded Pope Martin a litle before After sundry torments he was condemned for an heretike and was burned He was accused by William of Roan cardinall of S. Martins in the mount vicechancellor of the court of Rome About the same time Persecution about Germany diuers other suffered in the places about Germany as Henry Grunfelder priest of Ratispone ann 1420. Henry Rodgeber priest in the same citie anno 1423. Ioh. Draendorf a priest of noble birth at Wormes ann 1424. Peter Thraw at Spire ann 1426. Mathew Hager also suffered at Berline in Germany not long after Ex Basilei Centur. sept After the death of pope Martine who reigned 14. yéeres succéeded Eugenius the fourth about the yeere 1431. He began first to celebrate the Councel at Basill Eugenius beginneth the Councel at Basill which Councel Martine had before intended In the 39. session of the councel of Constance it was decréed prouided Order for the times of general councels concerning the orders and times of such general councels as shold after folow The first that shold next ensue to be kept the 5. yere after the councel of Cōstance The 2. 7. yeres after that so orderly al other to folow successiuely frō x. yere to x. yere Wherfore according to this
condemned and burned for the trueth at Tower hil so that since the time of Richard the 2. Iohn Goose martyr there was no king hitherto in whose raigne some godly man or other had not suffered the paines of fire for the testimonie of Christ This godlie man being entertained in the Sherifes house before he wēt to execution desired some meate and eating he said to those about him I eat now a good and competent dinner for I shall passe a little sharpe shower before I go to supper And hauing dined he gaue thanks and requested that he might shortly be led to the place where he should yelde his spirit to God Ex Polychro Anno 1437. died Sigismund the Emperor in Morania after whom succéeded Albert D. of Austrich who in the second yere of his reigne died After whom succéeded Fredericus 3. Duke of Austria an 1440. After Fred. vnto whome the Germanes complayned in vain of the oppressions of the P. succéeded his sonne Maximiliā An. 1476. the B of Herbipolis condemned and burned for an heretike one Iohn a neat-heard I. a neat-heard because he held that the life of the clergie was abhominable before God Ex Munst An. 1479. one Ioh. de Wesalia was forced to reuoke these articles being greatly hated by the Thomistes I. de Wesalia recanteth That men he saued fréelie thorough méere grace by faith in Christ That frée will is nothing That only the word of God is to be beléeued and not the glosse of any man or fathers That the word of God is to be expounded by comparing weying one place with another That Prelates haue no power geuen them to expound Scriptures by any peculiar right more than another That mens traditions as fastings pardons feasts c. are to be reiected That extreme vnctiō cōfirmatiō are to be reiected That confessiō with satisfaction is to be reprehended That the primacie of the P. is vaine c. He was complained of by the Thomistes who were reals and greatly hated the nominals vnto Diethrus Nominais Reals archb of Mentz His articles being examined by the Diuines of Heydelberge and Colen were condemned and he compelled to recant Ex Ost Grat. An. 1484. died P. Sixtus the fourth a very monster of nature of whom writeth Platina that vniustlie he vexed all Italie with warre and dissention Agrippa wryting of him saith that among all the Baudes of these other later dayes which were buylders of Brothelhouses this Sixtus 4. surmounted all other who at Rome erected Stewes of double abhomination not only of women but also c. Whereupon no small gaine redounded to his cofers for euery such common harlotte in Rome paid to him a Iulie péece Reuenes of the Pope from the stewes of Rome the sum wherof grew in the yere somewhile to 20000 at length to 40000. duckets He was a man rather borne to war then to religion as saith Carion for he warred against Vitelius Tiphernates against the Florentines Venetiās whom he excommunicated and absolued not till he died Also against Colonienses against Ferdinandus K. of Apulia and Duke of Calabria also against other nations and princes Ex Ioh. Laziardo This Sixtus was a speciall Patrone of begging Friers Begging friers granting them to enioy reuenewes in this world and in the world to come euerlasting life Among which Friers there was one named Alanus de Rupe Alanus de Rupe a black frier which made the Rosarie of our Ladies Psalter The Rosarie of our Ladies Psalter and erected a new fraternitie vpon the same called Fraternitas Coronariorum Fraternitas coronariorum pertayning to the order of the Dominikes of which order Iacobus Sprenger one of the condemners of Iohannes de Wesalia was a great aduauncer and especially this Sixtus the fourth who gaue vnto the saide Fraternitie large Priuiledges Concerning the institution of this Rosarie there was a booke set forth about the yere 1480. In the beginning whereof it is declared The institution of the Rosarie that the blessed virgin entered into the Cell of Alanus and was so familiar with him that she did there espouse him for her husbande and kissed him with her heauenly mouth opened vnto him her Pappes and poured great plentie of her owne milke into his mouth For the confirmation whereof the saide Alanus did sweare déepelie cursing himselfe if it were not thus as he had made relation This booke being in Latine printed beareth this title Rosareae Augustissimae Christiferae Mariae Corona And in the front it sheweth the name of Iodocus Bisselenis a noble man of Aquine After that this pope Sixtus had vnderstanding that Hercules Estensis duke of Ferraria had ioined peace with Venetians against his will he was so gréeued thereat Sixtus dieth for anger Platina a shamefull flatterer of the Popes that for rancor of mind within fiue daies after he died About which time also died Platina a shameful flatterer and bearer with the wicked liues of the Popes Anno 1483. Edward 4. died after he had raigned two and twentie yéeres whom succéeded Edward 5. who with his brother Richard was slaine by one Iames Tyrell Iohn Dighton and Miles Forest Richard 3. the vsurper by the suborning of Richard the third vsurper who proclaimed himselfe King Anno 1483. in the moneth of Iune the sixt of Iuly was crowned Richard raigned but two yéeres and two moneths being ouerthrowne of Henry 7. who succéeded him an 1485. Henry 7. king and raigned 23. yéeres and eight moneths Anno 1494. died Frederike who had raigned 53. yéeres after whom succéeded Maximilian his sonne who raigned seuen yéeres wit his father Frederike This Maximilian set vp the vniuersitie of Wittemberg Maximilian the founder of the vniuersitie of Wittēberg and was excellently well learned himselfe was the cause why diuerse gaue themselues to learning namely to searching out of Histories whereto the Emperor was giuen himselfe wrote diligently in the Latine toonge his owne acts as did Iulius Caesar The men who florished by his meanes were Cuspinianus Nauclerus Cōradus Pentingerus Learned men flourished in Maximilianus time Mātius others In that age also excelled Baptista mantuanus Angel Politianus Hermolaus Barbarus Picus Mirandula and Franciscus his cosin Rodulphus Agricola Pontanus Philippus Beroaldus Marsilius Ficinus Volaterranus Georgius Valla with infinite other Amongst whom also is to be numbred Veselus Groningensis otherwise named Basilius who was not long after Iohn de Wesalia both much about one time and both great fréends together This Veselus died anno 1490. he was so notable and so worthy a man that of the people he was called Lux mundi Veselus a learned man called Lux Mundi the light of the world he did disallow the popish doctrine of confession and satisfaction in the matter of repentance likewise he did disproue both at Rome and at Paris purgatorie supererogation of workes and pardons and Popes Indulgences hée disalowed
1527. deuers persons were compeleld to abiure for denying to worship the Crucifix for transubstantiation holy daies pilgrimages Abiuration adoration of images speaking against the immoderate riches of Churchmen the reading of English bookes for denying a priest to haue two benefices c. Ann. 1511. the 18. of October William Sweeting Iohn Banister who before had recanted receiuing farther strēgth from God William Sweeting and Iohn Banister martyrs were burned in Smithfield for the testimony of the trueth which was concerning the reall presence Ann. 1517. one Ioh. Brown who had born a fagot before in the daies of K. Henry 7. was burned at Ashford for the profession of the truth Iohn Browne martyr condemned by Archb. Warrham first hauing had his féet burned to the bones by Warrham Fisher bishops to compell him to deny the trueth Ann. 1514. one Richard Hunn merchant tailor in the city of London was priuily made away and hanged in the Lollards tower Rich. Hunn for the trueth and after his death to make him more odious they picked certaine articles against him out of the preface of his English Bible This was done by one Doct. Hedd The 20. of Decemb. the dead corps of Richard Hunn was burned in Smithfield first hauing condēned it of heresy after they had hanged him in prison secretly is bodie was burned 16. daies after his murdering But the matter hauing bin fully examined by the councel iudges and iustices of the realme it was found by good proofe and sufficient euidence that D. Horsey the Chancelor D. Horsey the Chancelor Charles Ioseph the Summer and Iohn Spalding the hel-ringer had committed the murther But by the suited of the Bishop of London vnto the Carinall Woolsey at the gaole deliuery the next Sessions the kings attourney pronoūced the iudgement against Horsey to be fales and him not to be guilty of the murther An. 1518. the 24. of September Iohn Stilman who had before recanted 11. yéeres past was apprehended brought before Richard Fitz-Iames B. of London and the 25. Iohn Stilman burned of October was condemned for a relapse and burned in Smithfield Doctor Hedd vicar generall reading the sentence It was obiected that he spake against pilgrimages that he vsed to read bookes of Wickliffe at his wicket c. That he called the Pope Antichrist c. and that the inferiour were the synagogue of Sathan c. The same yéere the 29. of March Thomas Man martyr Tho. Man was burned in Smithfield who had before abiured ann 1511. the 14. of August against auricular confessiō the sacramē of extreme vnction against worshipping of images that the popish church was not the church of God c. Doct. Hedd pronoūced likewise sentence against him deliuered him to the sheriffe of London to be presently burned Pilate washeth his hands with this protestatiō made before that he might not consent to the death of any therfore he desired the sheriffe not to punish him with rigour This yere was the great abiuration at Amersham The great abiuration at Amecsham 700. conuerted by T. Man Knowne men Iustfast men Tho-Man confessed of himself as it appeareth by the register that he had conuerted 700. from popery to the trueth In those dayes those that were professors of the trueth were called knowne men and Iustfast men After T. Man was Robert Cosin also condemned and burned at Buckingham for holding against pilgrimages confession to priests and worshipping of Images c. Anno 1511. William Sweeting alias Clerke was condemned and burned for a relapse He was taken at Chelsith where he kept the Towne beasts and was their Netheard His articles were against Pilgrimages reall presence worshipping of Images He had dwelt 16. yeres and more with the prior of Saint Osich named George Lawne where hée so turned the Prior that hée was afterward compelled abiure which also William himselfe through frialtie had doone before Hée beyng asked what cause hée had why he should not be iudged as relapse said he had nothing else but onely that hée committed himselfe to the mercie of God With William Sweeting was also condemned the same time Iames Brewster of the parish of Saint Nicholas in Colchester Anno 1505. He had béene abiured by William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury They were burned togither in Smithfield at one fire the 18. of October his Articles were against images pilgrimages worshipping of Images the sacrament of the altar c. Anno 1518. Christopher Shoomaker Christopher Shoomaker was burned at Newbery for like articles afore For then the Churche of Rome was chiefely withstoode for Pilgrimages adoration of Saintes the Scripture in English and real presence William Smith Bishop of Lincolne died an 1515. who builded the Colledge of Brasen-nose in Oxford Colledge of Brasen-nose in Oxford after whō succéeded Iohn Longland a Frier and cruell vexer of poore Christians who propounded such captions interrogatories that he forced one brother to detect another One brother detecteth another the husband the wife c. the husband the wife the brother the sister the son the father Yet notwithstanding all crueltie the number did so encrease that the B. séeing the matter almost paste his power was faine to require ayde of the king for the suppressing of them Whereto the king graunted and sent downe his letters to the Sheriffes Baylifes Officers c. to ayde the Bishop in that behalfe Whereupon a great number abiured anno 1521. in the Dioces of Lincolne and did sharpe panaunce Among which there were certain A great number abiure who because they had abiured vnder Bishop Smith were now condemned for relapse and were burned T. Bernard burned whose names are these Thomas Bernarde Iames Morden Robert Raw Iohn Scriuener Ione Norman and Thomas Holmes which had detected many of the brethren yet escaped hee not the relapese Iohn Scriueners owne children were compelled to set fire to their Father Vnnaturall crueltie as Ione Clarke was before compelled to doe to her Father William Tilsworth About this time D. Collet D. Collet was troubled of B. Fitziames Bricot and Standish but found fauor with the king Paules schole builded He erected the Schoole of Paules The firste Schoolemaster of his Schoole was W. Lilius This Collet was very lerned He died anno 1519. After Pope Iulius 2. succéeded Leo 10. who vnder pretēce of warring against the Turkes sent a Iubile with his pardons through all Christian Regions Dominions whereby he gathered innumerable riches and treasures The gatherers whereof perswaded the people that whosoeuer would geue x. s̄ should at his pleasure deliuer one soule out of purgatorie but if it were one iotte then then shillings Pardonous sold they preached that it would profit them nothing Ex Christ Mess li. 20. Chro. This filthie marchandise was brought into Germanie by a Dominike Frier called Tecellius whereupon Tecellius Frier Luther a Frier Augustine then
abhorring this shamelesse practise anno 1517. vp openly the Temple ioyning to the castle of Wittemberge the morrow after the feast of all Saintes certaine propositions concerning Indulgenes Luther an augustine fier Whereupon the Frier Tecellius inueighed against Luther in his sermons calling him heretike and worthie to be persecuted with fire and burned Luthers Propositions opēlie and a Sermon which he wrote of Indulgences This rage of the Frier caused Luther to intreate more amplie of the matter Luther accused to the B. of Rome wherefore he was accused to the Bishop of Rome and minding as yet no further indeuoured to get the popes fauour writing vnto him for the same with all submission in these wordes Most holie Father Luther writeth to the P. I offer my selfe prostrate vnder the feete of your holinesse with all that I am and that I haue Saue me kill me call me recall me approue me reproue mee as you shall please your voice the voice of Christ in you speaking I will acknowledge If I haue deserued death I shall be contented to die c. This was in the yéere of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred and eightéene Dialogues against Luther Eckius against Luther Not long after the impudent dealing of Frier Tecellius steppeth out one Siluester de Priero a Dominike Frier which published rayling dialogues against Luther Vnto whom Luther made answere againe Next after this Siluester stepped vp Eckius and impugned the conclusions of Luther With whome encountred D. Andreas Bedensteme Archdeacon of Wittemberge making his apologie in the defence of Luther Afterwarde Martin Luther was cited vp the 7. day of August by one Hieronimus Bishop of Ascalon to appeare at Rome The Vniuersitie of Wittemberg hearing therof directed vp their letters with their publike seale to the P. in Luthers behalfe Duke Frederike also by his letters sued to Cardinall Caietanus who was then at Augusta that the cause of Luther might be fréed from Rome and remoued to Augusta to the hearing of the Cardinall The Cardinal at the Dukes suite wrote to the Pope and receiued answere that hee shoulde call Luther before him at Augusta and if he foūd him obstinate that he should interdict him with al his adherents and mainteiners whosoeuer the Emperors person only excepted The Pope also directeth other letters at the same time to Duke Fred. complayning with many gréeuous words against Luther P. cōplaineth against Lut. About the beginning of October M. Luther came to Augusta at the charges of the prince Elector and hauing obteined safeconduct from the Emperor Maximilian presented himself to the cardinal who propounded vnto him 3. things 1. That hée should reuoke his errours 2. That he should promise from that time forward to abstaine from the same 3. That hée should abstayne from any thing that might trouble the Church whereunto hée answered that he was perswaded it was sound and Catholike which hée had said and that he was ready to answere to that should be obiected against the same and that concerning the matters he would heare the iudgement of the vniuersities of the Empyre Basill Friburg and Louane After this Luther prepareth an answere by and by to Caietanus teaching that the merites of Christ are not committed to men that the Pope may erre that hée ought to bee reprehended that authoritie of Scriptures ought to leade in matters of faith that the extrauagant containeth vntrueths c. The Cardinall woulde heare no Scripture but commaunded Luther to come no more in his presence except hée woulde recant yet Luther abode there still and departed not The Cardinall sent for Iohannes Stupitius Vicar of the Augustines and mooued him earnestly to bring Luther to recant of his owne accord Luther tarried two daies after and nothing was saide vnto him Luther submitteth himselfe the third day hée deliuered his minde in writing submitting himselfe and promising that he would haue more moderation and that touching the matter of pardons hee would procéede no further Onely he saide he could not retract his sentence before defended for so much as he had said nothing but with a good conscience and that was agréeable to the testimony of the Scriptures This wryting the Cardinall lightly regarded Which when Luther sawe and tarrying yet two dayes longer vnderstanding that the Cardinall had saide that he had commaundement to imprison Iohn Stupitius and Luther after he had made and set vp his appeale he departed from the Cardinall After Luthers departure the Cardinall writeth a sharp letter vnto duke Fredericke declaring the dangerous doctrine of Luther and exhorteth the Duke to tender his owne honour and safetie and to expell Luther out of his dominions Whereto the Duke answereth both purging himselfe and Luther desiring the Cardinall to be a meanes to the Pope that innocencie and truth be not oppressed before the errour be lawfully conuicted This doone the Duke sendeth the letter of the Cardinall to Luther Luther writeth again to the duke and declareth how he was dealt with at Augusta what he offered and how he attended offering also him selfe to banishment to auoyde the malice of his enimies no doubt both the Duke and Luther were brought into a streight In which meane time the Vniuersity of Wittenberg wrote their letters in defence of Luther which caused the Duke now seriously to hearken to his cause This was ann 1518. about the beginning of December In the mean time in the moneth of Nouember the pope sendeth forth new indulgences into Germany New pardons and into all quarters with a new edict wherein he declareth that the bishop of Rome hath power to release dispense and to grant indulgences auaileable aswell for the liuing as the dead lying in the paynes of purgatorie Luther in the meane time hearing how they minded to procéede against him at Rome appealeth from the Pope to a generall Councell which the Pope vnderstanding practiseth with the Duke by flatterie and by secrete letters to Noblemen of the Dukes Councel that they might remoue the Dukes minde from Luther But before Melitus his ambassador approached Germanie Maximilian Maximilian died an 1519. in the moneth of Ianuarie and through the meanes of Frederike Prince Elector the Empire fel to Carolus v. surnamed Prudens about the end of August In the moneth of Iune before there was a publike disputation ordained at Lypsia a citie in Misma A disputation of Lipsia vnder the dominiō of George duke of Saxonie vncle to duke Frederick At that disputation Eckius and Carolostadius disputed of frée will and thether came Luther and Phillip Melancthon to heare what was doone Luther not minding nor purposing to dispute but there beyng prouoked he disputed with Eckius of the Popes supremacie of Purgatorie of Indulgences and of Penance This was in the moneth of Iuly an 1519. About the beginning of which yéere Zuinglius Zuinglius came first to Zurich and taught who at Zurick withstood Sampson a Frier that
and were contented onely with their yerely pension which the K. payeth to euery page of the Heluetians to kéep peace The day and yere when this reformation began with them they caused to be engrauen in a piller with letters of golde A monument of their reformation 1528 for a perpetuall memorie to all posteritie to come This was an 1528. By these examples the ministers of Strausburgh began also to affirme and teach that the masse was naught The P. clergie laboured on the contrary part The Senat would haue brought it to a disputation but the Priests would agrée to no reasoning wherevpon the magistrates commaunded them silence The Bishop desired the Senate to perseuer in their old religiō but not preuailing they did sollicite the assembly of the Empire at Spires who sent a solemne Embassade to Strausborough requiring them to alter nothing but to refer all things to a generall Councell In like manner the Bishop of Heldessem hauing béene with them a litle before exhorted them in the name of the Emperour But the Senate of Strawsborough seing the matter did now hange in controuersie two yéeres the preachers dayly calling vpō them for reformatiō also suite being made by other Citizens assembled their great Citizens to the number of 300. in which the most voyces went against the masse Wherevpon immediatly the twentith of February ann 1529. 1529 Masse put downe in Strawsborough Basill reformed a decrée was made that the masse should be laid downe til the contrary part could proue it to bee lawfull by the scriptures Anon after at Basill also the masse was excluded and twelue Senatours fauouring popery displaced by the commons and the images throwne out of the churches and a decrée made that the masse and images should bee abolished through their whole iurisdiction in this citie taught Oecolampadius A memorial of their reformation The day of burning their images which was Ashwednesday they doe with mirth and pastime solemnise at this day Anno 1529. Ferdinando the Emperors brother and his Deputie in Germanie decréed against the Protestantes at Spires and refused to admitte the Ambassadors of Strausburgh because they had reiected the masse The other princes which were receiued as the Duke of Saxonie George of Brandenburgh Ernesus and Franciscus Earles of Lueburgh Lantgraue Anhaldius did withstād the decrée and shewed their cause in a long protestation written which done all such Cities as subscribed and consented to the Protestation of the Princes ioyned themselues in a common league with them whereupon they were called protestāts The names of the Cities were these Strausburgh The name of Protestants Norembergh Vlmes Constance Ruteling Winsenium Mēning Lindania Campodinum Hailburnim Isua Wesseburgum Norling and Sangallum The other Pages on the contrarie side made like confederacie which were especially fiue Lucernates Vrani A diuision of the Pages for religion Suicences Vnterualdij and Tugiani purposing to ouerrun the religion of Christ who also despitefully hanged vp the armes of the Cities Zurich and Berne vpon the gallowes In so much that Berne and Zurich raysed a power against the Suitzers aforesaid But as they were both readie to encounter through the meanes of the Citie of Strausburgh and other Intercessors they were parted at that time and so returned Which peace continued two yeares betwéene them till by reason of contumelies against the reformed cities the Tigurins and Bernates stopping al passage suffered no corn nor vitle to passe one to the other this was 1531. The French king with the Glarians Friburnians and Soliturnians endeuored to make peace betwixt them vpō certaine conditions which the other fiue Pages refused and armed themselues and approching néere Surich ouermatched them of Zurich with multitude and discomfited the armie among whom at that time Zuinglius was slaine Zuinglius slaine also the Abbot of Capella and Commendator Cunacensis with 13. other learned men as it is thought being falsly betrayed and brought into the hands of the enemie The maner of the Suitzers is when they goe to warre the chiefe Minister of their Church goeth with them which was the cause why he was present at the warre The minister goeth with the armie After he was slaine they burnt his bodie being dead Ex Sleid. li. 8. Zuinglius was 44. yeres of age when hee died They tooke the Abbot Capellensis being slaine and put out both his eyes and cloathed him in a Monks coule and so set him in a pulpit to preach rayling on him in most despitefull maner This battle was the xi of October The Bernats hearing of this ouerthrow armed themselues to make reuēge and attempting to take Tugie were ouermatched of the Page-men At the last through mediation a league was made betwéene them A league betwixt the Canons D. of Saxon dieth 1532 that the Tigurins Bernats and Basilians should forsake the league made with Strausburgh and the Lantgraue and likewise the v. pagemē their league with Ferdinandus And hereof were obligations sealed the last of Nouember Oecolampadius hearing of the death of Zuinglius departed this life also the last of Nouember being of the age of 49. The next following in the yere of our Lord 1532. in the moneth of August died Iohn Frederike Duke of Saxonie a great mainteiner of the trueth After whom succéeded Iohn Frederike his sonne 1533 H. Voes I. Ech burned Anno 1527. Two young men were burned at Bruxels one named Henrie Voes of the age 24. The other Ioh. Ech which were before of the order of Augustine Friers they were persecuted by Egmondanus the Popes Inquisitor the diuines of Louane The examiners were Lochestratus and others The cause was that they denied it was deadlie sinne to transgresse the decrées of the fathers and of the B. of Rome They were burned the first of Iuly marueylously ioying at their death in so much that one of them séeing fire kindled vnder his féete said me think you strowe roses vnder my féete The courage of the martir After their death their Monasterie was dissolued the President thereof called Iacobus Lutherianus after diuers afflictions was forced to recant at Bruxels but afterward being deliuered departed and fled to Luther An. 1524. About the citie of Diethmar was H. Sutphen monk burned wtout al order of iudgement or iust condēnation He was preacher at Breame greatly wtstoode by the chanons and prelates but mainteined by the senat people in so much that being sent for to the Archbishop and to a prouinciall councell at Burstade they refused to send him thether foreseing the malice of the councell But when the time came that the Lord would haue him witnes his truth an 1524. he was set vpon on a sudden at Meldorph in Diethmar whether he went to preach by the rude multitude through the instigatiō of the Frāciscane friers associated with certaine presidēts of the country who to the intent the husbandmen of the country should be more couragious gaue
at the suite of his friendes and by perswasions after thrée seuerall examinations and testimonies geuen to the trueth he relented Whereupon he fell into such gréefe of minde that he could not be quiet till he had occasion offered to recouer himselfe which afterward he did denying to the Iudges agayn that which before he had yelded vnto them This Galleazius was firste instructed in the truth by an Augustine Frier named Maniardus and afterwards more throughly confirmed by Celius Secundus Ex Celio Anno 1538. Did one Iohannes Mollins 1558 I. Mollins a Gray Frier secretely expound the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romans to a few Which being knowen his auditors increased so that he was compelled to read openly in the Temple At the same time was one Cornelius at Bononie a vaine babler him did Cardinall Campeius require to interprete the same Epistle also to disgrace Mollins But Mollins excelled him and drew to him his auditors Which when Cornelius perceiued hee perswaded the Cardinall to dispatch Mollins So a disputation was appointed betwixt them which indured till thrée of the clock after midnight From which disputation Iohannes departing was taken comming downe at the lowest steppes and caried to prison In the meane season Laurentius Spatha L. Spatha generall of his order in most spéedie wise posted vp to Rome and so preuayled in Mollins behalfe that the P. wrote downe his letters to Cāpeius that Iohannes should be deliuered out of prison so that within 3. monethes after he shoulde personally appeare at Rome Thus the 30. day of his imprisonment he was deliuered who but for the comming of the Popes letters had béene burned within 3. dayes after Whē he came to Rome he was not permitted as he desired to dispute openly but enioined to write his mind in articles to bring his proofes which he diligently performed intreating of original sinne iustification by faith frée will purgatorie c. Vpon this certaine Cardinals and Bishoppes were assigned to haue the cause in hearing who disputed with him 3. dayes and could not refell that which he had proued At the last answere was made him that it was trueth which he affirmed neuerthelesse the same was not méete for this present time for that it could not be taught nor published without the detriment of the Apostolike sea wherfore he should abstaine hereafter from the epistles of S. Paul and so again return safe to Bononie and there professe philosophie Thus being returned home he declareth all the matter in the pulpit wherewith Campeius more offended then before obteyned of the pope that the generall of the order shoulde remoue Molins from Bononia and place him elswhere So from thence he was sent to Naples and there was appointed preacher in the Monasterie of S. Laurence But Petrus the viceroy there could not abide his doctrine and so néerely sought his life that hee departed and went wandring into Italie from place to place preaching Christ Not long after this Campeius being dead he returned again to Bononia being called thether by a good Abbot named de Crassis an 1543. De Crassis 1543 where he renued againe the reading of Paules Epistles after a secrete forte but that could not long be vndiscouered Whereupon by meanes of Cardinal de Capo and by Bonauentora the Generall he was apprehended the second time and brought to Fauentia and there layd in a filthie stinking prison where he continued 4. yeres no man hauing leaue once to come to him During which time he wrote a Commentarie vpon the bookes of Moses which labor was suppressed by the aduersaries At length through the intercession of the Earle Petilianus and the good Abbot de Cassis he was againe deliuered and sent to Rauenna where he made his abode a while with the Abbot after at Vitalem and there againe taught the gospel of Christ as before And whensoeuer he spake of the name of Iesu his eyes dropt teares he was so fraught with a mightie feruentnes of Gods spirite In proces of time whē the abbot was dead The zeale of Molins his sureties begā to be weary of their bond and so was he againe the third time imprisoned by the Popes Legats There were then 4. men of great authority who bayled him out of prison againe of whom one took him home to instruct his childrē at whose fame such a concourse came to sée him that the aduersaries consulted with themselues to kill him wherevpon commaundement was sent to the Popes Legates to lay hands vpon him and to send him vp fast bound to Rome where againe the fourth time he was imprisoned in the castle of Nouie and there continued eightéene moneths and at last the 5. of September anno 1553. there sat vpon him 6. Cardinals beside the iudge and condemned him with a weauer of Perusium in the temple of S. Mary called De Minerua first to be hanged then burned which sentence beyng pronounced against him he cited them vp to the tribunall seat of Christ and so they were both had to the place of execution and suffered méekely for the testimony of the truth Pantal. lib. 19. Anno 1554 two monkes of S Austine in Rome were found in their selles with their tongues heads cut off only for rebuking the outragious excesse of the Cardinals Manlius in dictis P. Melanct. The same yéere Franciscus Ganiba Franciscus Ganiba was first strangled and then burned at the city of Canum in the dioces of Millain for the testimony of the trueth hauing his tongue first boared that he might not speake Pantal. lib. 10. Anno 1555. Pomponius Algerius 1555 Pomponius Algerius was burned aliue at Rome after he had bin long deteined in prison at Venice where being in prison he wrote a notable Epistle to the afflicted Saints full of consolation An. 1559. Iohannes Aloisius 1559 I. Aloisius suffered at Rome And the same yere Iacobus Bouellus I. Bouellus at Messina They were both sent downe from Geneua to the parties of Calabria there to minister Ex Epist Sim. Flo. After Pope Iulius 3. 1560 Iulius 3. came Marcellus 2. Marcellus 2. After him Paulus 4. Paulus 4. After whom Pius 4. Who raysed such sharpe persecution in the kingdome of Naples that many Noble men with their wiues others were reported there to be slaine Pantal. lib. 11. The same yere 1560. 88. 88. Martirs together persons put together into one house both young old one after another were taken out of the house and so being laid vpon the butchers stall with one blouddy knife were all killed in order in Calabria Pantal lib. 11. The Pope promiseth It is to be noted that the Pope did promise Marques Buccianus gouernour of the prouince of Calabria to make his sonne a Cardinall of Rome if all the Lutheranes of that prouince were rooted out which might be the cause of this butcherly crueltie The persecution of Merindole and Cabriers ABout 200.
sparing none Before he came to Merind he rāsakt burnt certaine townes namely La Roche S. Stephens ville Laure Lormarin la motte Cabrieretter S. Martin Pipu The cruelty of Antichrist and other places mo notwithstanding the arrest onely extended to Merindole where the most of the inhabitants were murthered and slayne without any resistance women and maidens rauished women with child and little infants most cruelly murdered the paps of many women which gaue sucke to their children cut of and the children staruing at the breasts of there dead mothers such crueltie as was neuer before séene The Merindolians séeing all on a flaming fire about them left their houses with women and children and other few and with them certaine ministers of their Churches Miniers in the meane time had deuided his army into two parts marching with the one partie himselfe towards Merindoll and hauing knowledge by espiall whether the Merindolians were fledde hée sent the other part of his armie to set vppon them on a sudden who came and found them assembled at prayers and spoyled them of all that they had pulling their garmentes from their backes Popish crueltie some they rauished some they whipped and scourged some they sold away like cattle c. The women were in number about fiue hundred In the meane time Miniers came to Merindoll where hée found none but a yoong man named Maurice Blanc Maurice Blanc who had yéelded himselfe to a Souldier promising him for his raunsome 2. French crownes Miniers would haue had him away by force but it was answered the souldier ought not to loose his prisoner Miniers therefore paying the two crownes himself tooke the yoong man caused him to be tied to an Oliue trée shot through with harquebushes and so cruelly martired the yoong man still calling on God so hée razed Merindoll and laid it euen with the ground Merindoll razed and layed euen with the ground When he had so done he laid siege to Cabriers which whē he could not ouercome by force he promised thē fairly if they would let him enter in swearing hée would harme none of them wherevpon the people let him in who when he was once entered Miniers breaketh his oth with Cabriers falsified his oth and first picked out about thirtie men caused them to be caried to a certaine medow bound and there to bée miserably cut and hewen in péeces of his Souldiers hée exercised also great cruelty ouer the women and caused fortie of them to be taken of whom many were with childe and put them into a barne full of hey and straw and caused it to be set on fire at foure corners kéeping them that would breake out with pikes and halberts there was a Souldier which being moued with pittie at the lamentation of the women opened a dore to let them out but as they were comming forth the cruell tyrant caused them to be slaine and cut in péeces opening their bellies Meruailous crueltie that their children might fall out whom they trode vnder their féete many were fledde into the wineseller of the Castle and many hidde themselues in caues whereof some were caried into the medow and there stripped naked were slaine other some were bound two and two together and caried into the hall of the Castle where they were slaine by the Captaines reioycing in their buchery That doone this tyrant commaunded captain Iohn de Guy with a band of ruffians to go into the church wher was a great number of women children and yoong infants to kill all that he found there he although at first refusing yet being threatned performed the same The number of them which were slaine 1000. slaine was a thousand persons men women and children the infants which escaped their furie were baptized againe of their enemies In token of this ioly victory the Popes officers caused a piller to be erected in the place of Cabriers in which was engrauen the yeare and daye of sackyng the towne by Iohn Miniers Lord of Oped and chéefe president of the Parlement of Prouence In this meane season they of Merindoll and Cabriers which had fled to the mountaines being in great necessitie of victuals procured certaine men which were in fauour with Miniers to intreate him they might depart safely onely with their liues although they had no more but their shirts to couer their nakednes Whervnto he answered not one of them shal escape my hands I will send them to dwell in hell among the diuels After this there was a power sent vnto Cossa Cossa destroyed which likewise they ouerran and committed there great slaughter Many of the inhabitants fled away and went into an Orchard where the souldiers rauished the women maidens and when they had kept them there a day and a night they handled them so beastly that they died shortly after They which escaped to the woods and went wandring by mountains were taken and set in gallies or els were slaine outright many which hid themselues in rocks and dark caues some were famished some smoothered with fire smoke put to thē And this was the destruction of Merindol Cabriers This cause was afterward in the time of Henry the second fiftie times pleaded to and fro by one called Aubrius Aubrius against Minerius and another named Robertus the defendant but it could not be determined and Minerius was let out of prison and restored to his possessions and libertie agayne vpon condition made to Charles Cardinall of Loraine that he should expell the true professors out of al prouinces which he after his restoring practised accordingly Gods iudgmēt vpon Minerius other persecutors till being stricken of God he died of a rotting in his guts his entrals being eaten with wormes yelding a horrible stēch Lewis de Vanie brother in law to the president the brother son in law to Peter Durand maister Butcher of the town of Aix flew one another vpon a strife that fel betwixt them and on them the same day the judge of Aix who accompanied Minerius in the same persecution as he returned home going ouer the riuer of Durance fell of his horse and was drowned Pantal. The histories of the persecutions and warres against the Waldenses in the valleies of Angroigne Lucern S. Martin Perouse and other in the countrie of Piedmount from the yeere 1555. till the yeere 1561. ALbeit these people had before this time certaine to preach the word of God minister the sacraments vnto them priuatly yet in the yere of our Lord 1555. in the moneth of August the Gospel was openly preached in Angroign for which cause they built thē a church in the mids of Angroign wherin assemblies were made sermons preached It happened at that time that one Ioh. Martin of Griqueras a myle from Angroign which vaunted euery where that he would slitte the ministers nose of Angroign was assaulted with a wolfe which bit of his nose that he
bring them into order againe and yet no creature followed them On the saturday morning the army mustered in the medow ground néere to Angroign they of Angroigne had sent certaine to kéepe the passages and stop the army that they should not enter if it were possible the number was but few who perceiuing their enemies prepared to fight prayed first of all to God to assist them When they perceyued their enemies comming toward them the combat began and endured a long time in the passages of Angroigne At length the Waldois perceyuing themselues oppressed with the multitude of their enemies retyred to the toppe of the mountaines where they defended themselues till night When they had found a place where they might withstand their enemies still pursuing them they turned themselues and slue diuerse of them and hurt many When the euening came the enemies rested went about to encāp thēselues there to rest al night Which things when the Angroigniās perceiued they fell to praier but the enemies flouted them then the people deuised a policie to send a drum into the valleis hard by as they were making their praier vnto God the drum sounded in the valley the Lord of Trinitie caused his souldiers which were about to encāpe themselues to remoue thence which was a great refreshing to the poore people Many of the enemies that day were slaine many hurt of the which very few escaped of the Angroignians that day were but thrée slaine one hurt who was after healed well againe The L. of Trinitie after ward placed garisons there much molested the Angroigmans after they had cōmended thēselues to god by praier they sent vnto them of Perouse of S. Martin and of Pragella for aid sent them all the helpe that they were able The next day after there came letters to Angroigne frō the L. of Trinitie in which he excused the outrage that was doone and required them to shew themselues obedient to the Duke They againe cōplaining of their wrongs offered thēselues with all obedience to be reformed by the word of God where they had erred beséeching him and all the Lords of Piedmont to be their intercessors to the duke in this behalf Vpon Munday being 4. of Nouember the L. of Trinitie sent his army to Villers Tailleret the lesser cōpany ascended toward Villers the people séeing their enemies approch after they had with praier cōmēded thēselues to God strongly withstood them slue many many also were hurt some fled The other cōpany ascended toward Tailleret although they of the place were but few in nūber that part of the army greater yet making their praiers commending their cause to God they likewise defended thēselues valiātly In the meane season they of Villers emboldned by their late victory came to assist their neighbors being assembled together couragiously pursued their enemies put them to flight In this pursuit it chaunced that this poore people by an ambush of their enimies which came another way were suddenly enclosed and like to be destroied but yet by Gods helpe they all escaped and onely thrée hurt which were soone cured again on the enemies side there were so many slaine that they lay together by cartlodes The same day also 17. of Roccapiata put to flight a great number of the inhabitants of Sanson néere to Roccapiata that went thether and spoiled a rich man there of all that he had After that the L of Trinity had receiued the request and letters of the Angroignians he sent his secretary Gastant to moue the people to prosecute a supplication to the Duke promising that he would returne with his armie In which while they of Angroign perceiued that a part of the armie ascended the hil of Tailleret and the other part had already gottē the way which led to the medow of Tower by which meanes they of Angroign might easily be enclosed they sent certain to kéep the way who encountering with their enimies obtained the victorie not one of them being so much as hurt that day This trechery the Lord of Trinity excused putting the fault in them of Tailleret who had slain certaine of his men in the high way The 9. of Nouember he vsed the like communication as before touching an agréement sending for certaine of Angroign to that intent as he pretended whom he perswaded in token of obedience to laye downe their armour c. Which when they had done he falsified his promise his soldiers in the meane time spoiling their armour A few daies after he sēt his secretary Gastāt to Angroign to make a ful resolution of the agréement that the people of Angroign shold sue for grace to the Duke in that they had taken vp armour for their defence that they should humbly beséech him to giue thē liberty to continue in their religion they professed c. Whervnto they of S. Ioh of Roccapiata of S. Bartholomew of Perouse with other of the valley of Perouse agréed Now while they were treating of this agréement the L. of Trinity vexed cruelly them of Tailleret pretending the cause for that they came not to this agréement for which cause his souldiers spoyled and sacked most lamentably diuers daies together Al which being done the L. of Trinity caused the chiefe of the people to assemble together and demanded 20000. crowns toward the charges of the Dukes maintenāce of his army against thē in time past But by the means of his secretary Gastant who was promised an 100 for a bribe 4000. were cut of so they graunted 16. thousand whereof the Duke released the one halfe The poore people being required to pay the 8000. presently were faine to sell that they had for a little to make a summe and although the money were paide yet the army retired not but demāded anew forced them to promise the payment of 8000. crownes which the Duke released This done he went about to slea their ministers but chiefly the minister of Angroign whom when they could not gette they spoiled his house and burnt his bookes and spoiled 40. houses in Angroign broke their milles and carried away the corn and meale which they found there and to be short the practises of cruelty shewed vpon the poore people continually was very strange as for example they tooke at Tailleret Odul Gemet Odull Gemer a man of sixtie yéers of age and put him to a cruel death for when they had bound him they tooke a kind of thing called in French Escarboth and put them to his nauell couering them with a dishe which within short space pearced into his bellie and killed him The messengers which were sent to the Duke after they had béene detained there 6. wéeks and cruelly handled notwithstanding the miseries sustained before brought a new commaundement that al must go to masse wherevppon they sent and declared their distresse to them of the same profession in Daulphin who hearing therof ioyned themselues
of Corpus Christi day béeing of the age of threescore yeeres and aboue About the same time diuerse others suffered trouble for the doctrine of the trueth as vnder Doctour London Maistresse Alice Dolie béeing accused of her mayde Elizabeth Wighthill for holding against Purgatorie agaynst Images for the articles of the Créede in English this was about 1520. Anno 1525. Frier Hackman for holding frée saluation by grace Anno 1525 Also Robert West priest of S. Andrewe vnder shaft for commending Martin Luther c. for which he was abiured ibid. Father wife and sisters against the Christians Anno 1530. Iohn Ribourne was accused by both his sisters his owne wife and of his owne father who were compelled by Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne to depose against him concerning meates Purgatorie pilgrimage prayer in the English tongue c. Iohn Eaton and Cecill his wife of the parish of Spure were detected by Richarde Ryburne for holding downe their heades at the sacring time and when the belles did ring at the feast of exaltation of the holie crosse betweene Mattines and Euensong for saying What a clampering of belles is here Tho. Lounde Thomas Lounde priest who had beene with Luther two yeeres béeing afterwarde cast in the Fleete at London was a great instructer of Iohn Ribourne afore mentioned At the same time vnder Iohn Longland Bishoppe of Lincolne Iohn Simonds was molested for denying Purgatorie for denying singlenes of priestes it was also testified against him that he conuerted eight priests had holpen two or thrée friers out of their orders Vnder the same Bishop about that time Abiured were these persons following examined excommunicated and abiured for being together in Iohn Taylors house of Hichenden and there hearing Nicholas Fielde of London to reade a parcell of Scripture in Englishe to them and expounde to them many thinges against images offerings prayer in the Latine tongue against the Sacraments of the Altar purgatorie c. Their names were these William Wingraue Thomas Haukes of Hichenden Robert Hawes of West Wickam Iohn Taylor Iohn Hawkes Thomas Herne of Colshill Nicholas Fielde Richard Deane Thomas Clarke the yonger William Hawkes of Chesham Vnder Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne Simon Wisdome of Burford was molested for the Gospell the Psalter the summe of holie Scripture in English so Iames Alger or Aliger because he sayde euerie Christian man liuing after the lawes of God is a Priest hee woulde no dole for his soule and denyed Purgatorie c. He had not of long time beene confessed and for denying the Priestes power of absolution with the other before was compelled to seeke reconcilement in the Church and to abiure the trueth Anno 1526. Pope Clement the seuenth absolueth the othe made of the French king to the Emperour and ioyneth together a confederacie of the Venetians and other Princes against the Emperour whereof the Duke of Burbone and other of the Emperours Captaynes hauing intelligence gathered their armies together and after muche fighting and bloudshed about Millan Hawde and Cremona at length they approched and bent their siege against Rome and after thrée sharpe assaults obtained the Cittie with the whole spoyle thereof Rome spoiled and the Pope taken prisoner Where he besieged the foresaied Pope with his Cardinals in the mount of Adrian and tooke him prisoner Anno 1527. In the Castell of saint Angell at which tyme Rome suffered more spoyle then of the Goathes and Vandalles the Souldiours that dayly laie at the siege of the Castell made iestes of the Pope Rimes made of the Pope sometime they had one riding like the Pope with a whore behinde him sometimes hée blessed and sometime he cursed and sometime they would with one voice call him Antechrist c. When the Cardinall Wolsey here in England heard how his father of Rome was taken prysoner he laboured to the Kinge to fight against the Emperour for the deliuerie of the Pope whiche the Kinge refused by his owne person or his people to doe but yéelded to the Cardinall of his treasure to take what himselfe thought conuenient who therevpon made out of the Kinges treasure twelue score thousand pounds 220000. li. out of the kings tresure to fight against the Emperour and caried it ouer the sea with him whiche when he came to the kinges court at Amiens he conuerted to the hiring of Souldiours and furnishing out the French kinges armie appointing also certaine Englishe Captaines in the king of Englands name to goe agaynst the Emperour to restore the Pope all whiche armie was paide with the kinge of Englandes mony The cause why the Cardinall bare the Emperour this malice after some wryters appeareth to be this At what tyme as Pope Clement was taken prysoner the Cardinall wrote vnto the Emperour that hée shoulde make him Pope but when he had receiued an aunswere that pleased him not he waxed furious madde and wrote manie menacing letters vnto the Emperour that if hee would not make him Pope hee woulde make suche a ruffeling betweene Christian princes as was not this hundred yéeres before Proude Prelats yea though it should cost the whole Realme of England Whose ambitious endeuour the king himselfe did also fauour as it appeareth by instructions giuen of the King to his Ambassadours at Rome to that effect that Wolsey might be placed in the papacie after the death of Pope Clement to the ende hée might compasse his cause of diuorce To the end the king might compasse his cause of diuorce While the Ambassadours were trauelling at Rome for the aduauncement of the Cardinall to bee Pope if Clement were dead hee played héere the Persecutour at home First hée caused Fryer Barnes an Augustine Fryer to beare a fagotte for certaine pointes which hée called heresie hée caused two marchauntes of the Still yeard to beare fagottes for eating fleshe on Friday This was about Anno 1526. Anno 1528. The Cardinall caused Arthur Bilney Geffery Lound and Garret to be abiured for speaking against the Popes authoritie and his pompous pride Anno 1529. The Cardinall was cast in a Premunire 1529 The proude Cardinal cast in a Premunire and execution performed vppon him hee forfeited all his Landes Tenementes goodes and cattell and should haue beene put out of the Kinges protection The K. gracious to the Cardinall but the king sent him a sufficient protection and of his gentlenesse lefte to him the Bishoprickes of Yorke and Winchester and gaue vnto him plate and stuffe conuenient for his degree Anno 1530. 1530. A Parliament In the moneth of Nouember was summoned a generall parliament to be holden at Westminster in which Syr Thomas Moore succeedeth in the Lorde Chauncelourship vnto the Cardinal The Commons in this Parliament propounded their griefes against the spiritualtie Griefe of the communalty against the spiritualtie which were especially sixe First the excessiue fynes that the Ordinaries tooke for probate of Testaments as a thousande markes
and vttered his diuerse argumentes where hée desired to be satisfied The matter was concerning the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ Tailor desired him to deferre the matter till another tyme and to wryte his minde whiche hée did and at last it brake out to bée a publicke matter so that he was sent for by the Archbishop of Canturbury and was forced to defend his cause openly In that disputation it is said that Lambert did appeale from the Bishops to the king and the rumour of the disputation was spred to the court Now at this time Stephen Gardiner then bishop of Winchester A wicked persuasion was in authoritie among the kinges Counsellours and perswaded the kinge by the burning of Lambert to quiet the people who grudged at diuerse of his dooinges bothe touchyng his diuorce and pullinge downe the Popes pride and thereby to declare how stoutly he would resist Heretikes whereby the people might take some contentment So by these perswasions a day was set Lambert brought forth where besides he had the kings fierce countenance against him Lambert disputeth he had x. disputers against him frō xij of the clocke till v. at night among which were the archbishop Stephen Gardiner Tunstall B. of Durham Stokesley bishop of London In fine through Winchesters perswasion to gratifie the people the king himselfe condemned Lambert and commanded Cromwell the chiefe friend of the gospellers to read the sentēce The king condemneth Lambert Cromwell readeth the sentence against Lambert Cromwell craueth pardon of Lambert Vpon the day that was appointed for this holy martyr to suffer he was brought out of the prison at viij of the clocke in the morning vnto the house of the L. Cromwell so caried into his inner chamber where as it is reported of many Cromwell desired him of forgiuenes for that he had doone from thence he was brought into the hall and so into Smithfield where he suffered most terrible torments for after his legges were burned vp to the stumps that the wretched tormentors had withdrawē the fire from him so that but a small fire was left vnder him two that stood on each side of him with their halbards pitched him vpon their pikes as farre as the chaine would reach then he lifting vp such handes as he had and his fingers euer flaming with fier cried vnto the people in these wordes Lambert a worthy martyr None but Christ none but Christ and so beyng let downe againe from their Halbards he fell into the fire yéelded vp the ghost Lamberts treatice of the Sacrament During the time that he was in the Archbishops house he wrote a treatise to the king touching the Sacrament wherein he prooued that the bodie could be but in one place and that the Sacrament was a mysticall matter The same yéere 1538. Robert Packington Mercer brother of Austen aboue mentioned because he little fauoured the clergie being a man of courage and a burges of the parliament house for the Cittie and was thought to haue had some conference with the king to the disaduauntage of the clergie at fiue of the clocke in the morning as he was woont going from his house in Cheapside to prayers at a church called S. Thomas of Acres but nowe Mercers chappell he was slaine with a gun by an Italian Robert Packington slaine going to prayers whome D. Incent Deane of Paules had hired for lx crownes to doo that feat as he himselfe afterward on his death bed confessed The same yéere was Collins a mad man and his dogge burned Collins his dogge burned together because as the priest lifted his God so Collins in the Church at the same time lifted his dogge ouer his head his dogge was burnt also with him Likewise another mad man called Cowbridge Cowbridge was burned at Oxford the same yéere who what euer his madnesse was before yet in the middes of the flame he lifting vp his hand to heauen soberly and discréetly called vpon the name of the Lord Iesus and so departed About the same time and yéere Putdewe Putdewe was put to death for saying merily to a priest after he had drunke the wine he blessed the hungrie people with the emptie Chalice At the same time also was condēned W. Letton Williā Letton a moonke of Aye in the Countie of Suffolke was burned at Norwich for speaking against an idoll that was vsed to be carried in procession at Aye and for holding that the Sacrament ought to bée ministred in both kindes Somewhat before the burning of these men Nich. Peke Nicholas Peke was burned at Ipswich and when the firres were set on fire he was so scorched that he was as blacke as pitch Doctor Reading standing there before him with Doctor Heirre and Doctor Springwell hauing a long white wande in his hand did knocke him vpon the right shoulder and sayde Peke recant and beléeue in the Sacrament The notable courage of the martyr to whom Peke answeared I defie thée and it also and with greate violence hee spatte from him blood which came by reason the veynes brake in his bodie for extreme anguish Which when hée saide Doctor Reading graunted by the authoritie of the Bishoppe of Norwich fourtie dayes of pardon to so many as should cast a sticke to burne the heretike wherevpon Baron Curson Sir Iohn Audley knight and others were moued so to do and cutte downe boughes and threw them into the fire This yéere the king was againe required by the Emperour and other States to be a sender to the generall Counsell at Vincence For the Duke of Mantua woulde suffer none there The king againe refuseth the Counsell except the pope would with a sufficient armie gard this city The king again refused and sendeth his protestation in way of defence for himselfe to the Emperour and other Christian princes which he concludeth with this farewell Thus mighty Emperour fare yée most heartely wel and you Christian princes The kings farewell to the princes Anno Reg. the pillers and stay of Christendome fare ye heartily wel also you what people soeuer you are which doe desire that the Gospel and glory of God may flourish fare ye heartily well As Thomas Cromwell fauoured the Gospel so Stephan Gardiner B. of Winchester practised all he coulde against the same and wrought so with the king that the yéere 1539. seuere Iniunctions were set out by the kinges authoritie against English scripture bookes without examination against translations Search iniunctions without the authors name were put to it against sacramentaries that no man should dispute of the sacrament with the rest the canon of Becket rased c. and in fine so was he nusled by Winchester that Anno 1540. 1540. The king nusled by Winchester The whippe with vi strings The vi Articles He summoned a parlament to be holden at Westminster the xxviij of Aprill also a synode of
printers themselues which before they neuer intended and imprinted out the said Bible in London and after that printed sundry impressions of them but yet not without great trouble and losse through the hatred of Steeuen Gardiner and his fellowes Steeuen Gardiner alwaies an enemie to the Gospel In those dayes there were two sundrie Bibles in English printed and set foorth bearing diuers titles and printed in diuers places The first was called Thomas Mathewes Bible Th. Mathewes bible printed at Hamborough about the yere 1532. The Corrector of which Printe was Iohn Rogers the Printers were Richard Grafton and Whitchurch In the translation of this Bible the greatest doer was William Tindall who with the helpe of Miles Couerdale had translated all the bookes thereof except onely the Apocrypha and certaine notes in the Margent which were added after But because William Tindall in the meane time was apprehended before his booke was fullie perfected it was thought good to them that had the dooing thereof to chaunge the name of William Tindall because that name was then odious and to further it by a straunge name of Thomas Matthew Iohn Rogers being the same time corrector to the print who had then translated the residue of the Apocrypha and added also certaine notes thereto in the Margent and thereof came it to be called Thomas Matthewes bible Which bible of Thomas Matthewes after it was imprinted and presented to the Lord Cromwell and the Lord Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who liked very well of it Cromwell presented it to the king The Bible in English presented to the king and obtained that it might fréely passe to be read of subiects with his graces licēce So that there was printed on the same booke one line in red letters with these wordes Set forth with the Kinges most gracious licence This book did greatly offend the Bishops both for the prologues and especially for a table called of the common places of the Bible and the scriptures for the approbation of the same and chiefly about the supper of the Lord and priests marriages and the masse which there was said not to bée found in the Scripture After the restraint of this bible of Mathew another came to be printed at Paris anno 1540. which was called the bible of the large volume The Bible of the large volume The Printed that printed it was the former the ouerseer was Miles Couerdale who conferred Tindalles Translation with the Hebrewe and mended diuers places there In this Bible although the former notes of Thomas Mathew were omitted yet sundrie marks and hands were annexed in the margent which meant that in those places should be made certaine notes wherewith also the Clergie was offfended and Cromwel being dead complaintes were made to the king of the translation of the Bible and of the Preface of the same and then was the sale of the Bible cōmanded to be staied the B. promising to amend and correct it but neuer performed it The Bishops promisse to amend the Bible but performed it not Then Grafton was called for and troubled cast in the Fléete where hée remained sixe wéekes and before he came out was bound in 300.l neither to print to sell nor cause to be printed any mo bookes till the king and the clergie should agrée on the translation and thus was the Bible staied from that time during the reigne of king Henry the eight Anno 1541. D. Cutbert Barnes Doctor Barnes Thomas Garret and William Hierome were burned in Smithfield for the testimonie of Iesus Christ after the death of the lord Cromwell who whiles he liued was a great defence vnto diuerse that professed the truth but he being taken away many godly christians in diuerse places went to wracke Doctor Barnes after that he came from the vniuersitie of Louaine went to Cambridge where hée was made Prior and Maister of the house of Augustines at which time the knowledge of good letters was very scant in the Vniuersitie which Barnes thinking to redresse read in his house Terence Plautus and Cicero so that what with his labour and helpe of Thomas Parnell his scholer whom he brought from Louaine with him reading Copia verborum rerum he caused the house shortly to florish with good letters and made a great part of his house learned as M. Cambridge M. Field M. Coleman M. Burley M. Couerdall c. After these foundations laid he did openly read in the house S. Paules Epistles and put by Duns Dorbell Duns Dorbell put out of Cambridge and yet though he were a questionarie himselfe in short space made he diuerse good diuines obseruing disputations of necessarie points of faith in his house Disputations of points of faith rare in Cābridge in those daies also in the schooles when he should dispute with any man The first man that answered Doctor Barnes in the Scriptures was M. Stafford for his forme to be batchellour of diuinitie Which disputation was marueilous in the sight of the great blind Doctors notwithstanding all this till he was conuerted by Bylney D. Barnes conuerted by Bylney he remained in his superstition still The first Sermon that euer he preached according to the truth of the Gospell was the Sunday before Christmas day at S. Edwards church belonging to Trinitrie hall in Cambridge by the pease market whose theame was the Epistle of the same Sunday Gaudete in Domino c. For which Sermon he was immediatly accused of heresie by two fellows of kings hall Then the godly mē flocked and conferred together the house that they most commonly resorted vnto was the white horse which for dispite of them to bring Gods word into contempt was called Germany The White-horse in Cambridge called Germany This house was especially chosen because they of S. Iohns Kings and Quéenes Colledges might come on the backeside thether Doctor Barnes was accused in the regent house and constantly continued with much preaching of diuerse parties one against another in trying out Gods truth till within sixe dayes before Shrouetide then was there sent downe a Sergeant at armes called maister Gibson dwelling in Saint Thomas Apostle in London who suddainly arrested Doctor Barnes D. Barnes arrested in the Regent house and priuely they had determined to make searche for Luthers bookes and all the Germanes workes suddainly but by Doctor Farmans warning of Quéenes Colledge the bookes were conueyed away thirtie persons they had in speciall suspition Doctor Barnes was carried to Cardinall Wolsey and after hée had a while stood constant by the perswasion of Doctor Gardiner his secretarie and Foxe he relented and submitted himselfe Barnes submitteth himselfe and with fiue Stylliard men he bare his faggot at Paules the bishop of Rochester there preaching against Luther Doctor Barnes Notwithstanding his submission the Bishop commaunded hée shoulde be had to the Fléete againe and bée permitted to haue such libertie as other prysoners
had where Doctor Barnes continued halfe a yéere at length was deliuered and committed to be frée prisoner at the Austen friers in London Where being vndermined and complained of it was determined he shoulde be remoued to the Austine friers in Northampton there to be burned he himselfe knowing nothing thereof but by the aduise of Maister Horne who brought him vp he made escape came to London and by long Seas went to Antwerpe and so to Luther D. Barnes escapeth out of prison and there fell to studie till hée had made answere to all the byshoppes of the Realme and had made a Booke entituled Acta Romanorum Pontificum Acta Romanorum pontificum and another Booke with a supplication to King Henrie And such fauour God gaue him in fight of the Duke of Saxonie and the King of Demarke that the king of Denmarke sent him with the Lubeckes as Ambassadour to King Henrie the eyght and was lodged with the Lubeckes Chancellour at the Stillyarde Syr Thomas Moore the Chauncellour would faine haue entrapped him but the king woulde not suffer him For Cromwell was his great friend and ere he went the Lubeckes and he disputed with the Bishoppes of this Realme in defence of the trueth and so departed with them agayne without resistaunce and afterwarde hauing set forward in Germanie his woorkes in print that hée had begunne hée returned againe in the beginning of the reigne of Quéene Anne and after that was sent Ambassadour by king Henrie the eight to the Duke of Cleue for the marriage of the Ladie Anne of Cleue betwéene the King and her and was well accepted therefore vntill the time that Stephen Gardiner came out of Fraunce after which time neyther religion prospered nor the Queene nor Cromwell nor the Preachers for not long after Doctour Barnes with his brethren were apprehended and carryed before the Kinges maiestie at Hampton Court and there was examined Where the Kinges maiestye séeking the meanes of his safetie and desirous that Winchester and he might agrée graunted him leaue to go home to conferre with the Bishop but they not agréeing through certaine complaints Barnes and his fellowes were inioined to make thrée sermons the next Easter following at the spittle In which not satisfying the Prelates they were sent for to Hampton Court again D. Barnes sent to the tower and from thence to the Tower by Sir Iohn Gostwicke from whence they came not out til they came to their death And thus much concerning Doctor Barnes About the yéere 1526. Maister Garret Curate of Honie lane in London came to Oxforde and dispersed there certaine Bookes in Latine not agréeable to the Romish superstition with Tindalles Testament and had not long béene there but hée was searched for in London to bée apprehended for an Heretike and afterwarde a priuie searche was made in Oxforde whereof Garret béeyng warned by Maister Cole of Magdalene Colledge who after was crosse bearer to Cardinall Wolsey he departed out of Oxforde in the morning before Shrouetide towards Dorcetshyre where hee woulde haue for a time hidde himselfe But altering his mynde on the Friday night next hée returned to Oxforde and laye in Radlies house where by the priuie searche the same night hee was taken and kept prisoner in Doctour Cotfords chamber maister of Lincolne Colledge then being Commissary of the Vniuersitie from whence when the Commissary and his company was at Euensong Garret putting backe the locke of his doore with his finger escaped againe and chaunging his apparrell by the helpe of Anthonie Delaber scholer of Alborne hall departed but afterward was againe taken by maister Cole or his men going Westward at a place called Hincksey a little beyonde Oxeford and so being brought back agayn was committed to ward that done hee was conuented before the Commissarie Doctor London and doctor Higden Deane of Frisewides now called Christes Colledge into Saint Maries Church where they compelled him to carrie a Fagot in open Procession and Delaber with him and after were sent to Osney there to be kept in prison till further order was taken Yet againe after this M. Garret flying from place to place Barnes Garret and Hierom burned together escaped till the time he was apprehended and burned with Doctor Barnes with whom also W. Hierome sometime Vicar of Stepney was likewise drawne into Smithfield and together with them endured constantly martyrdome in the fire This Hierome for preaching at Paules the 4. Sundays in Lent and saying that all that were of the Fréewoman Sara were freely iustified for preaching that wee are not bound to princes lawes further than according to the word of God and that workes are no part of our saluation was committed to the Tower and the xxx of Iulie two daies after the death of the Lorde Cromwell An vniust proceeding not comming to any answere nor yet knowing any cause of their condemnation without any publike hearing processe being made out against them by the kings Counsel in the Parlament time Barnes Hierome and Garret were brought together from the Tower into Smithfield and by constant suffering the rage of the fire they gaue testimonie to the trueth After they had made confession of their faith and prayed there was one asked Doctor Barnes if the Saintes prayed for vs he said he would referre that vnto God and if they did then I trust said he to pray for you within this halfe houre M. Sheriffe and asked the Sheriffe if he had any Articles against him for which he was condemned The Sheriffe answered no Then said he is there any man els that knoweth wherefore I die or that by my preaching hath taken any errour let them now speake and I will make them aunswere And no man answered So praying earnestly for his persecutors hee gaue himselfe to suffer and required master Sheriffe to haue him commended vnto the king and to shew him that he required of his grace foure requestes First Doctor Barnes his 4. requestes to the king that he would bestowe parte of the Abbey possessions on the reliefe of the poore Secondly that he woulde sée matrimone to be had in more reuerence Thirdly that swearers might be punished Fourthly that he woulde set vp Christes true religion The same yere and day and in the same place were foure Papistes executed for denying the kings Supremacie Foure papists executed for denying the knigs supremacie which brought the people to a marueylous admiration Their names were Powell Fetherstone and Abel All 3. drawen hanged and quartered It fell out thus by reason the kings Counsell was deuided in Religion the one side hastening the execution of the Papistes and the other of the Protestants The fauourers of the trueth in king Henries dayes The patrones of poperie in those dayes The fauourers of the trueth were these Caunterburie Suffolke Vicount Beauchampe Vicount Lisle Russell Treasourer Paget Sadler Awdeley The fauourers of the Papistes Winchester Duresme Norfolke Southhampton Anthonie Browne William
iudged as periured persons to weare papers in Windsor and Ockam to stande vpon the Pillorie at Newberie where he was borne False Iudges and accusers punished The iudgement of the thrée was to ride about Windsor Reading and Newberie with papers on their heads and their faces turned to the horsetailes and so to stande vpon the Pillorie in euerie of those Townes for false accusation of the forenamed Martyrs and for periurie Anno 1539. There was commission sent to Calice to enquire of heresie through a complaint made of the entertainement and accepting of Adam Damlip alias George Bucker who there for xx dayes or more preached euery day at vii of the clocke He preached very godly sermōs against Transubstantiation and adoration of the sacrament Damlip by this Commission was cited and appeared before the Archb. of Canterbury Winchester Chichester and diuers others before whom constantly he mainteined the trueth of the sacrament and being dismissed for that time enioyned to appeare the next day Adam Damlip by the secret warning of the archb of Cant. he stept aside into the West countrey while great trouble was kindled against Gods people in Calice namely against sir W. Smith curate a zelous preacher T. Brook R. Hare sir I. Butler then Commissarie Iames Cocke alias Coppē Persecution in Calice D. Lane I Barber and others Of the which persons T. Brooke R. Hare Coppen D. Lane I. Barber were apprehended and sent ouer and committed to prison in Westminster gate and then commaunded to appeare before the Archb. Winchester Chichester and ten other appointed by the kings maiestie Sir W. Smith preacher and I. Butler by commandement were apprehended in Calice and boūd by suretie not to passe the boundes of Calice Sir William Smith was accused to preach against our ladie and praying to saints good works c. Brooke for speaking against the sacrament Rafe Hare for speaking against holy bread holy water Butler was charged to haue mainteined Adam Damlippe for which he was dismissed of his Commissariship And it was determined that sir W. Smith Rafe Hare Iames Cock and Iames Barber should be sent to Calice and there to abiure and do penance where sir Williā Smith was enioyned to make the sermon R. Hare I. Cock and Iames Barber there standing with fagots vpon their shoulders sauing because he dwelled there Barber was enioyned to beare his fagot iiij miles of Calice on the market day where sir W. Smith preached also as before and so ordered the matter in his sermon that in effect he denied nothing he had taught before His accuser was one R. Long a man at armes in Calice who falsly swore that he had eaten flesh in Lent at Brookes house after which oath he hauing taken displeasure some way ran out of his house and in the eyes of a number of people went drowned himselfe After this commission which was executed by M. Greenfield sir I. Butler the K. mason others through the rage of the enimy and complaint to the king that the commons were in perill through dissention of opinions there were sent ouer new commissioners the earle of Sussex lord great Chamberlaine the lord S. Iohn sir Iohn Gage knight sir Iohn Baker knight M. Layton clerke of the closet and D. Currin with speciall instructions besides signed with the kings owne hand so that if God had not taken compassion there had an hundreth béene burnt or hanged shortly after but it hapned far otherwise for of the number of those accusors iiij were by the cōmissioners sent ouer into England to wit Clement Philpot seruant to the L. Lisle sir Edmund curate of our Ladies church Thomas Towchet a postmaister Peter Requet Gods iudgement and deliuerance of his people of the which Philpot and the Curat were drawne hanged and quartered at London and contrarily of them that were accused not one lost an haire of his head Inquisition being made Thomas Brooke aforementioned was committed to ward and so were Anthony Pickering Gent. Henry Turney gentleman Sir George Darby priest Iohn Shepheard William Pellam William Reuerdall Iohn Whitewood Iohn Boote Robert Clodder Copen de Lane Mathew de Lound sent to close prison William Stephens likewise who was Adam Damlips host The L. Lisle dieth in the Tower was sent into England and clapt in the Tower and after him the L. Lisle deputie who died in the Tower The seconde day after Easter Thomas Brooke was sent for and committed to close prison in the maiors gaole and George Brodway was suborned by the Counsel of Calice who threatened him greatly if he woulde not burthen Brooke with some concealementes which he at length by straite imprisonment threats did and set to his hand that Brooke had for a long time concealed foure groates euery day for his Clarkes wages for which after a while Brodway being gréeued in his conscience with a knife wēt about to cut his owne throte had not the gaoler preuēted him who heard him grone with the pain he felt of the woūd after through guilt of conscience and shame he fell out of his wittes Gods iudgement vpon a false accuser Of this dealing with Brooke his wife gaue intelligence to the lord Cromwell wherein shée desired the lord Cromwell to be a meanes to the king that the afflicted and their causes might be heard in England which he with spéed did accomplish and wrote to the Commissioners in the kings name that Brooke and xij or xx of his complices should be sent ouer into England with their accusers Now by the time that the Commissioners had receiued these letters they had made out precepts for viij or ix score honest men more to be cast in prison but these Letters appalled and staied them notwithstanding they banished the men before named out of the towne for an hundreth yeres and sent them back to prison staying them there vpon hope that the Lord Cromwell should sooner come into captiuitie then he did but at last they sent xiij prisoners with Brook who within xxiiij houres were at anker before the Tower wharfe whom when the Lord Cromwell vnderstood to be come he commanded their yrons to be smote off at the tower wharfe and the prisoners to be brought vnto him whom hee greatly comforted After that they were sent to the Fleete and whiles they were in the Fleete and William Steuens in the tower the xix day of Iuly Anno 1541 the Lorde Cromwell their great fauourer was beheaded at Tower hill so that all hope seemed to them to haue beene vtterly lost of any deliuerance but the Lord had them in remembrance and stirred vp the Lord Awdley L. Awdley a friend to the afflicted Lord Chauncellour of England without further examination to deliuer them And at length two yeres after he deliuered William Steeuens also by the kings owne motion The vniust Coūsellers who charged the Towne with sedition and heresie fell afterward into the kings displeasure and
Frenchmen at the Iles of Iersey and Garnesey Bishop Boner who the first yere of the kings reigne anno 1547. had submitted himselfe hearing of the death of the Lord Admirall the L. Protectors brother and after that the rising of the kings Subiects began to draw backer and to neglect his duetie Whereupon as hath béene sayde he was called before the Counsell and enioyned to preach that such as rebell against their Prince resist Gods ordinance and to set foorth in his Sermon that the authoritie of the king was no lesse in his young age than was of any of his Predecessors c. Boenr at his time appointed preached at Paules crosse Muskleborow field Scots Frēch ouerthrowen and in steade of declaring such things as were enioyned him he spent his Sermon in the maintenance of the papisticall Transubstantiation and altogether left out the article touching the lawfull authoritie of the K. during his nonage For which so doing I. Hooper afterward B of Worcester and Glocester and M. W. Latimer Bachelour of Diuinitie did exhibite vnto the kings highnes vnder both their names a bill of complaint against him Whereupon the king did immediatly direct foorth his Commission vnder his broad Seale vnto the Archb. of Canterburie the B. of Rochester and other Counsellors geuing them authoritie to call Boner before them and to deale with him according as they should finde cause The tenth day of september Bishoppe Boner was summoned to appeare at Lambeth before the Commissioners before whom he behaued himselfe most vndiscréetely and vnreuerently defacing the authoritie of the Commissioners and shifting of the poynt hee was accused of and in the ende pulled out a Protestation out of his bosome readie written and exhibited it vnto the Commissioners Vnder which protestation he requested to haue a copie both of the Commission and accusation with time to answere therūto Which was granted him he assigned to appeare againe before thē vpō friday at 8. of the clocke before noone the next following and then to answere Vpon Friday the xiij of September Boner appeareth againe at Lambeth before the Commissioners and because Secretarie Smith sate there who was not there the former day Boner shifteth and caueleth Boner cauils thereat and makes delaies of answere and in the end tooke exceptions against his accusers because said he they were heretickes and iustly excommunicated and especially he inueighed against them for the matter of the Sacrament of the Altar and withall denied their accusations to be true and coloured glosed forth his maner of handling the points inioyned him and accompted the iniunctions of the booke forged because they were not sealed nor signed with the kings owne hand And when he had finished reading of his answeres Latimer deliuered vp a writing vnto the cōmissioners containing Articles agaynst him whereof certaine were touching his owne fact as whether he wrote his sermon or not to which he answered that onely he penned certaine notes then what aduise and whose he had to which he answered his owne onely with helpe of his bookes And this he answered an oth being ministred vnto him Ex officio mero These wordes ended the Commissioners assigned him Munday the xvj of September then next to appeare before them and to make his full answeres to all the Articles ministred vnto him by them that day On Mundaie the sixtenth of September hée appeareth againe before the Commissioners and exhibiteth vnto them answeres vnto the laste Articles but before the same were read the Archbishop declared vnto him that his answere made against his accusers denunciation contained matter of slander against them and so signified that they desired there to purge themselues which they both did first Latimer and next Hooper And after much vnséemely behauiour of Boner the Commissioners willed him to make aunswere to the articles obiected the last day against him which he did reading it and answering to euery poynt verie slenderly as to the point of the kings authoritie that he had gathered a note out of Histories and Scriptures of diuerse yoong Kinges who notwithstanding their minoritie were faithfully obeied and reputed for very lawfull kings all which with many other hée had purposed to declare if they had come vnto his memorie which they did not partly for lacke of vse of preachyng and partly by reason of a bill which was deliuered him from the Kinges counsell to declare the victorie hée had agaynst the rebels which confounded his memorie and partely for that his booke fell in his Sermon time from him wherein were diuerse of his notes which hée had collected for that purpose Which answere pleased not the Commissioners who required him to make it more direct whether he had doone as hée was enioyned or not whereto when he would no otherwise answere the cōmissioners did admit presently for witnesses vpon articles against him M. Iohn Cheeke Henry Markham Iohn Ioseph Iohn Douglas and Richard Chambers vpon whom they laid a corporall oth truely to answere Boner against this vnder his former protestation protested of the nullitie of the receiuing and admitting and swearing of those witnesses with protestation also to obiect against the persons and sayings of these witnesses demaunding a lawfull and competent time to minister interrogatories against them Wherewith the Commissioners were contented so that day he obiected against M. Cheeke and the next day before noone he obiected against the rest After this the Commissioners assigned to the Bishop to appeare againe before them vpon Wednesday the next ensuyng betwéene the houres of seuen and eight before noone at Lambeth there to shewe the cause why hee should not be declared Pro confesso vpon all the Articles wherevnto hée had not then fully aunswered but Boner still protesting the nullitie and inualiditie of al their procéedings they did for that time depart In the meane while the Commissioners certified the K. and his counsel of the B. behauiour and cauillations Whervpon the king the 17. of September did send vnto the Commissioners a full declaration of his owne will giuing them full authoritie to procéede at their owne discretions The 8. of September Boner appeareth againe and offereth matter vnto the Commissioners why he ought not to bée iudged pro confesso full of cauillations and vaine quiddities of their law and inordinat contempt In the end they ministred vnto him new articles and receiued witnesses against him but Boner still stoode vpon the nullitie of their Commission and the whole processe desiring a copie of the Articles which was graunted and time til the next day at viij of the clocke Also the same time hee exhibited a cauillation against William Latimer Boner exhibiteth a cauillation against William Latimer So the Commissioners appointed him a new time to appeare on munday next betwéene 6. 9. in the morning then to shew a finall cause why he shoulde not be iudged pro confesso And they deliuered him a copy of the Articles At the time appointed the
Bishop sent Robert Iohnson his register to the Commissioners sitting at Lambith and attending his appearaunce to signifie to them hee was sicke and so could not come The twentieth of September hée appeared nowe the fift time and hauing made a slender and doubtfull answere refused Syr Thomas Smithes iudgement because hée sawe him sharper bent agaynst him then the rest and made also his appeale to the King and withall verye vnreuerently behaued himselfe towardes the Commissioners For which cause Maister Secretarie Smith commaunded the Marshalles deputie to take Boner Prisoner and to keepe him that no man might come vnto him and assigned him to be brought before them againe on Mundaye nexte before noone betwéene seuen and nine of the clocke At which time hée appeareth and maketh a generall refusall of all the commissioners and sticketh to his former prouocations and protestations Then the Commissioners séeyng his pertinacie pronounced him Contumax and declared him pro confesso vpon all the articles which hée had not answered Boner pronoūced contumax pro confesso and determined to continue this case in state as it was vntill Friday then next following betwéen eight and nine before noone assigning Boner to be there before them at Lambith to heare a finall decrée of that matter Vpon which Friday for diuers vrgent causes the Commissioners coulde not sitte but deferred it till Tuesday the first of October next ensuing Vpon which day they offered yet fauour to Boner if hée woulde make more direct answere but hée persisting in his contumacie with euill spéeches the Archbishoppe with the consent of the rest of the Commissioners read the sentence of depriuation Boner depriued and committed him againe to his kéeper where he remained prisoner till the death of the King Nowe béeing prisoner in the Marshallsea he writeth vnto the Lorde Chauncellour and to the rest of the Counsell that through the enmity that the Duke of Somerset and Sir Thomas Smith bare him hée coulde not haue hearing of his suites to the King and Counsel He directeth also a supplication to the kings maiestie and desired his Graces letters of supersideas against the Commissioners and that the matter might be heard before the Counsell Whervpon the the K. committeth the examination of the whole processe vnto certaine noble personages and skilfull in the lawe as the Lorde Riche Lord Chauncellour the Lorde Treasurer the Lord Marques Dorset the Bishop of Eli the Lorde Wentworth c. which founde Boner in great fault of contumacy the procéedings being al iust and the sentence rightly giuen With the depriuation of Boner fell out the trouble of the Lord Protector L. protector wherevpon the people thinking the abrogating of poperie was his onely dooing bruted abroad that now they should haue their old Latine seruice againe with other superstitious trumperie Which caused the king his Counsell to direct letters to all Bishops to take away all Massals Grailes Processionals Manuals Legendes Portuases Iournals c. which might be any let to the English prayer Booke Also the Bishops were enioyned to punish all those that refused to giue to the charge of Bread and Wine for the Communion This was ahout the latter end of December 1549. In the next yéere following Altars were taken downe Altars taken downe by the kings commaundement and the Communion table placed in stéed thereof in forme of a table not of an altar as most agréeable to the institution of Christ About this time certaine of Ladie Maries Chaplaines had saide masse contrary to the lawes for which she being admonished of the Counsell tooke the matter very hardly and writeth to the Counsell sharpe letters tending to blame them as taking too much vpon them in the kings authoritie and iustifying her owne popish causes Lady Maries popish practises restrained Diuers letters passed to and fro from her and the Counsel as also from and to the king And in fine such order was taken that shée was restrained of her practises of popish religion and the offenders punished As Bonner behaued himselfe stubbornly againg the K. procéedings so Steeuen Gardiner B. of Winchester was not behinde in all disobedience and practises against the same for which he was imprisoned before the depriuation of Boner but was not deposed till anno 1551. He was first for his misdemeanour cast into the Fléete where after hée had remayned a time in much ease vpon promise of his cōformitie he was set at libertie and licensed to repaire to his owne Diocesse at his pleasure Where breaking hys promise he againe practised against the kings procéedings whereupon being sent for before the Counsell he promised againe the second time a conformation was left at libertie in his owne house in London where he yet againe began to ruffle against the kings godly procéedinges and to meddle in matters wherein he neither had commission nor authoritie part whereof touched the kings maiestie Wherof being yet once againe admonished by the king and of the counsell not onely promised to conforme himselfe with like of the kings procéedings but also offered to declare vnto the world his conformation in an open sermon on such articles as should be thought good to that end in which sermon cleane contrary to his promisse he did not onely neglect that that was enioyned him but also very seditiously behaued himselfe Gardiner behaueth himselfe seditiously Wherefore he was committed to the Tower and carried thither by sir Anthony Wingfield Gardiner sent to the Tower certaine doores of his house as was thought méete being also sealed vp At the tower certain of the Counsel by the kings appointment had accesse vnto him to perswade with him as the Duke of Somerset the L. Treasurer the Lord priuie seale the L. great Chamberlaine and Secretary Peter Who repairing to him the tenth day of Iune Anno 1550. he desired to sée the kings booke of procéedings vpon the sight whereof he would make a full answere whereas indéede before his answers were but delaies and cauilles séeming to be willing in al things to conforme himselfe therevnto and promising if any thing offended his conscience he would open it to none but to the Counsell But Winchester hauing perused the book saide he could make no direct answere vnlesse he were at liberty In the end the Lords seing his answeres always doubtful it was determined that he should be directly examined whether he would conforme himselfe to the kings procéedinges or not and articles drawen to that end To the which Winchester in a manner subscribed sauing the Article of submission which he said because he had neuer offended the K. he would not subscribe vnto To the kinges Supremacie his authoritie of appointing holy dayes and fasting daies to his booke of procéedings his authoritie in his tender yeres the abrogating of the sixe articles to his iurisdiction and authoritie in correcting of Ecclesiastical persons he subscribed only he would make no submission to the king And in
sherife Master Woodrooffe which so cruelly handled M. Bradforde Gods iudgement that his right side being stricken with a palsey hee so remayned till his dying day eyght yeres together Master Bradford wrote a whole volume of Letters Bradfordes Letters to sundrie persons out of prison And greatly strengthened and comforted many to the Citie of London to Cambridge into Lankesshire and Chesshire to the towne of Walden with a nūber other to priuate persons The next day after M. Bradford Iohn Leafe did suffer in Smithféeld Williā Munge préest died in pryson at Maidstone being there in bondes for religion like to haue suffered if he had liued Vpon the iij. of Iulie Anno 1555. died one Iames Treuisam in the parish of S. Margaret in Lothberie and was borne vpon a table without coffin or any thing else into Moore-féeld and there buried The same night the body was cast vp aboue the ground and his sheete taken from him and he left naked After this the owner of the field seeing him buried him again The dead body summoned to appeare to answere And a fortnight after the sumner came to his graue and summoned him to appeare at Paules before his ordinary to answere such thinge as should be laide against him The 13. of Iuly Iohn Bland parson of Adesham in Kent I. Frankesh Nicholas Sheterden and Humfrey Middleton were all foure burned together at Canterbury Foure martyrs in Canterbury for one cause whereof Frankesh and Bland were ministers and preachers He was twise before put in prison for the Gospell and by suite of friends deliuered but because he coulde not kéepe silence in his liberty but preach vnto the people he was the third time imprisoned The xiij or xiiij of Februarie he was sent to Canterburie gaole where he lay x. wéekes and then was bayled and bound to appeare at the next Sessions at Canterburie But the matter being exhibited to the Spirituall Court there it was heard So that the xviij of May he was examined by Harpsfielde and againe the xxi And from them tossed to the Sessions at Gréenewich the xviij and xix of Februarie And after much reasoning with the Commissarie and other of the Spirituall Court he was condemned the xxv day of Iune by the S. of Douer R. Thornton sometimes a Professor assisted by the Commissarie Robert Cellius and the archdeacon Nicholas Harpsfield The same day were the rest afore named condemned and suffered ioyfully together at Canturburie the xij of Iuly at two stakes al in one fire The same moneth of Iuly next after the suffering of the Kentishmen aboue named Nicholas Hall bricklayer and Christopher Wade Nicholas Hall Christopher Wade martyrs of Dartford suffered were condemned by Maurice B. of Rochester about the last day of the moneth of Iune Nicholas Hall was burned at Rochester about the xix of Iuly In which moneth of Iuly thrée other more were condēned by Maurice whose names were Ioane Breach widow Iohn Horpoll of Rochester and Margerie Polley Christopher Wade of Dartford in the Countie of Kent lynen draper was appointed to be burned at Dartford About x. of the clocke the Shiriffe bringeth Wade pinioned and by him one Margerie Polley Margerie Polley comforteth Wade of Tunbridge both singing a Psalme Which Margerie so soone as shée spied a great multitude gathered about the place where she should suffer wayting her comming she said vnto Wade very lowde and chéerefully you may reioyce Wade to sée such a company gathered to celebrate your mariage this day Wade cōming to the stake tooke it in his armes embracing it kissed it and being setled thereto his handes and eies lift vp to heauen He spake with a chéerefull and lowde voice the last verse of the 86. psalme Shew some good tokē vpon me O Lord Wades praier that they which hate me may sée it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast helped me comforted me Néere vnto the stake approched a Frier intēding some matter while Wade was a praying Whom when he spied he cried earnestly to the people to beware of the doctrine of the whore of Babylon with such vehemencie that the Frier withdrew himselfe without speaking any word Thē réeds being set about him he pulled embraced them in his armes alwaies with his hands making a hole against his face that his voice might be heard which they perceiuing that were his tormentors alwaies cast faggots at the same hole Which he notwithstanding stil as he could put off his face being hurt with the end of a faggot cast thereat Then fire being put to him he cried vnto God often Lord Iesus receiue my soule And beyng dead and altogether rosted his handes were held ouer his head as though he had béene staied with a prop. The 22. of Iuly was burned at Lewes within the countie of Sussex one Dyrick Caruer Dyrick Caruer Béerebrewer in the parish of Bright-hamstéed in the same countie the next day was also burned at Steining Iohn Lander Iohn Lander late of Godstone in the county of Surrie Which two mē with others about the end of the moneth of October were apprehended by Edw. Gage gentleman as they were at praier in the house of Dyrick by him were sent vp to London to the Counsell who after examinatiō sent them to Newgate there to attend the leisure of Boner From whence they were brought the viij of Iune next after into the B. chāber in his house at Londō Where being examined earnestly perswaded with and no hope to peruert thē after diuerse examinations they were condēned the x of Iune of the B. in his cōsistorie at Paules afterwards were conueyed to the places afore mentioned where they gaue their liues chéerfully and gladly for the testimonie of the truth Dyrick was a man blessed with tēporall riches which notwithstanding were no clog to him during his imprisonment although he was well stricken in yéeres as it were past the time of learning yet he so spent his time that being at his first apprehensiō vtterly ignorāt of any letter of the booke yet could he before his death read any printed English In his praier at the stake he vttered these words oh Lord my God thou hast writtē he that will not forsake wife childrē house and all that euer he hath take vp thy crosse follow thée is not worthy of thee Dyrick Caruers words at the stake but thou Lord knowest that I haue forsaken all to come vnto thée Lord haue mercy vpō me for vnto thée I commend my spirit my soule doth reioyce in thée These wordes were the last that hée spake till the fire was put vnto him And after the fire came to him he cried Lord haue mercy vpon me and so died At Chichester about the same moneth was burned one Tho. Iueson Tho. Iueson of Godstone in the county of Surrey Carpenter after perswasion in vaine to recant When he had said
singing and reioycing To whom M. Philpot answered that they sang Psalmes and that hée trusted he would not be offended therewith since S. Paul saith If a man be of an vpright minde Mē of vpright mindes let him sing and we therefore said he to testify that wee are of an vpright mynd to God though we be in miserie do sing So he was had againe to the Colehouse where he had other sixe companions of the same affliction He was examined in all 14. seuerall times the fourth time in the Archdeacons house of London in the moneth of October before the Byshops of London Bath Worcester and Glocester with whom after dispute of the church of Rome and authoritie therof he was againe dismissed The Byshops rose vp and consulted together and caused a writing to be made whertoo they put their handes So he was againe carried to his Colehouse M. Philpot thought then they conspired his death The 5. examination was before the Byshops of London Rochester Couentrie saint Asses with another Doctor Storie Curtop Doctor Sauerson Doctor Pendleton with other Chaplens and gentlemen of the Quéenes Chamber and others in the Gallerie of the B. of Londons pallace Where Boner because he said hee minded on the morrow to sit in iudgement on him exhorted him to play the wise mans part and to conforme himselfe To whom Philpot answered he was glad iudgement was so nigh but refused Boner as not being his ordinarie After much dispute of the Romish church and reuilings of Doctor Storie against Maister Philpot he was had againe to the Colehouse the Byshop of London promising him fauour and that he had in his hands to do him good To whō Philpot answered my Lord the pleasure that I will require of you is to hasten my iudgment and so to dispatch me out of this miserable world vnto my eternall rest To hasten iudgement a pleasure to the Martyr The B. for all his faire promises performed no kinde of curtesie vnto him for a whole fortnight after he had neither fire nor candell nor good lodging The sixt examination was before the Lord Chāberlaine the vicont Hereford the L. Ritch the L.S. Iohns the Lord Windsore the L. Shandoys sir Iohn Brydges lieftenant of the Tower with the B of London and Doctor Chadsey The sixt of Nouember Anno 1555. Before whom he was reasoned with touching the Romish Church and of the Sacrament of the Altar The Lordes temporall being halfe amazed at that which they heard and not giuing M. Philpot an euill word The vij examination was had the xix of Nouember before the B of London and Rochester the Chauncellor of Litchfield and Doctor Chadsey The next morning Boner sent for maister Philpot to come to Masse A sharpe answere to Boners message To whose messenger he answered his stomacke was too weake to digest such raw meates of flesh blood and bone The next day the B. sent againe for him and ministred false articles against him and could bring no witnesse but would haue had his prison fellows sworne against him Which because they refused they were put in the stockes and also M. Philpot with them where they sate from morning till night The Sunday after at night betwixt 8. and 9. the Byshop came to the Colehouse himselfe and caused maister Philpot to be had into another place of imprisonment and there caused him to be searched but the searcher missed of his last examination which he had written yet tooke two Letters from him whiche were of no greate importaunce The viij examination was before the B. of London of Saint Dauis maister Mordant and others in the B. chappel where the B. would haue had him answered onely yea or nay to certaine Articles Which Philpot would not but made his appeale which the Bishop said he would stay in his owne handes So was he had againe to the colehouse The 9. time he was examined of the B. alone with his Chaplains the next day after in the Wardrope Where maister Philpot woulde not heare so much as Articles read against him refusing Boner as béeing not his ordinary At the last they fell to reason of the Sacrament of the altar and the masse the Bishop and diuers of his Chaplaines setting vpon maister Philpot. To whom hée gaue no place nor cause of triumph but sufficiently mainteined the trueth therein So for that time he was dismissed to his prison againe And the next day the tenth time was examined of the B his register and others and charged with the booke of Catechisme made in king Edwards daies and certain conclusions agréed vpon both in Oxford and Cambridge c. But M. Philpot refused him for ordinary would not answere but appealed to him that was in place of the Archbishopricke of Canterbury because he knew not of his imprisonment who was then Archbishop The 11. examination was on S. Andrewes day before the Bish of Duresme of Chichester of Bath of London the Prolocutor maister Christophorson Doctor Chadsey maister Morgan of Oxford maister Hussey of the Arches Doctor Weston Doctor Harpesfield maister Coosins maister Iohnson register to the B. of London these disputed against maister Philpot touching the true Church and of the Sacrament of the Altar and of the antiquity of the religion which maister Philpot professed Of which companie maister Morgan behaued himselfe aboue all the rest most insolently against him who asked maister Philpot howe hée knew that hée had the spirite of GOD scoffingly To whome Philpot aunswered by the faith of Christ which is in mée Ah by faith doe you so sayth Morgan I weene it bee the spirite of the buttery which your fellowes haue had which haue beene burned before you who were drunken the night before they went to their death and I weene went drunke vnto it To whome Maister Philpot aunswered It appeareth by your communication that you are better acquaynted with the spirite of the the butterie M. Philpots zeale against Morgan then with the spirite of God Wherefore I must needes tell thee thou paynted wall and Hypocrite In the name of the liuing GOD whose trueth I haue tolde thee that God shall raigne fire and brimstone vppon suche scorners of his worde and Blasphemers of his trueth as thou art Morgan What you rage nowe Philpot. Thy foolishe blasphemies haue compelled the spirite of God which is in mée to speake that which I haue saide vnto thee thou enemie of all righteousnesse By thine owne wordes doe I iudge thée thou blinde and blasphemous Doctour for as it is written By thy words thou shalt be iustified by thy wordes thou shalt be condemned I haue spoken on Gods behalfe and nowe haue I done with thée Morgan Why then I tell thée Philpot thou art an heretike and shalt bée burned for thine heresie and afterwarde goe to hell fire Philpot I tell thee thou hypocrite I passe not this for thy fire and fagot neyther I thanke GOD my Lorde stande in feare of the same my
they had heard the confession of his faith first they would not afterward haue suffered him to exhort the people About 9. of the clocke the L. Williams of Thame Syr Thomas Bridges Sir Iohn Browne c. came with their retaine and Cranmer was brought out of Bocardo vnto S. Maries Church where hee had his standing on a scaffold of a meane height there wayting til maister Cole made him ready to his sermon In which he declared causes why iustly the Quéene had determined his death for that he was a Traitor and an heretike c. And that it séemed méete according to the lawe of equality that as the death of the Duke of Northumberland made euen with Tho. Moore Law of equality so there should bée one that should make euen with Fisher of Rochester And because that Ridley Hooper and Farrar were not able to make euen with that man it séemed méete that Cranmer should be ioyned to them to fill vp this part of equality c. And then turning himselfe to the people bad them all beware of this mans example The latter part of his sermon he directed to the Archb. whom he encouraged and comforted and did promise in the name of al the priests that were present that immediatly after his death there should be Diriges masses and funerals executed for him in Oxford for his soules health Cranmer The pitiful case of Cranmer all this time stood heauy and more then twentye times the teares gushed out of his eyes and dropped in abundance all the time of Coles sermon Which beeing ended hee calleth backe the people béeing ready to depart to prayers and prayed Cranmer to expresse the vndoubted profession of his faith that he might take away all suspicion from men I wil do it said the Archb. and with a good wil. So hée first read a praier to the people which he pulled out of his bosome gaue them exhortation of contempt of the world of obedience of brotherly loue and aboue all thinges bewayled his recantation Cranmer bewaileth his recantation saying that when he came to the fire that hand which had subscribed therevnto should first burne And so defyed the Pope with his detestable doctrine c. The standers by that looked for other matter were all amazed at his wordes and the filthy priests prelates greatly deceiued who raged against him especially Cole so they pulled him downe from the stage and led him to the fire the Spanish Frier and the other railing on him in the way When he came to the place of execution hee not long tarying in his praiers Cranmer burneth first the hand wherewith he subscribed put of his apparell to his shirt prepared himselfe to the fire which being put vnto him and burning néere him he put his right hand in the flame which hée held so stedfast sauing that once with the same hand he wiped his face that all men might sée his hande burned before his bodie was touched which hée held immoueable all the time of his burning lifting his eyes vp to heauen and oftentimes repeating his vnwoorthy right hand and so long as his voyce woulde suffer him vsing oftentimes the wordes of Stephen Lord Iesus receiue my spirite Cranmer burned And in the greatnesse of the flame hée gaue vp the Ghost The wicked cannot discerne the spirits The Spaniard beholding this constancie of the Archbishop ran to the Lord Williams of Thame crying that Cranmer was vexed in minde and died in desperation And this was the ende of that woorthy seruaunt of GOD who suffered in the middest of Quéene Maries raigne and was almost the very middle man of all the martyrs of her daies Why Cranmer desired life It was thought he desired life to finish certaine woorkes and to reserue himselfe for better times for the vse of the Church About the same time that the Archbishop was burned at Oxforde suffered likewise in Ipswich twoo women the one named Agnes Potten the other called Ioan Trunchfield either in the same moneth of Marth or as some said in the end of Februarie the next before They suffered for the matter of the Sacrament and bare their martyrdome with great patience and godly courage After these women the same moneth suffered thrée men at one fire in Salesburie for the testimonie of the Gospell Their names were Iohn Spicer Iohn Spicer frée mason William Coberly Wil. Coberley Tayler Iohn Maundrell Iohn Maundrel husbandman Vppon a Sunday they beyng at the Parrish church called Keuell in Wiltshire and seeing the parrish in procession to follow and worship the Idoll there caryed aduised them to leaue the same and to turne to the liuing God namely speaking to one Robert Barkesdale headman of the parrish but hee tooke no regard to their woords After this the Vicar came into the pulpet who there being about to read his beadroll and to pray for the soules in purgatorie Iohn Maundrell speaking with an audible voice said that that was the popes pinfold the other two affirming the same Purgatorie the Popes Pinfold After which words by the commaundement of the priest they were had to the stockes where they remained till Seruice was done and then were brought before a Iustice of Peace and the next day were carryed to Salesburie and presented before Byshop Capon and William Ieffrey Chaunceller of the Dyoces by whom they were imprisoned and often examined priuatly At the last they were examined publicklie before them in the presence of the sheriffe of the Shire one M. Saint-Iohns and other popish priests in the Church of Fisherton-anger Where the Chauncellour obiected to them touching the Sacrament the Popes Supremacie Images c. To which when they answered frankly according to the trueth they were all there condemned an 1556 the xxiij of March And the foure and twentith day of the same moneth they were carried out of the gaole to a place betwixt Salisburie and Milton where they were committed to the fire Which they endured constantly witnessing the trueth Of which 3. Caberley had the painfullest death by reason of the standing of the winde which notwithstanding patiently he did endure About the 23. of Aprill Anno 1556. were burned in Smithfield at one fire vi at one fire in Smithfield vj constant Martyrs suffering for the testimonie of the truth viz. Robert Drakes Robert Drakes minister William Timmes Wil. Timmes Curate Richard Spurge Rich. Spurge Shereman Thomas Spurge Tho Spurge Fuller Iohn Cauell Iohn Cauell Weauer George Ambrose Geo. Ambrose Fuller all of Essex and so of the dyoces of London and were sent vp some by the L. Ritch and some by others at sundrie times vnto Stephē Gardiner B. of Winchester about the 22. of March Anno. 1555. who vppon smal examination sent some of them vnto the kings bench others vnto the marshalsea where they remained almost al the yéere vntill the Bishops death and had
Carewe to Bruxels with king Philips safe conduct to passe and repasse by the meanes of the Lorde Paget and Sir Iohn Mason who pledged for his safe conduct king Philippes fidelitie But in his returne when hee had brought the Lorde Paget on his way from Bruxels towarde England he with Sir Peter Carewe was taken by the prouost-marshall spoyled of their horses and clapped into a Carte their legges armes and bodies tied with halters to the bodie of the Carte And so shipped being blindfolded vnder the hatches and brought to the Tower of London Where at the length Sir Iohn Cheeke Sir I. Cheeke was brought to recant and was drawen vnwares to sitte in place where the poore Martirs were brought before Boner and other Bishops to be condemned The remorse whereof wrought such effect in him that not long after he left this mortall life repenting him greatly of his fall before his death The ende of the eleuenth Booke The twelfth and last Booke CArdinall Poole thrée yéeres after his returne into England aduised himselfe of the reforming of the Vniuersitie of Cābridge The vniuersitie of Cambridge to be reformed To performe which charge were chosen Cutbert Scot not long before cōsecrated B of Chester Nicholas Ormanet an Italian archpriest of the people of Bodalon in the dioces of Veron professed in both lawes bearing the name of Lord Pope his Datary T. Watson elected B. of Lincoln Iohn Christophorson elected B. of Chichester and Henrie Cole prouost of the Colledge of Eaton The 9. of Ianuary Anno 1556. Inquisitors came to Cambridge The inquisitors aforesaid came to Cambridge took vp their lodgings all of them in Trinity colledge with M. Christophorson maister of the Colledge The next day after their comming they interdicted two Churches namely S. Maries Q. Maries and S. Michaels Churches were interdicted where Martin Bucer and S. Michaels where Paulus Phagius was buried now thrée or foure yéeres past During which time vnto that day the Priests neuer ceassed to celebrate masses and other ceremonies in these Churches and that without scruple till the comming of these Commissioners Who commaunded hereafter that the assemblies which should be made for executing of holy ceremonies should be remoued to the kings Chappell On the xj day the Vicechancellor of the Vniuersitie with the Masters of houses and the rest of the Graduates were commanded to appeare before the Commissioners in their habites so did in the gatehouse of Trinitie colledge which was adorned for the Commissioners Where the vicechācellor aforesaid hauing on a tissue cope sprinkeled the Commissioners with holy water and purposed to cense thē but they refused it there Which notwithstanding afterward in the Quéenes Colledge and elswhere they refused not There M. Iohn Stokes oratour of the Vniuersitie welcomed them with an oration whereto the B. of Chichester answered with thankefull acceptation of the curtesie of the vniuersitie and so declared the cause of their commission From thence they were brought to the kinges Colledge where was songe a masse of the holy Ghost From thence they went to the interdicted Church of saint Maries wher Pecocke preached against heresie and heretickes naming Bylney Cranmer Latimer Rydley c. That being ended they procéeded to their visitation which Robert Brassey maister of kings Colledge a worthy aged man woulde not admit in his colledge Kings colledge refuseth the inquisitors because the visitation of his house was wholly reserued to the B. of Lincolne Which exception they tooke all in great displeasure The 12. of Ianuary they resorted to kings colledge for that Colledge time out of mind had béen counted neuer to be without an heretike or twaine The M. of that Colledge maister Brassey K. colledge neuer without an heretike Robert Brassey a good old man maister of K. Colledge maketh his exception againe to their visitaon but it would not serue In that Colledge some there were that refused to take their oath because they had giuen it to their Colledge before and also would not be brought thereby to accuse themselues yet at the length with much a doe they were contented to be sworne Thrée daies long lasted the Inquisition There after this it was aduised that the Vniuersitie should themselues first decrée against Bucer and Phagius and after make Supplication to the Commissioners for the confirming of this decrée So the Vniuersitie authorised their Vicechancellour to be the common factor for the Vniuersitie Which Supplication being put vp to the Commissioners the xiij day was of them graunted and afterwarde confirmed by the whole consent of the Vniuersitie and signed with the common seale the fourtéenth day by the Vice-Chaunceller by Doctor Yong Doctor Haruey Swineborne Marpetide c. After they had all dyned together at master Bacons maister of Gonwell hall by and by they carried it to the Commissioners to their Lodging Their condemnation being openly read then was it desired to send out processe to cite Bucer and Phagius to appeare or any other that would take vpon thē to plead their cause against the next mūday So the next day processe went out to cite the offenders But when neither of the parties accused would appeare at the time appointed although they might at the first haue condemned them yet a second processe was published and sentence deferred till the 26. of the same moneth On which day the Maior was also warned with his bretheren to bée present to behold what should bée determined When they had taken their places there was exhibited to the commissioners the processe that was lastly published to cite them This being done the B. of Chester maketh a spéech reciteth the sentence out of a scroll and condemned Bucer Phagius Bucer and Phagius digged out of their graues of heresie After sentence thus read he commaunded their bodies to be digged out of their graues first to be disgraded from holy orders he deliuered them to the secular power All this being ended they dispatch a purseuante to aduertise the Cardinall what they had done and required the writ de comburendo And while he went on his message they willed all suspected bookes to be brought for to be burned with the corps of Bucer and Phagius The purseuante being returned with the writ vpon the receipte thereof they appointed the 6 day of Februarie for the accomplishment of the matter So the Vicechanceller on that day taking with him Marshall the common notarie went first to saint Michaels church where Phagius was buried there he calleth foorth Andrew Smith Henry Sawyer and Henry Adams men of the same parrish and bound them with an oth to digge vp Phagius bones and to bring them to the place of execution Marshall tooke their othes receyuing the like of Roger Smith and William Hasell the towne Sergeants and of Iohn Capper warden of the same Church for doing the like with Bucer Their cofins being taken vp they were lincked with a chaine to a post on the market
down vpon his knées hauing his booke by him reading singing psalms continually without ceassing for 3. daies and 3. nightes together refusing meate and other talke to the great wonder of many Then one Iohn Crowch his next neighbour went to the Constables Robert Marsham and Robert Lawes in the night to certifie them thereof For Berrie the Vicar of the Towne did commaund openly to watch for him and the Constables vnderstanding the same tooke him by breake of day The two and twenty of Aprill when Hudson sawe them come in he saide nowe mine houre is come welcome friendes welcome You bee they that shall leade me to life in Christ Note I thanke GOD therefore and the Lorde enable mée thereto for his mercies sake So they ledde him to Berry the Commissary who wrote vnto the Bishop letters against him and sent him to Norwich bound like a théefe whither hee went with ioy and singing chéere In prison he was a moneth where hee did continually reade and inuocate the name of God After they had all thrée béene chained to the stake Thomas Hudson immediatly commeth foorth from them vnder the chaine fell downe vpon his knées and praied vehemently vnto the Lord for comfort for he was at the very stake distressed thē rose he with great ioy as a man new chaunged from life to death and said now I thanke God I am strong passe not what man can doo vnto me Note so with his fellowes gaue testimony to the truth in the flames of fire Somewhat before this time was one mother Seaman mother to Wil. Seaman persecuted for the gospell being of the age of 66. and was glad to liue sometimes in groues in bushes c. After she was dead the Lord taking her away by sicknesse one M. Simonds the commissary dwelling at Thornden gaue commaundement she should not come in Christian buriall so she was buried in a pit vnder a moats side Likewise one mother Bennet of the towne of Wetherset after her departure this life was laide in a graue by the high way side The 26. of May suffered at Colchester William Harris W. Harris Rich. Day Rich. Day Christian Gorge Christ Gorge a wife whose husband had another wife burnt before this Christian whose name was Agnes Gorge that suffered with the 13. at Stratford the Bow After the death of Christian he maried an honest godly woman and in the end being taken with his wife with her he remayned in prison till the death of Q. Marie was deliuered by our most gratious Quéene Elizabeth A sharpe proclamation against godly bookes In the moneth of Iune came forth a Proclamation very sharpe against godly bookes by the king and Quéene On the backside of the town of Islingtō were assembled xl godlie persons men and women vertuouslie applying thēselues in prayer and reading the worde Wherof 22. were by Sir Roger Cholmeley and the Recorder sent prisoners to Newgate where they lay eight dayes before they came to examination Of these xxij thirteene were burned seuen in Smithfield and six at Brainford In prison two died in Whitson wéeke the names of whom were Mathew Withers and T. Taylor Seuen of them which remained escaped with their liues hardly without burning whose names were these Iohn Milles Thomas Hinshaw Robert Bayly wolpacker Robert Willers Hudleys Thomas Ceast haberdasher Roger Sandey The 7. that suffered were brought before Boner the 14. of Iune to make answere to such articles as should be obiected Which when they constātly did according to the truth of the Gospell they were by Boner condemned and the 17. day of Iune were sent againe to Newgate where they remained til the 27. day On which day they chéerfully suffered in Smithfield in the fire Their names were these Henrie Pond Henry Pond Raynold Eastland Rain Eastland Robert Southam Rob. Southam Mathew Richarby Mat. Richarby Iohn Floyd Iohn Floyd Iohn Holiday Iohn Holiday Roger Holland Rog. Holland This Holland was a merchant taylour in London sometimes apprentice with one maister Kempton at the blacke boy in Watlingstréet Hee was before his conuersion a Papist and a very lewd yong man and was brought to the knowledge of the trueth by the exhortation of a sober maide that was seruant in the same house whom afterward he did marry and liued vertuously together til such time as the cruell Papists made separation by fire The same day they suffered Proclamation was made that none should be so bolde to speake or talke any word vnto them A straight Proclamation or receiue any thing of them or to touch them vpon payne of imprisonment without eyther Baile or mainprise Notwithstanding the people cryed out desiring God to strengthen them and they likewise prayed for the people the restoring of the word of God R. Holland at the stake At length Roger embracing the stake and the Réedes said these wordes Lorde I most humbly thanke thy maiestie that thou hast called me from the state of death vnto the light of thy heauenly word and now vnto the felowship of thy Saintes that I may sing and say Holy holy holy Lord God of Hostes and Lord into thy hands I commit my spirit Lord blesse the people saue them from idolatrie And so with the rest of his felowes ended his life lauding and praysing God The fourtéenth day of Iuly suffered other sixe at Brainforde seuen miles from London Their names were these Robert Milles R. Milles. Steeuen Wight S. Wight a Tanner Steeuen Carton S. Carton Iohn Slade I. Slade Robert Denis R. Denis and William Pikes W. Pikes or Pikers They were condemned by the Bishops Chauncellour D. Darbishire in the presence of Sir Edward Hastinges and Sir Thomas Cornwalles and suffered ioyfully for the testimonie of Iesus Of the sixe of that companie which escaped burning two were scourged by Bishoppe Boner in his Garden Thomas Hinshawe about the age of ninetéene or twentie yeares being Apprentice and dwelling in Paules Churchyarde with one M. Puggeson and Iohn Milles a married man on whom he spent two roddes and on Hinshaw one Hinshaw was deliuered by reason he fell sicke of a burning ague Boner not thinking he would liue when he had béene a yere in prison In which space Quéene Marie died and hee shortly after recouered health Iohn Milles was a Capper a right faithfull seruant of God The cause why he was scourged was because when Boner asked him what time he crept to the crosse he answered not since he came to the yeres of discretion nor woulde not but rather bée torne in péeces with wilde horses Boner ofttimes speaking to Iohn Milles would say they call me bloudie Boner a vengeance on you all I would fain be rid of you but you haue a delight in burning but if I might haue my will I would sowe your mouthes and put you into sackes and drowne you On a day
Epistle of Casse to the church of England eadem The pope still reigneth his exactions 246 Pope Eugenius eadem Articles against the spiritualtie eadem Knowledge of ciuil causes belōgeth not to the clergy 247 Reformatiō to be done ead The king dieth 248 Crouched Friers ead Knights of the Rhodes ead Templars burnt at Paris ead The Templars put down vniuersally eadem The pope selleth the Tēplars lands eadem Cistercian monks exempt ea The pope couseneth the Frāciscane Friers 249 The Venetians cursed of the pope eadem A monstrous tyranny ead Walter Reinald 250 Clement 5. dieth ead Papacy voyd 2. yeeres ead Pope maketh profite of the variance of princes ead 8. pence in euery marke ead Michael house founded in Cambridge eadē Nicholaus de lyra ead Guilielmus 251 Occham ead Adam eadem Simon M. eadem Clement 252 A great heresie ead Ludouicus ead Bauarus Emperor eadem Contentiō betwixt the pope Emp. 24. yeeres eadem pope hath ful power to creat and depose Emperors at his pleasure ead Marsilius Patauinus ead Defensor pacis eadē Pope Nicholas 253 Benedict 12 eadem Emperor depriued ead Variance betwixt the pope French king ead The Emp. must resigne all to the pope eadem The feends hant the pope ea Black curses against the Emperor ead Archb. of Mētz depriued ea Warre with the king of England eadem The Emperour giueth ouer to the pope eadem The Emp. poisoned eadem Gunterus de monte nigro chosen Emperour eadem Charles chosen Emp. 255 The Iubile euery 50. yeere From Auinion to Rome ea 50000. pilgrims eadem The forme of the bull of Iubile eadem The pope commandeth the Angels eadem Against prouisions from Rome 256 Tenths to the king ead Orial colledge and S. Marie hall eadem The abbey of Bury spoyled by the townes men eadem The towne of Bury fyned at 120000. pound eadem The abbot of Cheuingtō ea King Edward the 3. 257 Charter from the king to the cleargy eadem Gregorius Ariminensis ead Taulerus eadem Franciscus Petrarcha ead Iohan. de rupe Scisca eadem Rome the whore of Babylō ea Vade mecum in tribulatione ead Conradus Hayer 258 Gerardus Rydder ead Lachrimae Ecclesiae ead Michael Cesenas ead Petrus de Carbona ead Iohannes de Poliaco ead Rome drunk with the blood of saints ead Iohannes de Castilion ead Francisc de Alcatara ead Simon Islip ead Cāterb college in Oxford 259 New colledge in Oxford ead Pope Innocent the 6. ead Rome the whore of Babylō ea Strife betweene French prelats and Friers eadem Towns-mē of Oxford spoile the scholers 260 Idle holy dayes 262 A priests wages 263 S. Bridgets Nunnes 261 Q. colledge in Oxford ead Holy speare holy nayles ead The order of the bishops of Canterbury eadem A prophecy eadem Haynchardus eadem A prophecy of antichrist 264 Complaint of the plowmen against the cleargy eadem Church of Rome a byrde decked with other byrdes feathers ead Armanach archb of Irelād ea Richard Fitzrafe eadem Iohn Badenthorp ead 9 cōclusiōs against friers ea A long controuersie among the friers 265 Fauourers of friers ead Defensorium curatotiū ead Armanachus a mighty piller of Gods church ead How Rome came by her patrimonie eadem Nicholaus Orem 266 Iesuits begin eadem Offices remoued frō the clergie to the laitie eadem The P. remoueth frō France to Rome eadem Melitzing a Bohemian ead Reseruations of benefices in England no more for the Popes vse 267 Premunire to make appeal to Rome for any cause 268 Holy Briget a great rebuker of the popish clergie ead The x. commandemēts turned into two wordes Dapecuniam eadem M. Paris of Antichrist ead Ioh. Montziger ead Nilus archb of Thessal ead Henricus de Iota 269 Henricus de Hassia ead The deuils belly ful of the P. voluptuousnes eadem 36. burned for the truth ead 140. suffered for refusing the Decretals eadem 24. suffer at Paris ead The act of prouision 270 An acte to continue for euer ead Decrees against oppressiō of the pope ea In Wickliffs time the worlde in worst case 271 Wickliffe against Images ea Iohn of Gaunt L. Percy fauorers of Wickliffe ead The opinions of Wic ead Wic brought before the bishops 272 Wic bid sit down 273 Frō brauling to threats ead A proud B. wounded ea K. Edw. the greatest brideler of the P. dieth ead Wickl goeth barefoot preaching ea Articles out of Wick preaching ead Wic articles cōdemned for heretical 274 Popes bul against Wic ead P. diligence against W. ea 18. heretical opiniōs against Wick 275 W. escapeth the 2. time 276 W. greatly supported by Lōdoners ead pope Gregorie dieth ead A schisme betwixt 2. Popes 39. yeres ea Popes and antipopes ead Clement ead Benedictus 3 ead Boniface 9 ead Innocentius 8 ead Gregorie 12 ead Crueltie among the clergie during the schisme 277 S. Sudburie beheaded of the rude people ead Vicechancellor of Oxford enemie to Wickliffe ead Wic mitigateth his enemies 278 Wickliffes articles condemned ead Tenths are pure almes 279 A terrible earthquake ead Fauourers of Wick appointed to preach 280 Stokes an enemie to Wick 281 D. of Lancastar forsooke the schollers of Wick ead Repington Ashton reconciled ead Repington abiureth ead Lōdiners fauor the truth 282 VVick banished ead Schisme cause of W. quiet ea A cruel bishop 283 Wic parson at Lutterworth ead Wickliffs constancie ead Wick bookes burned ead VVic fauorers 284 Londoners take on them the bishops office ead Bones of wick burned after his death ead I. Husse W. Swinderby 285 Articles against Swinderbie 286 Henry 4. first persecuting K. in England 287 Articles against Brute ead Temporalties takē from the Clergie 288 A turncote persecutor 289 Lucifer to the clergie ead Feendes glad at the want of preaching ead Deuil teacheth what should be preached ead Abiurers 290 VVel affected about Leicest ead R. Dexter N. Tayler ead Leicester interdicted ead Matild an anchores of Wic doctrine 291 Margaret Cailie a Nun forsaketh her order ead Penance ead Peter Pateshul ead Londoners zealous 292 The kings wife hath the gospel in English ead Thomas Arundel ead Articles in behalfe of the gospell eadem Multitude of artes not necessary 293 Rithme agaynst the popish priests eadem Fauourers of the gospel ea Pope Boniface the 9. ead The king writeth a christian admonition to the P. 294 Parlements holden against the pope eadem Thomas Arundell proued a traytor 295 The king deposed 296 William Sawtree eadem Obiections against William Sawtree eadem Relapse 297 The māner of disgrading ea The surples of a sexten 298 The time of Henry 4. ead Thomas Badby martir 299 Crocodiles teares ead The statute ex officio 300 Many shrinke from the truth eadem Articles eadem William Thorpe ead Transubstantiatiō inuented by Thomas Aquinas 301 Against swearing on a boke eadem A constant confessor of the truth eadem Iohn Puruey the library of Lollards 302 Articles recanted ead The popes curse the blast of Lucifer eadem