Pope the whole matter to whom the Pope writeth againe wee are not a little disquieted in our spirits for your sake being our most déere Brother remember that the Apostles departed away reioycing from the face of the Councell receiue consolation that wâ— may reioice with you in the Lord who hath preserued you in this distresse to the corroboration of the Catholick verity and God through his punishment of afflicâ—ions hath wiped away the blot of your offences that they might not be called to account in the day of Iudgement bee not greeued that you are appealed to the Apostolike Sea which to vs is gratefull and accepted draw not you backe spare not to follow the appeale for the authoritie of the Church of Rome tendreth your constancie our diligence shall bee to preserue the right and preheminence of your Church to you as one working for the Church a constant and valiant Champion I thought good especially to premonish you neither for aduersitie nor whatsoeuer happens renounce not the right and dignitie of your Church The Archbishop sitting with his Crosse in his hand as before was not abashed at al that was the King sent for him presently to render account for thirty thousand markes and fruits and reuenewes of the Realme in the time when he was Chancellor he answered the King knew how often hee had made reckonings of those things and that Henry his Sonne and heyre with all the Barrons and the Lord chiefe Iustice of England told him was frée and quit to god and holy Church from all receipts computations on the Kings behalfe and so taking his discharge entred into his office for other accounts he would make none when his answere was brought to the King he required the Barons to doe their office who adiudged him to be apprehended and laid in prison the King sent the Earl of Cornwall and Deuonshire and the Earle of Leicester to shew him his Iudgement to whom he said heare my Sonne and good Earle how much the soule is more precious then the body so much ought you to obey me rather then your terrene King no Law doth permit the child to condemne their Father wherefore to auoide all your iudgements before you all I appeale to the Sea Apostolicke and as for you my fellow Bishops which rather obey man then God you also I call and claime to the Iudgement of the Pope and I doe depart from you as from the enemies of the Catholick Church and of the authoritie of the Apostolicke Sea whilst they returned this answere to the King the Archbishop passed through the throng and tooke horse holding the bridle in one hand and his Crosse in the other the Courtiers followed saying tarrie Traytor and héere thy Iudgement the vtmost gate being locked one of his seruants found a bunch of Keyes trying them found the right and opened the gate he went to the house of the Cannons where hee did lie and calling to him the poore where they could be found after supper he caused a bed to be made him betwixt two Altars but whilst the King was at supper he changed his garments and named himselfe Derman and made an escape to the Sea and taking ship sayled into Flanders and thence iournied vnto France the King sent the Bishop of London and the Earle of Arundell vnto the King of France to require him not to receiue the Archbishop nor retaine him in his Dominion and that he would be a meanes to the Pope not to shew any familiaritie vnto him but the French King contrarie to the Kings Letters and request not only harboured and cherished him but writ to the Pope intreating him vpon all loues as euer he would haue his fauour to tender the cause of the Archbishop Becket The King sent another ambassage to Pope Alexander by the Archbishop of York the Bishops of London Winchester Chichester Exeter with other Doctors and Clarkes with the Earle of Arundel with certaine moe Lords and Barrons they were friendly accepted at the Popes Court the next day following the Pope sitting in the Consistorie with his Cardinals when the Ambassadours were called for the hearing of Beckets matter and the Bishops euery one in order had made his Oration the Pope did not accept some of their spéeches and disdained some wherefore the Earle of Arundell disdained in this manner spake Though I am vnlettered and cannot vnderstand what these Bishops haue said neither can vtter my minde in that tongue which they haue done yet I must declare the cause of my sending as well as I may which was not to contend with or iniury any man especially in presence of such a one at whose beck all the world doth stoope but our Legacie is to present in the presence of the whole Church of Rome the deuotion and loue of our King which hee euer had and still hath towards you and that it might the better appeare to your excellencie hee hath appointed for the furniture of this Legacy his greatest and cheefest subiects of such worthines and parentage that if hee could haue found greater in his Realme hee would haue sent them for the reuerence of your person and holy Church of Rome I might adde more which your Sainctitude hath already proued the harty fidelity of our King towards you who at the entrance to his Kingdome submitted himselfe and all his wholly to your will and pleasure and wee beleeue there is none more faithfull in Christ then he nor more deuout to God nor more moderate in kéeping the vnity of peace neither doe I deny touching the Archbishop of Canterbury a man not vnfurnished with gifts in his calling being both sage and discréete sauing that hee seemeth to some more quick and sharpe then needeth if this blot had not beene the King and he had not discented then both the temporaltie and spiritualty might haue flourished one with the other in much peace vnder so worthy a Prince and so vertuous a pastor therefore our message and supplication to your vigilant prudence is that through your fauour and wisedome the neck of this discention may be broken and reformation of vnitie and loue by some good meanes may be sought But the Pope would not condiscend to their sute which was to haue two Legates sent from his popish side into England to examine and take vp the controuersie betweene the King and the Archbishop but because Becket was absent hee willed them to tarry his comming vp for hee being absent hee would in no case procéede against him but they alledged there time appointed to be ended and hauing other lets they could not waite for the comming of Becket and so returned back there cause frustrated without the Popes blessing to the King Within foure dayes after Becket commeth to the Popes Court offered the pope a scroule of the custome and ordinances of the King the Pope condemned and cursed the most part of them and blamed Becket for so much yeelding to them at the beginning yet
the land and that you receiue Stephen Archbishop into his dignity and the Prior of Canterbury and his Monkes and yeeld againe to the Archbishop all his Lands and rents and Sir yet moreouer that you shall make such restitution to them as the Church shall thinke good The King answered he would gladly grant their request touching the Prior and Monkes of Canterbury but touching the Archbishop let him giue vp the Archbishopricke and I will giue him some other Bishopricke vpon this condition I will admit him otherwise not Then one of them said holy Church was neuer wont to disgrade Archbishop without reasonable cause but to correct Princes that were disobedient to her What now quoth the King threaten you me They said You haue told vs what is in your heart now we will tell you what is in the Popes will He hath wholly interdicted and accursed you for your wrongs to holy Church and the Clergy and we doe accurse all those that shall common with you hereafter and we assoyle all Earles Barons Knights and others from their homage fealty and seruice they should doe to you and to confirme this we giue power to the Bishops of Winchester and Norwich and the same power ouer Scotland we giue vnto the Bishops of Rochester and Salisbury and in Wales wee giue the same power to the Bishops of Saint Dauid Landaffe and Saint Assaph And we send throughout all Christendome to all Bishops to accurse all that helpe and comfort you in any néede And we aâ—â—oyle all your aduersaries and command them to warrâ— with you and with all that are enemies to the Church Then the king answered What may you doe more They said we say to you in verbo Dei that no heire of yours after this day may be crowned Then the King sware if hee had knowne their newes hee would haue kept them out this tweluemonth Upon this occasion Pope Inocent commanded ageine in paine of his great curse that none should obey King Iohn nor kéepe company with him to eate drinke common or Councell with him or his seruants to doe him any seruice at bed boord hall or stable But the greater part that sled from him by this meanes of diuerse and sundry diseases that yeare died Betwixt England and France that yeare fell great amitie but false to the bitter betraying of England Further the Pope with his Cardinals gaue sentence definitiue that King Iohn should be deposed from his Regal Seat and promised Phillip the French King full remission of all his 〈◊〉 and cleare possession of the Realme of England vnto him and his heirs if he did either kill him or expel him Moreouer he wrote vnto other Nations that they should take vpon them the badge of the Crosse and reuenge him of the manifold iniuries done to the vniuersall Church by the cursed Tuâ—ke and Pagan King Iohn The next yeare the French King manned with the Bishops Monkes Prelates and Priests and their seruants began his attâ—mpt in hope of the Crowne of England but the English Nauie tooke 300. of the French Kings ships loaden with wheat wine meate flesh Armour and other necessaties for warre and burnt 100. within the Hauen and tooke the spoyle of them The Priests of England prouided them a false prophet one Peter Wakeâ—ield they noysed daily amonst the Commons that Christ had twise appeared to him in shape of a childe betwixt the Priests hands once at Yorke and againe at Pomfret and breathed saying Peace peace peace and that he was rapt in spirit and hee saw the â—oyes of Heauen and sorrowes of Hell He prophecied of King Iohn that he should raigne no longer then â—scention day within the yeare of our Lord 1213. Being asked the question he could not tell whether he should be slaine expelled or of himselfe giue ouer the Crowne but he was sure he nor none of his stocke should raigne that day once fiâ—â—shed The King laughed thereat when he sawe himselfe out of dangeâ— He prated thereof at large so that they which lâ—ned the King apprehended him and put him in prison the King not knowing therof the fame hereof went through the whole Realme and the more becauâ—e he was imprisoned When the prophesied Ascention day was came King Iohn commaunâ—ed his Regal Tent to be spred abroad in the open field and passed the day with his Noble Councel and men of Honour in the greatest solemnity that euer hee did before When that day was passed withall his enemies turned it to an alâ—goricall vnderstanding and said He is no King for the Pope raigneth and not he yet raigned he stil and his sonne after him to proue the prophet alyer And because this false prophet had troubled the Realme peruerted the people raised the Commons against the King and was caried ouer the Sea by the Prelates and gaue incouragement to the French King to inuade the Land the King commaunded the false prophet should be hanged and his sonne least any more should rise of his race At length the King seeing himselfe so compassed with enemies and treasons and great danger that was like to follow especially fearing the French King was inforced to submit himselfe to that execrable monster and Antichrist of Rome conuerting his Land into the patrimony of Saint Peter as many other had done before him for hee was sure though not without shame being vnder his protection no forraine Potentate was able to subdue him King Iohn made a Letter obligatory to the Pope in this manner Whereas wee haue grieuously offended God and our mother Church of Rome and our body and Realme is not a sufficient satisfaction to him that humbled himselfe on the Crosie for vs through Councell of the noble Earles and Barons we freely grant vnto God and the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul and to our mother Church of Rome and to our holy Father Pope Inocent the third and all the Popes that come after him all the Realme and patronage of the Churches of England and Ireland with all the appurtenances for the remission of our sinnes and the helpe of our kinsfolkes soules and of all Christian Soules so that henceforth we will hold as Farmer to her Mother Church doing fealtie to the Pope and his successors Wee will doe homage to the Popes Legate as it were in the Popes presence paying â—or all manner of Custome which we shoâ—ld doe for the said Realmes yearely 1000. markes of siluer sauing to vs and our heires our Iustices and our Franchises and other realties that appertaine to our Crowne And for the assurance hereof we binde our successors and heires that if any of our heires shall goe against these things and being warned will not an end he shall then loose the foresaid Realmes for euermore But before the releaâ—ment of the Interdiction the king was compelled to giue ouer his Crowne and Scepter to the Antichrist of Rome for fiue dayes and to receiue it at another Cardinals hands Then all that had their hearts
all the Chronicles â—elleth and if all men consider this well Christ was meeke and mercifull the Pope is proude and a tyrant Christ was poore and forgaue the Pope rich and a malitious man-slayer Rome is the neast of Antichrist and out of that neast proceedeth all the disciples of whom Prelats Priests and Monks are the bodie and these pillâ— Friers are the taile which couereth his most filthie part Then a Prior sayed alackâ—â—r that is vncharitably spoken He answered it is not only my saying but the Propet Esayes Hee that preacheth lies is the tayle As your Friers and Monks be like Pharises deuided in outward apparell and visages so yee make deuision amongst the people Thus you with such others are the naturall members of Antichrist Then hee said vnto them all Woe vnto you Scribes and Pharises hypocrits you shut the Kingdome of heauen from others and enter not your selues nor suffer any other to enter you stoppe vp the wayes with your traditions therefore are you the houshold of Antichrist You will not let Gods veritie to haue passage fearing to haue your wickednesse reproued by such vaine flatterers as vphold your mischiefes you suffer the common people most miserably to bee seduced Archb. By our Lady sir there shall none such preach in my Diocesse as make diuision amongst the poore Commons Cobh. Both Christ and his Apostles were accused of sedition making yet were they most peaceable men Both Daniel and Christ prophesie that such a troublous time shall come as hath not beene been before this is partly fulfilled in your dayes and doings for many haue you slaine and more will you slay if God fulfill not his promise if hee shorten not your dayes scarcely should any flesh bee saued Moreouer though Priests and Deacons for peaching Gods word and ministring the Sacraments with prouision for the poore bee grounded in Gods law yet your other Sects haue no ground thereof Then a Doctor of the law plucked out of his bosome a Writing wherein was foure Articles and examined him â—herâ—on the first was touching the Sacrament of the Altar which he answered as before the second whether a man is bound to conâ—esse himselfe to a Priest hee answered a diseased or wounded man had neede haue a true and wise Chirurgion knowing the ground and danger of the same therefore it is most necessarie to be first shréeuen to God which only knoweth our diseases and can helpe vs. The lawes of God are to be required of a Priest which is godly learned but if he be an idiot or vicious that is my Curate I ought rather to flie from him then seeke him for I might sooner get ill then good of him The third was touching the authoritie of the Pope hee answered he that most followed Peter is next him in succession but your Lordly order esteemeth little the lowly behauiour of Peter nor the humble manners of them that succeeded him vntill Siluester which for the most part were Martyrs you let their good conditions goe and hurt not your selfe therewith â—ll knowe it and yet you boast of Peter Then said one of the Doctors then what say you of the Pope Hee answered he and you together make an Antichrist he is the great head you Bishops Priests Prelats and Monks are the bodie and the begging Friers the tayle for they couer the filthinesse of you both with their subtile sophistrie Neuer will I obey vntill I seâ— you with Peter follow Christ in conuersation The fourth was touching Pilgrimage to Images hee answered I owe them no seruice by the commaundement of GOD therefore I will not seeke them for your couetousnesse You were best sweepe them faire from Cobwebs and Dust or lay them vp safe for catching hurt or burie them in the ground as you doe other aged people which are GODS Images It is a wonder that Saints beeing dead should bee so couetous néedie and beggers which in their life time hated couetousnesse and begging I would all the world knew it With your shroeues and Idols your fained Absolutions and Pardons you draw vnto you the wealth and chiefe pleasures of all Christian Realmes Then a Frier said Will you not worshippe the Crosse as Saint Paule saith God forbid I should reioyce in anie thing but in the Crosse of Christ. Then did hee spread his aâ—â—es abroad and said This is a very Crosse and much better then your wodden Crosse beeing it was created of GOD himselfe yet will not I seeke to haue it worshipped Then said the Bishoppe of London yet wot you not how hee died vpon a materiall Crosse Hee answered yea and I wot also that our saluation came not vnto vs by the materiall Crosse but alone and onely by him which dyed thereupon and well wote Iâ— that Saint Paul reioyced in none other crosse but in Christs passion and death onely and in his owne suffering like persecution with him for his veritie Then another said Will you then doe no honour vnto the holy Crosse Yes it he were mine I would lay him by least he tooke harme and were robbed of his goods as he is now adayes Bishop Sir Iohn you haue spoken many wonderfull words to thâ— slaunderous rebuke of the whole Spiritualty giuing a great ill example to the common sort heere to haue vs in the more disdaine and 〈◊〉 spent muâ—â— time in vaine as farre as I can sée well wée must be now at this short point with you you must either submit your selfe to the ordinance of holy Church or else throw your selfe into most déepe daunger sée to it in time aâ—one â—lse it will be too late Cobham I know not to what purpose I shall submit my selfe much more haue you offended me then I euer offended you in thus troubling mee before this company And because hee would not submit himselfe the Archbishop read â—he definitiue sentence Cobh. Though you Iudge my body which is but a wretched thing yet I am sure you can doe nâ— harme to my Soule no more than Sathan could doe to the Soule of Iob. And touching my articles before rehearseâ— I wil stand to them vnto death Then â—e turâ—â—â— himselfe vnto the people casting his hands abroad saying with a lowde voice Good people beware of these men else they wil beguile you and lead you headlong to hel with themselues Then he fell on his kâ—ées before them all and prayed for his enemies hoâ—ding vp his hands saying Lord for thy mercie sake forgiue my pursuers if it bee thy blessed will Thâ—â— he was lead againe vnto the Tower After the Lord Cobham escaped out of the Tower by night and â—â—ed to Wales where he continued more than foure yeares after In this yeare Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury died who had béene a heauie troubler of Christs Saints in his time he was so stricken in his tongue that neither he could swallow nor speake for a certaine space before his death this was thought of many to happen vnto him for that he
beloued friends I am brought hether to suffer death albeit I neuer offended against the King in word nor deed and haue alwaies béene as faithfull as any man vnto this Realme but because I am by Law condemned to die to testifie my obedience which I owe vnto the Lawes I am come hither to suffer death Wherefore I thanke God that he hath giuen me this time of repentance who might so suddenly haue béen taken with death that I could not haue acknowledged God nor my selfe I would something put you in minde of the Christian Religion which so long as I was in authoritie I did alwaies diligently set forth and I reioice therein sith now the state of Christian Religion commeth most neere to the order of the Primatiue Church which I esteeme as a great benefit of God to me and vnto you most heartily exhorting you all that you will most thankefully imbrace it set out the same in your liuing which if you do not no doubt great calamitie will follow Upon these words there was heard a terrible noise as it had beene of some great tempest from aboue as if a great deale of Gun-powder being inclosed in an armory hauing caught fire had violently broke out or as if a great company of horsemen had been running together vpon them whereby the people were so amazed that they ranne away sâ—me into Ditches and Puddles and some into the houses others with their Halberts fell vnto the ground Crying out Iesus saue vs Iesus saue vs and those which tarried in their places knew not where they were It happened heere euen as when the officers of the High Priests came to take Christ They runne back and fell to the ground in so great slaughter of Dukes within this few yeares there were neuer so many weeping eyes at one time and the people seeing Sir Anthony Browne ride to the Scaffold they coniectured that the King had sent his Unkle pardon therefore with great reioycing they cast vp their caps and cryed out pardon pardon is come God saue the king Thus the good Duke although he was destitute of mans help yet hee saw before his departure in what great loue and fauour he was with all men Then said the Duke dearely beloued friends there is no such matter as you vainely beleeue Therefore I pray you be contented with my death which I most willingly suffer let vs ioine in prayer for the King vnto whom I haue alwaies shewed my selfe a faithfull Subiect and haue béen most diligent to seeke the commoditie of the whole Realme at which words all the people cryed out and said it was most true And praying for the King and Councell and exhorting the people to obedience forgiuing all his enemies and desiring forgiuenes of them which heâ— had offended and praying them to beare witnes he died in the faith of Christ. Then he knéeled downe and prayed and rising againe without any trouble of minde he tooke them all on the Scaffold by the hand and bid them all farewell when he lay vpon the block he called thrice on the name of Iesus saying Lord Iesus saue me And as the name of Iesu was repeating the third time in a moment he was bereft both of head and life The Lady MARY THe King his Councell had much trauell by Letters and messengers to reduce the Lady Mary to obedient conâ—ormitie of Religion yet she would not be reclaimed from her owne singuler opinion fixed vpon custome to giue any indifferent hearing vnto the word and voice of verity the which set will of the said Lady Mary the yong King and also his Father King Henry right well perceiuing they were both much displeased against her insomuch that not only her brother did sequester her in his Will but also her owne father considering her inclination did conceiue such a hate against her that for a great space he did seclude her from the title of Princesse yea and seemed so greatly incensed against her that he was fully purposed to haue procéeded further with her as it is reported had not the intercession of Thomas Cranmer the Archbishop reconciled the King againe to fauour and pardon his owne daughter And about the eighth of September 1552. Doctor Ridley Bishop of London went to visit the Lady Mary and was gently entertained of Sir Thomas Wharton and other her officers About eleuen of the clocke the Lady Mary came forth of her chamber of presence then the Bishop saluted her Grace and said he was come to doe his dutie vnto her Grace she thanked him and for a quarter of an houre talked with him pleasantly and said she knew him when he was Chaplain to her father and remembred a Sermon that he made before her father at the Lady Clintons marriage and so dismissed him to dine with her officers After dinner the Bishop being called resorted againe vnto her Grace then said the Bishop Madam I come not only to doe my duety to sée your Grace but also to offer my selfe to preach before you on Sonday next if it please you to heare me she said I pray make the answere your selfe for you know the answere well enough but if I must make answere this shall be your answere The doore of the Church shall be open for you if you come but neither I nor none of mine shall heare you The Bishop said Madam I trust you will not refuse GODS word She answered I cannot tell what you call GODS word that is not GODS word now that was GODS word in my fathers dayes The Bishop said GODS word is one in all times but it hath beene better vnderstood and practised in some ages then in others She said you durst not for your eares haue auouched that for GODS word in my fathers dayes that now you doe as for your new books I thanke GOD for it I neuer read none of them nor neuer will doe After many bitter words against the forme of Religion then established and against the gouernment of the Realme and the lawes made in the young yeares of her brother which she said she was not bound to obey vntill her brother came to perfect age and then affirmed she would obey them Then she asked him whether he were one of the Priuie Councell he answered no you might well enough quoth she as the Councell goeth now-a-dayes so she concluded that she thanked him for his gentlenesse to come and see her but for your offering to preach before me I thank you neuer a whit Then was the Bishop brought by Sir Thomas Wharton vnto the place where he dined who desired him to drinke after he had drunke he looked very sadly and brake out in these words Surely I haue done amisse in that I haue drunke in that place where GODS word hath beene offered and refused whereas indeed if I had beene mindfull of my duety I ought not to haue stayed but to haue departed immediatly and to haue shaken off the dust of my feete for a
taught heresie And hee desired all them present to beare him witnesse that he tooke the Traditions and Religion of the Pope to bée most erronious false and against the doctrine of holy Scriptures which hee had often proued by preaching and writing and the Pope to bee very Antichrist so often preached by the Apostles and Prophets in whom most euidently doth concurre all the signes and tokens whereby hee was painted vnto the world to bee knowne by for hee aduanceth himselfe aboue all Emperours and Kings of the world whom he affirmeth to hold of him and to be at his commandement and the stories make mention of his intollerable pride and tyranny vsed to them as no King would haue done to his subiects nor a good maister to his seruants setting his féet vpon Emperours necks and making others to hold his stirrops and remoued others from their Empires hath not onely occupied the highest places in the world aboue Kings but hath presumed to fit in the seat of Almighty God which is the conscience of man to kéepe the possession thereof he hath promised forgiuenesse of sins he hath brought in Gods of his own framing and inuented a new religion full of lucre quite contrary to the Scriptures only for maintaining of his kingdome displacing Christ from his glory holding his people in miserable seruitude of blindnesse to the losse of a number of soules which God at the latter day shall exact at his hands boasting in his Canons decrées that he can dispense against Peter Paul the old Testament New that in his fulnesse of power he can do as much as God If any man can be aduanced aboue him let him be iudged Antichrist This enemy of God and our redemption is so euidently painted out in the Scriptuers with such manifest tokens which all sée clearely appeare in him that except a man will shut his eyes and heart against the light hee cannot but know him therefore I will neuer giue my consent to the receiuing of him into the Church of England and my Lord sand you that be here examine your own consciences you are sworne against him you are learned and can iudge the truth I pray God you be not wilfully blind I haue discharged my conscience to the world I will write my mind to her grace which letter you may sée in the book at large Storie and Martine diuers times interrupted him saying he spake blasphemy and would faine haue the Bishop put him to silence who notwithstanding suffered him to end his spéech Then they charged him that he was sworne vnto the Pope when he was made Archbishop but he denied it and said It appeareth that he did not by the record of the countrey which one of them confessed Many maruelled that in so perilous a time he had so sincerely proceeded choosing rather to venture the losse of his life and all his glorious pompe then to do any thing that might spill his conscience Then they obiected that he was married which he confessed Doctor Martine said his children were bond-men to the Sea of Canterbury At which he smiled saying If a benificed Priest had a Concubine and had bastards by her they are not bond-men to the benifice I trust you wil make my childrens cause no worse Then D. Martine demanded of him who was the supreme head of the Church he said Christ Martine said you made K. Henry supreme head of the Church He said of the people of England Ecclesiasticall Temporal and not of the Church for Christ is the onely head of the Church and of the Faith and Religion of the same The Articles of religion touching the Sacrament denying transubstantiation the Sacrifice of the Masse and the reall presence he affirmed as he taught in his Booke Then they cited him to appeare 80 daies after at Rome and then sent him to prison where thou maist sée their visored face of Iustice as though the Court of Rome would condemne no man before hee answered for himselfe but the same time the Pope sent letters executory vnto the King and Queene to disgrade and depriue him which was done before twenty dayes were done And though he were kept in prison at the end of the 80 dayes hee was decreed Contumax and thereupon condemned Upon S. Valentines day next after the Archbishop was disgraded and condemned by Bonner Thurlby Bishop of Ely who sometimes was Cranmers Chaplaine and preferred by him at which time Bonner which a long time had borne great malice towards him and reioyced greatly see this day wherein he might triumph ouer him at his pleasure made an Oration to the people in this sort This is the man who hath euer despised the Popes holinesse and now is to be iudged by him this is the man that hath pulled downe so many Churches and now is come to be iudged in a Church this is the man that contemned y â— blessed Sacrament of the Altar and now is come to be condemned before the said Sacrament hanging ouer the Altar this is the man that like Lucifer sate in the place of Christ vpon an Altar to iudge others and now is come before the Altar to bee iudged himselfe Thus he continued halfe an houre heaping vp a number of lies together beginning euery one with This is the man so lothsomly that he made euery man weary When they had disgraded him they stript him of his gowne put vpon him a poore yeoman Bedles gowne thrid-bare and as ill-fauouredly made as could be and a Townsmans cap vpon his head and so deliuered him to the secular power in this filthie gowne he was carried vnto prison The Queene Bishops hauing kept the Archbishop now almost three yeares in prison seeing by no means they could preuaile with him all this while to turn him from his religion they suborned certaine men which should by intreaty and faire promises or any other means allure him to recantation so the wily Papists flocked about him labouring to draw him from his former sentence to recantation especially Henry Sidall and Frier Iohn a Spaniard they shewed him how acceptable it would be to the Kings Queene and how gainfull it would be both bodily spiritually they added that the Councell Noble-men bare him good wil promising him both his life ancient dignity saying the matter was but small the setting of his hand to a few words but if hee refused there was no hope of pardon for the Queene was purposed that shee would haue Cranmer a Catholique or else no Cranmer at all By these and such like prouocations they at last wâ—nne him to subscribe It may bee supposed that it was for hope of life and better dayes to come But it appeareth by a Letter of his to a Lawyer that the most cause why hee desired his life to bee delayed was that hee might make an end of a Booke against Marcus Antonius a Papist which hee had begun but it is manifest
by entring into any priuate Religion 10 That those that haue instituted priuate Religions or haue indâ—wed them with possessions or the begging Fryers that haue no possessions haue grieuously offended 11 That those of Priuate Religions are not of the Christian Religion 12 That Fryers are bound to get their liuings by labour and not by begging 13 That he is accursed that giueth Almes to begging Fryers When these Articles were condemned it was commanded that the condemnation should bee published through the whole vniuersitie the Chancellor hindred as much as hee could and when there must needs be Sermons made he committed the preaching to the fauourers of Wickliffe of which Repington was one who said in his Sermon hee that commends the Pope or Bishops aboue Temporall Lords doe against the Scripture and that Maister Wickliffe was a true Catholick Doctor that hee taught no otherwise of the Sacrament of the Altar then according to the intent of the Uniuersall Church his opinion therof most true and concluded he would kéep silence touching the Sacrament vntill God had better â—nlightned the Clergy The Archbishop hearing hereof sent for the Commissary and the Proctors of the Uniuersitie and one Maister Brightwell and accused them as fauourers of Wickliffe and forced them to confesse his Articles hereticall and erroneous the Commissarie fell on his knees and desired pardon which was granted vpon condition he should make inquirie and put to silence all that he found fauouring Wickliffe Harford Repington Ashton and Bedman and that hee should publish in the head Church of the Uniuersitie the condemnation of Wickliffes conclusâ—ons and that hee should put all his adherents he found to purgation or cause them to abiure he answered he durst not doe it for death what said the Bishop is Oxford a nestler of heresies that the Catholick truth cannot be published Oxford was the first Uniuersitie that maintained the truth that is now spread farrâ— and néere the next day the Bishop shewed the matter to the Kings Councell who sent commandement with all diligence to execute the Arch-bishops iniunction One Henry Crompe a Cistertian Monke which after was accused of Heresie now was suspended by the said Commissarie for calling the Heretickes Lolards he complained to the Archbishop who sent for the Commissarie and Proctors in the Kings and Councels name where he receiued a new commandement to punish the Wickliffes then Philip Repington and Nickolas Harford beeing priuily warned by the Uice-chancellor they fled to the Duke of Lancaster but they were apprehended and sent by him to the Archbishop Wickliffe was exiled and after returned againe to his parish of Lutterworth where he died the prouidence of God is to be noted in this man and many other whom the Lord prâ—serued in such rages of enemies from all their hands vntilll his old age whom the Lord will keepe nothing can hurt All his bookes were condemned and forbidden to be read by the Councell of Constance and by the Dâ—crée thereof forty yéeres after his death by the commandement of the Bishop his bones were digged vp and burned the ashes powred into the Riuer he had written diuers works which in the yéere 1410. were burned at Oxford the Abbot of Shrewsbury being Commissary sent to ouersée the matter his bookes were likewise burned in Boheme by the Archb of Prage he burned 200. of his books richly adorned with bosses of Gold and rich couerings In the yeare 1384. he wrot an Epistle to Pope Vrban the sixt that the Gospell of Christ was the whole body of the Law and that Christ was very God and very man and that the Pope Christs Uicar was bound most of all other vnto the Gospel for the greatnes of Christs Disciples consisteth not in worldly honour but in néere â—ollowing the life and manners of Christ Christ was a most poore man casting off all worldly rule and honour therefore none ought to follow the Pope nor other holy man but as they follow Christ for Peter and the sonnes of Zebedy in desiring worldly honours offended and therein they are not to be followed therefore the pope ought to leaue his temporall dominion to the seculer power and therevnto exhort his whole Clergy There was none so great enemies to him as the Clergy yet he had many good frends both of the meaner sort the Nobility amongst whom these men are numbred Iohn Clenton Lewis Clifford Richard Sturius Thomas Latimer William Neuil Iohn Mountegew who plucked downe all the Images in his Church the Earle of Salesbury when hee died refused the Sacrament of the Altar and confession and one Iohn of Northampton Mayor of London who vsed such seuere punishment against the fornicators and adulterers that they were ashamed of their offences others afeard to offend the Lord Cobham who confessed he neuer hated sinne with his heart before he was instructed by Wickliffe all these were Noble men and there was no want of the meaner sort of such as did with all their diligence defend his Doctrine especially Oxford men who were most shamefully forced to recantation and most cruelly iudged to the fire One Iohn Ashton Maister of Arte beeing examined confessed that the bread by the sacramentall words was the very same body of Christ in number which was borne of the Uâ—rgin Mary yet because hee did not answere simply according to the tradition of Rome as touching the subiect and accident of transmuting the substance of the bread he was committed to the secular powers and cast into prison where he died many other notable Clarkes some were burned some died in prison but all were afflicted as William Swinderby Iohn Puruey Henry Crompe Richard White William Thorpe Raynold Peacock Bishop of Saint Asaph and after of Chichester Lawrence Redman Dauid Sawtry Iohn Ashwarbie Uicar of S. Maries in Oxford William Iames Thomas Brightwell VVilliam Hawlam Raffe Greâ—hurst Iohn Scut Philip Noris which being excommunicated by the Pope appealed to a generall councell Peter Paine who flying from Oxford into Bohemia stoutly contended against the Sophisters about both â—indes of the Sacrament and was one of the fourteene that was sent to the Councell of Basil and disputed three daies touching the Ciuill Dominion of the Clergy Also the Lord Cobham thus much touching the adherents of Wickliffe The Uice-chancellor of Oxford with the whole congregation of the Maisters made a publike testimonie of the learning and good life of Iohn Wickliffe that his conditions throughout his whole life were sincere and commendable whose honest manners and conditions profoundnes of learning and most redolâ—nt renowne and fame we desire the more earnestly to be notified to all the faithfull for that wee vnderstand his maturitie and ripenes of conuersation his diligent labours to tend to the praise of God the help and safegard of others and the profit of the Church there was neuer note or spot of suspition raised of him in answering reading preaching and determining he behaued himselfe laudably and as a stout
constantly that not onely many ignorant people were thereby drawne to the knowledge of the verity but a number which had some taste thereof were greatly confirmed Iohn Oecolampadius reporteth how a Prince murdered a good Pastor for preaching of the Gospell pretending hee was in a commotion hee sent a câ—uell Gentleman with a number of men to hang this Priest they came to the Priestes house and saluted him The Priest made them a great banquet and bad them eate and drinke chéerefully After dinner the Gentleman told his followers they must hang the Priest They said God forbid we should doe such a crime to hang one that hath intreated vs so gently his good chéere not yet disgested in vs The Priest desired them rather to carry him to prison to there Prince and propounded vnto him the gentlenes that he had alwaies vsed to the Gentlemen of the Countrey in spending his goods to entertaine them and aduertised him of the eternall toâ—ments which would follow an euill conscience protesting he had faithfully taught the Gospell and the cause hee had the ill will of some was for sharpely and openly reprouing the horrible vices of the Gentlemen The Gentleman told him he should gaine nothing by preaching in such sort for the Prince had commaunded him to hang him whose fauour hee would not loose to saue his life so they put him to death Oecolampadius reporteth of another godly Priest that when he came to the true vnderstanding of the Gospell O God said he who would haue thought it that so many learned and holy men haue wandred out of the right way and haue so long time béen wrapped in errors or that the holy Scriptures had been defiled with such horrible abuses for hee neuer vnderstood before that the Gospell was the vertty of God because it containeth much matter touching the crosse persecution ignomy after this good Pastor began to preach the Gospell there but many which repined that the Gospell should be freely preached caused him in the night to be taken by certaine souldiours which bound him hand foot and set him vpon a horse and led him vp down by a great rope before his wife and children were not moued with their grieuous sighes and teares after they had kept him long in prison that he had indured most terrible torments as well by his priuy members as other parts they iudged him to deth hauing no other cause against him but that he had maried a wife when the Fryers troubled him about Confession he said he had already confessed his sins vnto the Lord Iesus nothing doubting but that hee had receiued absolution of his sins and I said he shall this day be an acceptable sacrifice vnto my Sauior Iesus Christ for I haue done nothing for which I am condemned displeasing to God which giueth me a a quiet conscience and let them which thirst after blâ—ud consider that they offend him who truely iudgeth the harts of men who saith vengeance is mine and I will punish I desire to die I doe not much shorten my time for I am so leane that my skin is scarce able to couer my bones and I reioice in nothing but the Crosse of Christ Iesus Some could not abide these exhortations and made signes to the hangman to cast him into the Riuer after he was cast downe the Riuer was red which was a token that innocent bloud was shed they that were present were greatly amazed therat and returned home pensiue An other History by Oecolampadius an honest man when hee had wrongfully suffered most intollerable torments for being in a commotion and was condemned A Frier being brought vnto him when he was taken out of the dungeon and see the Frier Hée cryed with a loude voice O miserable wretch that I am now am I betrayed my last houre is at hand The dreame which I dreamed this night will come to passe The Frier plucking out a woodden crosse said poore man confesse thy sinnes in mine eare and after thou hast receiued absolution at mine hands doubt not but this day thou shalt goo straâ—te to the Kingdome of Heauen Who answered thou wicked Frier get thée away from me for I haue long bewailed my sinnes before the face of Christ who hath forgiuen me I haue no need of thy absolution which thou thy selfe doest not vnderstand Thou shouldest long since haue amended thy wicked and hâ—pocriticall life I know what thou art thou playest the Ape with mee thou hast a subtle heart which hath deceiued much people if thou hast any comfort out of the Gospell let mee haue it if not get thée away with thy portas whereat the Frier was confused The hangman wiser then the Frier bid him reade him something of the Passion whereat he would take great pleasure The foolish Frier had no other consolation but to hold the Crucifix of wood before him saying bâ—hold thy Sauiour which died for thée Looke on him and thou shalt bee comforted Hee answered get thee from mee thou naughty person this is not my Sauiour my Sauiour dwelleth in Heauen in whom I trust that he will not deliuer my soule to eternall death The Frier crossed himselfe and departed The Bishop of Constance caused Iohn Howghly a priest to bee burned at Merspurge for that he would not allow the Popes Doctrine in all points Iohn Frederick heyre to the Prince and Elector of Saxony was contracted by writings to the Lady Katherine the Emperours Sister But when Religion was altered in Saxony they swarued from their Couenants and the Empeâ—rorâ— Ambassador said there was no promise to be kept with hereticks In this yeare beeing the seuentéenth yeere of King Henry the eight his raigne there was great commotion in Suffolke and Norfolke by reason the Cardinall had sent commission in the Kings Name that euery man should pay the sixt part of his goods but it was appeased by the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke and the paiment released by the King This yeare the Cardinall tooke vpon him as the Kings chiefe Councellor Hee reformed the house and made new Officers in the house of the Duke of Richmond Also hee established a Councell and established another hâ—ushold for the Lady Mary then being Princes of the Realme Hee made the King beléeue hee need take no paines insomuch that the charge of all things was committed vnto him he gaue the King the Lease of the Mannor of Hampton Court and the King licenced him to lye in his Mannor of Richmond which K. Henry 7. loued so well whereat some grudged saying sée a Butchers Dogge lye in the Mannor of Richmond His pride was so high he regarded no man and was hated of all men Hee came to Paules the eleuenth of Ianuary a number of Bishops Abbots and Doctors attended him there hee sate in his Cloth of Estate of rich Cloth of Gold and Frier Barnes for heresie and two Marchants for eating flesh on Friday bare Faggots before him And this day
was Schoolemaster to one Master Welch and for translating certain religious books into English and for arguing with a certain Priest that often vsed to his Masters house and confounding diuers points of their religion by the word of God he was pursued glad to go out of the Realme into Germany and there translated the Bible into English compiled diuers other books sâ—nt them into England wherby the dore and light vnto the Scriptures was daily more and more opened which before was many years closed in darknesse from thence he went to Aâ—twarp and had his abiding there and was lodged about a yeare in the house of one Thomas Poynets an English man which kept a house of English Merchants then came thither one Henry Philips hauing a seruant waiting on him M. Tindall became acquainted with him and had great confidence in him and had him often to dinner and supper with him and got him a lodging in M. Poynets house At length Philips wâ—nt to the high Court of Bruxelles to betray M. Tindall and procured to bring from thence with him the Procurator generall with othâ—r Officers which was not done with small charges from whom soeuer it came After Philips returning would haue M. Tindall to dine with him then hee desired M. Tindall to lend him fortie shillings which he did he told Philips he could not diâ—e with him for he was bid forth to dinner and he should goe with him And going forth to dâ—nner Philips hauing appointed the officers in the way he gaue them a signe that this was he they should apprehend then they took him and brought him to the Procurator generall who sent him to the Casâ—le of Filford and the Procurator generall went to Poynets house and sent away all that was there of M. Tindals The said Poynets and certain Merchants went ouer into England and got letters from the Coâ—ncell for M. Tindals deliuery vpon the deliuery wherof to the Councel of Bruxelles M. Tindall should haue bin deliuered vnto him which when Philips vnderstood he accused Poynets â—o be an heretick and a receiuer of such caused him to be apprehended kept 13. or 14. wéeks in prison but he escaped by night and got into England but M. Tindall was condemned and the same morning as he was had to the fire he deliuered a letter to the chiefe Kéeper of the Castle which the Kéeper himselfe brought to Poynets house who compared him to be fellow to the Apostles being in prison both for his conuersation and conuerting and preaching to the peoâ—le M. Tindall hearing by certaine Merchants what wonderfull feats a Iugler did he desired thâ—m that he might be present also at supper to see him play his parts accordingly the supper was appointed and the Merchants with Tindall were there present The Iugler being desired to vttâ—r his cunning shâ—wed all that he could do but all was in vaine at last with his labour sweating and toyle he saw nothing would go forward he confessed there was some man present at supper which disâ—urbed his doings For his letters that he wrote I refer thée to the book at large if thou dispose to sée them The Lord Cromwell keeper of the Kings priuie Seale Uicegerent of all the Kings iurisdiction ecclâ—siasticall sent out certaâ—n iniuncâ—ions by the Kâ—ngs authoritâ— for the preaching thâ— word of God for the bâ—tter publishing of the kings supremaâ—â—â— against idols 〈◊〉 on pilgrimage trusâ—ing in saints and to abrogate diuers holy-daies and for reformation to be had in diuers othâ—r ecclesiastical matters In the begiâ—â—g of this year the most noble and worthy Lady Queen Anne of Bullen after she had liued Qâ—â—â—ne three â—ears was cast into the Tower together with her brother the Lord Rochford and diuers others which shortly after were executed The words of the Queene at the time of her death Good Christian people I ame come hither to die I am iudged therto by the law therefore I will not speake against it I pray God preserue the King for there was neuer a gentler Prince and to me he was euer a good soueraigne and I râ—quire euery one to iudge the best of my cause so â— take my leaue of the world and of you all desiring you to praâ—â—or me Then she kneeled down and said Into thy hands I commend my soule Iesus receiue my soule diuers times vntill her head was striken off Fiue burned in Scotland SEauen years after Patrick Hamelton aforesaid there were fiue burned in Edenborough the chief Citie in Scotland two were Dominican Friers one Priest one Cannon and one Gentleman adiudged by the Archbishop of S. Andrewes Petrus Chappeâ—anus and the Franciscan Friers whose labour is neuer wanting in such matters The murther of ROBERT PACKINGTON HEe was a rich Mercer dwelling in Cheap side and was one of the â—urgesses of the Parliament for the Citie of London and had spoken against the couetousnesse and cruelty of the Clergie wherefore he was had in contempt with them therfore one Doctor Vincent Deane of Paules hired a stranger for sixtie crownes to kill him which he did in this manner this Packington vsed by foure of the clocke euery morning to go to a Church neare Cheap-side and in a mistie morning tâ—e hyred stranger shot him and killed him with a gunne as he crossed the street This could not be knowne vntill the death of the Deane then he repented the fact at his death and confessed it to his ghostly father In this yeare the Kings Maiestie by his Uicegerent the L. Cromwell sent out againe certaine Iniunctions vnto the Spiritualty for the reformation of religion for the maintenance of reading the Bible in English and for taking downe of Images with such other like The history of Iohn Lambert alias Nicolson BEing beyond Sea by reason of the persecution here he returned hoping the time had bin amended by the means of Quéen Anne and Cromwell and the abolishing of the Pope he became a Schoolemaster and being present at a Sermon preached by Doctor Taylor one that was a Bishop in K. Edwards time and died in the Tower in Queen Maries time after the Sermon hee vttered diuers arguments to the Preachers and desired to be resolued Taylor alledged businesse and desired him to write his minde which he did The first was vpon The cup is the new Testament and if these words doe not change neither the cup nor the wine into the new Testament by like reason the words spoken of the bread should not turn it corporally into the body of Christ. The second it is not agreeable to a naturall body to be in â—wo or more places ot one time therfore Christ hauing a naturall bodie cannot be in heauen on the right hand of his father and in the Sacrament Thirdly a naturall body cannot be without his forme and conditions as he cannot be without substance iâ— the Sacrament there is no forme and condition of the body of Christ no not
Psalme Dauid saith The word of God is true and his way verity euery man is vanity and lying and Christ saith Euery one that heareth my words and doth them is like one that buildeth his house vpon a sure foundation and that there is none other foundation by S. Paule and he would haue vs follow one doctrine of Christ to a vnitie of faith that we may bee perfect men not carried about with euery winde of doctrine brought vp by the slights and wilines of men that â—tudie to deceiue vs. Touching the question that there are many things to be beléeued vpon paine of saluation that are not in the Scripture I say lawes ordained for the ciuill regiment of the body and all other Lawes so they be not hurtfull to Faith or Charitie but help to the same we ought to keep them not onely for feare of punishment but for Conscience sake although such ordinance be not expressely in the Scripture but I say there is nothing that is not expressely in the Scriptures that is to bee beleeued vpon necessitie of saluation Touching your Question of purgatory and whether soules departed be there in torment and purged I say there is a purgatory in this world which is the fire of tribulations through which all Christians shall passe as S. Paul saith All that liue godly in Christ shall suffer persecution In this purgatory I doe reckon my selfe now to stand God send me well to perseuere vnto his honour Other Purgatory doe I know none neither can any be proued by any place of Scripture And S. August de ebrietate saith let no man deceiue himselfe for there be two places the third is not knowne He that with Christ hath not deserued to raigne shall perish with the Diuell and in his Booke de vanitate seculi he saith know you that when the soule is departed from the body it is incontinent for the good deeds put into paradice and else throwne headlong into the Dungeon of hell for the sinnes and to this all Scripture agreeth Touching your question whether Martirs Apostles and Confessors departed ought to be honored and prayed vnto Saint Augustine in his Booke de vera religione would haue that we should worship no men departed be they neuer so good and holy no nor yet an Angell nor to honour them but onely in imitating their good liuing as they followed God not building Churches to them no the Angels would not haue vs builde Churches to them but would with them we should honour the Maker of all things They refuse all honour sauing honor Charitatis which loue wee should expresse in helping the poore and helplesse And the Scripture teacheth that there is but one Mediator and we are exhorted in all places of Scripture to call vpon God in néed but in no place to call vpon any Saint Touching your demaund whether Oblations and Pilgrimages may deuoutlie and meritoriously be done vnto the Sepulchers and Reliques of Saints Moses when he died would be buried where no man should know which was his graue it was because the Iewes which were prone to new fangled worshipping should not fall into Idolatrâ— worshipping him as God for the great and many miracles that were wrought by him when he was aliue It is no point of my beleefe to thinke that Oblations Pilgrimages at Saints graues and Reliques are meritorious workes neither is there any deuotion at all in doing of them Touching fasting daies and time I say they are good for diuers respects but it is no deadly sinne to breake them for they are but the traditions of men Touching your question whether Images ought not to be in the Churches for a remembrance of Christ and his Saints I know no Images made with hands that ought to be worshipped For the Psalme saith Confusion be vnto all such as worship carued Images and glory in pictures And S. Augustine in his Book de vera religione let vs not be bound to worship the workes of men for the workemen are more excellent then the things that they make whom notwithstanding we ought not to worship and if Christs Doctrine were so opened that people might vnderstand it as Prelates chiefely ought to doe by teaching we should haue no need of Images for nothing is so effectuall to excite the remembrance of Disciples as the liuely voice of good teachers Touching your demands whether men forbidden to preach as suspected of Heresiâ— ought to cease from preaching Christ and his Apostles were counted heretickes and the Apostles were forbidden oftentimes of the High Priest and others to preach any more and were imprisoned and scourged for it yet they would not leaue preaching but told them to their faces they must obey God which bad them preach rather then men which forbad them yea the Angel deliuering them out of prison bad them go preach againe This is for our instruction doubt not for such practice is shewed in all ages so you may sée when men bée wrongfully infamed of heresie and so prohibited by Bishops to preach the Word of God they ought not to stop for any mans commandement Touching your question of hauing the Bible in English in England In my opinion I say it was not well done to inhibit it and worse that the Bishops haue not sithence amended it if they could that the people might haue it to vse vertuously And I will adde one reason the Scripture is the food and sustinance of mans soule as it appeareth by many places of the Scripture as other meate is the foode of the body then if he be an vnkind Father that kéepeth away the bodily meate the space of a wéeke or a month from his Children it should seeme that our Bishops be no gentle Pastors or Fathers that kéep away the food of mens souls from them both months yeares and ages especially when others offer the same Touching you question whether faith onely iustifieth I answer with S. Augustine Good works make not a man iustified or right wise but a man once iustified doth good works These Articles being directed to the Archbishop of Canterburie which was not Cranmer but Doctor Warham whereby it may be gathered that this godly learned man was long before he disputed before the King or was condemned to death vpon the day that was appointed for him to suffer this holy martyre of God was brought out of prison vnto the house of the Lord Cromwell and carried into his inward chamber where it is reported Cromwell asked him forgiuenesse for what he had done And being admonished of his houre of death he was greatly comforted and comming into the hall he saluted the Gentlemen and sate down to breakfast shewing no manner of sadnes or feare after breakfast he was carried to the place of execution where he should offer himselfe a sacrifice of sweet sauour vnto the Lord who is blessed in his Saints for euer and euer Amen The storie of one COLLINS ONe Collins a Gentleman was burnt at London
false in that he presently declareth what manner of women Bishops wiues ought to be S. Paul reckoneth matrimony amongst the principall vertues of a Priest and these men call it in the Canons the poluting of the flâ—sh God instituted matrimony Christ sanctified it with his presence and the turning water into wine and would haue it the Image of his loue to the Church They aleadge the Leuiticall Priests which as often as they came to minister were bound to be apart from their wiues being our sacraments be more excellent then theirs and daily vsed it would be very vncomely that they should be handled by married men The Priests of the old Law were forbidden all outward vncleannesse of the flâ—sh when they ministred to signifie the holines of Christ whom they did prefigure but our holines consâ—steth of the inward cleannesse of the spirit and S. Paul is witnesse that the Apostles did both keep their wiues carry them about with them 3 Touching that he should say that the Scottish nation and their Cleargy be altogether blinded no man will deny that people to be blind that neither heare Christ nor his Apostles such is the people of Scotland in that they cal the Pope supreme head of the Church whith belongeth onely to Christ and contrary to the word they forbid Priests to marry in the tenth of Iohn Christ is the doore they affirme they must enter by the Uirgine Mary and S. Peter Christ would haue vs worship him in Spirit and truth The Scots build Temples and Chappels for Idols in which they commit Fornication In the tenth to the Hebrews Christ By one sacrifice hath made those perfect for euer which are sanctified And to this effect Christ said on the Crosse It is finished shewing that by his death all Sacrifices for sinne ended yet the Scottish Church-men daily offer Christ for sins both of them aliue and them that be dead God commaundeth not to worship any Grauen Images the Scots fall flat to them and offer them Incense Paul teacheth that Christ is our wisdome righteousnes satisfaction and redemption the Scots prefer the traditions of men before the law of God they stablish righteousnes in their own works and Sanctification in holy water and other outward things and Redemption in péeces of Lead which they buy of their great Antichrist Touching the possessions temporall and iurisdiction in temporalities in the 18. Chapter of Numbers God said to Aaron Thou shalt haue no portion amongst theÌ„ I am thy portion and heritage thou and the Leuits shall haue all the tithes of Israell for their ministry but what heritage is prâ—uided for them I doe not say but they may possesse but all temporall iurisdiction should be taken from them when twice there rose a contention which of Christs disciples should be greatest he told them they should not haue dominion one ouer another like the Kings of the Nations Christ in the 12. of Luke answered him that desired him to deuide his Brothers inheritance vnto him Who made me a Iudge And in the 8. of Iohn he refused to giue iudgement vpon the Adulteresse whereby it appeareth Christ reiected the office of a Iudge as a thing not agréeable to his office When Moses tooke vpon him the ciuill gouernment and the priest-hood he was commaunded to resigne the Priest-hood to Aaron for it was against nature one man should suffice both charges and as long as the face of the true Church did continue no Priest did vsurpe the right of the sword S. Ambrose saith Emperors rather desired the Office of Priest-hood then Priests any Empire then sumptuous Palaces belonged to Emperors and Churches to Priests And S. Barnard saith Peter could not giue that which he had not but he gaue to his successors that which he had carefulnesse ouer the Congregation for this cause the kingdom of heauen is giuen vnto you why do you inuade other mens bounds They were ignorant of all iudgement that did fat with their possessions these belly-beasts all they which do indow such filthy sinkes with their reuenues they follow the steps of Iezabell for what do they daily but bleat and bow before their Images burning Incense aud falling flat before the altars as the Prophets of Baall did and if Daniell and Elias were Hereticks when they would destroy the Priests of Baall so am I We do but desire that their riches wickedly bestowed vpon them might be taken from them but Elias was more rigorous for he cast the Prophets of Baall into the brooke Kidron The Pope cannot make lawes according to his owne mind and will and say they are spirituall and pertaine to the soule and are necessary to eternall life for the word of God giueth them no such authority in the 23. of Iosua Thou shalt not swarue from my law to the right hand nor to the left And in the 12. of Deuteronomy Thou shalt neither adde to nor take from my Commaundements Therefore in the second of Malachy The Priest shall maintaine wisdome and the law shal they require at his hands And where he speaketh of hearing them he putteth this condition that they answere according to the Law of the Lord then these are couenant-breakers that binde the consciences of men with new lawes And in the 33. of Ezekiell Thou shalt heare the word out of my mouth and declare it vnto my people So he could not speake any thing of himselfe and God by Ieremie calleth it Chaffe whatsoeuer doth not procéede from himselfe The Prophets speake nothing but the words of God therefore they so often vsed these wordes The word of the Lord the burden of the Lord the vision of the Lord thus saith the Lord The Apostles must not teach their owne deuises but that which God commaunded them Paul in the second to the Collosians denieth he hath any dominion ouer their Faith though their Apostle And in the â—â—nth to the Romains Faith commeth by hearing the word of God and not by hearing the dreames of the Pope Christ himselfe saith for our example My doctrin is not mine but his that sent me to teach Ministers what to do The power of the Church is not such that it may teach new Doctrines frame new Articles of Faith and new lawes but is subiect to the word of the Lord included in the same They defended their Constitutions by these reasons if it were lawfull to the Apostles to make a decree besides the commaundement of Christ that the people should abstain froÌ„ things offered to Idols blood it is lawful for their successors as oft as néede requireth to do the same but the Apostles made no new decree but to warne them how to rule themselues amongst their Brethren least they should abuse their liberty to the offence of others and contrary Peter in the same councel pronounceth God to be tempted if any yoake be laid vpon the necke of the Disciples and S. Iames saith the Gentiles that are conuerted vnto God are not
question for it and so handled him that they made him to recant or else they would haue dissolued him and his argument in the fire ANNE ASKEW AFter she had bin many times examined and she had answered so wisely that though she had affirmed the truth of the Sacrament yet none could touch her for her arguments by the law Then she wrote her minde of the Sacament as followeth I perceiuâ— deare friends in the Lord that you are not yet perswaded of the truth in the Lords Supper because Christ sayth Take eate this is my bodie but he giuing the bread as an outward signe to be receiued with the mouth hee meant in perfect beléefe they should receiue his body which should die for the people and to thinke his death the onely saluation of their soules The â—read and Wine were left vs for a Sacramentall communion of the benefite of his death and that we should be thankefull for the grace of redemption And in the closing thereof he sayth This doe in remembrance of me so often as you eate and drinke or else we should haue béene forgetfull of that we ought to haue in daily remembrance and also been vnthankefull therefore we ought to pray to GOD for the true meaning of the Holy Ghost touching this communion for the letter slayeth and the spirit giueth life In the sixth of Iohn all is applied vnto â—aith and in 1. Cor. 4. The things which are seene are temporall but the things which are not seene are euerlasting and in the third of the Hebrewes Christ ruleth ouer his house whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and reioycing of hope vnto the end and the dead Temple is not his house Wherefore to day if you will heare his voice harden not your hearts Her confession in Newgate CHrist took the bread saying to his Disciples Take eate this is my body which shall be broken for you meaning his body the bread but a signe and Sacrament and so he said He would break downe the Temple and in three dayes build it vp againe signifying his body by the Temple although there be many that cannot perceiue the true meaning thereof for the vayle that Moses put euer his face before the children of Israell remayneth to this day but when God shall take it away then shall these blinde men see For it is plainly expressed in the Historie of Bell O King saith Daniell be not deceiued for God will be worshipped in nothing that is made with hands of men O what stiffe-necked people are these that will alwayes resist the Holy Ghost as their fathers haue done Truth is layde in prison Luk. 21. The law is turned to wormwood Amos 6. and there can no right iudgement goe forth Esay 59. Her condemnation THey said I was an heretick and condemned by the law if I would stand to my opinion I said touching my Faith I said and wrote to the Councell I would not deny because I knew it true then they would knowe whether I would denie the Sacrament of Christs bodie and bloud I answered yea for the same Sonne of GOD that was borne of the blessed Uirgin Mary is now glorious in the heauens and will come againe at the last day as he went vp and that which you call your God is a peece of bread and for more proofe thereof let it lie in a boxe but thrée monthes and it will be mouldy and turne to nothing that is good therefore I am perswaded it is no God Then they willed me to haue a Priest and then I smiled then they asked mee if it were not good I sayd I would confesse my faults vnto God for I was sure hee would heare me with fauour and so we were condemned by the quest This was my beléefe which I wrote to the Councell that the Sacramentall bread was left vs to bee receaued with thanksegiuing in the remembrance of his death the onely remedy of our soâ—les recouery and thereby we also receaue the whole benefit of his passion then they would needs know whether the bread in the boxe were God or no I sayd God is a spirit and will bee worshipped in spirit and truth then they sayd will you plainely deny Christ to bee in the Sacrament I answered I beléeue the eternall sonne of God not to dwell there in witnes whereof I recited againe the history of Bell and the 7. and 17. of the Acts and the 24 of Mathew concluding I neither wish death nor feare it God haue the praise thereof with thankes then she wrâ—te to the Lord Chancelour and the King but it preuayled not After she was sent from Newgate to the Tower then Maister Rich and one of the Councell charged me vppon mine obedience to shew vnto them if I knew any of my Sect I answered I knew none they asked me of my Lady Suffolke my Lady Sussex my Lady Hereford my Lady Denny and my Lady Fitzrallins I sayd if I should pronounce any thing against them I am not able to proue it they said the King was informed I could name if I would a great number of my sect I sayd the King was as well deceaued in that behalfe as dissembled with in other matters Then they commanded mee to shewe how I was maintayned in the Counter and who willed me to stick to mine opinion I sayd there was none did strengthen me therein and I was maintayned in the Counter by the meanes of my Mayde for she made mone vnto the Prentises and they by her did send mee money but who they were I know not Then they sayd diuers Gentlewomen gaue me money but I know not their names then they said many Ladies sent me money I answered there was a man in a blew cote deliuered me ten shillings and said my Lady of Hereford sent it me and another in a Uiolet cote gaue me eyght shillings and sayd my Lady Denny sent it mee but I am not sure who sent it me then they said there were of the Councell which did maintaine mee and I said no. Then they put mee vpon the Racke and kept me there a long time because I would not confesse any Gentlewomen or Ladies on my opinion and because I did not cry my Lord Chancelor and Sir Iohn Baker tooke paines to racke me with their owne hands vntill I was nie dead Then the Liefetennant caused mee to be loosed from the racke and incontinently I swounded and they recouered me againe after I sat two houres reasoning with my Lord Chancâ—llor vppon the bare floure where with flattering words hee perswaded me to leaue my opinions but God gaue mee grace to perseuere and will doe I hope then I was brought to bed with as painefull bones as euer pacient Iob then my Lord Chancellor sent me word if I would leaue mine opinions I should lacke nothing if I would not I should to Newgate and be burned I sent him word againe I would die rather then breake my faith She was borne
then he was commaunded to answere Intergatories by signes and when any question was asked he strook vpon the Table so that he might be heard then he was demaunded whether he was any that were buried there then they reckoned vp diuers and at last the Mayors wife here he made a signe that he was the spirit of that woman then he was asked whether he was damned for Couetousnesse Pride Lecherie or not doing workes of Charitie or else for Lutheranisme then by striking twise or thrise vpon the Table gaue them to vnderstand that Luthers heresie was the cause of her damnation and being asked whether the bodie buried in holy ground should be digged vp and carried â—hence he made signes it should be so then the Friers desired the Citizens to set their handes to a writing testifying that which they had séene but for feare of the Mayor they refused to subscribe then the Friers took the Pixe with the Host and the Lords body and all the reliques of Saints and carried them to another place and there they said their masses then the officiall came thither and would faine haue seene the spirit coniured and one should go into the vault and sée if any spirit appeared but he could not get them to disturb the spirit any more â— Then the Mayor informed the King of the whole matter and the King sent certaine to know whether it were so or no then they put the dâ—ers thereof into seuerall Prisons and examined them apart and a great while they would confesse nothing at length the Iudges promising the nouice that he should haue no harme nor come no more into the Fryers hands he declared to them the whole matter in order wherupon they were committed to Orleance to prison And it was certainly reported that the King would haue plucked down the House but euen at the same time chanced a persecution against the Lutherans and they feared the punishment of these men should haue bin a reproch vnto the Order and a cause of much reioycing to the Lutherans These were Francisâ—an Fryers A Storie of certaine Monks of Sueuia GVnrame a noble Baron in the yeare 1130. builded an Abbey in Sueuia called Salmesuille of Cistercian Monks Amongst many Benefactors to the said House the Earles of Montfort had bestowed vpon that Monasterie many new Liberties and Priuiledges vpon condition that they should receiue with frée hospitalitie any stranger Horse-man or Foot-man for one night but this hospitalitie did not long continue through a subtile deuise of one of the Monks who would counterfeit the Diuell ratling and raging in chaynes at the lodgings where the strangers should lie and so continued this a long space At length an Earle of the house of Montfort was lodged at the Monasterie when the Earle was at his rest in the night the Monke after his wonted manner began to play the Diuell roring thundering spitting of fire and making a noyse the Earle hearing thereof tooke a good heart and taking his sword slew the Monk And thus the Diuell of the Abbey was coniured which stopped the guests from comming to the House Who lift to see more and worse pranks of Friers and Monks played in their Houses Cloysters let them resort to the Epistle of Erasmus and he shall find ynough to infect the aire IOHN BROVVNE a blessed Martyr burned at Ashford in the second yeare of Henrie the eighth Anno 1511. THe said Iohn Browne passing to Graues-end in a Barge a Priest began to swell and stomack that he should sit so neere him at length said Doest thou know who I am thou fittest so neere me and vpon my clothes No sir said the other I tell you said he I am a Priest What sir are you a Parson or Uicar or some Ladies Chaplain No said he I sing for a Soule I pray you said the other where find you the Soule when you go to Masse I cannot tel said he I pray where do you leaue it when you haue done Masse I know not said the Priest How then said the other can you saue the Soule I perceiue thou art an Heretick said the Priest Within three daies after by vertue of a Warrant â—rom the Archbishop with a Baylife and two of the Bishops men they came suddenly into the house of the said Browne as he was carrying a dish of meat to his guests for his wife was that day Churched they layd hands on him and carried him to Canterburie where they kept him fortie dayes in which time he was so pitifully entreated by Warram the Archbishop and Fisher Bishop of Rochester that he was set bare-footed vpon hote burning coales to make him denie his Faith which he bare patiently and continued in maintaining the Lords quarrell vnremoueable then he was sent to Ashford where he dwelt the next day to be burned where he was set in the Stocks all night his wife sate all the while by him to whom he declared the whole Tragedie of his handling how they burned his â—eâ—t to the bones that he could not set them to the ground to make him denie his Lord here which if I should haue done he would denie me hereafter therefore good wife continue as thou hast begun and bring vp thy children in the feare of God where the next day he was burned This Iohn Browne bare a Faggot seuen yeares before this whose sonnâ— named Richard Browne for the like cause of Religion was imprisoned at Canterburie in the later time of Queene Marie and should haue beene burned with two more but the next day after Queene Marie died and they escaped by the Proclamation of Queenâ— Elizabeth THE NINTH BOOKE CONtayning the Acts and things done in the Raigne of King EDVVARD the sixt AFter the death of Henrie the eight succeeded King Edward the sixt his sonne being of the age of nine yeares Touching his commendations I leaue you to the Booke at large who because he was so young and tender was committed to sixtéene Gouernours amongst whome especially the Lord Edward Semer Duke of Somerset his vncle was assigned as Protector of him and the Commonwealth a man of noble vertues especially for his fauour to Gods 〈◊〉 throâ—gh the industrie of whom that monstrous Hydra with sixe heads the 〈◊〉 Articles which deuoured so many were abolished whereby the proceedings of Gardner began to decay who storming thereat wrote to the Lord Protector in the cause thereof He restored the Scriptures to the Mother tongue and extinguished Masses and by little and little greater things followed in the reformation of Churches such as fled for the danger of the Truth were againe receiued to their Countrey the most part of Bishops were changed dumbe Prâ—lates were compelled to giue place to such as would Preach and learned men were sent for out of other Countries as Peter Martyr Martin Bucer Paulus Phagius the first of whom taught at Oxford and the other two at Cambridge with great commendations Bonner Bishop of London was committed to the Marshalsie
his head and said I am right sorry to heare your Grace to speake those words which you haue done Hee appeared seauen times before the said Commissioners and euer vsed verie vnreuerent vncomely and frowarâ— words and behauiours towards the Commissioners and others and hee still shifted off the matter by subtile dilatories and friuolous cauiling about the Law and with facing and rayling vpon the Denouncers that hee thought to countenance out the matter before the people But to conclude for all his subtile craftie cautels and tergiuersations hée was iustlie imprisoned and in the end most lawfullie depriued The first trouble of the Lord Protector was presentlie after the depriuation of Bishop Bonner but shortly after hee was deliuered out of the same by the mighty working of GOD the tractation whereof shall bee delayed vntill the time of his second trouble which was two yeares after The vulgar people hearing of the apprehension of the Lord Protector they began to brute abroad that now they should haue their Latine Seruice the holy Bread and holy Water and their other Ceremonies againe Wherefore straite commaundement was sent to the Bishops of the Dioces to warne the Parsons Uicars Curats and Church-wardens of euerie Parish to deliuer vp all Antiphoners Missalls Grayles Processionals Manualls Legends Pyes Portuasies Iournals and Ordinals and all other Bookes of Seruice the hauing whereof might be any let vnto the Seruice that now is set forth in English commaunding all such persons as should be found disobedient in this matter to be committed to ward And because many refused to pay towardes the finding of Bread and Wine for the Communion whereby the Communion in many places was omitted the Byshops had charge for the redresse héereof and to punish such as refused so to doe In this yeare Letters were sent for the taking downe of Altars in Churches and setting vp a Table in the steed thereof vnto Nicholas Ridley who being Byshop of Rochester before was made Bishop of London in Bonners place The Storie of STEPHEN GARDNER Bishop of Winchester VVHereas the Kinges Maiestie made a generall visitation as before is said and appointed certaine iniunctions to be generally obserued they were obediently receiued and reuerently executed of all men of all sorts sauing onely of the Bishop of Winchester who by conference with others by open protestations and Letters also shewed such a wilfull disobedience therein as might haue bred much trouble Wherefore he was sent for before the Councell before whom he denied to receiue the said Articles and so misused himselfe before them that he was sent to the Fléete but vpon promise of conformity hee was set at liberty againe then he set forth such matters as bred more contention in that Shire then in all the Realme againe and he caused all his Seruants to bée secretly armed and harnised to withstand such as he thought to haue béene sent by the Councell into those parts and when Preachers were sent into that Countrey by the Councell to preach the Word of GOD the Bishop to disappoint and disgrace them and to hinder his Maiesties procéedings did occupy the Pulpit himselfe and in his Sermons would warne the people of such new Preachers and to imbrace no other Doctrine then that which he had taught them Wherefore being sent for againe before the Councell yet in the end vpon his second promise of conformity they left him at libertie willing him to remaine at his house at London yet he began afresh to ruffle and meddle in matters that touched the Kings Maiesty Whereupon being once againe admonished be promised againe conformity and that he would declare his conscience to be well satisfied with the Kings procéedings to the satisfaction and good quiet of others but at the day appointed he did speake of certaine matters contrary to expresse commaundement of the King and in the Articles whereuâ—to he had agreed before hee vsed such a manner of vtterance as was vâ—ry like there presently to haue stirred a great tumult and in great matters touching the pollicy of the Realme hee so handled them that he shewed himselfe a very seditious man and that in the presence of his Maiestie the Lords of the Councelâ— and of such an audience as the like thereof hath not béene séene whereupon he was committed to the Tower and after iustly depriued for his obstinaey therein Hee wrote a Letter vnto Maister Vaghan in defence and prayse of Images which the Lord Protector answered very learnedly as thou mayst sée in the Booke at large He wrote another Epistle wherein hee first rayled and findeth fault with the Paraphrase of Erasmus which he calleth a Booke of abhomination secondlie hée sheweth that he can in no case away with the Homily of saluation set out by the Archbishop of Canterbury which Article marueâ—lously vexeth his Spirit His third purpose whereunto his Letters cheefely draw is to insinuate the Lord Protector that no alteration should bee made of Religion during the time of the Kings minority but to let all thinges stand as King Henrie had left them The iudgement of Doctor REDMAN on his death-bed touching certaine points of Religion 1 THE Sea of Rome in this last daies is a sinke of all euill 2 Purgatory as the Schoolemen vsed it was vngodly and there was no such kind kind of Purgatory as they phantasied 3 That the offering vp of the Sacrament in Masses and treutals for the sins of the dead is vngodly 4 That the wicked are not partakers of the body of Christ but receiue the outward sacrament only 5 That the sacrament ought not to be carried about in procession for it is taught what is the vse of it by these words Take eate and drink doe this in remembrance of mee 6 That nothing which is séen in the sacrament or perceiued with any outward sense is to be worshipped 7 That we receiue not Christs body corporally that is to say grossely like other meats and like as the Capernayts did vnderstand it 8 That we receiue Christs body so spiritually that neuerthelesse truly 9 Touching transubstantiation there is not in any of the olde Doctors any good ground and sure proofe thereof or any mention of it as farre as euer he could perceiue neither that he doth sée what could be answered to the obiections made against it 10 Being asked of Master Wilkes what that was which was lifted vp betwixt the Priests hands he answered that he thought that Christ could be neither lifted vp nor downe 11 That Priests may by the law of God marrie wiues 12 That as only faith doth iustifie so that doth signifie a true a liuely and a faith resting in Christ and imbracing Christ and this is true godly sweet and comfortable doctrine so that it be so taught that the people take nonâ— occasion of carnall libertie 13 That workes had their reward and crown but they did not deserue eternall life and the kingdome of God no not the workes of grace for euerlasting
Supper he could but he then minded no miracle but to suffer for sinne Was not Christ at the Table and aliue when he said so and suffered not vntill the next day he took bread brake bread gaue bread and they eate bread and all this while he was aliue with them or else they were deceiued Feck You ground your Faith on them that say and vnsay and not vpon the Church Iane. I ground my Faith on Gods word and not on the Church for the Faith of the Church must be tryed by Gods word and not Gods word by the Church shall I beléeue the Church that taketh from me the halfe of the Lords supper and sâ—e deny the Lay-men part of their saluation and I say that is not the spouse of Christ but the spouse of Diuell hee will adde plagues to that Church and will take from it their part out of the booke of life doe they learne that of Paule when bee ministred to the Corinthians in both kinds Feck That was done to avoyde an heresie Iane. Shall the Church alter Gods will for a good intent how did King Saule Then Feckham tooke his leaue and sayd he was sorry for her and sayd hee was sure they two should neuer méete Iane that is true if God turne not your heart you are in an ill case I pray God send you his spirit hee bath giuen you a great gift of vtterance if it please him to open your eyes She wrote a letter to her father to comfort him and to shew how ioyfull shee was to die and she wrote another letter to one Master Harding who was late Chaplaine to her Father and fell from the truth of Gods word and rebuked him that hee put his hand to the plowâ— and looked backe and lost the comfortable promises that Christ maketh to them that forsake themselâ—es to follow him thou didâ—st séeme to bee a liuely member of Christ but now an impe of the Diuell once tho beautifull Temple of God now the filthy kennell of Sathan once the vnspotten spouse of Christ now the vnshamefast Paramâ—â—â—re of Antichrist once my faithfull brother now an Apostata once a floute Christian souldier now a cowardly run-away thou séede of Sathan and not of Iuda the Diuell the world and desire of life hath made thée of a Christian an Infidell thou hast taught others to be stroâ—g and thy selfe dost shamefully shrinke thou hast taught others not to tâ—cale and thy selfe hast committed most haynous sacriledge and robbest Christ of his right members and of thine own body and soule thou chosest rather to liue miserably with shame in the world then to die gloriously to â—aygne with Christ in whâ—m in death is life how darest thou refuse the true God and worship the inuention of man the goulden Calfe the Whore of Babilon the Romish Religion the abâ—ominable Idoll the most wicked Masse wilt thou teare againe the pretioâ—s body of our Sauiour with thy fleshly teeth and she exhorted him that the â—ft falling of thâ—se Heauenly showers might pearce his stony heart and the two edged word of Gods word seare asunder the sinnewes of wordly respects that thou mayst once againe forsake thy selfe and imbrace Christ. The night before she suffered the sent a new Testament to her sister Katherin and wrote a letter to her in the end thereof that though it were not outwardly trimmed with gould yet inwardly it was more worth then precious stones It was the last will that Christ bequeathed to vs wretches it will bâ—ing you to eternall life teach you to liue and learne you to die you shall gaine more by it then by the possession of your wofull fathers lands thinke not that your yong yearâ—s will lengthen your life for soone if God call goeth the yong as the old deny the world despise the Diuel and the flesh reioice in Christ as I do I exhort you that you neuer swarue from the Christian faith neither for hope of life nor feare of death if you deny Christ hee will deny you and shorten your dayes put your whole trust in God she made a prayer full of faith which thou mayest sée in the booke at large When she camâ— vpon the Scaffold she protested her innocency in the cause shee was to die for and prayed them to beare her witnesse that she dyed a true Christian woman and that she looked to bee saued by no meanes but by the mercy of God in Christ and my negligence of the word of God and louing of the world brought this punishment vpon me and I thanke God that hee hath giuen me a time of repentance then she prayed them whilest she was aliue to assist her with their prayers then she sayd the one and fiftiâ—h Psalme in deuout maner then she made her selfe ready and gaue her things to her Maides and caused a handkerchife to be tyed about her face the hang-man asked her forgiuenesse and shee forgaue him most willingly and prayed him to dispatch her quickly then she laid her head vpon the blocke and said Into thy hands I commend my spirit and so finished her life With her also was beheaded the Lord Gilford her husband Iudge Morgan who gaue the sentence of condemnation against her shortly after fell madde and continually cried to haue the Lady Iane taken from him and so ended his life Not long after her death was the Duke of Suffolke her father beheaded at the Tower-hill about which time also were condemned many Gentlemen and Yeomen whereof some were executed at London and some in the countrey and Thomas Gray brother to the said Duke was executed The foure and twentieth of Februarie Bonner sent a Commission to al Pastors and Curats of his Diocesse to take the names of all such as would not come the Lent following to auricular confession and to the receiuing at Easter The fourth of March following the Queene sent certaine Articles to Bonner to â—e speedily put in execution that the Canons in King Henries time should be vsed in England that none exact any oath of any Ecelesiasticall person touching the supremacie that none defamed with heresie he admitted to ecclesiastical benefice or office that Bishops and other officers diligently trauell about for repressing of heresies vnlawfull books and ballads and that Schoole-masters and Preachers teach no euil doctrine that they depriue all married Priests except they renounce their wiues but if they returne to their wiues to bee diuorced both from wife and benefice that for want of Priests the parishiâ—ners goe to the next parish to seruice or one Curate serue diuers places That processions in Latine bee vsed after the old order for the obseruing of Holy daies and Fasting daies that the ceremonies of the Church be restored that Ministers which were ordered in King Edwards time should be new ordered that the parishioners bee compelled to come to their seuerall Churches that Schoolmaisters be examined and if they be suspected to place Catholick men in their roome and
Saâ—nts departed and we beléeue as a Man departeth this life he is either blessed or damned for euer by reason whereof we affirme Purgatory Masses of Scala Caeli Trentals and such suffrages as the popish Church doth obtrude as necessary to be the Doctrine of Antichrist And wee beleeue two Sacraments of Christ Baptisme and the Lordes Supper and that they ought to be ministred according to the institution of Christ and that they bée no longer Sacraments then they were in vse and vsed to the end for which they were instituted and the mutilation of the one kind from the Lords Supper from the Lay people is Antichristian and so is the transubstantiation and so is the adoration of the Sacrament and the reseruation and carrying about of the â—ame and so is the Doctrine of the Masse it to be a propitiatory sacrifice for the quick and dead or a worke that pleaseth God and so of the inhibition of marriage in any state as vnlawfull we doubt not but we shall be able to proue all these our verities by Gods word and the Church which hath followed Gods word and Spirit and we hartily desire all men to be obedient with vs vnto all that bee in authority and not to cease to pray to God for them that he would gouerne them with his Spirit of wisedome and not to consent in any kind of rebellion against the Quéens Highnesse but where they cannot obey but they must disobey God there to suffer with all patience the pleasures of the higher powers as we are ready to do rather then we will consent to any doctrine contrary to this which we heere confesse wee shall be iustly conuinced thereof The Lord indue vs with his Spirit of truth and grace of perseuerance Upon the twentith day of Iuly the Prince of Spaine landed at Southampton He was the first that landed and presently he drew his Sword and carryed it naked in his hand a prettie way the Mayor of the Towne met him and deliuered him the Keyes which he receiued in his right hand and put his sword into his left then met him the Earle of Arundell and Lord Williams and brought him to his lodging The twenty fiue day He and Quéene Mary were married at Winchester by the Bishop there then they came to Windsor and from thence to Southwarke and from thence through the Citty of London to White-hall by the way many Pageants and glorious sights were made Upon the Cunduit in Gracious-stréet was painted King Henry the eight â—n harnesse with a Sword in one hand and in the other hand a Booke whereon was written Verbum Dei deliuering the Booke to his Sonne Edward painted by him Whereupon the Bishoppe of Winchester sent for the Painter and called him â—naue ranke Traytor and villaine for painting a Booke in King Henries hand and writing Verbum Dei thereon he should rather to haue put the Booke in Quéene Maries hand that was there also pictured for that she had reformed the Church and Religion Against this time Bonner in his Royalty and all his Prebendaries about him the doores of Pauls being shut a new Roode being laid vpon the Pauemâ—â—ts they sung diuers Prayers by the Roode then they annointed it with Oyle in diuers places After they crept vnto it and kissed it after they wayed it vppe into his accustomed place and the while the whole Quire sang Te Dâ—um and then the Bels rang for ioy From White-hall they went to Richmond then all the Lords had leaue to depart and there remained no English Lord at the Court but the Bishop of Winchester from thence to Hampton-Court where the Hall doore was continually kept shut that no man might enter vnlesse his arrand were first knowne which séemed strange to English-men Upon the fourth day of Nouember â—â—ue Priests did peâ—â—ance at Paules Crosse which were content to put away their Wiues and take vpon them againe to minister euery one of them had a taper in his hand and a rod wherewith the Preacher did disple them The twenty seauen day of Nouember Cardinall Poole being but a littlâ— before come into the Realme came to the Parliament-House the King and Quéene sitting vnder the Cloath of Estate and the Cardinall sitting on the right hand The Cardinall made a long Oration shewing first how this Realme had euer béene forward to receiue Religion first in the time of the Brittaines and then in the time of the Saxons and that the meanes came from Rome in the Faith of which Church we haue euer since continued and shewed what deuotion this Iland hath had to Rome that King Offa and Adulphus thought their obedience to the Sea not sufficient but in their owne persons went to the place where they receiued so great grace And when Carolus Magnus founded Paris hee sent into England for Alcuiâ—us which first brought learning to that Uniuersity I will not rehearse the benefits this Realme hath receiued from Rome nor the miseries this Realm hath suffered by swaruing from that Unity so all Countries that haue refused the Unity of the Catholike Faith hath had the like plagues as Asia and the Empire of Gréece by swarâ—ing from Rome are brought into the subiection of the Turke And Germany by swaruing from this vnity are afflicted with diuers Sects and factions then hee praâ—â—ed the King for his greatnésse and riches and the Quéen as one in whose hart God had preserued the Catholike truth when all light of the truth séemed vtterly to be extinct whom GOD had most miraculously brought vnto the Crowne being a helplesse Uirgin naked and vnarmed had the victory of all pollicies and armed powers prepared to destroy her and God hath appointed her to raigne ouer you for the restitution of true Religion and exterpation of errors and Sects God hath deuided his power vnto two parts heare in Earth that is into thâ— Imperiall and Ecclesiasticall power the Seculer Princes and Ministers of God to execute vengeance vpon transgressors and to preserue well doers which is represented in these two most excellent Princes the King and Quéene The other power is the power of the Keyes which belongeth by prerogatiuâ— to the Sea Apostlike of Rome from which Sea I am deputed Legate hauing the Keyes committed to my hands I confesse I haue the Keyes not as mine owne Keyes but as the keyes of him that sent mee but certaine impediments in you to receiue it must be taken away before my Commission can take place I came to reconcile and not to condemne and not to compell but to call againe My Commission is of Grace and clemency to all such as will receiue it touching the matterâ— past they shall be as things cast into the Sea of forgetfulnesse the meanes wherby you shall receiue this benefit is by reuoking the lawes wherby you haue disseuered yourselues from the vnity of Christs Church therefore you as prouident men for the weale of your soules and bodies pouder what is to be done
to the Catholike Church 〈…〉 all the Realme and receiue mercy Rog. Before I could not tell what this mercie meant but now 〈…〉 it is a mercy of the Antichristian Church of Rome which I vtterly refuse and your rising from error which you speak of is a very falling into error I can proue the doctriâ—e which I preach by the Scriptures and the fathers that liued vntill foure hundred years after Christ he answered I was a priuate man and was not to be heard nor to be permitted to proue whether the whole realme had done right or wrong when the Parlament had concluded a thing I answered no lawes of man must rule the word of God but they all must be iudged therby and obey therto and neither my conscience nor any Christian mans conscience could be satisfied with such lawes as did disagree from that word Then I was asked of the reall presence in the Sacrament I said I could not vnderstand really and substantially but corporally and corporally Christ is only in heauen aâ—d cannot be corporally in the sacrament also When definitiue sentence was read against him the Lord Chancellor sayd I was in the great curse what a vengable dangerous matter it were to eate and drink with vs accursed or to giue vs any thing for they that so did should be partakers of the same great curse Well my Lord quoth I I neuer willingly taught false doctrine and therefore haue a good conscience before God and men and I shall be found a true member of the Catholike Church of Christ and euerlastingly saued you néed not excommunicate me from your Church the Lord be thanked I haue not been in â—t this twentie yeares now you haue done what you can I am sure you and I shall appeare before Christ and then I shall be as good a man as you Then I earnestly desired my wife might com to me whilst I liued for we haue ten children and â— would counsaile her what is best for her to do which he would not grant saying that she was none of my wife Then I haue tried all your charity said I you make your selfe highly displeased with marriage of priests but you maintaine open whoredome in Wales euery Priest hath his whore openly and so the Pope suffereth all the Priests in the Low-countries and France to do the like He prophesied truly of the destruction of Papistrie shortly in England and the dispersed English flock of Christ shall be brought againe into their former estate or better then in K. Edwards time and the bloudy Babylonicall Bishop and the whole crown-shorn company brought to vtter shame and destruction for God wil not suffer their abominable lying and false doctrine bloud-thirst whordom idlenes and poysoned stomacks which they beare towards poore and miserable Christians some of them shall haue their iudgement in this world and they that doe escape in this world shall not escape in the world to come euerlasting damnation this shall be your sauce O yee wicked Papists make merry as long as you may and hee exhorted the faithfull to be carefull then to displace Papists and to put good ministers into cures or else your end will be worse then ours As he came to the fire he sang Miserere by the way all the people wonderfully reioyced at his constancy whilst he was burning he wash his hands in the flame his pardon was brought him at the stake which he refused he was the first martyr in Quéen Maries time that gaue first aduenture vpon the fire The martyrdom of Laurence Sanders HEe was parson of All-hallowes in Breadstrâ—et and being minded to giue ouer another Church which he had in Leicester-shire called Churchlangton about that time came the broile about the clayme that Q. Mary made to the crown by reason whereof he could not accomplish his purpose In this trouble he preached at Northampton boldly vttered his consciâ—nce against popish doctrine and Antichrists damnable errors which were like to spring vp again in England as a iust plage for the litle lâ—ue which the English nation did bear to Gods word which had béene so plentifully offered vnto them the Quéens men which were there heard were highly displeased with him for his Sermon and kept him amongst them as a Prisoner but for the loue of his Brethren and Friends which were chéeâ—e doâ—rs for the Quéene and because there yet was no Law against him they dismissed him He being inflamed with the fire of godly zeale preached with diligence at both his Benifices as time could serue him vntill the Proclamation was put forth as aforesaid at which time he was at his Benefice in the Countrey where contrarie to the proclamation he â—aught diligently Gods truth confirming the people therein and arming them against false Doctrine vntill he was commaunded to cease and with force reâ—â—sted then he returned towards London to visite the flock which he had there in charge and as he was comming nigh to the Citty Sir Iohn Mordant a Counceller to Queene Mary ouertooke him and asked him whether hee went I haue said Sanders a Cure in London and I go to instruct my people according to my duty If you will foâ—low my councell quoth Maister Mordant let them alone and come not at them Sanders answered How shall I then bee discharged before GOD Did not you quoth Mordant preach such a day in Breadstreete Yes said he That is my Cure I heard you quoth Mordant and it please you said he you shall heare me againe in the same place to morrow where I will affirme by the authority of Gods word all that I then said and whatsoeuer I haue formerly taught them I would counsaile you not to preach sayd he If you can or will forbidde me by law I must obey Nay quoth he I will not forbid you but giue you counsaile and so they departed Mordant tolde Bonner that Saunders would preach in his cure the next Sonday One that was about Saunders perceiuing by him that he was troubled asked him how he did indeede sayd he I am in prison vntill I be in prison meaning he was vnquiet vntill he had preached and then hee should be in quiet though he were put in prison The next day he preached vpon the second to the Corinthians and the eleuenth Chapter I haue coupled you a pure Virgin to Christ but I feare as the Serpent beguiled Eue so your wills should be corrupted from the singlenesse which you had toward Christ Iesus He reioyced in the summe of that true doctrine whereby wee are coupled so Christ and saued by free iustification by his bloud he compared the papisticall doctrine to the Serpents deceauing and left they should be deceiued by it he made a comparison betwixt the voyce of Christ and the popish Serpent wherein he shewed the difference betwixt the Seruice set forth by King Edward in the English tâ—ng and the popish seruice then vsed in the Latine tong And that the first was good
Doctor I would you would remember your selfe and turne to your holy Mother the Church and I will sue for your pardon Taylor answered I would you and your fellowes would turne to Christ as for me I will not turne to Antichrist Then Bonner had him put on the Uestures to bee disgraded but hee would not when they were put vpon him he put his handes by his side and said How say you my Lord am not I a goodlie Foole How say you my Maisters it I were in Cheape-side should I not haue Boyes enough to laugh at these apish toyes and toying trumperie and when the Bishoppe should strike him vpon the breast with his Crossier Staffe his Chaplaines said Strike him not my Lord for he will surely strike you againe That I will said hee for it is our Sauiour Christes cause so the Byshoppe laid his cursâ— oll him but strucke him not When he came to Maister Bradford for they both lay in one Chamber hee told him laughinglie how he had made the Bishop affraid to strike him that night his Wife his Sonne Thomas and his man Iohn Hull were suffered to sup with him after Supper he thanked GOD that hee had giuen him strength to abide by his holie Word Then he said vnto his Sonne My deare Sonne God giue thee his Spirit truly to serue Christ to learne his word and to stand by it all thy life my Sonne feare God fly sinne pray to him and apply thy booke and sée thou be obedient vnto thy Mother cherish the poore and count that try chéefe riches is to be rich in aâ—mes Then he said my deare Wife be steadfast in the â—eare and loue of God be not defiled with Popish Idolatries wee haue béene faithfull yoke-fellowes together the Lord will reward you for your faithfulnesse towards me I now must be taken from you and I would aduise you to marrie with some honest man that feareth GOD he will prouide such a one for you and he will bee a mercifull Father to you and your Children whom I pray bring vp in the feare of God and learning and kéep them from Romish Idolatry then with wéeping feares they prayed together and kissed each other The next day he was carried away towards Hadley to be burned there diuers Gentlemen and Iustices came to him there who laboured him to returne vnto the Romish Religion shewed him his pardon and promised him great promotions yea a Bishoprick if he would but all was vaine for he had not builded his Rocke vpon the sands in perill of euery winde but on the sure Rocke Christ. When hee went through Hadley to execution the stréetes being full they cried out with lamentable voyces Ah good Lord there goeth our Shepheard from vs that hath so faithfully taught vs so fatherly cared for vs and so godly gouerned vs what shall wee poore scattred Lambes doe What shall become of this wicked world good Lord comfort him wherefore the people were fore rebuked and Doctor Taylor euer said to the people I haue preached vnto you Gods word and truth and am come this day to seale it with my blood Comming against the Almes-heuses he cast to the poore people all the Money which remained of that which good people had giuen vnto him in Prison for his Liuing was taken away from him so soone as he was put in Prison so that hee was sustained during the time of his imprisonment by the charitable Almes of good people When he saw the place of execution and the multitude of people that were gathered together then said he thanked be God I am euen at home They had clipped his head ill-fauoredly like a Fooles head by Bonners perswasions when he was disgraded when he came there all the people said God saue thée good Maister Doctor Taylor Iesus strengthen you the Holy Ghost comfort you When he would haue spoken vnto the people one or other thrust a tipstaffe in his month then he desired license of the Sheriffe to speake but he denied him and had him remember his promise made vnto the Councell It was a common fame that the Councell sent for such as were condemned and threatned them they would cut their tongues out except they would promise them at their deathes to kéepe silence and not to speake vnto the people When he was in his Shirt hee was set in a Pitch Barrell to bee burned then he said with a loud voyce Good people I haue taught you nothing but GODS Word and those Lessons which I haue taken out of GODS blessed Booke I am therefore come hither this day to seale it with my blood then one Homes a Yeoman of the Gard who had vsed him verie cruelly all the way gaue him a great stroke on the head The Sheriffe called one Richard Doningham a Butcher to set vp the Faggots but he would not then he got others and one of them called Warwicke cruellie cast a Faggot at him and brake his face that the blood ranne downe Doctor Taylor said Ah friend I haue harme enough what néedeth this When the fire was set to him he said Mercifull Father of Heauen for Iesus Christs sake receiue my Soule into thy hands and so stood still without either crying or moouing with his hands folded together vntill one Soyce strucke him vpon the head that the Braines fell out and his Corps fell into the Fire and was burned The foureteenth of February the Lord Chanceller and the Bishops caused the Image of Thomas Becket to be set vp ouer the Mercers Chappeâ—l doore in Cheape-side in London in the forme of a Bishop with Miter and Crosier within two dayes after his two blessing fingers were broken away and the next day his head was stricken off Whereupon many were suspected and one Maister Barnes Mercer being a Professor of the truth was charged therewith and he and three of his Seruants were committed to Prison and though it could not be proued against him he was bound in a great summe to builde it vp againe now and as often as it should be broken downe and to watch and keepe the same The next day after that it was set vp againe the head was the second time broken off then there was a Proclamation set forth that he that could tell who did it he should haue an hundred Crownes with thanks but it was not knowne who did it The vertuous and godly King Christianus King of Denmarke hearing of the captiuitie of Miles Couerdale whom hee knew by reason hee was in Denmarke in King Henry the eight his time and lamenting his dangerous case made intercession by Letters to Quéene Mary desiring the said Miles Couerdalo to be sent vnto him after the King had written two letters Queene Mary after long delay made full answer to the King of Denmarkes Letters by which prouidence of God Miles Couerdale was deliuered ROBERT FARRAR Bishop of Saint Dauids in Wales THis Bishop by the fauour of the Lord Protector was first promoted vnto that
vpon that condition They would not suffer him to speake to the people He was somewhat long a dying by reason of the â—lacknes of the â—â—re which hee bare wondrous patiently in so much as the people said he was a Martyr which caused the Bishop shortly after to make a Sermon in the Cathedrall Church wherein he affirmed that George Marsh was an hereticks burned like an hereticke and a fire-brand in hell in short time after the iust iudgement of God appeared vpon the said Bishop through his adulterous behauiour he was burned with a harlot and died thereof William Flower alias Branch THis William was borne at Snow-hill in the County of Cambridge after he owelt at Lambeth and comming ouer the water to Saint Margarets Church at Westminster where he seeing a Priest at masse being greatly offended in his conscience hee wounded him on the head whereupon hee was apprehended and layde in the Gate-house at Westminster â—and from thence beeing brought vnto Bonner and being examined he said he came of purpose to doe it and when hee saw the people to kneele downe and giue the honour of GOD vnto a piece of Bread hee could not possibly forbeare any longer but drew forth his Hanger and smote the Priest the Witnesses proued that he smote him on the head arme and hand and that he bled aboundantly and that hauing a Calice full of consecrated Hosts the Hosts were besprinkled with the bloud The Bishop offered that he should be pardoned if he would recant his opinion of the Sacrament and returne to the holy Church He answered Doe what you will I am at a point for the heauens shall assoone fall as I will forsake mine opinion He was often called before the Bishop but when neither by flatteries nor threatning he would not 〈◊〉 he was condemned At his burning he was most cruelly handled his right hand was hold against â—he stake and strucken off at which striking hee in no part of his body did once shrinke to his burning little wood was brought not sufficient to burne him but they were faine to strike him downe into the fire Iohn Cardmaker alias Taylour and Iohn Warne Vpholster of Saint Iohns in Walbroke in London THese two were condemned by Boner for holding that there was no transubstantiation in the Sacrament and denying the carnall reall and corporall presence of Christ in the Sacrament This Cardmaker was one of the Prebendaries of the Cathedrall Church of Welles Hee was apprehended and â—aken by the Bishop of Bathe and committed prisoner vnto the Fleete in London the lawes of King Edward being yet in force but afterward when they had restored their old popish lawes by Act of Parliament these two namely Cardmaker and Warne were brought to 〈◊〉 Lord Chancellor who offered them the Queenes pardon if they would recant Wherevpon they made such an answere as the Lord Chancellor and his fellowes allowed them for Catholicke but it was but for a further aduantage and that they might haue some forged example of a shrinking brother to lay in the 〈◊〉 of the rest which were to bee examined and to all that after were examined they commended Cardmaker and one Barlow for sobernesse discretion and learning which Barlow was for all his good answers led to the Fleete from whence being deliuered did by exile constantly bear witnes to the truth of the Gospell Cardmaker was conuayed to the Counter in Breadstreet the Papists hauing a certaine hope that Cardmaker was become theirs diuers of them confâ—rred with him in the end he required them to put their reasons in writing and then hee would answere them in writing which was done but they neuer came vnto our handes When Warne and he were brought together to Smithfield to be burned the Sherife called Cardmaker aside and talked with him secretly so long that Warne had made his prayers and was chained to the stake and wood and â—eeds set to him The people thought sure Cardmaker would haue recanted but when they saw him put off his clothes and go boldly to the stake and kisse it and shake Warn by the hand and did him be of good comfort they cried out for ioy with so great a shoute as a greater hath not beene heard saying God be praised the Lord strengthen thée Cardmaker the Lord receiue thy spirit thus they both through the fire passed into the ioyes of heauen William Tooly Poulterer of London HEe was hanged for robbing a Spaniard at S. Iames and in his prayer at the Gallowes which was neere Charing-crosse hee prayed God to deliuer vs from the tyrannie of Rome and all the Popes detestable enormities to which all the people said Amen And being hanged and buried the Mitred Priests tooke this grieuously and after consultations what was best to be done there was a Mandate of Bonner set vp at Charing-crosse on Paules Church doore and at Saint Martins in the Fieldes for the citing of Tooly hanged a little before to appear before the said Bishop for heresie where after many witnesses examined he was suspended excommunicated condemned and committed to the secular power to wit the Sherifes of London who digged him vp layde his dead body on the fire and burned it THOMAS HAVKES HEe was sent to London to Bonner for not suffering of his childe to be christened in three weekes he tolde the Bishop the reason was because their baptizing was against the word of God there being in it so many things which haue 〈◊〉 inuented by men as Oyle Creame Salt Spittle Candle and coniuring of water c. Bonner The Catholike Church hath taught it and your fathers and the whole world haue béene conteâ—ted therewith he answered I haue nothing to doe what they haue done what God commandeth me to that stand I. One said I was too curious for ye will haue nothing said he but your little pretty Gods booke I asked if it were not sufficient for our saluation Yes said hee but not for our instruction I said GOD send me the saluation and you the instruction Bonner Would you be content to haue your childe christened after the Order set forth in K. Edwards time Haukes Yes said I that is my desire then he said you are a stubborn young man I must take another course with you I told him he was in the handes of God and so am I. Then the Bishop would haue had me to Euenâ—song with him I tolde him I would not pray in that place nor in none such One of his Chaplaines said let him goe my Lord and he shall be no pertaker with vs in our prayers I told them I thought my selfe best when I was farthest from them The Bishop sent for me and Harpsfield was with him then the Bishop said this is the man I told you of that would not haue his childe christened nor will haue no ceremonies Harps Christ vsed ceremonies when he tooke clay and spittle and made the blinde man sée Haukes Christ vsed it not in Baptisme if you
and not the flesh and bloud of Christ naturally and that there is no sacrifice nor saluation to a Christian in the Masse except it were said and vsed in the mother tongue and likewise also that the ceremonies of the Church are not profitable for a Christian. And as touching Auricular confession he said it was necessary to goe to a good Priest for counsaile but the absolution and laying handes on a mans head by the Priest as it is now vsed is not profitable and that the faith and doctrine now taught is not agreeable to GODS word and that Hooper Cardmaker and others of their opinion which were late burned were good Christians and did preach the doctrine of Christ. Iohn Launder was coudemned by the said Bonner for affirming that whosoeuer doth teach or vse any other Sacraments then the Lords Supper and Baptisme or any other ceremonies he beleeueth that they were not of the Catholique Church but abhorreth them and that he himselfe is a member of the true Catholique Church he denied the reall presence in the Sacrament but he beleeueth that when he receiueth the materiall Bread and Wine it is in remembrance of Christs death and that he eates Christs body and bloud by faith and no otherwise and that the Masse is naught and abominable and directeth against Gods word and that the gloria in excelsis the Creed Sanctum Pater noster Agnus and other parts of the masse be of themselues good yet being vsed amongst other things are naught also and that auricular confession is not necessary to be made to a Priest but to God and that none but Christ hath authoritie to absolue sinnes Derick being asked whether he would recant your doctrine quoth he is poyson and sorcerie if Christ were here you would put him to a worse death then he was put to before You say you can make a God you can make a Pudding as well your ceremonies in the Church are beggerie and poyson and auricular confession is poyson and against Gods word so they were condemned and burned Derick was rich but the raâ—eners made such hauocke thereof that his poore wife and children had little or none thereof he was olde and past learning yet when he was put into prison being ignorant of any letter in his booke he could before his death reade perfectly When he was burned they threw his booke into a barrell that he was burned in to be burned with him but he threw it amongst the people and the Sherife commanded vpon paine of death in the King and Quéenes name to throw it into the fire againe then he said Deare brethren and sisters as many as beleeue in the Father the Sonne and holy Ghost vnto euerlasting life see you doe thereafter and you that beleeue in the Pope or any of his lawes you beleeue to your vtter destruction for except the great mercy of God you shall burne in hell continually The Sherife said if thou dost not beleeue in the Pope thou art damned therefore speake to thy God that he may deliuer thee now or else to strike me downe to the example of this people but he said vnto him The Lord forgiue you that which you haue said THOMAS IVESON THis Iueson was condemned by the said Bonner for saying the Sacrament of the Altar is a very Idoll and detestable before GOD as it is now-a-dayes ministred and that the Masse is naught and that auricular confession is not necessary for that a Priest cannot forgiue sinnes that baptisme is a token of Christ as circumcision he beléeueth his sinnes are not washed away therby but only his body washed and his sinnes washed only in Christs bloud and that there is but two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper which now are not rightly vsed in England that all the ceremonies now vsed in the Church are superfluous and superstitioâ—s and being earnestly labored withall to recant said he would not forsake his beléefe for all the goods in London I doe appeale to Gods mercie and will be none of your Church and if there came an Angell from heauen to teach me other doctrine then that which I haue now I would not beleeue him whereupon he was burned IOHN ALEWORTH HEe died in prison at Reading for the testimonie of the truth whom the Catholike Prelats as their vse is did exclude out of Catholike buriall IAMES ABBES THis Abbes beâ—ng examined by the Bishop of Norwich he relented at their naughty perswasions now when he was dismissed and should go from the Bishop he gaue him some money but after he was pittiously vexed in conscience he went againe to the Bishop and threw him his said money which he had receiued and said it repented him that euer he had consented to their wicked perswasions then the Bishop and his Chaplains laboured a fresh to win him againe but in vaine and so he was burned at Berry Iohn Denley Gentleman Iohn Newman Patricke Pachington AS Edmund Tyrell a Iustice of Peace in Essex came from the burning of certaine godly Martyrs he meâ— with Iohn Denley and Iohn Newman both of Maidstone in Kent and vpon the sight of them as he bragged he suspected and searched them and finding the confessions of their faith written about them hee sent them to the Quéens Commissioners who sent them to Bonner the effect of the writing followeth In the Sacrament Christs bodie is figuratiuely in the Bread and Wine spiritually he is in them that worthily eate and drinke the Bread and Wine but really carnally and corporally he is in heauen from whence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead Then Bonner ministred articles vnto them and vnto Patrick Pachington who all answered alike to this effect following The Catholike Church is built vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Christ being the head corner stone it is the Congregation of the faithfull dispersed through the whole world and two or three gathered together in Christs name are the members thereof This Church doeth preach GODS holy word and minister the blessed Sacraments truely the Church of England vsing the Faith and Religion which now is vsed is no member thereof but is the Church of Aâ—tichrist the Bishop of Rome being the head thereof for they haue altered the Testament of GOD and set vp a Testament of their own deuising ful of blasphemy and lies Christs Testament being that we should haue all things done for the edifying of the Church The Masse now vsed is most abominable idolatrie and intollerable blasphemie Christ ordained his Sacraments to be eaten together in remembrance of his death vntill heâ— come and not to bee worshipped and to make an Idoll of them for GOD will not be worshipped in his creatures but we must remember to praise him for his creatures what is kneeling holding vp your handes knocking of the breast putting off the cap and making curtsie with other superstition to the bread but Idolatrie You obiect you worship not the Bread and Wine
but the body of Christ borne of the Uirgin vnder the forme of Bread and Wine but that is a very lye for Christs body that was borne of the Uirgin is in heauen Auricular confession is not good if I haue offended God I must séeke to him for remission of sinnes by Christ if I haue offended my neighbour I must reconcile my selfe to him againe if I were a notorious sinner after the first and second admâ—nition it ought to be declared to the Congregation and the Minister hath power by the word to excommunicate me and I am to be taken as a heathen not for a day or for fortie dayes but vntill I openly in the Congregation acknowledge my fault and then the Minister hath power by the word to preach to me remission of sinnes by Christ. Touching Baptisme Iohn Baptist vsed nothing but preaching the word and water as appeareth by Christs baptisme and others the Chamberlaine said to Philip Here is water what letteth me to be baptized hee asked not for Creame nor Oyle nor Spittle nor coniured Water nor coniured Waxe nor Crysome nor Salt the like is to be said of the rest of the ceremonies of the Church And he said there were but two sacraments except they would make the Rainbow a Sacrament for there is no sacrament but such as hath the promise annexed vnto it Bonner séeing their vnmoueable constancie after all meanes they could were vsed they were condemned and Denley was burned at Uxbridge he sang a psalm in the fire then cruell Doctor Storie commaunded one to hurle a Faggot at him which made him bléed on the face whereat he left his singing and clapped his hand on his face Doctor Storie said to him that flung the Faggot truly thou hast marred a good old song then Denley put his hands abroad and sung againe Not long after him Patrick Pachingham was burned at Uxbridge and Iohn Newman was burned at Saffron Walden in Essex RICHARD HOOKE HEe neere about the same time and for the same matter that those formerly spoken of died forâ—gaue his life at Chichester William Coker William Hopper Henry Lawrence Richard Colliar Richard Wright William Steerâ— THese being examined before the Bishop of Douer and Harpsfield the Archdeacon of Canterbury and others Henry Lawrence denied auricular confession and would not receiue the sacraments because the order of the Scripture is changed in the order of the Sacrament and when the Suffragan made mention of the Sacrament and put off his cap he said you néed not reuerence the same and he said the Sacrament of the Altar is an Idoll and being required to subscribe his hand he wrote Ye all are of Antichrist and him ye follow William Steere of Ashford being commanded of the Iudge to answere bade him command his dogges and not him and said Dicke of Douer meaning the Bishop had no authoritie to set in iudgement against him alledging that the Bishop of Canteburie that was in prison was his Dioccesan and hee said he found not the Sacrament of the Altar in the Scripture therefore he would not make any answer thereto The Iudge speaking of the Sacrament put off his cap he said he needed not reuerence that so highly saying withall that the Sacrament of the Altar was the most blasphemous Idoll that euer was The other also denied the Sacrament wherefore they were all condemned and burned all in one fiâ—e at Canterburie Elizabeth Warne George Tankerfield Robert Smith Steuen Harwood Thomas Fust William Hall Thomas Leyes George King Iohn Wade Ioane Leyshford THe Prisons of London being replenished with Gods Saints and still moe and moe comming in wherefore these ten were sent for of Bonner to be examined and rid out of the way The chéefe point he examined them of was touching the corporall presence of Christs body and blood in the Sacrament as the profitablest foundation for their Catholike dignity Many other thinges were obiected against them as not comming to Church for speaking against the Masse and for dispising their Ceremonies and Sacraments Elizabeth Warne answered vnto them I deny them all and if Christ was in an error then am I in an errour wherefore she was condemned Doctor Story was of some alliance vnto her who deliuered her once by his earnest sute before hee was Commissioner but after he was Commissioner he caused her Iohn Warne her Husband and her Daughter to be apprehended neuer leauing them vntill hee had brought them all to Ashes George Tankerfield of London Cooke borne in the Cittie of Yorke he vtterly denied aurâ—culer Confession and Transubstantiation and affirmed that the Masse was naught and full of Idolatry and abhomination and affirmed that there were but two Sacraments He told the Bishop he cared not for his Diuinity for you condemne all men and proue nothing against them and he said the church whereof the Pope is supreme head is not Christs Church and pointing to the Bishop he said to the people beware of him and such as he is these be they which deceiue you Wherevpon he was condemned ROBERT SMITH beeing asked by Boner when hee was Confessed Hee answered not since the time he had discretion I am not commaunded of God to shew my sinnes to any of that sinfull number whom yee call Priests He was a Painter and hee told the Bishop hee had vsed his vocation better then hee had vsed his Bishoprick Hee said hee neuer vsed the Sacrament nor neuer would because it hath not Gods ordinance but rather it is directed to mocke GOD I count it a detestable Idoll and not GOD but contrarie to GOD and truth Then the Bishop said hee should be burned He answered hee must not thinke thereby to quench the Spirit of GOD nor make your matter good for your sore is too well seene to bee healed so priuily with bloud euen the Children haue all your deeds in derision so that though you patch vp one place with authoritie yet it shall breake out in fortie to your shame Then the Bishop said by my truth if thou wilt be shrieuen I will tare this paper of thy examination I answered it would be too much to his shame to shew it vnto men of discretion Boner Doe you not confesse there is a Catholick Church on earth Smith Yes verily and it is builded vpon the Prophets aâ—d Apostles Christ Iesus being the head Corner stone which Church maintaineth the word and bringeth the same for her authoritie and without it doth nothing nor ought to doe and I am fully assured I am a member of the same Church Boner If my brother doe offend and will not be reconciled I must bring him before the congregation where may a man finde your Church to bring his brother before the same Smith In the Acts of the Apostles when the tyranny of the Bishops was so great against the Church of Iewry they were faine to congregate in priuy places as they now doe yet they were the Church of God Boner There Church was knowne full
dignity because that which was common bread hath the dignitie to exhibit Christs body for now it is an holy bread sanctified by Gods word The third question was whether the masse were a liuely and propitiatorie sacrifice for them aliue and for them that be dead this article they denied to be true because Christ made one perfect sacrifice for the whole world neither can the Priests offer vp Christ againe for the sinnes of man neither is there any propitiation for our sins but his Crosse only And because neither for feare nor flatterie they could be made to recant at their second sitting they were condemned disgraded and deliuered to the secular power Upon the North-side of the towne of Oxford in the ditch ouer against Baliol Colledge the place of execution was appointed Doctor Ridley came vnto the stake in a faire black gowne such as he was wont to weare when he was Bishop with a tippet of sables about his neck M. Latimer came in a poore frize frock in one they might behold the honor they sometimes had in the other the calamitie whereunto they were now descended after Doctor Ridley had prayed seeing the chéerfulnes of M. Latimer he ran vnto him imbraced him and kissed him saying be of good heart brother for God will either asswage the fury of the flame or else strengthen vs to abide it Then Doctor Smith began his Sermon vpon 1. Co. 13. If I giue my body to the fire to be burned and haue not charity I shall gaine nothing thereby wherein he alledged that neither the holinesse of the person nor the manner of the death but the goodnes of the cause made a martyr this he prâ—ued by the example of Iudas and many others which then might be counted righteous because they desperatly sundred their liues from their bodies as he feared these men that stood before him would do and still he cried vnto the people to beware of them for they were hereticks died out of the Church at last he exhorted them to recant and come home again vnto the Church saue their liues and soules which else were condemned They would haue answered him but some ran to them stopt their mouthes with their hands would not suffer them to speak Then Doctor Ridley said Heauenly father I giue thée most hearty thanks that thou hast called me to be a professor of thée euen vnto death I beséech thée be mercifull to this Realme of England and deliuer the same from all her enemies When the fire was kindled he cried Into thy hands I commit my spirit Lord receiue my spirit crying often Lord Lord receiue my spirit M. Latimer crying as vehemently on the other side O Father of heauen receiue my soule Latimer died quickly but Ridley was long a 〈◊〉 by reason of the bad making of the fire yet he remained constant to the end The death of Stephen Gardner IN Nouember the next moneth after the burning of Ridley and Latimer in which moneth the Quéen died thrée years after Stephen Gardner a man hated of God and good men ended his wretched life He was borne in Berry in Suffolk and brought vp in Oxford his wit capacity and memory were excellent if they had bin well applied he was high-minded flattering his own conceit too much towards his superiours he was politick and pleasant to his inferiors fierce against his equals stout and enuious if they any thing withstood him in iudgment it was constantly reported that the nayles of his toes were crooked and sharp downward like the clawes of a beast his death happened so opportunely that England hath a great cause therefore to praise God not so much for the great hurt it had done in times past in peruerting his Princes in bringing in the sixe Articles in murthering GODS Saints and in defacing Christs most true Religion but especially for that he had thought to haue murthered our noble and religious Quéene Elizabeth for hee was the cause of all her danger and if it bee certaine which we haue heard that a Writ came downe from certaine of the Councell to the Tower where the Lady Elizabeth was for her execution it is sure this vile wily Winchester was the only Dedalus and framer of that Ingine but M. Brigs Lieutenant of the Tower certified the Quéen of the matter and there by preuented Achitophels bloudy deuices as Bonner Storie Thornton Harpsfield Downing with others were occupied in putting the branches to death so Gardner bent his deuices in assaying the root in casting such a plot to build vp his Poperie as he thought it should stand for euer whether he died with his tongue swolne out of his mouth as Arundell Bishop of Canterburie did or whether he stunke before he died as Cardinall Wolsey did who after he had vsed coniuration before so after he had poysoned himselfe by the way at his buriall he was so heauie that they let him fall and he gaue such a sauor that they could not abide him with such a suddaine tempest about him that all the Torches went out and could beare no light or whether he died in dispaire I referre all this vnto their reports of whom I heard it A great doer about Winchester reported that the Bishop of Chichester comming vnto Gardner began to comfort him with Gods promises and with frée Iustification in the bloud of Christ he said what my Lord will you open that gap now then farewell altogether to me and such other you may speake it but open this window to the people and then farewell altogether Iohn Web Gentleman George Roper and George Parke THese were condemned by the Bishop of Douer and Harpsfield for deâ—ying the reall presence in the sacrament of the Altar and were burned in one fire at Canterburie abiding most patiently their torments and counting themselues blessed that they were worthy to suffer for the Gospell William Wiseman and Iames Gore THis Wiseman died in Lollards Tower being there for religion the holy Catholike Church cast him out into the fields and commaunded that no man should burie him according as their deuout manner is to all that die in that sort whom they account not worthy of buriall but to be cast to dogges and birds yet good men buried him in the night Iames Gore being in the prison at Colchester for the truth of Gods word died much about this time IOHN PHILPOT HEe was Sir Peter Philpots sonne in Hampshire brought vp in new Colledge in Oxford going from Oxford into Italy comming from Uenice to Padua he was in danger through a Franciscan Frier accompanying him in his iourney who comming to Padua accused him of heresie In King Edwards time he had diuers conflicts with Gardner Bishop of Winchester after he was made Archdeacon of Winchester where he continued during King Edwards time to no small profit of those parts in Quéen Maries time he being one of the Conuocation with a few other sustained the cause of the Gospell manfully
that it was against his conscience it pleased God that so great vertues in this man should not be without some blemish and that y â— falshood of the Popâ—sh generation by this meanes might be the more euident and that we should haue the lesse confidence of our owne strength presently this recantation was put in Print and published notwithstanding it was decréed that Cranmer should be burned out of hand and the Quéene commanded a funerall Sermon to be made for him by Doctor Cole and hauing his lesson giuen him he went spéedily to Oxford to play his part The morning before hee should bee executed Cole gaue him 15 crownes to giue to y â— poore The Archbishop surmised whereabouts they went after the Spanish Frier came vnto him with a paper of Articles which Cranmer should openly professe in his recantation before the people desiring him to write his name vnto it then he prayed him to write a Copy of it and kéepe it with him which he did knowing wherunto their deuices tended he put secretly into his bosome his prayer with his exhortation written in another paper Cranmer was brought from prison to S. Maries Church betwixt two Friers which mumbled certaine Psalmes in the stréets as they went when they came vnto the Church they sung Nunc dimittis then they brought him to his standing where they left him there he stood all y â— Sermon in a bare ragged gowne ill-fauouredly clothed with an old square cap exposed to the contempt of all men In this habite when he had stood a good while vpon the stage he turned vnto a pillar knéeling lifting vp his hands to heauen he praied vnto God once or twice After a while Cole came began his Sermon altogether to the disgrace of Cranmer shewing that he was the onely man that began this heresie schisme from the Catholique Church that he was the cause of the diuorce betwixt the Quéenes father and mother and that for these and other maine causes the Quéene and Councell did thinke fit that he should be burned although he had recanted At the end of his Sermon he brought many scriptures to comfort him that such as die in Gods faith he will either abate y â— fury of y â— flame or else giue him strength to abide it he glorified God much in his conuersiâ—n because it appeared to be only his worke shewing what great meanes was vsed to conuert him but none could preuaile vntill God reclaimed him saying whilst he flowed in riches honor he was vnworthy of death but lest he should carry with him no comfort he promised that immediatly after his death there should be Dirges Masses Funerals executed in all the Churches in Oxford for â—uccour of his soule But Cranmer during the Sermon lifted vp his hands eyes to heauen the very shape of forrow was liuely expressed in him more then twenty times he shed aboundant teares from his fatherly face but especially when he made his prayer before the people After Cole had done his Sermon he had Cranmer performe his promise to expresse your faith that you may take away suspicion from men that they may vnvnderstand you a Catholique indéed I wil do it said the Archbishop with a good will then he desired y â— people to pray for him that God would forgiue him his sins and one offence doth trouble me more then all the rest whereof in processe of my talke you shall heare and after he had made a very pithy praier with y â— people which you may sée in y â— book at large then he said euery man at the time of his death desireth to giue some god exhortation vnto others so I pray God at this my departing I may speake somwhat whereby God may be glorified you edified His first exhortation was that we should not set our minds too much vpon this glozing world but vpon God the world to come His next exhortation was to obedience to y â— King Quéenâ— His third exhortation was that they should loue together like brothers sisters The fourth was that rich men would weigh three sayings in y â— scripture First Christ saith it is hard for a rich man to enter into y â— kingdome of heauen Secondly S. Iohn saith he that hath this worlds goods and shutteth his compassion vpon his needy brother how can he say he loueth God Thirdly Saint Iames biddeth them weepe and howle for the miseries that shall come vpon you your clothes be moth-eaten your gold and siluer cankred and rusty and the rust shall witnesse against you and consume you like fire you hoord vp treasure of Gods indignation against the last day Let them that be rich ponder well these thrée sentences for if euer they had occasion to shew their charity it is now the poore beeing so many and victuals so deere Now being I am come to the end of my life whereupon hangeth my life past and my life to come either to liue with my Maister Christ for euer in ioy or else for euer in paine with the Diuell Therefore I will declare my faith vnto you without dissembling I beleeue all the Articles of the Créede and all the Doctrine of Christ his Apostles and Prophets in the new and old Testament and now I come vnto the great thing that so much troubled my conscience more then all that euer I did in all my life and that is in setting abroad a writing contrary to truth which now I renounce as written with my hand contrary to my heart for feare of death and that is all such Billes and Papers which I haue written or signed with my hand since my degradation and because my hand writ contrary to my heart it shall be first burned And as for the Pope I refuse him as Christs enemy and Antichrist with all his false Doctrine And as for the Sacrament I beléeue as I haue taught in my Booke and my Booke shall stand at the last day before the iudgement of God when the Papisticall doctrine shall be ashamed to shewe her face It was a world to sée the Doctors beguiled of so great a hope I thinke there was neuer cruelty more notably deluded and when he began to speake more of the Sacrament and of the Papacie Cole cried to stop the Heretiques mouth then the Friers pulled him from his seate and led him to the fire then they cried to him What madnesse hath brought thee againe into this error by which thou wilt draw innumerable soules with thee into hell Hee answered them not but directed his talke vnto the people But the Spanish Barker raged and foamed almost out of his wits and he and the other Spanish Frier began to exhort him afresh but all in vaine When the fire began to burne neere him he put his right hand into the flame which he held so stedfastly that it was burned before his body was touched he abode the fire with such constancy
that he stood alwayes in one place without mouing of his members with his eyes vpward he off repeated his vnworthy right hand saying Lord Iesus receiue my spirit and so gaue vp the Ghost Agnes Potten and another woman ONe was the wife of Robert Potten of Ipswich in Suffolke the other the wife of Michael Trouchfield of the same towne shoemaker they were burned at Ipswich the 16. of February for denying the sacrament of the Altar their constancy in burning was wonderfull they earnestly exhorted the people to credit and lay hold vpon the word of God and to dispise the institutions of the Romish route with all their superstitions and rotten religion Robert Spicer William Coberley Maundrel THese three were burned at one stake in Salisbury what their confessions were and by whom they were condemned it appeareth not Robert Draks Minister William Tims Ioyner Richard Spurge Fuller Iohn Cauell Weauer George Ambrose Fuller and Thomas Spurge Fuller THese sixe were burned at one fire in Smithfield the foure and twentieth day of Aprill they were all of Essex and sent at diuers times by the Lord Rich to Gardner who sent them to prison where they remained a yeare almost and then they were sent to Bonner to whom they all denied the reall presence in the Sacrament of the Altar after they were all sent for vnto the Consistorie first Tims was sent for and exhorted to conformity he answered we haue béene brought hither this day for Gods word which we haue beene taught by the Apostolike Preachers in King Edwards time whom you haue murthered because they preached the truth and they haue sealed their doctrine with their bloud whom I will follow Then Bonner perswaded them not to stand to the litterall sense of the Scriptures but to vse the interpretation of the Fathers Then Tims said what haue you to maintaine the reall presence of Christ in the Sacrament but only the bare letter We haue quoth Bonner the Catholike Church no said he the Popish Church of Rome for which you be periured and the Sea of Rome is the Sea of Antichrist therefore to that Church I will neuer consent I confesse Christ is present with his Sacraments but with your Sacrament of the Altar he is neither present corporally nor spiritually for as you vse it it is a detestable Idoll Then the Bishop séeing his constant boldnes condemned him Then Robert Draks was called and being exhorted to returne to the Church of Rome he said he vtterly defied it and all the workes thereof euen as I defie the diuell and all his workes then was he likewise condâ—mned Then Thomas Spurge was demaunded if he would returne to the Catholike Church and then he called the rest and vpon the like demands he receiued the like answers so they had all their iudgements and deliuered vnto the Sherife and after burned as before Iohn Hullier Minister HEe was burâ—ed at Cambridge vpon the second day of Aprill for the professing of Christs Gospell vnder Thurlby Bishop of Ely and his Chancellor only a Praâ—er and a Letter of his are recorded his Letter is to proue the Romish Church Antichrist and exhorteth from dissembling with God and the world in comming to masse Christopher Lister Minister Iohn Mace Iohn Spencer Simon Ioyne Richard Nicoll and Iohn Hamond THese six were burned together at Colchester in Essex where the most part of them did inhabite the eight and twentieth day of Aprill Bonner now waxing wearie made a very quicke dispatch with these for as soone as they were deliuered by the Earle of Oxford and other Commissioners vnto Iohn Kingstone the Bishops Register Bonner caused them to be brought vnto his house at Fulham where in the open Church he ministred vnto them articles to which they answered alike as followeth That the Church of Rome is the malignant Church and no part of the Cathotholike Church and that they beleeue not the doctrine thereof and that they beléeue there be no mo but two Sacraments in the Church of Christ to wit Baptisme and the Lords Supper that they learned the truth of their profession by the doctrine set forth in King Edwards time and therein they would continue as long as they liued they refused to be partakers of the Sacrament of the Altar because it was vsed contrary to Gods word and glorie they said the Popes authoritie was vsurped and that he was an oppressor of Christs Church and Gospell and that he ought not to haue any authoritie in England and that they vtterly abhorred the Sea of Rome for putting downe the booke of God and setting vp the Babylonicall Masse with all the rest of Antichrists merchandise and that after consecration there remaineth in the Sacrament Bread and Wine as well as before and that the reall flesh and bloud of Christ is not in it and that the Masse is not propitiatorie neither for the quick nor for the dead but méere Idolatry and abomination And in the afternoone when they would not recant they were condemned and burned as before Margaret Ellice Hugh Lauerock an old lame man and Iohn Apprice a blind man SHe was of great Bursteed in Essex and was sent to Bonner by Sir Iohn Mordant Knight and Edmund Tyrrell Esquire she died in Newgate the thirtéenth of May being condemned to be burned before Hugh Lauerocke an old lame man and Iohn Apprice a blinde man when they were examined answered in effect as Christopher Lister Iohn Mace and others before mentioned had done after they were brought to the Consistoriâ— and being perswaded to recant their opinions of the Sacrament Hugh Lauerock said I will stand to my answere I cannot finde in the Scriptures that the Priests should lift vp ouer their heads a cake of bread then Bonner asked Iohn Apprice what he would say he answered your doctrine that you set forth is so agreeable with the world and imbraced of the world that it cannot be agreeable with the Scriptures and ye are not of the Catholike Church for ye make lawes to kill men and make the Queene your executioner whereupon they were condemned and sent to Stratford the Bow and there burned the â—ifteenth of May at their deaths Hugh Lauerock comforting Iohn Apprice said be of good comfort my brother for my Lord of London is our good Physitian he will heale thée of thy blindnes and me of my lamenesse Katharine Hutte widdow Elizabeth Tharnell and Ioane Hornes IN the yeare 1556. these were burned in Smithfield were sent to Bonner with Margaret Ellice and the blinde and lame man for denying the reall presence in the Sacrament of the Altar and for calling the Masse an Idoll Katharine Hutte being required to recant and say her minde of the Sacrament said I denie it to be a God because it is a dumbe God and made with mens handes Ione Hornes said if you can make your God to shedde bloud or to shew any condition of a liuely body then will I beleeue you but it is
burned and she said â— would sée you my Lord instruct mee with some part of Gods word and not to giue me instructions of holy Bread and holy Water for it is no part of Scripture Agnes Stanly answered I am no â—ereticke no man that is wise will beléeue as you doe I beleeue those that you haue burned bee true Martyrs I will not goe from my faith as long as I liue Thomas Thirtle said I will not beleeue your Idolatrous waies your Masse in Idolatry I wil stick to my faith as long as I liue Henry Ramsey said Your doctrine is naught and not agreeable to Gods word and I will stand to my Faith as long as I liue So they were condemned and burned as before In May William Norant Stephen Gratwicke and one King were burned in S. Georges field in Southwarke Iohn Bradbridge of Stapleherst Walter Apleby of Maydstone and Petronell his wife Edmund Allen of Fritendid and Katherine his wife Ioane Mannings of Maydstone Elizabeth a blind Maid THe 18. of Iune these seauen faithfull Martyrs of Christ were burned at Maidstone their answers were like in effect to the fiue that were famished to death in Canterbury Castle The 19. of Iune Iohn Fishcock Nicholas White Nicholas Pardue Barbara Finall Widdow Bradbregs Widdow Bendens Wife and Wilsons Wife were burned at Canterbury their Articles were as the others they ioyfully vndressed themselues vnto the fire and all of them like the Communion of Saints knéeled down and prayed with such zeale as the enemies of the Crosse of Christ could not but like it Ten they arose and went to the stake where they yéelded their soules gloriously vnto the Lord. Richard Woodman George Stephens William Maynard Alexander Hosman his Man Tomasine Awood his Maid Margery Moris Iames Moris hir Sonne Denis Burges Ashdownes wife Groues wife THese tenne blessed Martyrs were burned at Lewes in Sussex the 22. of Iune without a writ from the Lord Chancelor The first examination of RICHARD WOODMAN before the Bishop of Chichester Chichester I Am sory for you and so are all the Worshipfull of our Country you haue béene of good estimation amongst the poore and rich wherefore looke well to your selfe your Wife and Children and bee ruled thinke not your selfe wiser then all the Realme Woodman I will be willing to learne of euery man the truth and I know I haue giuen no iust offence to rich nor poore and God knoweth how deare I loue my Wife and Children in him but my life my wife and Children are all in Gods hands and I haue them all as I had them not but regard the pleasing of God more then al other things I thought good to appeale to you mine Ordinary for som goe about to shed my blood wrongfully that if you can finde I hold any thing contrary to Gods word I will be reformed and if my blood bee shed vnrighteouslie that it may be required at your hands because you haue taken vpon you to bee the Phisition of soules of our Country Story Thou art a peruerse fellow thinkest thou that thou shalt be put to death vniustly that thy blood shall be required No if he should condemne a hundred such Hereticks I haue helped to rid a good many of you and will doe the best I can to rid thee Chich. I am your spirituall Pastor you must heare me and I will giue spirituall Councell Wood. You say you will giue mee spirituall Councell are you sure you haue the Spirit of God Chichest No by Saint Mary I dare not bee so bold to say so I doubt of that Wood. Then you be like the waues of the Sea tossed with the winde and vnstable in all your wayes as Saint Iames saith and can looke for no good thing at the Lords hands You are neither hote nor cold Therefore God will spue you out Story Hee hath the Diuell in him hee is worse then the Diuel thus all heretickes boast themselues Wood. The Iewes said to Christ he had a Diuell and was mad as you haue said to me but the Seruant is not aboue his Master God forbid I should learne of him that confesseth he hath not the Spirit of God Chich. Doe you beleeue you haue the Spirit of God it is more then Paul or any of the Apostles durst doe which is great presumption Wood. I beleeue I haue the Spirit and boast not my selfe but of the gift of GOD as Paul did in 1. Cor. 7. He said he beleeued verily that hee had the Spirit of GOD no man can beleeue that Iesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost I beleeue Christ is my Redeemer therefore I haue the Holy Ghost and hee that hath not the Spirit of Christ is a cast-away and none of his and wee haue not receiued the Spirit of bondage to feare but we haue receiued the Spirit of Adoption which cryeth Abba Father The same Shirit testifieth with our Spirits that we are the sonnes of God Héere are proofes enough that Paul was sure he had the Spirit of God And Iohn saith He that beleeueth in God dwelleth in God and God in him So it is impossible to beleeue in God except God dwell in vs Chich. He bade me dine with him and at dinner he asked me whether Priests may marry and whether Paul had a Wife Wood. Paul and Barnabas were not married but all the Apostles else-were For in the 1. Cor. 9. Paul saith am I not an Apostle am I not free haue I not seene Christ Mine answere to them that aske me this Haue wee not power to eat and to drinke or to leade about a Sister to Wife as well as the other Apostles and the Brethren of the Lord or haue not Barnabas and I power thus to do So this Text proueth that Paul and Barnabas were not married but Paul declareth that the rest had wiues and they had power likewise to haue wiues but they found no neede thereof But Paul in the seuenth to the Corinthians said that hee that hath not power ouer his flesh may marry for it is better to marry then to burne wherefore to auoid fornication let euery one haue his VVife and euery woman her Husband Therefore Bishoppes and Priests may haue Wiues because they are men rather then burne and commit Fornication Paul declareth to Timothy the first and niuth that Bishops and Deacons should haue wiues The second Examination before the Bishop of Winchester and others Wine LAst time you were with vs you were in an heresie in saying Iudas receiued bread vnlesse you will tell what more then bread Wood. I say he receiued more then bread for he receiued the Diuell because hee presumed to eate the Sacrament without Faith as Christ saith after he eat the sop the Diuell entred into him Hereby appeareth that the Sacrament is not the body of Christ before it be receiued in Faith Winc. What is thy Faith in the Sacrament Wood. I beleeue when I receiue the body and bloud of Christ if it
them they clapped their hands for ioy ioyfully ioyed in the fire and thousands standing by cryed generally all almost the Lord strengthen them the Lord comfort them as was wonderfull to heare Iohn Thurstone HE was taken in the house of William Munt with him he died in May in Colchester castle a constant confessor of Iesus Christ. Thomas Moore HE was a Merchant dwelling in Leicester about 24. yeares olde for saying his maker was in heauen and not in the Pixe he was apprehended the Bishop said to him what is yonder aboue the altar he said I cannot tel what you would haue me to sée I sée fine clothes with golden tassels and other gay geare hanging about the Pixe what is within I cannot sée why said the Bishop doest thou not beléeue Christ to be there flesh and bone 〈◊〉 said he that I do not whereupon the Ordinary condemned him who suffâ—red a ioyfull and glorious Martyrdome for testimony of righteousnesse in Leicester George Eagles alias Trudge-ouer HE wandred abrode in diuers countries where he could finde any of his brethren did there more earnestly encourage and comfort them now tarrying in this towne and somtimes in that certaine months as occasion serued sometimes for feare lying in fields and woods who for his vnreasonable going abroade was called Trudge-ouer for thrée yeares he dranke nothing but water and when hée perceiued that his body by Gods prouidence prooued well enough therewith hée thought best to inure himselfe therewithall against all necessities when he had profited the Church of God by this going abroade a yeare or two diuers spyes were sent out for him who had in commandement to bring him quicke or dead wheresoeuer they found him but when they could not take him they sent out an Edict in the Quéenes name into foure shires promising twenty pounds to him that should take him at length he was séene at a faire in Colchester and being pursued he hid himselfe in a wood and from thence got into a corne field when they could not finde him they returned but one got vpon the top of a trée to spy if he could sée him stirre the poore man thinking all sure because he heard nothing rose vpon his knées the lurker perceiuing him came downe and tooke him and brought him to prison to Colchester notwithstanding the Iudas-knaue which had so much promised him was faine to take a little reward this George within foure dayes after was conuayed to Chelmester where he was so cruelly handled that he had but two pound of bread and a little water measured to him to serue him a wéeke together after a while hee was brought out and indicted of treason because he had assembled companies together contrary to the lawes in that case prouided to auoyde sedition that if aboue sixe should flocke together they should be attached of treason which straight law was the casting away of the good Duke of Sommerset This George was led to be hangd drawne and quartered betwixt two théeues the one of them did nothing but mocke him and the more he was rebuked the more he mocked him but when he should die he could not speake to vtter his mind nor say his prayers and one said the Pater noster to him word by word as to a childe which he could not answer but fumblingly many did wonder at the iust iudgement of God vpon him for mocking the good martyr He that apprehended the said George Eagles his name was Ralph Hardin dwelling in Colchester who in the yeare 1561. was condemned at Chelmsford to be hanged and being at the barre â—he told the Iudge and a great multitude of people this is most iustly fallen vpon me for that I betrayed the innocent blood of a good and iust man George Eagles who was condemned here in the time of Quéene Marie through my procurement who sold his blood for a little money Richard Crashfield of Wimondham HE suffered at Norwich whose examination before Downings the Chancellour written by himselfe as followeth Chanc. Do you beléeue this that aftee the consecration there is the substance of Christs body and blood in the Sacrament Crash I beléeue that Christs body was broken for me vpon the crosse and his blood shed for my redemption wherefore the bread and wine is a perpetuall memory the pledge of Christ mercie the ring or seale of his promise and a perpetual memory for the faithfull vnto the end of the world then he was commanded vnto prison and the next day he was brought forth Chanc. Cannot you find in your heart when you come to Church to knéele before the Roode and pray I answered no alledging the commandements of God to the contrary he said Haue you not read that God commanded the brazen serpent to be made I said I haue read that God commanded it to be made and likewise to be broken downe Doctor Bridges Wherfore did God command the Cherubins and Seraphins to be made I said I cannot tell I would faine learne he said can you finde in your heart to fall downe before the Roode the picture of Christ I said I feare the curse of God is yonder Roode the picture of Christ It is written God curseth the hands that made them and the hands that made the tooles which carued them Chanc. When were you confessed to a Priest I said I confesse my selfe dayly the eternall God whom I most gréeuously offend I take confession to a Priest not be good but rather wicked then he said how say yoâ— by yonder singing and playing on the Organs is it not good and godly I said I can perceiue no godlines in it he said is it not written in the Psalmes that we shall praise God with hymnes and spirituall songs I said spirituall songs must be had but yonder is of the flesh and of the spirit of errour for to you it is pleasant and glorious but vnto the Lord it is bitter and odious then he said is it not written My house is an house of prayer I said yes it is written also that you made my house of prayer a den of theeues then he said haue we done so then I was commanded to ward and the next thursday sent for againe Chanc. Are you a new man I answered I trust I am a new man borne of God God giue you grace to be so then he prayed Doctor Pore to talke with me Doctor Take eate this is my body Do you not beléeue it is Christs body what was it that Christ gaue I said Christ tooke bread and gaue thanks and gaue it and they tooke bread and did eate bread and S. Paul saith So oft as you shal eate of this bread and drinke of this cup you shall shew forth the Lords death vntill he come S. Paul doth not call it Christs body Chanc. We will haue your minde more plainely for we intend not to haue many words with you I said my faith is grounded vpon Christ the Easter lambe he hath offered his
where with great ioy and glorious triumph gaue vp their soules vnto the handes of the Lord. Iohn Noyes of Lexfield in the County of Suffolke Shoemaker THe twenty two of September he was taken by the Constables and brought before Maister Thurstone Sir Iohn Tyrell Maister Kene Iustices and Sir Iohn Silyerde high Sheriffe who cast him into Eye-dongeon hee was carried from thence to Norwich and so came before the Bishop who condemned him because he answered that he thought the naturall body of Christ to bee onely in Heauen and not in the Sacrament as hee remained Prisoner in the Guild-hall of Norwich one Nicholas Fiske his Brother in Law came to him to comfort him he asked if he did not feare death when the Bishop condemned him he said hee thanked God he feared not death no more at that time then when he was at libertie When he was bound vnto the stake he said feare not them that â—ill the body but feare him that can kill both bodie and soule and cast it into euerlasting fire When he saw his Sister wéeping he said Wéepâ— not for mee but wéepe for your sinnes when the Faggots were set vnto him he said Blessed bee the time that euer I was borne to come vnto this and kissed the Faggot Then he said to the people they say that they can make God of a péece of Bread but beléeue them not Then said he Good people beare witnesse that I doe beléeue to bee saued by the merits and passion of Christ and not by mine owne déedes so the fire was kindled about him then he said Lord haue mercy vpon me Christ haue mercy vpon me Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon me In the Dioces of Chichester diuers were martyred for the testimony of righteousnesse in Quéene Maries raigne in the number of whom were these Iohn Forman of East-Grinsted Iohn Warner of Berne Christian Grouer of the Arch-deacoâ—â—y of Lewis Thomas Athoch Priest Thomas Auington of Erdingly Denis Burgs of Burstéed Thomas Rauensdale of Riâ— Iohn Milles of Hellinglegh Nicholas Holden of Withiam Iohn Hart of Withiam Margery Moris of Hethfielde Anne Try of East-Grinstéed Iohn Osward of Woodmancote Thomas Harland of Woodmancote Iames Moris of Heathfield Thomas Dowgate of East-Grinstéed Iohn Ashdon of Retherfield Thomas Spurdance Queene Maries Seruant HE was examined before the Chancellor of Norwich who asked him if hee had confessed his sinnes vnto a Priest I said I had confessed my sinnes vnto God who saith Whensoeuer a Sinner repenteth and is sorry for his sinnes and asketh him forgiuenesse willing no more so to doe he will no more reckon his sin vnto him and that is sufficient for me I deny that I should shew my sinnes vnto the Priest Chancel Haue you receiued the blessed Sacrament of the Altar at Easter he answered I dare not meddle with it as you vse it for the holy Supper of the Lord serueth for the Christian Congregation and you are none of Christs Members I dare not meddle with you least I be like vnto you for you teach Lawes contrary to Gods Lawes then he said Doe you not beleeue that after the Sacrament is consecrated it is the very same body that was borne of the Uirgine Mary and I said no that was a bloody sacrifice and this is a dry sacrifice And I said Is the Masse a Sacrifice a Doctor answered it is a Sacrifice both for the quicke and the dead I said it is no sacrifice for S. Paule saith That Christ made one sacrifice once for all I beleeue in no other sacrifice Chancel He is an Hereticke he denâ—â—th the Sacrament of the Altar I said I beleeue that if I câ—me rightly and worthily as God hath commaunded me vnto the Supper of the Lord I receiue him by Faith but the Bread being receiued is not GOD nor the Bread that is yonder in the Pixe is not God God dwelleth not in Temples made with hands neither will be worshipped with the workes of mens hands therefore you do very euill to cause the people to kneele downe and worship the bread for God did neuer bid you to hold it vp aboue your heads neyther had the Apostles such vse Chanc. Write that Article then said I The Seruant is not greater then the Maister your Predecâ—ssors killed my Maister Christ the Prophets and Apostles and holy vertuous men and now you also kill the Seruants of Christ so all the righteous blood that hath beene shed from righteous Abell to this day shall be required at your hands then the Chancellor bad haue me away Another Examination before the Bishop Bishop SIrre dost thou not beleeue that the Pope is supreme head of the Catholike Church I said I do not beleeue that he is aboue the Apostles they disputing which of them should bee greatest when their M. Christ was gone Christ answered their thouâ—hts saying The Kings of the earth beare dominion aboue others but you shall not doe so for he that is greatest amongst you shall be Seruant vnto you all How is it then that the Pope will climbe so high aboue his fellowes you cannot proue by the Scriptureâ— that he is head of the Church Bishop As the Bell-wether is head of the shâ—epe so is the Pope head of the Chuâ—ch and as the Bees haue a master Bee to â—ring them home to the Hiue when they be abroad so the Pope is ordained by succession of Peter to bring vs home againe vnto the â—rue Church when we are gone astray as thou good Fellow hast wandred long out of the way â—liâ—e a scattered Sheepe heare therefore the Bell-wether and now come home with vs vnto thy Mother the Church againe I answered all this is but naturall reason and no Scripture he said you are stout and will not â—e answered you shall bee compelled by Law whether you will or no. Spurdance So your forefathers intreated Christ and his Apostles they had a Law and by that Law they put him vnto death so you haue a Law which is tyranny whereby you would inforce me to beleeue as you doe but I trust the Lord will assist mee against all your beggerly Ceremonies and make your foolishnesse knowne to the world oâ—e day He told the Bishop he neuer vsed the Ceremonies of the Church since he was borne at the last he interpreted it since hee was new borne as Christ said to Nichodemus Except you bee new borne you cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heauen Then a Doctor said I was an Anabaptist for that was their opinion I said I was no Anabaptist for they deny Children to bee baptized and so doe not I. Bishop Why doe not you goe vnto the Church and Cerâ—monies I said Because they are contrary to Gods word as you your selfe haue taught but now you say it is goâ—d againe and I thinke if there were a returne to morrow you would say it were false againe which you hold now therefore I may well say there is no truth in you Then he said I
said that the Sacrament of the Altar as it is now vsed is no Sacrament at all These thrée blessed witnesses of Iesus Christ Simpson Fox and Deuenish as they were all together apprehended at Islington so they suffered together in Smithfield WILLIAM NICOLE HEe was an honest simple poore man apprehended the ninth of Aprill by the Popes Champions for speaking certaine words against the cruell kingdome of Antichrist he was butcherly burned and tormented at Hereford west in Wales where he ended his life in a blessed estate and gloriously gaue his soule into the handes of the Lord. Willam Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson WIlliam Seaman was a husbandman dwelling in Mendlesam in the County of Suffolk he was taken the ninteenth of May by one Robert Balden his neighbour whom he greatly trusted as they were leading him by night to Sir Iohn Tyrill there fell a light out of the Element betwixt them and parted them albeit this Balden was then in his best age yet after that time â—e neuer enioyed good day but pined away euen vnto death Sir Iohn Tyril asâ—ed him why hee would not goe vnto Masse and receiue and worship the Sacrament He said it was an Idol and therefore would not receiue it Whervpon he was sent to the Bishop of Norwich who condemned him He had a wife and three children who because shee would not goe vnto Masse all her corne and goods were taken away from her by Christopher Cole being Lord of the towne of Mendlesham Thomas Carman was apprehended for pledging Richard Crashford at his burning he was brought before the Bishop of Norwich and answered no lesse in his maisters quarrell thâ—n th' other and he had the like reward Thomas Hudson was of Aylesham in Norffolke a Glouer hee bore so good will vnto the Gospell that in the daies of King Edward the sixt that when hée was thirty yeareo old he learned to reade wherein he so greatly profited that in Queene Maries raigne auoiding all their beggerly ceremonies of superstition he absented himselfe and trauelled from place vnto place and returning home vnto his owne house to comfort his Wife and Children When hee perceiued that his continuance there would be very dangerous hee and his wife deuised to make him a place in his Faggots to hide himselfe in where hee remained all the day reading and praying for halfe a yeare In the meane time came thither one Berry Uicar of the Towne and inquired of his Wife for him Shee said shee â—new not where hee was Then hee threatned to burne her because shee would not bewray her husband After this Hudson waxed euery day more zealous then other and the people often resorted vnto him to heare his Sermons at last hee walked abroad for certaine daies into the towne crying out against the Masse and all their trumpery at the length one Iohn Crouch his next neighbour went with speed to the Constables to certifie them that hee was at home who went about to catch him in the breake of the day Whâ—n Hudson saw them hee said now mine houre is come welcome friends you bee they that shall leade mee vnto life euerlasting I thanke GOD therefore and the Lord inable mee for his mercy sake Then they ledde him vnto Berry their Uicar being Commissarâ—e as before who asked him where hee kept his Church foure yeares before Hee answered wheresoeuer hee was there was the Church Then hee asked him whether hee beleeued in the Sacrament of the Altar He answered that was but wormes meate my beliefe is in Christ crucified Then he asked him whether hee did not beléeue that the Masse taketh away sinnes Hudson It is a patched monster and a disguised puppit more longer a peecing then euer was Salomons Temple Then Berry seemed as a mad man and said wel I will write vnto my Lord and thou shalt be handled according vnto thy deserts Oh Sir said Hudson there is no Lord but God though there bee many Lords and Gods With that Berry thrust him back with his hand and bound Richard Clifford to the good behauiour for saying I pray bee good vnto the poore man Then the said Berry writ vnto the Bishop and sent Hudson bound like a Theefe vnto him who went thither with ioy and singing as merry as euer hee was where he was condemned These thrée were burned without the Bishops gaâ—e in Norwich in a place called Lolords pit aftor they had made their prayers they went vnto the stake and standing with their chaines about them Iohn Hudson being troubled in minde went from them and prayed his fellowes exhorted him in the bowels of Christ to be of good chéere At last the Lord according vnto his old mercies sent him comfort and then rose â—e with great ioy as a man new changed from death vnto life and said now I thanke God I am strong and passe not what man can doe vnto mee at the length they all suffered most ioyfully together to the terrour of the wicked the comfort of Gods children and the magnifying of the Lords Name After this Berry caused two hundred of the towne of Cylesham to creepe to the crosse at Penticost besides other punishments which they suffered This Betry vpon a time strooke a poore man of his parish with the swingell of a â—laile for speaking words that hee presently dyed And after hee méeting one Alice Oxes going into his Hall hee as before moued he smote her with his fist and the next day shee was found dead in his Chamber to write how many Concubines and whoores hee had none would beleeue but such as knew him where be dwelt He was rich of great authoritie a great swearer altogether giuen vnto women and persecuting the Gospell and compelling men vnto Idolatry he troubled sundry good men burned all good books that he could get and deuorced many men and women for religion When hee heard Queene Mary was dead and the glory of his triumph quailed On a Sunday hee made a great Feast and had one of his Concubines there with whom he was in his Chamber from dinner vntill euening song then hee went to the Church and after euening song in going from Church homeward hee fell downe dead made an heauy grone and neuer stirred and those that had his riches so consumed with them that they be poorer now then when they had his goods which iudgement the Lord executed in the eyes of all men At that time Dâ—nning the cruell Chancellor of Norwich died in Lincolneshire as sodainely as the said Berry died Ioane Seaman Mother of the said William Seaman SHe was threescore and six yeares old She was persecuted from her house by the said Sir Iohn Tyrill because she would not goe vnto the Masse nor receiue against her conscience sometimes shee was glad to lye in the bushes Groues and Fields but her husband beeing fourescore yeares old and falling sick she returned vnto her house to shew her duety vnto her husband vntill hee dyed then she fell
albeit I could not of conscience eate flesh vpon Friday yet in swearing drinking or dicing all night long I made no conscience at al. Thus was I brought vp and continued vntill now of late that God of his Grace by the light of his word called me vnto repentance of my former Idolatry and wicked life for in Lanchishire their blindnesse and whoredome is much more then may with chast eares be heard yet these my friends which are not cléere in these notable crinics thinke the Priest with his Masses can saue them though they blaspheme God and kéepe Contubines besides their Wiues as long as they liue yea I know some Priests very deuout yet they haue sixe or seuen Children by foure or fiue seuerall women Now M. Doctor to your antiquity vnity and vniuersality for these Doctor Chedsie alledged as notes of their Religion The antiquity of our Church is not from Pope Nicholas and Pope Ioane but from the time that God said vnto Adam That the seede of the Woman should breake the Serpents head and so vnto faithfull Noah to Abraham Isaack and Iacob to whom it was promised that their seed should multiply as the Stars in the sky and so vnto Moses Daniell and all the holy Fathers that were from the beginning vnto the birth of Christ all that beleeued these promises were of the Church though the number of them were oft-times but small as in Elias his dayes when he thought that there was none but he that had not bowed their knées vnto Baal when God had reserued seuen thousand that neuer bowed their knées vnto that Idoll as I trust there be seuen hundred thousand that haue not bowed their knees vnto that Idoll your Masse and your God Maozim which you vphold with your bloudie crueltie daily persecuting Elias and the seruants of God forcing them in their chambers and in the fields to pray vnto God that his word may be once againe preached amongst vs and that he would shorten these Idolatrous and bloudy dayes moreouer our Church haue beene the Apostles and Euangelists the Martyrs and Confessors of Christ that haue at all times beene persecuted for the true testimony of the word of God but for the vpholding of your Church and Religion what antiquity can you shew yea the Masse that Idoll and chiefe pillar of your Religion is not yet foure hundred yeares olde and some of your Masses are yonger as that Masse of S. Thomas Becket the Traytor wherein you pray that you may be saued by the bloud of S. Thomas Becket The Laiety is neuer the better for your Laâ—ine Seruice he that vnderstands Latine can vnderstand but few words the Priests doe so champe them and chaw them and poste so fast that they vuderstand not themselues and the people when they should pray with the Priest they are set to their Beades to pray to our Ladies Psalter so crafâ—y is Sathan to deuise these dreames which you defend with faggot and fire to quench the light of the word of God which as Dauid saith should be a lantorne vnto our feete and wherein should a yong man direct his wayes but by the word of God and yet you will hide it from vs in a tongue vnknowne Saint Paul had rather haue fiue words spoken with vnderstanding then ten thousand in an vnknowne tongue yet you will haue your Latine seruice and praying in a strange tongue to be of such antiquitie Touching vniuersalitie the Greek Church and a good part of Christendome besides neuer receiued your seruice in an vnknowne tongue nor your transubstanâ—iation nor your receiuing all alone nor your Purgatorie nor Images The vnitie in your Church is nothing else but treason murther poysoning one another Idolatry superstition wickednes What vnitie was in your church when there was three Popes at once Where was your head of vnity when you had a woman Pope Boner said these they words are very blasphemous and by the meanes of thy friends thâ—n hast been suffered to speake and art ouer malapert to teach any here therefore Keeper take him away afterward for that he said that the Masse transubstantiation and the worshipping of the Sacâ—â—ment is méere impiety and horrible Idolatry he was condemned he prophessed before Bonner and all the people that were there that after this day in this place shall there not bee any put to the tryall by the fire and faggot and after that day there was neuer none that suffered in Smithfield for the testimony of the Gospell God be thanked for it These seauen were burned at Smithfield Robert Miles Stephen Cotten Robert Dynes Stephen White Iohn Slade William Pickes or Pikars THe foureteenth of Iuly these sixe were taken at Islington with the other seauen as before and were burned at Brainford the Articles that were ministred vnto them were the same that were ministred vnto the other seauen and their answers the same in effect as the others were When they were brought vnto the stake they addressed themselues and ioyfully went vnto the fire and yeâ—lded their soules bodies and liues into the hands of the omnipotâ—nt Lord. RICHARD YEOMAN HEe was the Curate of Doctor Taylor before mentioned he was a godly and deuout old man being of the age of thréescore and ten years and had many years dwelt in Hadlie with him Doctor Taylor left his cure at his departure but as soone as M. Newall had gotten the Benefice be droue away good M. Yeoman as is before said and set in a Popish Curate to maintaine the Romish Religion then wandred he long time from place to place exhorting al men to stand faithfully vnto Gods word and to giue themselues vnto prayer with patience to beare the crosse laid vpon them for their triall and with boldnesse to confesse the truth before the aduersaries and with vndoubted hope to wait for the crowne of eternall felicitie and perceiuing his aduersaries to lie in wait for him he got a Pedlers packe and trauelled from village to village selling such things and thereby got somewhat to sustaine himselfe his wife and children At last M. Moyle a Iustice of Kent took him and set him in the stocks a day and a night but when he had nothing against him he discharged him so he came vnto Hadley and tarried secretly a yeare with his wife and children spending the time in prayer and reading the Scriptures and carding of wooll which his wife did spin his wife also did begge bread and meat for her selfe and her children thus the Saints of God sustained hunger and miserie whilest the Prophets of Baall lined in iollitie and were costly pampered at Iesabels table at last Parson Newall perceiuing this came with the officers in the night and broke open fiue doors vpon Yeoman whom he found in bed with his wife and children then he said he thought he should finde a knaue and a whore together and he would haue pluckt off the clothes but that Yeoman held them fast and bade his wife arise and put
his Papisticall trash And Driuers Wife likened Quéene Mary vnto Iezabell Whereupon Sir Clement Higham Chiefe Iudge adiudged her eares to be immediatly cut off which was done and shee ioyfully yéelded her selfe vnto the punishment and thought her selfe happy that shee was counted worthy to suffer for Christ then they were sent again vnto Melton Iayle where they were examined as followeth When Driuers Wife came before Doctor Spencer to be examined shee smiled then he said Why Woman dost thou laugh vs to scorne shee said Shee might well enough to sée what fooles you be Then he said Woman what saist thou to the Sacrament of the Altar Dost thou not beleeue that it is very flesh and bloud after the consecration Dri. I neuer heard nor read of any such Sacrament in all the Scripture I will grant you a Sacrament called the Lords Supper I pray you tell me what a Sacraments is Spens It is a Signe and Doctor Gascoyne confirmed the same that it was a signe of an holy thing Dri. It is a Signe indéede and therefore it cannot be the thing signified also Gascoyne Doe you not beleeue the omnipotence of GOD Shee answered Yes Then said he Christ said to his Disciples Take eate this is my body ergo it was his body for he was able to performe that which hee spake and God vseth not to lye Dry. Was it not Bread which he gaue them he said no it was his body then quoth she it was his body they did eate ouer night what body was it then that was crucified the next day when his Disciples had eate him vp ouer night except he had two bodies as by your Argument he had Such a Doctor such Doctrine be you not ashamed to teach the people that Christ had two bodies In the 12. of Luke he tooke bread and brake it and gaue it to his disciples saying Take c. do this in remembrance of me 1 Cor. 11. Doe this in remembrance of me and as oft as you shall do it you shall shew the Lords death vntill he come Then Gascoyne held his peace and the Chancellor commanded the Iayler to take her away Dri. Now you be not able to resist the truth you command me to prison the Lord shall iudge our cause vnto him I leaue it I wis this geare will go for no paiment the next day she came before them again and their Arguments were vnto the same effect wherefore she was condemned so went she to prison againe as ioyfull as the Bird of day praysing and glorifying the name of God Alexander Gouch was condemned for that his beléefe was that Christ is ascended into heauen and there remaineth and that the Sacrament was the remembrance of his death and for refusing the Masse and the Pope to be supreame head of the Church they were both burned at Ipswich They ended their liues with earnest zeale nothing fearing to speake their consciences when they were commaunded the contrary Sir Henry Dowell Sheriffe would not suffer them to make an end of their praiers then Gouch said take héede M. Sheriffe if ye forbid prayers the vegeance of God hangeth ouer your heads when the Iron chaine was put about Allice Driuers necke O said she here is a goodly Neckercher blessed be God for it Diuers shooke them by the hands the Sheriffe bad lay hands on them with that a great number ranne vnto the stake he seeing that let them all alone One Bate a Barber was a busie deer against them who being in a fréeze gown sold it saying it stunk of Hereticks with other foule words within thrée or foure weeks after he died miserably in Ipswich Phillip Humphrey Iohn Dauid and Henry Dauid his Brother THese were burned at Bury in the same moneth that Quéene Mary died Sir Clement Highama bout a fortnight before the Quéene died did sue out a writ for the burning of these three godly and blessed Martyrs though the Queene was then knowne to be past remedy of her sicknesse Good-wife Prest SHe was the wife of one Prest dwelling not far from Launceston in Erecester Dâ—oces She told the Bishop that she would rather die then worship that foule Idoll which with your Masse you make a God Bishop Will you say that the Sacrament of the Altar is a foule Idoll Woman Yea there was neuer such an Idoll as your Sacrament is made of your Priests and commanded to be worshipped of all men where Christ did command it to be eaten and drunken in remembrance of his Passion Bishop Dost thou not see that Christ said ouer the Bread This is my body and ouer the Cup This is my blood she said but hee meant not carnally but sacramentally if you will giue me leaue I will declare the reason why I will not worship the Sacrament Bishop Mary say on I am sure it will be good geare Woman I will demaund of you whether you can deny the Créede which saith that Christ perpetuallie sitteth at the right hand of his Father both Bodie and Soule vntill he come againe if it be so he is not in the Earth in a péece of bread If he doe not dwell in Temples made with handes but in Heauen what shall we séeke him héere If he did offer vp his body once for all why make you a new offering If with once offering hee made all perfect why doe you with a false offering make all vnperfect If he be to be worshipped in Spirit and Truth why doe you worshippe a péece of Bread If he be eaten and drunken in Faith and Truth If his Flesh be not profitable amongst vs why doe you say it is profitable both for Body and Soule rather then I would doe as you doe I will liue no longer Bish. I promise you you are a holy Protestant a foolish woman who wil wast his breath vpon thée and such as thou art but how chanceth it that you went from your husband and run about the Country like a Fugitiue Woman My Husband and my Children did persecute me for when I would haue him to leaue Idolatry and worship god in heauen hee would not heare me but he with his Children rebuked and troubled me so I went from him because I would be no partaker with him and his of that foule Idoll the Masse God giue me grace to goe to the true Church Bishop What dost thou meane by the true Church Wom. Not your Popish Church full of Idols and abhominations but where three or foure are gathered together in the name of God some perswaded the Bishop that she was out of her wits therefore they consulted that she should goe at large so the Kéeper of the Bishops prison had her home vnto his house where she fell to spinning carding and did al oâ—her worke besides as his seruant and went whether she list Diuers had a delight to talke with her and euer she would talke of the Sacrament of the Altar which of all things they could least abide Then diuers Priests
and thus he did vntill hee came vnto the stake but as soone as the fire was put vnto Abbes this blasphemer was striken with madnes wherewith he had charged the good martyr he cast off his shooes the rest of his clothes cried out thus did Abbes that true seruant of God who is saued but I am damned Thus hee ranne about the towne of Berry still crying Iames Abbes was a good man and saued but I am damned The Sheriffe tyed him vp in a darke house but he continued his old note and being brought to his Masters house in a Cart within halfe a yeere he died And beeing ready to die the parish Priest came to him with the Crucifix and the Host of the Altar but he cryed out of the Priest and defied all that baggage saying that the Priest aâ—d such other as he was were the cause of his damnation And that Iames Abbes was a good man and saued Clarke an open enemie of the Gospell and all good preâ—chers in King Edwards dayes hanged himselfe in the Tower of London The great and notable Papist called Troling Smith of late fell downe suddenly in the street and died Dalâ— the Promoter was eaten in his body with Lice and so died Cox a Protestant in King Edwards daies and in Quéene Maries daies a Papist and a Promoter being well when he went to bed he was dead before morning Alexander the keeper of Newgate who to hasten the poore lambes vnto the slaughter hee would goe to Boner Story and Colmley and others crying out rid my prison I am too much pestered with hereticks and he dyed very miserably being swollen and so rotten within that no man could abide the smell of him and Iames his son being left very rich in three yeares brought it to nâ—ght and shortly after as he went in Newgate market he fell downe suddenly and died Iohn Pether sonne in law to this Alexander ad horrible blasphemer of God and no lesse cruell vnto the prisoners rotted away and so died who commonly when he affirmed any thing he would say if it be not true I pray God I rot ere I die Iustice Lelon persecutor of Ieffrey Hurst died suddenly Robert Baulding aâ— the taking of William Seaman was striken with lightning wherevpon he pined away and died Beard the Promoter died wretchedly Robert Blomfield persecutor of VVilliam Browne consumed away miserably In K. Henries time Iohn Rockwood who in his horrible end cried All to late which were the words that he vsed in persecuting Gods children at Callice The Lady Honer a persecutor and George Bradway a false accuser were both bereft of their wits Richard Long a persecutor drowned himselfe Sir Rafe Ellerker as he was desirous to see the heart taken out of Adam Damlip he being slaine of the Frenchmen after they had mangled him and cut off his priuy members would not leaue him vntill they saw his heart cut out Doctor Foxford Chancelor to Bishop Stokely a cruell persecutor died suddenly Pauier or Pauie towne Clarke of London a bitter enemy vnto the Gospel hanged himselfe Doctor Pendleton died miserably and at his death he repented that euer he had yeelded to the Doctrine of the Papists Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochestâ—â— and Sir Thomas Moore after they had broâ—ght Iohn Frith Bayfield and Bainham and diuers others to death shortly after they themselues were made a publike spectacle of bloudy death at tower hil These persecuting Bishops died a little before Quéene Mary Coates Parfew Glune Brookes King Peto Day Holiman After Quéene Mary immediately followed Cardinall Poole and these persecuting Bishops Iohn Christopherson Hopton Morgan Iohn VVhite Rafe Bayne Owen Oglethorpe Cutbert Tonstall Thomas Raynolds And about the same timâ— died Doctor VVeston Maister Slethurst Seth Holland VVilliam Copinger and Doctor Steward great persecutors The residue that remained of the persecuting Clergy and escaped the stroke of death were depriued and committed vnto prisons these Bishops were committed vnto the Tower Nicholas Heath Archbishop of Yorke Thomas Thurlby Thomas Watson Dauid Poole Gilbert Burne Richard Pates Troublefield and Iohn Fecknam Abbot of Wesâ—minster and Iohn Boxell Dean of Windsor and Peterborough were committed with the said Bishops vnto the Tower Gouldwell Bishop of Saint Asse aâ—d Maurice Elect of Bangor ranne away Boner Thomas Wood Bishops were committed to the Marshalsey Cutbert Scot Bishop of Chester was in the Fleete from whence he escaped to Loâ—ane and there dyed These were committed vnto the Fleete Henry Cole Deane of Paules Iohn Harpsfield Arch-deacon of London Nicholas Harpsfield Arch-deacon of Canterbury Anthony Draycot Archdeacon of Huntington William Chadsey Archdeacon of Middlesex One Iohn Apowell mockeâ— one William Maulden as he was reading an English Seruice Booke in a Winters Euening mocking him at euery word with contrariâ— gaudes and flouting words Wherefore the said William checked him saying hee mocked not him but God As the said William was reading these words Lord haue mercy vpon vs Christ haue mercy vpon vs The other with a start suddenly said Lord haue mercy vpon me The said William asked him wherfore he was afrayd He answered when you reade Lord haue mercy vpon vs me thought the hayre of my head stood vpright with a great feare that came vpon me The next day in the morning he fell mad and after that hee lay day and night and his tongue neuer ceased crying out of the Diuell of hell I would see the Diuell of hell there he is there he goeth and such like words Thus he lay six daies that his Maister and all the rest of the house was weary of the noise and sent him to Bedlam At Waltamstow six miles from London certaine children were talking what God was and one said he was a good Old Father and a Maide of twelue yéeres old named Denys Benifield said what he is an old doting Foole The next day she was suddenly striken by the hand of God that all one side of her was black and she speechlesse and so she died the same night Some beeing in communication about Cranmer Ridley and Latimer in an house of Abingdon in Barkeshire One Leâ—ar â— plowman dwelling at Brightwell said that he saw that euill fauoured knaue Latimer when hee was burned and that he had téeth like a horse at which time and houre the son of the said Leauer most wickedly hanged himselfe in Shepton a mile from Abbington Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury gaue sentence against the Lord Cobham and died himselfe before him being sâ— striken in his tongue that he could neither swallow nor speake a good while before his death When Patrick Hamelton was burned for the truth in Scotland in the fire hee cited and appealed Frier Campbell that accused him to appeare before the High God to answere whether his accusation was iust or not betwixt that and a day of the next moneth which he named The said Frier dyed immediatly before the day came Haruy a Commissary which condemned a
Liset Chiefe President of the said Court and one of the Authors of the said burning Chamber fell mad and was put from his office Iohn Morin after he had beene the death of many Christians was striken with a disease in his legs called the Wolues wherewith he lost the vse of them and died out of his wits denying and blaspheming God Iohn Andrew the Booke-binder of the Pallace became a spy to find out Protestants died in madnesse The Inquisitor Iohn de Roma in Prouence his flesh fel from him by péece meal and so stinking that no man might come neere him Iohn Minerius of Prouence which was the death of a great number of men women and Children at Cabriers and Merindoll died with bléeding in the lower parts the fire hauing taken his belly blaspheming and dispising of God Thus farre out of the Letter Henry the second the French King notwithstanding the aforesaid examples might giue him sufficient warning yet would he not surceaâ—e his cruell persecution against Gods Children but being at the Parliament house which was kept at the Fryer Augustines in Paris because the Pallace was a preparing â—or â—he marriages of his Daughter and his Sister and hauing heard the opinion in Religion of Anne du Bourg an eloquent and learned Councellor he caused him and Loys du Faur another Councellor to bee committed Prisoners vnto the Count Mongomery The King said to the said Anne du Bourg These eyes of mine shal sée thee burned and a day was appointed for the hearing the cause at which day the King employed all the morning in examining as wel the Presidents as Councellors of the said Parliament against the Prisoners and other their Companions that were charged with the same Doctrine then they went to dinner after dinner the King went to running at the Tilt and brake many staues as well as could be whereupon he was highly commended of the Lookers â—n and being inflamed with hearing his yraise he would néedes runne with Montgomery who knéeled downe and asked pardon not to runne with him the King commaunded him vpon his Alleagiance to runne and himselfe put his staffe into his hand and as the King and he met the vizard of his helmet suddenly fell downe whereby the King was stricken in one of his eyes so that his braines perished and it so â—estered that no remedy could be found so that the eleauenth day after hee dyed He said he feared he was stricken for casting poore Christians wrongfully in Prison but Cardinall Lorraine said that it was the enemy that tempted him to think so By this meanes the hall that was prepared for a place of ioy and gladnes was now a place to keepe the dead Corps beeing hanged with mourning-cloath and there was heard mourning for the space of forty daies In the yeare 1561. there were certaine Gentlemen put to death at Amboyse for taking â—rmes against the house of Guise The last that was put to death thrust his hands into the blood of the others which were beheaded and lifting them vp vnto heauen cryed with a loud voyce Lord behold the blood of thy Children thou wilt in time and place reuenge it Not long after Councellor Oliueâ— the condemner of them through great remorce of conscience fell sicke and shriked vpon a suddaine with an horrible cry and said to the Cardinall of Lorraine O Cardinall thou wilt make vs all to be damned and shortly after died Francis the second succéeded his Father Henry the second in the Kingdome of France he at the perswasion of the Cardinall of Lorraine and others assembled the Estates of the Realme in Orleance to maintaine the Papall Sea to the ouerthrow of those that should liue after the Gospell but being sicke of a Feauer thorow an Impostume in his left care he died The Emperor Charles the fift being an enemy and a great terror vnto the Gospell was cut off from doing any more hurt vnto the Church Anno 1558. but thrée months before the death of Quéene Mary and ten months before the death of Henry the second Not long after Anne du Bourgs death the President Minard who was a sore Persecutor and the Condemner of the said Anne du Bourg as hée returned from the Councell Chamber vnto his owne house was flaine with a Dagge and it was neuer knowne who did it The King of Nauarre Brother vnto the Prince of Condie after a while maintained the Gospell hee was perswaded by the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine his Brother in hope to haue his Lands restored againe which the King of Spaine detained from him to be â—entented to alter his Religion and to ioyne side with the Papists and being in Campe with the Duke of Guise at the siedge of Roane he was shot in with a Pellet after which wound he did vehemently repent his back sliding from the Gospel promising earnestly vnto God that if he might escape that hurt hee would bring to passe that the Gospell should be preached freely throughout al France notwithstanding within fiue or six daies he dyed And the Duke of Guise himselfe the great Arch-enemy of God and his Gospell with the whole Triumuirat of France that is three the greatest Captaines of Popery were cut off for doing any more hurt The Duke of Guise before Orleance the Constable of France before Paris the Marshall of Saint Andrew before Drewx THE ABRIDGEMENT OF A Christian Dialogue called PASQVINE in a Trance THE Author of this Treatise was called Caelius Secundus Curio an Italian a zealous godly learned man by whom vnder the witty and pleasant inuention of Pasquines going to Heauen Purgatorie and Hell the whole packe of the Popes pedlary wares is laid open that we may sée what stuffe it is It was written in the time of pope Paule the third the cheefe substance whereof breefely followeth Superstition and Hypocrisie are the diuels Rhetorick by which Friers make the world beleeue so many falsehoods and toyes for by nothing else can Faith so easily be ouerthrowne The apparell of the Fryers was deuised of the Deuill that by these shéeps skins they might not séeme Wâ—olues but by the strangenesse thereof to make the simple people to thinke them holy Their Monasteries are a true representation of the qualities of the World their raigneth nothing but passions in euery one to aduance themselues and driue out others their pictures of Saints being Gods of stone very much differ from that which they were when they were vpon earth The Uirgin Mary was not honored with so many chaines bracelets perfumes gold siluer and wax as she is now vpon the Altar with paintings on her face and on her head crownes full of Iewels She is attired with costly and many sorts of garments like a yong gyrle they make her most couetous and niggardly and to giue nothing to the poore but to bestow all that is giuen her which is aboundance vpon Cardinals and Hipocrites to be bestowed vpon Whores Dogs and Horses The
bread and that which you call heresie I trust to serue my Lord God in And touching the Romish Sea she said I forsake all his abominations and from them all good Lord deliuer vs they died more ioyfully in the fire then some that burned them did in their beds Iohn Harpole and Ioane Beach widdow THese two were burned at Rochester for their constant perseuering in Christs truth about the first of Aprill A blinde boy and another suffered martyrdome at Glocester one of them was the blinde boy which came vnto Bishop Hooper whom the said vertuous Bishop confirmed in the Lord and the doctrine of his word as is before mentioned whose examinations are not come vnto our hands Thomas Spicer Iohn Deny and William Pole THese were broâ—ght before Dunnings Chancellor of Norwich and Minges his Register the Chancellor perswaded what he could to bring them from the truth and being he could not preuaile he burst out in teares intreating them to turne againe vnto the holy mother Church As he was thus labouring them and seemed vnwilling to giue iudgement the Register said in what doe you make such ados they be at that point they will be therefore reade sentence and dispatch the knaues whereupon he condemned them with teares and the next day being the one and twentieth of May they were burned at Beckles by Sir Iohn Silliard high Sherife without any writ from my Lord Chancellor As the fire burned about them they praised God with such an audible voyce that it was wonderfull to all those that stood by One Robert Bacon and enemie to the truth willed the tormentors to throw on â—aggots to stop the knaues breaths but they confessed the truth and gaue their liues for the testimony thereof very gloriously and ioyfully Thomas Spicer was a labourer dwelling at Wenson in Suâ—â—olke The persecution of the townes of VVenson and Mendleson in Suffolke AT the commandement of Sir Iohn Silliard High Sherife and Sir Iohn Tyrrill Knights these whose names follow were persecuted out of the said towns From Wenson Alice Twayts two of her seruants Humfrey Smith and his wife William Kachpoole and his wife Iohn Mauling and his wife Nicholas Burlingham and his wife and one Rought and his wife From Mendleson Simon Harlstone and Katharine his wife with fiue children William Whiting and Katharine his wife Thomas Dobson and his wife Thomas Hubbard and his wife Iohn Poncon Thomas Woodward the elder one Rennolds wife and a poore widdow and one mother Semons maide besides those that were constrained against their consciences by the help of Iohn Brodish the Parish priest the points of religion that they held for which they were persecuted were these 1 They held the word of God to be sufficient doctrine vnto saluation 2 They denied the Popes authority said their Church was Antichrist and Christs aduersary they refused the abused Sacraments defied the masse and all Popish seruice and ceremonies saying they robbed God of his honour and Christ of his death and glorie and would not come to Church except it were to the defacing of that they did there 3 That Ministers of Gods Church might lawfully marry 4 That the Quéene was chiefe head and wicked Rulers were a great plagus of God sent for sinne 5 They denied mans frée-will and the Popes Church did erre and many other in that point with them rebuking their false confidence to be iustified by works and mans righteousnesse when they were rebuked for talking so freely they would answere they acknowledge confesse and beleeue and therefore they must speake they acknowledged that tribulations were Gods prouidences and that his iudgements were right to punish them and others for their sinnes and that their troubles were of his faithfulnesse and mercy and that one haire of their heads should not perish before the time but all things should worke to the best to them that loue God and that Christ was their only life and righteousnesse and that only by faith in him and for his sake all good things were freely giuen them as also forgiuenesse of sinnes and life euerlasting Many of these persecuted were of great substance and had possessions of their owne William Slech died the thirtieth of May 1556. being imprisoned for the doctrine of the Gospell and the profession of the truth in the Kings bench and was buried in the back-side of the same prison because the Papists thought him not worthy to be laide in their Pope-holy Churchyards Thomas Harland MillWright Iohn Osward Thomas Reed and Thomas Auington T They were long prisoners in the Kings Bench for the confession of the truth and were burned together at one fire the sixt of Iune in Lewes in South-sex Thomas Wood Minister and Thomas Miles were burned likewise at Lewes in South-sex the twentieth of Iune for resisting the erroneous and hereticall doctrine of the papisticall and falâ—â—y pretended Catholiks William Adherall Minister and Iohn Clement-Wheele-wright THese died in the Kings Bench the three and twentieth of Iune and were buried in the backside being imprisoned for the profession of the truth A Merchants seruant the next day was burned at Leicester for the like godlines by the cruell persecution of the Papists About this time there were thirtéene burned in one fire at Stratford the Bow by London eleuen of them being men and two of them women whose dwellings were in sundry places in 〈◊〉 and whose names fâ—llow Henry Adlington Lawrence Parman Henry Wye William Hallywell Thomas Bowier George Searle Edmond Hurst Lion Cawch Ralph Iackson Iohn Perifall Iohn Roth Elizabeth Peper and Agnes George Their points of Religion doth better appeare by a Certificate vnder all their hands which I haue here inserted then by their examination which followeth Be it knowne vnto all to whom this our Certificate shall be feene that whereas vpon Saturday the thirteenth of Iune sixteene of vs were condemned to dye by the Bishop of London for the sincere truth of Christs verity which truth hath bin continually defaced from the beginning by the wicked aduersaries as it is slandered now by the Diuell and his Imps which constraineth vs to manifest our beleefe and the articles wherefore we were condemned for auoyding the slanders that might happen by occasion of the flanderous Sermon lately preached at Pauls Crosse by Doctor Fecknam Deane of Paules where he defamed vs to be of sixteene sundry opinions 1 We beleeue by Baptisme we were made members of Christs Church and although wee erred for a time yet the roote of Faith was preserued in vs by the Holy Ghost which maketh vs certaine of the same and we doe and will persist by Gods assistance vnto the end And though the Minister were of the malignant Church yet he did not hurt vs because he baptized vs in the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost there was the word and the element Godfathers and Godmothers renouncing for vs the Diuell and all his workes and confessing the Articles of the
troden vnder foote had in derision and laughed to scorn yea they shall be like madde men for they shall spare no man they shall spoyle and wast such as â—eare the Lord. Bonner Esdras speaketh of you hereticks declaring the hate that you beare to the Catholicke Church making the simple people beleeue that all is Idolatry that we doe and so intice them away vntill you haue ouercome them Rafe Nay Esdras declareth it more plaine saying They shall take away their goods and put them out of their houses and then shall it be knowne who are my chosen for they shall be tried as the siluer or golde in the fire and it is come to passe as he hath said for who is not driuen from house and home and his goods taken vp for other men that neuer sweat for them If he doe not obserue as you command and haue set forth or else if he be taken he must denie the truth as I did in dissembling or else he shall be sure to be tried as Esdras saith whereby all the world may know you are the bloudie Church figured by Caine the Tyrant and you are not able to auoyde it Bonner He is an Hereticke let him be carried to London and kept in littleâ—ase vntill I come Rafe And so I was vntill the next morning and then I was brought before Bonner the Deane of Paules the Chancellor and others Bonner How say you sirra will you goe to Fulham with me and there kneele downe at Masse shewing thy selfe outwardly that thou diddest it not vnwillingly but with a good will I said I will not say so He said away with him away with him After I was brought before the Bishop and three Noble-men of the Councell Bonner How say you sirra after consecration there remaineth no bread but the very body of Christ God and man vnder the forme of bread Rafe Where find you that my Lord written Bonner Doth not Christ say This is my Body Wilt thou denie the words of Christ or was he a dissembler speaking one thing and doing another Now I haue taken you Rafe Yea you haue taken me and will keepe me vntill you haue killed me Christ said Take you eate you this is my bodie and if you will ioyne the former words with the latter then I will answer you Bonner Then thou must say it is his bodie for Chirst saith it himselfe Rafe He is true and all men liers yet I refuse to take the wordes of Christ so phantastically for then should I conspire with certaine hereticks callâ—d Nestorians for they denie that Christ had a true naturall body and so doe you my Lord if you will affirme his body to be there as you say he is then you must néeds affâ—rme that it is a phantasticall body therefore let theâ—e words goe before Take ye and eate yee without which words the rest are not sufficient but when the worthy receiuers doe take and eate euen thâ—n is fulfiâ—led the wordes of our Sauiour to euery man that so receiueth Esay in his nine and fiâ—tieth Chapter saith He that refraineth himselfe from euill must be spoyled and Amos saith the like wordes for the wise must be faine to hold their peace so wicked a time it is neuerthelesse hee that can speake the truth and will not must giue a straite account A Doctor By my Lords leaue you speake like a foole you must not iudge the Scriptures but must stand to learne and not to teach for the whole Congregation hath decided the matter long agoe then was I carryed away Rochest Were you a companion of George Eagles alias Trudgeouer I had him once and he was as drunke as an Ape and â—runk so of drinke that I could not abide him Rafe I dare say it was either your selfe or some of your companie for he did neither drinke Wine Ale nor Béere in a quarter of a yeare before that time After because he misliked the masse calling vpon Saints and carrying the Crosse on procession with other their ceremonies calling them Idolatry and for singing in 〈◊〉 against the Sacrament of the Altar and other ordinances of the Church so lowd that the people abroad might heare them and delight in them and for saying that he beleeued nothing that was contained in the Councell holdeâ— vnder Innocentius the third and for affirming that those that were burned at Colchester were Saints in heauen He was condemned and he and the other thrée before mentioned were all burned as before Awstoo being in the Bishops Chappell at Fulham the Bishop asked him if hee knew where he was he answered in an Idoll Temple and he said he receiued the very body and bloud of Christ by faith in the Supper of the Lord but not in the Sacrament of the Altar and his wife said she beleeued that the Religion then vsed in England was not according to Gods word but false and corrupted and that they which did goe thereto did it more for feare of the law then otherwise and she said that she defied the Masse with all her heart and that she would not come into any Church wherein was Idols As she was in the Bishops prison by his procurement there was sent a stoute Champion as appeareth about twelue of the clock at night who suddenly opened the doore and with a knife drawne fell vpon her to haue cut her throat but shee calling to God for helpe he giuing a grunt and fearing belike to commit so cruell a deede departed without any more hurt doing the next night they made a great rumbling like thunder ouer her head to the intent to haue feared her out of her wits but God be thanked they missed of their purpose The aforesaid Richard Roth affirmed that there was not the very body and bloud of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar as it was then vsed but that it was a dead God and that the Masse was detestable and contrary to Gods word and will from the which faith he would not decline He said to Bonner My Lord because the people should not sée your doings you cause me and others to be brought to our examinations by night being affraide belike to doe it by day and being perswaded to recant and aske mercie of Bonner No quoth Roth I will not aske mercie of him that cannot giue it whereupon he and the rest were condemned as before and most ioyfully ended their liues in the fire at Islington for the testimony of Christ and his Gospell Agnes Bonger and Margaret Thurstone THese were condemned at the same time and in the same place that the tenne before mentioned were which suffered Martyrdome at Colchester and for the like cause and answered also in their examinations the like in effect as the other did When these good and godly women were brought vnto the place in Colchester where they should suffer after they had falne downe vpon their knees and made their most humble and hearty prayers vnto God they went to the stake ioyfully