agree this Constitution being begun Anno 997. was after established in Germany by Otho 1002. which order remaineth to this day After the death of King Edward Egelred his younger brother raigned in his steade vpon his Coronation a cloud was scene through the Land one halfe like bloud the other halfe like fire shortly after the third yeare of his raigne the Danes ariued in sundry places of this Land and did much spoyle and retyred to their ships againe and about the same time a great part of London was consumed with fire The King besieged the Bishoppe of Rochester Dunstone required the King for Saint Andrewes sake to giue ouer the siege yet he would not depart vntill the king had of him 100. lib. of gold The Danes séeing the hatred of the Subiects against the King rose againe and 〈◊〉 great harme in many places in England that the King granted them great summes of money for peace and a sore sicknesse of the bloudy Flix and hot Feuours fell amongst the people of which many dyed and a like murren amongst the beasts and for lacke of Iustice many théeues and bribers were in the Lanâ— Not long after the Danes inuaded the land againe in such sort that the King was so séeke in which Coste he should first withstand them and was compelled to appease them with great summes of money and for lacke of a good Goâ—ernour many things perisheâ— in the Land for the King gaue himselfe to Lechery and polluting his Subiects disinheritiâ—g them and causing them with great summes to redaâ—â—e the same againe 〈◊〉 payed the Danes tribute yearely which was called Dane-gilt which tribute increaseâ— from 10000. lib. yearely and in fiue or sixe yeares it came to 40000. lib. yearely â—dricke Duke of Mercia and Alfrike Admirall of the Ships warned the Danes 〈◊〉 whatsoeuer the King deuised against them wherefore the king put out the eyes of thâ— Admirals sonne and of the two sonnes of Duke Edricke The Danes thus preuailing were so proud they forced the Husbandmen to ploâ— and sows their lands and the whilst would sit at home with their wiues and daughters and fared of the best when the Husbandmen fared but scantly of their owne they were glad to please them and call them Lord Danes which after was turned to a name of â—â—proby when they rebuked another they called him Lurdaine The king in the 21. yeare of his raigne maried Emma the Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy which Mariage inhaunâ—ed the Kings minde that hee sent secret and strait Commissions to the Rulers of euery towne in England that vpon 〈◊〉 Brices day at an houre appointed the Danes should be suddenly slaine and so it waâ— performed Then Swanus king of Denmarke hearing of this slaughter of the Danes with a great Hoste and Nauie came into England and did much spoyle but at length he was met with of Duke Vskatell and beaten and many of the Danes slaine wherefore they returned to Denmarke The next yeare Swanus entred into the Land againe and spoyled the Contry and euer when as he heard of the Kings Hoste comming he tooke ship againe and went to aâ— other part of the Contry and when the King would méete him by Sea he would fly or else bribe the Admirall so they brought the Englishmen into vnspeakeable misery that the king was faine to giue them 30000. lib. for peace But after Swanus broke couâ—nant and landed in Northumberland with a great Hoste proclaiming himselfe King caused the Earle with the Rulers of the contry to sweare him fealty so he Conquered through the Contry and tooke pledges of them He tooke Winchester and Oxford and came to London hearing the King was there he went into Kent and conquered Canterbury where he fired the citie and slew 900. Monke of the Abbey of Saint Augustines and 8000. of the men and women of the Citie and they stoned Elphegus â—â—shoppe of Canterbury to death at Grinewich because hee would not giue them 3000. lib. The King for feare sent his wife Emma and his two sonnes Alfred and Edward 〈◊〉 the Duke of Normandy after the King fled to the Isle of Wight and went thence 〈◊〉 to Normandy to his wife Swanus teared exceeding impositions vpon the people and required a great summe of money of Saint Edmunds lands which being dâ—nyed him because the Land was frée he spoyled the Contry despising the Martyre and menaâ—ing the place of his Sepulchre wherefore the people fell to prayer and fasting so that shortly after Swanus suddenly crying and yelling amongst his Knights dyed wherfore Canutus his sonne ruling as King after his father builded the Abbey of S. Edmundsbury our Saint Edmonds Sepulchre and ditched their Land with a great ditch ordained a House of Monks there and gâ—ue them their auâ—tient freedomes After that it was vsâ—â— that the Kings of England when they were crowned offered their Crownes to Saint Edmonds shrine and bought them againe King Eldred hearing the death of Swanus returned into England Canutus fled to Sandwich and cutting off the noses and hands of the pledges which his Father left 〈◊〉 him sayled into Denmarke The next yeare Canutus returned againe with a great Host and forced the people to be sworne vnto him and giue him pledges In this season King Eldred died at London after he had raigned 38. yeares and was buried in Paules After whose death the most part chose Canutus the King of the Danes King generally all the Clergie men choose him but the Citizens of London and certaine Nobles choose Edmund the eldest sonne of Egelred King who for his hardinesse to indure labour was surnamed Ironside Betwixt these two martiall Princes many great battels were sought with no great difference of victory at length by rensent they two onely tryed the quarell in the fight of both Hosts and when they had assayed each other with sharpe words and strokes they both agréed and kissed each other and diuided the Land betweene them and during their liues loued as brethren Shortly after one of the sonnes of Duke Edricus aforesaid killed King Edmund after hée had raigned two yeares Hee left two sonnes behinde him Edmund and Edward whom the wicked Duke tooke from their mother shee not knowing of her husbands death and presented them to Canutus saying Aue Rex solus Canutus sent them to his brother Swanus King of Sweueland to be â—laine but hée sent them to Solamon King of Hungary where Edmund maried the Kings Daughter and dyed and Edward was maried to Agatha the daughter to the Emperour Henry the fourth Then Canutus held a Parliament established the Crowne to himselfe hee disdained euer after those whom he found false to their natiue King some of them he exiled some he beheaded and some died suddenly by the punishment of God and wicked Duke Edrike was beheaded anâ— his head set vpon London bridge In the meane time Swaynus his brother King of Denmarke dyed and the Land fell to Canutus
chosen King by the Citizens of London and Nobles 41 Edricus kills Edmund ibid. Edward the sonne of Emma chosen King and crowned at Winchester ibid Elinor Cobham banished into the Isle of Man 147 Elizabeth Sampson conuented for speaking against Pilgrimages ibid. Elizabeth Burton called the holy-maid of Kent a notable imposter put to death 184 Edward the sixt King of England restores the Scriptures in the mother tongue 220 Edward the sixt dies his praier at his death 233 234 Elizabeth Warne Martyr 285 Edward Sharpe like pure golde tried in the fire 329 Edmund Allen and Katharine his wife martyrs 332 Elizabeth a blinde maide Martyr ibid. Elizabeth Hooper burned 339 Ellen Euring denying the lawes set out by the Pope condemned 340 Elizabeth Falkes examined and condemned ibid. F. FRedericke the Emperour ouerthrown by the Venetians and taken 54 Franciscans order begun 78 Fredericke the second Emperour persecuted by Popes 83 Foure and twenty burned in Paris 185 Fiue burned in Scotland 186 Fetherston for denying the supremacie hanged 200 Frier burned at Rochestâ—r 343 G. GOdwin forswearing himselfe choked 42 Gregory the eighth Pope 50 Grosthead Bishop of Lincolne 84 George Carpenter burned 167 George Constantine apprehended for heresie 171 Gefferey Lon for dispersing of Luthers bookes forced to abiuâ—â— 178 Giles Germaâ—e burned at S. Giles in the fields 192 George Blage Knight imprisoned and condemned for speaking against the Masse but pardoned 209 George Wisard of Scotland his persecution and martyrdome 214 Gardner Bishop of Winchester sent to the Tower 220 Gernsey and Gersey inuaded by the French 225 Gardner an Englishman cruelly tormented at Lisbon in Portugall for maintayning of the truth 228 Gibbets set vp for Wiats souldiers 244 Gardner Bishop of Winchester his Sermon at Paules crosse 247 Gardner calls the Preacher before him at Saint Mary-Oueries 249 Gods iudgement vpon the Parson of Arundell 264 George Marsh cruelly vsed and burned 267 George Tankerfield of London Cook condemned 285 George King died in prison ibid. George Catmer burned 290 George Broadbridge burned at Canterburie 291 Gardner Bishop of Winchester his historie and death 303 George Soper burned at Canterburie 304 George Parke burned at Canterbury ibid. George Ambrose Fuller burned in Smithfield 327 George Stephens martyred 332 George Eagles alias Trudgeouer hanged drawn and quartered betweene two Theeues 342 George Eagles sister burned 343 H. HIeraclius cuts off the Popes hands feet 24 Harold last King of the Saxons 42 Hildebrana Pope a Sorcerer 45 Honorious the second Pope 51 He is taken with whores ibid. Henry the first king of England dies ibid. Henry the second his pennance for the death of Becket 67 He diuides the Realme into sixe parts and ordaines Iustices of Assizes 68 His great fame and large Dominions ibid. Henry the Sonne of Henry the second his disobedience and death 69 Hildegris is a Propheâ—â—sse 79 Henry the third King of England 81 Henry the fift crowned 104 Hugh Pie of Ludney for holding sundry opinions contrary to the Church of Rome accused and purged before the Bishoppe of Norwitch 141 Henry the fifts cruell commition for aâ—taching sundry suspected of Lolardy ibid. Harman Peterson committed to the Counter for not being confessed in Lent 161 Henry Voz burned at â—â—uxels for maintaining Luthers opinions 161 Henry Sudphen of Breame his piety persecution and martyrdome 163. 164. Henry the 8. entitled defender of the faith 170 His solemnity at the receiuing of the title of defender of the faith ibid. Henry Finmore Taylor burnt at Winsor 201 Haruy a Commissary a persecutor hanged drawne and quartered 206 Homes a Yeoman of the Guard his cruelâ—ie to Doctor Taylor 261 Higbed of Horden burnt at Horden 262 Humphry Middleton martired at Canterbury 280 Henry Laurence burnt at Canterbury 284 Hugh Latimer Bishoppe of Worcester his conference with Antonian his parentage his godly Sermuns his charity to the poore and needy accused of heresie his subscription to certaine Articles propounded vnto him he is committed to the Tower his prayer for the Lady Elizabeth his martyrdome at Oxford with Bishoppe Ridley from folio 293. to 303. Hugh Lame Rock an old lame man burned at stratford the Bow 322 Hooke burned at Chester 329 Hugh Fox burned in Smithfield 354 Henry Pond burned in Smithfield 362 I IErusalem destroyed by Tytus Vespasian 2 Iohn banished to bathmos 3 Iudas Thadeus slaine ibid. Iraeneus with many others martired 8 Ignatius martyr 4 Iue King of West Saxons goes to Rome 26 Innocentius the second Pope 51 Iohn King of England 71 Iohn Claydon a Currier burnt in Smithfield 104 Iohn Hus his History his Articles put to him his answer his constant end 113. 114. 115. Ierome of Pragâ— his hard vsage and marryrdome 125. 126. Iohn Wadden Priest burned 142 Iohn Wendham of Alborough cruelly handled for maintayning the truth ibid. Iohn Beuerley whipped for the truth ibid. Iâ—hn Stelley of Flixton forced to abiure 143 Iohn Burrell forced to abiure ibid. Iohn Finch forced to doe penance ibid. Iubilee at Rome 145. 146. Iulius the second Pope exceedes all his predeceâ—sors in iniquity 151 Iohn Coyns for contemning the Sacrament of the Altar and not receuing at Easter died at Saint Martins 160 Iames Gossen Dutchman committed for not receiuing at Easter 161 Iohn Wiâ—cock a Scotish Frier committed for preaching against holy water and purgatory ibid. Iohn Esry burned ibid. Iohn Athelane burned 165 Iohn Thewxbury burned in Smithfield 179 Iohn Randall found in his study hanged in his girdle 180 Iohn Frith Martyred 18â— Iohn Lambert martyred 187. 188 Iohn Painter burned 192 Iniunctions set out in the 38. yeare of King Henry the eight ibâ—d Iohn Porter a taylor famished to death 200 Idolatry suppâ—essed 〈◊〉 Iames Morten burned ibid. Iohn Marbeck condemned and pardoned by the King 211 Iohn Athee indited for speaking against the Sacrament ibid. Iohn Adams burnt 209 Iohn Lacels a Gentleman burnt ibid. Iohn Browne burnt 219. Iohn Hun troubled about the Sacrament 221 Ioh. Alasco vncle to the k. of Poland banisht 239 Iests of a Roode at Cockram in Lancashire 248 Iames George dies in prison and is buried in the fields 249 Iohn Rogers first Martyre in Q. Maries daies 249. 250 Ihon Hooper his martyrdome 254. Ihon Laurence burned at Colchester 264. Iudge Hales his History and death 265. Iulius the third Pope his wicked life and prophanenesse 266. Ihon Awcoke died in prison Ibid. Iohannes de casa a Deane of the Popes chamber playes the Sodomite and defends it Ibid. Iohn Cardmaker his martyrdome 268. Iohn Warne burned Ibid. Iohn Hardley his martyrdome 274. Iohn Simpson suffered at Rochford for maintayning the truth Ibid. Iohn Bradford his reasons against transubstantiation and his martyrdome 275 to 278. Iohn Lease a prentice burned with Maister Bradford 278 Iohn Bland martyred 279. Iohn Franbesh martyred 280. Iames Treuisam persecuted and after his death buried in More fields 281 Iohn Lanuder of Godstone martired for the truth 282. Iohn Aleworth dyed in prison 283. Iames Abbs burned
CHRISTS VICTORIE OVER SATHANS TYRANNIE WHERIN JS CONTAINED A CATALOGVE OF ALL CHRISTS FAITHFVLL SOVLDIERS THAT THE DIVELL either by his grand Captaines the EMPEROVRS or by his most deerly beloued sonnes and heyres the POPES haue most cruelly Martyred for the TRVTH WITH ALL THE POYSONED DOCTRINS WHEREWITH THAT GREAT REDDE DRAGON hath made drunken the Kings and Inhabitants of the Earth with the confutations of them TOGETHER WITH ALL HIS TRAYTEROVS PRACTISES AND DESIGNES AGAINST ALL CHRISTIAN Princes to this day especially against our late Queen ELIZABETH of famous memorie and our most religious Soueraigne Lord King IAMES Faithfully abstracted out of the Book of Martyrs and diuers other Books By Thomas Mason Preacher of Gods Word LONDON Printed by George Eld and Ralph Blower 1615. To the most Reuerend Father in GOD the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his GRACE PRIMATE and METROPOLITAN of all England and one of his MAIESTIES most Honourable Priuie Councell And to the Right Honourable SIR EDVVARD COKE Lord Cheefe Iustice of England and one of his Maiesties most Honorable Priuie Councell THOMAS MASON wisheth all Happinesse in this Life and eternall Felicitie in the world to come MOST Reuerend and Right Honorable zealous Lords your daily and faithfull Orator being a professed Soldiour vnder Christs Banner in the behalfe of his spouse against Antichrist I could busie my selfe in no office so profitable for the Church and hurtfull vnto Antichrist as to gather together the bullets which haue been shot at him by Christs Souldiours in times past that now his children may shoote them at him againe with great facilitie And whereas venerable M r Fox of worthy memory hath gathered into one Booke the Acts and Monuments of the Church vnto his time one of the most profitablest Bookes that is for Gods Children except the Bible a Club able to beate downe the Popish Tower of Babell Yet what with the labour of reading so large a volume together with the deareness of the price thereof few that haue the Booke reade it ouer and the most part of men are not able to buy it whereby very little profit ariseth thereof vnto the Church I haue according to my power pared off the barke of this Club and made it tractable for all sorts of people they may buy it with little charge and peruse it with small paines and I dare promise them that they shall reape as much profit by reading this abridgement as by reading of the Booke at large I haue willingly omitted no matter of substance Here the Reader may see the cruelty of the Emperors vnto the Primitiue Church and whom they put to death and the manner of their deathes during the first ten Persecutions and how and when Christianitie began in this Realme And what successe it hath had at all times and when by what occasion and by whom most of the Monasteries and Cathedrall Churches of this Realme were builded and how when and by whom all points of Popery came into the Church and how the Pope hath exalted himself against Emperors Kings what iniuries he hath done to them With the Treasons Conspiracies that Papists haue practised against those that the Lord hath annointed vnto this day The Reader may also heere see the innumerable multitude of the Saints of God that the Papists haue from time to time murdered in all Countries for the testimonie of the Truth With all the points of Religion that the Martyrs did defend vnto death and all the reasons that the Papists vsed against their Arguments and how cruelly they handled them with many other most profitable things After I had done this Booke I was discouraged from putting of it to Print by reason I found another had abridged the Booke of Martyrs before me but when I perceiued it was done but superficially for all the points of Religion that the Martyrs defended or Papists obiected were omitted which disputations I chiefly labour to set forth therevpon I was resolued to goe forward When I had begun to quote all the Authors from whence M r Fox had his proofes for them that the Emperors put to death the Quotations were almost as large as the Story and made it very vnpleasant wherefore in most places for breuitie I haue omitted them leauing them that would see the proofes to the Book at large I haue herein abridged many bookes but especially the Booke of Martyrs as the Papists cannot abide the booke of Martyrs of all bookes so much more will they hate my booke which hath so truely and briefely discouered all their shame not onely out of that booke but out of diuers other bookes Wherefore most Reuerend and Right Honorable Lords your manifest dislike that you beare against the wickednes and falshood of Antichrist hath imboldned me to be an humble sutor vnto your Lordships to bee the Patrons of this my Booke and that you would vouchsafe to defend and further it by your Spirituall and Temporall Powers to the honour of Christ the great dishonour of Antichrist and the vnspeakeable benefit of Gods Children So with my hartie prayers I commit both your Honors your soules bodies and all that you haue vnto the safe preseruation of Christ Iesus and his holy Angels Your Lordships daily Oratour THOMAS MASON Preacher of Gods word in Odiham in the County of Southampton whose Father was Heire vnto S r IOHN MASON sometime a Priuy Councelor vnto Queene ELIZABETH THE EPISTLE VNTO THE RBADER EVen as the Reuelation and other places of Scriptures good Reader doâ— foretell Antichrist to come so this Historie declareth the fulfilling of those prophecies in all points all the Martyrs died in this faith that the Pope is Antichrist I could bethink my selfe of no instruction so profitable for the reading of this Booke as to giue thee a few rules to manifest vnto thee that the Popedome is that Antichrist which I will endeuor to declare vnto thee by these rules following first by his outward place of abode secondly by his inward and spirituall throne thirdly by his doctrine fourthly by his conditions fiftly by the height breadth length and ruine of his Kingdome I will but open the way vnto thee this Booke shall proue by experience my sayings to be true Touching his outward seate Reuel 17. 18. it is the Citie that then did raigne ouer the Kings of the earth which was Rome the place is also described in the ninth verse to be compassed about with seuen mountaines This Booke shall proue that Rome hath seuen mountaines about it In the same verse this Citie hath had fiue kings that were then falne another King did raign which was the Emperour when the Reuelation was made and another was to come afterward This book shall teach thee that the seuen Kings signifie seuen maner of Gouernments in Rome of which fiue was falne the Emperour then raigned and after the Pope should raigne there so the Holy Ghost hath pointed out Rome as plainly as can be the place of Antichrists Kingdome
Clarks required to haue punishment of certain misorders of the clergy but the Archbishop Thomas Becket would not agrée therevnto the King came to this point to know whether he the rest of the Clergy would consent to the customes set forth in Henry the fift his time he with the rest of the Bishops vpon consultation held they would consent with this exception Saluo ordine suo so all other Bishops being particularly demanded except Christopher who séeing the King angry said for Saluo ordine suo he would bona fide the King told them hee was not well content with that exception which was captious and deceitfull hauing some venome lurking vnder therefore required an absolute grant they answered they would not binde themselues in no other manner at which the King and all the Nobilitie were not a little mooued the King when he could get no other answer departed with gret anger not saluting the Bishops Chester was greatly rebuked of his fellowes for changing the exception the next day the King took from the Archbishop all such Mannors and Honors as he had giuen him before being Lord Chancellor not long after vnknowne to the Bishops he sayled into Normandie not long after the Bishop of London followed after him to craue his fauour and gaue him counsell to ioyne some of the Bishops with him least if all were against him hee might the sooner be ouerthrowne thus by his meanes the greatest number of the Bishops were reconciled vnto the King onely the Archbishop with a few other remained in their stoutnes when the King saw no feare or threats could turne him he assaid him with gentlenesse but it would not serue though many Nobles laboured to exhort him to relent vnto the King Likewise the Arch-bishop of Yorke with diuers other Clergie men Bishoppes and Abbots especially Chester did the same besides his owne house dayly called vpon him no man could perswade him at length vnderstanding what danger might happen by the Kings displeasure not onely to himselfe but to all the Clergy and considering the old kindnesse and loue of the King towards him in times past was content to giue ouer vnto the Kings request came to the King at Oxford and reconciled himselfe wherevpon the King receiued him with a more châ—erefull countenance saying hee would haue his Ordinances confirmed in open sight of his Bishops and all his Nobles after this the King beeing at Clarem Doune called all his Peeres and Prelates before him requiring to haue that performed which hee had promised in consenting to the obseruing his Grandfathers ordinances and proceedings the Archbishop drew back and would not that hee would before yet with great teares intreaties and perswasions of Bishops and of two Templers that desired him on their knees with teares and with threatenings of Imprisonment and other dangers hee did agree onely with a clause of exception bona fide and he and all the Bishops set too their hands and seales Alanus recordeth that the Archbishop in his voyage to Winchester greatly repented that he had done so that he kept himself from al company lamenting with teares and fasting and afflicting himselfe did suspend himselfe from all diuine seruice and would not be comforted before he had sent to the Pope and were assoiled of him the Pope in his Letters not only assoiled him from his trespas but with words of great consolation incouraged him to be stout in the quarrell he tooke in hand Upon this Becket took no small heart consolation The King hearing of him how he denied to set his seal to those sanctions which he condiscended too before took no little displesure against him threatned him of banishment death called him to reckoning and burdned him with paiments the Archb thought to make an escape out of y â— realme attempting to take the Sea with two or thrée priuily Amongst other the kings ordinances This was one that none of the Prelasie or Nobility without the Kings license or his Iustices should depart the Realme So Becket twice attempted the sea to fly to Rome but the weather serued not which being known and noysed abroad the Kings Officers came to seaze vpon his goods to the Kings behalfe but finding Becket at home and returned they did not procéede on their purpose Becket séeing this went to the Court the King taunted him gestingly as though one realm could not hold them both but shewed him no great fauour The Arch-bishop of York did labour to renew peace and loue betwixt the King and him but the King would not be reconciled except the other would subscribe vnto his lawes which Becket would not graunt to but by vertue of his Apostolike authority gaue censure vpon these Lawes of the King condemning some and approuing some as catholike The Pope sent the Arch-bishop of Rotomage to the King to maâ—e peace betwixt the King and Canterbury the King was content so the Pope would ratifie his Ordinances which could not be obtained at the Popes hands The King sent to the Pope to obtaine of him that the same authority of the Apostolike Legacie might be conferred vnto another after his appointment which was the Arch-bishop of Yorke but the Pope denied but he was content so the King would be Legate himselfe at which the King was angry and sent to the Pope againe according to the old practice of popish Prelacy to play on both sides priuily he conspireth with one and openly dissembleth with the other He granteth the Legate should be remoued and the Archbishop of York placed in the office and writ to Becket that he should take no harm thereby for the Kings Ambassadors had promised him and did offer to sweare vnto him that the Letters which they obtained should not be deliuered vnto the Archbishop of Yorke without the Popes consent therein assure your selfe it is not nor neuer shall be our will nor purpose to subdue you or your Church vnto any saue only the Bishop of Rome therefore if you sée the King will deliuer the said Letters giue vs knowledg we will cléerely exempt by our authority Apostolical both your person your Church and your Citty committed vnto you from all iurisdiction of any legacy Upon these letters and such other Becket took all his stoutnesse against the King The King after he had receiued his letters from the Pope was more strong in his purposed procéedings against the Archbishop and procéeded to punish the offences of Cleargy men and there was aboue 100. found that had committed homicide and murder beside other offenders he adiudged them first to be depriued and then committed to the seculer power This séemed to Becket to derogate from liberty of holy Church that seculer power should giue iudgement vpon the crimes of Ecclesiasticall persons they picke this law out of Anacletus and Euaristus who deduce this constitution from the Apostles that all Ecclesiasticall persons shall bee frée from seculer iurisdiction The King daily incensed more more
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
because he was repentant hee was content to assoile him for the same and the rather because he had suffered so great troubles for the liberties of the Church The next day the Pope and his Cardinals beeing assembled in his secret chamber Becket made an Oration to them to this effect he confessed with griefe the cause of these perturbations was because hee entred into the sould of Christ not by the doore of Christ because the King made him Bishop not the Pope and if I had resigned it to the King againe at his commandement I had left a dangegerous example vnto the Catholique Church therfore now recognising my ingresse not to be Canonicall and my abilitie not sufficient for such a charge therfore I render into your fatherly hands the Archbishoprick heere of Canturbury and putting his Ring from his finger offered it to the Pope and desired a Bishop to be prouided for the Church of Canturbury and so with teares ended This done hee was bid stand a part after consultation they concluded being he had ventred his goods dignity and authoritie and his life for the liberties of the Church if he should now be depriued at the Kings pleasure it would be an examplâ— to others hereafter none to resist his Prince in like case and so weaken the Catholick Church and derogate the Popes authoritie and his cause being maintained it would bee a president to others to doe the like so hee receiued his Pastoraâ—l Office at the Popes hand againe with commendation and much fauour and â—he Pope sent him vnto the Abbey of Pontiuiacke in France with a Monkes habit where he was two yeares thence he remoued to Senon where he was fiue yeares so he was in exile seuen yeares The King beeing certified by his Ambassadors that the Pope inclined more to Becket then vnto him was wrathfull and sayling into Normandie sent ouer certaine iniunctions against the Pope and the Arch-bishop to this effect 1 Whosoeuer brought any interdict or curse from the Pope or Becket so bee apprehended and executed as a Traytor 2 That no Clarke Monke or conuert of any other countrey without the Iustice and Kings Letters to passe ouer or returne into the Realme otherwise to be imprisoned 3 None to appeale to the Arch-bishop or bring any transcript from them 4 No Decrée from them to stand in force or be receiued in England vpon paine of imprisonment 5 If any person shall keep the sentence of their interdict they shall bee exiled with all their kindred and take none of their goods with them and be bound without speciall licence not to resort where the Arch-bishop was 6 All the possessions and goods of such as fauoured the Pope or Arch bishop to be confiscate for the King 7 All such of the Clergy as were out of the Realme to bee warned in euery Sheere within three monethes to repayre home or else their rents and goods to â—eturne to the King 8 That the Peter pence shall be no more paid vnto the Apostolick Sea but to be reserued vnto the Kings Coffers The Arch-bishop writ to a friend of his to write to him with speed what was done touching the Kings Decrees heere set out which are these that all Hauens be diligently kept that no interdict or curse be brought in if the bringer bee a religious man his feet to be cut off if a Priest to loose his prâ—uy members if a lay-man to bee hanged if a Leper to be burned if a Bishop will depart for feare of the Popes Interdict let him haue nothing with him but his Staffe and that aâ—l Schollers and Students beyond the Seas shaâ—l repaire home or loose their Benefices and if they remaine still to loose the libertie of all returning if any Priest for the Popes interdict wil refuse to sing to loose his priuy members In summe al such Priests as shew themselues Rebels to the King to bee depriued of their Benefices Further it was proclaimed that all of the kindred of Thomas Becket should bee exiled with their goods with them and sent to him which was no little vexation to him to behold Moreouer the King writ to the Abbot of Pontiuiack where he lay not to retaine him in his house or else he would driue out of his Realme all the Monkes of his Order wherevpon hee remoued by the French Kings appointment to Senon as aforesaid and found of him fiue yeares In the meane time messengers went daily from the King to the Pope and from the Pope to the King and betwixt the Archbishop and others where I finde onely rehearsals of matters which are declared sufficiently in the History whereof if the Reader be desirous to see let him resort to the booke at large After these Letters sent too and fro in the 15. yéere of Henry the second the King misdoubting that the Archbishop would procéed in excommunication against his own person made his appeale to the presence of the Pope requiring to haue certaine Legates sent from Rome from the Popes side to take vp the matter betwixt the Archbishop and him requiring also that they might be absolued that were interdicted wherevpon two Cardinals sent from the Pope with Letters from the Pope came into Normandie where they appointed the Bishop to meete before the King but the Arch-bishop delayed his comming vntill eight daies after neither would come any further then Grisorsium where the two Cardinals and the Archbishop with other Bishops conuenting together had a treatie of reconciliation which came to no conclusion The two Cardinals writ to the Pope to this effect comming to England we found the controuersie more vehement then we would for the King and the greater part about him said the Arch-bishop stirred vp the French King against him and made the Earle of Flanders his open aduersarie and after the King had receiued your Letters and brought forth other Letters diuers and altering from them receiued of vs be was moued with no little indignation saying that since wee came from you the Archbishop receiued of you other coâ—trarie Letters wherby he was exempted from our Iudgement Moreouer the King and the Bishops there did affirme that the complaint that was made vnto you of the ancient customes of his progenitors for the most paâ—t was false affirming farther to vs that if there were any customes and lawes in his time that seemed prâ—iudiciall to the Statutes of the Church he would willingly reuoke and disanull the same therefore we other Bishops and Abbots of the land hearing the King so reasonable laboured by al meanes that the King should not breake from vs but incline to vs and to haue the matter brought before vs betwixt him and the Archbishop Wherevpon we sent our owne Chaplains with Letters to him appointing him the time and place where safely hee might meete with vs yet he made his dilatories till eight dayes after which â—tirred the Kings heart more then is to be thought thus when hee refused to
meete vs in the borders of the King though we offered him safe comming we to satisfie his minde condescended to meete him at a place which hee appointed within the Land of the French King we exhorted him humbly to submit himselfe vnto his soueraigne and King who had heaped him with such benefits and dignities after aduise with his Counsâ—ll hee said he would submit himselfe to the King sauing the honour of God the libertie of the Church the honestie of my person the possessions of Churches and the Iustice of him and all his in all things wee asked him whether hâ— would submit himselfe to vs as the King and the Bishops were content to doe he said he had a commandement from you not to answere before he and all his were restored to all their possessions then he would proceed in the matter as hee should receiue commandement from the Sea Apostolick whereof wee made relation to the King yet keeping back a great part which we had heard and séene which when the King and Nobles vnderstood the King said he was so much the more cleere for that the Archbishop would not stand to Iudgement after much heauinesse and lamentation of the King Bishops and Abbots they required of vs whether wee had any power to proceed against him and perceiuing wee had none least the Archbishop should worke any disquietnes to any of the Noble personages of the Realme agreed together with one assent to make their appellation to your audience prefixing accordingly the terme of their appeale The Archbishop saying he stood onely for the peace of the Church one of the Cardinals offered him if he would relinquish his Bishoppricke the King should relinquish his Customes He answered He could not renounce his Church sauing the honour of the Church and his person but it standeth vpon the soules health and honor of the King to renounce his customes After the Cardinals were gone the French King séeing the King of England disquieted and sâ—â—icitous of peace pretending to set agréement betwixt them the King and the Arch-bishop both were content to stand to his arbiterment The Archbishop prostrating himselfe at the féete of the King of England said he would commit the whole matter to his owne arbiterment Saluo honore Dei the King was highly there-with displeased rebuking him of pride and stubbornenesse and charged him with sundry and great benefits bestowed on him and hee a person vnkind and forgetfull And speaking to the French King there present said whatsoeuer displeaseth this man hee saith it is contrary to the honour of God and by this meanes will vindicate to himselfe that which is his owne and mine too there haue bin Kings of England of greater and lesse puissance then I am there haue haue béen Archb. of Canterbury both great holy men what the best of them haue done to my predecessors before me let him doe the same to me and I am content the standers by with one voice cried the king hath debased himselfe enough to the Bishop the French King said what my Lord will you be better then those holy men will you be greater then Peter you haue peace and quietnes put in your hands if you will take it he answered my predecessors euery one in his time did pluck vp and correct something in his time though not all things for then there would bee no cause of this fire of temptation to try vs though some haue béen slack we are not to follow their examples we rebuke Peter for denying Christ but we commend him for resisting Nero hee could not in his conscience consent vnto him he did not dissemble wherby he lost his life by such oppressions the Church hath alwaies growne our forefathers suffered because they would not dissemble the honour of Christ shall I to haue the fauour of one man suffer the honour of Christ to be supprest the Noble men standing by noted him of arrogancy and wilfulnes and one openly protested that séeing he refused the request of both kingdomes hee was worthy of the help of neither as England had reiected him so France should not entertaine him One of the Archbishops Chapleins writeth that the French king prostrated himselfe at the féet of the Archb. repented he had giuen him such councell in a case pertaining to the honour of God desired to be assoiled and that Henry sent to the king to desire him not to support his enemy within his Realme the French King vtterly denied the Kings request and tooke part rather with the Archbishop The King of England returned from Normandy into England in the 16. yéere of his reigne kept his Court of Parliament at Westminster by assent both of the Clergy Temporalty caused his sonne Henry to be crowned King the Coronation was done by the Archbishop of Yorke other Bishops assisting Becket not beeing called tooke no little displeasure and so did the French King hearing that Margaret his Daughter was not like wise crowned with her husband wherevpon hee came with a great armie to Normandie but the King sent his sonne to him which intreated peace promising that his sonne should be crowned againe and his daughter crowned with him Becket sent to the Pope complaining of foure Bishops especially the Archbishop of York who durst be so bold in his absence without his licence to crowne the king being a matter peculiar to his Iurisdiction at whose instance the Pope excommunicated the Bishop of London the other thrée with the Archbishop hee suspended they resorted to the King declaring how miserable there case stood for fulfilling his commandement the King was highly moued The King of France with his Clergy and Courtiers slacked no occasion to incite the Pope to excommunicate the King of England also thinking to haue some aduantage against the Realme neither was the King ignorant of this which made him the readier to agree The pope sent two Legats with full commission either to driue the K. to be reconciled or to be excommunicated the King seeing himselfe in great straites which he could not auoid and by the mediation of the king of France and other great prelates and Princes of the king was content to be reconciled with the Archb. whom he receiued into his Realme and granted him free returne to his Church But he would not grant him his lands vntill he came into England and did see how he would agrée with his subiects he was ioifully receiued of his church albeit he was not very welcome vnto the yong king so that comming to London to the king he was returned back to Canterbury and bid to keepe his house hee excommunicated one Robert de Brocke on Christmas day for cutting off the taile of one of his Horses the day before hee would not absolue the foresaid foure Bishops without cauâ—els and exceptions who went to Normandie to the king and complained of the miserable state vncourteous handling which made him conceiue such displeasure towards Becket that
are not wont to tarry the consent of Princes therefore Wee commaâ—nd you vnder paâ—ne of the great curse that you câ—use him Whereupon they all assented sauing he whom the King had sent for the Arch bishop of Norwich Upon this the King conceiued great displeasure against the Monkes of Canterbury wherefore he banished 64. of them out of the Land The King sent Letters to the Pope sharply expostulating with him for reâ—uâ—ing the Bishop of Norwich and setting vp one Stephen Langton vnknowne to him and brought vp in the kingdome of France amongst his enemies Archbishop of Canterbury and that the Monkes without his consent presumed to promote him and meruailed that the Pope did not reuolue with himselfe how necessary his fauour had euer béene to them What great reuenues had procéeded hence thether the like whereof hath not béene receiued out of any Country on this side the Alpes and that he would stand for his liberties vnto death nor would not bee so shaken from the election of the Bishop of Norwich which he séeth so commodious to him and that if his request were not heard he would prouide by Seas that there should be no more such gâ—dding to Rome to export the riches of his Land thither whereby he is lesse abled against his Enemies and that he had sufficient Prelats of his owne and hath no néede of any from abroad Pope Innocentius writ to him againe Whereas wée haue written gently to you concâ—rning the matter of Canterbury you haue written to vs after a threatning sort and where wée aboue our duetie haue giuen to you you have not giuen to vs ouâ— duetie which you are bound to doe and though your sauour as you say be necessary for vs yet consider ours is not a little oporâ—une vnto you and whereas wee haue not shewâ—d the like honour to any Prince as to you you haue so much derogated to our Honour as no Prince besides hath presumed to doe Where you say the Archbishop is vnknowne to you and brought vp amongst year enemies Then be sheweth how learned â—e was how he was Prebend at Paris and of an hoâ—â—st stocke borne an Englishman and knowne to the King being he wrote to him thrée times before and saith that at the Monkes request he sent his Letters once or twise to the King for his assent although was not the manner of the Sea Apostolike who hath the fulnesse of the power of the Church of Canterbury to waite for princes consents in such elections therefore according to the Canons of the Fathers wâ— did proâ—ide that the said Church should be no longer 〈◊〉 of her Pastor therefore being this election hath so orderly proceeded vpon a person so meete for the same wâ—e will not for any mans pleasure nor may without danger of â—ame and conscience deferre the consummation thereof And my sonne seeing we haâ—e respected your Honour more then our duetie is study to Honour vs so much as â—uâ—tie requireth that you may deserue fauour at Gods hands and Ours and least doing contrary you bring you selfe into such a peâ—ke of tâ—oubles that you cannot riâ— your selfe againe for it will fall out he will haue the better to whom euery knée doth bowe whose turne I serue in the earth therefore obey not them that desire vnquietnesse that they might fâ—sh the better in a troubled water It will not be for your saftie and glory to resist God and the Church in whose quarrell the blessed and glorious Martyre Bishop Thomas hath lately shed his bloud especially seeing your Father and brother being Kings of England did giue ouer those thrée wicked Customes into the hands of the Sea Apostoâ—â—ke but if you will yéeld your selfe humbly into our hands we will looke that you and yours shall be sufficiently prouided for Thus haue you the glorious Letter of the proud Pope I beséech you marke it well Not long after proceeded a commaundement to certaine Bishops requiring them by the authoritie Apostolicall that if the King would not receiue the Prior of Canterbury and his Monkes then they should interdict him through his Realme Whereupon the foure Bishops of London Elâ— Winchester and Herford shewed the King thereof but the King refused the same and would not grant their request wherupon they pronounced the said Inâ—erdiction throughout England and Wales and the Church doores were shut vp with keyes and other fastnings Then the King tooke all the possessions of the foure Bishops into his hands and apointed certaine to keepe the Liuings of the Clergie throughout the Realme The Bishops cursed all that kept or medled with Church-goods against the wils of the owners Then they went to the Bishop of Canterbury and shewed him all the matter he promised he would shortly come to Canterbury himselfe or send some which should doe as much as himselfe 〈◊〉 came to the King that the Bishops had beene beyond-Sea with the Archbishop and were returned He sent to them Bishops Earles and Abbots to shew that the King would receiue the Archbishop Steuen and the Prior and all the Monkes of Canterbury promising on his behalfe that he should neuer take any thing of the Church-goods but would make amends for them taken and the Church should haue all her Franchices as amply as in King Edwards time the Confessor This agreement was concluded and ingrossed in a payre of Indentures the saide foure Bishops set their hands to one part the other part was caried to the King which he liked well but he would not make restitution of the Church-goods The foure Bishops would not agree to put out that Article then the King sent for the Archbishop to come to him and speake with him at Canterbury and for his safe conduct to come and goe at his will sent thrée Iustices to be pledges for him whereupon the Archbishoppe came to Canterbury and the King came to Châ—â—ham and sent his Treasurer to him to put out the clause of restitution which he denyed to doe or any word of the same Then the king caused to be proclâ—imed throughout the Realme that thâ—se that had any Church-liuings and went beyond-sea should returne at a certaine day or loose theâ—â— Liuings for euer And that all Sheriffes should inquire if any Church-man from that day forward receiued any commaundement from the Pope to apprehend him and bring him before him and that they should take into their hands vnto his vse all the Church Lands that were giuen by the Archbishop Steuen or the Priors of Canterbury from the time of the election of the said Archbishop and that all the woods of the Archbishop should be cut downe and solde Thou the Pope sent ouer two Legats which resorted to the King at Northampton where he held his Parliament and saluted him they said they came from the Pope to reforme the peace of holy Church and we admonish you in the Popes behalfe that you make full restitution of the goods that you haue rauished of holy Church and of
for to Cranmer and Steuen Gardiner and others before whome hee did so constantly defend the doctrine which he had taught that Cranmer being yet but a Lutheran maruelled excéedingly at it and said that the Scripture knew no such terme of transubstantiation Then the other Bishops threatned him to whom he promised the next day to deliuer them all in writing which he had formerly preached in Callice In the meane time he had secret intimation giuen him by Cranmer that if hee appeared the next day he should be sure to be committed whereupon he sent them his Faith with the arguments thereupon in writing and he went aside into the West countrey Then the King was certified that there were many diuersities of opinions in Calice tending to the danger thereof Whereupon Doctor Champion and M. Garnet who after was burned were sent ouer to preach to them where he preached the same true Doctrine which Adam Damlip had done After them one William Smith Curate of our Ladies Parish in Callice preaching earnestly inuaying against Papistry and wilfull ignorance exhorting them to imbrace the word and not to contemne it least Gods wrath fall vpon them which followeth the contempt of his holy word At length the said Lord Lisle which was Bastard to King Edward the fourth which maintained Damlip as before by the intising of his wicked wife the Lady Honora she being thereunto prouoked by Sir Thomas Palmer and Iohn Rockwood Esquire these with seauen others wrote very haynous Letters vnto the King and Councell against diuers of the Towne of Calice Whereupon diuers of them were often punished in Callice and many of them sent for ouer into England and were â—orely imprisoned and punished and had not escaped the fire but by the Kings pardon The aforesaid Adam Damlip taught Schoole about some two yeares in the West Country after he was apprehended and brought vnto Stephen Gardiner who committed him to the Marshalsie where he continued two yeares and for his honest behauiour hee was beloued of the whole house and especially of the kéeper and he did much amongst the common sort of the prisoners in reprouing vice Then being resolued rather to loose his life then not to suffer his talent to be vsed to Gods glory by being detained in prison Wherevpon he sent an Epistle to Gardiner And then by the Bishops commandement hee was had to Callice where first hee layed vnto his charge heresie but because all such offences before such a day were pardoned by an Act of Parliament then for the receiuing of the aforesaid French Crowne of Cardinall Poole as you heard before he was condemned of Treason in Callice cruelly put to death beeing hanged drawne and quartered At his death Sir Raph Ellerker Knight Marshall there would not suffer him to declare his Faith or cause he died for but bad the executioner dispatch the Knaue and said he would not away before he saw the Traytors heart out but shortly after in a skirmish with the Frenchmen at Bullen he was slaine and his enemies cut off his members and cut the heart out of his body and so left him a terrible example of the Iustice of God vpon all bloudy persecutors The said Lord Lisley with the others as before vniustly charging them of Callice with sedition and heresie were all shortly after either greatly out of the Kings fauour and committed vnto prison or else by desperate deathes died I will recite but Rockwood the chiefe stirrer of the afflictions aforesaid who at the last breath staring and raging cryed he was damned and being bid to aske God mercie he cried out All too late for I haue sought malitiously the deaths of a number of the Towne which in my heart I thought to be honest men which words he vsed when thirteene were carried in Irons into England when one told him he neuer saw men of such honesty so sharply corrected and taking it so ioyfully Rockwood then leaping scoffingly said All too late and the vnder Marshall suddenly fell downe in the Councell Chamber and neuer spake A labouring man hauing heard Damplip said Hee would neuer beleeue that Priests could make the Lords bodie at their pleasure whereupon hee was condemned by one Haruy a Commissary who said he was an heretick and should die a vile death The poore man answered he was no heretick but in the faith of Christ and said Whereas thou sayest I shall die a vile death thou shalt die a viler death shortly and so it came to passe for within halfe a yeare the said Haruy was hanged drawne and quartred in Callice for treason DODDE alias SCOT HEe was taken in Callice with certaine Germane bookes about him and being examined thereupon and standing constantly to the truth hee was condemned and burned there VVILLIAM BVTTON HEe being a souldier of Callice merrily asked a Papist Whether one that were suddenly taken might not occupie one of the Popes pardons in stead of a broken paper and another question Whether the world might better want Dogs then Popish Priests and answered it that if there were no Dogs we could make no more but if there lacked ignorant Priests we might soone make too many of them There came a black Frier to Callice with the Popes pardons who for 4. pence would deliuer a soule out of Purgatorie this Button asked him if the Pope could deliuer soules out of Purgatorie the Frier said there is no doubt of that then he said Why doth he not of charity deliuer all the sâ—ules thereout for which cauâ—e he was accused vnto the Commissary who chafing called him heretick then said Button If the Pope can deliuer soules out of Purgatorie and will not of charitiâ— doe it then would God the King would make me Pope for surely I would deliuer all out without money Whereupon the Commissary made him beare a Billet and procured his wages which was sixe pence a day to be taken from him then he went vnto the King and declared the whole matter who after gaue him eight pence a day In Nouember after the King had subdued the Scots and ioyning with the Emperour had inuaded France and had got the Towne of Bullen he summoned a Parliament in which was granted him besides subsidies of money all Colledges Chanteries Free Chappels Hospitals Fraternities Guilds and perpetuities of stipendary Priests to be disposed at his will and pleasure They being thus giuen to him by act of Parliament in December the next Lent Doctor Crome preached in the Mercers Chappell amongst other reasons to induce the people from the vaine reasons of Purgatorie he said It Trentalls and Masses could auaile the soules in Purgatorie then did not the Parliament well in giuing away Monasteries Colledges and Chanteries which serued principally to that purpose but if the Parliament did well as no man could denie then it is plaine that such Chanteries and priuate masses confer nothing to relieue them in Purgatorie This Dilemma was insoluble but at Easter next they brought him in
Harley Bishop of Herford after they saw the masse begin not abiding the sight thereof withdrew themselues from the company wherefore Taylor was commanded to attend but shortly after died and Harley because he was married was exâ—â—nded from the Parlament and his Bishoprick Then all statuts in K. Hen. the eight and K. Edwards time which were against papistrie were repealed Sir Iames Hales Iustice of the Common pleas notwithstanding he had ventured his life for Quéen Mary in not subscribing to King Edwards Will as before for giuing charge vpon the Statuts against Papistrie at the Assises he was committed to diuers prisons and so terrified that he wounded himselfe and meant to haue killed himselfe with a knife and after was contented to say as they willed him whereupon he was discharged but he neuer rested vntill he had drowned himselfe Then according to the Quéens commandement there begun a disputation in the Conuocation house about the Sacrament which continued six dayes wherein Doctor Weston was the chiefe on the Popes side who behaued himselfe outragiously in checking and â—aunting the matter of the disputation was onely of the Sacrament and the reasons no other then shall and haue beene set forth in this book wherefore for breuitie I omit them In conclusion the Quéen to take vp the matter sent her commandement to Bonner to dissolue the Conuocation and such as disputed on the contrary part were driuen some to flie some to denie and some to die though in most mens iudgements that heard the disputation they had the vpper hand In which Parliament also communication was moued of the Quéens marriage which was very euill taken of the people and of many of the Nobilitie who for this and for religion conspiring amongst themselues made a rebellion wherof Sir Thomas Wyat was chiefe News comming to London of this stirre in Kent the Quéen caused Wyat and the Duke of Suffolke who was fled to Warwickshire and Leister-shire there to gather a power and the two Carewes of Deuonshire to be proclaymed Traytors and Thomas Duke of Northfolke was sent into Kent against Wyat but about Rochester Bridge the Duke was forsaken of all his men and returned to London The Earle of Huntington was sent post to apprehend the Duke of Suffolke who entring the Citie of Couentrie before the Duke disappointed him and one Vnderwood his man betrayed and bewrayed him so that he was brought to the Tower of London In time Sir Peter Carew hearing what was done fled into France but the other were taken and the Quéen hearing of Wyats comming towards London she came into the Citie to Guild-hall where she made a vehement Oration against Wyat and to incourage them to stand with her Two dayes after the Lord Cobham was committed vnto the Tower and Wyat comming to Southwark being he could not enter that way into London he went with his Armie by Kingstone and came through the stréets to Ludgate but returning he was resisted at Temple-barre and there yeelded himselfe to Sir Clement Parson and was brought to the Court the residue of his armie were taken and a hundred killed for Sir George Harper and almost halfe his men ranne away from him at Kingstone Bridge and they which were taken were had to prison and many of them hanged and he himselfe executed at Tower-hill and quartered his head was set vpon Hay hill and after stolne away but there was great search made for the same Then the Lady Iane was beheaded two dayes before whose death Fecknam was sent to her by the Quéen to reduce her to papistrie The communication betwixt the Lady Iane and Fecknam Feck MAdam I lament your heauie case but I doubt not but you beare it constantly Iane. I litle lament my owne case but rather account it a token of Gods fauor vnto me more then euer he shewed to me before being a thing profitable for my soules health Feck I am com from the Quéen and Councel to instruct you in the faith though I trust I need not trauell ouer much in the performance thereof Iane. I heartily thanke the Queene that she is not vnmindfull of her humble subiect and I hope you will doe your dutie according to the message that you were sent on Feck What is then required of a Christian Iane. That he should beleeue in God the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost three persons and one God Feck What is there nothing else to bee required of a Christian but to beleeue Iane. Yes we must also loue him with all our heart soule and mined and our neighbour as our selfe Feck Why then Faith instifieth not Iane. Yes verily Faith as Saint Paul saith onely iustifyeth Feck Why Saint Paul saith if I haue all Faith without loue it is nothing Iane. True it is for how can I loue him whom I trust not or how can I trust him whom I loue not Faith and Loue goeth both together yet loue is comprehended in Faith Feck How shall we loue our neighbour Iane. To feede the hungry cloth the naked and giue drinke to the thirsty and to doe to him as we would doe to our selues Feck Why then it is necessary to saluation to doe good workes and not sufficient onely to beleeue Iane I deny that and affirme Faith onely saueth but it is meet for a Christian to follow Christ in good workes yet we may not say that they profit to saluation for when we haue done all that we can we are vnprofitable seruants and faith onely in Christâ— bloud saueth vs. Feck How many Sacraments are there Iane. Two the one of Baptisme the other of the Lords Supper Feck No there are seauen but what are signified by your two Sacraments Iane. By Baptisme I am washed with Water and regenerated by the Spiâ—t and the washing is a token I am Gods Childe The Lords Supper offered vnto me is a sure seale that by the blood of Christ I am made partaker of the euerlasting Kingdome Feck Do you not receiue the very body and blood of Christ Iane. I neither receiued flesh nor blood but Bread and wine which putteth me in remembrance that for my sins his body was broken and his blood shed and with it I receiue the benefit of his Passion Feck Doth not Christ say plainly This is my body Iane. So he saith I am the Vine and the doore and Saint Paul saith Hee calleth things that are not as though they were God forbid I should say I eate the body and blood of Christ for then I should pluck away my Redemption else there were two Christs for if his Disciples eate his body it was not broken vpon the Crosse and if it were broken vpon the Crâ—sse his Disciples did not eate it except he had two bodies Feck Could not Christ as possibley make his body to be eaten and broken as to bee borne of a Woman without Man and as to walke on the Sea and doe other miracles Iane. If God would haue done a miracle at
cast into the fields and buried by night of the faithfull when none durst doe it in the day Ioane Lashford the Daughter of Iohn Warne and Elizabeth Warne Martyrs was repréeued to a longer day her martirdome was next yeare William Andrew HE was sent out of Horsie in Essex by the Lord Rich and Sir Richard Southwell and being twice examined before Boner he stood manfullie in the defence of his Religion at length through straight handling in the Prison in Newgate he died and after the Popish manner hee was cast into the fields and in the night secretly buried by the faithfull Robert Samuell IUstice Foster of Cobdocke in Suffolke a deadly hater of the Professors of the truth amongst many others that were also troubled by him this Robert Samuell a godly Preacher in King Edwards daies was one Hee was Minister of Barford in Suffolke and beeing put from the Ministry as others were he taught priuilie and when that the order came vp that Priests should put away their Wiues and bee compelled to single life Samuell would not agrée thereto Maister Foster sent out espials to apprehend him and carry him to Prison if hée were found to come vnto his Wife whereby he was taken and put into Ipswich Iayle from thence he was carried to Norwich where Doctor Hopton the Bishop and Doctor Donnings his Chancellor exercised great crueltie against him They kept in him strait prison where he was chained bolt vpright vnto a great post that hee was â—aine to beare all his bodie on tip-toe and kept him without meat and drinke onelie he had euery day two or thrée mouthfuls of Bread and thrée spoonefuls of Water He would often haue drunken his owne Water but his bodie was so dried vp that he was not able to make water When he was brought forth to be burned he reported that after he had béen famished with hunger two or thrée daies together he fell into a slumber at which time one clad all in white seemed to stand before him which said Samuell Samuell be of good cheere for after this day thou shalt neuer be hungry or thirstie which was performed for spéedily after he was burned and from that time vntill he suffered he felt neither hunger nor thirst and he said he declared this that all might sée the wonderfull workes of God He said he could vtter many such comforts as he had of Christ in his afflictions which modesty would not suffer him to vtter As he was going vnto the fire a Maid named Rose Notingham took him about necke and kissed him who being marked the next day was sought for to bee had to Prison and burned yet by Gods goodnesse the escaped yet two honest Women fell into the rage of that time the one a Brewers wife the other a Shoe-makers Wife who were burned the next day after Samuell the one was called Anne Potten the other Ioane Trunchfield The report of them which saw Samuell burned is that his body in burning did â—hine as bright and white as new tryed Siluer in the eies of them that stood by In the booke at large thou maist sée a godly Letter of his and a godly confession of his Faith William Allen. HE was a labouring man sometimes Seruant to Iohn Houghton of Somerset he was burned at Walsingham he was imprisoned for saying he would neuer follow the crosse on procession The Bishop bad him returne vnto the Catholique Church he answered he would turne vnto the Catholike Church but not to the Romish Church and said if he saw the King and Quéene and all other follow the Crosse and knéele downe to the Crosse he would not Roger Coo. HE was of Melford in Suffolke a Sheare-man an aged Father after his sundry conflicts with his Aduersaries he was burned at Yexford in Suffolke for denying the Sacrament of the Altar and when the Bishop said he must obey the King whether his command agrée with the word of God or no. He answered If Sidrach Misaach and Abednago had done so Nabuchadnezzer had not confessed the liuing Lord and when the Bishop said he had charge of his Soule he answered if you go to the Diuell for your sinnes where shall I become Thomas Cobbe LIkewise Thomas Cobbe of Hauehill Butcher was burned by the said Bishop of Norwich for denying the reall presence in the Sacrament and for saying he would be obedient to the King and Quéenes commaundement as the Law of God would suffer and no further George Catmer and Robert Streater of Hyth Anthony Burward of Calete George Brodbridge of Bromfield James Tutty of Breachley THese were brought before Thorton Bishop of Douer where they being examined they did all affirme the Sacrament of the Altar to be an abhominable Idoll and George Brodbridge said he would not be confessed of a Priest because he could not forgiue his owne sinnes And moreouer as for holy Bread and holy Water and the Masse I do quoth he vtterly defie them therefore they were all fiue burned as Heretickes at Canterbury Thomas Heyward and Iohn Gorway VVE finde they were condemned and burned at Lichfield in the Dioces of Lichfield and Couentry Robert Glouer and Iohn Glouer his Brother and William Glouer another Brother IOhn was the eldest brother a Gentleman of the Towne of Mancetor he was endued with faire possessions and worldly goods but much more enriched with heauenly grace He with his two brethren not only embraced the light of the Gospell but most zealously professed the same In King Henries daies this Iohn fell into a dispaire of himselfe vpon the occasion of these words in the 7. to the Hebrewes For it cannot be that they which were once illuminated and haue tasted the heauenly gift c. The Bishop sending a warrant for this Iohn the Mayor of Couentry sent him a priuy watch-word who with his Brother William conuayed himselfe away but the Sheriffe found Robert lying sicke in bed and although the Sheriffe would faine haue dismissed him saying Hee was not the man for whom they were sent yet fearing the stout words of the Officer he put him in Prison vntill the Bishops comming Robert Being brought before the Bishop of Couentry he asked me wherefore I wouâ—d not come to Church I said I would not come thither as long as Masse was vsed in their Churches though I had 500. liues and might saue them all by going and I asked if they could finde any thing in the Scriptures whereby they could defend the Masse Bish. He asked who should be iudge of the holy word I said Christ. Robert He refused not to giue his doctriâ—e to be examined of the people by searching of the Scriptures and so did Paule and if that would not suffice I said I would stand to the iudgement of the Primitiue Church which was next after the Apostles time and that should be iudge betwixt them He answered he was mine Ordinary and therefore it was my part to beléeue as hee did I said what if
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