monkes weede According as in the stories of this Realme is to be seene howe in the tyme of Dunstane Archbishop of Canterbury Monke of lay in 〈◊〉 made Clergy men Pope Iohn 13. wrote to K. Edgar that one should be made Bishops but Monkes of Ethelwold Byshop of Worcester and of Oswald Bishop of Winchester Pope Iohn 13. writing to king Edgar willed him in hys letters to see in his Cathedrall Churches none to be promoted to be Bishops but such as were of the Monasticall religion and willed him moreouer to exclude the secular prebendaries at Winchester and to place in Monkes and that none of the secular Clerkes there should be chosen bishop but either taken out of the same Couent of that churche or of some other Abbey So was also king Henry the second commauÌ„ded to do in the house of Waltham Secular Priestes put out and Monkes intruded into Churches where the secular Canons were remoued out and regular Canons intruded The same did Oswald Bishop with the Church of Worcester likewise in their Sees did Dunstane Archbishop of Canterbury Osketellus Archbishop of York Ethelwold Bishop of Worcester who in storye is reported to be Multorum fundator Monasteriorum Leswinus also Bishop of Dorcester with other Bishops moe about the time and raign of king Edgar â—do Archbishop of Caunterbury before Dunstane an 934. after his election refused to take that dignity vpon him before he had receiued the habite of a monk in the Abbey of Florence in Fraunce because as the story telleth if it be true Nullus ad id tempus nisi monachali schemate indutus Ex Guliel Malmesh in vita Odonis Ex Neaburgens lib 4. cap 33. Archiepiscopus fuisset c. That is Because all the Archbishops of Caunterbury before him had bene Monkes c. In like maner Baldwinus also an 1114. after he was elected Archb. of Canterbury tooke vpon him the habite and profession of Mereton Abbey And so did Reginaldus his next successor after him c. Monkes first lay men theÌ„ made regulars and votaryes at length made Churchmen Pope Boniface As concerning therfore the origene of Monks ye haue heard how first they began of lay meÌ„ onely leading a straiter life from the society of other persons who then folowing the rule of S Benet were called regulars votaries and yet all this while had nothing to do with any Ecclesiasticall ministery til the time of Pope Bonifacius y e fourth an 606. who then made a decree that monkes might vse the office of preaching of the christening of hearing confessions and assoyling theÌ„ of their sinnes differing from priestes onely in this Difference betweene Mâ—nkes Priestes that they were called Regulares and priestes were called Seculares the monkes were votaries the priestes had free liberty to haue wiues til the time of Lanfranke and Anselme as is aforesayd Albeit Athanasius in his Epistle Ad Dracontium witnesseth also that he knewe Monkes in the olde time and Bishops which were marryed and had children Furthermore as ignorance superstition with time encreased so the number and swarme of monkes still more and more multiplied in such sort as not onely they thrust out secular Priestes froÌ„ their houses but also out of them were made Popes Cardinalles Archbishops and Bishops to gouerne Churches Of which nuÌ„ber began Austen the first Archbishop of the See of Cant. and the most part of all other Archbishops after him vntill the time of the Conquest and after All this while the Friers were not yet come neyther the discipline of S. Dominike The comming in of the â—ryers nor the Testament of S. Fraunces nor the order of the Austen brothers nor of the Carmelites was yet heard of Which last of all came in w t theyr pageans and played theyr part likewise an 1220. being much more full of hipocrisy blindnesse Idolatry and superstition then were the monkes So that what with monkes of y e one side w t the friers of the other side while all thinges were ruled by the Rules of S. Benet by y e Canons of the Pope by the doctrine of S. Dominike and by the Testament of S. Fraunces Christes Testament was trode vnder foote the rule of Gods word neglected true Christian religion defaced fayth forgotten the right way of saluation abolished sound doctrine oppressed Christes seruants persecuted and the peoples soules vncomforted yea and the true Church of Christ almost cleane extirped had not almighty God who can not forgette his promise prouided remedy in time in raysing vp this Cromwel his seruaunt and other like champions to cut vppe from the roote of the houses of them which otherwise would vtterly haue rooted vp the house of the Lord had subuerted a great part already Wherefore whosoeuer findeth himselfe agreeued with Cromwels doinges in suppressing these Monasteryes of Monkes and Fryers let him wisely consider with hymselfe first the doctrine lawes and traditions of these men which he shall find rebelling to the religion of Christ The lyfe of Monkes and Fryers considered pernitious to our saluation derogatory to Christes glory full of much blasphemy and damnable idolatry Secondly let him likewise wel aduise the horrible and execrable liues of these Cloysterers or at y e least search out the rolles and registers of matters found out by inquisition in king Henry the eight his dayes agaynst them which here is not to be spoken of vnles we will speake as Mathew Paris speaketh of the Court of Rome Cuius foetor vsque ad nubes fumum teterrimum exhalabat That is Whose filthy stinch saith he did breath vp a most pestiferous fume euen vnto the cloudes of heauen c. All which thinges well considered The Lord Cromwell defended in suppressing Abbayes what maruell is it then if God of his iust iudgement did set vp the foresayde Lord Cromwell to destroy these sinfull houses whoÌ„ theyr owne corruptions could suffer no longer to stand And as touching the dissipation of theyr landes and possessions to the handes of such as they were bestowed vpon if it so pleased the king in bestowing those Abbey landes vpon his Nobles and Gentlemen Dissipation of Abbay landes in England expedient either to restore them againe vnto them from whence they came or els to gratifie hys nobility by that meanes of pollicye not to mislike his doings what is that to Cromwel But they might say you haue bene much better employed to other more fruitfull vses Briefely to aunswere thereunto what may be done presently in a common wealth is not enough to say but what may also folow must be considered If thys throwing downe of Abbeys had happened in such free and reformed cities or countryes as are amongest the Germanes where the state gouerned directed by lawes rather then by rulers remayneth alwayes alike and vnmutable who doubteth but such houses there standing still y e possessions might well be transposed to such vses abouesayd without any
feare or perill But in suche Realmes and Kingdomes as this wher Lawes and Parliamentes be not alwayes one but are subiect to the disposition of the prince neither is it certayne alwayes what Princes maye come y e surest way therfore to send Monkery Popery packing out of the realme is to doe with their houses and possessions as king Henry here did through y t motion of y e counsell of Cromwell For els who seeth not in Queene Maries time if either the houses of monkes had stand or their landes had bene otherwise disposed then into the handes of such as they were how many of them had bene restored replenished agayn w t monkes fryers in as ample wise as euer they were And if Dukes Barons and the Nobilities scarse were able to retayne the landes and possessions of Abbeyes distributed to them by king Henry from the deuotion of Queene Mary seeking to build agayne the walles of Hierico what then shoulde the meaner sorte haue done let other men coniecture Wherfore it is not vnlike but that Gods heauenly prouidence did well foresee and dispose these thinges before by this man The vtter ruine of Monasteryes was Gods worke in workyng the destruction of these Abbeyes whereupon as often as he sent out any men to suppresse any monasterie hee vsed commonly to send them with this charge that they shuld throw downe those houses euen to the foundation Which wordes although may seeme percase to some to be cruelly spoken of hym yet contrariwise doe I suppose the doing thereof not to be without Gods speciall prouidence and secret guiding Or els we might peraduenture haue had suche swarmes of fryers and monkes possessed in theyr nestes agayne before this day in England in so great a number that tenne Cromwels afterward vnneth should haue suffered to haue vnhoused them Wherfore if the plantation which the Lord God neuer planted be pluckt vp by the rootes Math. 15. let God alone wyth his working and let the monasteries goe Now that you haue seene what this Malleus Monachorum hath done in defacing the Sinagogue of the pope Malleus Monachorum Cromwelius let vs see how the sayd Cromwell againe did trauayle in setting vp Christes church and congregation After that the bishop of Romes power and authoritye was banished out of England the bishops of his sect neuer ceased to seeke all occasion how eyther to restore hys head agayne being broken and wounded Cromwell the Forte defence of the Church An assembly of learned men appoynted by the king or at the least to keepe vpright those thinges which yet remayned wherein although theyr labours were not altogether frustrate yet had they brought much more to passe if Cromwell as a mighty wall and defence of the church had not resisted continually theyr enterprises It happened that after the abolishing of the Pope certayne tumultes began to rise about religion Wherupō it seemed good vnto king Henry to appoynt an assemblye of learned men and Bishops Cromwel with Alex. Alesius resort to the assembly which should soberly modestly entreat and determine those thinges which perteyned vnto Religion Briefely at the kinges pleasure all the learned men but specially the Bishops assembled to whō this matter seemed chiefely to belong Cromwell thought also to be present himselfe with the Byshoppes who by chaunce meeting with Alexander Alesius by the way a Scottish man brought him with him to the conuocation house where all the Bishoppes were assembled together Which was in the yeare .1537 The Bishops and Prelates attending vppon the comming of Cromwell as he was come in rose vp and did obeysaunce to him as to their vicar generall and he agayn saluted euery one in theyr degree and sate downe in the highest place at the table according to his degree and office and after him euery bishop in his order and Doctours First ouer agaynst him sate the Archb. of Canterbury then the Archbishop of Yorke the bishops of London Lincolne Salisbury Bath Ely Herford Chychester Norwich Rochester and Worcester c. There Cromwel in y e name of the king whose most deare and secret Counsellour at that present he was and Lorde priuy Seale and vicar generall of the realme spake these wordes in maner folowing RIght reuerend fathers in Christe The kinges maiesty geueth you high thankes that ye haue so diligently without any excuse Cromwells Oration to the byshops assembled hither according to his commaūdement And ye be not ignoraunt that ye be called hither to determine certayne controuersies which at this time be moued concerning the christian Religion and fayth not onely in this Realme but also in all nations through the world For the king studyeth day and nyght to set a quietnesse in the Churche and he can not rest vntill all such controuersies be fully debated and ended through the determination of you of his whole Parliament For although his speciall desire is to set a stay for the vnlearned people whose cōsciences are in doubt what they may beleue and he himselfe by his excellent learning knoweth these controuersies wel enough yet he will suffer no common alteration but by the consent of you and of his whole Parliamēt By the which thing ye may perceiue both his high wisedome and also his great loue towarde you And he desireth you for Christes sake that all malice obstinacy and carnall respecte set apart ye will frendly and louinglye dispute among your selues of the controuersies moued in the Churche The kinges request to the Bishops and that ye will conclude all thinges by the woord of God without all brawling or scolding neither will his maiestye suffer the Scripture to be wrasted and defaced by any Gloses any papisticall Lawes or by any authority of Doctours or Counselles and muche lesse will he admitte any articles or doctrine not conteyned in the Scripture but approued onely by continuaunce of time and olde custome and by vnwritten verities as ye were wont to do Ye know wel enough that ye be bound to shew this seruice to Christ and to his Church and yet notwithstanding his maiestye will geue you high thankes if ye will sette and conclude a godly and a perfect vnity whereunto this is the onelye way and meane if ye wil determine all thinges by the Scripture as God commaundeth you in Deuteronomie whiche thing hys maiesty exhorteth and desireth you to do When Cromwel had ended this his Oration the Byshops rose vp altogether geuing thankes vnto the kings maiesty not for his great zeale toward the church of christ and also for his most godly exhortation worthy so Christian a prince Immediately they rose vp to disputation where as Stokesly Bishop of London first of all being the moste earnest champion maynteyner of the Romish Decrees whō Cromwel a litle before had checked by name for defending vnwritten verities endeuoured himselfe with all his labour and industry out of the olde Schole Gloses to maynteyne the
that he hath affirmed published taught diuers opinions of Luther and wicked heresies after that he was summoned to appeare before vs and our Councell That man hath no free will That man is in sinne so long as he liueth That childreÌ„ incontinent after their baptisme are sinners All Christians that bee woorthie to bee called Christians doo knowe that they are in grace No man is iustifyed by workes but by fayth onely Good workes make not a good man but a good man doth make good workes That fayth hope and charitie are so knit that hee that hath the one hath the rest and hee that wanteth the one of them wanteth the rest c. with diuers other heresies and detestable opinions and hath persisted so obstinate in the same that by no counsayle nor perswasion he may be drawne therefrom to the way of our right faith All these premisses being considered we hauing God and the integritie of our fayth before our eyes Wolues in â—ambes 〈◊〉 and following the counsayle and aduise of the professours of the holy Scripture men of law and others assisting vs for the tyme do pronounce determine and declare the said M Patrike Hamelton for his affirming confessing and mayntayning of the foresayd heresies and his pertinacitie they being condemned already by the Church generall Councels and most famous Vniuersities to be an hereticke and to haue an euill opinion of the fayth and therefore to be condemned and punished like as we condemne and define him to be punished by this our sentence definitiue depriuing and sentencing him to be depriued of all dignities honours orders offices and benefices of the Church M. patricke geuen to the secular power and therefore do iudge and pronounce him to be deliuered ouer to the secular power to be punished and his goodes to be confiscate This our sentence definitiue was geuen and read at our Metropolitane Church of S. Andrewes the last day of the moneth of February an 1527. being present the most reuerend fathers in Christ and Lords Gawand Byshop of Glasgow George Byshop of Dunkelden Iohn Byshop of Brecham William Byshop of Dunblane Patrike Prior of S. Andrew Dauid Abbot of Abirbrothoke George Abbot of Dunfermeling Alexander Abbot of Caunbuskyneth Henry Abbot of Lendors Iohn Prior of Pittyrweme the Deane and Subdeane of Glasgow M. Hugh Spens Thomas Ramsay Allane Meldrun c. In the presence of the Cleargy and the people After the condemnation and Martyrdome of this true Saint of God was dispatched by the Byshops and Doctours of Scotland the rulers and Doctours of the Uniuersitie of Louane hearing therof receaued such ioy consolation at the sheding of that innocent bloud that for the aboundance of hart they could not stay their penne to vtter condigne thanks applauding and triumphing in their letters sent to the foresaid Bishop of S. Andrewes Doctours of Scotland at the worthy famous deseruings of their aâ—chieued enterprise in that behalfe as by the tenour of their sayd letter may appeare which heere foloweth ¶ The copie of a letter congratulatorie sente from the Doctours of Louane to the Archbysh of S. Andrewes and Doctours of Scotland commending them for the death of mayster Patrike Hamelton A letter of thankes sent froÌ„ Louane to them of Scotland for shedding the bloud of Patricke Hamelton YOur excellent vertue most honourable Bishop hath so deserued that albeit we be farre distant both by sea and land without coniunction of familiaritie yet we desire with all oure harts to thanke you for your woorthy deede by whose workes that true faith which not long ago was taynted wyth heresie not only remayneth vnhurt but also is more confirmed For as oure deare friend M. Alexander Galoway Chanon of Aberdon hath shewed vs the presumption of the wicked hereticke Patrike Hamelton which is expressed in this your example in that you haue cut him off when there was no hope of amendement c. The which thing as it is thought commendable to vs so the maner of the proceeding was no lesse pleasaunt What ioy the Papistes make in spilling the bloud of Christians that the matter was perfourmed by so great consent of so many estates as of the Cleargy nobilitie and vulgare people not rashly but most prudently the order of law being in all poyntes obserued We haue seene the sentence which ye pronounced and alway do approue the same not doubting but that the Articles which be inserted are erroneous so that whosoeuer will defend for a truth any one of the same with pertinacitie shoulde be esteemed an enemie to the fayth and an aduersary to the holy Scripture And albeit one or two of them appeare to be without errour If ye coulde shew to what place of the scripture we would gladly beare you to them that wyll consider onely the bare words as for example good woorkes make not a good man but a good man worketh good workes yet there is no doubt but they conteyne a Lutherane sense which in a maner they signifie to wit that workes done after fayth and iustification make not a man the better nor are worthy of any rewarde before God Beleeue not that this example shall haue place onely among you for there shall be among externe nations which shall imitate the same c. Certaynly ye haue geuen vs great courage so that now we acknowledge your Vniuersitie which was founded according to the example of our Vniuersitie of Louane to be equall to ours or else aboue and would God occasion were offered of testifying our mindes towarde you In the meane time let vs labour wyth one consent that the rauening Wolues may be expelled from the sheepefold of Christ while we haue tyme. Let vs study to preach to the people more learnedly hereafter The vniuersity of S. Andrewes was founded about the yeare of our Lord 1416. in the reigne of kyng Iames the first who brought into Scotland out of other countreyes 2. Doctors of Diuinitie and 8. Doctors of decrees with diuers other Hect. Boet. Libâ— 16. cap. 17. and more wisely Let vs haue Inquisitours espyers of bookes coÌ„taining that doctrine especially that is brought in from farre countreys whether by a postatiue Monkes or by Marchauntes the most suspected kynde of meÌ„ in these dayes It is sayd that since Scotland first embraced the ChristiaÌ„ fayth it was neuer defiled with any heresie Perseuere therfore being moued thereunto by the exaÌ„ple of England your next neighbour which in this most troublous tyme is not chauÌ„ged partly by the working of the Bishops amoÌ„g the which * * He meaneth Fisher B. of Rochester who wrote against Oecolampadyuâ— and Luther and at length was beheaded for treason K. Henry 8. is here a Matthias when he maketh with you but when he put downe the pope and his Abbeyes theÌ„ ye make him an hereticke Roffensis hath sheweth himselfe an Euangelicall Phoenix and partly of the kyng declaring himselfe to be an other Mathias of the new law
out of Wales was brought to the gallowes and there also with the foresayd Frier as is sayde was set on fire Whome the Wealshmen muche worshipped and had a Prophecye amongest them that this Image shoulde set a whole forrest on fyre Which prophecy tooke effect for he set this Fryer Forest on fire and consumed hym to nothing The Fryer when he saw the fire come and that present death was at hand he caught hold vpon the lader and would not let it go but so vnpaciently took his death as neuer any man that put his trust in God at any time so vngodly or vnquietly ended his life In the month of October Nouember the same yere shortly after the ouerthrow of these images and pilgrimages folowed also the ruine of the Abbeis religious houses which by the speciall motion of the Lord Cromwel or rather and principally by the singuler blessing of almighty God were suppressed being geuen a litle before by acte of Parliament into the kinges hand wherupoÌ„ not onely the houses were rased but theyr possessions also disparcled among the nobility in such sort The ruyne dissolutioÌ„ of Abbeyes â—onasteryes in England as all friers monkes Chanons Nunnes and other sectes of religion were then so rooted out of this Realme from the very foundation that there semeth by Gods grace no possibility hereafter left for the generation of those straunge weedes to grow here any more according to the true verdict of our Lord and Sauior Christ in his Gospell saying Euery plantation being not planted of my father Math. 15. shal be plucked vp by the rootes c. ¶ The history of the worthy Martir of God Iohn Lambert otherwise named Nicolson with his troubles examinations and aunsweres as well before the Archbishop of Caunterbury Warham and other Bishops as also before K. Henry 8. by whom at length he was condemned to death burned in Smithfielde Ann. 1538. IMmediatly vpon the ruine and destruction of the monasteries Anno 1538. the same yeare in the month of Nouember followed the trouble and condemnation of Iohn Lambert y e faythfull seruaunt of Iesus Christ and Martyr of blessed memory This Lambert being borne and brought vp in Northfolke was first conuerted by Bilney and studied in the Uniuersity of Cambridge Where after that he had sufficiently profited both in Latin and Greeke and had translated out of both tongues sondry things into the English tongue being forced at last by violence of the time he departed from thence to the partes beyond the seas to Tyndall and Frith Lambert â—â—eacher to the Englysh 〈◊〉 at Antwerpe and there remained the space of a yeare and more being preacher and Chapleine to the Englishe house at Antwerpe till he was disturbed by sir Thomas More and by the accusation of one Barlow was caried froÌ„ Antwerpe to London Lambert brought froÌ„ Antwerpe to London where he was brought to examination first at Lambeth then at the Bishops house at Oxford before Warham y e Archb. of Cant. and other aduersaries hading 45. articles ministred agaynst him wherunto he rendred answere agayne by writing The which answeres for as much as they conteine great learning may geue some light to the better vnderstanding of the common causes of religion now in controuersy I thought here to exemplify the same Lambert accused by one Baâ—â—ow as they came right happely to our handes The copy both of the articles and also of his aunsweres here in order foloweth ¶ Articles to the number of 45. layd to Lambert IN primis whether thou wast suspecte or infamed of heresy Articles agaynst Iohn Lambert 2. Whether euer thou hadst any of Luthers bookes and namely sith they were condemned how long thou kepst them and whether thou hast spent any study on them 3. Whether thou wast constitute priest and in what Dioces and of what bishop 4. Whether it be lawfull for a Priest to mary a wife and whether a priest in some case be bouÌ„d by the law of God to mary a wife 5. Whether thou beleuest that whatsoeuer is done of man whether it be good or ill commeth of necessity 6. Whether the sacrament of the aulter be a sacrament necessary vnto saluation and whether after the consecration of the bread and wine done by the priest as by the minister of God there is the very body and bloud of Christ in likenes of bread and wine 7. Item what opinion thou holdest touching the Sacrament of Baptisme whether thou doest beleue that it is a sacrament of the Church and a necessary sacrament vnto saluation and that a Priest may baptise and that the order of baptising ordeined by the church is necessary and wholsome 8. Item whether you beleue that matrimony be a sacrament of the church necessary to be obserued in the church that the order appointed by the Church for the solemnising therof is allowable and to be holden 9. Item whether thou doest beleue orders to be a sacrameÌ„t of the church Sacrament of orders and that saying of masse ordeined by the Church is to be obserued of Priestes whether it be deadly sinne or not if it be omitted or contemned and whether the order of Priesthoode were inuented by mans imagination or ordeined by God 10. Item whether penaunce be a sacrament of the Church and necessary vnto saluation Sacrament of penance and whether auricular confession is to be made vnto the priest or is necessary vnto saluation and whether thou beleuest that a ChristiaÌ„ is bouÌ„d besides contrition of hart hauing the free vse of an apte or meet priest vnder necessity of saluation to be confessed vnto a Priest and not vnto any lay man be he neuer so good and deuout whether thou beleuest that a Priest in cases permitted vnto him may absolue a sinner beyng contrite and confessed from his sinnes and enioine him wholsome penaunce 11. Item whether thou doest beleue and holde Sacrament of confession that the sacrament of confirmation extreme vnction be sacrameÌ„ts of the church and whether that they doe profite the soules of them which receiue them and whether thou beleuest the foresayde seuen sacramentes to geue grace vnto them that do duly receiue them 12. Whether all thinges necessary vnto saluation are put in holy Scripture Vnwritten verities and whether things onely there put be sufficient and whether some thinges vpon necessity of saluation are to be beleued and obserued which are not expressed in Scripture 13. Whether thou beleuest that Purgatory is and whether that soules departed be therin tormented and purged Purgatory 14 Whether holy martyrs apostles and confessors departed from this world ought to be honored and called vpon Praying to Saintes and prayed vnto 15. Whether the Sayntes in heauen as Mediatours pray for vs 16. Whether thou beleuest that oblations pilgrimages may be deuoutly and meritoriously done to the sepulchres and reliques of sayntes Pilgrimage 17. Whether
in the streate looking diligently about them and perceyuing all thynges to be without feare maruelled at this soddayne outrage made signes and tokeÌ„s to them that were in the church to keepe themselues quyet crying to them that there was no daunger But for so much as no word could be heard by reason of the noyse that was within the Churche those signes made them much more afrayd then they were before interpreting the matter as though all had bene on fire without the Church and for the dropping of the lead and falling of other things they should rather tary still within y e church and not to venter out This trouble continued in this maner by the space of certayne houres The next day and also all the weeke following there was an incredible number of bils set vp vpon the Church dores to enquire for thinges that were lost in such variety and number as Domocritus might here agayne haue had iust cause to laugh If any man haue fouÌ„d a payre of shoes yesterday in S. Mary Church or knoweth any man that hath found them c. An other bill was set vp for a gowne that was lost An other intreateth to haue his cappe restored One lost his purse and gyrdle with certeyne mony an other his sword One enquireth for a ring and one for one thing an other for an other To be short there was few in this gaâ—boyle but that either through negligence lost or through obliuion left something behind him Thus haue you hitherto heard a tragicall story of a terrible fire which did no hurt The description whereof although it be not so perfectly expressed according to the worthines of the matter yet because it was not to be passed with silence we haue superficially set foorth some shadow therof wherby the wise discreet may sufficiently consider the rest if any thing els be lacking in setting forth the full narration therof As touching the heretick because he had not done his sufficient penaunce there by occasion of thys hurly burly therfore the next day folowing he was reclaimed into the Church of S. Frideswide where he supplied the rest that lacked of his plenary penaunce The 4. and 5. Mariage of K. Henry the 8. THe same yeare and month next folowing after the apprehension of the Lord Cromwell which was an 1541. the king immediately was diuorced from the Lady Anne of Cleue The cause of which seperation being whollye committed to the Clergy of the Conuocation Anno 1541. it was by them defined concluded and graunted that the kyng being freed froÌ„ that pretensed matrimony as they called it might mary wher he would August The Lady Anne of Cleue diuorced from the king The king permitted to mary after his diuorce The king maried to the Lady Katherine Haward his 5. wife so might she likewise whoÌ„ also consenting to the same diuorcement her selfe by her owne letters was after that taken no more for Queene but onely called Lady Anne of Cleue Whych thinges thus discussed by the Parliament and Conuocation house the king thesame moneth was marryed to his fifte Wyfe which was the Lady Katherine Haward Niece to the Duke of Northfolke and daughter to the Lord Edmund Haward the Dukes brother But this marryage likewise continued not long In the same moneth of August and the same yeare I finde moreouer in some records beside the xxiiij Chapter-house monks aboue recited whom Cope doth sanctify for holy martyrs for suffering in the Popes deuotion against the kinges suprâ—macy other sixe which were also brought to Tiborne and there executed in the like case of rebellion Of whom the first was the Prior of Dancaster the second a monk of the Charterhouse of LoÌ„doÌ„ called Giles Horne some call him William Horne 6. Popishe Monkes for denying the kinges supremacy executed the third one Tho. Epsam a Monke of Westminster who had his Monkes garment pluckt from his backe being the last monke in K. Henries dayes that did weare that monkish weede the fourth one Philpot the fifte one Carewe the sixt was a Fryer See what a difficulty it is to plucke vp blind superstition once rooted in mans hart by a litle custome Now as touching the late maryage betwene the king and the Lady Haward ye heard how this matrimony endured not long for in the yere next folowing 1542. the sayd Lady Katherine was accused to the king of incontinent liuing Anno 1542. not onely before her mariage with FrauÌ„ces Direham but also of spousebreach sith her maryage with Tho. Culpeper For the which both the men aforesayd by acte of Parliament were atteinted and executed for high treason and also the sayd Lady Katherine late quene with the Lady Iane Rochford widow late Wyfe to George Boleyne Lord Rochford It is reported of some that this Lady Rochforde forged a false letter against her husband Queene Anne his sister by the which they wer both cast away Which if it be so the iudgement of God then is here to be marked The kinges minde inclining to reformaâ—â—on of religion brother to Queene Anne Boleyne were beheaded for theyr desertes within the Tower Ex Hallo alijs After the death and punishment of this Lady his fifth wife the king calling to remembraunce the wordes of the Lord Cromwell and missing now more and more his old Counsellor and partly also smelling somewhat the wayes of Winchester beganne a litle to set his foote agayne in the cause of Religion And although he euer bare a speciall fauor to Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury as you shall heare more hereafter God willing in the lyfe of Cranmer yet now the more he missed the Lord Cromwel the more he inclined to the Archbishop also to the right cause of Religion And therefore in the same yeare and in the month of October after the execution of this Queene the king vnderstanding some abuses yet to remayne vnreformed namely about pilgrimages and Idolatry and other thinges moe besides to be corrected within his dominions directed his letters vnto the foresaid Archbishop of Canterbury for the speedy redresse and reformation of the same The tenor of which letters hereafter fully ensueth in these wordes ¶ The kinges letters to the Archbishop for the abolishing of Idolatry The kings letters to the Archbyshop for reforming of Idolatry RIght reuerend father in God right trusty and welbeloued we greet you well letting you to wit that whereas hertofore vpon the zeale and remembraunce whiche we had to our bounden duety towardes almighty God perceiuing sundry superstitions and abuses to be vsed and embraced by our people wherby they grieuously offended him and his word we did not onely cause the Images and bones of such as they resorted and offered vnto with the ornamentes of the same and all such writinges and monumentes of fayned myracles wherewith they were illuded to be taken away in all places of our Realme but also by our Iniunctions commaunded that no
wherby I haue not onely incurred the kings maiesties indignation but also diuers of his highnes subiectes haue by mine example taken incouragement as his graces counsaile is certainly enformed to repine at his maiesties moste godly proceedings I am right sorie therefore and acknowledge my selfe condingly to haue ben punished and do most heartily thanke his maiestie that of his great clemencie it hath pleased his highnesse to deale with me not according to rigour but mercye And to the entent it may appeare to the world how little I do repine at his highnes doings whych be in religion moste godly and to the common wealth most profitable I doe affirm and say freely of mine owne will without any compulsion as ensueth The kinges supremacy 1 First that by the lawe of God and the authoritie of scriptures the kings maiestie and his successors are the supreme heades of the churches of England and also of Ireland 2 Item that the apoynting of holy daies or fasting daies as Lent imber daies or any suche like or to dispence therewith is in the kings maiesties authoritie and power and his highnes as supreme head of the sayde Churches of Englande and Irelande The kinges authoritye in dispensing with holydayes and fasting dayes or in appointing the same and gouernour thereof may appoynt the maner and time of the holy dayes and fasting dayes or dispence therewith as to his wisedome shall seeme most conuenient for the honour of God and the wealth of thys realme 3 Item that the kings maiestie hath moste Christianly and godly set foorth by and with the consent of the whole parliament a deuout and christian booke of seruice of the church to be frequented by the church The kings booke of proceedinges which booke is to be accepted and allowed of all bishops pastours curates and all ministers Ecclesiastical of the realme of England and so of him to be declared and commended in all places where he shal fortune to preach or speake to the people of it that it is a godly and christian booke and order and to be allowed accepted and obserued of all the kings maiesties true subiectes 4 I do acknowledge the kings maiestie that nowe is whose life God long preserue to be my soueraâ—gne Lord and supreme head vnder Christ to me as a Bishop of this realme The kinges full authoritye in his tender age and naturall subiect to his maiestie and nowe in this his yonge and tender age to be my full and entire kinge and that I and all other his highnesse subiectes are bounde to obey all his maiesties proclamations statutes lawes and commaundements made promulgate and sette foorth in this his highnesse yong age as well as thoughe his highnes were at this present 30 or 40. yeâ—es olde Abrogation of the 6. articles 5 Item I confesse and acknowledge that the statute commonlye called the statute of sixe articles for iust causes and grounds is by authoritie of parliament repealed and disanulled 6 Item that his maiestie and his successours haue authoritie in the said churches of England and also of Ireland to alter The kinges iurisdictioÌ„ to alter and correct abuses ecclesiasticall reforme correct and amend al errours abuses and all rites and ceremonies ecclesiastical as shall seeme froÌ„ time to time to his highnesse and his successors most conuenient for the edification of his people so that the same alteration be not contrary or repugnante to the scripture and lawe of God Subscription of Winchester to the articles afore sayd Subscribed by Steuen Winchester with the testimoniall handes of the counsaile to the same To these articles afore specified althoughe Winchester with his owne hand did subscribe graunting and consenting to the supremacie of the King as well then beyng as of hys successours to come Winchester denieth to subscribe to the first beginning of these Articles yet because hee stucke so muche in the first poynt touching his submission and would in no case subscribe to the same but onely made hys aunswere in the margent as is aboue noted it was therefore thoughte good to the king that the Maister of the horse and maister Secretarie Peter should repaire vnto him again with the same request of submission exhortinge hym to looke better vppon it and in case the woords seemed too sore then to referre it vnto him selfe in what sort and with what wordes he should deuise to submit hym that vpon y e acknowledge of his fault the kings highnes might exteÌ„d his mercy and liberality towards him as it was determined Which was the 11. day of Iune the yeare abouesaid When the maister of the horse and secretarie Peter had bene with him in the tower according to their Commission returning from him again they declared vnto the king and his Counsaile how precisely the sayd Bishop stoode in iustification of him selfe that hee hadde neuer offended the kings Maiestie wherefore he vtterly refused to make any submission at all For the more suretie of which deniall it was agreed that a newe booke of Articles should be deuised wherwith the said maister of the horse and master Secretarie Peter should repaire vnto him againe and for the more autentike proceeding w t him they to haue wyth theÌ„ a Diuine and a temporall Lawyer whiche were the Bishop of London and maister Goodricke The copie of the last ArticIes sent to the Bishop of Winchester WHere as I Steuen Bishop of Winchester haue bene suspected as one that did not approoue or allowe the kings Maiesties procedings in alteration of certaine rites in Religion Wynchesâ—â—â— againe reâ—quired 〈◊〉 submit himâ—selfe and was conuented before the kings highnes Counsaile and admonished thereof and hauing certayne things appoynted for me to doe and preach for my declaration haue not done therein as I ought to doe whereby I haue deserued hys maiesties displeasure I am righte soâ—e therfore And to the intent it may appear to the world how litle I doe repine at his highnes doings which be in religion most godly and to the common wealth most profitable I doe affirme as followeth 1 First that the late king of moste famous memorie kyng Henrie the eight our late soueraigne Lorde iustly and of good reason and ground hath taken away and caused to be suppressed and defaced Good 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 in supprâ—â—sing 〈◊〉 of religiâ—â— all monasteries and religious houses and all conuenticles and conuents of Monks Friers Nonnes Chanons Bonhoms other persons called religious and that the same being so dissolued the persones therein bound and professed to obedience to a person place habit and other superstitious rites and ceremonies vpon that dissolution and order appoynted by y e kings maiesties authority as supreme head of the church are clearely released and acquited of those vowes and professions at their full libertye as thoughe those vnwittye and superstitious vowes had neuer bene made Mariageâ— permitteâ— by Godâ— law 〈◊〉 good 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Popes â—â—â—â—pensatioâ—
curssed and execrable doctrine in thy sundry coÌ„fessions assertions and recognitions heere iudicially before vs oftentimes repeated and yet stil doest maintaine affirme and beleue y e same and that thou haste beene and arte lawfully and ordinarily conuicted in this behalfe Wee therefore I say all be it folowing the example of Christ Which woulde not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert and liue we haue gon about oftentimes to correct thee and by al lawfull meanes that wee coulde and all wholesome admonitions that wee did knowe to reduce thee againe vnto the true faith and vnitie of the vniuersall catholike churche notwithstandinge haue founde thee obstinate and stifnecked willingly continuing in thy damnable opinions and heresies and refusing to retourne againe vnto the true faith and vnitie of the holy mother Church and as the childe of wickednesse and darkenesse so to haue hardned thy heart that thou wilt not vnderstand the voice of thy shephard which with a fatherly affection doth seeke after thee nor wilte not be allured w t his fatherly and godly admonitions wee therfore Ste the B. aforesaid not willing that thou which art wicked shuldest now become more wicked and infect the Lords flocke with thine heresie which we are greatly afraide off wyth sorrowe of minde and bitternesse of hearte doe iudge thee and diffinitiuely condemne thee the sayde Iohn Rogers otherwise called Mathew thy demâ—rites defaultes being agrauate through thy damnable obstinacy as gilty of most detestable heresies and as an obstinate impenitent sinner refusing penitently to returne to the lappe and vnity of the holy mother church and that thou hast ben and art by law excommunicate doe pronounce and declare thee to be an excommunicate person Also we pronouÌ„ce and declare thee being an heritike to be cast out from the church left vnto the iudgement of the secular power now presently so doe leaue thee as an obstinate heretike and a persone wrapped in the sentence of the greate curse to be disgraded worthely for thy demerites requiring them notwithstanding in the bowels of our Lord Iesus Christ that thys execution and punishment worthely to be done vpon thee may so be moderated that the rigor therof be not too extreme nor yet the gentlenes too much mitigated but that it may be to the saluation of thy soule to the extirpation terror and conuersion of the heretikes to the vnitie of the Catholike fayth by thys our sentence definitiue which we heere lay vpon and against thee and doe with sorrowe of heart promulgate in this forme aforesaid M. Rogers and M. Hooper sent to Newgate After this sentence being read he sent vs M. Hoper I meane and me to the Clinke there to remaine till nyghte and when it was darke they caried vs M. Hoper going before with the one sherife and I comming after with the other with bils and weapons enough out of the Clinke led vs through the bishops house and so thorow S. Marie Oueries churchyarde and so into Southwarke and ouer the bridge on procession to Newgate through the city But I must shewe you this also that when he had red the condemnation he declared that I was in the great cursse and what a vengeable daungerous matter it were to eate and drinke with vs that were accursed A vengeable thing to be in the Popes Church or to geue vs anye thyng for all that so did shoulde be pertakers of the same great cursse Well my Lord quoth I heere I stand before God and you M. Rogers wordes to the the Bishop of Winchester and all this honorable audience and take him to witnesse that I neuer wittingly or willingly taughte any false doctrine and therfore haue I a good conscience before God and all good men I am sure that you and I shall come before a iudge that is righteous before whome I shall be as good a man as you and I nothing dout but that I shall be found there a true member of the true Catholike church of Christ euerlastingly saued And as for your false churche ye neede not to excommunicate me foorth of it I haue not bene in it these 20. yeares the Lorde be thanked therefore But now ye haue done what ye can my Lorde I pray you yet graunt me one thing What is that quoth he That my poore wife being a straunger may come and speake with me so long as I liue M. Rogers request to haue his wife come to him while he liued could not to be graunted For she hath ten children that are hers mine and somewhat I would counsell her what were best for her to do No quoth he shee is not thy wife Yes my Lord quoth I and hath ben these 18. yeres Should I graunt her to be thy wife quoth he Chuse you quoth I whether ye will or not she shal be so neuerthelesse Shee shall not come at thee quoth he Then I haue tried out all your charitie sayde I. You make your selfe highly displeased with the Matrimonie of priestes but you maintaine open whoredom as in Wales quoth I where euery priest hath his whore opeÌ„ly dwelling with him and lying by him euen as your holy Father suffereth all the priestes in Dutchlande and in Fraunce to do the like Therto he answered not but looked as it were a squint at it and thus I departed and saw him last Other good matter there is besides penned by M. Rogers in the prison which he thought and would haue aunswered if he myght haue bene permitted touching whych matter as heere vnder foloweth to be seene by hys owne setting downe HItherto dearely beloued ye haue heard what was said nowe heare what I purposed the nighte before to haue sayd if I could haue bene permitted Two things I purposed to haue touched The one howe it was lawfull for a priuate man to reason and wryte against a wicked acte of Parliament or an vngodly counsell whych the L. Chauncelor the day before denied me Thother was to proue that prosperitie was not alwaies a token of Gods loue And thys I purpose to speake off because the Lorde Chauncellour boasted of hym selfe that hee was deliuered fourth of prison as it were by myracle preserued of God to restore true religion and to punish mee and suche other whom he termed hereticks Concerning these two poynts in this manner I purposed to haue proceeded It is not vnknowen to you that king Henrie the eight in hys time made his daughter the Queene that now is a bastarde he abolished the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome hee pulled downe Abbeys and all this hee did by the consent of Parliament King Edwarde the sixte in hys time made lawfull the mariage of priests turned the seruice into English abolyshed the idolatrous Masse with all like superstitious truÌ„perie sette vp the holy Communion and all by consent of Parliament The Queene that nowe is hath repealed the Acte that made her bastarde hath
together After that by reason of a visitation and certaine Iniunctions geuen in the same time by the authoritie of king Henry the eight he forsooke the same house and casting froÌ„ him the sayd Monkes habite and religion aforesayde tooke vpon him and vsed the habite of a secular priest and returned to Snowhill where hee was borne and there hee did celebrate and sing Masse and taught childreÌ„ their Primer and Accidence about halfe a yeare together Then he went from thence to Ludgate in Suffolke there serued as a seculare priest about a quarter of a yeare and from thence he then went to Stonyland where he taried and serued as a secular priest also vntill the comming out of the sixe Articles and then hee departed from thence and went into Gloucester shiere where after he had made his aboade in the countrey a while at lengthe in Tewkesbury according to Gods holy ordinance he maried a wife with whom he euer after faithfully and honestly coÌ„tinued and after his marriage he taried in Tewkesbury about 2. yeares together W. Flower â—aryeth a â—yfe and then from thence he went vnto Brosâ—ey where he taried three quarters of a yere and practised Phisicke and Surgerie and from thence hee remooued to Northampton shier where vnder a Gentleman he taught children their primers and to wryte and read a good space And so departing from those parties hee came to London and there remained for a certain space After that being desirous to see his countrey he returned to Snowhil where hee was borne W. Flower â—ommeth â—o Lambeth from thence to Branckstrey in Essex then to Coxal where he taught children a space and so came to Lambeth beside London where he hired a house and placed his wife where he and his wife did euer since dwell together till this time howbeit for the most part he was alwayes abroade and very seldome at home except once or twise in a moneth to visite and see his wife where hee being at home vpon Easter day about 10. and a 11. a clocke in the fore noone of the same daye came ouer the water from Lambeth into Sainte Margaretes Churche at Westminster W. Flower â—â—riketh a Popish Priest at the aultar in Westminster where he finding seeing a Prieste called Iohn Cheltam ministring and geuing the sacrament of the aultare to the people and therewith being greatly offended in his coÌ„science with the Prieste for the same his doing for that hee iudged hym not to be a Catholike Minister neyther hys act to be catholike and laudable according to Gods word did strike and wounde him vpon the head and also vppon the arme and hande with his woodknife the Priest hauing the same time in his hande a Chalice with certaine consetrated hostes therin which were sprinkeled with the bloud of the sayde priest W. Flower repenteth his acte in striking W. Flower constant in his fayth In the whych so doing as in deede he did not well or Euangelically so afterward being examined before bishop Boner did no lesse confesse his not well doing in the same submitting therefore hym selfe wellingly to punishmente when it should come Howbeit touching his beliefe in the sacrament and the popish ministration he neither woulde nor did submit him selfe W. Flower layd in the Gate house 〈◊〉 Westminster Wherupon the foresaid Wil. Flower being first apprehended laid in the Gate house at Westminster where hee had geuen two groates y e same day a litle before to the prisoners saying he would shortly after come to them wyth as many yrons as he could beare afterward was conuented before Boner his Ordinarie April 19. anno 1555. where the B. after he had sworne hym vpon a booke according to his ordinarye maner ministred articles interrogatories to him W. Flower brought before B. â—oner But before I speake of the articles firste we haue here to set forth what coÌ„munication passed betwixt him Rob. Smith being then also there prisoner w t hym in newgate concerning his facte done at Westminster the tenor effect of which communication here foloweth A communication or debating betweene Robert Smith prisoner in Newgate and W. Flower concerning his striking of the priest at Westminster Robert Smith The talke betweene Robert â—myth and W. Flower FRend for as much as I do vnderstand that you do professe the Gospell and also haue so done a long season I am bolde to come vnto you and in the way of communication to demaunde and learne a truth at your owne mouth of certaine thyngs by you committed to the astonishynge not onely of mee but of diuers other that also professe the veritie Flower I praise God for hys great goodnesse in shewing me the light of hys holy woorde and I geue you heartie thankes for your visitation intending by Gods grace to declare all the truth that ye shal demaunde lawfully of me in all things Smith Then I desire you to shewe me the truthe of your deede committed on Iohn Cheltam priest in the Church as nere as you can that I may heare of your owne mouth howe it was Flo. I came from my house at Lambeth ouer the water and entring into saint Margaretes Church so called and there seeing the people falling down before a most shamefull and detestable Idoll The zeale of W. Flower in seeing the Lordes honour defaced being moued with extreeme zeale for my God whome I saw before my face dishonoured I drewe foorth my Hanger and strake the priest which ministred the same vnto them whereupon I was immediately apprehended and this is most true as the acte is manifest Smith Did ye not know the person that ye strake or were ye not zelous vpon him for any euil wil or hatred betwene you at any time Flo. No verily I neuer to my knowledge sawe the person before that present neither ought him or any man aliue euil wil or malice for if he had not had it an other shoulde if I hadde any time come where the like occasion had bene ministred if God had permitted me to doe it Smith Doe ye thinke that thing to be well done and after the rule of the Gospell Flo I do confesse all flesh to be subiect to the power of almighty God Extraordinary zeales are no generall rules to be followed whom he maketh his ministers to do his wil and pleasure as in example Moses Aaron Phinees Iosua Zimrie Ihehie Iudith Mathathiah wyth many other not only chaunging degrees but also planting zeales to hys honour against all order and respect of flesh and bloude For as sayeth S. Paule Hys workes are past fineding out by whose spirite I haue also geuen my fleshe at thys present vnto suche order as it shall please the good will of God to appoynt in death which before the act committed I looked for Smith Thinke you it conuenient for me or any other to do the like by your example Flo. No verily neither do I know
penance certeine there were which because they had bene abiured before as is aboue mentioned Vid. sup pag. 814. pag. 814. vnder bishop Smith were now condemned for relaps and had sentence read agaynst them and so were committed to the secular arme to be burned Whose names here follow Martyrs Thomas Bernard Anno. 1521. Iames Morden Robert Raue. Iohn Scriuener Of these mention is made before both touching theyr abiuration and also their martirdome pag. 814. vnto whoÌ„ we may adioyne Ioane Norman Thomas Holmes This Thomas Holmes albeit he had disclosed and detected many of his brethreÌ„ Tho. Holmes Vid. supra pag. 824. as in the table aboue is expressed pag. 824. thinking thereby to please the Bishoppe to saue himselfe was thought to be a feed man of the bishop for the same yet notwithstanding in the sayd bishops register appeareth the sentence of relaps condemnation written drawne out agaynst him and most like that he was also adiudged and executed with the other ¶ As touching the burning of Ioh. Scriuener here is to be noted Children compelled to set fire to their owne father that his children were compelled to set fire vnto their father in like maner as Ioane Clerke also daughter of William Tilseworth was coÌ„strayned to geue fire to the burning of her owne natural father as is aboue specified pag. 774. The example of whiche cruelty as it is contrary both to God and nature so hath it not bene seene nor heard of in the memory of the heathen Where moreouer is to be noted that at the burning of this Iohn Scriuener A note of Thomas Dorman one Thomas Dorman mentioned before pag. 775. was present and bare a fagot at AmershaÌ„ Whose abiuration was afterwarde layde agaynst hym at what time he should depose for recouery of certeine lands from the schole of Barchamsted This Maister DormaÌ„ because heâ— was put to schoole by his vncle a Barchamstede to M. Reeue being a protestaÌ„t therfore he for the same cause in the first senteÌ„ce of his preface sayth that he was brought vp in Caluins schoole This Thomas Dorman as I am credibly informed of certeyne about Amersham was then vncle to this our Dorman found him to schole at Barchamsted vnder M. Râ—ue which now so vncharitably abused his pen in writing agaynst the contrary doctrine and rayleth so fiercely agaynst the bloud of Christes slayne seruauntes miscalling them to be a donghill of stinkin Martyrs Well how soeuer the sauour of these good Martyrs doe sent in the nose of M. Dorman I doubt not but they geue a better odour and sweter smel in the presence of the Lord Preciosa enim in conspectu Domini mors sanctorum eius Precious is in the sight of the Lord the death of his Sayntes And therefore howsoeuer it shall please M. Dorman wyth reprochfull language to misterme the good martirs of christes or rather Christ in his Martyrs his vnseemely vsage more cartlike then clerkelike is not greatly to be weyed For as the daunger of his blasphemye hurteth not them which are gone so the contumely anâ— reproch thereof as well comprehendeth his owne kindred frendes and country as any other els and especially redoundeth to himselfe and woundeth his own soule and none els vnto the great prouoking of Gods wrath agaynst him vnlesse he be blesâ—sed with better grace by time to repent Doctour Colet MUch about this time or not past 2. yeares before Iohn Colet Deane of Paules died D. Iohn Colet of whom mention was made in the table about pag. 801. To whose sermons these knowen men about Buckinghamshyre had a great minde to resort After he came from Italy and Paris he first beganne to read the Epistles of S. Paule openly in Oxford Paules Epistles first read openly in Oxforde in sted of Scotus and Thomas From thence he was called by the kyng and made Deane of Paules where he accustomed much to preach not without great auditory as well of the kinges court as of the citizeÌ„s and other His diet was frugall his life vpright in discipline he was seuere In so much that his Canons because of theyr strayter rule complained that they were made like monkes The honest and honourable state of matrimony he euer preferred before the vnchast singlenes of priests The commendation of Doctor Colet At his dinner commonly was read either some chapter of S. Paule or of Salomons Prouerbs He neuer vsed to sup And although the blindnesse of that time caryed him away after the common errour of Popery yet in ripenes of iudgemeÌ„t he seemed something to incline froÌ„ y e vulgar trade of that age The religious orders of monks and friers he fantised not As neither he coulde greatly fauour the barbarous diuinity of the schole Doctours as of Scotus but least of all of Thomas Aquine Colettes iudgement of Thomas Aquine In so much that when Erasmus speaking in the prayse of Thom. Aquine did commeÌ„d him that he had red many old authors and had written many new workes as Catena aurea such like to proue and to know his iudgement Colet first supposing that Erasmus had spoken in iest but after supposing that he ment good fayth brusteth our in great vehemency saying what tell you me quoth he of the commeÌ„dation of that man who except he had bene of an arrogant and presumptuous spirit would not define and discusse all thinges so boldly rashly and also except he had bene rather wordly minded then heauenly would neuer haue so polluted christes whole doctrine with mans prophane doctrine in such sort as he hath done The Bishop of London at that time was Fitziames D. Colet accused of age no lesse then 80. Who bearing long grudge and displeasure agaynst Colet with other 2. Bishops taking hys parte like to himselfe entred action of complaynt agaynst Colet to the Archb. of Cant. being then W. Warham The matter of his complaint was deuided into 3. Articles The first was for speaking agaynst worshipping of Images The second was about hospitalitye for that he entreating vpoÌ„ the place of the gospell pasce pasce pasce feed feed feed when he had expounded the 2. first for feeding with example of life and with doctrine in the third which the scholemen doe expounde for feeding with hospitalitye hee left out the outwarde feeding of the belly and applyed it an other way The third crime wherewith they charged him The B. of London enemie to D. Colet was for speaking agaynst suche as vsed to preache onely by bosome Sermons declaring nothing els to the people but as they bring in theyr prayers with theÌ„ Which because the Bishop of London vsed then much to do for his age The Archb. of Canter fauorer of D. Colet he tooke it as spoken against him and therefore bare him this displeasure The Archbishop more wisely weying the matter and being well acquaynted with Colet so tooke hys
to his brethren all the poynts of hys commission and opened vnto them how many and great errours they were in into the which their olde Ministers whome they called * These were their ministers for lacke of better vntill they came to more sincere knowledge which enstructed thē most commonly by night abroade in caues and quarries for feare of persecution Of these Calabrians Vide infra Barbes that is to say Uncles had broughte them leading them from the right way of true Religion When the people heard this they were moued with such a zeale to haue their Churches reformed that they sent for the moste ancient brethren the chiefest in knowledge and experience of all Calabria Apulia to consult wyth them touching the reformation of y e Church This matter was so handled that it stirred vp the bishops priests monkes in all Prouince Ioan. de Roma a wretched persecutor with greate rage against them Amongest other there was one cruel wretch called Iohn de Roma a monke who obtaining a commissiō to examine those that were suspected to be of y e Waldois or Lutheran profession forthwith ceased not to afflict the faithful with all kinde of cruelty y t he could deuise or imagine Amongest other most horrible torments The cruelty of a Papist this was one which he most delighted in and most commōly practised He filled bootes with boiling grece put them vpon their legs tying them backeward to a forme with their legges hanging downe ouer a small fire and so he examined them Thus he tormēted very many and in the ende most cruelly put them to deathe Michelottus Serra W. Melius Martirs The first whome hee thus tormented were Michelottus Serra and W. Melius with a number moe Wherfore Fraunces the French king being informed of the strange and outragious cruelty of this hellish monke sent letters to the high Courte or Parlament of Prouince y e foorthwith he should be apprehended by forme of proces and order of law he should be condemned aduertisement sent vnto him w t all spede or his condemnation The monke being aduertised heereof by his frendes conueyed himselfe to Auinion where hee thought to enioy the spoylings which he like a notorious thefe had gotten by fraud extortion from the pore Christians But shortly after he which had so shamefully spoiled other was spoiled of altogether by his owne houshold seruants Wherupon shortly after he fell sicke of a most horrible disease straunge and vnknowen to any Phisition The iust iudgement of God against a cruell persecutor So extreme were the paines torments wherwith he was continually vexed in al his body that no oyntment no fomētation nor any thing els could ease him one minute of an houre Neither was there any man that could tary neare about him ne yet wold any of his owne frendes come neare to him so greate was the stinch that came from him For the which cause he was caried from the Iacobines to an hospitall there to be kepte But the stinche infection so encreased that no man durst there come neare him no nor he himself was able to abide the horrible stinch that ishued from his body full of vlcers and sores and swarming with vermin and so rotten that the flesh fell away from the bones by peecemeale Whiles he was in these torments and anguish he cried out oftētimes in great rage Oh who wil deliuer me who will kill and rid me out of these vntolerable paines which I know I suffer for the euils and oppressions that I haue done to the poore men And he himselfe went about diuers times to destroy hymselfe but hee had not the power In these horrible torments and anguish and fearfull dispaire A spectacle to all persecutors this blasphemer and most cruel homicide moste miserably ended his vnhappye daies and cursed life as a spectacle to all persecutors receiuing a iust reward of his crueltye by y e iust iudgement of God When he was dead there was no man y t would come nere him to bury him but a yong nouice newly come to his order in steade of a more honorable sepulture caught hold w t a hooke vpon his stinking carian drew him into a hole hard by which was made for hym After the death of this cruell monster the bishop of Aix The Bishop of Aix Perionet his Officiall Meiranus cruell persecutors by his Officiall Perionet continued the persecution put a great multitude of them in prison of whom some by force of torments reuolted from the truth the others which cōtinued constant after he had condemned thē of heresy were put into the hands of the ordinary iudge which at y ◠time was one Meiranus a notable cruel persecutor who with out any forme of proces or order of law such as the Official had pronoūced to be heretikes he put to death with most cruell tormēts But shortly after he receiued a iust reward of his crueltie in like maner After the deathe of the good President Cusinetus An other exāple of Gods terrible iudgement vppon a persecutor the Lord of Reuest being chief President of the Parliament of Aix put many of the faithful to death Who afterwarde being put out of his office returned to his house of Reuest where he was stroken with such an horrible sicknesse that for the fury and madnes which he was in hys wife or any that were about him durst not come neare him and so hee dying in this fury and rage was iustly plagued for his vnmercifull and cruell dealing After him succeded Barthol Cassaneus likewise a pestilent persecutor An other exāple of Gods iudgement vpon Cassaneus a bloudy persecutor whom God at length stroke with a fearful sodeine death In the time of this tyran those of Merindol in the persone often were cited personally to appeare before y e kings atturny But they hearing that y e court had determined to burn them w tout any further processe or order of law durst not appeare at y e day apointed For which cause the court awarded a cruel sentēce against Merindol A bloudy decree against the Merindolians condemned al the inhabitants to be burned both men women sparing none no not the litle children infantes the towne to be rased their houses beaten downe to the groūd also the trees to be cut down as wel oliue trees as al other and nothing to be left to the entent it shuld neuer be inhabited again but remaine as a desert or wildernesse This bloudye arrest or Decree seemed so straunge and wonderfull that in euery place throughout all Prouince there was great reasoning and disputation cōcerning the same especially among the aduocates and men of lerning vnderstanding in so muche that many durst boldly openly say that they greatly marueiled how that Court of parlamēt could be so mad or so bewitched to giue out such an arrest so
mountaines valleis hauing their whole religion â—ounded vpon the holy Gospel and worshipping the Lord Iesus and therefore they most humbly besought them to haue pitie and compassion vpon them and to suffer them to liue quietly in their deserts protesting that they and theirs would liue in al feare reuerence of God with all due subiection and obedience to their Lord and prince and to his Lieutenants and officers The President and the rest of the Commissioners perceiuing that they laboured in vaine returned to Thurin with the notes of their proceedings the which immediatly were sent vnto the kings court there the matter remained one yeare A breathing time geuen of God to the Angâ—onians before there was any answeare made thereunto during which time the Waldoys liued in great quietnes as God of his infinit goodnes is wont to geue some comfort refreshing to his poore seruants after long troubles and afflictions The number of the faithfull so augmented that throughout the valleis Gods woorde was purely preached his sacraments duely administred and no masâ—e was song in AngroÌ„gne nor in diuers other places The yere after the President of S. Iulian with his associates returned to Pigneroll sent for thither the chiefe Rulers of Angrongne of the valley of Luserne that is for sixe of Angrongne and for two of euery parish besides and shewed vnto them how that the last yere they had presented their confession the which by a decree made by the parliament of Thurin was sent to the kings court Persecution againe beginneth against the AngroniaÌ„s ther diligently examined by learned men condemned as hereticall Therfore the king willed and commaunded them to returne to the obedience of the Church of Rome vppon paine of losse both of goods and life enioyning them moreouer to geue him a direct aunswere within 3. daies From thence he went to Luserne caused the housholders with great threatnings to assemble them selues before certaine by him appoynted The AngroniaÌ„s require triall by Gods word but they with one assent persisted in their former confession And least they should seeme stubbern in the defence of any erroneous doctrine they desired that their confession might be sent to all the Uniuersities of Christendom and if the same in any part by the word of God were disproued it should be immediately amended but contrariwise if that were not done then they to be no more disquieted The President not conteÌ„ted with this the next morning sent for sixe of Angrongne by him named for two out of euery other parish the which he and the Gentlemenne of the country threatned very sore The Angronians required to bring in their ministers and Schoolemasters and warned twelue of the chiefe of Angrongne and certaine of the other parishes to appeare personally at the Parliament of Thurine and to bring before the Iudges of the said Parliament their ministers and scholemaisters thinking if they were once banished the countrey that then their enterprise might soone be brought to an ende To the which it was aunsweared that they could not nor ought not to obey such a commandement A litle while after Proclamation was made in euery place Proclamation made at AngroÌ„gne that no man shoulde receiue any preacher comming from Geneua but onely suche as were appoynted by the Archbishop of Thurin and other his officers vpon paine of confiscation of their goodes and losse of their liues and that euery one should obserue the ceremonies rites religion vsed in the Church of Rome Furthermore if any of the foresaid preachers of Geneua came into those quarters that they should immediately be apprehended and by no meanes their aboade there by any one to be concealed vpon the paine aforesayde And furthermore the names of those which should disclose any one of them should be kept secrete and also for their accusation they shoulde haue the third part of the goodes confiscated with a full pardone if that the saide accusers were any of those which priuily did keepe or maintaine the said ministers and that they and al other which would returne to their mother the Churche mighte freely and safely come and recante before the sayde Commissioners At the same season the Princes of Germanie and certaine of the Suitzers sent vnto the French king The Germans make supplication for the Angronians desiring him to haue pitie on the foresaide Churches and from that time vntil thre yeeres after the people of the foresaide valleyes were not molested by any of the kings officers but yet they were sore vexed by the monkes of Pigneroll and the Gentlemen of the valley of S. Martin About that time a minister of Angrongne named Geffrey Uarialla borne in Piemont a vertuous and learned man Geffray Varialla Martyr and fearing God went to visite certaine churches in those quarters where he was borne and comming homeward was taken at Berge and from thence led to Thurin where he after he had made a good confession of his faith to the confirmation of many and the terrour of the aduersaries most constantly suffred A fewe daies after a minister of the valley of Luserne returning to Geneua was taken prisoner at Suse soone after sent to Thurin and with an inuincible constancie made his confession before those of the Parliament and in the end was condemned to be burnt The hangman at the time of execution fained himselfe to be sicke A notable example of a good hangman and so conueied hym selfe away And so likewise an other serued them being appointed by the foresaid Court to execute the poore minister It is credibly reported that the hangman which executed certain Germanes a litle afore would by no meanes do this execution Wherupon the minister was sent to prison againe where after long painful endurance seing the prison doore open he escaped and returned to his cure Nowe foure yeares being past in such manner as we haue hitherto touched in this storie in the yeare folowing which was 1559. there was a peace concluded betweene the French king and the king of Spaine Whereupon the countrey of Piemont certaine townes excepted was restored to the Duke of Sauoy vnder whose regiment the foresaide Churches and all other faithfull people in Piemont continued in great quietnes and wer not molested and the Duke him selfe was content to suffer them to liue in their religion knowing that he had no subiectes more faithfull and obedient then they were But Sathan hating al quietnesse by his ministers stirred the Duke against the sayde Churches of Piemont The Pope stirreth vp the Duke of Sauoy against the AngroniaÌ„s his owne naturall subiects For the Pope and the Cardinalles seeing the good inclination of the Duke towardes this people incensed him to doe that which otherwise he would not The Popes Legate also which then followed the Court and other that fauoured the Churche of Rome laboured by all meanes to perswade the Duke that hee
hee was apprehended and put in prysonne by Iames Beton Archbyshop of Saint Andrews Who shortlye after caused a certaine Fryer named Walter Laing to heare hys confession To whom when Henry Forest in secreate confession had declared hys conscience howe hee thoughte maister Patrike to bee a good man and wrongfully to be put to deathe that his articles were true and not hereticall the Frier came and vttered to the Byshoppe the confession that hee hadde heard The Fryer vttereth the cōfessiō of Henry Forest. which before was not throughly knowne Whereupon it followed that his confession being brought as sufficiēt probation againste hym hee was therfore conuented before the Councel of the clergy and Doctors and there concluded to be an heretick equal in iniquitie with maister Patrick Hameltō there decreed to be geuen to the seculare Iudges to suffer death When the daye came of his death and that hee should first be degraded and was brought before the Cleargye in a greene place being betwene the castle of S. Andrewes and another place called Monymaill assoone as he entred in at the doore and sawe the face of the clergy perceiuing wherunto they tended he cryed wyth a loude voyce saying Fie on falshoode Fie on false Friers Phie on false Fryers reuealers of confession after this day let no man euer trust any false Friers contemners of Gods woorde and deceiuers of men And so they proceeding to degrade him of hys small orders of Benet and Collet he sayd wyth a loud voyce take from me not onely your owne orders but also youre owne baptisme meaning thereby whatsoeuer is besides that which Christ himselfe instituted whereof there is a great rablement in Baptisme Then after his degradation they condemned him as an heretike equall wyth M. Patrike aforesayd and so he suffered death for his faithful testimony of the truth of Christ and of his Gospell at the Northchurche stile of the Abbey Church of S. Andrewe to the entent that all y e people of Anguishe might see the fire and so might be the more feared from falling into the like doctrin whych they terme by the name of heresie Ex Scripto testimonio Scotorum Iames Hay bishop of Rose and commissioner of Iames Beton Archbishop of S. Andrews M. Iohn Spens Lawyer Iames Hamelton brother to M. Patrike Katherine Hamelton A wife of Lieth Dauid Straton M Norman Gurlay Wythin a yeere after the martyrdome of Henry Forest or there about Iames Hamelton Katherine Hamelton his sister A wife of Leith persecuted Dauid Stratō Norman Gurley Martyrs was called Iames Hamelton of Kynclitgowe his sister Katherine Hamelton the spouse of the captaine of Dunbar also an other honest woman of Lieth Dauid Straton of the house of Lawristonne and M. Norman Gurlay These were called to the Abbey Church of Halyrowdhouse in Edenburghe by Iames Hay Bishoppe of Rose commissioner to Iames Beton Archbyshoppe in presence of King Iames the fift of that name who vppon the daye of theyr accusation was altogether clad in red apparell Iames Hamelton was accused as one that maintained the opynions of M. Patrick hys brother To whome the Kynge gaue counsaile to depart and not to appeare for in case hee appeared hee coulde not helpe him because the Byshops hadde perswaded hym that the cause of heresie dyd in no wise appertain vnto him and so Iames fledde and was condemned as an heretike all hys goodes and lands confiscate and disposed vnto others Catherine Hamelton his Sister appeared vpon the scaffolde and being accused of an horrible heresie to witte that her owne woorkes coulde not saue her shee graunted the same and after long reasoning betweene her and M. Iohn Spens the Lawyer shee concluded in this manner worke here worke there what kinde of working is all this A great heresie in the Popes church that no workes can saue vs but the workes of Christ. I knowe perfectly that no kinde of workes can saue me but only the workes of Christ my Lord and Sauiour The kyng hearing these words turned hym about and laught and called her vnto him and caused her to recant because shee was his aunt and shee escaped The woman of Leith was detected heereof that when the midwife in time of her labour bad her saye our Ladye helpe mee Shee cried Christe helpe mee Christe helpe mee in whose helpe I truste A great heresie to say◠Christ helpe 〈◊〉 our Ladye Shee also was caused to recant and so escaped without confiscation of her goods because she was maried Maister Norman Gurley for that he fayde there was no such thing as Purgatory and that the Pope was not a Byshop but Antichriste Agaynst Purgatorye and had no iurisdiction in Scotland Also Dauid Straton for that hee sayde there was no Purgatorie but the Passion of Christe and the tribulations of thys worlde and because that when M. Robert Lowson Uicare of Eglesgrig asked hys tieth fishe of hym hee did caste them to him out of the boate so that some of them fel into the Sea therefore he accused hym as one that shoulde haue sayde that no tithes should be payed These two because after great sollicitation made by the kynge they refused to abiure and recant were therefore condemned by the Byshop of Rose as heretickes and were burned vpon the greene side betweene Leith and Edenburgh to the entent that the inhabitants of Fiffe seeing the fire might be stricken with terrour and feare not to fall into the lyke Ex eodem Scripto ¶ And thus muche touching those Martyrs of Scotland which suffered vnder Iames Beton Archbishop of S. Andrewes After whom succeeded Dauid Beton in the same Archbyshoprike vnder whom diuers other were also martired as hereafter God willing in their order shall appeare Iohn Lōgland Byshop of Lincolne Rowland Vicare of great Wickam the Byshops Chaplen Thomas Harding an aged father dwelling at Chesham in Buckinghamshire At Chessham in Buckingham An. 1532. Thom. Harding dwelling at Chesham in the Countie of Buckingham with Alice his wife was firste abiured by William Smith Byshop of Lincolne an 1506. with dyuers other moe which the same time for speaking agaynst Idolatrie and superstition were taken and compelled some to beare fagots some were burned in the cheeke with hote irons some condemned to perpetuall prison some thrust into Monasteries and spoyled cleane of all theyr goodes some compelled to make pilgrimage to the great blocke otherwise called our Lady of Lincolne some to Walsingam some to Saint Romuld of Buckingham some to the roode of Wendouer some to S. Iohn Shorne c. of whōe mention is made in the Table before beginning pag 821. Of this Thomas Harding much rehearsall hath bene made before Tho. Harding martir as in the pages 821.822.823 First this Thomas Harding with Alice his wife being abiured and enioyned penance with diuers other moe by William Smith Bishop of Lincolne afterward by the sayd Byshop was released againe in the yeare of our
to his mercifull goodnes Of which diuorcement and suppressing of the Popes authority we haue likewise to make declaration But first as we haue begun with the Cardinall of Yorke so we will make an ende of him That done we will God willing addresse our selfe to other matters of more importance As the ambassadours were thus trauailing in Rome to promote the Cardinall to be Pope althoughe the Pope was not yet dead in the meane time the Cardinall played the Popish persecuter here at home Fryer Barnes with two Marchantes of the Stilliard caused by the Cardinal to beare fagots For first hee sitting in his Pontificalibus in the Cathedrall Churche of Paules vnder his cloth of estate of rich cloth of golde caused Frier Barnes an Augustine Frier to beare a fagot for certayne poyntes which he called heresie Also hee caused the same two marchants of the stilliarde likewise to beare fagottes for eating fleshe on a friday At the which time the Byshop of Rochester made a sermon in reproofe of M. Luther who had before wrytten agaynst the power of the B. of Rome This bishop in his sermon spake so muche of the honoure of the Pope and his Cardinals and of their dignitie and preeminence that he forgate to speake of the Gospel which he tooke in hande to declare which was about the yeare of our Lord. 1526. Anno. 1528. After this the said Cardinall likewise An. 1528. and in the moneth of Nouemb. sitting at Westminster as legate called before him the whole Cleargie and there promysed that all abusions of the church shuld be amended but there nothing els was done saue onely he caused to be abiured Arthur Bilney Geffrey Lome and Garret for speakinge against the Popes authoritie and his pompous pride Of whome more shal be sayd the Lord assisting vs hereafter And this was An. 1528. Anno 1529 The yeare next following which was An. 1529. began the question of the kings mariage to be reuiued Wherupon Cardinal Campegius was sent againe into Englande from Rome The occasion of the Cardinalls fall for the hearing and debating of the matter Who then with Cardinall Wolsey consulting with y e king although at first he seemed with his felow Cardinal to incline to the kings disposition yet afterward perceiuing the sequele of the case whether it tended so farre as peraduenture might be the occasion of a blot to the court of Rome The cause of the kinges mariage with his brothers wife was daÌ„gerous to the Pope for this For if it were vnlawfull then the dispensation of Pope Iuly was voyde If it were lawfull then the iudgementes of so manye vniuersities were false and might shake perhaps the chaire of the Popes omnipotent authoritie as wel in other cases like if this one case were throughly decided by learning and trueth of Gods word he therefore slipping his necke out of the collar craftily shifted him selfe out of the Realme before the day came appoynted for determination leauing his suttle felowe behinde him to wey with the king in the meane time while the matter might be brought vp to the court of Rome The king thus seeing himselfe disappoynted foded wyth false promises and craftily doubled withal by the Cardinalles and at last after so many delaies and long expectation nothing to be concluded was sore agreeued in his mind with them but especially with Cardinall Wolsey whom he had before so highly exalted and promoted to so many greate dignities as to the Archbishoprike of York the bishoprike of Winchester The king deluded by the two Cardinalls of Duresme the abby of S. Albons besides the Chancelorship of England and many other high roumes preferments in the realme which caused him clearly to cast him out of his fauour so that after that time he neuer came more to the kings presence Ex Hallo Then folowed first a counsaile of the nobles called the first of Octob. A Counsaile of the Nobles called During the which counsaile all the Lordes and other the kings Counsaile agreeing together resorted to Windsore to the king and there informed the king that all things which he had done almost by his power LegaÌ„tine were in the case of the Premunire and prouision and that the Cardinall had forfaited all his lands The Cardinall cast in the Premunire tenements goods and cattels to the king wherefore the king willing order to him according to the order of his lawes caused his attourney Christopher Hales to sue out a Wryt of Premunire against him in the which he licenced hym to make an Attourney And further the 17. day of Nouember hee sent the two Dukes of Norffolke Suffolke The Cardinall depriued of the Câ—auncellourship to his place at Westminster to fetch away the great Seale of England whyche he was lothe to deliuer if there had bene any remedie but in conclusion he deliuered it to the two Dukes which deliuered the same to Doctor Tailour Maister of the Rolles to carie it to the king which so did the next day Besides this the king sent Syr William Fitzwilliams Knight of the Garter and Treasurer of his house and doctor Steuen Gardiner newly made Secretary to see that no goodes should be embesiled oute of his house Steuen Gardiner the kinges secretarye and further ordeined y t the Cardinal should remoue to Asher beside Kingston there to tary the kings pleasure and to haue all things deliuered to hym which were necessary for him but not after his olde pompous and superfluous fashyon for all hys goodes were seased to the kinges vse When the Seale was thus taken from the Cardinall The Cardinalls goods seased to the king the Dukes of Norffolke and Suffolke wyth many Earles Byshops and Barons came into the Starre chamber the xix day of October where the Duke of Norffolke declared that the kings highnesse for diuers and sundry offences had taken from hym his great Seale and deposed him of all offices and lest men might complaine for lacke of iustice he had apointed him and the Duke of Suffolke with the assent of the other Lordes to sitte in the Starre chamber to heare and determine causes indifferently and that of all thyngs the kings pleasure and commaundement was that they should keepe their hands close from any rewards taking or maintenance and so that weeke they sate in the Starre chamber and determined causes The Cardinalls remouing from Yorke place A fewe dayes after in the same moneth the Cardinall remooued out of hys house called Yorke place wyth â—ne Crosse saying that he woulde he had neuer borne more meaning that by his crosse that which he bare as Legate which degree taking was hys confusion as you see openly and so hee tooke his barge and went to Pueney by water and there tooke his horse and roade to Asher where he remained till Lent after During which time hee being called on for an aunswere in the kings Bench to the Premunire for geuing
benefices by preuention in disturbance of mens inheritance and diuers other open causes in the Premunire accordynge to the kings licence constituted Iohn Scute Edmonde Ienny Apprentises of the lawe his attourneys whych by his owne warrant signed w t his hand confessed all thyngs concerning the said suit for they were too open to be cloked or hidden and so iudgement was geuen that hee shoulde forfeite all his landes tenements goodes and cattels and shoulde be put oute of the kings protection but for al that the king sent him a sufficient protection and of hys gentlenes left to him the bishoyprikes of Yorke and Winchester and gaue to hym plate and stuffe conuenient for hys degree Doctour Tunstall Byshop of Duresme Iohn Stokesly made Byshop of London and the Bishoprike of Duresme he gaue to Doctour Tonstall Bishop of London and the Abbey of S. Albones he gaue to the Priour of Norwich and to London he promoted Doctour Iohn Stokesley then Ambassadoure to the vniuersities for the marriage as you hearde before For all this kindnesse shewed to the Cardinall yet still hee maligned against the king as you shal hereafter perceiue but first we will proceede in the course of these matters as they passed in order The next yeare following whych was Anno. 1530. Anno 1530. in the moneth of Nouemb. was summoned a generall parlament to be holden at Westminster In the which yeare about the 23. day of October A parliameÌ„t called the king came to his manor of Grenwich and there much consulted wyth his Counsaile for a meete man to be his Chauncelour so that in no wise he were no man of the Spiritualtie and so after longe debate the king resoluted him selfe vpon sir Thomas Moore knight Chauncelor of the Duchy of Lancaster Syr Thomas More made lord ChauÌ„celour of England a man wel learned in the tonges and also in the common law whose wit was fine and full of imaginations by reason whereof hee was a litle too muche geuen to mocking more then became the person of M. More and then on the Sonday the 24. day of the same moneth the king made him his Chauncelor and deliuered him the great seale which Lord Chancelor the next morow after was ledde into the Chancerye by the two Dukes of Norffolke and Suffolke and there sworne and then the Mace was borne before him Of this fall of the Cardinall and of the placing of Syr Thomas More in the Chauncelorship Erasmus in an Epistle to Iohn Uergera thus wryteth The Cardinall of Yorke hath so offended the kings minde Ex Eras. that he being turned out of his goodes and all his dignities is coÌ„mitted not into prison but into a certaine Lordshippe of his with 30. seruaunts or kepers to geue attendance vpon him Many and sundry complaintes are coÌ„menced against him so that he is not like to escape with his life Such is the daliaunce of fortune of a scholemaister to be made a king For so hee raigned more like a king then the king him selfe Hee was dreaded of all men he was loued but of a fewe almoste of none A litle before he was appreheÌ„ded he caused Richard Pacie to be cast in the towre Also he threatned my Archbishop of Canterburie Salomon sayeth By this Archbyshop he meaneth William Warham That before the fall of man his spirite shall be eleuated The Archb. of Caunterbury was called or restored to be chosen Lord Chancellor which is the chiefest office in all that realme but he excused himselfe by his age as being not able to weld such a function Wherefore the sayde office was bestowed vpon Tho. More no les to the reioycing of many then the other was displaced from it These newes my seruaunt brought me out of England c. Ex Epist. Erasm. ad Ioan Vergeram You heard before A parliameÌ„t summoned in Nouemb. anno 1530. how a counsaile of the Nobles was appoynted by the king in the moneth of October to assemble in the Starre chamber aboute the Cardinals matter and also how a parliament was summoned to begin in the moneth of Nouember in the yeare following An. 1530. At the beginning of which Parliament after that M. Moore the newe Chauncelour had finished hys oration the commons were commaunded to chuse them a Speaker Thomas Audely speaker of the Paâ—liament Sixe greuaÌ„ces of the commons agaynst the clergye who was Thomas Audeley Esquire and attorney of the Duchie of Lancaster Thus the Parlament being begun the 6. day of the foresaid month of Nouember at Westminster where the king with all the Lordes were set in the Parlament chamber the commoÌ„s after they had presented their speaker assembling in the nether house began to common of their grieues wherwith the spiritualtie had before time greeuously oppressed them contrary both to all righte and to the lawe of the realme and especially were sore mooued with these 6. great causes ¶ Greeuances against the Cleargie of Englande 1. THe first for the excessiue fines which the Ordinaries tooke for probate of Testaments 〈…〉 of testamentes in so much that Sir Henry Guilford Knight of the Garter and Comptrollour of the Kings house declared in the open Parliament of his fidelitie that he and other being executours to Syr William Compton Knight payed for the probate of hys will to the Cardinall and the Archbishop of Canterbury a thousand marke sterling After this declaration were shewed so many extortions done by Ordinaries for probates of willes A thousand 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 probate 〈…〉 testaâ—â—â—t The vnreasâ—â—â—ble 〈◊〉 of the clergye for Mortuaries that it were too much to rehearse 2. The second cause was the great poling extreame exaction which y e spirituall men vsed in taking of corps presents or Mortuaries for the childreÌ„ of the dead should all die for huÌ„ger and go a begging rather then they would of charitie geue to theÌ„ the sely cow which the dead maÌ„ ought if he had but onely one such was the charitie of them 3. The third cause was that Priestes being Surueyers Stuards Fâ—rmes and Granges in Priestes handes and officers to Byshops Abbots and other spirituall heads had and occupied Farmes Graunges and grasing in euery Countrey so that the poore husbandmen could haue nothing but of them and yet for that they shuld pay dearely 4. The fourth cause was that Abbots Priors and spirituall men kept Tannehouses Monkes and priests marchauntes and bought and sold wooll cloth and all maner of Marchaundise as other temporall Marchaunts did 5. The fift cause was because the spirituall persons promoted to great benefices Beneficed men take of their flocke but geue nothing and hauing their liuing of theyr flocke were lying in the Court of Lords houses and tooke all of their parishioners and nothing spent on them at all so that for lacke of residence both the poore of the parishe lacked refreshing and vniuersally all the parishioners lacked preaching and true instruction of Gods
Bayfild Bainham Teukesbery falsely belying their articles doctrine M. More a persecutour as God graunting me life I haue sufficient matter to proue against him Briefly as he was a sore persecuter of them that stoode in defence of the Gospel so againe on the other side such a blynd deuotion he bare to the Pope holy See of Rome so wilfully stoode in the Popes quarell against his owne prince that he woulde not giue ouer tyll he had brought y e Scaffolde of the Towre hyll with the axe and all vppon his owne necke Edwarde Hall in his Chronicle writing of the death and manners of this Syr Thomas More seemeth to stand in doubt whether to call him a foolishe wise man or a wise foolishe man For as hy nature he was indued with a great witte so the same againe was so mingled sayth he with taunting and mocking that it seemed to them that best knewe him that he thought nothing to be wel spoken except he had ministred some mock in the communication in so much as at his comming to the Tower one of the officers demaunding his vpper garment for his fee meaning his gowne he answered that he should haue it and tooke him his cappe saying it was the vppermoste garment that he had Likewise euen going to his death at the Tower gate a poore woman called vnto him besought him to declare that he had certain euidences of hers in the time that he was in office which after he was apprehended M. More a scoffer vnto his death she could not come by and that he woulde intreat that she might haue them againe or els she was 〈◊〉 He answered Good woman haue patience a little 〈◊〉 for the king is good vnto me that euen within this halfe houre he will discharge me of all businesses and help thee him selfe Also when he went vppe the stayre on the Scaffold he desired one of the Sheriffes officers to giue hym hys hand to helpe him vp and sayde when I come downe againe let me shyft for my selfe so well as I can Also the hangman kneeled downe to him asking him forgiuenes of his death as the manner is To whom he said I forgiue thee but I promise thee that thou shalt neuer haue honestie of y e striking of my head my neck is so short Also euen when he should lay downe his head on the block he hauing a great gray beard striked out his beard and said to the hangman I pray you let me lay my beard ouer the block least you should cut it Thus with a mocke he ended his life There is no doubt but that the Popes holines hath halowed and dignified these two persons long since for Catholike martirs Neither is it to be doubted but after an hundred yeres expired they shal also be shrined portissed dying as they did in that quarrel of the church of Rome y t is in taking the bishop of Romes part against their own ordinary natural prince Wherunto because y e matter asketh a long discourse a peculiar tractation I haue not in this place much to contend with Cope my friend This briefly for a memorandum may suffice that if the causes of true martyrdome ought to be pondred not to be nuÌ„bred if the end of martyrs is to be weyed by iudgement noâ— by affection then the cause and quarrell of these men standing as it doth being tried by Gods word perhaps in y e Popes kingdome they may go for martirs in whoâ—e cause they dyed but certes in Christes kingdome their cause wil not stand how so euer they stand them selues The like also is to be said of the three monkes of Charterhouse Exmewe Middlemore and Nudigate Rochester More Exmew Myddlemore Nudigate executed for treasoÌ„ who the same yeare in the moneth of Iune were likewise attached and arrained at Westminster for speaking certaine trayterous words against the kings crown and dignitie for the which they were hanged drawen and quartered at Tyborne whoÌ„ also because Cope my good freÌ„d doth repute accept in the number of holy Catholique Martyrs here would be asked of him a question What Martyrs be they which standing before the iudge denye their owne words and sayings and plead not guiltie so as these Carthusians dyd whereby it appeareth that they would neither haue stand nor haue died in that cause as they did if they might otherwise haue escaped by denying Wherefore if my friend Cope had bene so well aduised in setting out his martyrs as God might haue made him he woulde first haue seene the true recordes ben sure of the ground of such matters wherupon he so confidently pronounceth and so censoriously controlleth others In the same cause quarrell of treason also the same yeare a little before these aforesaide in the moneth of May Ex actiâ— in termino 〈◊〉 Anno. 2â— Reg. Hen. 8. were executed with the like punishmeÌ„t Iohn Houghton Priour of the Charterhouse in London Robert LaureÌ„ce Prior of the Charterhouse of Beluaile Austen Websteâ— Prior of the Charterhouse of Exham Beside and with these three Priors suffered likewise the same time two other Priestes one called Reignolde brother of Syon the other named Iohn Haile vicare of Thistleworth 9. Carthusians dyed in prison refusing the kinges supremacy Diuers other Charterhouse monks also oâ— LondoÌ„ were then put in prison to the number of nine or tenne and in the same prison dyed for whom we will the Lorde wyllyng reserue an other place hereafter to intreate of more at large In y e meane time M. Copes 9. worthyes for so much as y e foresaide Cope in his doughty Dialogues speaking of these nine worthies doth commend them so highly and especially the three priors aboue recited here by the way I would desire maister Cope simply and directly to answere me to a thing or two that I would put to him and first of this Iohn HoughtoÌ„ that angelical Prior of the Charterhouse his olde companion acquaintance of whoÌ„ thus he writet◠〈◊〉 qui cum Ioannem illum Houghtonum cogito non tam homiâ—◠〈◊〉 quà m angelum in humana forma intueri mihi videor Copus in Dialog 9. pap 995. cuius eminentes virtutes diuinas dotes heroicam animi magnitudinem nemo vnquam poterit satis pro dignitate explicare c. By these his owne wordes it must needes be confessed that the authour of these Dialogues who so euer he was had well seene and considered the fourme and personable stature proportion and shape of his excellent bodye with such admiration of his personage that as he sayth as oft as he calleth the said Iohn Hughton to mind it seemeth to him euen as though he saw an angel in the shape and forme of a man Whose eminent vertues moreouer whose diuine gifts and heroical celsitude of mind no man saith he may sufficiently expresse c. And how old was this M. Cope then I would know
when he sawe and discerned all this For as I vnderstand Copes Dâ—alogues suspected not to be his owne M. Cope being yet at this present scarse come to the age of xl yeares he could not be then aboue nine yeare olde the other suffering ann 1535. in the which age in my minde M. Cope had small discretion to iudge either of any such angelical proportion of mans personage or of his diuine qualities and heroical celsitude of his mind as yet he remembreth in his Dialogues Which thing among many other probabilities maketh me vehemently to suspect y t these Dialogues printed in Aâ—twerp ann 1566. were brought ouer by M. Cope there to be printed but were penned framed by an other Pseudocopus whatsoeuer or in what Fleete so euer he was vnlesse my marks do greatly faile me But as the case is of no great weight so I let it passe returning to other matters of more importance Shortly after the ouerthrow of the Pope consequently began by litle and litle to follow the ruine of Abbeyes religious houses in Englande in a right order methode by Gods diuine prouidence For neither coulde the fall of Monasteries haue followed after vnlesse that suppression of the Pope had gone before neither could any true reformation of the church haue bene attempted vnles y e subuersion of those superstitious houses had ben ioyned withal Whereupon the same yere in the moneth of October the king hauing then Tho. Cromwell of his Counsel Suppression of Abbeyes first beginneth in England sent Doct. Lee to visite the Abbeys Priories and Nunryes in all England to set at libertie all such religious persons as desired to be tree all other that were vnder the age of 24. yeares Prouiding withal y t such Monkes Chanons Fryers as were dimissed Religious men vnder age let out of monasteryes should haue giuen theÌ„ by the Abbot or Prior in steede of their habite a secular Priestes gowne and xl shillings of money likewise the Nunnes to haue such apparel as secular women did then coÌ„monly vse and suffered to goe where they would At which time also from the sayde Abbeyes and Monasteries were taken their chiefe iewels and reliques The king first beginneth with the iâ—els of Abbeyes WHen the king had thus established his supremacie all things were well quieted within the Realme he like a wise prince Anno. 1536. hauing wise counsaile about him forecasting with himselfe what forreine daungers might fall vnto him by other countries about whiche all were yet in subiection to the Bishoppe of Rome saue onely a fewe Germane princes and misdouting the malice of the pope to prouide therefore by time for perilles that might ensue thought good to keepe in by all meanes possible with other Princes And first to entertaine the fauour of the French king who had ben sicke a litle before A solemne procession in LondoÌ„ for ioy of the French kings health and now was lately recouered to health in signification of publique ioy and frendship the king coÌ„manded a solemne and famous procession to be ordeined through the city of London with the Waits and children of Grammer schooles with the maisters and vshers in their array Then folowed the orders of the friers and Chanons and the Priours with their pompe of Copes Crosses Candlestickes and vergers before them After these folowed the next pagean of Clerkes priestes of London all in Copes likewise Then the monkes of Westminster and other Abeys with their glorious gardeuiance of Crosses Candlestickes and Uergers before them in like sort Last of all came the queere of Pauls with their residensaries the Bishop of London and the Abbots folowing after in their Pontificalibus After these courses of the Clergie went the companies of the citie with y e lord Maior AldermeÌ„ in their best apparel after their degrees And least it might be thought this Procession of the church of LoÌ„don to make but a small or beggerly shewe the furniture of the gay Copes there worne was counted to the number of 714. Moreouer to fill vp the ioy of this procession and for the more high seruice to almightie God beside the singing queeres chaunting of the priestes there lacked no minstrels withal to pipe at the processions Briefly here lacked nothing els but only y e ordinaÌ„ce to shoot of also A pyping procession But because that is vsed in the Processions at Rome therefore for difference sake the same is reserued onely for the Popes owne Processions and for none other in the moneth of October This grand processon was appointed for a triumphe or a thankes giuing for the late recouerye of the Frenche kinges health as is aforesayd Ouer and besides this the king to nourish and reteine amitie with kings and princes Ambassadours sent to sundry kinges least the Pope being exiled now out of England should incite them to warre against him directed sundry Ambassadours and messengers with letters and instructions To the Emperour was sent syr Tho. Wyat to the French king syr Fraunces Brian and Doct. Edw. Foxe who was also sent to the Princes of Germanie to the Scottes king was sent sir Raffe Sadler gentleman of the kinges priuie chamber In Scotlande the same time were cast abroade diuers railing ballets and slaunderous rimes against the king of England for casting of the Ladye Dowager and for abolishing the Pope Syr Raffe Sadler ambassadour to the Scottes king for the which cause the foresaid Sir Raffe Sadler being sent into Scotland with lessons and instructions howe to addresse himselfe accordingly after he had obteyned accesse vnto the king and audience to be hearde first declareth the effectuous harty coÌ„mendations from the kinges maiestie his graces vncle and withal deliuered his letters of credence Which done after a fewe wordes of courtly entertainement as occasion serued him to speake the sayde Syr Raffe Saddler obteining audience thus beganne in the king his maisters behalfe to declare as followeth * The Oration of the kynges ambassadour WHeras there is nothing after the glory of almighty God The Oration of Sir Raffe Sadler to the Scottish king in this world so much to be tendred by kings Princes or any honest persons or so highly to be regarded and defended as their honor estimatioÌ„ good fame name which whosoeuer neglecteth is to be esteemed vnnatural and vnlesse a man labor to auoide and extinguish the false reportes slanders and diffamations made of him by malitious persons he may wel be suspected in coÌ„science to coÌ„demne himselfe the king your vncle considering y e same and hearing of sundry ballets criminations and famous libels made and vntruly forged and deuised in Scotland against his grace by your graces subiectes not only vpon trust to find with your grace such natural affection frendship and amitie as the nerenes of bloud betweene vncle nephew necessitude of reuerence proximitie both of kinne of dominions together doth require but
cyuill and also the lawes of God be on our side For a free man borne doth not lose his liberty no nor hurt the plee of his libertie though he write himselfe a bond man Againe if they leane to custome we send them to sainct Ciprian which saith that custome Custome if trouth be not ioyned with it is nothing but erroris vetustas that is an old error Christ sayd Ego sum via veritas vita I am y e way trouth and life He neuer sayd Ego sum consuetudo I am the custome Wherfore seeing custome serueth you on y e one side and Scripture vs vppon the other are ye able to matche vs In how many places doth Christ monish you to seek no primacie to preferre your selues before no body no The Popes 〈◊〉 and his digniâ—â— agree not to geather to be obedient vnto all creatures Your old title Seruus seruorum euill agreeth with your new forged dignitie But we will not tary in matters playne We onely desire God y t Cesar other Christian Princes would agree vpoÌ„ some holy Councell where trouth may be tried and ReligioÌ„ set vp which hath bene hurt by nothing so sore as by general not generall Councels Errours and abuses grow to fast Best that euery Prince reforme his owne realme and tary not for generall Councells Erudimini erudimini qui iudicatis terram Get you learning you y t iudge the earth excogitate some remedy for these so many diseases of y e sick Church They that be wisest do dispayre of a generall Councel Wherfore we think it now best that euery Prince call a Councell prouincial and euery Prince to redresse his owne Realme We make all men priuy what we thinke best to be done for the redresse of religion If they like it we doubt not but they wil follow it or some other better Our trust is that all Princes will so handle themselues in this behalfe that Princes may enioy their own and Priests of Rome content themselues with that they ought to haue Princes as we trust will no longer nourish Wolues whelpes they wil subscribe no more to popish pride to the Papacie c. Fauour our doinges O Christen Princes Your honor ancient Maiestie is restored RemeÌ„ber there is nothing pertaining so muche to a Princes honour as to set forth truth and to helpe religion Take you heed that their deceite worke not more mischief then your vertue can doe good euerlasting warre we would all Princes had with this Papacie As for their Decrees so harken to them that if in this Mantua assemble thynges be well done ye take them but not as authorised by them but that trouth and thyngs that mainteyne ReligioÌ„ are to be taken at all meÌ„s haÌ„des And eueÌ„ as we will admit thynges well made so if there be any thyng determined in preiudice of trouth for mainteinauÌ„ce of their euill grounded primacy or that may hurt y e authoritie of kings we protest vnto y e whole world that we neither allow it nor will at any tyme allow it Ye haue Christen Readers our mynde coÌ„cernyng the generall Councell We thinke you all see that Paule his Cardinals Byshops Abbots Monkes Friers with the rest of the rablemeÌ„t do nothing lesse inteÌ„d then the knowledge or search of trouth Ye see this is no tyme meete MaÌ„tua no place meete for a generall CouÌ„cell And though they were both meete yet except some other cal this CouÌ„cell you see that we neither neede to come nor to seÌ„d You haue heard how euery Prince in his owne Realme may quiet thynges amisse If there be any of you that can shew vs a better way we promise w t all harty desire to do that that shal be thought best for the setlyng of Religion that we wil leaue our owne aduises if any maÌ„ shew vs better Which mynde of ours we most hartly pray GOD that gaue it vs not onely to encrease in vs but also to send it vnto all Christen Princes all Christen Prelates and all Christen people A little before the death of Queene Anne there was a ParliameÌ„t at Westminster wherin was geueÌ„ to the kyng by coÌ„sent of the Abbots all such houses of religioÌ„ as were vnder 300. markes Which was a shrewde prognosticate of the ruine of greater houses which in deede folowed shortly after as was might easely be perceaued before of many who theÌ„ sayd that the low bushes and brambles were cut downe before but great okes would folow after Although the proceedyng of these thyngs did not well like the myndes of the Popes frendes in EnglaÌ„d The Papistes purpose disapointed Queene Iane maryed to the king yet notwithstandyng they began agayne to take some breath of comfort when they sawe the foresayd Queene Anne dispatched Neuerthelesse they were frustrate of their purpose as is aforeshewed and that doblewise For first after they had their willes of Queene Anne the Lord raysed vp an other Queene not greatly for their purpose with her sonne kyng Edward L. Cromwell groweth in authoritye And also for that the Lord CroÌ„well the same tyme began to growe in authoritie Who like a mighty piller set vp in the Churche of Christ was enough alone to confounde and ouerthrow all the malignant deuises of the aduersaries so long as God gaue him in lyfe here to continue whose story hereafter followeth more at large Shortly after this foresayd Mariage of the kyng with this Queene Iane Semer aboue mentioned in y e moneth of Iune duryng the continuation of the Parliament by the consent of the Clergy holdyng theÌ„ a solemne conuocation in the Church of S. Paule Alteration of religion a little beginneth a booke was set forth conteyning certaine Articles of religon necessary to be taught to the people wherein they intreated specially but of three Sacramentes Baptisme Penaunce the Lordes Supper Where also diuers other thyngs were published concernyng the alteration of certaine pointes of Religion as that certaine holy dayes were forbiddeÌ„ and many Abbayes began to bee suppressed For the whiche cause the rude multitude of Lincolneshyre fearing the vtter subuersion of their old Religion Commotion in Lincolnshire wherein they had bene so long nousled did rise vp in a great coÌ„motion to the nuÌ„ber welneare of 20. thousaÌ„d hauyng for their Captaine a Monke named D. Makerell calling himselfe then Captaine Cobbler but these rebels being repressed by the kyngs power and desiryng pardon A moÌ„ke stirrer of the coÌ„motioÌ„ soone brake vp their assembly For they hearing of the royal army of the king coÌ„ming against them wyth his owne persone there present fearing what would follow of this first the noble men and Gentlemen which before fauoured them began to w tdraw themselues so that they were destitute of Captaines and at the laste they in writing made certaine petitions to the king protesting that they neuer intended hurt toward his royal person These petitions the king
this fourme ignoraunce sayth the Lawe marke it well I beseeche you al is the mother of all errours Ignorance mother of errour Which ought to be eschewed especially of Priests that among the people of God haue taken vpon theÌ„ the office of preaching priests are commaunded to reade holy Scriptures as sayth Paul the Apostle to Timothe Giue heede to reading exhortation 1. Tim. 4. and teaching and continue alwayes in the same Let priests therefore knowe holy Scripture and let all their labour be in preaching and teaching and let them edifie all men both in knowledge of fayth and in discipline of good workes Dist. 38. These be the wordes of the lawe in the Decrees Dist. 38. Where you see howe the Lawe lamenteth ignorance in al persons for it is the original of al errours God send vs therfore the knowledge of his true gospel Priestes to geue theÌ„selues rather to study theÌ„ to saying of mattens It biddeth that ignorance should be vtterly eschewed and principally of priestes whose labour and diligence shoulde be bestowed al in reading of scripture preaching the same bringing in for the same purpose the saying of the Apostle which willeth in like manner Moreouer it requireth that priests should giue al their study to edifie other in faith and vertuous liuing What priests ought to study Whereof I do gather both by the saying of the Prophet that willeth vs to be studyous in the Law of God day and night and by the saying of the Apostle whiche woulde haue Timothe to be occupied euer in reading and teaching and by the report of your owne Lawe which saith likewise that a priest ought to bestow al his labor in reading preaching So that a priest set thus truely to studye that hee may stablishe himselfe in the fayth of Christes doctrine intending after to helpe other with true preaching oâ— the same or doing other like deedes of charity assigned in the law of god shall not offend deadly if so spending his time he omitteth to say Mattens which is an ordinaunce of men Neuertheles concerning the huge multitude of such as be now made priestes by negligent admission of Bishops and their own presumption Negligence of Byshops in making priestes noted that labour to be made priests before they be any Clerkes and ere euer they knowe what is the very office of a priest do not feare to take vpon them if they may attayne therto to be a curate they recke not of how many so they may get a good lumpe of mony neuer minding after that the study of Scripture aâ—ter they are come to Dominus vobiscum for such I doe think long mattens to be needfull to restrayne them from other enormities that they should else runne in Of whiche you may be weary to see the experience thereof dayly arising Yea and if such woulde be content to admit it I woulde euery one mattens were as long to them as fiue except they could be stow theyr time better In the 26. where you doe aske whether I beleeue that the heades or rulers by necessity of saluation are bounde to geue vnto the people To the 26. article holy scripture in their mother language I say y t I think they are bound to see that the people may truely know holy Scripture I do not knowe how that may be done so well Scrypture in the vulgare tongue as by geuing it to them truly translated in the mother tongue that they may haue it by theÌ„ at al times to passe y e time godly when soeuer they haue leysure thereto like as they haue in Fraunce vnder y e French kings priuelege The French Byble translated into the French tongue with the kinges priuâ—ledge aboue 50. yeares before Lambertes time also with the priuiledge of the Emperour and so do I knowe that they haue had it these 50. yeres and 4. in Fraunce at the least and it was translated at the request of a king called I trowe Lewes as appeareth by the priueledge put in the beginning of the book In like manner haue they it in Flanders printed with y e priueledge of the Emperour In almayne also and Italy I suppose through all nations of ChristendoÌ„e Likewise hath it bene in England The Psalter translated by the king of England into the Saxon tongue Reade before pag. 145. S. Guthlakes Psalter as you may finde in the Englishe story called Polychronicon There it is shewed how wheÌ„ y e Saxons did inhabite the land the K. at that tyme which was a Saxon did himselfe translate the Psalter into the language that then was generally vsed Yea I haue seene a booke at Crowland Abbey whiche is kept there for a relique the booke is called S. Guthlakes Psalter and I ween verily it is a copy of the same that the king did translate for it is neither English Latine Greeke Hebrue nor Dutch but somewhat sounding to our English and as I haue perceiued sith the time I was last there being at Antwerpe the Saxon tongue doth sound likewise after ours and it is to ours partly agreable In the same story of Polychronicon is also shewed Bede translated the Gospell of S. Iohn into Englishe howe that S. Bede did translate the Gospell of Iohn into Englishe and the author of the same booke promised that he would translate into English all the Bible yea and perhaps hee did so but I wot not howe it commeth to passe all suche thinges be kept away They may not come to light for there are some walking priuily in darckenes that will not haue theyr doyngs knowen It is no lye that is spoken in the Gospel of Iohn Omnis qui male agit odit lucem All that doth noughtily Ioh. 3. hateth the light and will not haue theyr doynges knowne And therefore they keepe downe the light strongly for that opened and generally knowne The causes why the Scripture is not suffered to come to lighte all wrongfull conueyance should anone be disclosed and reprooued yea and all men shuld see anone whether those that hold agaynst vnrighteousnes being therfore sometime horribly infamed sclandered named heretickes and schismatickes were in deede as they be called or no. Yea moreouer I did once see a booke of the new Testament Diuers such testamentes are yet to be seene in diuers places of a longe continuance whiche was not vnwritten by my estimation thys C. yeares and in my minde right well translated after the example of that which is read in the church in Latine But he that shewed it me sayd he durst not be knowne to haue it by him for manye had bene punished aforetime for keeping of such and were conuict therefore of heresie Moreouer I was at Paules Crosse when the newe TestameÌ„t imprinted of late beyond the sea Errours found in the translated testameÌ„t where none was Malice neuer saith well was first forefended truely my hart lamented greatly to heare a
late mariage of the Ladie Anne of Cleue who in the beginning of the yere of our Lord. 1540. was maried to the king as also greued partly at the dissolution of the Monasteries The mariage of Queene Anne Cleue and fearing the growing of the Gospell sought al occasions how to interrupt these happy beginnings and to traine the king to their owne purpose Now what occasion this wilye Winchester found out to worke vpon ye shall heare in order as followeth It happened the same time that the Lorde Cromwell for the better establishing of sincere religion in this realm deuised a mariage for y e king to be concluded betwene him the Lady Anne of Cleue The occasiâ—â— which Winchester did worke by This Lady Anne of Cleue was maryed to the king 〈◊〉 1540. whose other sister was already maried vnto the duke of Saxony By this mariage it was supposed that a perpetual league amitie and ally shold be nourished between this realm and the princes of Germany so therby godly religion might be made more strong on both parts against the bishop of Rome and his tyrannical religion But the diuel euer enuying the prosperity of the gospell layd a stumbling blocke in that cleare way for the king to stumble at For when the parentes of the noble lady were commoned withall for the furtherance of y e sayd mariage among others of her frends whose good wil was required y e duke of Saxony her brother in law misliked y e mariage partly for that he wold haue had her bestowed vpon some prince of Germany more nigh vnto her sister partly for other causes which he thoght reasonable Wherupon it followeth that the slacknes of the Duke in that behalfe being espyed crafty Winchester taking good holdfast theron so alienated the kinges mind from the amity that semed now to begin and grow betwene the Duke and the king that by the occasion thereof he brought the king at length cleane out of credit with that religioÌ„ and doctrine which the duke had then mayntained many yeares before Thus wily Winchester with his crafty fetches partly vpon this occasion aforesayd partly also by other pestilent perswations creping into the kinges eares ceased not to seeke all meanes how to worke his feat to ouerthrow Religion first bringing him in hatred with the Germane Princes The king brought out of credite with the doctrine of the Germaynâ— Princes then putting him in feare of the Emperor of the French king of the Pope of the king of Scottes and other forraigne powers to rise agaynst him but especially of Ciuil tumultes commotions here within this realme which aboue all thinges he most dreaded by reason of innouation of religioÌ„ and dissoluing of Abbies and for abolishing of rites and other customes of the Church sticking so fast in the mindes of the people that it was to be feared least theyr hartes were or woulde be shortly styrred vp agaynst him The wicked councell of Steph. Gardiner and other about the king vnlesse some spedy remedy were to the contrary prouided declaring moreouer what a dauÌ„gerous matter in a common wealth it is to attempt new alterations of any thing but especially of Religion Which being so he exhorted the king for his owne safegard and publicke quiet and tranquility of his realme to see betime how and by what pollicy these so manifold mischiefes might be preueÌ„ted Agaynst which no other way nor shift could better be deuised then if he would shew himself sharp and seuere agaynst these new Sectaryes Anabaptistes SacrameÌ„taries as they called them would also set forth such Articles confirming the auncient Catholick fayth as wherby he might recouer agayne his credence with Christen Princes and whereby all the world besides might see and iudge him to be a right and perfite Catholicke By these such like crafty suggestions The king abused by wicked couÌ„cell the king being to much seduced and abused began to withdraw his defeÌ„ce from the reformation of true Religion supposing thereby to procure to himselfe more safety both in his owne realme and also to auoide such daungers which otherwise might happen by other Princes especially seing of late he had refused to come to the generall Councell at Uincence being thereto inuited both by the Emperor other forraigne poteÌ„tates as ye haue heard before And therfore although he had reiected the Pope out of this Realme yet because he woulde declare himselfe neuerthelesse to be a good Catholicke sonne of the mother Church and a withstander of new innouations and heresies as the blinde opinion of the world did then esteme them first he stretched out his hand to the condemning and burning of Lambert Anno. 1540. then after he gaue out those Iniunctions aboue prefixed now further to encrease this opinion with all men The Popes crafty factorâ— in England in the yeare next folowing which was of the Lorde 540. through the deuise and practise of certayne of the Popes factors about him he suÌ„moned a solemne ParliameÌ„t to be holden at Westminster the 28. day of Aprill of all the states and Burgeses of the Realme Also a Synode or conuocation of all the Archbishops Bishops and other learned of the Clergy of thys Realme to be in like maner assembled The Acte of the vi Articles In which ParliameÌ„t Synode or conuocation certein Articles maters and questions touching religioÌ„ were decreed by certein prelates The 6. Articles to the nuÌ„ber especially of 6. commonly called the 6. Articles or the whip with 6. stringes to be had receiued among the kings subiects in pretence of vnity But what vnity therof folowed y e groning harts of a great number and also the cruell death of diuers both in the dayes of K. Henry of Queene Mary can so well declare as I pray God neuer the lyke be felt hereafter The doctrine of these wicked articles in the bloudy act conteined although it be worthy of no memory amongest christen men but rather deserueth to be buried in perpetuall obliuion yet for that the office of history compelleth vs therunto for the more light of posterity to come faythfully and truly to comprise thinges done in the church as well one as another this shal be briefely to recapitulate y e suÌ„me effect of the foresayd 6. articles in order as they were geuen out and hereunder do folow The first Article THe first Article in this present Parliament accorded and agreed vpon was this that in the most blessed SacrameÌ„t of the aultar by the strength and efficacy of Christes mighty worde it being spoken by the priest is present really vnder the forme of bread and wine the naturall body and bloud of our Sauiour Iesu Christ conceiued of the virgine Mary and that after the coÌ„secration there remayneth no substaunce of bread or Wyne or any other substance but the substance of Christ God and man The 2. Article Secondly that the communion in both
and 5. articles of vowes priests maryage the antiquitie of the iij. former Articles aboue mentioned to witte of trāsubstātiation of the halfe cōmunion and of priuate Masses so now commyng to the Article of vowes and of Priestes mariage the reader will looke perchaunce to be satisfied in this likewise as in the other before to be certified from what cōtinuaunce of tyme these vowes vnmaried lyfe of Priests haue continued Read afore pag. 195. Read afore pag. 175. Wherin although sufficient hath bene sayd before in the former processe of this history as in the life of Anselmus pag. 195. also of Pope Hildebrād pag. 175. c. yet for the better establishing of y e readers mynde agaynst this wicked article of Priests mariage it shal be no great labour lost here briefly to recapitulate in the tractatiō of this matter either what before hath bene sayd or what more is to be added And to the entent that the world may see and iudge the sayd lawe and decree of Priests single sole life to be a doctrine of no auncient standing heere within this Realme but only since the time of Anselmus Priests mariage first forbidden by Anselmus in England Ex Henr. Huntingt lib. 7. De historia Anglorum I will first alledge for me the wordes of Henr. Huntyngton lib. 7. De historia Anglorum heere following Eodem anno ad festum Michaelis tenuit Anselmus Archiepiscopus Concilium apud Londonias In quo prohibuit sacerdotibus Anglorum vxores antea non prohibitas Quod quibusdam mundissimum visum est quibusdam periculosum ne dum mundicias viribus maiores appeterent in immundicias horribiles ad Christiani nominis summum dedecus inciderent c. That is The same yeare at the feast of S. Michaell Anselme the Archbyshop of Canterbury held a Synode at London The wordes of Huntington In the which Synode he forefended Priestes heere in Englande to haue wiues which they were not inhibited before to haue Which constitution seemed to some persons very pure and chaste To othersome againe it seemed very dangerous Priests not restrayned from wiues before Anselmus time least while that men should take vpon them such chastitie more then they should be able to beare by that occasion they might happily fall into horrible filthines whiche shoulde redound to the exceeding slaunder of christian profession c. Albeit I deny not but before the time also of Anselmus both Odo and after him Dunstane Archb. of Canterbury and Ethelwold B. of Winchester and Oswold B. of Worcester in the dayes of King Edgar anno 963. as they were all Monkes themselues so were they great doers against the marriage of priests placing in Monkes in Churches and Colledges Read afoae pag. 153. and putting out the married Priests as ye may read before pag. 153. Yet notwithstāding neither was that in many Churches and also the priests then married were not constrayned to leaue their wyues nor theyr roumes but onely at their owne choyce For so writeth Malmesbury in vita Dunstani Itaque clerici multarum Ecclesiarum Malmesb. in vita Dunstani data optione vt aut amictum mutarent aut locis valedicerent cessere c. That is Therefore diuers sondry clerkes of many Churches being put to their choice whether to chaunge their weede or to part from their places wente their waies c. So also Elfricus after them of whome mention was made before was somewhat busie in setting forward the single life of Priestes Priestes first restrayned from their wiues generall in England and Lanfrancus lykewise But yet this restreynt of Priestes lawfull marriage was neuer publickely established for a lawe heere in the Church of England before the cōming of Anselme in the daies of William Rufus king Henry 1. writing in these words Boldly I commaunde by the authoritie which I haue by my Archbishoprike Read afore pag. 196. not only within my Archbishoprike but also throughout England that all Priests that keepe women shall be depriued of their Churches and al ecclesiasticall benefices c. As ye may reade more at large before page 196. whiche was much about the same time whē as Hildebrand also at Rome begā to attempt the same matter as before hath ben shewed also besides him were other Popes mo as Innocent the 3. Pope Nicholas the 2. and Calixtus the 2. by whome the acte against Priests mariage was brought at length to his ful perfectiō and so hath cōtinued euer since Long it were and tedious to recite here all such constitutions of Councels prouinciall and generall namely of y e councel of Carthage of Toledo which seemed to worke something in that behalf against the matrimony of priests Againe longer it were to number vp the names of al such bishops and priests which notwithstāding haue bin maried since that time in diuers countreys as more amplye shall be shewed the Lord willing in the sequele hereof In the meane season as touching the age time of this diuelish prohibition for priests to haue their wiues thys is to be found by credible proofes and conferring of histories that in the yeare of our Sauiour 1067. at what time Pope Hildebrand began first to occupy the Papall chayre Ex actis Synodi Mediolanensis this othe began first to be taken of Archbishops and Byshops that they should suffer none to enter into the ministerie or into any ecclesiasticall function hauing a wife and lykewise the Clergie to be bound to promise the same And this was as I said about the yeare of our Lorde 1067. well approued and testified by course of hystories S. Paule prophesieth of forbidding of mariage Whereby appeareth the prophesie of S. Paule truely to be verified speaking of these latter times 1. Tim. 4. Where he writeth in these wordes The spirit speaketh playnely that in the latter times there shall some depart from the faith harkening vnto spirits of errour and to doctrines of deuils forbidding to marry and commaunding to abstayne from meates whiche the Lord hath created to be taken with thankesgeuing c. In this prophesie of S. Paule ij things are to be obserued First the matter which he prophesieth of that is the forbidding of mariage S. Paules prophesie foūd true for the count of tymes and forbidding of meates whiche God generally hath left free to all men The second thyng in this prophesie to be noted is the time whē this prophesie shall fall that is in the latter times of the worlde So that this concurreth right well with these yeares of Pope Hildebrand aforesayde beeing a thousande yeares complete after the Ascension of our Sauiour so that they may well be called the latter times This prophesie of S. Paule thus standing as it doth firme and certain that is that forbidding of mariage must happen in the latter times of the world then must it nedes consequently follow therby that
but by y e word Clericus as by diuers places as well in the printed bookes as in old Registers and writings of the Lawyers as well in the common law as Statute law remayneth of Recorde very euident to be seene Some special notes wherof as well for the ease of the Reader in the search of the same as also for the further satisfying of some who peraduenture shall want the bookes I thought good here to exhibite in forme and tenour as foloweth Certaine notes how this word Clericus is taken in the Lawe bookes Stat. de Mâ—rlebri An. 52. 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 â—7 SI Clericus aliquis pro reatu vel crimine aliquo quod ad CoronaÌ„ pertineat arestatus fuerit postmodum per praeceptum domini regis in BalliuÌ„ traditus vel replegiatus extiterit ita quòd hi quibus traditus fuerit in Ballium eum habeant coram Iusticiarijs non amercientur de caetero illi quibus traditus fuerit in Ballium nec alij plegij sui si corpus suum habeaÌ„t coram Iusticiarijs licet coram eis propter priuilegium clericale respondere noluerit vel non potuerit propter Ordinarios suos An other Note Rex antecessores sui a tempore cuius contrarij memoria non existit vsi sunt quòd Clerici suis immorantes obsequijs dum obsequijs illis intenderint 〈…〉 2. in 〈…〉 8. ad residentiam in suis beneficijs faciendam minime compellantur nec debet dici tendere in praeiudicium Ecclesiasticae libertatis quòd pro Rege republica necessarium inuenitur An other Note Clericus ad Ecclesiam confugiens pro felonia pro immunitate Ecclesiastica obtinenda si asserit se esse Clericum regnuÌ„ non compellatur abiurare sed legi regni se reddens gaudebit Ecclesiastica libertate iuxta laudabilem consuetudinem regni hactenus vsitatam An other Note Appellatori in forma debita tanquam Clerico per Ordinarium petito libertatis Ecclesiasticae beneficium non negabitur In cap. 16. In the Statute intituled Articuli Cleri made onely for the benefite of the Clergie An. R. Edwardi R 2. nono are diuers notes to like effect But what nedeth many arguments for the proufe hereof The Statutes and law bookes of this Realme are very full of them in diuers and many places besides the presidents for the forme of geuing of benefices whereof none are capable but such as are spiritual men of the Clergie wherein they are not called or termed by any other title or terme in the Latin tong â—â—ericus in 〈◊〉 law 〈◊〉 taken for a Priest then Clerici for the most part not in the kyngs owne graunt or the Lord Chauncellours or any other subiectes of his as very well appeareth both by diuers olde wrytten Presidents whych haue bene shewed vnto me also by the formes of presentations collected set foorth for the instruction of such as are ignoraunt or not very perfite in the order of them in a Printed booke called The booke of sundrie Instrumentes In whyche fourme in the sayd booke the words in the kings graunt be these Rex Reuerendissimo in Christo. c. ad Ecclesiam Parochialem de N. vestrae diocaesis modo per mortem vltimi incumbentis ibidem vacantem ad nostram donationem pleno iure spectantem dilectum Capellanum nostrum A.B. ClericuÌ„ intuitu charitatis vobis praesentamus mandamus vti dictum A. Capellanum nostrum ad praefatam Ecclesiam admittere eumque Rectorem eiusdem instituere cum suis iuribus c. But if the presentation be from a Knight an Esquier or a Gentleman then these words Capellanum nostrum are alwayes left out as in the sayd booke apeareth in this sort Reuerendo in Christo patri c. A.B. de N. ad Ecclesiam de N predictam vestrae dioc modo per mortem T.D. vltimi incumbentis ibidem vacantem ad meam praesentationem pleno iure spectantem dilectum mihi in Christo Iacobum P. Clericum vestrae paternitati praesento humiliter rogans quatenus prefatum I. ad dictam Ecclesiam admittere ipsumque in Rectorem eiusdem Ecclesiae institui induci facere velitis cum suis Iuribus pertinentijs vniuersis c. As in the saide booke is more at large to be sene or perused Thus I doubt not louing reader but by these so plaine Euidences aboue prefixed thou hast sufficiently to vnderstand that thys violent restrainte of Priestes lawful Mariage wythin this Realme of England is of no suche long reach and antiquitie as hath bene thought of many and al by reason of ignoraÌ„ce of hystories and course of times So that briefly as in a Summary Table to comprehende that whole effect hereof First about the yeare of our Lord. 946. to the profession of single life 〈◊〉 46. and displacing of mariage began to come into exaÌ„ple here in England Pâ—iestes marâ—â—ge how 〈◊〉 when it 〈◊〉 first 〈◊〉 excluded out of â—â—â—rches by reason of s. Benets monks which then began to encrease hereabout the time of King Edgar and especially by the meanes of Oswald bishop of Yorke Odo and Dunstane Archbishops of Canterburie and Ethelwolde Bishop of Wint. so that in diuers Cathedral churches and bishops Seas monkes with theyr professed singlenes of life crept in maried Ministers which were then called secular Priestes with their wiues out of sondry Churches were dispossessed not from wyues but onely from their places and yet not in all Churches but onely in certaine wherof read before page 198. â— 1067. Not long after that about the time of Pope Nicolas 2. An. 1060. of Alexander and Hildebrande came into y e sea of Canterbury an other Monke called Lanfranke who also being a promoter of thys professed chastitie made the Decree more generall that all Prebendaries being maried in anye Churches shoulde be displaced yet the Priestes in Townes and villages shoulde not be compelled to leaue theyr maried wiues vnlesse they would Last of all folowed monkish Anselme an 1106. by whoÌ„ was made this law of Winchester aforesayd that Priests Archdeacons Deacons subdeacons whiche had wyues spiritual liuing shoulde be put from them both ¶ 1166. and also that none after shuld be admitted to their orders but shuld first professe single life that is to liue without wiues And thus much concerning priestes mariage forbidden Let vs adde moreouer to these euidences aboue rehearsed for more confirmation of the ancient vse and liberty of priests mariage an other testimonie or two out of like ancient records with like plaine wordes declaring vnto vs howe the matrimony of Priests before the time of Lanckfranke aforesaid was no straunge example in the Church and first we wil inferre the words of an old Martyrologe pertaining to the Recordes of Canterburie The wordes of whych Martyrologe be these Ex antiq Martyrilogio Ecclesiae Cant. LAnfrancus Archiep. reddidit Ecclesiae S. Andreae Liuingus
to rule all vnder the King or rather with the King so that the freshest wittes and of best towardnes most commonly sought vnto him Among whome was also Thomas Cromwell to his seruice aduaunced where he continued a certayne space of yeares Cromwell solliciter to the Cardinall Cromwell More and Gardiner companions in the Cardinalls house growing vp in office and authoritie till at length he was preferred to be sollicitour to the Cardinall There was also about the same tyme or not much different in the houshold of the sayd Cardinall Tho. More afterward knight and Chauncelour of England SteueÌ„ Gardiner Byshop after of Wint. and of the Kings CouÌ„saile All these three were brought vp in one houshold and all of one standing almost together Whose ages as they were not greatly discrepant nor their wittes much vnequall so neither was their fortune and aduauncementes greatly diuers A comparison betwene Cromwell More and Gardiner albeit their dispositions and studies were most contrary And though peraduenture in More and in Gardiner there was more arte of letters and skill of learning yet notw tstanding there was in this maÌ„ a more heauenly light of minde more prompt perfect iudgement eloquence equall and as may be supposed in thys man more pregnant and finally in him was wrought a more heroicall and princely dispositioÌ„ borne to greater affayres in the common wealth and to the singular helpe of many It happened that in this meane season â— Cromwell was placed in this office to be sollicitour to the Cardinall the said Cardinal had then in hand the building of certeine Colledges Small Monasteryes suppressed by the Cardinall namely his Colledge in Oxforde called then Frideswide now Christes Churche By reason whereof certayne small monasteries and priories in diuers places of the realme were by the saide Cardinall suppressed and the lands seased to the Cardinals haÌ„ds The doing wherof was committed to the charge of Thomas Cromwell In the expedition whereof he shewed himselfe very forward Cromwell first set a worke by the Cardinall to supâ—resse religious houses and industrious in such sort as in y e handling thereof he procured to himselfe much grudge with diuers of the superstitious sorte and with some also of noble calling about the King And thus was Cromwell first set a worke by the Cardinall to suppresse religious houses Which was about the yeare of our Lord 1525. As this passed on it was not long but the Cardinall whiche had gotten vp so high began to come downe as fast first from the Chauncellorship in whiche roome was placed Sir Tho. More as is aforesayd then he fell into a Premunire So that his houshold being dissolued Tho. Cromwell amongst other laboured also to be reteyned into the Kings seruice Syr Christopher Hales helper of Cromwell to the king Cromwell commended to the king by Sir Christopher Hales M. of the Rolles Cromwell complayned of to the king There was at the same tyme one Syr Christopher Hales Knight Maister of the Rolles who notwithstanding was then a mightie Papist yet bare he suche fauour and good liking to Cromwell that he commended him to the King as a man most fitte for his purpose hauing then to do against the Pope But heere before is to be vnderstand that Cromwel had greatly bene complained of and diffamed by certeine of authority about the King for hys rude maner and homely dealing in defacing the Monkes houses in handling of their aultars c. Wherfore y e king hearing of the name of Cromwell began to detest y t mention of him neither lacked there some standers by who w t reuiling words ceased not to encrease and inflame y e kings hatred against him What their names were it shall not neede heere to recite Among other there present at the same hearing was the Lorde Russell Earle of Bedforde whose life Cromwell before had preserued at Bononye through politicke conueyance at what time the said Earle comming secretly in the kings affaires The Lord 〈◊〉 Earle of Bedforde through the â—olicy of Cromwell escaped at Bononie The Lorde Russel commendeth Cromwell to the king was there espyed and therefore being in great daunger to be taken through the meanes and pollicie of Cromwell escaped This Lord Russell therefore not forgetting the olde benefites past with like grauitie willing againe to requite that he had receaued in a vehement boldnes stoode forth to take vpon him the defence of Thomas Cromwel vttering before the king many commendable words in the behalfe of him and declaring withall how by his singulare deuice and policie he had done for him at Bononie beyng there in the Kings affaires in extreame perill And for as much as now his Maiestie had to do with the Pope his great enemy there was he thought in all England none so apt for the kynges purpose which could say or do more in that matter then could Thomas Cromwell and partly gaue the kyng to vnderstand wherein The kyng hearyng this specially markyng the latter end of his talke was conteÌ„ted and willyng to talke with him to heare and know what he could say This was not so priuily done but Cromwell had knowledge incontinent that the kyng would talke with him whereupon therfore prouidyng before hand for matter had in a readynesse the copie of the Byshops othe which they vse coÌ„monly to make to the Pope at their consecration and so beyng called for was brought to the king in his garden at Westminster which was about the yeare of our Lord. 1530. Cromwell after most loyall obeysauÌ„ce doyng his duetie to the kyng accordyng as he was demaunded Cromwell brought to talke with the king made his declaration in all pointes this especially making manifest vnto his highnes how his Princely authoritie was abused within his own Realme by the Pope his Clergy who beyng sworne vnto him were afterward dispensed from the same sworne a new vnto the Pope so that he was but as halfe kyng and they but halfe his subiectes in his owne land which sayd he was derogatorie to his crowne Cromwels wordes to the king concerning the premunire of the Clergy and vtterly preiudiciall to the common lawes of his Realme Declaryng therupoÌ„ how his Maiestie might accumulate to himselfe great riches so much as all y e Clergy in his Realme was worth if it so pleased him to take the occasion now offered The kyng geuyng good eare to this and likyng right well his aduice required if he could auouch that which he spake All this he could he sayd auouch to be certaine so well as that he had the copie of their owne othe to the Pope there present to shewe and that no lesse also he could manifestly proue if his highnesse would geue him leaue therewith shewed the Byshops othe vnto the kyng The kyng folowyng the veyne of his counsayle tooke his ryng of his finger first admittyng him into his seruice Cromwell sent by
the king to the conuocation house sent him therewith to the Conuocation house among the Byshops Cromwell commyng with the kynges signet boldly into the Clergy house and there placyng himselfe among the Byshops W. Warham beyng then Archbyshop begā to make his Oration declaryng to them the authoritie of a kyng and the office of subiectes and especially the obedience of Byshops Churchmen vnder publicke lawes necessaryly prouided for the profite quyet of the cōmon wealth Which lawes notwithstandyng they had all transgressed highly offended in derogation of the kynges royall estate fallyng in the law of Premunire in that no◠onely they had consented to the power Legatiue of the Cardinall For the copie of the Bishops 〈◊〉 to the Pope read before pag. 1025. The clergy condemned in the Premunire Syr Tho. Cromwell made knight and M. of the kinges Iewel house but also in that they had all sworne to the Pope contrary to the fealtie of their soueraigne Lord the kyng therfore had forfeyted to the kyng all their goodes cattels landes possessions and whatsoeuer liuynges they had The Byshops hearyng this were not a litle amased and first began to excuse and deny the fact But after that Cromwell had shewed them the very copie of their othe made to the Pope at their cōsecration and the matter was so playne that they could not deny it they begā to shrinke and to fall to entreatie desiryng respite to pause vpon the matter Notwithstandyng the end thereof fell so out that to be quite of that Premunire by Act of Parliament it cost them to the kyng for both the prouinces Canterbury and Yorke no lesse then .118840 poundes whiche was about the yeare of our Lord. 1530. whereof before you may read more at large pag. 1020. After this an 1522. Syr Thomas Cromwell growyng in great fauour with the kyng Cromwell made M. of the Rolles Cromwell made knight of the Garter was made Knight Maister of the kynges Iewell house shortly after was admitted also into the kynges Coūsaile which was about the commyng in of Queene Anne Bullen Furthermore within two yeares ofter the same an 1524. he was made Maister of the Rolles Doct. Taylor beyng discharged Thus Cromwel springyng vp in fauour and honour after this in the yeare .1527 a litle before the byrth of kyng Edward was made Knight of the Garter L. Cromwell made Earle of Essex great Chamberlaine of England and Vicegerent to the king not long after was aduaunced to the Earledome of Essex and made great Chamberlaine of England Ouer and besides all which honours he was constitute also Uicegerent to the kyng representyng his person Whiche office although it standeth well by the law yet seldome hath there bene sene any besides this Cromwell alone either to haue susteined it or els to haue so furnished the same with counsayle and wisedome as Cromwell did And thus much hytherto cōcernyng the steppes and degrees of the Lord Cromwels risyng vp to dignitie and high estate Now somewhat would be sayd likewise of the noble Actes the memorable examples and worthy vertues not drowned by ease of honour in him but encreased rather quickened by aduauncemēt of authority place to work more abundantly in the common wealth Among y t which his woorthy actes and other manyfolde vertues in thys one chiefely aboue all other riseth his commendation The actes and doinges of the L. Cromwell described for his singular zeale and laborious trauaile bestowed in restoring the true Church of Christ and subuerting the Synagogue of Antichrist the Abbeyes I meane and religious houses of Friers and Monkes For so it pleased almighty God by the meanes of the said Lord Cromwell to induce the King to suppresse first the Chauntries then the Friers houses and small Monasteries till at length all the Abbeys in England both great and lesse were vtterly ouerthrowne and pluckt vp by the rootes The which acte and enterprise of him as it may geue a president of singular zeale to all Realmes christened which no Prince yet to this day scarse dare folow so to this Realme of Englande it wrought such benefit commoditie as the fruite thereof yet remayneth and will remayne still in the Realme of Englande though we seeme little to feele it Rudely and simply I speake what I suppose without preiudice of other which can inferre any better reason In the meane time my reason is this that if God had not raised vp thys Cromwell as he did to be the instrument of rooting out of the Abbeyes and Celles of straunge religion The L. Cromwel a profitable instrument in suppressing Abbayes what other men see I know not for my part I neuer yet saw in thys Realme any such Cromwell since Cromwels time whose hart and courage might not sooner haue bene subuerted with the money and bribes of Abbots then he to haue subuerted any Abbey in all England But heere I must of necessitie answeare the complaynt of certayne of our countrey men For so I heare of many the subuersion of these Monasteries to be reprehended The defence of the L. Cromwell for ouerthrowing the Abbayes as euill and wicked The building say they mighte haue bene conuerted vnto schooles and houses of learning The goodes and possessions might haue bene bestowed to much better and more godly vse of the poore and mainteining of hospitalitie Neyther do I denie but that these thyngs are well and godly spoken of them and could willingly embrace their opinion with my whole hart if I did not consider heerein a more secret and deeper meaning of Gods holy prouidence then at the first blush peraduenture to all men doth appeare And first to omit the wicked and execrable life of these religious orders The abhominable life in Monasteryes bewrayed by their owne confessiō ful of al feditie found out by the Kings visitours and in their Registers also recorded so horrible to be heard so incredible to be beleeued so stinking before the face of God and man that no maruayle it is if Gods vengeance from heauen prouoked woulde not suffer anye stone or monument of these abhominable houses to be vnplucked vp But as I sayd letting these things passe vnder chaste silence whiche for very shame will abhorre any storie to disclose let vs now come to the first institution of these orders and houses of Monkerie and consider howe and to what end they were first instituted and erected here among the Saxons at the first foundation of them about the time 666. In the former parte of thys Hystorie declaration was made before Read afore pag. 133.134 page 133.134 first by whome and at what time these Monkish houses heere in England among the Saxons flowing no doubt out of the order of Saint Benet The first beginning of religious houses in the time of the Saxons and brought in by Augustine began first to be founded as by Augustine the Monke Furseus Medulphus
to Maister Shiriffe sayd haue ye any Articles agaynst me for the which I am condemned No cause shewed why Doct. Barnes dyed And the Shriffe aunswered no. Then sayd he is there here any mā els that knoweth wherfore I dye or that by my preachyng hath takē any errour Let them now speake I will make thē aunswere And no man aunswered Then sayd he well I am condēned by the law to dye as I vnderstand by an Acte of Parliamēt but wherfore I cānot tell D. Barnes praying for his enemyes but belike for heresie for we are lyke to burne But they that haue bene the occasiō of it I pray God forgeue them as I would be forgeuen my selfe And Doct. Stephē Byshop of Winchester that now is if he haue sought or wrought this my death either by word or deede I pray God forgiue him as hartly as freely as charitably and without faynyng as euer Christ forgaue them that put him to death And if any of the Counsell or any other haue sought or wrought it through malice or ignoraūce I pray God forgiue their ignoraunce and illuminate their eyes that they may see and aske mercy for it I beseeche you all to pray for the kynges grace as I haue done euer since I was in prison and do now that God may geue him prosperitie and that he may long raigne amōg you D. Barnes prayeth for the king after him that godly Prince Edward may so raigne that he may finishe those thynges that his father hath begon I haue bene reported a preacher of sedition disobedience vnto the kyngs Maiestie but heare I say to you that you al are bound by the commaūdement of God to obey your Prince with all humilitie with all your hart yea not so much as in a looke to shew your selues disobedient vnto him that not onely for feare of the sword but also for conscience sake before God Yea and I say further if the kyng should cōmaunde you any thyng agaynst Gods law if it be in your power to resist him yet may you not do it Then spake he to the Shiriffe and sayd M. Shiriffe I require you on Gods behalfe 5. requestes of Doct. Barnes to the king to haue me cōmēded vnto the kynges grace to shewe him that I require of his grace these fiue requestes First that where his grace hath receaued into his handes all the goodes and substaunce of the Abbeyes Then the Shiriffe desired him to stop there The 1. request He aunswered Maister Shiriffe I warrant you I will speake no harme for I know it is well done y t all such superstition be cleane taken away and the kyngs grace hath well done in takyng it awaye But his grace is made a whole kyng The king of England made a whole king by poore preachers and obeyed in his Realme as a kyng which neither his father nor graūdfather neither his aunceters that raigned before him euer had that through the preachyng of vs and such other wretches as we are which alwayes haue applied our whole studies and giuen our selues for the settyng forth of the same and this is now our reward Well it maketh no matter Now he raigneth among you I pray God long may he liue and raigne among you Would to God it might please his grace to bestow the sayd goodes or some of them to the comfort of his poore subiectes which surely haue great neede of them The second that I desire his grace is that he will see that matrimonie be had in more reuerence then it is and that men for euery light cause inuented The second request of Doctor Barnes to the king cast not off theyr wiues and liue in adultery and fornication and that those that be not maried should not abhominably liue in whoredome folowing the filthy lustes of the fleshe The third that the abhominable swearers may be punished and straightly looked vpon The 3. request for the vengeance of God wil come on them for their mischieuous othes Then desired he maister Pope to haue him commended to Maister Edgar Doct. Barnes request to M. Edgar to leaue swearing and to desire him for the deare bloud of Iesu Christ that he woulde leaue that abhominable swearing which he vsed for surely except he did forsake it he woulde come to some mischieuous ende The fourth that his grace would set forth Christs true Religion The 4. request and seeing he hath begon that he would go forward and make an end for many things haue bene done but much more is to do and that it would please his grace to looke on Gods word himselfe for that it hath ben obscured with many traditions inuented of our owne braynes Now said he how many petitions haue I spoken of And the people said foure Well said he euen these foure be sufficiente whiche I desire you that the Kinges grace may be certified of and say that I most humbly desire him to looke earnestly vpon them and that his grace take heede that he be not deceiued with false preachers and teachers and euill councell for Christ sayth that such false Prophets shal come in Lambes skinnes Then desired he all men to forgeue him and if hee had sayd any euill at any time vnaduisedly whereby he had offended any man or geuen anye occasion of euill that they would forgiue it him and amende that euill they tooke of him Doct. Barnes cleareth himselfe of al heresi and to beare him witnes that he detested and abhorred all euill opinions and doctrines against the worde of God and that he died in the faith of Iesu Christ by whom he doubted not but to be saued And with those words he desired them all to pray for him and then he turned him about and put off his clothes making him ready to the fire paciently there to take his death The like confession made also Hierome and Garret professing in like maner their beliefe reciting all the articles of the Christian faith briefly declaring their myndes vpon euery article The protestatiō and confession of Hierome and Garret as the time would suffer whereby the people might vnderstand that there was no cause nor errour in their fayth wherefore iustly they ought to be condemned Protesting moreouer that they denied nothyng that was eyther in the old or new Testament set foorth by their soueraigne Lorde the King whome they prayed the Lord long to continue amongst them with his most deare sonne Prince Edward Which done Hierome addeth this exhortation in few words folowing I say vnto you good breethren that God hath bought vs all with no small price neyther with golde nor siluer The exhortation of Hierome 〈◊〉 the people or other such things of small value but with his most precious bloud Be not vnthankefull therefore to him againe but do as much as to Christian men belongeth to fulfill his commaundementes that is loue your brethren Loue
Alane Cope and Abell amoÌ„gest other which dyed in kyng HeÌ„ries dayes in the like Popish quarell that is for the like treason agaynst their Prince beyng in all to the number of 24. extolleth theÌ„ not onely in wordes but with miracles also vp to the height of heaueÌ„ amoÌ„g the crowned Martyrs Traytors made Martyrs Saints of God To the whiche Cope because in this hast of story I haue no laysure at this present to geue attendauÌ„ce I shall wayt atteÌ„dauÌ„ce the Lord willing an other tyme to ioyne in this issue with him more at laysure In the meane time it shall suffice at this present to recite the names onely of those 24. rebelles whom he of his Popish deuotioÌ„ so dignifieth with the pretensed title of Martyrs The names of which Monkish rebels be these here folowyng Iohn Houghton Robert Laurence Aug. Webster Reynald of Syon Iohn Hayle Iohn Rochester Iac. Wannere Iohn Stone 24. neither good martyrs to god nor good subiects to the king Iohn Trauerse William Horne Powell Fetherstone Abell Beside these were other ix Cartusian Monkes which dyed in the prison of Newgate To the whiche number if ye adde M. More and the Byshop of Rochester the summa totalis commeth to 24. whom the sayd Cope vniustly crowned for Martyrs But of these more shall be sayd the Lord willyng hereafter Thus hauyng discoursed the order of the vi Articles with other matter likewise folowyng in the next Parliament concernyng the condemnation of the Lord Cromwell of Doct. Barnes and his felowes c. Let vs now proceedyng further in this history coÌ„sider what great disturbaunce and vexation ensued after the settyng forth of the sayd Articles through the whole Realme of EnglaÌ„d especially amongest the godly sorte Wherein first were to be mentioned the straite and seuere commissions sent forth by the kynges authoritie to the Byshops Chauncelors Officials to Iustices Maiors Bailiffes in euery shyre Great disturbaÌ„ce in England after the 6. articlâ—â— and other Commissioners by name in the same commissions expressed and amongest other especially to Edmund Boner Byshop of London to the Maior Shiriffes and Aldermen of the same to enquire diligently vpon all hereticall bookes and to burne them also to enquire vpon such persons whatsoeuer culpable or suspected of such felonies heresies contemptes or transgressions or speakyng any wordes contrary the foresayd Act set forth of the sixe Articles Read before pag. 1101. The tenour of whiche Commissions beyng sufficiently expressed in auncient Recordes and in the Bishoppes Registers and also partly touched before pag. 1101. therfore for tediousnesse I here omit onely shewyng forth the Commission directed to EdmuÌ„d Boner Byshop of London to take the othe of the Maior of London and of others for the execution of the Commission aforesayd The tenour wherof here foloweth ¶ The Commission for takyng the othe of the Maior of London and others for the execution of the Acte aforesayd HEnry the eight by the grace of God kyng of England and of Fraunce defender of the fayth Lord of Ireland and in earth supreme head of the Church of England vnto the Reuerend father in Christ Edmund Boner Byshop of London Commission directed to Edm. Boner bishop of London from the king and to his welbeloued the Byshops Chauncellour health Know ye that we haue geuen you ioyntly and seuerally power and authoritie to receaue the othes of William Roche Maior of London Iohn Allen Knight Raffe Warren Knight Rich. Gresham Knight Roger Chomley Knight Sergeant at Law Iohn GreshaÌ„ Michael Dormer Archdeacon of London the Byshops CoÌ„missary and Officiall Robert Chidley Gwy Crayford Edward Hall Robert Broke and Iohn MorgaÌ„ and euery of them our CoÌ„missioners for heresies and other offences done within our Citie of London and Dioces of the same accordyng to the tenour of a certaine schedule hereunto annexed And therfore we commauÌ„de that you receiue the othes aforesayd and when you haue receaued them to certifie vs into our Chauncery vnder your Seales returnyng this our writ T. meipso at Westminster the 29 of Ianuary in the 32. yeare of our reigne What the othe was of these Commissioners whereunto they were bounde read before pag. 1101. * A note how Boner sat in the Guildhall in Commission for the vi Articles And of the condemnyng of Mekins VPon this commission geuen vnto EdmuÌ„d Boner he commyng to the Guildhall with other CoÌ„missioners The story of Rich. Mekins condemned by Boner to sit vpoÌ„ the Statute of the vi Articles begaÌ„ eftsoones to put in execution his authoritie after a rigorous sort as ye shall heare And first he charged certaine Iuries to take their oth vpon y e Statute aforesaid who being sworne had a day appointed to geue their Uerdicte At the which day they indited sundry persons which shortly after were apprehended brought to Ward who after a while remaynyng there were by the kyng his Counsaile discharged at the Starre chaÌ„ber without any further punishment Not loÌ„g after this Syr Wil. Roche being Maior Boner with other CoÌ„missioners sat at the Guildhall aforesayd before whom there were a certaine number of Citizens warned to appeare and after the Commission read the sayd parties were called to the booke and when v. or vi were sworne one of the sayd persoÌ„s beyng called to the booke Boner seemed to mislike and sayd Stay a while my Maisters quoth he I would ye should consider this matter well that we haue in hand whiche concerneth the glory of God the honor of the kyng and the wealth of the Realme and if there be any here amoÌ„g you that doth not consider the same it were better that he were hence then here TheÌ„ commoned the Commissioners with Boner about that man so that at length he was called to the booke and sworne not all together with his good will When the ij Iuries were sworne Boner taketh vpon him to geue the charge vnto the Iuries and began with a tale of Anacarsis by which example he admonished the Iuries to spare no persons Rich. Mekins presented by Boner of what degree soeuer they were And at the end of his charge he brought forth to the barre a boy whose name was Mekins declaryng how greuously he had offended by speaking of certaine wordes agaynst the state and of the death of Doct. Barnes produced into the sayd Court ij witnesses which were there sworne in the face of y e Court So a day was assigned vpoÌ„ which the Iuries aforesayd should geue vp their Uerdict at which day both the Commissioners the sayd Iuries met at Guildhall aforesayd Then the Clarke of the peace called on the Iuries by their names when their appearaunce was taken W. Robins Iurer Boner bad them put in their presentmentes TheÌ„ sayd the foreman whose name was W. Robins of that Iury. My Lord with a low curtesy we haue found nothyng At which wordes he fared as one in an agony sayd Nothyng haue ye
wreaked During the time of these sixe articles aforesayd which brought many good men vnto death yet so it happened by another contrary acte sette forth before for the kinges supremacy as ye haue heard that the contrary sect also of the Papistes was not all in quiet For besides the death of Moore and the Bishop of Rochester and the other Charterhouse Monkes Friers and Priestes aboue specified about this yeare were also condemned and executed by the same law two other Larke Priest of Chelsey Germaine Gardine traytors agaynst◠the kings supremacye of whom one was a Priest of Chelsey named Larke which was put to death at London for defending the B. of Romes supremacy aboue the kynges authority The other was Germine Gardiner nere kinsman to Steuen Gardiner and yet more neare to his secret coūsell as it is supposed who likewise in practising for the Pope agaynst the kings iurisdiction was taken wyth the maner and so brought vnto the Gibbet Upon the detection of this Germaine Gardiner being Secretary to Gardiner bishop of Winchester his kinsman it semed to some Suspitiō against Steuē Gardiner and so was also insinuated vnto the king not to be vnlike but that the sayd Germain neither would nor durst euer attempt any such matter of popery without some setting on or consent of the Bishop he being so nere vnto him to all his secrets as he was Wherby the king began somewhat more to smell and misdoubt the doinges of the Bishop but yet he so couertly and clearely conueyed his matters playing vnder the boord after his wonted fetches in such sort as I can not tel how still he kept in with the king to the great inquietatiō of the publick state of the Realme and especially of Christes Church In declaring the dreadfull lawe before set forthe of the sixe ayticles which was an 1540. ye heard what penaltye was appoynted for the breach of the same in like case as in treason felony so that no remedy of any recātatiō would serue Stat. an 35. Reg. Henr. 8. This seueritye was a little mitigated by an other Parliament holden afterward an 1544. by the which parliament it was decreede that such offenders which were conuict in the sayd articles for the first time should be admitted to recant and renounce their opinions And if the party refused to recant in such forme as should be layd vnto him by his Ordinary or after his recantation The rigour of the 6. articles a little aswaged if he eftsoones offended agayne then for the second time he should be admitted to abiure and beare a fagot Which if he denyed to do or els being adiured if he the third time offended then he to susteine punishment according to the Lawe c. Although the straitnes rigor of the former act was thus somewhat tempered as ye see and reformed by this presēt Parliament yet notwithstanding the venome and poison of the errors and mischiefe of those articles remayned still behind not remoued but rather confirmed by this Parliament aforesayd By the which Parliament moreouer many thinges were prouided for the aduauncement of Popery vnder the coulor of religion so that all maner of books of the old and new Testament bearing the name of Will Tindall or any other hauing Prologues or conteining any matters annotations preambles wordes or sentēces contrary to the sixe articles were debarred In like maner all songs playes and Enterludes with all other books in English conteining matter of religion tending any way agaynst the sayd articles were abolished In the which Parliament furthermore it was prouided that the text of the new Testament or of the Bible being prohibited to all women artificers prentises iourneimen seruingmen yeomen husbandmen and laborers yet was permitted notwithstanding to noble men and gentle men gentlewomen to read and peruse to their edifying so that they did it quietly without arguing discussing or expounding vpon the Scripture Ouer and besides Qualification of the acte of the 6. articles wheras before the offender or defendaunt might not be suffered to bring in any witnesses to purge and try himself In this Parliament it was permitted to the party detect or complayned on to try his cause by witnesses as many or mo in nūber as the other which deposed agaynst him c. Other qualifications of the acte of the sixe Articles AFter this Parliament moreouer folowed an other parliament an 1545. wherein other qualifications more speciall of the sixe articles were prouided That where as before the cruell statute of the sixe articles was so strayt y t if any of the kinges subiectes had bene cōplayned of by any maner of person as wel being his enemy as otherwise he should be indicted presently vpon the same without anye further examination or knowledge geuē to the party so accused so thereupon to be attached committed and in fine to be condemned it was therfore by this parliamēt prouided that all such presentmentes and indictmentes shoulde not be brought before the Commissioners otherwise then by the othes of xij men or moe of honesty and credit with out corruption or malice accordingly Item that no such indictmentes or presentmentes should be taken but within one yeare of the offences committed eyther els the sayd indictmentes to stand voyd in the law Item that no person accused vpon any such offence agaynst the sixe articles should be attached or committed to ward before he were therof indicted vnlesse by speciall warrant from the king c. Item by the authority of the sayd Parliament it was considered and enacted that if any preacher or reader for any word spoken supposed to be agaynst the sixe articles shoulde be accused not within the space of 40. dayes of the sayd his reading or preaching then the partie accused to be acquited Item that the Iustices or inquirers of suche presentmentes should haue full power to alter and reforme all panelles of inquirie returned before them in like maner as the Iustices of peace may do in theyr Sessions vpon any other inquiries Item that the party so accused or indicted vppon his tryall may haue all manner of chalenges peremptory onely excepted as other persons arraigned for felony may haue by the lawes of this realme Stat. anno 1545. R. Hen. 8. By these qualifications moderatiōs of the 6. articles it may appere that the king begā somwhat to grow out of fauor with Ste. Gardiner to discredit his doings wherby he was y e more forward to incline somewhat in furthering the desolate cause of religiō as may appeare both by these premisses also by other prouisions determinations of the foresayd parliament an 1545. wherein it was decreed by act of parliamēt A Statute for examination of tha Canon law y t the king should haue full power authority to appoynt 32. persons to wit 16. of y e clergy 16. of the tēporalty to peruse ouersee examine the Canōs cōstitutions ordinaūces
studye and desire whereof Christ commaundeth all his continually to be intentiue they imagine a new kynd of godlinesse I know not what by the meditation whereof they are more perfect then all other But it is a most pestilent errour which all godlye men ought to abhorre to fayne any other rule of perfection then that common rule deliuered vnto the whole vniuersall Churche which we suppose to be sufficiently approoued in the refutation of the article before passed Now I also passe ouer with silence the great blasphemy whereby they compare their monasticall confession vnto Baptisme I also hold my peace that they do dissipate and deuide the Communion of the Church when as they doe seperate themselues from the lawfull societie and fellowship of the faythfull and clayme vnto themselues a peculiar ministery and priuate administration of the Sacraments but as Saint Augustine witnesseth it was so far of that the Monkes in tymes past had any seueral church or administration of the Sacramentes with others and were a part and portion of the common people Albeit that they dwelt asunder But if that a man may touch the manner of these our Monks what shall I call the cloysters in these our dais otherwise then brothell houses swine sties and dennes of discord Besides that I will passe ouer their faires and markets which in these latter dayes they do make of their reliques of Martyrs to build vp Sodome agayne Wherfore I conclude that this their kynde of lyfe whiche they clayme vnto themselues is vtterly wicked and naughte the which is not established or grounded vppon any certayne callyng of God neyther allowed by him wherefore I may be bold to say that it is vnlawfull because their cōscience hath nothing wherby to sustaine it selfe before god and whatsoeuer is not of fayth is sinne And furthermore so long as they do entangle bynde themselues with so many and so peruerse and wicked kynd of worshippyng as the Monkery now a days doth contayne in it I may well say that they are not consecrated vnto God but vnto the diuell For why was it lawfull for the Prophets to say that Israelites did offer theyr children vnto wicked spirites and not vnto God onely for this cause that they did corrupt and violate the true worshippyng of God with prophane ceremonies Is it not lawfull then to speake the lyke of our Monkes which together with their cowles haue put on a thousand snares of most wicked superstitions Let euery man now waigh and consider with himselfe if I haue done wickedly to wishe such religions as is this our Monkery to be vtterly extinguished and rooted out Moreouer all christian princes should rightly and truely do their office if as in tymes past Iosias pulled downe and ouerthrew the high places which hys elders the kings of Iuda had builded so they woulde abolishe and dryue away these kynde of Monkes It is plainly manifest by lawfull prooues that the said Iohn Borthwike had and presently hath diuers bookes suspected of heresie condemned as wel by the papall as also Regall and ordinary authoritie and prohibited by the lawe that is to say specially the newe Testament commonly printed in Englishe Oecolampadius Melancton and diuers treatises of Erasmus and other condemned heretickes also a Booke intituled vnio dissidentium the which conteyneth most manifest and great erroures and hereticall assumptions and hath red and studied the same as well openly as priuately and hath presented and communicated them vnto others and also hath instructed and taught many Christians in the same to the ende and purpose to diuert and turne them away from the true christian and catholike fayth Borthwike O good God who can suffer so great a blasphemye with what a filthy cankered stomacke doe these Romishe swine note the new testament of heresie who would not iudge it a most venemous tongue which dare pronounce or vtter such contumelious wordes agaynst the holy Gospell of our Sauiour Christ Truely as the Iewes which put Christ to death of all other murderers euen so these men how so euer they doe pronounce me an Archheretike do fill vp the measure of all other heretikes I wyll not say blasphemies how then shall these serpentes and stocke of Uipers escape and flye the iudgement of euerlastyng fire I do not greatly stand or stay that they doe suspect Oecolampadius Melancthon or Erasmus neither am I so mad to plead their cause who as they are men of singuler learnyng and eloquence so doe their writings manifestly declare how falsly and wickedly these Sicophants impute this crime slaunder of heresie vnto them It is manifest that the sayd Iohn Borthwike was so obstinate in all the foresayde errour and heresies and so maintained and taught them with such an indurate heart and mynd that he would not by no meanes be persuaded from them by his friends and diuers other persons which did dearly loue and fauour hym but chose rather obstinatly to perseuere in his sayd errours Borthwike I am willingly contented to be reduced to the Catholike faith but if that Sathan rayse vp any stormes or tempest agaynst that those I do some thyng resist wherefore they most shamefully lye which doe otherwyse iest or talke of me for I know not by what reason they call them my friendes which so greatly laboured to conuert me neither will more esteeme them then the Madianites whiche in tymes past called the children of Israell to doe sacrifice vnto their Idols And furthermore I desire the most highe and mighty God that he will neuer suffer me to swarue or turne away from this so holy godly and christian obstinacie and stubburnnesse The man is blest that hath set his whole hope and confidence vpon the Lorde and hath not regarded or looked vpon the proud or those which follow after lies ¶ The sentence of condemnation agaynst Sir Iohn Borthwike Knight by the Cardinall Byshops and Abbots in Scotland An. 1540. OF all which the premisses and many other errours by hym holden spoken published affirmed preached taught the common fame and report is that the sayd Sir Iohn Borthwike is holden reputed and accounted of very many is an heretike and principall heretike whiche holdeth euill opinion of the catholike fayth Wherfore we Dauid by the title of S. Steuen in moūt Celio Prelate and Cardinall of the holy church of Rome Archbishop of S. Andrews primate of the whole kingdō of Scotland borne Legate of the Apostolike Sea sittyng after the manner of Iudges in our tribunall seate the most holye Gospels of God beyng layed before vs that our iudgement myght proceede from the face of God and our eyes might behold and looke vpon equitie and iustice hauing only God the veritie and truth of the Catholike faith before our eyes his holye name being first of all called vpon hauing as is beforesayde hereuppon holden a counsel of wise men as well deuines as lawyers wee pronounce declare decree determine and geue sentence that the said
to serue for furniture of aunswer to this and that Article for other then I haue before written I remember not to haue done or suffred by the higher powers in all my whole life til my comming into the tower without that I haue had any by admonitions as a maÌ„ faulty or negligent at any time that I remember for the obseruatioÌ„ of any thyng alredy made or set forth by y e kings maiesty that now is but haue kept caused to be kept in my power the kings maiesties arts statutes iniunctions and proclamations inuiolably hauing for that purpose such a Chancellor as in orders ordinances hath bene alwayes himselfe diligent and precise for that tyme I might haue knowledge of his doings The 8. Article Item that after the premisses for that those former admonitioÌ„s comandements notwithstandyng you did yet stil sheâ— your selfe not conformable for that also others by your example were much animated Wâ—nchester 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 â—inges â—ouncell to â—â—each the 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 thereby occasion of much vnquietnesse ministred amongest the people you were called before the kings maiesties counsaile in the month of Iune in the 2. yeare of his maiesties raigne and by them on his maiesties behalfe commanded to preach a Sermon before his maiestie and therein to declare the â—ustnesse and godlynesse of his maiesties father in his proceedings vpon certayne matters partly mentioned in certain articles to you deliuered in writyng and partly otherwise declared vnto you The effect wherof was touchyng the vsurped power and authoritie of the B. of Rome that the same was iustly and godly taken away in this realme and other the kings maiesties dominions touchyng the iust suppressing and taking away of monasteries and religious houses of Pilgrimages Reliques Shrines Images The superstitious goyng about of S. Nicholas bishop S. Edmund S. Katherine Certayne poyntes inâ—â—yned to Wynâ—hester to preach vpon S. Clement and such lyke and iust takyng away of Chaunteries Abbies and Colledges hallowyng of caÌ„dels water ashes Palme holy bread beades creeping to the crosse such lyke Also touching the settyng forth of the kinges maiesties authoritie in his yong yeares to be as great as if his highnesse were of many more yeares That auricular confession is indifferent and of no necessitie by the law of God and touching the procession and Common prayer in English Winchester This Article beeyng of so many partes as it is some true some otherwise must be answered by deuision of it in to diuers members to deuide the one from the other graÌ„ting that is true denieng that is otherwise opening that is ambiguous auoyding y t is captious so as according to my oth I may open directly plainly the truth with sinceritie of conscience The motion of preaching was made vnto me in mine owne house by M. Cecill vpon the duke of Somersets behalfe after I had bene before y e counsaile as I haue before sayd M. Cicill from which Counsaile I departed as before is rehersed as no offender therfore when M. Cicil spake to me of preaching before the kings Maiestie with request to write my sermon before I denied that maner of preaching because I said it was to preach like an offender and I was none but departed from the Counsaile otherwise as I haue before shewed And the sayde M. Cicil did not say to me that I was mooued to preach because I was not conformable for I had at that tyme no maner of variance with the Counsaile but was in all conformity with them for any thyng that I know as I will aunswer afore God As for euil example to any man I could none geue for I neuer offeÌ„ded law statute or proclamatioÌ„ in this realm â—e did euer any act to the empairing of due obedience to y e kings maiestie in all my whole lyfe but by obseruation of them and letting innouations done as much as in me lay to maintaine obedience After M. Cecill had spoken to me of preaching deliuered two papers conteining the matters whereupon I should entreat Wynchester 〈◊〉 to preach by 〈◊〉 mens 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 yet he 〈◊〉 â—â—ould 〈◊〉 other 〈…〉 because I refused to geue my sermoÌ„ in writing which was to me like an offeÌ„der or to read those papers of another maÌ„s deuise as the conception and sincere maner of vttering of mine own coÌ„scieÌ„ce which me thoght then and since yet a meruailous vnreasonable mater touching both my conscience and honesty I was then fer to the duke of Somersets graces chamber and came in at a backe dore to himself alone sauing he tooke to him as witnes he said the L. now of Wiltshire then great maister after many words shewed me certaine articles subscribed by Lawyers what a B. might command what the king might command and what payne to the disobeyer To whom I said plainly truly how those Lawyers subscription could not serue in this case to commaund one to vtter to the people for myne own deuise in words â—â—nchesters â—â—swere to â—he Duke of 〈◊〉 that is not in deed so and if I might speake with these lawyers I sayd his grace should soone perceiue them to agree with me My L. sayd I should speake with no man and I should do as I was hidden or do worse and bade mee aduise me till dinner was done And then was I conueyed by the L. great Maister to hys chamber and there left alone to dyne as was in deede honourably prepared But I tooke my selfe to be in the nature of a prisoner and a restrayned man And about two of the clocke at after noone came vnto me M. Thomas Smith then Secretary Syr Tho. Smith Secretary vnto whome I complained of the vnreasonablenes of the matter shewed him certaine particularities who sayd it was not ment so precisely but to speake of the matters To whoÌ„ I sayd I was content to speake of the matters and theÌ„ if I speak not accordyng to the truth of them there should be enough to beare witnesse to my condemnation and if I spake the truth then they had their desire And I sayde further I thought I might with my conscience say so as men ought and should be content satisfied And further if I thought that in my maner of the vtteryng of those matters I shold offend the Counsaile I had rather deny to speake of the thing and begin the contention secretly with them then to begin with pulpit and so bring my selfe in further trouble then needed and therfore if they would haue me preach I would preach as of my selfe and of these matters so as I thought they should be content Wherupon I was brought vp to my L. of Somersets chamber and there the matter ended thus that my L. of Somerset sayde he would require no writyng of me but remit it to me so I spake of y e matters in the papers deliuered me by M. Cicill I told hym I would speake of theÌ„ sauing for
broughte in the Bishop of Rome and sette him in his olde authoritie beginneth to set vp abbeis againe hath made the mariage of priestes vnlawfull hath tourned the English seruice into Latine againe hath set vp the Masse againe w t like baggage and pulled downe the holy Communion and all this is done by consente of Parliament If the Acts of Parliament made in king Henries time in K. Edwards had theyr foundatioÌ„ vpon Gods word where vpon all positiue lawe ought to be grounded then these which are stablished in the Quenes time being cleane contrary to the others as they are not warranted by gods woorde so are they wicked and therfore to be both spoken and wrytten against of all menne as well of priuate as of publique persons If your Actes my Lord Chancellour which you haâ—e lately coyned I call them yours because ye only beare the swinge deuise and decree what yee list all other men are forced to followe be good and according to Gods woord then the former Actes were naught whych thing ye seeme to say in vtterly taking of them away and setting vp of the contrary if the former were nought why then did ye consent vnto them and confirme them to be good by your voluntarie and aduised wryting as it appeareth and will to the worldes ende in your Booke de vera Obedientia where you prooue the Queene a Bastard and the bishop of Rome to be an vsurper and to haue no authoritie in the Realme of Englande Yee must needes confesse that the moste parte of your Actes of Parliament in these latter dayes haue bene according to the fantasies of a fewe King Henry in his time established by Parliament in a manner what he listed and many thinges that might well haue bene amended In Kinge Edwardes dayes the Duke of Somersette and Northumberlande bare a great stroke in thyngs and did not all things syncerely Euen so since the Quene that nowe is came to the gouernement of the realme al things are ordered by your deuise and head and the whole Parliament house is ledde as you list by reason whereof they are compelled to condescende to thinges both contrarye to Gods manifest woorde and also contrary to theyr owne consciences so great is your crueltie For to bryng youre wicked purposes to passe and to establish your Antichristian kingdome whych I truste the Lorde wyth the breathe of hys mouthe will spedely blowe ouer yee haue called three Parliamentes in one yeare and an halfe that what you coulde not compasse by subtill perswasion ye might bring to passe by tyrannical threatning for if yee hadde not vsed cruell force in your doinges yee had neuer broughte to passe suche thinges as this daye yee haue to the vtter defacing and abolishing of Gods true religion and to the casting away and destruction of your naturall Countrey so much as in you lieth And as it is moste true that Actes of Parliament haue in these latter dayes bene ruled by the fantasies of a fewe and the whole Parliament house contrary to their minds was compelled to consent to such things as a few had conceiued So it muste needes be graunted that the Papistes at all times were moste readie to apply them selues to the present worlde and like menne pleasers to follow the fantasies of suche as were in authoritie and turne with the estate which way so euer it tourned Yea if the estate should chaunge ten times in one yeare they woulde euer be ready at hande to chaunge with it and so folowe the crie and rather vtterly to forsake God and be of no religion then that they would forgoe lust or liuing for God or for religion King Henrie by Parliamente accordinge to Goddes woorde putte downe the Pope the Clergie consented and all men openly by othe refused this vsurped supremacie knowing by Gods worde Christ to be head of the churchâ— and euery Kinge in hys Realme to haue vnder and nexte vnto Christe the chiefe Soueraigntie King Edward also by Parliament according to Gods woorde sette the marriage of Priestes at libertie abolished the Popish and idolatrous masse chaunged the Latin seruice and sette vp the holy Communion the whole Cleargie consented heereunto many of them set it foorth by then preaching and all they by practising confirmed the same Notwythstanding now when the state is altered and the lawes chaunged the Papisticall cleargie wyth other like worldlinges as menne neither fearing God neyther flying worldly shame neither yet regardinge their consciences othes or honestie like wauering weather Cockes tourn rouÌ„d about putting on harlots foreheades sing a newe song and crie wyth an impudent mouth Come a-againe come againe to the catholicke churche meaning the Antichristian church of Rome which is the Synagogue of Sathan and the very sincke of all superstition heresie and Idolatrie Of what force I pray you may a man think these Parliamentes to be which scantly can stand a yere in strength Or what credite is to be geuen to these law makers which are not ashamed to establish contrary lawes and to condempne that for euill which before the thing in it selfe and the circumstances remaining al one they affirmed and decreed to be good Truelye yee are so readye contrarye to all ryghte to chaunge and turne for the pleasure of manne that at the lengthe I feare GOD wyll vse you lyke chaungelings Anno 1554. Aprill and both tourne you foorth of his kingdom and out of your owne countrey Yee charge the Gospell preachers with the vndoyng of thys realme nay it is the turning papists whych haue not onely sette a sale theyr Countrey like Traitours but also troubled the simple people so that they canne not tell what they may beleeue For that which they affirmed and preached to be newe doctrine in King Edwardes dayes nowe they crie against it as it were moste abhominable heresye This fault I trust yee shall neuer finde at our hands Therefore to conclude that whiche I purposed for somuche as the Actes of Parliament of these latter times are one contrary to an other and those which yee nowe haue stablished in your time are contrary to Gods most manifest woorde as is the vsurped supremacie of the Byshoppe of Rome the Idolatrous Masse the Latine Seruice the prohibiting of lawfull marriage which Sainte Paul calleth the Doctrine of Deuilles wyth many suche other I say it is not onely lawfull for any priuate man which bringeth Gods woorde for hym and the authoritie of the primatiue and best Churche to speake and wryte against such vnlawfull lawes but it is hys duetie and he is bounde in very conscience to doe it Which thyng I haue prooued by diuers examples before and nowe will adde too but one other which is wrytten in the fifth of the Actes where it appeareth that the high Priestes the Elders Scribes and Pharisies decreed in their Councell and gaue the same coÌ„maundement to the Apostles that they should not preache in the name of Christe as yee haue also forbidden
as the rest of the examinates doe and that this sayd Iurate was present there at the deed doyng After the depositions of these foresayd witnesses being taken published and denounced the sayd B. speakyng to Wil. Flower asked hym if he knew any matter or cause why his sentence should not be red and he to be pronounced as an heretike Wherevnto the martyr of God answereth agayne as followeth I haue nothyng at all to say for I haue already sayd vnto you all that I haue to say that I haue said I will not go from and therfore do what you wyll c. ⧠The burning of William Flower at Westminster the 24. of Aprill An. 1555. ¶ A prayer and confession of W. Flower OH eternall God most mighty and mercifull father who hast sent downe thy sonne vpon the earth Flowers prayer to saue me all mankynd who ascended vp into heauen agayne and left hys bloud here vpon the earth behynd hym for the redemption of our sins haue mercy vpon me haue mercy vppon me for thy deare sonne our sauiour Iesus Christes sake in whom I confesse onely to bee all saluation and iustification and that there is none other mean nor way nor holynes in which or by which any man can be saued in this world This is my fayth which I beseech all men here to beare witnesse of Then he sayd the Lords prayer and so made an end Then M. Cholmley came to him willyng hym to recant his heresie Talke betweene W. Flower and M. Cholmely whereby he might do good to the people or els he would be damned Flower answered as followeth Sir I beseech you for Gods sake be contented for that I haue sayd I haue said and I haue bene of this fayth from the beginnyng and I trust to the liuyng God hee will geue me his holy spirite to continue to the ende Then he desired all the world to forgeue hym whome he had offended as he forgaue all the world This done first his hand beyng held vp agaynst the stake was stroken of his left hand beyng stayed behynde hym At the which striking of his hand certaine that were present beholders of the matter and purposely obseruyng the same credibly enformed vs that he in no part of hys body did once shrinke at the strikyng therof but once a little he stirred his shoulders And thus fire was set vnto hym who burning therein cried with a loud voyce Oh the sonne of God haue mercye vpon me Oh the sonne of God receyue my soule three tymes and so his spech beyng taken from hym he spake no more liftyng vp notwithstandyng his stumpe with hys other arme as long as he could And thus endured this constant witnes and faythfull seruaunt of God the extremitie of the fire beyng therein cruelly handled by reason that to his burning little wood was brought so that for lacke of fagots there not sufficient to burne hym they were fayne to strike hym downe into the fire Where he lying along which was dolefull to behold vpon the ground hys nether part was consumed in the fire whilest hys vpper part was cleane without the fire hys tongue in all mens sight still moouyng in hys mouth May. 1555. The 3. of May a letter was sent to George Colte and Thom. Daniell to make search for and apprehend Iohn Bernard and Iohn Walshe who vsed to repaire to Sudbury and carying about with them the bones of Pigotte that was burned do shew them to the people persuading them to be constant in his religion and vpon examination to commit them to further orderyng accordyng to the lawes This day Stephen Appes was committed to the litle ease in the Tower there to remayne two or three dayes vntill further examination The 12. day M. Thomas Rosse preacher was by the counsailes letters deliuered from the Tower to the Shiriffe of Northfolke to be conueyed and deliuered to the B. of Norwich and he eyther to reduce hym to recant or els proceed agaynst hym according to the law The 16. a letter was sent to the L. Treasurer signifiyng what the L. had done for Rosse and that order should be geuen according to his L. request for letters to the Bishops as Appes whom the Lieuetenant of the Tower reporteth to be mad his L. perceiuyng the same to be true should commit hym to Bedlem there to remayne vntill their further order The 26. a letter was sent to the L. Treasurer to conferre with the B. of London and the Iustices of Peace of that Countie wherein they are to be executed that are alredy condemned for religion vpon agrement of places to geue order for their execution accordingly· The 28. a letter was sent to the L. Treasurer to cause speedie preparation to be made of such mony as was appoynted for such persons as should cary the ioyful tidings of Queene Maries good deliuery of chyld to diuers princes so as they be not compelled to stay when tyme shall come The Embassadors were to the Emperour the L. Admirall to the French King the L. Fitzwaters to the kyng of Romains Sir Henry Sidney to the K. of Portingall Rich. Shelley whose free passage through France M. Doctor Wootton was willed to procure by letters the 24. of Iune The 29. was a letter directed to Sir Frances Inglefield to make search for one Iohn D. at LondoÌ„ Anno 15â—5 May. and to apprehend him and send him to the Counsaile and to make search for such papers bookes as may thinke may touch the same D. or one Benger ⧠The burning and Martyrdome of Iohn Cardmaker Iohn Warne Vpholster which suffered both together in Smithfield An. 1555. May. 30. 〈◊〉 Cardâ—â—â—er and 〈◊〉 Warne â—â—â—tyrs VPon the 30. day of May suffred together in Smithfield Iohn Cardmaker otherwise called Tailour Prebendarie of the church of Wels Ioh. Warne Upholster of the parish of S. Iohn in Walbrooke Of whome it remaineth now particularly to entreat beginning first with M. Cardmaker who first was an obseruant Frier before the dissolution of the Abbeys then after was a maried Minister and in king Edwards time appointed to be Reader in Paules where the Papistes were so much agrieued with hym for his doctrines sake that in his reading they cut and mangled his gowne with their kniues This Cardmaker being apprehended in the beginnyng of Queene Maries raigne Cardmaker 〈◊〉 M. 〈◊〉 apâ—â—â—hended 〈◊〉 layd in 〈◊〉 Fleete with M. Barlowe Bishop of Bathe was brought to London and layde in prison in the Fleete king Edwards lawes yet beyng in force But after the Parliament was ended in which the Pope was againe admitted as supreme hed of the church and the Byshops had also gotten power and authoritie Ex officio to exercise their tyranny these two were both brought before Winchester Chauncellour and others appointed by Commission as before is mentioned to examine the fayth of such as were then prisoners and as vnto others before so now vnto