time of the Danes the Land was plagued with warres pestilence and murren of beasts the King alwaies thanked God what troubles soeuer hapned vnto him and after hee had raigned 29. yeares and sixe moneths he died and is buried at Winchester He euer bestowed eight houres in the day in studie there was none in England more quicke in vnderstanding nor more elegant in interpreting then he was He sent for many learned men out of other Countries to instruct his people He was the first that ordained certaine Schooles of diuerse Arts at Oxford and Franchised them with great Liberties he translated many bookes into the Saxon tongue all that he could by faire meanes and threats he endeuoured to stirre vp his subiects to learning he preferred none to any great place except he were learned since his time learning was neuer extinguished in this Realme Edward his sonne succeeded him in his kingdoms After Stephen the fist was nine Popes of Rome in nine yeare Formosus being Bishop of Portiâ—ax had offended Pope â—one the 8. which was a woman as before and being afraid fled and because he would not returne he was excommunicated and after disgraded and made to sweare he would neuer claime his Bishopricke againe but remaine a seculer man but Pope Martine released him of his Oath and restored him to his Bishopricke and shortly after he obtained the Papâ—ciâ— whereupon was a great controuersie some held because of his degradation and Oath he could not be Pope others held the contrary because he was absolued by Pope Martin from that his periury and Degradation He sent to Arnulphus for ayde who marching to Rome they would not suffer him to enter and a Hare comming néere the Citie the Host of Arnulphus followed after with such a maine cry that the valiant Romaines for very feare cast themselues downe from the wals so that Arnulphus with a little labour scaled the wals and gate the Citie thus he obtained the citie of Rome and rescued the Pope and beheaded his aduersaries whom the Pope to gratifie blessed him and crowned him for Emperour After Formosus succéeded Bonifacius the sixt after him Stephen the sixt which so enuied Formosus that he abrogated all his Decrées and tooke vp his body and cut off two fingers from his right hand and threwe them into Tyber and buried the body in a Laymans Sepulcre Romanus succéeded him and repealed the Acts of Stephen against Formosus Theodorus the second succéeded him Iohn the tenth succéeded him who repugned the Romaines and held a Sinode at Rauenna of 74. Bishops the French King Eudo with his Archbishops being present where he ratified all the Decrées of Formosus and the contrary Acts of Stephen the sixt were burned After him Benedictus the 4. after him Leo the 5. who was with strong hand taken and cast into prison by one Christopher his owne Houshold Chaplin which Christopher being Pope 7. moneths was likewise hoysted from his Papall throne by one Sergius he thrust him into a Monastery and shore him a Munke thus in nine yeares were nine Popes This Sergius was rude vnlearned proud and cruell he before was put backe from the Popedome by Formosus wherefore he caused the body of Formosus to be taken vp againe disgraded him beheaded him and cut off the other thrée fingers which were left and threw his bodie into Iyber and deposed all such as by Formosus had beene consecrated By this Pope Sergius came vp the vse to beare about Candles on Candlemasse day for the purifying of the blessed Uirgin as though the sacred conception of the Son of God were vnpure and to be purified by Candlelight Pope Anastatius succeeded him after him Pope Laudo succéeded which was father of Pope Iohn the 11. Pope Iohn is said to be the Paramour of Theodora a famous Harlot of Rome by whom he had a daughter called Marozia and the aforesaid Popâ— Sergius had a sonne by her which after was Pope Iohn the 12. After she maried Guido Marquis of Tuscia by the meanes of whom and his friends at Rome she caused Iohn the 11. to be smothered with a pillow and Iohn the 12. her sonne to be made Pope but the Clergy and people did not agrée to his election thereforâ— Pope Leo the 6. was set vp in his place after him Pope Stephen succéeded who being poysoned the said Iohn the 12. was set vp againe in the Papacie where he raigned about 5. years This strumpet Marozia maried two brothers one after another she gouerned all Rome and the Church at that time After him succeeded Stephen the 7. After him Leo the 7. After him Stephen the 8. After him Pope Martine the 3. After him Pope Agapetus the 2. about whose time began first the Order of Monks called Ordo Cluniensis After king Alfride as before his sonne Edward succéeded surnamed the Elder there were thrée Edwards before the Conquest the first Edward the Elder the second Edward the Martyre the third Edward the Confessor This Edward began his raigne in the yeare 901. The Princedome of Wales and the Kingdome of Scotland with Constantine king thereof wâ—re subdued vnto him also he recouered Northfolke Suffolke Essex and Northumberland from the Danes In all hiâ— warres he had the victorie his men were so inured with continuall practises of Feates of Warre that when they heard of any enemies comming they would neuer tarry for the King or any of his Dukes but incountred with them the assaults of enemies were to the Souldiers but a trifle and vnto the King a ridicle Then the King builded Chester twise as big as it was and builded a Castle at Herford in the edge of Wales and another Castle at the mouth of the water of Auon and another Castle at Buckingham and another vpon the riuer of Ouse He re-edified the townes of Tocester and Wigmore vpon the riuer of Trent He builded a newe towne ouer against Nottingham and made a Bridge ouer the Riuer betwixt the two townes By the Riuer of Merce he builded a new Citie called Thilwall and repaired the City of Manchester and diuerse others His Daughter Edgitha was â—aried vnto Otho the first Emperour of the Almaines when hée had raigned 24. yeares hee dyed Adelstan his Sonne raigned after him and was Crowned at Kingstone hée was nothing inferiour to his Father in renowne of Ciuile Gouernment and in prosperous successe in reducing this Realme into subiection of a Monarchie He expelled the Danes subdued the Scots and quieted the Welchmen One Elfredus with seditious persons conspired against the said King at Winchester presently after the death of his Father went about to put his eyes but by the helpe of God he escaped Elfred being accused thereof fled to Rome to purge himselfe by his Oath before the Pope and swearing or rather forswearing himselfe in Saint Peters Church suddenly vpon his Oath fell downe and within thrée dayes died The Pope sent to the King to know whether he would haue
agree this Constitution being begun Anno 997. was after established in Germany by Otho 1002. which order remaineth to this day After the death of King Edward Egelred his younger brother raigned in his steade vpon his Coronation a cloud was scene through the Land one halfe like bloud the other halfe like fire shortly after the third yeare of his raigne the Danes ariued in sundry places of this Land and did much spoyle and retyred to their ships againe and about the same time a great part of London was consumed with fire The King besieged the Bishoppe of Rochester Dunstone required the King for Saint Andrewes sake to giue ouer the siege yet he would not depart vntill the king had of him 100. lib. of gold The Danes séeing the hatred of the Subiects against the King rose againe and 〈◊〉 great harme in many places in England that the King granted them great summes of money for peace and a sore sicknesse of the bloudy Flix and hot Feuours fell amongst the people of which many dyed and a like murren amongst the beasts and for lacke of Iustice many théeues and bribers were in the Lanâ— Not long after the Danes inuaded the land againe in such sort that the King was so séeke in which Coste he should first withstand them and was compelled to appease them with great summes of money and for lacke of a good Goâ—ernour many things perisheâ— in the Land for the King gaue himselfe to Lechery and polluting his Subiects disinheritiâ—g them and causing them with great summes to redaâ—â—e the same againe 〈◊〉 payed the Danes tribute yearely which was called Dane-gilt which tribute increaseâ— from 10000. lib. yearely and in fiue or sixe yeares it came to 40000. lib. yearely â—dricke Duke of Mercia and Alfrike Admirall of the Ships warned the Danes 〈◊〉 whatsoeuer the King deuised against them wherefore the king put out the eyes of thâ— Admirals sonne and of the two sonnes of Duke Edricke The Danes thus preuailing were so proud they forced the Husbandmen to ploâ— and sows their lands and the whilst would sit at home with their wiues and daughters and fared of the best when the Husbandmen fared but scantly of their owne they were glad to please them and call them Lord Danes which after was turned to a name of â—â—proby when they rebuked another they called him Lurdaine The king in the 21. yeare of his raigne maried Emma the Daughter of Richard Duke of Normandy which Mariage inhaunâ—ed the Kings minde that hee sent secret and strait Commissions to the Rulers of euery towne in England that vpon 〈◊〉 Brices day at an houre appointed the Danes should be suddenly slaine and so it waâ— performed Then Swanus king of Denmarke hearing of this slaughter of the Danes with a great Hoste and Nauie came into England and did much spoyle but at length he was met with of Duke Vskatell and beaten and many of the Danes slaine wherefore they returned to Denmarke The next yeare Swanus entred into the Land againe and spoyled the Contry and euer when as he heard of the Kings Hoste comming he tooke ship againe and went to aâ— other part of the Contry and when the King would méete him by Sea he would fly or else bribe the Admirall so they brought the Englishmen into vnspeakeable misery that the king was faine to giue them 30000. lib. for peace But after Swanus broke couâ—nant and landed in Northumberland with a great Hoste proclaiming himselfe King caused the Earle with the Rulers of the contry to sweare him fealty so he Conquered through the Contry and tooke pledges of them He tooke Winchester and Oxford and came to London hearing the King was there he went into Kent and conquered Canterbury where he fired the citie and slew 900. Monke of the Abbey of Saint Augustines and 8000. of the men and women of the Citie and they stoned Elphegus â—â—shoppe of Canterbury to death at Grinewich because hee would not giue them 3000. lib. The King for feare sent his wife Emma and his two sonnes Alfred and Edward 〈◊〉 the Duke of Normandy after the King fled to the Isle of Wight and went thence 〈◊〉 to Normandy to his wife Swanus teared exceeding impositions vpon the people and required a great summe of money of Saint Edmunds lands which being dâ—nyed him because the Land was frée he spoyled the Contry despising the Martyre and menaâ—ing the place of his Sepulchre wherefore the people fell to prayer and fasting so that shortly after Swanus suddenly crying and yelling amongst his Knights dyed wherfore Canutus his sonne ruling as King after his father builded the Abbey of S. Edmundsbury our Saint Edmonds Sepulchre and ditched their Land with a great ditch ordained a House of Monks there and gâ—ue them their auâ—tient freedomes After that it was vsâ—â— that the Kings of England when they were crowned offered their Crownes to Saint Edmonds shrine and bought them againe King Eldred hearing the death of Swanus returned into England Canutus fled to Sandwich and cutting off the noses and hands of the pledges which his Father left 〈◊〉 him sayled into Denmarke The next yeare Canutus returned againe with a great Host and forced the people to be sworne vnto him and giue him pledges In this season King Eldred died at London after he had raigned 38. yeares and was buried in Paules After whose death the most part chose Canutus the King of the Danes King generally all the Clergie men choose him but the Citizens of London and certaine Nobles choose Edmund the eldest sonne of Egelred King who for his hardinesse to indure labour was surnamed Ironside Betwixt these two martiall Princes many great battels were sought with no great difference of victory at length by rensent they two onely tryed the quarell in the fight of both Hosts and when they had assayed each other with sharpe words and strokes they both agréed and kissed each other and diuided the Land betweene them and during their liues loued as brethren Shortly after one of the sonnes of Duke Edricus aforesaid killed King Edmund after hée had raigned two yeares Hee left two sonnes behinde him Edmund and Edward whom the wicked Duke tooke from their mother shee not knowing of her husbands death and presented them to Canutus saying Aue Rex solus Canutus sent them to his brother Swanus King of Sweueland to be â—laine but hée sent them to Solamon King of Hungary where Edmund maried the Kings Daughter and dyed and Edward was maried to Agatha the daughter to the Emperour Henry the fourth Then Canutus held a Parliament established the Crowne to himselfe hee disdained euer after those whom he found false to their natiue King some of them he exiled some he beheaded and some died suddenly by the punishment of God and wicked Duke Edrike was beheaded anâ— his head set vpon London bridge In the meane time Swaynus his brother King of Denmarke dyed and the Land fell to Canutus
hee 〈◊〉 toither and tooke possession thereof and returned and maried Emmalate wife of Egelred by whom he had a sonne called Hardyknight He held a Parliament at Oxford where it was agreed that Englishmen and Danes should hold the Lawes made by King Edgar Then the Danes begun to be Christians and Canutus went to Rome and returned He gouerned the Lâ—nd 20. yeares and left two sonnes Harold and Hardeknight which was made King of Denmarke in his Fathers time Harold called Harefore for his swiftnesse succéeded him hee banished his Stepmother Emma and tooke away her goods and Iewels Hardeknight King of Demmarke succéeded him and when he had raigned two yeares being merry at Lambeth he was suddenly strucke dumbâ— and died being the last king of the Danes that raigned in England In the time of these Danish Kings there was one Godwine an Earle in England when the aforesaid two sâ—nnes of King Egelred Alfred and Edward came from Normandy to England to visit their mother Emma and brought with them a great company of Normaines this Godwine hauing a Daughter named Godith whom he thought to haue maried to Edward and made him king Hee perswaded the king Hardeknight that the Normaines should be slaine and gat authoritie to order the matter himselfe Wherefore hée met them at Guildowne with a company of English Souldiers slewe almost all the Normaines winding their gots out of their bellyes and put out the eyes of Alfred the eldest brother and sent him to the Abby of Elie where hée fed him with bread and water vntill shorty after hée dyed Edward escaped to his mother who fearing Godwine sent him againe into Normandy This cruell fact to the Normaines séemeth to bée the cause why the Iust Iudgement of God shortly after Conquered the English Nation by the Normaines After the death of king Hardeknight last king of the Danes the Lords sent into Normandy for the aforesaid Edward yonger sonne of Quéen Emma to take possession of the Realme who came with a few Normaines and was crowned at Winchester He maried Godith Daughter of Earle Godwine hee ruled with much wisdome and 〈◊〉 24. yeares In his time his mother Emma was accused to be too familier with Alwine Bishopâ—â— Winchester by the councell of Godwine they were committed to prison many of 〈◊〉 Bishops laboured for them to the King but Robert Archbishop of Canterbury stoppâ—â— their suâ—e saying How dare you defend her shée hath defâ—med her sonne the 〈◊〉 and taken her lerâ—erous Lemman the Bishop she is accused to bee consenting to â—he death of her sonne Alfred and procured poyson for her sonne Edward it she will 〈◊〉 bare footed for her selfe foure steps and for the Bishop fiue vpon nine 〈…〉 if she escape harmelesse they shall be afâ—oyled she agreed theris then the â—ing and many Nobles being present she was led blindfold to the place where Irons lay burning hote and passed the nine shares vnhurt when they opened her eyes and she sâ—e her selfe past the paine she kneeled downe and gaue thankes to God then the King asked her forgiuenesse but the Archbishop fâ—ed into Normandy The said cruell 〈◊〉 Godwine tooke bread and eate it in witnesse that he was not guilty of the death of Alfred the Kings brother but as soone as hee had receiâ—ed the bread he was choked at the table before the king at Winsor and he was conueyed to Winchester and buried Harold the second sonne of Godwine succeeded Edward who was the last King of the Sâ—xâ—ns Then the Kings soâ—ne of Denmarke came into England with 300. ships who entred the North and claymed the Land the Lords of the country rose against them but the Danes had the victory then Hâ—rold gaue them a great battell and got the victory and slew the King of Denmarkes sonne After this victory Harold waxed proud and couetous and would not diuide the prâ—y to his Knights but kept it to himselfe Whereas Harold had sworne to William Duke of Normandy after the death of King Edward to take possession of the Kingdome of England to his vse according to the will of King Edward that the Duke of Normandy should succéede him The Duke sent to him admonishing him of the Couenants that were agréed vpon betwixt them Harald answered thus That such a nice foolish promise ought not to be holden concerning the Land of another without the consent of the Lords of the same especially because neede and dread compelled him thereto Whereupon Duke William prepaired his Armie and sent to Pope Alexander concerning his Title and â—oiage the Pope confirmed him in the same and sent him a Banner And they tooke shipping with a great company and landed at Hastings in Sussex the Normans and Harald ioyned battell in the place where afâ—ter was builded the Abby of Battell in Sussex where the Normaines obtained the victory through the Iust Prouidence of God where Harold was wounded in the left eye with an arrowe and incontinently dyed when hee had raigned nine yeares and was buryed at Walâ—ome This Duke William and King Edward were by the Fathers side Cosen Germaynes After this Gregory the first succeeded Siluester the second he sate 4. yeares 〈◊〉 moneth and 8. dayes Pope By the testimony of Stella Benno and Platina and many others he was a Sorceâ—er and was exalâ—ed to the Papacy by the Deuill vpon this condition that after his death he should giue himselfe to the Deuill He demaunded of the Deuill how long he should â—nioy his Popedome Hee answered Untill thou say Masse in Ierusalem thou shalt liue At length the Pope in Lent saying Masse in the Temple of the Holy Crosse which Church vnknowne to him was called Ierusalem then hee knewe hee should dye then repenting hee confessed his fault before all the people â—fâ—er him succeeded Iohn the 19. which brought in the Feast of All-Soules to bee celebrated next after All-Saints day by the meanes of Odilo Abbot of Clâ—nake This Abbot thinking that Purgatory should bee in Mount Eâ—na dreamed vppon a time that hâ—e by his Masâ—es had dâ—liuered diuerse Souâ—es from thence saying that hee heard the voyces and lamentatious of Dâ—uils crying out for that the Soules were taken from them by Masses and Dirges funâ—rall Pope Iohn the 20. succeeded him and after him Sergius the 4 after him Benedictus the 8. then Iohn the 12. who was prâ—moted by Arte Magicke of diuerse Sorcerers He brought in the fast of Saint Iohn Baptist eauen and of Saint Laurence After him followed Pope Benedictus the 9. aspiring to his Papacie by Magicke practising Inchaâ—tments and Conâ—â—rations in words he resisted the Emperour Henricus the third sonne of Conradus and placed in his roome Peâ—â—us King of Hungary After for feare of Henricus he was faine to sell his Seaâ— so Gratianus called Gregorie the sixt for 1500. lib. at which time there was three Popes in Rome together raigning one against another Benedictus the 9. Siluester the 3. Gregorius the 6. for which
cause Henricus surnamed Niger the Emperour displaced these three monsters placing for them Clement the second and Enâ—cted that no Pope shouâ—d be chosen without the consent of the Emperour and the Romanes made an Oth to the Emperour to that effect But the Emperâ—ur being gone they forgot their Oath and poysoned the Pope which 〈◊〉 some impute to Damasus the 2. his successor and some to Erazutus which poysoned six Pâ—pâ—s Damasus within 23. daies after he was Pope was poysoned â—hen the Romaines and Cardinals sent to the Emperour for a Pope who gâ—ue them Leo the 9. He kept two Councels one at Uercellis where the Doctrine of Beriâ—garius against the Real presence was condemned the other was kâ—pt at Moguntia where amongst many decrees Priâ—sts were vtterly excluded from mariage and that no â—ay man â—ight giue â—eniâ—â—ce Bishopricke and Spirituall promoâ—ion Leo being at Wormes with the Emperour on Christmas day hee excommunicaâ—ed the Subâ—eacon for not reading the Episte in Latine the Archbishop being at Masse staid and would goâ— no further vnlesse his Subdeacon were restâ—red whereupon the Pope released him Leo was poysoned by Brazutus the first yeare of his Popedome Victor the â— succeeded him hee kept a Councell at Florence hee deposed diuerse Bishops and Priests for Simony and Fornication of Simony because they were tooke their liâ—ing of Secular mâ—n for moneyâ— for fornication because they were maried In his â—econd yeare he was poysoned also by the said Brazutus by the procurement of Hildebrand his master Stephanus the 9. succéeded him hee was chosen without the Emperour hee accused the Emperour of Heresie for deminishing the authoritie of the Romaine Sea Hée likewise called it Symony for secular men to present to a Spirituall Liuing He sent Cardinall Hildebrand with Commission to reforme the matter in the meane time he tasting Brazutus cup dyed After him the Romaines set vp Benedictus the tenth Pope but Hildebrand perswaded the Clergie to choose Nicolaus the second who by force caused the other Pope to vnpope himselfe Nicolas called the Councell of Lateran in which hée vnderminded the Emperours â—urisdiction and gaue the full authoritie or choosing the Pope vnto a fewe Cardinals and certaine Catholike persons and against such as be Popes without the full consent of the Cardinals he thundreth terrible blasts of excommunication accursing them and their children with denils giuing power to Cardinals with the Clergie and 〈◊〉 to depose such person and call a generall Councell where they will against them In this Councell Beringarius was forced to recant his Doctrine against the Reall presence in the Sacrament and the terme of transubstantiation was there first deuised Hée displaced the right Heire of the Dukedome of Apâ—â—lia and placed Robertus Quistardus to bée Duke and generall Captainâ— of Saint Peters land but it standeth not with the Gospell a Bishop with outward armes to conquer christian men and countries After hee had raigned three yeares and a halfe he met with Brazutus cup and turned vp his héeles Then the Emperour set vp Coralus Pope but Hildebrand set vp Alexander the second who ouercame Coralus Then there was a Councell kept at Mâ—ntus where Alexander was declared Pope and it was concluded that Priests should haue no wiues and those that had wiues should say no Masse no Benefices to bee bought for money Alleâ—uia to bee suspended in Lent that no â—pirituall man should enter into any Church by a Secular man that the Pope should be elected onely by the Cardinals this Alexander being at Masse as hee was preaching vnto the people told them he would not sit in the place except he had the licence of the Empeâ—our which strucke Heldebrand into such a furis that as soone as Masse was done he forced him into a Chamber and beat him with his 〈◊〉 rating him that he would séeke fauour of the Emperour and kept him in Custodie allâ—wing him but twenty pence a day and Heldebrand incroched all the reuenewes of the Church vnto himselfe At lâ—st Alexander vnder this miserable indurance died hauing béene Pope 11. yeares and a halfe THE FOVRTH BOOKE Containing other 300. yeares from WILLIAM the Conquerour to the time of IOHN WICKLIFFE WILLIAM the Conquerour was the base 〈◊〉 of Robert Duke of Normandy Nephew to Kiâ—g Edward after the 〈◊〉 said Uictory against Harald he was receiuer King ouer England and was Crowned vpon Christmas day The yeare before his comming was a great blasing Starre the space of seauen daies he made the Englishmen pay for euery twentie Acres of land 6. â— yearely wherefore many rebelled but he conquered them many of his Lords departed into Scotland wherefore hee kept them that â—aried the straiter Hee gaue the Nomaines the chiefest possessions of the Land hee changed all the temporall Lawes of the Realme and set straite Lawes vpon the Spiritualtie Hee builded foure strong Castles two at Yorke one at Nottingham and another at Lincolne In the 3. yeare of his raigne Harald and Canutus sonnes of Swanus King of Denmarke came into the North Contry but after much spoyle King William chased them to their Ships and he was so displeased with the Inhabitants for fauouring them that he destroyed the Land from Yorke to Duâ—ham so that nine yeares after the Prouince lay waste and vnmanâ—red In the 4. yeare of his raigne Malcoline King of the Scots entred into Northumberland and destroyed the Contry and slew men women and children but within two yeares King William made such warre with the Scots that hee forced Malcome their King to doe him Homage In the same 4. yeare of this King there was holden a Councell of the Clergie at Winchester at which was present two Cardinals from the Pope and the King was there present diuerse Bishops Abbots and Priors by the meanes of the King were depriued without any euident cause that the Normaines might bee proferred vnto the rule of the Church as his Knights were to the rule of the Temporalty Oâ—â— Thomas a Normaine was preferred vnto the Archbishoprick of Yorke and one Lanfranckus an Italian was made Archbishop of Canterbury betwixt them grew a contention about giuing and taking the Othe of obedience but the King appeased it and the Bishop of Yorke builded the Minster of Yorke and gaue possessions thereto But when these two Archbishops came to Rome for their Pale the contreuersie renewed betwixt them for the Primacie the Pope not disposed to decide the matter sent them home to haue their matter determined so the matâ—er came before the King and Clergie at Windsor the Archbishop of Canterbury said Since the time that Austin conuerted this Land to Christianitie and was made Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England by Popâ— Gregory the Primacie hath succéeded there euer since and being Yorke tooks the Christian Faith from thence it was reason it should bee subiect thereto The Bishop of Yorke answered that the Britaines the fiâ—st possessors of this Kingdome which indured from Brutus to
for to Cranmer and Steuen Gardiner and others before whome hee did so constantly defend the doctrine which he had taught that Cranmer being yet but a Lutheran maruelled excéedingly at it and said that the Scripture knew no such terme of transubstantiation Then the other Bishops threatned him to whom he promised the next day to deliuer them all in writing which he had formerly preached in Callice In the meane time he had secret intimation giuen him by Cranmer that if hee appeared the next day he should be sure to be committed whereupon he sent them his Faith with the arguments thereupon in writing and he went aside into the West countrey Then the King was certified that there were many diuersities of opinions in Calice tending to the danger thereof Whereupon Doctor Champion and M. Garnet who after was burned were sent ouer to preach to them where he preached the same true Doctrine which Adam Damlip had done After them one William Smith Curate of our Ladies Parish in Callice preaching earnestly inuaying against Papistry and wilfull ignorance exhorting them to imbrace the word and not to contemne it least Gods wrath fall vpon them which followeth the contempt of his holy word At length the said Lord Lisle which was Bastard to King Edward the fourth which maintained Damlip as before by the intising of his wicked wife the Lady Honora she being thereunto prouoked by Sir Thomas Palmer and Iohn Rockwood Esquire these with seauen others wrote very haynous Letters vnto the King and Councell against diuers of the Towne of Calice Whereupon diuers of them were often punished in Callice and many of them sent for ouer into England and were â—orely imprisoned and punished and had not escaped the fire but by the Kings pardon The aforesaid Adam Damlip taught Schoole about some two yeares in the West Country after he was apprehended and brought vnto Stephen Gardiner who committed him to the Marshalsie where he continued two yeares and for his honest behauiour hee was beloued of the whole house and especially of the kéeper and he did much amongst the common sort of the prisoners in reprouing vice Then being resolued rather to loose his life then not to suffer his talent to be vsed to Gods glory by being detained in prison Wherevpon he sent an Epistle to Gardiner And then by the Bishops commandement hee was had to Callice where first hee layed vnto his charge heresie but because all such offences before such a day were pardoned by an Act of Parliament then for the receiuing of the aforesaid French Crowne of Cardinall Poole as you heard before he was condemned of Treason in Callice cruelly put to death beeing hanged drawne and quartered At his death Sir Raph Ellerker Knight Marshall there would not suffer him to declare his Faith or cause he died for but bad the executioner dispatch the Knaue and said he would not away before he saw the Traytors heart out but shortly after in a skirmish with the Frenchmen at Bullen he was slaine and his enemies cut off his members and cut the heart out of his body and so left him a terrible example of the Iustice of God vpon all bloudy persecutors The said Lord Lisley with the others as before vniustly charging them of Callice with sedition and heresie were all shortly after either greatly out of the Kings fauour and committed vnto prison or else by desperate deathes died I will recite but Rockwood the chiefe stirrer of the afflictions aforesaid who at the last breath staring and raging cryed he was damned and being bid to aske God mercie he cried out All too late for I haue sought malitiously the deaths of a number of the Towne which in my heart I thought to be honest men which words he vsed when thirteene were carried in Irons into England when one told him he neuer saw men of such honesty so sharply corrected and taking it so ioyfully Rockwood then leaping scoffingly said All too late and the vnder Marshall suddenly fell downe in the Councell Chamber and neuer spake A labouring man hauing heard Damplip said Hee would neuer beleeue that Priests could make the Lords bodie at their pleasure whereupon hee was condemned by one Haruy a Commissary who said he was an heretick and should die a vile death The poore man answered he was no heretick but in the faith of Christ and said Whereas thou sayest I shall die a vile death thou shalt die a viler death shortly and so it came to passe for within halfe a yeare the said Haruy was hanged drawne and quartred in Callice for treason DODDE alias SCOT HEe was taken in Callice with certaine Germane bookes about him and being examined thereupon and standing constantly to the truth hee was condemned and burned there VVILLIAM BVTTON HEe being a souldier of Callice merrily asked a Papist Whether one that were suddenly taken might not occupie one of the Popes pardons in stead of a broken paper and another question Whether the world might better want Dogs then Popish Priests and answered it that if there were no Dogs we could make no more but if there lacked ignorant Priests we might soone make too many of them There came a black Frier to Callice with the Popes pardons who for 4. pence would deliuer a soule out of Purgatorie this Button asked him if the Pope could deliuer soules out of Purgatorie the Frier said there is no doubt of that then he said Why doth he not of charity deliuer all the sâ—ules thereout for which cauâ—e he was accused vnto the Commissary who chafing called him heretick then said Button If the Pope can deliuer soules out of Purgatorie and will not of charitiâ— doe it then would God the King would make me Pope for surely I would deliuer all out without money Whereupon the Commissary made him beare a Billet and procured his wages which was sixe pence a day to be taken from him then he went vnto the King and declared the whole matter who after gaue him eight pence a day In Nouember after the King had subdued the Scots and ioyning with the Emperour had inuaded France and had got the Towne of Bullen he summoned a Parliament in which was granted him besides subsidies of money all Colledges Chanteries Free Chappels Hospitals Fraternities Guilds and perpetuities of stipendary Priests to be disposed at his will and pleasure They being thus giuen to him by act of Parliament in December the next Lent Doctor Crome preached in the Mercers Chappell amongst other reasons to induce the people from the vaine reasons of Purgatorie he said It Trentalls and Masses could auaile the soules in Purgatorie then did not the Parliament well in giuing away Monasteries Colledges and Chanteries which serued principally to that purpose but if the Parliament did well as no man could denie then it is plaine that such Chanteries and priuate masses confer nothing to relieue them in Purgatorie This Dilemma was insoluble but at Easter next they brought him in
and leauing one Richard Yeoman a godly Priest in his cure which after was burned at Norwich He tooke his iourney with one Iohn Hull his seruant There was in the towne of Hadley one Alcocke who after Richard Yeoman was driuen away vsed dayly to reade a Chapter out of the Bible and to say the English Letany in Hadley Church they sent him vp to London and there he died being in prison in Newgate When Gardiner saw Doctor Taylor according to his custome hee called him knaue traytor hereticke with many villanous reproches My Lord quoth he I am neither Traytor nor Hereticke but a true Subiect and faithfull Christian My Lord you are but a Mortall man I trow if I should be affraid of your Lordly looks Why feare you not God How dare you look any Christian man in the face séeing you haue forsaken the truth denyed Christ and his word contrary to your owne oath and writing With what countenance will you appeare before the Iudgement seat of Christ to answere your oaths to Henrie the eight and Edward the sixt Gardiner answered that was Herods oath vnlawfull and therefore worthy to bee broken I haue done well in breaking it and I thanke God I am come home vnto our Mother the Catholike Church and the Pope hath dispenced with me and so I would thou shouldst do Taylor Should I approue those lies errors superstitions and Idolatries that the Pope and his company this day approued nay God forbid let the Pope returne to Christ and his word and leaue Idolatry and then will we turne to him the Pope nor no man else can assoyle you of that oath I sée quoth Gardiner thou art a very knauish foole Taylor said leaue your reyling my Lord it is not séemely for you That art a married man quoth the Bishop Taylor said I thanke GOD that I am and I haue nine Children and I thanke GOD for the ordaining of Matrimonie that wee should not liue in Aduâ—tery Gardiner Thou wouldst not suffer Masse in Hadley Taylor I am parson of Hadly and it is against law and reason that any should infect my flocke with Popish Idolatrous Masse Then said the Bishop thou art a blasphemous heretick to blaspheme the blessed Sacraments and put off his Cap and against the Masse which is a Sacrifice for the quick and the dead Taylor Christ dyed for our Redemption which is a sufficient propitiatory Sacrifice vnto saluation for al beléeuers and no Priest can any more offer him and we néed no other propitiatory sacrifice therefore the Fathers called the Communion Eucharistia which signifieth thankes-giuing Then said the Bishop thou shalt confesse it a Sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and the dead ere thou and I haue done and commaunded him to bee sent to the Kings Bench. Then Taylor knéeled downe and saide Good Lord I thanke thee and from the tyrannie of the Pope and all his detestable errors Idolatries and abhominations good LORD deliuer vs and GOD be praysed for King Edward so he was carried vnto the Kings Bench where hee lay in Prison almost two yeares Being in Prison he spent his time in Prayer Preaching and Writing withâ—in few daies after were diuers learned and godlyâ—men in sundry Connâ—rieâ— in England committed to prison for Religion so that almost all the Prisons in England were right Christian schooleâ— and Churches so that there was no greater comfort to Christian harts then to come to the Prisons Now were placed in Churches blind Masse-mâ—ngers with their Lattine babling and apish ceremonies who like cruell Wolues spared not to murder all such that did but whisper against Popery the godly Preachers were other fled or committed to Prison where as Lambes they waited when the Butchers should call them to slaughter Maister Bradford that deuout and vertuons Preacher who was a miracle or our time was in the Kings Bench Taylor exhorted him to constant perseuerance vnto the end Maister Bradford praised God he had such a comfortable Prison-fellow Taylor told his Friends that came to sée him that GOD had graciouslie prouided for him for to send him where he found such an Angell of God to bée his comforter After Taylor had lyne in Prison a while hee was sent for and depriued because he maintained Priests marriage and would not bee separated from his Wife And after a yeare and thrée quarters when they had gotten the lawes put down that were made by King Henry the eight and King Edward against the Pope They sent for Taylor before my Lord Chancellor and either Commissioners the effect of whose communication with him he described himselfe as followeth First my Lord Chancellor said you amongst other are sent for to enioy the King and Queenes mercie if you will rise againe with vs from the fall which we geâ—erallie haue receiued in this Realme from the which we are deliuered miraculousliâ— If you will not you shall haue Iudgement To this I answered That so to rise should bee the greatest fall that euer I could receiue for I should fall from Christ vnto Anti-christ I will not decline from the Religion which was in King Edwards daiâ—s which is according to the word of God as long as I liue My Lord Chancellor asked me whether I had read his â—ooke vpon the Sacrament I said I had read it He asked mee how I liked it My Lord said I there are many things farre 〈◊〉 from GODS truth in that Booke then he cal'd me varlet I said that was as bad as foole then he called me ignorant Béelebrow I said My Lord you wrote a Booke De vera obedientia I would you had béen constant in that for you neuer did declare a good conscience as I heard of but in that Booke How like you that said my Lord I wrote against Priests mariage but y â— pleaseth not such as thou art I answered their procéedings now against Priests mariages is against naturall Law Ciuill Law Canon Law generall Councels Canons of the Apostles ancient Doctors and Gods Lawes Then because I would not turne I was sent to prison againe After Doctor Taylor Maister Bradford and Maister Sanders were called to appeare before my Lord Chancellor and other Commissioners where because they would not yéeld to papistry they were condemned and sentence was read against Taylor They reioyced that they were worthy to suffer for Christe Word and truth and they stoutly said vnto the Bishops GOD the righteous Iudge will require our bloud at your handes and the proudest of you all shall repont this receiuing againe of Antichrist and the tyranny you shew against Christes flocke So Taylor was sent to the Clinke hee said vnto the people that flocked about to sée him as he was going GOD bée praised good people I am come away from them vndefiled and will cenfirme the truth with my â—â—oud And at night hee was carryed vnto the Counter in the Poultrey where hee lay seauen nights Bonner came to the prison to him to disgrade him he said Maister
send an armie to restore the Roman Religion in England he would pray that the Roman armie might preuaile in that case and in that faith he would spend ten thousand millions of liues if hee had them whereupon hee was likewise condemned to bee hanged drawne and quartered Robert Sutton Priest was indited for the same treasons he said the Quéen was supreme gouernour within her Highnesse Dominions ouer all persons but not ouer all causes he was found guiltie and had his iudgement as the rest It was proued that Welden was sent ouer into the Low-countries to kill the Earle of Leicester who apprehended him and sent him ouer into England to which he answered he had done nothing but as a Catholike Priest ought to doe by the direction of our most holy Father the Pope being the head of the Church who onely hath authority ouer all persons and in all causes Ecclesiasticall and in this Roman Religion I will die Then he prayed all Catholikes to pray for him and so mumbling certaine Latin prayers he died The other likewise died as obstinate traytors as himselfe Doctor Lopez Stephano de Ferrera de Gama Manuell Lewis Tyuaco Portugalls DOctor Lopez was fauourably receiued into the Quéens house a long time as one of her physitians the other two were Portugalls lately receiued to the seruice of the King of Spain yet colourably resorting into this Realme Lopez confessed that hee was of late yeares allured secretly to doe seruice vnto the King of Spaine and from one of his Priuie Councell he receiued a Iewell of gold of good value garnished with a large Diamond and a large Rubie and afterward he assented to take away the Quâ—â—ns life by poysoning vpon reward promised him of fifty thousand crownes for which purpose hee sent a messenger ouer to Callice to confer with the Count â—uents for this practise and that after he sent an other messenger vnto Ibarra the King of Spaines Secretary and to the said Count Fuentes promising to poison the Queene if â—hee might haue the fifty thousand crownes that were offered deliuered vnto him and he confessed the other two were his messengers in the aforesaid messages and conspired with him to execute the same and they all confessed that the stay that it was not done proceeded much against their mindes for want of the deliuerie of the said fifty thousand crownes which was promised by a day But the King of Spaine finding fault that the messenger which should carry the money was too base a fellow to be trusted wâ—â—h so much deferred the sending thereof but after billes of Exchange were deliuered by the Count Fuentes for the money by the direction of the King of Spaine at the very instant when it should haue been done it pleased God of his goodnesse towards her Maiestie to suffer this conspiracie to be very happily diâ—couered by the diligence of one of the Lords of her Maiesties Priuy Councell so all the thrée offenders were taken with their Letters and writings expressing their owne actions and Councels and the directions of the King of Spaines Councellors and the other two confessed the like in effect as Lopez had done wherevpon they were all three condemned for treason and executed accordingly Manuel Lewis repented at his death and prayed God that all those things that are atchieued by the King of Spaâ—ne against the Quéenes Maiestie might take none effect and that all the treasons which are wrought may bee discouered that God would prolong the life of the Quéenes Maiestie as shee deserueth and her faithfull subiects desire Edmund Yorke and Richard Williams NOt long after Lopez his treason another like conspiracie was concluded at Bruxells to murder the Queene whereof Stephano Ibarra the King of Spaines Secretary procuring the sâ—me to bee done by the said Yorke and Williams and others and Hugh Owen an English Rebell a Spanish Pentioner deliuered vnto the said Yorke an assignation in writing subscribed by the said Secretarie Ibarra his hand for assurance of payment of forty thousand crownes to bee giuen vnto him from the King of Spaine if hee would kill the Queene or if hee would assist Richard Williams or any other that should haue performed the same and the assignation was deliuered vnto Holt a Iesuit an old English Rebell who produced the Sacrament and kissed iâ— and sware in the presence of Yorke and other Rebels that he would surely pay the same Money vnto him as soone as the fact should be committed and vpon this matter were three seuerall consultations of Englishmen being Rebels and Fugitiues and Pentioners of the King of Spaine The names of the principall parties of the consultations are William Stanley the said Holt a Iesuit Thomas Throgmorton the said Hugh Owen Doctor Gifford Doctor Worthington Charls Paget one Tipping Edward Garret and Michaell Moody but bâ— Gods good prouidence the said Yorke and Williams were taken comming into England and confessed the whole matter as aforesaid Holt said to Yorke many Englishmen haue failed to perform this enterprise but if it should not be performed by you he would after imploy strangers in it Patricke Cullen an Irishman HE was likewise a Pentioner of the King of Spaine and a Fencer he was perswaded by William Stanley and one Iaques who was his Lieutenant and one Shirwood and the said Holt to come secretly into England and to kill her Maiestie and he assented thereunto and had thirty pound of Stanley Iaques towards his iourney with offer of great reward and comming into England he was taken and by good proofes charged there with he confessed the same in the manner as is before here expressed Richard Hesketh HEe was a Gentleman of Lancashire well acquainted with the Lord Strange he was sent into England by Cardinall Allen William Stanley and Thomas Worthington to intice Ferdinand the Lord Strange sonne and heire to the Earle of Darby to take vpon himselfe the title to be heire vnto the crowne of England and to shew him the opinion of the Cardinall and many others that he should take vppon him the title of King with assurance of treasure and forreine forces to maintaine the same which the said Hesketh did very diligently performe with many reasons as he was instructed but the Lord Strange being at Heskeths comming newly Earle of Darbie by the death of his father was so wise and dutifull that he stayed Hesketh who vpon the Earles report was apprehended and confessed the whole matter wheupon he was condemned and shewed great repentance and cursed his instructors and was executed SQVIRE THis Uiper Squire was likewise sent by the inticement of the aforesaid Serpentine generation beyond Sea to kill her Maiestie his plot was to so poyson the pummell of her Saddle that if she did lay her hand vpon it her whole bodie should be therewith poysoned but by the sure prouidence of God which euer did preserue her and â—oreshew vnto her all her dangers to the preuention of them this practise came
it reioyced and the next day suffered with an 100. more Pusices séeing an old Father shrinke in the sight of the Martyrâ— said shut thine eies be strong and shortly thou shalt sée God wherefore the King caused an hole to be made in his necke and thereout pulled his tongue and so he was put to death and his Daughter a Uirgine died with him in Christs cause the number of them that were martyred in Persia was 15000. This comming to Constantines eares mooued him he graunted Sapores his Ambassadors all they requested thinking thereby to mooue him to fauour the Christians and wrote to them to take compassion on the Innocents and shewed how the hand of God had béene against Tyrants of the Church Beniamin for preaching Christ was thrust vnder the nailes with twenty sharpe prickes when hee laughed at it a sharpe Réede was thrust into his yard and a long thorny stalke vp into his body vntill hee died Under Iulianus Apostata Emilianus was burned Domitius was slaine in his Caue Theodorus singing a Psalme was tormented from morning to night hardly escaped with life and being asked how hee could abide the torments said at first I felt some paine but after there stood a young man by me who so refreshed me that it greeued me more when I was let down from the Ingine then before The Arethusians of Syria tooke a company of Uirgines Christians whom first they set sorth naked to bee scorned of the multitude then shaued them then couered them with draffe and caused them to bee deuoured of Swine their cruelty was the greater because Constantine restrained them from defiling Uirgines and destroyed the Temple of Venus Marcus Arethusius because at the commaundement of Constantine he pulled down a Temple of Idols and builded a Church for Christians in the place they stripped him naked and beat him gréeuously then put him in a filthy sincke then they caused Boyes to thrust him in with sharpe stickes then they annointed him with Hony and Broath and hung him in the Sunne as meat for Waspes and Flyes then they required somewhat towards the building of the Temple againe he answered it were as great impiety to conferre one halfe-peny to a matter of impiety as a great summe Constantine raigned about thirty yeares he was borne in Brittaine his Mothers name was Helena Daughter of King Coilus hee trauailed greatly for the peace of Christians he set peace amongst the Byshops at dissention hee made prouision for Preachers and caused all to bee restored vnto the Christians that was taken from them by Persecutors He wrote to his chéefe Captaine that Ministers should be fréed from all publique duties and burthens He wrote to Eusebius for the edifying of new Churches and after he had gathered the Nicene Councel for the vnity of the Church he writeth to Alexander and Arius for the same intent He inioyned a Prayer to his Souldiers in stead of Catechisme We knowledge thee onely to be our GOD we confesse thee onely to bee our King we call vpon thée our onely helper by thée we obtaine our victories by thee we vanquish our enemies to thee be attributed whatsoeuer commodities we presently enioy by thee we hope for good thinges to come vnto thee we direct all our sutes and petitions most humbly befeeching thee to keepe Constantinus our Emperour and his Noble Children to continue in long liâ—e and to giue them victory ouer their enemies through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen He graunted great immunities vnto the Ministers that they might appeale from the ciuill Iudge to their Byshop whose sentence was of as great value as if the Emperor had pronounced it He prouided maintenance for liberall Sciences and Arts for the Prosessors there Wiues and Children and gaue them great immunities He wrote to Eusebius Byshop of Nicomedia to procure fifty Uolumes of Parchment well bound and cause to bee written out of the Scripture therein in a leageable hand such things as were profitable for the instruction of the Church allowed him two Ministers for the businesse he was a Father to the Church and inforced himselfe euery way to set forth the Gospell and to suppresse the contrary The end of the tenth Persecution THE SECOND BOOKE Containing the next 300. yeares BY these Persecutions hitherto we may vnderstand that what the fury of Sathan and rage of men could deuise to do by death or torments all was to the vtmost attempted to extinguish the Name and Religion of Christ yet notwithstanding the wisedome of the world and the strength of men Christ hath the vpper hand as thou seest Now because the tying vp of Sathan giueth the Church rest we will leaue the affaires of the Uniuersall Church and prosecute the Histories of our Country of England and Scotland beginning with King Lucius with whom the Faith began first in this Realme The Papists doe earnestly contend that the Faith of Christ was first brought and receiued into England from Rome both in the time of Eleutherius their Byshop in the yeare 180. and also in the time of Augustine whom Gregory sent hither in the yeare 600. but it is proued otherwise by these seauen Arguments 1 Gildas affirmeth that Brittain receiued the Gospel in the time of Tyberius the Emperor vnder whom Christ suffered saith farther that Ioseph of Arimathia was sent of Philip the Apostle from France to Brittaine in the yeare 63. and remained héere all his time and founded the Faith amongst the Brittaines 2 Tertullian liuing about the time of Elutherius testifieth how the Gospell was dispersed by the Apostles reckoneth Brittany amongst the Countries conuerted by them 3 Origen before the daies of Elutherius said the Brittaines consented to Christianity 4 Bede affirmeth that 1000. yeares after Christ Easter was kept in Brittaine after the manner of the East Church on the fouretéenth day after the full Moone what day soeuer it was and not on sunday as we doe whereby is gathered the first Preacher came from the East rather then from Rome 5 Nicephorus Lib. 2. Cap. 4. saith Simon Zelotes spread the Gospell in Brittany 6 Petrus Cluniensis saith that the Scots in his time celebrated Easter after the manner of the Gréekes and as the Brittaines were not vnder the Romain order nor vnder their Legate in the time of Gregory nor would admit any primasie of the Byshop of Rome aboue them 7 By the Epistle of Elutherius to Lucius it appeareth that Lucius had receiued the Faith before he wrote to Elutherius for the Romaine Lawes Elutherius might help some-thing to conuert the King and to increase the Faith but was not the first that planted it but if it were so it maketh nothing for them for he challenged no such Supremacy as they doe and was farre from their errours and superstitions The Chroniles write that about the yeare 180. King Lucius Sonne of Coylus which builded Colchester hearing of the myracles of Christians in his time writ to Elutherius Bishop of
they so long time had continued Beda Fabianus others write of a myracle wrought vpon a Blinde Englishman when the Brittaines could not helpe him Austine kneeling downe and praying restored him to sight before them all for a confirmation as these Authours say of keeping of Easter I leaue the credite of the myracle to the Authors of whom I had it Austine gathered another Sinode to the which seauen Byshoppes and the wisest Men of the famous Cittie of Bangor came they tooke councell of a holy man whether they should be obedient to Austine he had them agree to him if hee bee the Seruant of GOD and you shall know it by his humblenesse and meekenesse you are the greater number if he at your comming into the Sinode arise vp and courteously receiue you perceiue him to be an humble and meeke man but if he shall contemne and despise you despise you him againe thus the Brittaine Byshoppes entring into the Councell Austine after the Romish manner keeping his Chaire would not remooue wherefore they being very much offended thereat after some heate of words departed in great displeasure to whom Austine said If they would not receiue peace with their Brethren they should receiue war with their Enemies There was in Bangor in Wales an exceeding great Monastery wherein was two thousand and one hundred Monkes the Monkes came out of this Monasterie to Chester to pray for Brocmayle fighting for them against the Saxons Ethelbert King of Northumberland seeing them intentiâ—e to their prayers and perceiuing it was to pray for their Consull he said although they beare no Weapon yet with their praiers and preaching they persecute vs he commaunded his men to kill them who killed or rather martyred 1100. of them The Authors that wrote this say that the forespeaking of Austine was verified on them but Galfridus Monumetensis saith that Ethelbert the King of Kent being conuerted by Austine to Christs Faith seeing the Brittaines deny their subiection to Austine therefore stirred vp the said Ethelfrid to warre against the Brittaines After Austine had baptized 10000. in a Riuer called Swale by Yorke on a Christmas day perceiuing his end to draw neere ordained Laurencius his Successor by his Baptizing in Riuers it followeth there was then no vse of Fonts and the Rites of baptizing in Rome was not then so ceremoniall nor had so many trinkets as it hath since and not long after Austine died after he had sitten Arch-bishop 15. or 16. yeares About this time also Gregory died who was called the basest of all the Byshops before him and the best of all that came after him Ranulphus Cestrensis writeth that Iohn the Patriarch of Alexandria as he was at prayer there appeared vnto him a comely Uirgine hauing on her head a Garland of Oliue Leaues which named her selfe Mercy promising him if he would take her to Wife hee should prosper well After that day this Patriarch was so mercifull to the poore that he counted them his Maisters and himselfe as Steward vnto them Gregory withstood the pride of Iohn Patriarke of Constantinople which would be the Uniuersall and Cheefe Bishop of all others calling him the fore-runner of Antichrist he brought in the Title of the Pope Seruus seruorum Dei Sabinianus succeeded him two yeares a malicious Detractor of his workes after him succeeded Bonifacius the third one yeare After Phocas had murdered his owne Maister Mauricius the Emperor and his Children thinking to establish the Empire to himselfe by friendship of his people and especially with the Pope he granted Boniface all his Petitions and to bee Uniuersall head Byshop ouer all Churches Hiraclius the Emperour that succeeded Phocas cut of his hands and feete and threw him into the Sea but Rome would not so soone loose the supremacy once giuen as the giuer lost his life for euer since they haue maintained the same with all force and pollicy by the word of Gregorie Boniface may well be called the fore-runner of Antichrist as Gregory brought in the Stile of Seruus seruorum Dei so he brought in Volumus mandamus Statuimus praecipimus Besides the building of Pauls as aforesaid by Ethelbert King of Kent and Sigebert King of Essex Ethelbert also founded the Church of S. Andrew in Rochester Moreouer he caused a Cittizen to make Westminster Abbey which was inlarged and new builded by Edward the Confessor and new re-edified by Henry the third and when he had raigned 56. yeares he died Anno 616. The foresaid Ethelfrid King of Northumberland after the cruell murder of the Monkes at Bangor was not long after slaine in the Fielde of Edwine who succeeded him in his Kingdome First this Ethelfride enuying this Edwine persecuted him who hauing fled from him as he sat in his Study a Stranger appeared vnto him and said I know thy thought and heauinesse what wouldst thou giue him that should deliuer thee out of this feare and make thee a mightier King then any of thy Predecessors and shew thee a better way of life then euer was shâ—wed to any of thy Ancestors wilt thou obey him and doe after his councell yea said Edwine promising with all his heart so to do and the stranger laying his hand on his head he said when this is come to passe remember thy tribulation and the promise which thou hast made and with that hee vanished away Presently a Friend of his came to him and said the heart of King Redwaldus is with thee This Redwaldus suddainely assembled an Hoast wherewith he suddainely gaue Ethelfride battell and slew him whereby Edwine was quietly King of Northumberland He marryed the Daughter of Ethelbert King of Kent Edwine yet remained a Pagan albeit his Queene a Christian and Paulinus the Byshoppe ceased not to perswade him to the Christian Faith When Paulinus saw the King so hard to bee conuerted he prayed to God for his conuersion who reuealer vnto him the Uision before mentioned whereupon Paulinus comming to the King he laie his handâ— on the Kings head and aked if he knew that token the King beâ—ring the Uision and remembring the token would haue falâ—en at his fâ—ete but suffeâ—ed him not saying O King you haue vaquished your enemies and obtained your Kingdom now receiue the Faith of Christ as you promised whereupon the King was baptized of Paulinus at Yorke with many of his seruants and his Idolatrous Priests which by their old Law mustride but vpon Marâ—s gaâ—e vpon Horses and rode and destroyed all the Altars of their Idols and their Idols Temple After this conuersion was so great peace in the Kingdome oâ— Edwin that a woman laden with gold might goe safe from the one side of the Sea vnto the other and by all his high waies he chained a Bowle of brasse at euery Fountaine for passengers to refresh themselues with and no man tooke them away during his life King Oswald a Christian by prayer vnto God with a little company ouercâ—me Cadwallo and Penda
hee was worthy to receiue such a present from England and made Proclamation for the performance When Iue King of the West Saxons had ruled them 37. yeares he was perswaded by his wife Etheburge to goe to Rome to be made a Munke when the king anâ— she had rested in a faire Palace richly adorned she commanded all the roomes in the Palace to be strewed with Dung of vile beasts and hogs and beasts to be laid therein and a Sowe and pigs in her chamber then she brought the King to visit the Palace and said My Lord where are now the rich clothes of gold and siluer that we leâ—t héere where are the pleasant Seruitors delicacies and costly dishes that we lately were serued with We shall vanish away as sodainly as these worldly things be passed our bodies that are now delicatly kept shall turne vnto the filth of the earth therfore busie you to purchase the Palace that euer shall indure by meanes of these and other words the King resigned his Kingdome vnto Etheraldus his Nephew and for the loue of Christ in the habit of a poore man accompanied with poore men went to Rome and his wife went into the Nunnery of Barkin seauen miles from London where after she had beene Abbesse a certaine time she died This â—ue was the first King of the Saxons that made Lawes for his Country In this time was Beda a man of worthy memory he was a Priest of the Monastery of Peter and Paul at Wire at 7. yeares old he was committed to the education of Benedict as before at 19. yeares old â—e was made Deacon and at 30 Priest He wrote 37. Uolumes in his Treatise vpon Samuel he said If my exposition bring no vtilitie to the readers yet it conduceth not a little to my selfe that whilst my cogitation was vpon them I had little minde of the slippery intisements of the world hee continued in diligent study vntill the age of 62. yeares and in his latter end whilst he was sicke seauen weekes he translated the Gospell of Saint Iohn into English Celulphus king of Northumberland when hee had raigned 8. yeares was made a Mâ—â—ke in the Abey of Farne where by his meanes Licence was giuen to the Monks of that house to drinke wine or Ale which before by the institution of the aforesaid Aydanus drunke nothing but milke and water Cutbert Archbishop of Canterbury collected a great Sinod where these decrées were enacted that Bishops should be more diligent in seeing to their Office then in admonishing the people and liue in peace one with another and once a yeare goe about all the Parishes of their Diocesse That they should admonish Abbots and Monks to liue Regulâ—rly and Prelats not to oppresse their infertours but loue them that none should be admitted to Orders before his life was examined that the reading of holy Scripâ—ures shouâ—d be more frequented in Monasteries that Priests should not dispose seculer businesses that they should take no money for baptizing that they should teach the Lords prayer and Créed in the English tongue that they should ioyne in their Ministery after one vniforme manner that they should sing in the Church with a modest voice that the Saboth be reuerently obserued that the 7. Canonicall Powers be obserued euery day that the Rogation daies should not be omitted that a Festiual day for all Saints should be celebrated and a Feast of S. Gregory anâ— S. Austin our Patron should be obserued that the fasts of the 4. times should be kept that Churchmen should not giue themselues to drunkennesse that the Communion should not be neglected of the Clergy nor 〈◊〉 that Laymen should be examined and well tried before they become Monkes that Monkes should not liue amongst Lay-men that publike prayer should bee made for Kings and Princes Boniface Archbishop of Mentz a Martyre an English man wrot a Letter to King Ethelbert and rebuked him for abstaining from Mariage that he might liue in luxuriousnesse with Nunnes and that he heard the chiefe of hiâ— Kingdom by his example forsooke their wiues and liued in adultery with Nunnes whereby appeareth the great disorder of life that alwaies hath beene in these Religious houses of Nunnes whose vowe of coacted chastitie hath neuer beene good to Church or Common-wealth and this Boniface and others were most to blame for that they gâ—uâ— occasion thereof by maintaining such superstitious orders of lasciuious Nunnes and other religious restraining them from lawfull Mariage For we finde of him in Stories that he being the Popes Legate builded Monasteries Canonized Saints commanded Reliques to be worshipped permitted religious Fathers to carry about Nunnes with them a preaching and he founded the great Monastery of Fâ—loa in Germany of English Monkes in which no woman might enter but only Leba and Secâ—a two English Nuns and by him Childericus king of France was deposed and Pipinus the betrayer of his master made king From this Boniface proceeded that detestable doctrine that in case the Pope liued most filthily and neglected himselfe and all Christianitie and led inumerable Soules with him to Hell yet ought no man to rebuke him because he hath power to iudge all men and ought to be iudged of no man Pope Gregory the 2. Pope Gregory the 3. Pope Zachary and Pope Constantine the 1. wrought great masteries against the Gréeke Emperours Philipicus and Leo and others for the maintaining of Images in Churches of whom Philipicus lost both his Empire and his eyes and Leo was excommunicated for the same cause This Gregory then brought into the Masse Canon the clause for Reliques and the Sacrifice for the dead And Zachary brought in the Prieste Uesture and Ornaments and Constantinus was the first that gaue his feet to be kissed of the Emperours The aforesaid Pipinus which was the betrayer of his said master Childericus king of France and by the Pope made king in his steed to gratifie the Sea of Rome for this benefit to him gaue vnto the said sea the Princedome of Rauenna and the Kingdome of Lombards and many other great possessions of Italy with all the cities thereunto adioyning vnto the borders of Uenice and this no doubt is the same which falsly hath beene thought to haâ—e beene the Donation of Constantine To this Pipinus was sent first into France the inuention of the Orgaines out of Grecia by Constantinus Emperour of Constantinople in the yeare 757. Pope Stephanus succeeded pope Constanâ—inus and Paul the 1. succeeded him hee thundred great Excommunications against Constantinus Emperour of Constantinople for plucking downe Images set vp in the Temples notwithstanding he neglecting his curâ—es destroyed Idolatry to the end of his life Then Constantinus the 2. came to be Pope a Layman brother to Desideâ—ius king of Lumbardy but he was shortly deposed thrust into a Monastery his eyes put out Stephanus the 3. succéeded Paul he coÌ„demned the seauenth Councel of Constantinople for Hereticall because the worshipping
him buried in Christian buriall at length by perswasion of his kinred he was buried in Christian buriall Ater the death of Sythericus King of Northumberland King Adelstone seazed that Prouince into his hands and put out his sonne Alanus who fled into Scotland maried the daughter of Constantine King of Scots by whose stirring gathered a company of Danes Scots and others and entred the North of Humber with a strong Nauie of 615. shippes King Adelstone and his people ioyned in fight with them at a place called Binford where fighting with them from morning till night after a terrible slaughter on both sides the like hath not béene seene in England King Adelstone had the victorie fiue vnder kings were slaine in that battell with Constantine King of Scots and twelue Dukes with the most part of the strangers that were there Then King Adelstone subdued the Brittaines and forced them to grant to him yearely tribute 20. lib. of gold 300 lib. of â—iluer 2500. heads of neate with a certaine number of hawkes and dogs King Adelstone caused his guiltlesse brother Edwine through sinister suggestion of his Cup-bearer to be set in an old rotten bote in the broad sea onely with one Esquire with him without any tackling where the tender Prince dismaiâ—e with the â—age oâ— Windes and Flouds weary of his life cast himselfe into the Sea the Esquire shifâ—ed for himselfe and recouered the body of his maister and brought it to Sandich were it was buried The reason the King the more doubled of his brother was because he was by his mother of a base bloud and begotten before wedlocke for King Edward his Father comming into his Nurses house was rauished with the beautie of one Edwina a beautifull maide begat that night of her King Adelstone and afterward married her after the King was stricken with great repentance for the death of his brother by the space of seauen yeares at length the Cup-bearer his accuser bearing the Cuppe vnto the King stumbled with one foote and recouering himselfe with the other saying Thus one brother helpeth another These words so moued the king that forthwith he commaunded the false accuser of his brother to bee had out to execution and he builded two Monasteries of Middleton and Michlenes for his brothers Soule Whereby it appeareth what was the speciall cause of building of Monasteries to wit for releasing of sinnes for them departed and them aliue which is contrarie to the grace and veritie of Christs Gospell He deuised diuers good and wholsome lawes as well of the state Ecclesiasticall as Seculer which thou maist see in the booke at large whereby it is to bee vnderstoode that the vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome did not then extend or derogate from the authoritie of Christian Princes but that euery one in â—is owne Dominion had the doing of all causes whether they were spirituall or temporall he raigned 16. yeares and because he had no Issue his brother Edmond succéeded him This Edmond expelled the Danes Scots Normanes and all forraine enemies out of the Land and recouered such Cities as were in their hands from them then the King set his minde to building of Monasteries and furnishing of Churches with possessions in his time Monks were dispersed out of the Monastery of Esham and Canons substituted in their place At the first Religious houses were replenished with Priests and Canons which were Clergie men after Monkes succéeded they professed Chastitie that is to 〈◊〉 vnmaried for so they defined Chastitie in those blinde daies the Priests and Canons liued more frée from Monkish rules and obseruations were commonâ—y marieâ— and in their life came néerer to seculer Christians so there was great enmitie betweene them one â—uer sought to expell the other Thus Monkes first beganne about the time of this King Edmond when straitnes of life with superstition was had in veneration which men either to haue publike fame with men or merit of God gaue themselues to leade a strict life There was a Monastery in Fraunce called Floriake of the rule of Benedict from whence came our English Monkes for after they were professed there returning into England they daily congregated men to their profession and for their outward holinesse and straite life weâ—e in great admiration not onely with the rude sort but with Kings and Princes who founded them Houses maintained their rules and inlarged them with possessions After King Edmund had raigned 6. yeares and a halfe he was slaine and buried at Glastenbury leauing bebing him two children Edwine and Edgar but because they were vnder age Edred brother to King Edmund gouerned as Protector nine yeares with great moderation and fidelity to the young children Edwine eldest sonne of King Edmond was crowned at Kingstone the day of his Coronation he forsooke his Nobles and went into a Chamber to a woman whom he inordinately had retained Dunstone Abot of Gâ—astenbury followed the King into the Chamber and brought him out by the hand and accused him to Odo Archbishop causing him to be separated from her company for which â—act Odo suspended the king out of the Church The king being displeased banished Dunstone who went into Flanders where hée was in the Monastery of Aâ—andus about that time the order of Benedict Monkes or blacke Monkes beganne to multiply in England so that Priests and Canons were put out in many places and Monkes put in their 〈◊〉 but King Edwine for the displeasure he bare to Dunstone so vexed all the Order of the said Monkes that in Malmesbury Glastenbury and other places he thrust out the Monks and set seculer Priests in their steed Edwine being hated of his Subiects for his misdemeaners was remoued from his kingly honour and his brother Edgar receiued in his stéede yet one raigned ouer all on the one side of the Thâ—mes and the other on the other side of the Thames but Edwine after hee had raigned 4. yeares dyed leauing no Heire wherefore all fell to Edgar Edgar at the age of 16 yeares began to raigne but was not crowned vntill 14. yeares after He sent for Dunstone home againe whom Edwin had exiled he was made Bishop of Woster and after of London and not long after of Canterbury By his intreâ—tie to the King Oswoldus was made Bishop of Woster and by his meanes also Ethelwaldus Abbot of Abendon was made Bishoppe of Winchester By the meanes of these thrée Bishoppes the multitnde of Monkes began first to swarme in this Realme of England By the meanes of them King Edgar builded 40. Monasteries and by the instigation of them King Edgar in diuerse great houses and Cathedrall Churches where Prebends and Priests were before displaced them and set in Monkes and many seculer Priests being put to their choyce whether they would change their habit or leaue their roomes departed out of their houses After Oswaldus was made Archbishop of Yorke and then they had their minde and when he by no perswasion could make
meete vs in the borders of the King though we offered him safe comming we to satisfie his minde condescended to meete him at a place which hee appointed within the Land of the French King we exhorted him humbly to submit himselfe vnto his soueraigne and King who had heaped him with such benefits and dignities after aduise with his Counsâ—ll hee said he would submit himselfe to the King sauing the honour of God the libertie of the Church the honestie of my person the possessions of Churches and the Iustice of him and all his in all things wee asked him whether hâ— would submit himselfe to vs as the King and the Bishops were content to doe he said he had a commandement from you not to answere before he and all his were restored to all their possessions then he would proceed in the matter as hee should receiue commandement from the Sea Apostolick whereof wee made relation to the King yet keeping back a great part which we had heard and séene which when the King and Nobles vnderstood the King said he was so much the more cleere for that the Archbishop would not stand to Iudgement after much heauinesse and lamentation of the King Bishops and Abbots they required of vs whether wee had any power to proceed against him and perceiuing wee had none least the Archbishop should worke any disquietnes to any of the Noble personages of the Realme agreed together with one assent to make their appellation to your audience prefixing accordingly the terme of their appeale The Archbishop saying he stood onely for the peace of the Church one of the Cardinals offered him if he would relinquish his Bishoppricke the King should relinquish his Customes He answered He could not renounce his Church sauing the honour of the Church and his person but it standeth vpon the soules health and honor of the King to renounce his customes After the Cardinals were gone the French King séeing the King of England disquieted and sâ—â—icitous of peace pretending to set agréement betwixt them the King and the Arch-bishop both were content to stand to his arbiterment The Archbishop prostrating himselfe at the féete of the King of England said he would commit the whole matter to his owne arbiterment Saluo honore Dei the King was highly there-with displeased rebuking him of pride and stubbornenesse and charged him with sundry and great benefits bestowed on him and hee a person vnkind and forgetfull And speaking to the French King there present said whatsoeuer displeaseth this man hee saith it is contrary to the honour of God and by this meanes will vindicate to himselfe that which is his owne and mine too there haue bin Kings of England of greater and lesse puissance then I am there haue haue béen Archb. of Canterbury both great holy men what the best of them haue done to my predecessors before me let him doe the same to me and I am content the standers by with one voice cried the king hath debased himselfe enough to the Bishop the French King said what my Lord will you be better then those holy men will you be greater then Peter you haue peace and quietnes put in your hands if you will take it he answered my predecessors euery one in his time did pluck vp and correct something in his time though not all things for then there would bee no cause of this fire of temptation to try vs though some haue béen slack we are not to follow their examples we rebuke Peter for denying Christ but we commend him for resisting Nero hee could not in his conscience consent vnto him he did not dissemble wherby he lost his life by such oppressions the Church hath alwaies growne our forefathers suffered because they would not dissemble the honour of Christ shall I to haue the fauour of one man suffer the honour of Christ to be supprest the Noble men standing by noted him of arrogancy and wilfulnes and one openly protested that séeing he refused the request of both kingdomes hee was worthy of the help of neither as England had reiected him so France should not entertaine him One of the Archbishops Chapleins writeth that the French king prostrated himselfe at the féet of the Archb. repented he had giuen him such councell in a case pertaining to the honour of God desired to be assoiled and that Henry sent to the king to desire him not to support his enemy within his Realme the French King vtterly denied the Kings request and tooke part rather with the Archbishop The King of England returned from Normandy into England in the 16. yéere of his reigne kept his Court of Parliament at Westminster by assent both of the Clergy Temporalty caused his sonne Henry to be crowned King the Coronation was done by the Archbishop of Yorke other Bishops assisting Becket not beeing called tooke no little displeasure and so did the French King hearing that Margaret his Daughter was not like wise crowned with her husband wherevpon hee came with a great armie to Normandie but the King sent his sonne to him which intreated peace promising that his sonne should be crowned againe and his daughter crowned with him Becket sent to the Pope complaining of foure Bishops especially the Archbishop of York who durst be so bold in his absence without his licence to crowne the king being a matter peculiar to his Iurisdiction at whose instance the Pope excommunicated the Bishop of London the other thrée with the Archbishop hee suspended they resorted to the King declaring how miserable there case stood for fulfilling his commandement the King was highly moued The King of France with his Clergy and Courtiers slacked no occasion to incite the Pope to excommunicate the King of England also thinking to haue some aduantage against the Realme neither was the King ignorant of this which made him the readier to agree The pope sent two Legats with full commission either to driue the K. to be reconciled or to be excommunicated the King seeing himselfe in great straites which he could not auoid and by the mediation of the king of France and other great prelates and Princes of the king was content to be reconciled with the Archb. whom he receiued into his Realme and granted him free returne to his Church But he would not grant him his lands vntill he came into England and did see how he would agrée with his subiects he was ioifully receiued of his church albeit he was not very welcome vnto the yong king so that comming to London to the king he was returned back to Canterbury and bid to keepe his house hee excommunicated one Robert de Brocke on Christmas day for cutting off the taile of one of his Horses the day before hee would not absolue the foresaid foure Bishops without cauâ—els and exceptions who went to Normandie to the king and complained of the miserable state vncourteous handling which made him conceiue such displeasure towards Becket that
Slaues He married his Cosens Neeces and kinswomen I will not say his Daughters vnto the best Barons and Earles yet his Grand-father was a poore plowman and his Father a Cow-heard and hauing thus tyrannously abused his office fearing examination fled with a few of his trusty seruants to Douer Castle to haue stolne beyond Sea and comming in a womans apparell with a peâ—ce of cloth vnder his arme and a mete rod in his hand being taken vpon suspâ—tion his Kercheefe plucked off his Balaams marke or shauen Crowne appeared the people wondred raiâ—ed and spit on him and drew him some by the armes some by the legges ouer the Sea sands vntill they brought him to a darke Seller with shame enough to be kept till the Councell â—ent for him to the Tower of London where he was â—xamined depriued and banished the Realme after restored by King Richard and sent to Rome but died by the way As King Richard returned from the Holy Land driuen by diâ—â—resse of weather about the parts of Austria he was taken in Synaca by Hubald Duke of the same countrey and sold to the Emperour for 60000. marke the Emperour writ of the matter to the King of France that hee might reioyce with 〈◊〉 at lenâ—th King Richard was ransomed for 140000. Crownes and as he was comming into England besieging a Castle in Pictauia tooke his deadly wound and being sick amongst others Fulco Archbishop of Roane came to him who said to the King O mighty King thou hast thrée Daughters very vicious prouide good Husbands for them least thou incurre great damage and thâ— vtter ruine the King called him lying and mocking hypocrite saying all the world knoweth I haue no daughters he answerd yes if it pâ—ease your Grace I meane greedy couetousnâ—sse mischieuous pride filthy â—uxury againe I say O King beware of them and get them marriages Wherevpon the King calling his Lords and Barrons â—â—â—laring the matter to them and said wherefore heere before you all I giue my Daughter swelling pride vnto the proud Templers to Wife and my Daughter gréedie Auaricâ— vnto the couetous and Cistertian Monkes and last of all tâ—y filthy Daughter Luxury to the ryotous Prelates of the Church whom I thinke vâ—ry meete for them The King not long after departed without issue and Iohn his Brother raigned after him the Arch-bishop putting his crowne vpon his head swearing him to deâ—end the Church and his good lawes and destroy the euill and except he thought in his minde to doe this he charged him not to presume to take vpon him this dignitie On Iohn Baptist day next after he went to Normandy where he was royalâ—y receiued and a truce made betwixt him and the French King and the Earle of Flanders and all the Lords of France that were in league with King Richard camâ— to him and were sworne vnto him Not long after the French King made Arthur Knight and tooke homage of him for Normandy Brittaine and all his possessions beyond the Sea and promised him help against King Iohn after the French King and King Iohn with their Nobles spake together an houre the French King asked him much land for himselfe and King Arthur whâ—ch he would not gâ—ant but departed in wâ—ath The same yeere a Legate came into France and commanded the King vpon paine of interdiction to deliuer one Peter out of prison which was elected to a Bishoprick who was deliuered the same Legate came into England and commanded King Iohn vpon paine of interdiction to deliuer the Arch-bishop whom hee had kept in prison two yeares which the King denied vntill he had payed him six thousand markes because hee had tooke him in harnesse in a field against him and he swore him hee should neuer beare harnesse against a Christian man This time King Iohn his wife were diuorced because they were in the third degrée of kindred and after by the Councell of the French King was married vnto the Daughter of the Earle of Anguilla and then Arthur of Brittan did homage for Brittaine and other his possessions to King Iohn This time was strife betwixt the King and the Archbishop of Yorke because he would not suffer the Sheriffe to do such affaires as he had to d ee in his Dioces for the King and excommunicated the Sheriffe and would not go with the King into Normandy to make the marriage betwixt the French Kinges Sonne and his Néece The King of France required King Iohn to depart with all his Landes in Normandy and Pictauia c. vnto Arthur his Nephew else hee would warre against him which he denying the next day the French King with Arthur set vpon certaine of his Towns and Castles in Normandy but he was so repulsed of the English who followed so néere and so inforced vpon them that they took Arthur and many other Prisoners and left none to beare tydings home This Arthur was the Sonne of Geffery the elder Brother of King Iohn Geffery was the third Son of Henry the second and Iohn was his fift Son Arthur being taken was brought to the King home he exhorted him with many gentle words to leaue thâ— King of France and incline to his Unclâ— hee stoutly required the kingdome of England with all things thereunto belonging to bee restored to him as lawfull heire of the Crowne Whereupon he was committed to the Tower of Roane wherâ— he finished his life No Story agréeth certainly how whether by leaping into the Ditch or no. The next yeare King Iohn lost all his possessions in Normandy by the force of the French King This yeare grew great dissention about chusing the Archbishop of Canterbury the younger sort of the Monkes there at midnight and before the old Arch-bishop was buried and without the Kings assent elected one Renald sending hâ—m to the Pope charging him vpon his oath to be secret but he reuealed the matter whereby the rest of the Monkes sent priuily to Rome and sent to the King for hâ—s assâ—nt to chuse an Archbishop the King granted their petition desiring them to shew â—auour to Iohn Gray Bishop of Norwich which they did and elected him and the King sent to Rome at his owne charge to haue this election ratified â—he Suffragans of Canterbury sent likewise to Rome to haue both those elections frustrated because their assents were not to them The next yeare the Pope dâ—cided the matter betwiâ—t the Monkes and Suffrigans pronouncing with the Monks charging the Suffragans and Bishop to meddle no more with that election The next yeare the Pope decided the controuersie betwixt the younger Monkes and the elder Monkes and condemned both their elections commaâ—nding them to chuse Steuen Langton Cardinall of Saint Chrisogone for their Arch-bishop they said they durst not for feare of the King and that it was preiudiciall to their liberties He in a fury said We will you to know that we haue full power ouer the Church of Canterbury and
the land and that you receiue Stephen Archbishop into his dignity and the Prior of Canterbury and his Monkes and yeeld againe to the Archbishop all his Lands and rents and Sir yet moreouer that you shall make such restitution to them as the Church shall thinke good The King answered he would gladly grant their request touching the Prior and Monkes of Canterbury but touching the Archbishop let him giue vp the Archbishopricke and I will giue him some other Bishopricke vpon this condition I will admit him otherwise not Then one of them said holy Church was neuer wont to disgrade Archbishop without reasonable cause but to correct Princes that were disobedient to her What now quoth the King threaten you me They said You haue told vs what is in your heart now we will tell you what is in the Popes will He hath wholly interdicted and accursed you for your wrongs to holy Church and the Clergy and we doe accurse all those that shall common with you hereafter and we assoyle all Earles Barons Knights and others from their homage fealty and seruice they should doe to you and to confirme this we giue power to the Bishops of Winchester and Norwich and the same power ouer Scotland we giue vnto the Bishops of Rochester and Salisbury and in Wales wee giue the same power to the Bishops of Saint Dauid Landaffe and Saint Assaph And we send throughout all Christendome to all Bishops to accurse all that helpe and comfort you in any néede And we aâ—â—oyle all your aduersaries and command them to warrâ— with you and with all that are enemies to the Church Then the king answered What may you doe more They said we say to you in verbo Dei that no heire of yours after this day may be crowned Then the King sware if hee had knowne their newes hee would haue kept them out this tweluemonth Upon this occasion Pope Inocent commanded ageine in paine of his great curse that none should obey King Iohn nor kéepe company with him to eate drinke common or Councell with him or his seruants to doe him any seruice at bed boord hall or stable But the greater part that sled from him by this meanes of diuerse and sundry diseases that yeare died Betwixt England and France that yeare fell great amitie but false to the bitter betraying of England Further the Pope with his Cardinals gaue sentence definitiue that King Iohn should be deposed from his Regal Seat and promised Phillip the French King full remission of all his 〈◊〉 and cleare possession of the Realme of England vnto him and his heirs if he did either kill him or expel him Moreouer he wrote vnto other Nations that they should take vpon them the badge of the Crosse and reuenge him of the manifold iniuries done to the vniuersall Church by the cursed Tuâ—ke and Pagan King Iohn The next yeare the French King manned with the Bishops Monkes Prelates and Priests and their seruants began his attâ—mpt in hope of the Crowne of England but the English Nauie tooke 300. of the French Kings ships loaden with wheat wine meate flesh Armour and other necessaties for warre and burnt 100. within the Hauen and tooke the spoyle of them The Priests of England prouided them a false prophet one Peter Wakeâ—ield they noysed daily amonst the Commons that Christ had twise appeared to him in shape of a childe betwixt the Priests hands once at Yorke and againe at Pomfret and breathed saying Peace peace peace and that he was rapt in spirit and hee saw the â—oyes of Heauen and sorrowes of Hell He prophecied of King Iohn that he should raigne no longer then â—scention day within the yeare of our Lord 1213. Being asked the question he could not tell whether he should be slaine expelled or of himselfe giue ouer the Crowne but he was sure he nor none of his stocke should raigne that day once fiâ—â—shed The King laughed thereat when he sawe himselfe out of dangeâ— He prated thereof at large so that they which lâ—ned the King apprehended him and put him in prison the King not knowing therof the fame hereof went through the whole Realme and the more becauâ—e he was imprisoned When the prophesied Ascention day was came King Iohn commaunâ—ed his Regal Tent to be spred abroad in the open field and passed the day with his Noble Councel and men of Honour in the greatest solemnity that euer hee did before When that day was passed withall his enemies turned it to an alâ—goricall vnderstanding and said He is no King for the Pope raigneth and not he yet raigned he stil and his sonne after him to proue the prophet alyer And because this false prophet had troubled the Realme peruerted the people raised the Commons against the King and was caried ouer the Sea by the Prelates and gaue incouragement to the French King to inuade the Land the King commaunded the false prophet should be hanged and his sonne least any more should rise of his race At length the King seeing himselfe so compassed with enemies and treasons and great danger that was like to follow especially fearing the French King was inforced to submit himselfe to that execrable monster and Antichrist of Rome conuerting his Land into the patrimony of Saint Peter as many other had done before him for hee was sure though not without shame being vnder his protection no forraine Potentate was able to subdue him King Iohn made a Letter obligatory to the Pope in this manner Whereas wee haue grieuously offended God and our mother Church of Rome and our body and Realme is not a sufficient satisfaction to him that humbled himselfe on the Crosie for vs through Councell of the noble Earles and Barons we freely grant vnto God and the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul and to our mother Church of Rome and to our holy Father Pope Inocent the third and all the Popes that come after him all the Realme and patronage of the Churches of England and Ireland with all the appurtenances for the remission of our sinnes and the helpe of our kinsfolkes soules and of all Christian Soules so that henceforth we will hold as Farmer to her Mother Church doing fealtie to the Pope and his successors Wee will doe homage to the Popes Legate as it were in the Popes presence paying â—or all manner of Custome which we shoâ—ld doe for the said Realmes yearely 1000. markes of siluer sauing to vs and our heires our Iustices and our Franchises and other realties that appertaine to our Crowne And for the assurance hereof we binde our successors and heires that if any of our heires shall goe against these things and being warned will not an end he shall then loose the foresaid Realmes for euermore But before the releaâ—ment of the Interdiction the king was compelled to giue ouer his Crowne and Scepter to the Antichrist of Rome for fiue dayes and to receiue it at another Cardinals hands Then all that had their hearts
destruction that is comming towards you and your Realmâ— Prince Lodowicke hath sworne a great oath and sixtéene of his Earles and Nobâ—es are of 〈◊〉 with him that if he obtaine the Crowne of England he will â—anish and depriue of their Lands and goods all that hâ— now findeth to goe against their leach King and are Traytors to him vpon my Faith nâ—w lying at Gods mercie I was one that was 〈◊〉 to the same and with teares he said take héede in time your King for a 〈◊〉 hath kept you vnder but if Lodowicke preuaile he will put you from all hee had them kéepe his counceâ—l and so he dyed This trobled the Barons and seeing withall 〈◊〉 Prince Lodowicke obtained by warres he gaue to French men in spite of them saying they were but Traytors They at length concluded to submit themselues 〈…〉 neuer drunke before I trust this Wassell shall make all England glad and dranke a great draught thereof the king pledged him the Munke went away and 〈◊〉 buâ—st out and hee dyed and had euer after thrée Monkes to sing continually Masse for his Soule confirmed by their generall Chapter I would you would see how religiously they bestow heir confessions absolutions and Masses King Iohn feeling himselfe not well asked for Symon the Monke they answered he was dead then the tooke his Chariot and departed and dyed within three dayes He admonished that his Sonne Henry would learne by his example to be genâ—le and leuing to his natiue people He being imbalmed his bowels were burâ—â—ed in Crompton Abbey his Soldiers â—olded his Corps triumphantly in Armour and honourably buried him in the Cathedrall Church or Worcester hauing raigned 17. yeares 6. monethâ— and odde daies After whose death the Princes Lords Barons and strangers that were on the kings part with the Councell of the Legate Gualdo proclaimed Henry his sonne king and at Gloster with the Earle there they annointed and Crowned him King bâ— the Legate Gualdo assisted with the Bishops of Winchester and Bath and called him Henry the third The Pope sent with all spéede that they should mightily stand â—ith the young king being but ten yeares old and defend England with Armâ—ur and his thundring curses against Lodowicke Hée confirmed his Legat Gualdo and committed to his discretion all that appertained to his Office none to appeale from him Hee compelled the Prelates to bée sworne to the young King and punished them which refused Thâ— Bishop of Winchester laid a heauie talke vpon his beneficed men to helpe the king in his warres Gualdo left not one beneficed man vnpunished that had taken part with the French King In this yeare Gualdo was sent for home to Rome for by this time he had welfaâ—oredly vnladen the purses of the Clergie men and returned with all his bags well stuffed leauing Cardinall Pandulfe behind him to supply his Baliwicke The Bishop of Lincolne not long before paid 1000. markes for recouery of his Office and an hundred markes to the Legate for his goodwill so were other holy Prelates and Priests taught by his example Inocentius Pope condemned Almeriâ—us a worthy Bishop for an hereticke for teaching and holding against Images also he condemned the Doctrine of Ioachim Abbas as before for heresie He brought in first the paying of priuie tyâ—hes and the receiuing once at Easter and the reseruation of the Sacrament and the going before it with a bell and a light He stirred vp Otho against Phillip the Emperour because he was elected without his will whereupon followed much slaughter in Germany and against Otho which he had made Emperour he set vp Fredericke king of Ciâ—le and caused the Archbishop of Mayence to excommunicate him and depose him of his Empire for which cause the Princes of Germany did inuade his Bishopricke and burned his possession all was because Otho held certaine Cities Townes and Câ—stles which the Pope said belonged to him In his time came the order of Blacke Friers called the Preaching Fryers it began of one Dominicke a Spaniard who after he had Preached ten yeares against the Albigenses and others that held against the Pope comming to Lateran desired to haue his Order of Preaching Fryers confirmed which the Pope refused vntill hee dreamt that the Church of Lateran was readie to fall vntill Dominicke came and propped it vp with his sholders and so preserued it The Pope waking called Dominicke to him and grâ—nted his request Dominicks mother being great with child dreameâ— she had a wolfe in her wombe which had a burning torâ—ch in his mouth the which dreame the Preachers of that order aduance to their glory In his time came vp the order of the Minorits of one Frances an Italian hee left off shooes had but one cote of vile cloth and an hempen cord about his middle and so apparelled his Disciples teaching them to fulfill the perfection of the Gospell walke in pouertie and holy simplicitie this rule was confirmed by Pope Innocent Many Nobles and others in Rome builded manflons for him and his disciples he was likewise strâ—â—t to his flesh leauing clothes in winter he 〈◊〉 himselfe in Ice and snow he called pouerty his Lady he kept nothing ouer night he was so desirous of Martyrdome that he went to Siria to the Soldaâ— who receiued him honourably it is written that Christ and his Saints marked him with fiue wounds These Franciscans or begging Fâ—â—ers though they haue but one Rule they haue many Orders there by 101. seueral sorts of Friers and Nunnes which the reader if he be disposed may see in the booke at lâ—rge with their names Fol 70. Hildegardis a Nunne a Prophetesse liued in the yeare 1170. She reprehendeth grieuously the abhominations of the lâ—ues of the Spiritual Papists the contempt of their Office and destruction of Gods children with these words Now is the Law neglected amongst the Spirituall which neglâ—ct to Preach and to doe good things The masters and Prelates sleepe and neglâ—ct Iustice. The Church appeared to her in the shape of a 〈◊〉 her face 〈◊〉 with dirt and her 〈◊〉 rent complaining that the Priests did not shine ouer the people neither in Doctrine not example but contrary did driue the innocent lambe from them that Ecclesâ—asticall order grew worse and worse and Priests destroyed the law of God and did not teach it and prophâ—â—eth to them Gods heauie wrath and punishments She prophesieth likewise of the reformation of Religion and saith it shall be most godly saying Then shall the Crowne of the Apostolicall honour bee deuided because there shall be found no religion amongst them and the name of that dignity shall bée despised and they shall sâ—t ouer them other men and other Archbishops and the Apostolicall order shall haue scarce Rome and a â—ew other Countries thereabout vnder his Crownâ— and this shall be done partly be warâ—es and partly by a common consent of Spirituall and Seculer persons then Iustice shall florish and men shall honestly apply themselues to the
in any cause without great guifts and expences whereof the pouertie of the Church is the cause therefore it is sit that you as naturall Children should helpe and succour your Mother for if wee should not receiue of you and other good men we should lacke which were a great dishonour to our dignity The King answered Hee could doe nothing because it concerned the Commons and he assâ—mbled a Councell hee was answered they could conclude nothing because the Arch-Byshoppe the King and other whom it concerâ—ed were not there The next yeare the same Cardinall came againe into England and summoned all the Clâ—argy to another Councell to be held in the Cathedrall Church of S. Paule in London for redressing of diuers and sundry matters concerning Benifices Religion and other abuses of the Church putting them in feare and hope some to lose and some to obtaine spirituall promotions at his handes Diuers preâ—ious rewards were offered him in Palâ—ries in rich Plate and Iewels in costly and sumptuous Garments richly furred in Coyne and Uictuall c. The Bishop of Winchester sent him fifty fat Oxen and hundred coome of pure Wheat eight tun of chosen Wâ—ne likewise other Bishops offered to the Cardinals Boxe after their ability The Cardinall commaunded at the West end of Saint Paules Church a high solemne Throne of great State to bee prepared rising vp with a glorious Scaffold before the Cardinall begunne his Sermon there happened a great discord betwixt the Arch-byshops of Canterbury and Yorke about sitting on the right hand of the glorious Cardinall the Cardinall shewed them a Bull of the Pope in the middest of which was pictured the Crosse and Paule pictured on the right side of the Crosse and Peter on the left saying yet there is no contention betwixt these two yet Saint Peter for the Prerogatiue of his Keyes and for the Preheminence of his Apostle-ship and Cathedrall Dignitie séemeth most worthy to be placed on the right side and from that time foorth the Arch-Byshop of Canterbury hath enioyed the Dignity and Prâ—heminence of the â—ight hand The Cardinall sitting like a God in the middest betwixt them made his Sermon vpon these words In the middest of the Seate and round about were foure Beasts full of eyes behind and before He compared them about him to the foure Beasts declaring how they ought to haue eyes before and behind that is they must be carefull and prouident as well in disposing secular thinges as wise and circumspect in spirituall matters contriuing and ioyning wiselie thinges past with thinges to come And this was the greatest effect of his Clearkely Sermon Then he gaue forth sundry Constitutions and Statutes for ordering of Churches dedicating Temples for seauen Sacraments for giuing Orders farming Benefices Collations and resignations Priests apparell and single life for eating of flesh in religious Houses for Arch-deacons Byshops Proctors c. The King dreading the Commons willed him to repaire home to Rome but he could not so be rid of him but hee renued his commission and still applyed himselfe to his Haruest gleaning and raking what hee could writing his Letters to euery Byshop or Arch-Deacon for procurations to beare his charges and withall to be spéedily collected and sent to him Prouided that the summe collected should not excéede aboue foure Markes of a Liuing and where small Liuings were two Liuings to ioyne and if any contradicted or gaine-sayed him to excommunicate them And they sent forth Preachers and Fryers in all places to perswade men to fight against the common enemy the Turke whom when they haue bound with a vow and signed with the crosse then they send their Bulles to release them for money and the Bishops and Arch-deacons to proclaime it The Pope was not ashamed to require the fift part of euery Ecclesiasticall liuing and further hee promised and gaue to the Romanes for helping him in warrs against Fredericke the Emperour which had married King Iohns daughter the gift of all the spirituall liuings in England belonging to the religious houses and therevpon sent expresse Commandement to the Archbishop of Canterbury and other foure Bishops ioined with him that they should prouide spirituall liuings for three hundred Romanes in the best Benefites in England at the next voidance so that the said Bishoppes should bee suspended in the meane time from all collation of Benefice the Arch-bishop séeing their vnreasonable oppressions being not able to endure it went into France And further one Petrus Rubeus was sent from the Pope to goe from Bishop to Bishop Abbot and Abbot telling them such a Bishop such an Abbot hath giuen thus much vnto the Popes Holines trusting you also will not be behinde in a matter that so much concernes the good of the Church by which cunning subtiltie he gathered together into the treasurie of the Church such a Masse of money as is almost incredible to beleeue At length the Bishoppes Abbots and Arch-deacons came to the King whose Father they had so obstinately resisted and repugned lamentably complaining of their extreame miseries of the vnmeasurable exactions of the Pope so all the Prelates were called together and vppon talking together made many exceptions agaâ—nst the same the Legate and his followe hearing these allegations seeing their owne vtter confusâ—on were the lesse importunate Not long after this followed a generall Councell at Lyons in the Kingdomâ— of France called by Pope Innocentius in the which Councell the English Nation did exhibite sundry Articles of all their greeuances and that the Italians did succeed one another in the benefices whose language they could not vnderstand and that there was no preaching in their Churches nor no almes giuen to the poore and that there came fresh Letters from the Pope commanding the Prelates to finde at their proper costs and charge for a whole yeare some ten armed souldiers some more some lesse to be ready at the Popes commandement when or where be should appoint After these terrible greeuances and enormities the States of England consulting together directed their Letters to the Pope for Reformation First the Abbots and Priors then the Bishoppes and Suffragans after the Nobles and Barons and last of all the King but all was neuer the better Not long after the Pope sent for new tallage and exactions which when it came to the Kings eare hee vehemently disturbed writ seuerally to euery Bishop in manner following THat whereas wee haue heeretofore written to you once twice thrice both by our Priuy Seale and our Letters Patents that you should leuy for the pope no exactions either vpon the Clergy or Laitie yet you vilepending our commandement and contrarie to our prouision made in our last Councell at London haue proceeded in collecting the said your taxes and tallages wherevpon wee greatly maruell and are mooued Wherefore we straitly will and command you that you doe so no more as you will enioy our â—auour and your possessions and if you haue made any such collection or gathering that
twentie yeares he was deposed and being in prison was striken in with a hot Spit After whom succeeded Edward the third in whose raigne Calis was first wonne and after the French King taken Prisoner and brought into England and ransomed for 3000000. Florens At which time happened the great conflict betwixt the Townes-men of Oxford and the Uniuersitie whereof a remembrance remaineth to this day In whose raigne two Friers Minorites were burned in Auignion and in his raigne was Maister Iohn Wiclife Reader of Diuinity in Oxford THE FIFT PART OF THE ECCLESIASTICALL History containing the Actes of Martyrs ALthough the Holy Ghost raised vp many before Wickliffe to vanquish the great errors which daily did preuaile in the world as Berengarius Bruno of Aniow Oklens the second Valden Marsilius of Padoâ— Iohn of Gandauo Okchammus with diuers others of that schoole yet because they were not very famous nor notable we will begin at Wickliffe at whose time the furious fire of persecution seemed to take his originall In those great and troubelous times and horrible darknes of ignorance what time there séemed in a manner to bee no one so little sparke of pure doctrine remaining this foresaid Wickliffe by Gods prouidence sprang vp throgh whom the Lord would first waken and raise vp againe the world which was ouermuch drowned in the déepe streames of humane traditions when hee had long time professed Diuinitie in Oxford and perceiuing the true doctrine of Christs Gospel to bee adulterate with so many filthy inuentions of Bishops sects of Monkes and dark errors first he began to touch the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ in which he tooke much paines protesting in open schoole that it was his purpose to call back the Church from her Idolatry in this point but this sore could not bee touched without the great griefe of the whole world first the whole glut of Mâ—nkes and Fryers were mad with him fighting for their altars panches and bellies after them the Priests after them the Bishops took the matter in hand at last when there power seemed not sufficient to withstand the truth which then was breaking out they ran whollâ— to the thunder-bolts of the Bishop of Rome against them all this valiant Wickliffe happely maintained the cause of the Sacrament prouing it by Scriptures and the ancient Doetors hee refused the Doctors since the thousand yeares after Christ saying that after these yeares Satan was loosed and the life of man hath been most subiect to errors and that the simple and plaine truth doth appeare and consist in the Scriptures when all humane traditions must be referred he proued most stoutly in the Sacrament the substance with bread the accident not to be present As long as King Edward the third liued he was well enough defended by him against all there woluish cruelty yet in the last yeare of his raigne hee was taken by the Bishop of Canterbury at the instigation of the Pope and put to silence in presence of the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Henry Piercy yet after by the fauour of certaine Noble-men he kept not long silence but King Edward being dead Pope Gregory neuer ceased to moue King Richards minde by his Letters Bishops and Bulles to persecute Wickliffe and his adherents by this meanes the examination of Wickliffe being at hand before the Bishops of Canterbury and London a certaine Noble man called Lewis Clifford comming in amongst the Bishops commanded them that they should not proceede with any definâ—tiue sentence against Wickliffe wherewith they were so amazed and their combes so cut that they had not a word in their mouthes to answere and when the Bishops and Wickliffe were come together in the Archbishops Chappell at Lambeth the Citizens and common people of London by force brake in vpon them and disturbing the Session were not afraid to intreat in the cause of Wickliffe by which meanes he escaped after hee had made a short protestation to be a true Christian and to professe and defend the law of Christ as long as hee breathed and if hee should erre hee would aske God forgiuenes and submit himselfe to the correction of our holy Mother the Church and that hee wouâ—d set forth in writing the Articles hee was now accused for the which to death hee would defend which all Christians especially the Pope and all Priests â—ught to defend for vnderstand the conclusions after the sence of the Scriptures and holy Doctors and I am ready to expound them if they seeme contrarie to the faith The first conclusion of IOHN WICKLIFFE exhibited in the Conuocation of certaine Bishops at Lambeth 1 THat none but Christ was ordained and not Peter and all his off-spring politiquely to rule ouer the world for euer for in the 1 Cor. 15. Then shall the end come when he shall deliuer vp his kingdome to God his Father when hee shall haue made voide all princely dominion it seemeth probable that they defraud her of her reward and vniustly defer to take vengeance vpon the body of the diuell which he hath deserued 2 The substance of the second was that by no power any writing was to be canonized contemning the Scripture this was spoke to one that commended mans writing and contemned the Scripture 3 That euery man in grace iustifying hath not onely right to all things but aboue all the good things of God as appeareth by the 24. of Mathew verily hee shall make him ruler ouer all his goods and in the eight to the Romans God spared not his Sonne but gaue him for vs how then did hee not giue vs all things with him this allureth vs to loue God that hath chosen vs to so many great and true riches 4 None can giue any temporall Dominion or gift but as the Minister of God the Apostle saith Iesus Christ was a Minister let not his Uicar then which should be a seruant of seruants be ashamed to vse the ministerie of the Church for his pride of seculer Dominion with his worldly stile seemeth blasphemie and the aduancement of Antichrist especially where they repute the Scriptures as cockle and the determination of all controuersies of Scripture in themselues 5 As sure as God is the Temporall Lords may lawfully and meritoriously take away the riches from the Church when they doe offend yet I say that it is not lawfull to doe it by the authoritie of the Church and for lacke of some spirituall gouernour and in case when the Ecclesiasticall Minister being strayed from the Catholique faith is to be corected and punished 6 The Uicar of Christ is not able by his Buls of himselfe not by the consent of his colledge to make a man the more able or disable a man that ought to procéed of God but he onely in the Name of God to notifie to the Church whom God hath enabled else he is as presumptuous as Lucifer for in the 1. Cor. 3. All our sufficiency commeth of God 7
also lampes tapers and such other things profit nothing 8 That no Images should be set vp to bee worshipped â—p the Scriptures and therefore they are to be taken downe in Churches 9 That Matrimony is prohibitâ—d to no kindâ— of men by the worde but euery whoremonger is by the word sequestred from the Communion of the Church 10 That single life vnchast filthy is most vnséemely for priesthood The Bishops would not come but sent their Diuines then the disputation was begun by Swinglius Oecolampadius Bucer Capito Blaurer and diuers others defended the Conclusions Amongst others Conrado Treger an Austine Fryer of great fame impugned them who at last when hee sought for help besides the Scriptures the Masters of the Disputations would not suffer him so to doe Wherefore hee departed out of the place the disputations ended the foresaid conclusions were approued by the common consent of the most part and were ratified obserued in Berâ—e and proclaimed by the Magistrate in sundry places thereabouts and Masses Altars and Images abolished in all places and immediately after was the like reformation at Constance and after at Geneua Pope Clem 7. in this yéere conspired with the Uenetians raised a great army and proclaimed war against the Emperor about the possession of Italy the Empâ—â—ror sent his army to Millaine tooke the City Castle marching towards Rome took it spoiled it besieged Pope Clement with his Cardinals in mount Adrian and took the pope who could not be ransomed vnder 40000. Floreines This Pope bare great hatred against the Family of the Columni because it was imperiall and threatned the Cardinall thereof to take away his Cardinals hat who answered if he so did he would put on a helmet to ouerthrow the Popes triple Crowne Our Cardinall of England hearing of the captiuitie of his father the Pope stirred vp the King all he might fight with the Emperour and defend the Faith and he should receiue a great reward of God The King answered he was sorie for it but where you would haue me defend the Faith I assure you this warre is not for thâ— Faith but for temporall possessions I and my people can by no meanes rescue him but if any treasure may helpe him take that which seemeth to you conuenient Then the Cardinall made out of the Kings treasure twelue score thousand pounds which he carried ouer the Sea with him then the Cardinall sent his commission to all Bishops commanding fastings and solemne processions to be had wherein they did sing the Letany after this sort Sancta Maria ora pro Clemente Papa Sancte Petre ora pro Clemente Papa c. The Cardinall passing the Seas went out of Callice with the Bishop of London the Lord Sandes the Kings Chamberlaine the Earle of Derby Sir Henry Gilford Sir Thomas Moore with many other Knights and Esquires to the number of one thousand and two hundred horses hauing in his carriage foure score Wagons and threescore Mules and Sumpter Horses he bestowed great summes of money in hyring Souldiers and furnishing out the French Kings armie and appointed certain English Captains in the K. of Englands name to go against the Emperor to rescue the Pope hee caused Clarentius king at Armes to ioyne with the French Herald openly to defie the Emperor wherupon ensued great troubles in England Spain the low Countries of Flanders Brabant and Zeland all which his priuie policies and treasons were shortly after known to the King In this yeare a Iew in Constantinople was baptized and became Christian which thing vehemently exasperated the Turks against him and fearing it should be some detriment to their Mahumeticall law they sought to kill him which they did and cast his dead carkasse into the stréets commanding that none should burie it Wherin the glorie of Christ appeared for the dead corps lying there nine daies was as fresh coloured without corruption or smell as if it had bin aliue whereat the Turks being astonished took it vp and buried it The Cardinall hauing defied the Emperour as before and made him displeased with the King of England he further whispered in the Kings eare that the Emperour had euill intreated and imprisoned the Kings Embassadours in Spaine by which meanes the Emperours Embassadour in England was imprisoned and his goods seised vntill Letters came to the contrarie and then he was set at libertie When the Embassadour complained vnto the Cardinall hee layed all the fault vpon Clarentius and that Clarentius had defied the Emperour without the Kings knowledge by the request of the Herald of France and that at his returne he should lose his head at Callice Clarentius hearing hereof came priuily into England and was brought vnto the King before the Cardinall knew it to whom he shewed the Cardinalls commission and their gentle intreatie When the King heard hereof and had mused a while he said O Lord Iesus hee that I trusted most told me all these things contrary well Clarentius I will be no more so light of credence And from thence the King neuer put any more trust in the Cardinall Some write that the Cardinall did beare the Emperour such malice because when the Pope was imprisoned as before the Cardinall wrote vnto the Emperour to make him Pope and he sent him an answere that pleased him not whereupon he writ menacing Letters vnto him that if he would not make him Pope hee would make such a rufling betwixt Christian Princes as was not this hundred yéers before to make the Emperour repent yea though it cost the whole Realme of England the Emperour returned him answere bidding him looke well vnto it lest through his doings it should cost him the Realme of England indeede Thus King Henry came to the Title of Defender of the Faith When Luther had vtterd the abomination of the Pope and his Clergie and diuers books were com into England Our Cardinall to find a remedie for it sent to Rome for this title of Defender of the Faith After the Uicar of Croydon preached that the K. would not lose it for all London and twenty miles about it When this glorious title was come from Româ— the Cardinall brought it to the King at Gréenwich and although the King had read it yet in the morning were all the Lords and Gentlemen sent for that could be to come and receiue it with honor In the morning the Cardinall went thorough the backside to the Frier obseruants and som went round about and met him from Rome part met him halfe way and some at Court gate and the King met him in the Hall and brought him into a great chamber where was a seat prepared on high for the King and Cardinall Whilst the Bull was read with all pompe wise men laughed then the King went into his Chappâ—ll to heare masse the Cardinall being inuested to sing masse the Earle of Essex brought the bason of water the Duke of Suffolke gaue the asasy the Duke of Northfolk
the Lords put a book of articles against the Cardinall that he procured the Legat without the Kings consent whereby he took away the right of all Bishops that in all writings to Rome and other Princes he wrote Ego Rex meus that he standered the Church of England to be brought into a reprobate sense sending to Rome to be Legat to reforme the Church and carried the great Seale with him to Flanders and that without the kings consent he sent commission to conclude a league betwéen the King and the Duke of Florence and that hauing the French pocks he presumed to come and to breathe on the King and that hee had caused the Cardinalls Hat to be put on the Kings coyne that he had sent innumerable substance to Rome to obtaine his Dignities to the great impouerishment of the Realme with many other things The princely possessions and great pride of the Clergie in those dayes did not only farre excéede the measure of subiects but surmounted the estates of Kings and Princes In Henry the fourth his dayes the Temporalties in the possessions of the Clergie of England amounted to three hundred twentie two thousand marks by the yeare And it appeareth by a Libell giuen to Henry the eight compiled by one Master Fish that the Cleargie had gotten into their hands more then the third part of the lande of the Realme and the goodliest Lordships Mannors and Territories are theirs besides the tenth part of corne and all things else and seruants wages and they looke so narrowly to their tythes that they will haue the tenth egge or else the good wife getteth no rights at Easter and shall be taken as an herâ—ticke beside what they get by their foure offering dayes prouing of wills priuie tythes offerings to pilgrimages and at their first Masses euery one that is buried must pay somewhat for Masses and Dirges to be sung for them else they will accuse their frinds and executors for hereticks What money get they for mortuaries by hearing confessions and yet will keepe no Councell by hallowing of Churches Altars Superaltars Chappels and Bels by cursing men and absoluing them againe for money What a multitude of money gather the Pardoners in a yeare by cyting men to the Court and releasing them for money and what abundance the begging Friers get yearly There be two and fifty thousand parish Churches in England and euery house in the Realme payeth a pennie a quarter to euery of the fiue sâ—rts of begging Friers which is twenty pence yearely for euery house in England And the number of the Clergie reckoned with men women and children of the Laieâ—ie are but one of foure hundred and their substance draweth nigh to the halfe of the whole substance of the Realme and they doe nothing therewith but exempt themselues from the obedience of your grace and translate all power to themselues and that your subiects may rebell against yon and be vnder them as they did vnto your noble predecessor King Iohn they then interdicted the Realme wherefore your Realme hath stood tributarie not to any temporall Prince but to a cruell diuellish bloud-sucker drunken in the bloud of the Saints and Martyrs euer since and what doe they more nothing but apply themselues to haue to doe with euery mans wife daughter or mayde that Cuckoldrie and baudry should raigne amongst your subiects that no man should know his child and that their bastards should inherite euery mans possessions they haue made an hundred thousand idle whoores in your Realme which would haue gotten their liuing honestly had not their superfluous riches inticed them to vncleanenesse and idlenesse they catch the pâ—cks or be burnt or the leprosie and beare it vnto another yea some one of them shall boast amongst his fellowes that he hath had to do with an hundred women When they haue intised mens wiues vnto them they spend away their husbands goods and make the women runne away from their husbands and runne away themselues with the wife and goods bringing man and wife and children to idlenesse theft and beggerie Who is able to number the broad bottomlesse Ocean full of euils that this sinfull generation may lawfully and vnpunished bring vpon vs Who is shee that will worke for three pence a day when she may haue at least twentie pence a day to fleepe an houre with a Frier Monke or Priest and who will labour for foure pence a day that may haue at least twelue pence a day to be bawde to one of these What a sort are there that marrie Priests Lemans but to cloake the Priests incontinencie and that they may liue of Priests for their labour and who is he though he be grieued neuer so sore for the death of his Ancestor rauishment of his wife or his daughter robberie trespasse maime debt or any other offence dare lay it to their charge by any way of action if he do then by and by he is accused of heresie and except he beare a faggot they will excommunicate him and then all his Actions be dashed Notwithstanding the statute to Mortmayne they doe daily get into their hands more lands the Kingdome of the bloud-suckers is like to preuaile aboue your Kingdome for to them is giuen daily out of you Kingdome and that which is once giuen them neuer commeth from them againe What Kingdome can indure that â—uer giueth and receiueth nothing again All their colour for their gathering these things into their hands is that they pray for vs to deliuer our soules out of Purgatorie without whose prayers and especially the Popes pardon we could neuer be deliuered thence but the truth is there is no Purgatorie but it is a thing inuented by the couetousnesse of the spiritualtie And if there were a Purgatorie if the Pope can deliuer them there with money he can deliuer them without and if hee can deliuer one he can deliuer all and so destroy Purgatorie and then is he a cruell tyrant without all charitie if he keepe them in prison and paine vntill men will giue him money They will not let the New Testament goe abroad in the mother tongue lest their cloaked hypocrisie and that their cruelty vncleanenesse and vnmercifulnesse be seeue and that they seeke not Christs honour but their own that remission of sins are not giuen for the Popes pardon but for Christ by true faith in him And except your Maiestie suffer their hypocrisie to be disclosed the people will think you take away their liberty from them to buy their soules out of Purgatorie by giuing to the spiritualtie as their predecessors haue done therefore let their hypocrisie be vttered and that shall be more speedfull in this matter then all the lawes that possibly can be made The Author of this Booke was fled to Tindall where he wrote this Booke for feare of the Cardinall when the King had read this he caused his Wife to send for him home he was brought to the King and after he had
flée from him as Cain and that wée are damned by Nature as a Toade and a Serpent are so by Nature Item Loue in Christ putteth no difference betwixt one man and another Item The sects of Saints Francis Saint Dominick others be damnable Then the Bishop asked him whether he would renounce these heresies and he prayed the Bishop to reforme himselfe Then the Bishop gaue him respite and when hee came before him againe First he affirmed that Christ all his merits were his and that he was knit to him so inseperably that he could not be damned except Christ were damned He that séeketh by his almes more then to be mercifull and to succor his brotherâ— and neighbours need he is blind and seeth not Christs bloud so God is honoured on all sides in that we count him righteous in all his lawes and to worship him otherwise is Idolatry he concluded to them all he found no fault throughout all the booke but it is all good and hath giuen him great light of conscience The next Sessions he was intised to recant but shortly after he was moued by the example of one that was burned in Smithfield and after did constantly abide in the testimonie of the truth and suffered in Smithfield Lastly for these Articles he was condemned 1 THat Faith onely iustifieth which lacketh not Charitie 2 That Christ is a sufficient Mediator for vs therefore no prayer to beâ— made to Saints 3 That Christ is our sufficient purgatory and that there is no purgatory after this life 4 That the soules of the faithfull departing this life rest with Christ. 5 That a Priest receiuing orders receiueth more grace if his Faith be increased or else not Lastly hee beléeueth that the bloud and flesh of Christ is not in the Sacrament wherevpon he was condemned and burnt as aforesaid IOHN RANDALL THis IOHN RANDALL was of Christs Colledge in Cambridge and for the loue that he had to the Scriptures and sincere Religion hee was suspected and hated the yong man being studious and about one twenty yéeres old was long lacking of his companions and through the stench of his corps his study doorâ— being broken vp he was found hanged with his owne girdle within the study in such maner that he had his face looking vpon the Bible and his finger pointing to a place of Scripture whereas predestination was intreated of surely this matter lacked no singular policie of some old naughty man that it should seeme for feare of predâ—stination he was driuen to despaire that it might keep their yong men from the study of the Scriptures as a thing most perilous In this yeare an old man in the County of Buckingham for eating of Bacon in Lent was condemned to the fire and burned EDWARD FRESE EDward Frese a Painter was hired to paint certaine cloaths for the new Inne in Colchester and in the vpper boarder of the cloaths he wrote certaine sentences of the Scripture then some of the Towne which had seene his worke apprehended him and brought him to London to the Bishop where he was cruelly imprisoned with others of Essex One Iohnson and his wife and one Willy his wife and his son and one Father Bate of Rowshedge they were fed with fine Manchet made of saw-dust or the most part therof the said Frese being at the Bishops at Fullam his wife being desirous to see him came to the gate being big with Childe the Porter kicked her on the belly that on the same she died and the childe died immediatly after for writing against the wall his hands were manacled that the flesh of his armes were higher then the Irons and they kept him thrée daies without meat when he should come to his answer he could say nothing but looked on the people like a wilde man and if they asked him any question he could say nothing but my Lord is a good man anâ— when they had spent his body and wits they sent him to Bearsie-Abby but hee would not tarry there but he neuer came to his wits againe vntill his death And his brother Valentine Frese was burned for the testimony of Christ in Yorke Also the wife of the aforesaid Father Bate made a Supplication to the King and deliuered it vnto him who appointed her to go to one M. Seliard of him she gat a letter to the Bishop she hoped some good should come to her Husband but some of her friends would néeds sée the contents of her letter which was to this effect look what you can gather against Father Bate send me word that I may certifie the Kinges Maiesty but shortly after he gat out of prison in a darke night and was caught no more In this yeare Fryer Roy was burned in Portugale what his doctrine was may easily be gathered by his testimony that he left here in England The History of Maister IAMES BAYNHAM a Lawyer THis Maister Baynham was accused to Sir Thomas Moore Chancelor arested with a Sergeant at Armes and carried out of the middle Temple to his house at Chelsey when he saw he could not preuaile with him he whipped him at a trée in his garden then racked him at the tower before himselfe vntill they had almost lamed him because he would not accuse Gentlemen of the Temple nor tel where his bookes lay and because his wife denied they were at his house she was sent to the fléet and his goods confiscate When they had often vsed him vpon the tortures then he sent him to the Bishop of London who cast him into Lolards tower vntill he had bin diuers times before him examined and they were not able to resist him He was both mighty in Scriptures and Arguments that he was able to confound them with their owne Arguments so he condemned him and the Bishop sent one Doctor Symons to peruert him and waite vpon him to the stake after much communication betweene the Doctor him he prayed the Sheriffes to deliuer him from Satan for he was content to confirme his faith with his blood At the stake he lay down flat and prayed then rising vp he imbraced the stake then he said Good people I am come hither accused and condemned for an hereticke these be the Articles I dye for I say it is lawfull for euery man or woman to haue Gods booke in their Mother tongue That the Pope is Antichrist that he knoweth no other Keyes of heauâ—n gate but the preaching of the word and that theâ—e is no other purgatory then the purgatory of Christs blood and that the soules of the faithfull imediatly go to heauen râ—st with Christ for euermore That Thomas Becket was no Saint but a Traytor and a shedder of innocent blood thâ—n one M. Pauey answered Thou liest thou heretick thou deniest the blessed Sacrament of the altar He answered I do not deny the Sacrament as it was instituted of Christ and vsed of his Apostles but I deny transubstantiation and your
Cardinall signifying that he would drowne himselfe and to leaue his clothes there and another Letter to the Mayor of the Towne to search for him in the water because he had a Letter written in parchment wrapt in wax about his neck for the Cardinal which would teach all men to beware of him vpon this they were seuen daies a searching for him but he went to London in a poore mans apparell and thence to Anwerpe to Luther and there answered all the Bishops of the Realme and made a Booke called acta Romanorum pontificum and another Booke with a supplication to King Henry When it was told the Cardinall he was drowned he said perit memoria eius cum sonitu but this lighted vpon himselfe for shortly after he poyso-himselfe In the beginning of the Raigne of Quéene Anne he and others came againe into England and continued a faithfull Preacher in the Citie of London and in her Graces time well entertained and promoted and after sent by King Henry the eight Ambassador to the Duke of Cleaue for the marriage of the Lady Anne of Cleaue betwéene the King and her and was well accepted vntill Gardiner came out of France but then neither Religion nor the Queene prospered nor Cromwell nor the preachers Then followed alteration in marriage vntill hee had grafted the marriage into another stocke by the â—ccasion whereof hee began his bloudy worke Soone after Doctor Barnes and his Brethren were carried to the King to Hampton Court to be examined But the King seeking meanes of his safety bad him goe home with Gardiner and confer with him they not agréeing Gardiner sought opportunitie to dispatch Barnes and the rest as he had done by the Queâ—ne the Lady Anne of Cleue and the Lord Cromwell and he appointed them three to preach thrée Sermons at the Spittle which were baites to minister iust occasion of their condemnations A hen they were sent for to Hampton Court and from thence carried vnto the Tower and came not thence but to their deathes Then the Protestants went beyond Sea Priests were diuorced from there Wiues certaine Bishops deposed and other good men denied Christ and bore Faggots then they were put to dâ—ath without iudgement a Papist and a Protestant were laid vpon one hurdle and drawn to Smithfield This was Winchesters deuise to colour his tyrany Then Barnes hid the Sheriffe beare him witnes he died Christianly and Charitably and prayed them all to pray for him and if the dead may pray for the quick we will pray for you so they forgaue their enemies and kissed one another and stood hand in hand at the stake vntill the â—â—re came and so rested in Christ. The same day one Powell Fetherstone and Abel were hanged drawne and quartered in the same place for denying the Kings Supremacie and maintaining the Kings marriage with the Lady Katherine Dowager The reason was because as one halfe of the Councell being Papists called vpon Barnes Garet and Hierome to be executed so the other part of the Councell called vpon these thrée Papists to be executed In this yéers a Boy one Richard Mekins but fiftéene yeares old was burned in Smithfield for speaking somewhat against the Sacrament of the Altar In like manner Richard Spencer Priest leauing his papistry married a Wife and got his liuing by day-labour Hee was burnt in Salisbury because hee was thought to hold opinion against the Sacrament and one Andrew Hewet was burned with him About this time Cardinall Poole Brother to the Lord Mountegew was attainted of high treason and fled to Rome where he was made Cardinall of Saint Mary Cosmoden where he remained vntill Quéene Maries time Stokely Bishâ—p of London and Tunstone Bishop of Duresme writ to him to perswade him to abandon the Supremacy of the Pope and to conforme himselfe to the Religion of his King which Letter thou maist reade in the Booke at large which sufficiently proueth the Pope not to be supreme head of the Church but because this Doctrine is as sufficiently proued in other places I omit to abridge it In this yeere the King by the aduice of his Councell sent forth a Decree for the setting vp the Bible in the great volume in euery parish Church in England This yeare Iohn Porter a Taylor a lusty yong man was by Bonner Bishop of London cast into Newgate for reading in the Bible in Paules Church where he was miserably famished to death About this time Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne burned two vpon one day one Thomas Barnard and the other Iames Morton the one for teaching the Lords Prayer in Englâ—sh and the other for kéeping the Epistle of Saint Iames in English In this yeare the Kings Maiestie vnderstanding that all Idolatry and vainâ— pilgrimages were not vtterly abolished within these Dominions directed his Letters vnto the Archbishop of Canterbury for the spéedy amendment of the same Anthony Pierson Priest Robert Testwood singing man Henrie Finmore Taylor and Iohn Marbeck singing man were burned at VVindsor THese Articles were obiected against Pierson that he had said Euen as Christ once hanged betweene two theeues so when he is holden vp betwixt the Priests handes he hangs betwixt two theeues except the Priest sincerely preach Gods word That he preached that Christ should not be eaten as he did hang vpon the Crossâ— with his flesh torne and the bloud running about their mouthes but he was to be eaten this day that we might also feed on him to morrow and next day and continually and that he was of more power after his resurrection then he was before That Christ sitting amongst his Disciples commended the Scriptures vnto them when he said This is that bread this is that body of Christ so when hee brake bread and bade them deuide it amongst them and eate it for it was his bodie and likewise the cup saying This is my bloud hee signified to vs that wee should receiue the Scriptures and distribute them vnto the people It was obiected against Finmore that he had said that the Sacrament of the Altar was but a similitude and that if it were God he had eaten twenty Gods in his life He condemned Testwood for iesting with the Priest when he lifted vp the host saying Ho take héed that he fall not That Marbeck with his owne hands had writ notes out of certaine Authors which were repugnant to the masse and sacrament of the Altar and that he said The Masse was impure and defiled with much vngodlinesse and it spoyleth God of his honour and that the eleuation of the sacrament represents the Calues of Ieroboam and is worse Idolatrie then those were and that therein Christ was counted a mocking-stock There was a fift man named Bennet vnto whose charge it was laid that hée should say the daily Masses vsed in the Church were superfluous and that it were sufficient the seuenth day were kept holy Bennet and Marbeck were pardoned by the King the other thrée stoutly suffered
then he was commaunded to answere Intergatories by signes and when any question was asked he strook vpon the Table so that he might be heard then he was demaunded whether he was any that were buried there then they reckoned vp diuers and at last the Mayors wife here he made a signe that he was the spirit of that woman then he was asked whether he was damned for Couetousnesse Pride Lecherie or not doing workes of Charitie or else for Lutheranisme then by striking twise or thrise vpon the Table gaue them to vnderstand that Luthers heresie was the cause of her damnation and being asked whether the bodie buried in holy ground should be digged vp and carried â—hence he made signes it should be so then the Friers desired the Citizens to set their handes to a writing testifying that which they had séene but for feare of the Mayor they refused to subscribe then the Friers took the Pixe with the Host and the Lords body and all the reliques of Saints and carried them to another place and there they said their masses then the officiall came thither and would faine haue seene the spirit coniured and one should go into the vault and sée if any spirit appeared but he could not get them to disturb the spirit any more â— Then the Mayor informed the King of the whole matter and the King sent certaine to know whether it were so or no then they put the dâ—ers thereof into seuerall Prisons and examined them apart and a great while they would confesse nothing at length the Iudges promising the nouice that he should haue no harme nor come no more into the Fryers hands he declared to them the whole matter in order wherupon they were committed to Orleance to prison And it was certainly reported that the King would haue plucked down the House but euen at the same time chanced a persecution against the Lutherans and they feared the punishment of these men should haue bin a reproch vnto the Order and a cause of much reioycing to the Lutherans These were Francisâ—an Fryers A Storie of certaine Monks of Sueuia GVnrame a noble Baron in the yeare 1130. builded an Abbey in Sueuia called Salmesuille of Cistercian Monks Amongst many Benefactors to the said House the Earles of Montfort had bestowed vpon that Monasterie many new Liberties and Priuiledges vpon condition that they should receiue with frée hospitalitie any stranger Horse-man or Foot-man for one night but this hospitalitie did not long continue through a subtile deuise of one of the Monks who would counterfeit the Diuell ratling and raging in chaynes at the lodgings where the strangers should lie and so continued this a long space At length an Earle of the house of Montfort was lodged at the Monasterie when the Earle was at his rest in the night the Monke after his wonted manner began to play the Diuell roring thundering spitting of fire and making a noyse the Earle hearing thereof tooke a good heart and taking his sword slew the Monk And thus the Diuell of the Abbey was coniured which stopped the guests from comming to the House Who lift to see more and worse pranks of Friers and Monks played in their Houses Cloysters let them resort to the Epistle of Erasmus and he shall find ynough to infect the aire IOHN BROVVNE a blessed Martyr burned at Ashford in the second yeare of Henrie the eighth Anno 1511. THe said Iohn Browne passing to Graues-end in a Barge a Priest began to swell and stomack that he should sit so neere him at length said Doest thou know who I am thou fittest so neere me and vpon my clothes No sir said the other I tell you said he I am a Priest What sir are you a Parson or Uicar or some Ladies Chaplain No said he I sing for a Soule I pray you said the other where find you the Soule when you go to Masse I cannot tel said he I pray where do you leaue it when you haue done Masse I know not said the Priest How then said the other can you saue the Soule I perceiue thou art an Heretick said the Priest Within three daies after by vertue of a Warrant â—rom the Archbishop with a Baylife and two of the Bishops men they came suddenly into the house of the said Browne as he was carrying a dish of meat to his guests for his wife was that day Churched they layd hands on him and carried him to Canterburie where they kept him fortie dayes in which time he was so pitifully entreated by Warram the Archbishop and Fisher Bishop of Rochester that he was set bare-footed vpon hote burning coales to make him denie his Faith which he bare patiently and continued in maintaining the Lords quarrell vnremoueable then he was sent to Ashford where he dwelt the next day to be burned where he was set in the Stocks all night his wife sate all the while by him to whom he declared the whole Tragedie of his handling how they burned his â—eâ—t to the bones that he could not set them to the ground to make him denie his Lord here which if I should haue done he would denie me hereafter therefore good wife continue as thou hast begun and bring vp thy children in the feare of God where the next day he was burned This Iohn Browne bare a Faggot seuen yeares before this whose sonnâ— named Richard Browne for the like cause of Religion was imprisoned at Canterburie in the later time of Queene Marie and should haue beene burned with two more but the next day after Queene Marie died and they escaped by the Proclamation of Queenâ— Elizabeth THE NINTH BOOKE CONtayning the Acts and things done in the Raigne of King EDVVARD the sixt AFter the death of Henrie the eight succeeded King Edward the sixt his sonne being of the age of nine yeares Touching his commendations I leaue you to the Booke at large who because he was so young and tender was committed to sixtéene Gouernours amongst whome especially the Lord Edward Semer Duke of Somerset his vncle was assigned as Protector of him and the Commonwealth a man of noble vertues especially for his fauour to Gods 〈◊〉 throâ—gh the industrie of whom that monstrous Hydra with sixe heads the 〈◊〉 Articles which deuoured so many were abolished whereby the proceedings of Gardner began to decay who storming thereat wrote to the Lord Protector in the cause thereof He restored the Scriptures to the Mother tongue and extinguished Masses and by little and little greater things followed in the reformation of Churches such as fled for the danger of the Truth were againe receiued to their Countrey the most part of Bishops were changed dumbe Prâ—lates were compelled to giue place to such as would Preach and learned men were sent for out of other Countries as Peter Martyr Martin Bucer Paulus Phagius the first of whom taught at Oxford and the other two at Cambridge with great commendations Bonner Bishop of London was committed to the Marshalsie
the same and there ended The principall doers thereof were William Ombler Thomas Dale with one Steuenson They intended to stirre in two places at one instant seuen miles from the other and at the first rush to destroy such Gentlemen and men of substance as fauoured the Kings proceedings and to set the Beacons on fire to bring the people together and hauing the ignorant people assembled then to poure out their poyson beginning with such as they thought were pinched with pouerty and vnwilling to labour therefore the more readie to follow the spoyle of rich mens goods blowing in their eares that Gods seruice was now quite laide aside and new inuentions neither good nor godly put in their stead feeding them with faire promises to reduce into the Church againe their olde ignorance and abominable Idolatrie Putting this practise in execution they took one M. White and one Clopton and one Sauage a Marchant of Yorke and one Bery and cruelly murdred them and tookâ— away all that was about them then they ranged from Towne to Town and inlarged their â—and leauing in no towne any men aboue the age of 16. yeares vntill they had gathered about 3000. Then came the Kingâ— pardon to them which Ombler conâ—umelioâ—sly refused and perswaded others so to dâ—e and some excepted thereof but shortly after Ombler as he was riding from towne to towne to charge all the Constables and Inhabitants in the Kings Namo to resort to Humumby hee was taken and imprisoned at â—orke After him Thomas Dale and Henry Barton Iohn Dale Robert Wright William Peacocke Wetherell and Edmund Buttry busie stirrers in this sedition as they trauelled from place to place to draw people vnto their faction were likewise apprehended and committed to Ward and after executed at Yorke The King of France bearing of the Insurrections of the Kings Subiects in diuers places supposing to take the time he made inuasion against the Iles of Iersey and Gernesey and thought to haue surprised the Kings Ships in the said Iles with his shippâ—s and Gallies but he was so hotly saluted with the Kings Ships in the Iland that the French-men lost at least a thousand men and their Shippes and Gallies were so spoyled as they were forced to returne home and not able to come out againe and they brought into one Towne in one vessell at least sixty Gentlemen to be burned and the King gaue out a speciall inhibition that none should speake of the successe of that iourney so the arme of God mercifully fought for King Edward his Seruant to defend and deliuer him from so many hard dangers all in one yeare which is worthy of all posterity to be noted The examination of Bonner THE King sent forth his Commission vnder his broad Seale to the Byshop of Canterbury and the Bishoppe of Rochester and other trusty personages and Councelors appointing and authorising them to examinine the Bishoppe of London and to procéed against him according to law and Iustice either to suspention excommunication committing to prison or depriuation if the qualitie of the offence so required At Bonners first entring into the place within the Arch-bishops house at Lambeth where the Arch-bishop and the other Commissioners sat to be examined hée kept his hat on his head making as though he saw them not vntill one bad him reuerence the Commissioners then laughingly he said What my Lords are you there by my troth I saw you not No said the Archbishop you would not sée well quoth he you sent for me haue you any thing to say to me Yea said the Commissioners we haue authority to call you to account for your Sermon you made lately at Pauls Crosse because you did not preach to the people the Articles you were commanded to preach vpon Then said Bonner In good Faith my Lord I would one thing were had in meâ—ereuerence then it is What is that said the Archbishop The blessed Masse quoth he you haue written well of the Sacrament I maruell you doe no more honour it The Arch-bishoppe said If you thinke I haue wrote well of it it is because you vnderstand it not Bonner said I thinke I vnderstand it better then you that wrote it The Archbishop replyed he would easily make a Childe of ten yeares old vnderstand therein as much as you And when they had called forth Maister Latimer and Iohn Hooper Preachers to propound such matter as they had to say against him he hearing them speake fell to scorning and taunting them calling one Goose and the other Woodcocke and denying their accusation to be true Whereupon the Arch-Byshop asked him whether hee would credit the people there present and because many of them that were there were at his Sermon The Arch-Bishoppe stood vp and read the Article of the Kinges authority during his young age saying vnto them How say you my Maisters did my Lord of London preach this Article they answered No no Then Bonner deridingly said Will you beléeue this fond people Then was shewed forth a â—ill of Complaint exhibited vnto the King by the said Maister Latimer and Iohn Hooper which was read Then Bonner prayed that the Bill of Complaint should be deliuered vnto him which when he had pervsed he said it was so generall as hee could not directly answere vnto it The Arch-bishop said the speciall cause was because he had transgressed the Kinges commaundement in not setting forth in his last Sermon at Paules Crosse the Kinges Hignesse Royall power in his minority and for the proofe thereof hee called Maister LATIMER and IOHN HOOPER to whom BONNER saide As for this Merchant Latimer I haue wincked at his euill doings a great while but I haue â—ore to say to him héereafter But as touching this Merchant Hooper I haue not séene him before howbeit I haue heard much of his naughtie preaching Then he said Ah my Lord now I sée the cause of my trouble is not for the matter you pretend but because I did preach in my late Sermon the true presence of the most blessed body and blood of our Sauiour Iesus Christ to bée in the Sacrament of the Altar And as for these my accusers they are notorious euill persons and notable Hereticks and Seducers especially touching the Sacrament of the Altar and most of all this Hooper for whereas I preached that after consecration of the Sacrament there is the selfe same body and blood of Christ in substance that was hanged vpon the Crosse hee in the afternoone hauing a great rabblement with him of his damnable Sect did preach to the people erroniouslie against it and vntruely expounded my wordes for whereas I said the same substance that was hanged vpon the Crosse hee like an Asse as he is an Asse indéede turned the word That into As saying That I said as it hanged vpon the Crosse Then the Arch-Bishoppe demaunded of him whether Christ were in the Sacrament Face Nose Mouth Eyes Armes and Lips with other lineaments of the bodie whereat Bonner shooke
death as fruitfull seede hath taken such fruit in some that it is yet a linely and diligent preaching vnto some against superstition and Idolatry vsed in their Churches The tragicall History of the worthy Duke of Sommerset KIng Edward had three vnckles by his mothers side Edward Thomas Henry Semer Edward was made protector of the Realme and Thomas was made high Admirall of the same so long as they were ioined together in amitie they preserued themselues and the King and the Common-wealth Sir Thomas Semer high Admirall married Queene Katherine late wife of King Henry as you haue heard betwixt the said Queene and the Dutchesse of Somerset there fell great displeasure And therevpon in the behalfe of their wiues grudge began betweene the brethren after it was laid vnto the Lord Admirals charge that hee purposed to destroy the yong Kingâ— and transâ—ate the Crowne vnto himselfe and for the same he was attainted and condemned and did suffer at Tower Hill the twentith of March one thousand fiue hundred forty and nine many reported that the Duchesse of Sommerset had wrought his death whereby it came to passe whether by Gods iust iudgement or no In October after that there was great consultation amongst the Lords in the house of Maister Yorke and at Baynards Castle and in the Lord Mayor of Londons house against the Lord Protector remaining then with the King at Hampton Court The King with his Councell hearing thereof first Secretary Peter with the Kings message was sent vnto them whom the Lords retained still with them making no answer wherevpon the Lord Protector writ vnto them that the King was informed of your assembly wherefore we sent Maister Secretary Peter vnto you His Maiestie and wee of his Councell héere doe not a little maruell that you stay héere â—he said M. Peter and haue not answered his Maiesty and we are sory to sée your doings bent with violence to bring the King and vs to these extremities which if you will take no other way we intend with violence to defend with death and to put it in Gods hand who giueth victory as it pleaseth him as touching priuate matters â—o auoide the effusion of Christian bloud and to preserue the Kings Maiesties person his Realme and Subiects you shall finde vs agréeable to any reasonable conditions that you will require for wee esteemâ— the Kings wealth and tranquilitie of the Realme more then other worldly things yea then our life praying them to send their determinate answere by Maister Peter or some other Notwithstanding this Letter the Lords persisted still in their purpose and took aduice to kéep themselues in the Citie of London as strong as they might and willed the Mayor and Aldermen to prouide a substantiall watch by night and by day for the safegard of the Citie and gates Then they demanded fiue hundred men to ayde them to fetch the Lord Protector out of Windsor from the King and they published a Proclamation against the said Protector to this effect First that the Protector by his euill gouernment was the cause of all the sedition that of late happened within the Realme and of the losses of the Kings ordinance in France and that it appeared by the building of his sumptuous houses in the time of the Kings warre that he sought his owne glory that he esteemed nothing the graue counsell of the Councellors that he had sowed diuisions betwéen the Nobles Gentlemen and Commons That the Nobles assembled themselues only to cause the protector to haue liued within limits to haue put such order for the surety of the King as was fit That the protector slandered the Councell vnto the King and that hee was a great traytor and therefore the Lords defired the Citie Commons to ayde them to take him from the King Then the King sent a Letter vnto the Mayor and Citizens commanding them to ayde him with a thousand men out of their Citie well armed and to send them with all speed vnto the Castle of Windsor These contrary commandements comming both at one instant vnto the Mayor Citizens of London it séemed very doubtfull to them which way to take at the last stepped vp a Citizen George Studlaw and said I remember in the time of Henry the third the Barons as the Lords doe now demanded ayde of the Mayor and Citizens of London and the Citie ayded them against the King and it came to an open battell and the Lords preuailed against the King and took the King and his son prisoners and vpon certaine conditions the King his Son were restored againe and the King openly granted his pardon to the Lords and Citizens it was ratified by Act of Parliament but it was neuer forgotten during the Kings life the Liberties of the Citie were taken away and strangers appointed to be our gouernors and the Citizens giuen away body and goods and from one persecution vnto another were most miserably afflicted such it is to enter into the wrath of a Prince for Salomon saith the wrath of a Prince is death Therefore I would councell the Lords with vs to make sute to the King that he would please to heare the complaints that may be iustly proued against the L. Protector and I doubt not but this matter will be pacified and that the King nor yet the Lords haue cause to seeke for further ayde neither we to offend any of them both Then the Lords sent Sir Philip Hobby with their Letter of credence vnto the King beséeching him to giue credit to that which he should say who so handled the matter that the Lord Protector was commanded from the Kings presence and shortly committed to warde in the Castle of Windsor The same day the Lords of the Councell resorted vnto the King and the next day they brought the Lord Protector vnto the Tower Shortly after the Lords resorted vnto the Tower and there charged the Lord Protector with sundry Articles the effect of them is contained in the proclamation aforesaid and although these purposes of man intended the spilling of his life and the Lord so ordered the matter by the meanes of the Kings so laboring for his vnkle that in short while he was let out of the Tower and continued at liberty two yeares and two daies After he was againe apprehended committed againe to the Tower after hee was brought to Westminister Hall to be arraigned and there was charged with felony treason he put himselfe to be tried by his Péeres who discharged him of treason but they accounted him guilty of Felony for purposing the death of the Duke of Northumberland and others and was returned vnto the Tower againe When he was brought to his execution vpon tower Hill he came with the same gesture which he vsed changing neither voice nor countenance and knéeling down he commended himselfe to God and his prayers ended he turned toward the people as it were with a certaine fatherly loue to children and said Dearely
testimony against this house Touching the disputations of Peter Martyr Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius because they are only touching the Sacrament which is so often handled in this book for breuitie I referre thee to the book at large The decease of King EDWARD ABout a yeare and a halfe after the death of the Duke of Sommerset King Edward died entring into the seuenteenth yeare of his age and in the seuenth yeare of his raigne As the time approached that it pleased Almighty God to call this yong King from vs which was on the sixth day of Iuly about thrée houres before his death his eyes being closed speaking to himselfe and thinking none had heard him he made this prayer as â—olloweth LOrd God deliuer me from this miserable and wretched life and take me amongst thy chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be done for I commit my spirit vnto thee O Lord thou knowest how happie it were for me to be with thée yet for thy chosens sake send me life and health that I may truly serue thes O my Lord GOD blesse thy people and saue thine inheritance O Lord saue thy chosen people of England O my GOD defend this realme from Papistrie and maintain thy true religion that I and my people may prayse thy holy name for thy Sonne Iesu Christs sake Then he turned his face and séeing who was by him he said vnto them are you so nigh I thought you had beenâ— further off then smilingly he said I was praying to God The last words he spake were these I am faint Lord haue mercie vpon me and take my spirit And thus he yeelded vp the Ghâ—st leauing a wofull kingdome behinde vnto his sister THE TENTH BOOK WHEREIN is contained the most memorable things done in the Raigne of Queene MARY KIng Edward by his Testament did appoint Lady Iane daughter of the Duke of Suffolk whose mother was Mary second sister of King Henry who was first wife to the French King and after to the said Duke to succeed him in his Kingdome all the Councell and chief Nobilitie the Mayor of London and all the Iudges and chiefe Lawyers sauing Iudg Hales subscribed therto who stood for Q. Mary The matter thus concluded King Edward died when he was sixteene yeares of age then the said Iane was proclaymed Queene at London and other Cities she was about the age of King Edward in learning and wit she might be compared with the Uniuersitie men which haue taken many degrees of the schooles Then Queen Mary wrote to the Councel that they should proclaime her Quéen and she would pardon them for that which was done they answered her that by the Diuorse betwixt King Henry and her mother she was made illegitimate and vnheritable to the Crowne Then she speeded her selfe farre from the Citie hoping vpon the Commons whereupon the Councell sent forth the Duke of Northumberland with other Lords and Gentlemen with an Armie the Guard assisting the Duke Mary withdrew her selfe into Northfolke and Suffolke where she knew the Duke was hated and there gathering such aide of the Commons as she might kept her selfe in Fremingham Castle to whom Suffolk-men resorted and promised her their aide if she would not alter the religion which her brother had established to which she agreed with such promises as no man could haue misdoubted her and thus being guarded with the power of the Gospellers she vanquished the Duke and all that came against her But after the Suffolk-men making supplication vnto her Grace for performance of her promise she answerd You shall one day well perceiue that members must obey their head and not looke to rule the same and one Dobbe a Gentleman for aduertising her of her promise by humble request was three times set in the pillorie to be a gasing-stock to all men others deliuered her books and supplications out of the Scripture to exhort her to continue the doctrine then established who were sent to prison The Councell at London vnderstanding that the Ladie Marie increased in puisance and the peoples hearts mightily bent vnto her they turned their song and proclaymed for Quéen the Lady Mary eldest daughter of K. Henry the eight and appointed by Parliament to succeed King Edward dying without issue the Duke of Northumberland with some of his sonnes were left destitute at Cambridge as also the Earle of Huntingdon who were arrested and brought to the Tower as Traytors Then the Quéen came to the Tower where the Lady Iane and the Lord Gilford her husband were imprisoned fiue months but the Duke within a moneth was beheaded with Sir Iohn Gates and Sir Thomas Palmer the Papists promised the Duke pardon if he would openly recant vpon the Scaffold which in hope of pardon he did and yet he was beheaded whose recantation the papists published not a little reioycing at his conuersion but Sir Thomas Palmer confessed his faith in the Gospell and was sorie that he had not liued more Gospell-like Steuen Gardner was released out of the Tower and made Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor and Poynets displaced and Bonner restored to his Bishoprick againe and Ridley displaced and Day made Bishop of Chichester and Storie put out and Heath made Bishop of Worcester and Hooper committed to the Fleet and Vesie to Exeter and Couerdale put out Doctor Ridley Bishop of London had preached against Quéen Mary in Queene Ianes time shortly after the Sermon Queen Mary was proclaymed then he went to the Queen to salute her who dispoyled him of his Dignities and sent him to the Tower vpon a halting horse Then Queen Mary directed forth an inhibition by proclamation that no man should preach or reade openly in Churches the word of God One Bourne who after was Bishop of â—ath preached at Paules Crosse so much in the praise of Bonner being there present and in dispraise of King Edward that his words sounded euill to the hearers which caused them to murmur and stirre insomuch that the Maror and others feared an vprore one hurled a dagger at the Preacher who for feare pulled in his head Master Bradford stood forth and appeased the people and after he and Rogers conducted the Preacher safe into the Grammer-schoole but shortly after they were both rewarded with burning The next Sonday the preacher at the Crosse was guarded with the Queenes Guard then men withdrew themselues from the Sermon and the Mayor took order that the ancients of al Companies should be present lest the Preacher should be discouraged with his small auditorie Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie assisted with Peter Martyr and a few others offered to defend the doctrine of the booke of Common Prayer by the Scriptures and Doctors but whilst they hoped to come to disputation the Archbishop and others were imprisâ—ned but Peter Martyr was suffered to return from whence he came The first day of October the Queen was crowned and the tenth day a Parliament began where Taylor Bishop of Lincolne
that they instruct the children to answer the Priest at Masse Shee sent likewise a commandement to the Lord Mayor of London with the foresaid Articles to bee carefull with all his power for the performance thereof Then the Queene sent forth a Proclamation that the strangers which in King Edwards time were receiued into England for Religion should 〈◊〉 driuen out of the Realme Wherevpon Peter Martyr Ioannes Alasco vnckle to the King of Poland and many others were banished and many English men also fled into Germany and were scattered in diuers places where by Gods proâ—idence they were sustained and entertained with great fauour to the number of eight hundred persons The twenty fiue of March the Lord Courtney and Lady Elizabeth were susspected to consent to Wiats conspiracy and therevpon apprehended and commitâ—to the Tower This was a politicke practice of Steuen Gardiner which alwaies was an enemy to Lady Elizabeth Wyat at his deatâ— protested to the people that the Lord Courtney and Lady Elizabeth were cleare from all suspition of Commoâ—ion but Doctor Weston cryed to the people beleeue him not â—or hee confessed otherwise before vnto the Coâ—â—cell The same day it was told in the Parliament house that Wiat desired the Lord Courtney to confesse the truth as he had done before One Cut a Prentice of London was sent for by Gardiner vnto the Star-chamber for that he should say that Wiat was constrained by the Councell to aâ—cuse the Lady Elizabeth and the Lord Courtney to be consenters to his risâ—ng When the Mayor brought him thither Gardiner beganne to declare how miraculously God had brought the Queene to the Crowne the whole Realme in a manner beeing against her and it was that shee might reduce this Realme ouerwhelmed with heresies to the Catholike faith and where she lâ—ued the Lady Elizabeth tenderly and deliuered the Lord Courtney out of prison yet they conspired trayterously against her with Wyat as he confessed yet there are some in London which reported that Wyat was constrayned by the Councell to accuse them yet you my Lord Mayor haue not seene the same punished The partie is here said the Mayor Gardner said punish him according to his deserts and take heed to your charge the Citie of London is a whirle-poole of euill rumors The Londoners not fauouring the Queens proceedings to their displeasure summoned a Parlament at Oxford because they would be forward in the Queens businesse but after it was holden at Westminster where her marriage with king Philip was agreed vpon Bonner being Uicegerent of the Conuocation in his Oration said that Priests were like the Uirgin Mary as she by fiue words conceaued Christ so the Priest by fiue words loth make the very body of Christ and as immediatly vpon the consent of Mary Christ was all whole in her womb so immediatly after the consecration the bread is transubstantiated into the very body of Christ and as the Uirgin layed Christ in the â—anger so the Priest lifteth vp the body of Christ and carryeth it and as Mary was sanctified before she conceiued so the priest is ordained anointed before he doe consecrate for a lay-man though he be neuer so holy and do speak the same words yet he cannot consecrate Therefore the dignitie of Priests passeth the dignity of Angels for no Angell can make the body of Christ whereby the least Priest can doe more then the greatest Angell therefore Priests are to bee â—onoured before Kings and Princes and Nobles for a Priest is higher then a King happier then an Angell and maker of his Creator The effect of the communication between Doctor Ridley and Secretary Bourne and others at the Lieutenants table at the Tower Feckham WHo so doth not beleeue that which Scripture doth affirme is an â—eretick as in the Sacrament of the Altar Mathew Marke Luke and Paul affirme there to bee Christs body and none denieth it therefore to hold the contrarie is heresâ—e Ridley Whereas is a multitude of affirmations in scripture and where is one affirmation all is one in scripture that which is spoken by one of the Euangelists is as true as that which is spoken by al for it is not in Scripture as in witnesse of men where the number is credited more then one and where you speake of so many affirming without negation of any if you take their words and leaue their meaning they affirme that you take Feck What circumstances can you shew that should moue to thinke of any other sense then as the words plainely say Rid. By the next sentence Doe this in remembrance of me and you may as well say the Bread is turned into Christs mysticall body as that it is turned into his naturall body for Paule speaking of the mysticail body saith Many are one Bread and one body because they are partakers of one Bread Feck This is confâ—rmed by antiquity vnity and vniuersality for none before Beringarius did euer doubt of this then said Master Secretary these be great matters what say you to that Feck As for Unity I doe beléeue it if it be with veritie and as for Antiquity at the first Christs Faith was truely taught by Christ and his Apostles and by many good men which did succeed next them and touching the Sacrament I am perswaded these old writers before the vsurping of the Sea of Rome doe all agree if they bee well vnderstood in this truth as for vniuersalitie if may haue two meanings one that from the beginning in all ages hath beene allowed or it may be vnderstood for the multitude of our age or of any other singular age Maister Secretarie What authors haue you of the Sacrament to make a figure Ridley Tertullian saith This is my body that is to say a figure of my body And Gelasius saith the substance of bread remaineth And Origen saith that which is sanctified as touching the matter passeth away in the draught and I maruell Fecnam will alledge Melancton for we agree there is in the Sacrament but one materiall substance and he saith there are two Maister Secretarie You say truth but we reade that in the old time the Sacrament was so reuerenced that the Catecumeni and many more were forbiddâ—n to be present Rid. Truth Sir there were some called Audients some Penitents some Catechumeni and some Euergumeni which were commanded to depart Maister Sectetarie How then can you make but a figure of the Sacrament as the Lord of Canterburies booke doth Rid. Me thinkes it is not charitably done to beare the people in hand that any man doth so lightly esteeme the Sacrament as to make it but a figure which that booke doth deny as appeareth by that booke most plainely And as for mee I say whosoeuer receiueth the Sacrament receiueth with it life or death as S. Augustine saith manduca vitam bibe vitam Maister Pope I doe beleeue the reall body of Christ is in the Sacrament and I pray God I may euer so beleeue and how can it
receiued water but would haue giuen money for the Holy Ghost and Iohn had the Holy Ghost in his mothers wombe before Baptisme and Cornelius Paule the Queen of Candaces seruant with many others receiued the holy Ghost before baptisme and although your generation haue set at naught the word of God and turned it vpside downe yet must his Church keepe the same order which he left them which his Church dareth not breake and to iudge children daâ—â—ed dying without baptisme is wicked Bonner What say you to the Sacrament of Orders Smith You must call it the Sacrament of misorders for all orders are appointed of GOD but your shauing annointing greasing poling and rounding no such things are appointed in Gods book and my Lord if you had grace or intelligence you would not so disfigure your selfe as you do Boner What say you to holy bread and holy water the Sacrament of annointing and the rest of such Ceremonies of the Church Smith They be bables for fooles to play withall and not for Gods children then Boner and Mordant departed then certaine Doctors baited me halfe an houre of whom I asked where were all you in the daies of King Edward that you spake not that which you speake now they said they were in England I said but then you had the faces of men but now you haue put on Lions faces you haue for euery time a visar if another King Edward should arise you would then say down with the Pope for he is Antichrist and so are all his Angels then I was all to reuilâ—d Doctor You allow not Auriculer confession I said it is because the word of GOD alloweth it not He said it is written Thou shalt not hide thy sinnes I said no more doe I when I confesse them to God Hee said you cannot hide them from God therefore you must vnderstand it is spoken to bee vttered vnto them that do not know them Smith Then must the Priest confesse himselfe to me as I to him for I know his faults no more then â—e knoweth mine but if you confesse to a Priest and not to God you shall haue the reward that Iudas had for hee confessed himselfe to the Priest and yet went and hanged himselfe and those that acknowledge not there faults to God are said to hide them Doctor What did they that came to Iohn Baptist I said that they confessed to God he said and not to Iohn I said if it were vnto Iohn as you cannot proue yet it was to God before Iohn and the whole congregation he said Iohn was alone in the wildernes Smith Yet hee made many Disciples and many Saduces and Pharisies came vnto his Baptisme therefore if they confessed themselues to Iohn it was vnto all the congregation as Paul confessed openly in his Epistle to Timothy that hee was not worthy tâ— bee called an Apostle because hee had been a tyrant but as for eare Confession you neuer heard it allowed by the Word of God For as Dauid saith I will confesse my sinnes vnto the LORD so all his Children doe and euer did Then they called mee Dogge and said I was damned Then I said you are Dogges because you will â—â—ay your friends for offering vnto you all things I may say with Paul I haue fought with beasts in the likenes of men for I haue béene baited this two daies of my Lord and his great Buls of Basan and in the hall I haue béene baited with the rest of his band Bonner Then he came and asked the Doctors whether they had done him any good and they said no. And I said How can an euill Tree bring forth good fruit He said Wilt thou neither heare me nor them Thou shalt bee burned in Smithfield Smith And you shall burne in hell if ye repent not I perceiue you and your Doctors will not come vnto me and I am not determined to come to you then with many rayling sentences I was sent away The last examination Smith THen I with my Brethren were brought into the Consistory before Bonner the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffes Bonner By my faith my Lord Mayor I haue shewed as much fauour as any man liuing might do but I perceiue all is lost â—n him and all his company I said My Lord you must not sweare then he said I was Maister Controller and pointed to my Brother Tankerfield and said This is Maister speaker Mayor Thou speakest against the blessed Sacrament of the Altar Smith I deny it to be any Sacrament and I stand here to make probation of the same if my Lord or any of his Doctors can proue the name or vsage of the same I will recant then Then spake my Brother Tankerfield and defended the probation which they call heresie Bonner By my troth Maister speaker you shall preach at a stake Then I said well sworne my Lord you kéepe a good watch he said well Maister Controller I am no Saint Smith No my Lord nor yet a good Bishop a Bishop saith Saint Paul Should be faultlesse and a dedicate vessell to God and are you not ashamed to sit in iâ—dgment and be a blasphemer condemning Innocents My Lord Mayor I would require you in Gods Name that I may haue Iustice we are heare to day a great many of Innocents wrongfullie accused of heresie I require but the fauour that Festus and Agrippa Heathen men shewed to the Apostle which gaue him leaue to speake for himselfe and heard the probation of his cause then the Lord Mayor hanging downe his head said nothing Bonner Thou shalt preach at a stake and so Sheriffe Woodroffe cried with the Bishop away with them Thus came I in foure timâ—â— before them desiring Iustice to be heard but could haue none at length my Friends required with onâ— voyce the same and could not haue it so we were condemned because they all ten held the same opinions in effect Smith When the sentence began to be read in Dei nomine I answered he began in a wrong name for he could not finde in Scriptures to giue sentence of death against any man for his conscience He was burned at Uxbridge when hee was come to the stake he mightily comforted the people and told them he doubted not â—ut God will shew you some token that I die in a good cause at length he being â—ell-nigh halfe burned all blacke with fire clustered together in a lump like a black â—â—le all men thinking him dead suddenly he arose vpright lifting vp the stumpes of his armes clapping them together declaring a reioycing heart to them and so diâ—d He also wrote many godly Letters as you may sée in the Booke more at laâ—ge Stephen Harwood was burned at Stratford and Thomas Fust was burned at Ware When William Hayle of Thorpe in Essex was condemned O good people said he â—eware of this Iâ—olater and Antichrist pointing to Bonner He was burned at Barâ—et George King Thomas Leyes and Iohn Wade sickned in Prison and dyed and were
saying he that leaueth father or mother praueth our pilgrimage with many moe Many dangerous hazards he suffered amongst the Popes friends and Gods enemies for the Gospell sake When there was a Proclamation set forth for the calling in of the Bible in English and many other good bookes he hazarded himselfe to write to King Henry the eight to disswade him therefrom which Letter thou mayest see in the booke at large at length by the means of Doctor Butts and of good Cromwell he was made Bishop of Worcester and continued so a few yeares instructing his Diocesse according to a diligent Pastor but as before both in the Uniuersitie and at his Benefiee he was tossed and turmoyled by the wicked so in his Bishopricke some sought his trouble insomuch that he was accused to the King for his Sermons Thus he continued in this laborious function of a Bishop for certaine yeares vntill the comming vp of the sixe Articles and altering of Religion so when he could not keepe his Bishopricke with a good conscience of his owne free will he resigned the same at which time Shaxton Bishop of Salesburie resigned also with him his Bishopricke These two remained a great space vnbishopped keeping silence vntill the time of King Edward A little after Latimer had renounced his Bishopricke hee was sore bruised with the fall of a tree and comming to London for remedy hee was troubled of the Bishops and at length was cast into the Tower where he continued prisoner vntill the Raigne of King Edward then the golden mouth of this preacher shut vp long before was opened againe and beginning a fresh to set forth his plough againe and continued all the time of the said King labouring in the Lords haruest most fruitfully hee preached for the most part twice euery Sunday to no small shame of vnpreaching prelates which occupied great rome to doe little good he did most euidently prophesâ—e of all these kinde of plagues which after ensued so plainely that if England euer had a Prophet he might seeme to be one and he did euer affirme that the preaching of the Gospel would cost him his life and he was certainely perswaded that Winchester was kept in the Tower to be his death which fell out right for after the death of King Edward and Queen Mary proclaimed a Purseuant was sent down vnto him by the doing no doubt of Winchester Latimer had warning thereof six houres before the Purseuant came whereby he might haue â—scaped but he prepared himselfe towards his iourney before the Purseâ—ant came who maruelled to sée him so prepared for his iourney he told the Purseuant he was a welcome guest and be it knowne vnto you and the whole World that I goe as willingly to London at this present being called of my Prince to giue a reckoning of my Faith and Doctrine as euer I was to goe vnto any place in the world and I doubt not but that God which hath made me worthy to preach to two most excellent Princes so he will able me to witnesse the same to the third either to her comfort or discomfort eternally When the Purseuant had deliuered his Letters he departed affirming that hee was not commaunded to tarry for him whereby it appeared they would not haue him appeare but rather to haue fled out of the Realme they knew his constancy would deface them in Popery and confirme the godly in the truth When he came through Smithfield he said merrily Smithfield bad long groned for him after he had béene before the Councell hee was sent to the Tower and from thence he was transported to Oxford with Cramer Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Ridley Bishop of London there to dispute as before is said Of the order of the disputations and bow they were condemned thou maist sée before where they continued vntill this time in continual prayer godly conference and writing Latimer sometimes continued so long knéeling at prayer that hee was not able to arise without helpe three thinges especially he prayed for in his Prayers First as God hath appointed him to preach his Word so hee would giue him grace to stand to the same vntill his death Secondly that God would restore his Gospel vnto England againe once more which once more hee inculcated oftentimes into the eares of the LORD as if he had spoken vnto him face to face Thirdly hee prayed for the preseruation of Queene ELIZABETH then but Lady ELIZABETH whom with â—eares he still named desiring God to make hee a comforter to this comfortles Realme the Lord most graciously granted al these things which he requested The twentith day of September a Commission was sent from the Cardinall to the Bishops of Lincolne Glocester and Bristow to examine Doctor Ridley and Maister Latimer vpon the points they were condemned for at Oxford and if they would not recant there opinions to disgrade them c. The first point was whether the reall presence of Christ was in the Sacrament D. Ridley first appeared before them when the Commission was read he standing bare-headed assoon as he heard the Cardinall named and the Popes Holines he put on his cap the Bishop of Lincolne reprehended him for it and told him if he would not of himselfe put off his cap another should doe it for him He answered that it was not done for any contumacy that he bare vnto their own persons nor for any derogation of the Cardinall in that he was borne of the Bloud Royall was indued with much leâ—rning excellent vertues â—ut in that he is Legate to the Pope and with that he put on his cap whose vsurped supremacie I vtterly renounce which I will not onely denounce in words but in gesture beâ—auiour and all my doings expresse the same wherevpon by the commandement of the Bishop of Lincoln his cap was taken off he appeared twice and thus he did at both times their answeres were both to one effect in substance First they made their protestation that notwithstanding their answers it should not be taken thereby that they would acknowledge any authority of the Pope but that they answered as subiects to the king and Queene to the first point they did confesse that in the sacrament by spirit and grace is the very body and bloud of Christ because that euery man receiuing bodily the bread and wine in the Sacrament spiritually receiue the body and bloud of Christ and thereby is partaker of the merits of his passion but they denied the naturall body and bloud of Christ to be really in the outward sacrament The second question was whether after consecration of the sacrament of the Altar there did remain any substance of bread and wine to that they answered there was such a change in the bread and wine as no man but God can make being the bread had that dignity to exhibit Christs body yet the bread is still bread and the wine still wine for the change is not in the nature but in the
childe after cruell torments he was whipped to the bones powdered with salt and vineger and â—ofled with a fire Dorotheus and Gorgonius séeing it reproued the Emperour and confessed they were Christians wherefore though they were in great authoritie they were almost tormented as he and strangled Anthonius Bishop of Nicomedia and Lucianus and a great company of â—artyrs were beheaded Dioclesian beheaded his owne wife Serena Elampia Agapen Irenea Cronia and Anastachia were burned 2000. Christians were burned in one Temple In Arabia many Martyres were slaine with â—xes Iâ— Phrigia a whole Citie of Christians compassed set on fire and burned In Melitina the Bishop and Elders were cast into prison A Sheriffe in doing execution vpon the Christians was conuerted and confessed himselfe a Christian and after diuerse strange torments was burned Eugenius Auxentius Marderius were Martyred In Egypt Pelus and Nilus Bishops were Martyred the rage was great in Alexandria the Bishop thereof and Elders Faustus Didius Ammonius Phildas Hefichius and Theodorus with many other were Martyred 6660. Souldiers being Christians vnder the Christian Captaine Mauritius lying at 〈◊〉 in Egypt refusing to worship Images died altogether constant in the Faith Ascla Phremon Apolinius with diuerse Christians were martyred at Anteno in Scilia were 79. put to death in Calcedon Euphenea was martired in Rome Iohn Crispus Priests at Babemâ— Agricola and Vitalis at Aquilia the Emperour commaunded 〈◊〉 man to kil the Christians where Felices and Fortunatus was killed Victor suffered at 〈…〉 Beluaâ—ns Lucian suffered In Spaine was great persecution as at Emerita Eulalia Adula Vincensia Sabina and Christiana suffered Leucadia virgin Augusta and 18. besides were martyred Where was such Persecution at â—reâ—â—rs by the riuer Mosella that â—he blood of Christians 〈◊〉 like a little Brooke and coloured by Riuer Horsâ—men 〈…〉 to kill the Christians Agripina and Augusta were 〈…〉 In 〈◊〉 all the Christians were destroyed no tongue 〈…〉 the deathe and 〈◊〉 that this Tyrant vsed hanging them by one hand 〈…〉 them and 〈…〉 but not to death but euery day Eusebius saith he saw the the 〈◊〉 of the pesecutors blunt with often slaughter themselues for wearinesse sit downe and 〈◊〉 but the Martyres nothing 〈◊〉 were patient for Chrâ—sts sake Miletus Bishop of 〈◊〉 gaue backe wherefore Peter Bishop of 〈…〉 so did Marcellus Bishop of Rome whâ—refore he was 〈…〉 and was Martyard In 30. dayes were 〈◊〉 17000 Martyres besides many that 〈…〉 There were Mariyâ—â—d at Alexandria 300. 〈…〉 120. more Martyres This Persecution endured vntill about the 7. yeare of Constantius at length being out of hope to exâ—inguish them the slaughter ceased yet they 〈◊〉 many and put 360. Regmus 〈◊〉 the eyes of 〈◊〉 and condemned many to the 〈◊〉 After Dioclesian and Maximiâ—anus had raigned about 〈◊〉 yeares thâ—yâ—â—â— vp the Empier and the Empire remained with Constantius and Galâ—â—ius Maxeminus Maxeminus presecuted the Persecution about 7. yeares vntâ— the years 318. but Constantius â—ather â—auoured the Christians â—and to try 〈◊〉 Courâ—iers he â—eigned in Sacrifice to 〈◊〉 and commaunced his Houshold so to dâ—e and finding a number that constantly refused â—e cherished them and 〈◊〉 them to great places and refused the backâ—â—ders Maximinus vsed great cruceltie in the East Churches 〈◊〉 God stayed his rage by sending him 〈◊〉 a bothe as puâ—â—â—fied his â—â—trals from whence came inumerable multitudes whereupon he published Edicts of Peace to the Christians and desired them to pray for him but 6. monethes after he set out conâ—rary of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 them to be◠〈…〉 so Persecution rose againe as great as before Siluanus Lucianus Petrus Bishop Querinus Bishop Marcellus Tâ—mothe Victorianus Symphocrianus Castorius Castâ—us Cesarius Meâ—â—â—ous Nobilis Dorotheus Gorgamus Petâ—us vnto inumerable Martyris Iuliana Cosmus Damanus Basileus with â—eauen others Dorathca Theophilus Theodosia Vitaâ— is Agricola â—â—cha Philemon Hireneus Januarius Festus Diâ—iderius Grigorius Spolitanus Agapâ—â—s Croâ—ia Hirenea â—â—heodora with 270. others Florianus Prinius Feliciaâ—â—â— Vitus Modestus Crescentia Aâ—binus Rogatianus Donatianus 〈◊〉 Catharina Margareta Lucia 〈◊〉 Aâ—theus the King with 3700. Simplicius Faustâ—â—â—s Beatrix Panthaleon Grigorâ—ns Iustus Leocandia Anthonia with infirâ—â— Felix Victor with his parents Lucia widdowe Germinianus with 79. others Anastacia Câ—â—â—ogonus Felix Audactus Adrianus Nathalia Agnes of 13. yeares olde these 〈◊〉 many other were then Martyred The Emperour in his Edict declared what plently they enioyed when they adored their 〈◊〉 As 〈◊〉 as that Persecution began there was a miserable Fâ—mine aâ—d Pestilence wherein the Christians to their power reâ—â—ued the Gentiles whereby grewe some yeare 〈…〉 a Christian woman whose husband they had killed to satisfie the filthy desire of the Emperour shee killed her selfe rather then she would so doe He banished a Noble woman of Rome because she gaue her goods to the Church The people of Rome wearied with the vilâ—any of Maxentius â—â—quired aydâ— Constantine he gathered an Armie in Fraunce and Britaâ—ne and being in 〈◊〉 looking vp to Heauen about the going downe of the Sunne he sawe a brightnesse like acrosse with Starres of equall bignesse with this inscription In hoc vince Eusebius Pamphilus reporteth he heard Constaâ—tine often affirme it In the 〈…〉 Christ appeared vnto him with the signe of the same Crosse bâ—â—ding â—im make the figure thereof and carry it before him in his warres and he should hauâ— vâ—ctory whereupon he 〈◊〉 towards Maxâ—ntius who not being able to sustaine Constantines â—orce and 〈◊〉 â—o the Câ—tie was ouerthrowne of his horse in the floud and â—â—owned and so ended thâ— last Persecution he gaue liâ—ertie by Proclâ—mation to Christians â—o prolesse their Religion Diâ—clesian heaâ—ing herâ—of dyed for sorrâ—w some say he poysoned 〈…〉 Licinius first â—oyned with Constanâ—â—ne and â—onquâ—red Maximinus a great 〈◊〉 in the West who killed his Charmâ—rs that 〈◊〉 him â—o warre and 〈…〉 with a disease he glorified the God of the Christians and made a Lawe for their 〈◊〉 Licinius called Learning the poyson of the common wealth and said it was a 〈◊〉 for a Prince to be learned he said the Christians prayed for Constantâ—â—◠〈◊〉 and not for him therefore he persecuted them first in his owne Court them in the 〈◊〉 he rased many Churches to the ground he hanged Theodorus on a Crosse thrâ—st nayles into his aâ—me pits then strucke off his head He put to death Basilius Bishop Niclâ—olaus Bishop Grigâ—râ—us of Armenia the great Paul of 〈◊〉 whose â—ands were 〈◊〉 off â—ith a â—earing Iron in Sebastâ—a he drowned 40. Souldiers in a horse Pond the wiues of these 40. with Ammones a Deacon after inumerable torments were slaâ—â—e with thâ— sword Diuerse bâ—tâ—els were sought betwéene Licinius and Constantine first in Hungary where he was ouâ—r throwne in Macedonia where he fled and â—epâ—yred his Armâ—â— and being vanquished by Sea and Land he yeelded to Costantine and was commâ—â—â—â—dâ—â— liue a priuate life but he was killed by the Souldiers in the yeare 324. Constantius â—he father of Constantine dyed in the
Rome to receiue the Faith the good Bishop sent him certaine Preachers which conuerted the King of the Brittaines and baptized them there were the twenty eight Priests called Flamines which they turned to twentie eight Bishoppes and thrée Arch-Flamins to thrée Arch-bishops to wit London Yorke and Glamargan by Wales Thus all the Realme setled in good order Lucius sent againe to Elutherius for the Romaine Lawes thereby likewise to gouerne the Realme Unto whom Elutherius wrote againe we may reprooue the Law of the Romaines but the Law of GOD wee cannot reprooue you haue with you both partes of the Scriptures out of them by Gods grace with the councell of your Realme take yea Law and rule your kingdome of Brittaine for you are Gods Uicar in your kingdome The Faith thus receiued of the Brittaines continued and flourished 216 yeares vntill the comming of the Saxons who then were Pagans whilst Brittaine had thus receiued the Faith the Emperors of Rome were Infidels wherefore much trouble wos sought against them as it was against all parts of Christendome Lucius after he had raigned about 77. yeares died without issue whereupon followed great misery and ruine to the Realme for sometime the idolatrous Romaines and sometimes the Brittaines raigned as violence and victory would serue one King murdering another vntill at length the Saxons depriued them both Some write but falsely that King Lucius after he was baptized forsooke his kingly Honor and the Land and became a Preacher in France and Germany and other places and was made Doctor and Rector of the Church of Cureac where hee was martyred but this fansie is contrary to all our English Stories which doe agrée that he hauing founded many Churches and giuen great liberalities to the same deceased in great tranquility in his owne Land and was buried at Glocester Betwéene the time of King Lucius and the entring of the Saxons there raigned after Lucius Seuerus a Romaine after him Bassianus a Romaine after him Cerausius a Brittaine after him Alectus a Romaine after him Asclepiodotus a Brittaine after him Coilus a Brittaine after him Constantius a Romain after him Constantinus a Brittain by Helena his Mother the Daughter of King Coilus and Wife of Constantius Constantine first made the wals of London and Colchester when the Romaines ruled it it was ruled by Infidels and when the Brittains ruled by Christians yet no persecution was raised in it vntill the tenth persecution which was so cruell that all our English Chronicles report that all Christianity almost in the whole land was destroyed Churches subuerted and the Scriptures burned as before is shewed It is worthy to be noted that Constantine that worthy Emperor was not onely a Brittaine borne but his Mother Helena Daughter of King Coilus a Brittaine but also by the helpe of the Brittaines Army which Constantine tooke with him with great victories he obtained the peace of the Uniuersall Church hauing thrée legions with him out of this Realme of chosen Souldiers After Maximinian tooke all the power that was left of fighting Men to subdue France and after sent for 100000. Souldiours more at once at which time Conanus his Partner sent for 11000. Uirgines out of Brittaine which were drowned and spoyled by the way by Infidels because they would not pollute themselues with them Thus Brittaine being destitute of strength had béene oppressed by Guanus and Melga had not Guethlâ—â—us Arch-bishop of London and Constantinus Brother to Aldranus defended the Realme and State of Religion Then came Vortigerne who murdred Constance his Prince and inuaâ—ed the Crowne and fearing Constance his two brothers he sent for ayde of the Saxons and married with the Daughter of Hengist but not long after he was dispossessed of his kingdome by the said Hengist and the Saxons beeing all Infidels and the Brittaines were driuen out of the Country Two hundred seuenty one of their Nobles at one méeting at Almesbury being subtilly slain by the Saxons or at a place cald Stonehenge by the Monument of which Stones there hanging it séemeth the Noble Brittaines were there buried I passe ouer the fabulous Story of the Welchmen of bringing these Stones from Ireland by Merlin Some Stories record they were slaine being bid to a banket Thus came the Angles and Saxons fiâ—st into this Realme being yet Infidels about the yeare 469. they were diuers times driuen out by Aurelius Ambrosius and his Brother Vter but they returned againe and at length possessed all and droue the Brittains into Wales Hengistus raigned 43. years and dyed in Kent Galfridus saith he was taken in the warre of Aurelius Ambrosius and beheaded in the 39. yeare of his raigne His Sonne Offa succeeded him twenty foure yeares Octa and Imericus his sons succéeded him 53. yeares and were slaine by Vter Pendragon The Saxons deuided the Realme into sâ—auen Kingdomes to the first Kent to the second Sussex and Surrey the third West-sex the fourth Eastâ—sex the fifth Cambridgeshire Norffolke and Suffolke the sixt the Countries of Lincolne Leicester Huntingdon Northampton Oxford Darby Warwicke the seauenth was King of Northumberland they continued so a while with great Warres amongst themselues at length all came to the possession of the West-Saxons This â—ingdome began in the yeare 522. and continued vntill about the comming of William the Conqueror which was 554. yeares Saint Paules Church in London was builded by Ethelbert King of Kent and Sigebert King of Essex when Ethelbert turned vnto the Faith Malmsburie writeth that Mauricius the Kinges Chancellour then Byshoppe of London did first begin this famous building of Paules and after Richard his Successour bestowed all the rents of his Byshoppricke vpon the same and it may be the first Church was ouerthrowne by the Danes and re-edified by these Byshops These Kings of the Brittaines raigned in Wales and Cornewall Vortiger Vortimer Vortiger againe Aurelius Ambrosius Vter Pendragon Arthur Constantius 3. Aurelius Conanus Vortiperius Malgo Carecius The sinnes of the Brittaines was the cause of the iust iudgement of God against them as out of an old Authour and partly out of Gildas doth appeare These bee the words of the Authour There following Constantinus and others aboue named out of the Realme all the Nobility when the rascall sort had gotten their places and through aboundance of riches were surprised with pride they fell into so great Fornication as neuer was heard of and vnto all manner of wickednesse that mans Nature is inclined vnto hating the truth louing lyes regarding euill in stead of goodnesse receiuing the Deuill in stead of an Angell of light choose such for their Kings as were most cruell and if any seemed to bee humble and fauour the truth they hated and backbited him as a destroyer of Brittaine and not onely the seculer men did thus but also the Byshoppes and Teachers therefore it was no maruell that such a people should loose their Country which they had so defiled As there were many wicked Kinges among the Saxons so there were some
very good but none almost froÌ„ the first to the last which was not either slain in war or murdred in peace or constrained to make himselfe a Monk whether it were the iust iudgment of God because they had violently dispossessed the Brittains they were not only vexed of the Danes conquered of the Normans but more cruelly deuoured themselues Ethelbert King of Cambridgeshire Norffolke and Suffolke came peaceably to King Offa for dispousage of Athilrid his Daughter and by the Councel of King Offa his Wife was secretly beheaded Wherevpon Offa through repentance made the first peter-pence to be giuen to S. Peters Church at Rome One Lothbrooke a Dane of the Kings blood being a hauking by the Sea-side in a little Boat was cast by weather vpon the Coast of Norffolke and being brought to King Edmund he retained him in great fauour at length he was priuily murdered by one Bericke which being knowne Bericke was sent away in Lothbrookes Boate without tackling and was driuen into Denmarke and being séene in Lothbrookes Boate and examined of Lothbrooke he falsely said the King had killed him Wherevpon Iugner and Hubba Lothbrookes Sonnes gathering an Army of Danes inuauaded first Northumberland then Norffolke and sent to King Edmund to deuide his Treasures to him and be subiect to him else he would dispossesse him of his â—ingdome he answered he would not be subiect to a Pagan Duke vnlesse before hee become a Christian then the Danes besiedged his house but he fled and pitched a fielde with them but the Danes preuailing he fled to the Castle of Halesdon where they tooke him and bound him to a stake and shot him to death Seauen or eight Kings are highly commended in the Histories for leauing there Kingdomes and becomming Moonkes but they are more to be discommended for leauing their calling wherein they might so much benefite the Church There were foure Persecutions in England before Austen came into England the first vnder Dioclesian the second by the inuading of Gnarius and Melga one captaine of the Hunnes the other of the Picts after they had slaughtered 11000. Uirgines as before made a rode into Brittaine hearing it wanted strength and murdered Christians and spoiled Churches without mercy the third by the Saxons who destroyed Christs Saints and the Churches vntill Aurelius Ambrosius restored again the Churches the fourth Gurmundus King of the Affricans ioyned with the Saxons and wrought much grieuance to the Christians of the Land which persecution remained to the time of Ethelbert the fift King of Kent In the tâ—me of Ethelbert the faith was receiued of the Saxons by this meanes Gregory Bishop of Rome seeing Brittaine Children to be sould in Rome very beautifull vnderstanding what Country they were of pittied that the Country which was so beautifull and angellicall so to be subiect to the prince of darkenes Wherefore he sent thither Austen with about forty Preachers with him and when they were apaled and would haue turned backe again Gregory emboldned and comforted them with his Letter so they came to the I le of â—henet in Kent Ethelbert as before was King of Kent he had married one Berda a French Woman vpon condition shee should vse the Christian Religion with one Lebardus her Byshop Austen sent to the King signifying hee was come from Rome bringing with him glad tydings to him and all his people of life and saluation if he would so willingly hearken vnto it as he was gladly come to preach it vnto him The King hauing heard of this Religion by his Wife came to the place where Austen was Austen against his comming erected a Banner of the Crucifire such then was the grosenesse of the time and preached to him the word of God the King promised they should haue all things necessary and none should molest them and gaue them frée leaue to preach to his subiects and conuert whom they might to the Faith When they had this comfort of the King they went with procession to Canterbury singing Alleluia with the Letany that was vsed at Rome in the great plague We beséech thée O Lord in all thy mercies that thy fury and anger may cease from this Citty and from thy holy house for we haue sinned Alleluia they continued in the same Citty preaching and baptizing in the old Church of S. Martine where the Quéene was wont to resort vntill the King was conuerted at length the King séeing their myracles and their godly conuersation he heard them gladly and was conuerted in the thirty sixe yeare of his raigne Anno 586. After him innumerable daily were adioyned vnto the Church whom the King did specially imbrase but compelled none then the King gaue Austen a place for his Byshops Sea at Christs Church in Canterbury and builded the Abbey there where after Austen and all the Kings of Kent were buried which now is called S. Austine Then Austen by the commandement of Gregory went into France to the Bishop of Arelatensis to be consecrated Arch-byshop and so was then Austen sent to Gregory so declare how they had sped and to be resolued of diuers questions how Bishops should behaue themselues towards their Clarke of offerings and Ceremonies and what punishment for stealing Church goods and such like to no great purpose therefore if thou béest disposed to sée them I referre thee to the Booke at large Gregory after he had sent resolutions to these questions sendeth moreouer more Coadiutors as Melitus Iustus Paulinus and Ruffianus with Books and implements necessary for the English Church and in reward of Austines paines he sent him a Pal onely to be vsed at the solemnity of the Masse and granteth two Metropolitane Seas London and Yorke but granted to Austen during his life to be cheefe Arch-bishop of all the Land and that they should not destroy the idolatrous Temples but conuert them to Christian vses and that Austine should not be proud of the myracles that God wrought by him that he should remember they were not done for him but for their conuersion whose saluation God sought thereby Then he wrote to King Ethelbert first hee praysed GOD then the King by whom it pleased God to worke such goodnesse of the people then exhorted him to perseuer in his profession and to be zealous therein to conuert the multitude and destroy Idolatry and to gouerne them in holinesse of conuersation according to the Emperor Constantinus the Great comforting him with the promises of life and reward to come Austine receiuing his Pall as aboue said and of a Monke being made an Arch-Byshop hee made two Metropolitanes as Gregorie commaunded then Austine assembled the Byshops and Doctors of Brittaine in this assembly hee charged the Byshoppes that they should preach the Word of GOD with him also that they should reforme certaine rites and vsages in the Church especially for keeping of Easter and baptizing after the manner of Rome the Scots and Brittaines would not agree thereto refusing to leaue the custome which
the Britainâ— King which with a mightie Host came against him There is much commendation in writing of this Oswalds zeale in religion and piety towards the poore he sent into Scotland for a Bishop called Aydanus a famous Preacher as he preached to the Saxons in the Scottish tongue the King vnderstanding the Scotish tongue he disdained not to preach and expound the same to his Nobles in the English tongue King Oswald being at Dinner on Easterday one brought him word there was a great company of pâ—re people in the streets which asked almes of him be commaunded the meate prepared for his owne Table to be caried vnto them and brake a siâ—â—er Platter in pieces and senâ— it amongst them by his meanes Kinigillus King of the West Saxons was conuerted to Christs Faith and after he had raigned 9. yeares he was slaine by the said Penda who was after slaine by Osway brother to Oswald and succeeded him in his Kingdome together with his Cosin Oswine This Oswine gaue Aydanus the Scotish Bishop aforesaid a principall Horse with the trappers and appurtenances and as he wâ—s riding vpon this kingly horse a poore man craued his charity who hauing nothing else to giue him gaue him his horâ—e garnished as he was wherefore as he came to Dinner he King chiâ—e him he answereâ— O King set you more prise by a horse then by Chrâ—st Then the King prayed him to forgiue him and he would not hencefoorth finde fault with him for giuing away any of his Treasure then Aydanus wept and being asked wherefore he wept he answered for that this King cannot liue long this people is nto worthy to be â—uled by such a Prince which shortly came to passe for Osway caused him traterously to be slaine One Benedict a great man with Osway that brought vp Bede from his youth â—orsooke Oswayes house and all his kindred to serue Christ he was the first that brought vp the Arte of glazing in windowes About this time there was a Counsell bolden at Steâ—ne-halt for the right obseruing of Easterday King Osway began with an Oration that it was necessary â—or such as serued one God to liue in an vniforme order and such as looked for one kingdom in Heauen should not differ in celebration of heauenly Sacraments then by his commandement Colman Bishop said he receiued the order of keeping Easter the 14. day of the first Moneth from his Auncesters Forefathers and from Iohn Euangelist to which at the Kings commandement Wilfride answered Easter is kept alwaies on the Sunday as we keepe it in Rome where Peter and Paul taught in Italy France Affrick Egypt Greece and in all the world I will not reproue Saint Iohn which kept the rights of Moses Law according to the letter the Church being yet Iewish in many points they could not reiect Images inuented of the Diuell which all beleeuers ought of necessitie to detest least they should offend the Iewes therefore Saint Paul circumcized Tymothy therefore he shaued his head and Sacrificed in the Temple all this was done onely to eschew the offence of the Iewes Therefore â—ames said to Paul Thou â—éest brother how many thousand Iewes doe beleeue yet all are zealous of the old Law yet since the Gospell was preached it is not lawfull for the faithfull to be circumcized nor to offer Sacrifices of carnal things to God but Peter remembring that the Lord did rise from death the first day after the Sabbath instituted Easter on that day and not according to the Law and though your forefathers were holy men what is their fewnesse being but a corner of an Iland to be preferred before the vniuersall Church of Christ Then said the King Did the Lord giue the kingdome of Heauen vnto Peter And they both answerâ—d yea then the King concluded being Saint Peter is the Doore-keeper of Heauen I will obey his Orders in euery point least when I come to the gates of Heauen hee shut them against mee and with this simple reason they consented Ethelwood preached vnto the people in Southsax and conuerted them to Christ in the time of whose baptizing the raine which before they lacked three yeares was giuen them plenteously whereby there great famine slacked About this time the detestable sect of Mahomet began to take place which well agrées with the number of that beast signified in the Reuelation 666. Of Mahomet came the Kingdome of the Haarines now called Saracens to whom he gaue many Lawes they must pray Southward Friday is their Sunday called the day of Venus he permitted them to haue as many Wiues as they were able to maintaine and as many Concubines as they list they must abstaine from wine excepâ— on solemne daies â—hey were to worship one onely God Omnipotent Moses and the Prophets were great but Christ was greatest being borne without mans seede and taken vp into the Heauen with many such Lawes at length the Sarasins were wholly conquered by the Turkes Theodorus was sent into England by Vitellianus Pope and diuerse other Monks with him to set vp Latine Seruice in England and Masâ—es Cerimonies Letanies and other Romish ware he was made Archbishop of Canterbury and began to play the Rex in placing and displacing Bishops at his pleasure He held a Prouinciall Counsell at Therford the contents thereof were the vniformitie of keeping Easter that no Bishop should intermeddle in anothers Diâ—cesse that Monasteries should be free from Iurisdiction oâ— Bishops that Monks should keepe the obedience they first promised and not goe from one Monastery vnto another without leaue of the Abbot that none of the Clergy should be receiued in another Diocesse without Letters Commendatory of his Bishop that foraine Bishops and Clergy men should be content with the hospitality offered them and not meddle in any Bishops Iurisdiction without his permission that once a yeare a Prouinciall Sinod should be kept that no Bishop should preferre himselfe before another but according to his time of consecration that as the people increased so the number of Bishops should be augmented The next yeare was the sixt generall Counsell of Constance where this Theodore was present vnder Pope Agatho Mariage there was permitted to the Greeke Priests and forbidden to the Latine in this Counsell the Latine Masse was first openly said by Iohn Portuensis the Popes Legate Colfride Abbot of Shirwin in Northumberland writ to Naitonus King of Picts that shauen Crownes was necessarie for all Priests and Monks for restraint of their lusts and that Peter was shauen in remembrance of the Passion of Christ so we must weare the signe of his Passion on the toppe of our head as euery Church beareth the holy Crosse in the front thereof that by the defence of that banner it be kept from euill Spirits and exhorted him to imitate the Apostolike Churches and when he died the Prince of the Apostles would open Heauen gate to him whereat the King reioyced and knéeling downe thanked God that
of Images was condemned there he aduanced the veneration of Images commanding them most Ethnically to be incenced In this time Charles the great raigned by whom the Pope caused Dâ—siderius the Lumbard King to be deposed Pope Adrianus the 1. succéeded him he added more then all the other to the veneration of Images writing a Booke for the adoration and vtilitie of them commanding them to be taken for Lay-mens Calenders As Pope Paul before him made much of Petronel Peters daughter so this Adrian clothed the body of Peter all in siluer and couered the Altar of S. Paul with a pall of golde He confirmed by reuelation the Order of S. Gregories Masse before the order of S. Ambrose his Masse in this manner both the Masse bookes were said vpon the Altar of S. Peter and the Church doore shut and sealed by many Bishops who continued in praiers all night that the Lord would shew by some euident signe which of these Seruices he would haue vsed and in the morning they found Gregories Masse booke plucked in pieces and scattered about the Church and Ambrose his booke lay open in the same place where it was layde Popâ— Adrian expounded it that as the leaues of Gregories booke were sattered all ouer the Church so should Gregories booke be vsed throughout the world and that Ambrose his Seruice should onely be vsed in his owne Church where he was Bishop so Gregories Masse had onely the place and hath to this day Charles the sonne of the aforesaid Pipinus confirmed the gift of his Father vnto the Pope and added thereunto the citie and Dominion of Uenice Histria the Dukedomes of Foroinliense Spoletanum Beâ—eâ—entanum and other more possessions to the patrimony of Peter making him the Prince of Rome and Italy wherefore the Pope intituled him most Christian King and ordained him onely to be taken for Emperour and made him Patricium Romanum and Caroloman Carolus his eldest brother being â—ead Bertha his wife with her two children came to Pope Adrian to haue them confirmed into his fathers Kingdome the Pope to shew a pleasure to Carolus would not agrée but gaue her and her two children and Desiderius the Lumbard king with his whole Kingdome wife and Children into the hands of Carolus who led them into France and kept them in seruitude during their liues By this Adrian and Pope Leo his successor was Carolus Magnus proclamed Emperour and the Empire translated from the Grecians to the Frenchmen in the year 801. where it continued about 102. yeares vntil the comming of Conradus and his Nephew Otho which were Germaines and so hath continued amongst the Almains vntill this time This Charles builded as many Monasteries as there be letters in the A. B. C. he was beneficiall to the poore but cheefly to Churchmen he held a Councell at Frankford where was coÌ„demned the Councel of Niceâ—e Irene for setting vp worshiping Images Egbert succeeded Ceolulphus and when he had raigned 20. years in Northumberland was likewise shorne Monk about the time of the death of Ceolulphus in his monastery In the year 754. the cities of Weire London York Doncaster with others were burnt In the yeare 780. it rained blood it the citie of Yorke it fell from the top of S. Peters Church the Element being cléere out of the North part of the Temple some expounded it to be a token of the comming of the Danes which entred thiâ— land about 7. years after In the yeare 784. Irene Empresse of the Greekes by the meanes of Pope Adrian tooke vp the body of Constantinus Emperour of Constantinople her husbands father and burned it and caused the ashes to be cast into the sea because he disanulled Images as afore is said afterwards raigning with her son Constantine the sixt being at disscenâ—ion with him she caused him to be cast into prison and his eyes to be put out so cruelly that within short time he dyed after she held a Councell at Niceâ— where it was decréed that Images should againe be restored to the Church which Councell also was repealed by another Councell holden at Frankeford by Charles the great wherin he did greatly lament that noâ— so few as 300. Bishops of the East did decree that Images should be worshipped which the Church of God hath alwaies abhorred at length she was deposed by Nicephorus who raigned after her and after according to the iust Iudgement of God ended her life in much penury and misery The first Crosse and Altar that was set vp in this Realme was in Heuenfield in the North vpon the occasion of Oswald king of Northumberland fighting against Cadwalla where he in the same place set vp the signe of the Erosse kneeling and praying there for victory The Church of Winchester was founded by Kingilsus king of the Mercians and finished by his sonne Anno 636. The Church of Lincolne founded by Paulinus Bishop 629. The Abbey of Westminster begun by a citizen of London by the instigation of Ethelbert King of â—ent 614. The Schooles of Cambridge erected by Sigebert king of East Angles 636. The Monastery of Malmesbury by Meldulphus a Scot 640. after inlarged by Agilbet Bishop of Winchester The Monastery of Gloster builded by Opricus king of Mercia 679. The Monastery of Maybrose by Aydanus the Scottish Bishop The Nunnery of Heâ—renton by Heâ—y which was the first Nun in Northumberland The Monastery of Hetesey by Osway king of Northumberland who with his Daughter Elfred gaue possessions for twelue Monasteries 657. The Monastery of S. Martine in Douer builded by Whitred king of Kent The Abbey of Lestingie by Cedda whom we call Saint Ced 651. The Monastery of Whithy by Hilda daughter to the Nephew of king Edwine 657. she builded also another Monastery called Hacanus not farre â—hence The Abbey of Abbington builded by Sissa king of Southsaxons 666. Saint Botulph builded an Abbey on the East side of Lincolne called Ioannâ— 654. The monastery in Ely fouÌ„ded by Etheldred daughter of Anna K. of east Angles 674. The Monastery of Chertsey in Southery founded by Erkinwald Bishoy of London 674. he founded also the Nunnery of Barkin The Abbey of Peterborough founded by King Ethelwald 675. Bardnere Abbey by King Etheldredus 700. Glastenbury by Iue King of West Saxons 701. Ramsey by one Aylewinus a Nobleman 973. King Edgar builded in his time forty Monasteries he raigned Anno 678. The Monastery of Wincombe builded by king Kenulphus 737. Saint Albons builded by Offa king of Mercians 755. The Abbey of Eusham by Egwinus Bishop 691. The Abbey of Ripon in the North by Wilfridus Bishop 709. The Abby of Echlingheie by king Aluredus 891. The Nunnery of Shaftsbury by the said Aluredus the same yeare so you see that Monasteries began to be founded by the Saxon kings within 200. yeares after they were conuerted these had a zeale but they lacked the true Doctrine of Christ especially that Article of free Iustification by Faith of Iesus Christ for lacke whereof as
well the builders as they that were possessed in the same haue both runne the wrong way and béene deceiued for so much as they did these things seeking thereby merits with God remedy for â—heir soules and remission of sinnes as doth appeare testified in their owne Records besides the 7. or 8. Kings that forsooke their Kingdomes to be Monkes there were many Quéenes and Kings daughters entred into Nunneries at that time as thou maist sée them in the booke at large named THE THIRD BOOKE Containing the next 300. yeares from the raigne of King EGBERTVS vnto WILLIAM the Conquerour EGbertus King of the West Saxons hauing put downe all the other Kings he gouerned â—oly King Brithricus doubting Egbert because he was of the kings bloude was chased out of the land into France where hearing of the death of Brithricus hée came home and â—btained the Crowne King Bernulphus and other kings had him in deriâ—â—â—on and made diuerse scorning Rimes of him after he assembled his Knights and fought with Bernulphus in a place called Elmeden and there was ods six or eight against one yet Egbert through the helpe of God gat the victorie at length he subdued all the Kings and ioyned their Dominions to his Kingdome he wâ—nne also the towne of Chester from the Brittaines or Welchmen which they possessed vntill this time then he called a Counsell at Winchester where he was Crowned King ouer this land and where before it was called Brittaine he sent into all costs and charged them straitly that henceforth the Saxons should be called Angles and the land Anglia About the third yeare of his raigne the Danes which a little before had made horrible destruction in Northumberland as before entred the second time with a great Host and spoyled the Isle of Shâ—pâ— in Kent Egbert met with them at Carrum but he was compelled to forsake the Field but in the next Battell with a small company he ouerthrâ—w a great multitude oâ— them The next yeare they turned againe into the Land Westward and ioyning with the Britaines did much harme in many places of Egberts Dominions after that they aâ—â—aded in the Land so that many of them were maried to English women and many that now be English men descended of them Ethelwolfus the sonne of Egbert succéeded him in his raigne he was Bishop of Winchester and by the dispensation of the Pope was made King he being nuzled therein was alwaies deuout to holy Church he gaue thâ—m the Tythes of all his goods and Lands and fréedome from all serâ—age and ciuill charges Hee made his Donation to God the Uirgin Mary and all the Saints for remission of our Soules and sins and in that we haue in some part eased the seruitud of the Church they may the more diligently powre forth their praiers without â—easing to God for vs. It is no swall derogation to the merits of Christ thus to set remission of their sins and remedie of their Soules in this Donation and such like déeds Theâ— King Ethelwolfe went to Rome with his yongest Sonne Alfred and committed him to the bringing vp of Pope Leo the 4. and re-edified the English Schoole in Rome which was founded by King Offa or king Iue which in Egberts time was consumed with fire and as king Iue had done in his dominions he gaue a penny yearely to be paid for euery fire-house throughout the Realme to the Pope Also he granted 300. Markes yearely to Rome to maintaine lights in Saint Perters Church 100 Markes and to maintaine lights in Saint Pauls Church 100. Markes and to the Pope one other 100 Markes this done he maried Iudith the daughter of Carolus Caluus the French King whom he made Queene contrary to the Lawes of the West Saxons that no Kings wife should haue the name or place of a Queene because Ethelburge poisoned king Brithericus her husband The king was most ruled by the Counsell of two Bishops one of them was Swithinus Bishop of Winchester who had béene Scoole-master to the king the king shewed his kinde Nature in that he not oâ—â—y followed the aduertisments of his old Schoole-master but in that he ceased not vntill he had made him Bishop of Winchester but as concerning the Miracles which are read in the Church of Winchester of this Swithinus them I leaue to be read together with the Iliads of Homer or tales of Robin Hood Pope Leo the 3 succéeded Adrian Stephen the 4. succéeded him and Gregory the 4. succéeded him in whose time by the commandement of Lodouicus the Emperour a generall Synode was commanded at Aquisgrane where it was decreed that euery Church should haue sufficient of his owne Reuenewes to maintaine the Priests thereof and that none of the Clergie should weare any Uestures of any precious or scarlet colour nor Kings on their fingers except at Masse time or in giuing Consecraâ—ions and that they should not kéepe great ports or Families or vse great Horses or vse Dice or Harlots or vse any gold or siluer in their shooes slippers or girdles by this it may bee coniectured what pompe or pride in these daies was crept into the Clergie After him succeeded Pope Sergius the 2. he first brought vp the altering of Popes names because his name was Os Porci that is Swines snoute he ordained the Agnus twise to be sung in the Masse and the Host to be diuided into thrée parts Pope Leo the 4. succéeded him it was enacted in a Counsell of his that no Bishoppe should be condemned vnder 72. witnesses as you sée in the witnesses of Stephen Gardiner orderly practized he ordained the Crosse all set with precious stones and gold to be caried before him like a Pope Next to him succéeded the Whore of Babilon who appeared vnto the world not only after the spirituall sence but after the very letter and right forme of a whore indeed In stead of a man Pope they chose a Whore called by name Ione the 8 her proper name was Giâ—berta a Dutch woman of Magunce who went with an English Monke out of the Abbey of Fulâ—a in mans apparell vnto Athens after through her dexteritie of wit and learning she was promoted vnto the Popedome where she sate two yeares and sixe Moneths after in open Procession fell in trauell of childe and so died Pope Benedictus the 3. succeeded her in the whorish sea he ordained the Dirge to be said for the dead yet before him Gregorius the 3. had done his part therein Aâ—ter him succeeded Pope Nicholas the 1. who inlarged the Popes Decrees with many constitutions equalling the authoritie of them with the writings of the Apostles He ordained that no seculer Prince nor the Emperour should be present at their Counsels to the end they might murder such as they Iudged to be Hereticks and that no Lay man shold Iudge Clergy men or reason vpon the Popes power That no Magistrate should haue power ouer a Prelat alledging that a Prelat is called God
could when the King see her hee was not so much inflamed with loue of her as with hatred to her husband and sending for him to hunt with him runne him through with his sword and killed him Wherefore Elfrida builded a Monastery of Nunnes in remission of her sinnes Hee was incontinent and lasciuious in deflowring Maids hee deflowred Wilfrida a Dukes Daughter being a Nunne and had a daughter named Editha by her and he comming to Andiuer thinking to haue his pleasure of a Dukes Daughter the mother grieuing to haue her daughter a Concubine conâ—eyed another beautifull maid into his bed in stead of her Daughter which the King perceiuing made the Maid Mistresse of both her Master and Mistresse He had another Concubine Edelfâ—â—eda daughter to Duke Ordmere a professed Nunne of whom hee begat Edward But his greatest offence was in that he was the first and chiefest cause of this Monkery for lying with this Ethelfleda Dunstone held him from Coronation seauen yeares and had seauen â—â—eres penance inioyned him After he had raingned 16. yeares he dyed and was buried at Glastenbury His penance was to weare no Crowne seauen yeares to fast twise a wéeke to giue his treasure to the poore and to build a Monastery of Nunnes at Shaftsbury as he had robbed God of one Uirgine so he should restore many and that he should expell Priests and Canons and place Monkes in their place As for the lying Miracles that all were healed of any disease that prayed at the Tombe of this Ethelfleda and how Saint Dunstone hunted the Deuill away with dogs and caught him by the nose with a hote paire of tongues and many other myracles of this Dunstone with many other lying myracles before in this Treatise I haue omitted thinking them not worthy to be abridged referring thée therein to the Booke at large Edward succéeded Edgar being his bastard sonne by Ethelfleda the Nunne by the meanes of Dunstone and the other Bishoppes onely to maintaine their Monkery and Egelâ—ed the lawfull sonne of Edgar was put backe then they supposed they had established the Kingdome of Monkery for euer Yet Alferus Duke of Mercia folowing the Quéenes minde with other great men drouâ— the Monkes out of the Cathedrall and other Churches and set in the Priests with their wiues againe there were great contentions about the matter and two Councels In the first Councell they being almost all against Dunstone he turned them by making a Crucifixe speake on his side which most likely was the voice of some Monke through a Cane And in the second Councell the roofe of a Chamber brake where they were all assembled and all fell downe sauing Dunstone which stood vpon a beame which did not fall this was likely done to by policie vpon this the matter ceased and Dunston had all his will King Edward after hee had raigned almost 4. yeares was murdered and Egelred his brother succeeded him the Queene being consenting to his murder in repentance of her fact builded two Nunneries one at Amesbury the other at Weâ—ewell this was Edward the Martyr After Pope Agapetus the 2. succeeded Pope Iohn the 13. he is noted to bee an Adulterer Incestuous and Tyrannous of some of his Cardinals he put their eyes out of some he cut out their tongues of some their fingers of some their noses In a generall Councell before Otho the first Emperour of the Germaines it was Articled against him that he neuer said Seruice that in saying Masse hee did not Communicate that he committed Incest with two of his Sisters that at Dice he called for the Diuell to helpe him wherefore he was deposed and Pope Leo substitute in his place but after the Emperour was gone by the Whoores of Rome and their great promises he was restored againe and Leo deposed In the tenth yeare of his Popedome he was sâ—â—nd with a mans wife and so wounded by her husband that in eight dayes he dyed After him the Romaines elected Benedictus the first without the Emperour Because they had put downe Leo and chosen another without his consent the Emperour came with his Army and set vp Pope Leo the eight againe wherefore Leo Crowned Otho for Emperour and intituled him Augustus and what Carolus magnus had giuen to the Sea and people of Rome he by a Synodall Decre granted to the Emperour and his successors The Emperour againe restored to the Sea of Rome all such donations and possessions as Constantine as they falsly pretend or which Carolus Magnus tooke from the Lumbards and gaue to them After him succéeded Iohn the 14. against whom for holding with the Emperour Petrus the chiefe Captaine of the Citie with two Consuls and twelue Aldermen and other Nobles laide hands vpon the Pope and imprisoned him eleuen monethes the Emperour came to Rome with his Armie executed the chiefe doers of the fact But he committed Petrus to the Popes arbitrement he caused him to bee stripped naked his beard to bee shauen and to be hanged by the heire of the head a whole day then to be set vpon an Asse his face turned backeward his hands bound vnder the Asses tayle and so to be ledde through the Citie then to bee scourged with rods and banished the Citie from this Pope procéeded first the Christning of Bels. Benedictus the 6. succéeded him who was imprisoned by Cinthius a Captaine of Rome and there slaine Then came Pope Donus the 2. after whom Bonifacius the 7. was Pope he 〈◊〉 the citizens of Rome to conspire against him tooke the treasure of Saint Peters Church and stâ—le to Constantinople The Romaines set vp Iohn the 15. Pope Boniface by his treasure procured a Garison to take his part and returned to Rome he tooke Pope Iohn put out his eyes threw him in prison and famished him but he not long after sodainly died The Romaines drew his carkeasse about the streets by the feete after his death in despitefull manner the people exclaiming against him Pope Benedictus the 7. succeeded him by consent of the Emperour Otho the second and raigned 19. yeares After him succeeded Iohn the 16. after him Iohn the 17. after him Gregory the 1. Crescentius with the people of Rome and the Clergy conuenting against him set vp Pope Iohn the 18. Wherefore the Emperour Otho the 3. sent an Armie into Italy got the citie and tooke Crescentius the Consull and Pope Iohn he put out the eyes of Pope Iohn and then killed him he set Crescentius vpon a vile Horse his nose and eares cut off his face turned to the horse taile and after his members were â—nt off and he hanged vpon a gibbit Hee assembled a Councell at Rome where he established the Empire in his owne Contry and by the consent of Otho ordained seauen to be Electors three Bishops three Princes to wit Prince Palatine the Duke of Saxony the Marquesse of Brandenburge to whom was added the King of Boheme to giue the odde voyce if the eauen voyces could not
Cadwalader 2076. yearâ—s vnder an hundred and two Kings and they receiued the Christian Faith in the yeare of Christ 162. In the time of Lucius their King Elutherius being Pope who sent thither Fagamus and Damianus Preachers who ordained in the realme 28. Bishops with two Archbishopes Theonus Archbishop of London and Theodosius Archbishop of Yorke so it continued 300. yeares vntill the Saxons being Infidels subdued the Realme and diuided it into seauen Kingdome and so it continued vntill Gregory sent hither Austin to conuert the Realme who was after made Archbishop of Canterbury and it was Gregories purpose to reduce the new Church of the Saxons to the order that was in the old time amongst the Britaines vnder the two Metropolitaines of London and Yorke yet hée gaue Austen this prerogatiue during his life time to haue the Iurisdiction aboue all the Bishops and Priests in England but after his decâ—ase London and Yorke to ouersée the charge and he willed no distinction of Honour to be betwixt London and Yorke but that he that had béene longest Bishop of the place should be preferred Upon this it was decréed that Yorke should be subiect to Canterbury and that wheresoeuer Canterbury would hold a Councell Yorke with his Bishops should come thither and be obedient to his Decrées and when Canterbury should decease Yorke should come to Duer to consecrate the new Archbishop but if Yorke decease his successor should resort to Canterbury and where the Bishop of Canterbury should appoint to receiue his consecration swearing obedience In the 9 yeare of King Williams reigne another Counsell was holden at London wâ—ere was decreed that the Bishop of Yorke should sit on the right hand of Canterbury and London on the left and in his absence Winchester and that Bishops should translate the Seas from vâ—â—lages to cities that Monks should haue nothing propper and if any so had he dying vnconfâ—ssed should not be buried in the Churchyard that no Clarke or Monke should be retained in another Diâ—cesse without Letters testimoniall that none should speake in the Councell without leaue but Bishops and Abbots that none should buy or sell any â—ffice in the Church that neither Bishop Abbot nor any of the Clergie should be at the Iudgement of any mans death or dismembring At this time diuerse good Bishops displaced Monkes and restored maried Priests againe the Bishop of Winchester placed aboue 40. Canons in stead of Monkes for his part but this godly enterprise was stopped by Lanfranke the Archbishop of Canterbury he plucked downe the old Church of Canterbury and builded vp the new After the death of the Pope Hildebrand succéeded who was surnamed Gregory the 7. he was a Sorcerer and the principal cause of all the perâ—urbation that hath beene since in the Church for before he wrought his feats setting vp and displacing what Bishops he listed setting them against Emperours and destroying Matrimony vnder colour of chastiâ—ie the Chuch was in some order and Popes quietly ruled vnder Christian Emperours and were defended by them He first contemning the authoritie of the Emperor thrust in himselfe to be Pope vanting himselfe to haue both the Ecclesiasticall and the Temporall sword committed to him of Christ and full power to binde and loose what he lifted he challenged all the Dominion both of the East and West Church he set at light Kings and Emperours who raigned but at his godamercie Bishops and Prelates as his vnderlings he kept in awe suspending cursing and chopping off their heads He â—â—irred vp warres releasing Othes Fidelitie and due allegiance of Subiects to their Princes To this scope tended chiefly all his practises to abolish the mariage of Priests and to translate the authoritie Emperiall vnto the Clergy as appeared before in the Councell of Laterâ—n for though he was not then Pope in name yet was he Pope indéed and ruled the Pope as he listed In a Councell which he held at Rome he enacted that no Priest hereafter should mary that those that were maried should be Diuorced and that none hereafter should be admitted Priest but should sweare perpetuall Chastitie The Clergie of France resisted this Decree and said it was repugnant to the word of God that the Pope should take from Priests that which God and Nature had giuen them and against the Doctrine of Saint Paul I haue no commaundement of God touching Virginitie and he that cannot liue continent let him mary And that it was against the Canons of the Apostles and the Nicen Councell and that thereby would be opened a pernicious window to vncleanesse and fornication and concludâ—d they had rather giue vp their benefices then forsake their lawful wiues against the word of Christ. Likewise the Priests of Germany were as stout against the Pope but at last this gréedinesse of Liuings in weake Priests made them to yéeld vp their godly libertie to wicked tyranny He preached in a great assembly that the Emperour should die before Saint Peters day next and should be so deiected that he should not be able to gather together aboue sixe knights and that if this prophesie were not fulfilled they should plucke him from the Altar and he would be no more Pope And when he had gone about diuerse waies to murder the Emperour and yet God preserued him beyond the appointed time them subtily he turned his tale and said he ment of the soule of the King About the time Hildebrand was made Pope there was great warres betwixt Otho Duke of Saxony and the Emperour which was a fit occasion for the Pope to worke his seats First he excommunicated all that receiued Spirituall liuings of Lay-men and all the giuers thereof which he called symony whereupon he sent Legats to the emperour to appeare before him at the Councell of Lateran The Emperour appeared not whereupon hee threatned him excommunication and to depriue him of his Crowne If he would not renounce the heresie of Symony which was giuing of Spituall Liuings Wherefore Centius a Romaine Captaine caught the Pope and shut him vp into a Tower the next day the citizens plucked downe the Tower and deliuered the Pope and cut off the noses of the men of Centius but he escaped to the Emperour The emperour being moued with this arrogancie called a Councell at Wormes where all the Bishops of Germany deposed Hildebrand The Pope in his Councell of Lateran excommunicated and depriued as many as tooke the Emperours part and excommunicated the emperour depriued him of his empire and all his subiects of their Oath of alleagiance As soone as he rose out of his papal seat to excommunicate the Emperour the seat being but new and of strong tymber suddenly shiuered and rent vs pieces The princes of Almany all concluded to forsake Henry and choose another emperour except he would submit himselfe and obtaine the Popes pardon The Emperour with his wife and young sonne all hauing forsaken him laying apart his regall ornaments in sharpe winter came bare fooâ—â—d to the
in knowne this Bishop not elected of God but intruded himselfe by fâ—aud and money subueâ—ted Ecclesiasticall order disturbed the gouernment of the Empire â—â—nacing death of bodie and soule vnto our peaceable king set vp a perâ—ured king making discorâ—s amongst friends and brethren Diuorcements amongst the maried for he tooke away the marriage of Priests as Henricus Mutius witnesseth therfore we heere in the name of God congregated doe procéede in Canonicall Iudgement against Hildebrand a man most wicked preaching Sacriledge and burning maintaining periurie and murders calling in question the Catholike Faith of the body and bloâ—d of Christ following of Diuinations and dreames a manifest Nigromancer a Sorcerer infected with a Pithâ—nical spirit We adiudge him to be deposed and expelled and vnlesse he depart vpon the hearing hereof to be peâ—pstually condemâ—â—d This beâ—ing sent to Rome they elected Guibertus Archbishop of Rauenna which was deposed by Hildebrand as aforesaid in his place and named him Clement the 3. And because Hildebrand would not giue ouer his hold the Emperour with an Army came to Rome to depose him and Hildebrand sending to the Countesse Mathilda before mentioned required her in remission of all her sinnes to withstand the Emperour and so she did but the Emperour besieged the Citie all the Lent and after Easter got it and comming into the Temple of Saint Peter placed Clement in his Papacie Hildebrand â—â—ed into Adâ—ans Tower where being besieged he sent for Robert Guischardus a Normaine who with his Army when the Emperour was gone burst in at one of the gates of the Câ—â—y spoyled it and deliuered Hildebrand and caried him to Campania where not long after he dyed in exile In the meane time whilst the Emperour was at Rome the Abbot of Cluniake and the people of Rome exhorted Hildebrand to Crowne Henry Emperour at Lateran and they would â—ause the Empâ—rour to depart with his Armâ— to whom he answered he would so the Emperour would submit himselfe aske pardon amend and promise obedience The Emperour not agréeing to the conditions departed and tooke the new Pope with him The Emperour was wont to pray in the Temple of Saint Mary Hildebrand knowing by spies the place where he was wont to pray hired one to cary vp stones to the roofe of the Church to let them fall vpon his head when he was at prayers the hireling â—aying his stones in order fell downe and was slaine The Romaines vnderstanding the truth drew him thrée dayes by the legs through the streets for example but the Emperour of his méekenesse commaunded him to bâ— buried Hildebrand being a dying bewailed his faults and sent a Cardinall to the Emperour to desire him forgiuenesse and to pardon the Emperour and all his parâ—akers quicke and dead of the danger of excommunication From this Pope sprang all mischéefe pride pompe and tyranny which since raigned in his successors hence was the subiection of Temporall Regiment to the Spirituall and the suppression of Priests mariages héere came in the authoritie of both Swords to the Spiritualty so that the Magistrates could doe nothing in giuing of Bishoprickes benefices in calling of Counceis in correcting the excesses of the Clergie but the Pope must doe all Nor no Bishop nor Passor in his owne Parish could excommunicate or vse any 〈◊〉 discipline against his flocke but it was onely the Popes Prerogatiue In him was the first example of persecuting Empeâ—ours and kings with rebellion and excommunication then Victor the third was made Pope who likewise shewed himselfe staut against the Emperours but God gaue the shrewde cowe short hornes some say hee was poysoned in his Chalice and raigned but one yeare and a halfe Notwithstanding the Popes followed still the steps of Hildebrand as the Kings of Israell Ieroboam in the time of this Victor began the Order of Monkes of the Charterhouse Next him Vâ—banus the 2. was Pope which confirmed the Acts of Hildebrand and gaue new Decrees against Henry the Emperour and against Clement the Pope hee held two Councels one at Placâ—â—tia the other called Synodus Claromontana wherein he caused all Christian Princes â—o warre against the Saâ—â—cens for recouering Ierusalem whereupon 30000. were appointed for the same businesse by the said Vrbanus The King of Galacia with the whole Diâ—ces of Saint Iames was excommunicated for the prisoning of a certaine Bishop About this time the King of England fauoured not much the Sea of Rome for their pride and exactions and would not suffer his subiects to giue to Rome saying The followed not Petâ—rs steps that hâ—nted for rewards nor had Peters power which had not his holinesse The order of Cisteriâ—ns was first estâ—blished in Burgundia by the same Vrbanus the seauen Canonical houres were first instituted in the Church By him the order of the Cartusâ—an Mâ—nkes was confirmed Hee Decreed no Bishop to be made but vnder the name of some place he Decreed that Maâ—â—ens and houres of the â—ay should euery day be said and that the Masse of our Lady should bee said euery Saturday and the Clergy that had wiues should be depriued of their Order and that it was lawfull for subiects to breake the Oath of Alegiance with such Princes as were excommunicated and that it was not lawfull for a man and his wife both together to Christen a childe with many moe matters After him followed Pascalis the 2. he putting on a purple Uesture and a tyre on his head was brought vpon a white Palfrey into Lateran where a Scepter was giuen him and a girdle about him which hauing seauen Keyes with seauen Seales to token the seauen powers by the seauen graces of the holy Ghost of binding loosing shutting openning sealing resigning and Iudging which the Emperour Henry the 4. hearing of thought to come to Italy to salute the new Pope but vnderstanding the Popes minde against him changed his purpose This Pascalis dâ—posed all such Abboâ—s and Bishops as the Emperour had set vp and banished many that striued at that time for the Papacie and made an Armie against Clement whom the Emperour made Pope as aforesaid and being put to flight not long after dâ—â—d About the same time the Bishop of Fluence began to teach and Preach of Antichrist then to bée borne as Sabeliâ—us 〈◊〉 Pascalis put to silence the said Bishoppe and condemned his Boâ—kes by a Councell which hée assembled at Treâ—as Maried Priests in this Councell were condemned for Nicholaitans All Lay-men that gaue Spirituall Dignities were condemned of Symony The Statuâ—e of Priests Tythes was renewed counting the selling thereof sinne against the holy Ghost Hée renewed the excommunication of Hildebrand against Henry the Emperour caused cerâ—aine Bishoppes to depriue him of his Crowne and to place his sonnâ— Henry the 5. in his Fathers roome these Bishops required of the Emperour his Diademe Pâ—â—ple â—ing and other ornaments of his Crowne when the Emperour would know the reason they aleadged the Popes pleasure and for selling
more within Temples Monastâ—ries or Chappels then any where els Priests apparell ornaments of Altars Uestments Corporaces Chalices patenes and other Church-plate to serue in no steed It maketh no matter in what place the Priest consecrateth the Sacrament and that it is sufficient to vse only the Sacramental words without other superstitious ceremonies Prayers to Saints vaine they not able to helpe In saying and singing the houres and Mattens of the day the time lost A man ought to cease from his labour no day but Sunday The Feasts of Saints to be reiected coacted feasts haue no merite The truth oâ— these Articles be the lesse to be doubted being set out by a Popes pen. They being accused slaunderously by one Doctor Augustine vnto the Bohemian King gaue vp their confession with an Apology of their Faith They held Thomas Aquinas author of Purgatory Concerning the Supper of the Lord their Faith was it was to be eaten and not to be shewed and worshipped That it was for a memorial and not for a Sacrifice to serue for the present not to be reserued to be receiued at the table not to be caried out of doores according to the vse of the primitiue Church when they vsed to communicate sitting this they proued by Cronicles â— and by Origen vpon the third of Moses Doctor Austin asked them whether it were not the same Christ in the Sacrament which is in heauen else how can it be said there is but one Faith and one Christ then why he should not bee worshipped in the Sacrament as well as in Heauen They answered to this effect that the same Christ that is in Heauen is in the Sacrament but after diuerse manners in Heauen he is corporally locally with the full proportion and quantitie of the same body wherewith hee ascended and to be séene in the Sacrament he is but sacramentally to be remembred not to bee séene our bodies receiue the signe our spirit the thing signified They asked him againe whether Christ was not aswell in them that receiue the Sacrament as in the Sacrament before it was receiued and why it should not be worshipped as well in the brest of the receiuer as before it is receiued seeing â—e is in a more perfect manner in â—an then in the Sacrament in it he is but for a time not for the sacrament sâ—ke but fâ—r mans sake In man he is for his owne sake not for a time but for euer as it is written Quâ— manducat hunc panem viuat in aeternum Then they asked whether he was there wholly God and man which if hee grant it it is contrary to Nature and Faith that any creature should be changed into the Creator If he say it is changed into his body and soule and not into the Godhead then hâ—e separates the natures of Christ if hee say into the body alone and not the soule then hée separateth the Natures of the true manhoode and so cannot be the same Christ that was betrayed for vs so to what part soeuer he should answere he could not defend transubstantiation without great inconueniâ—â—ce of all sides It appeareth in a certaine Libell of Inquisition that vpon their kneâ—s with great reuerence they vsed to pray euery morning and euery euening and that they vsed to say grace before meate and after and after meate to edifie one another with some instruction They were so diligent and painefull in teaching that Reynerius an old Inquisitor against them writeth that one of them to bring another vnto the faith in the night and in winter swamme ouer the Riuer Ibis to come to him to teach him and they were so perfect in the Scripture that he heard an vnlettered man that could say the booke of Iob word by word without booke with others which had the New Testament perfectly by hart Hee writeth moreouer that none durst stop them for the number of their fauourers saying I haue often béen at their examination and there were numbred forty Churches of their opinions in sâ—much that in one parish of Cammaâ—h were ten open schooles of them and when he had spoken what he could against them he is driuen to confesse that they both liue iustly before men and beléeue all things welâ— of God and hold all the Articles contained in the Creede onely they blaspheme the Church of Rome and hate it Touching theâ—r persecution which commonly followeth true preaching they being scattered from Lions that the sound of their doctrine might gee abroad â—n the world some went as it is said into Bohemia many into other prouinces of France some into Lombardy and other places but these could not be suffered to liue at rest as may appeare by the consultations made by the Lawyers Bishops of France against them writ aboue three hundred yeares agone remaining yet in writing whereby it appeareth there were a great many in France Besides there was a Counsell kept in Tolâ—se about 355. yeares agone and all against these Waldenses they also were condemned in another Counsell at Rome before that What persecutions they had in France by three Archbishops appeareth by their writings who is such a stranger that knoweth not the condemnation of the Waldenses done so many yeeres agone so famous so publique followed vpon with so great labour expences and trauell and sealed with so many of their deaths so solemnely being condemned and openly punished wherâ— by we may know persecution to be no new thing in the church of Christ when Antichrist three hundred yéeres agone did rage against the Waldenses But there was neuer more trouble then was against them of late in the yeare â—545 in France by the French King which followeth in this booke when we come to the yeare wherein it was done where it shall be set forth more at large In which persecution is declared that in one towne Cabria by Miuerias were slayne eight hundred persons at once not respecting women children nor any age and forty women most of them great with child were thrust into a Barne the windowes kept with pikes were fired and consumed besides in a Caue not farre from Mussin were fiue and twenty persons fired and destroyed the same time the same tyrant at Merindolum seeing all the rest were fled away finding one yong man caused him to be tyed to an Oliue tree and destroyed with torments most cruel the foresaid Reynerius speaketh of a Glouer one of them in the towne of Cheron that in his time was brought to execution There is an old Monument of processes wherein appeareth 443. brought to examination in Pomarina Marchia and places there abâ—ut in the yeere 1391. thus much of the original doctrine and lamentable persecutions of the Waldenses who as it is said began about the time of Pope Alexander Now for as much as Thomas Becket happened in this Popes time let vs somewhat story of him THE HISTORY OF THOMAS BECKET Arch-bishop of Canterbury KIng Henry the second K. of England conuenting his Nobles
because he was repentant hee was content to assoile him for the same and the rather because he had suffered so great troubles for the liberties of the Church The next day the Pope and his Cardinals beeing assembled in his secret chamber Becket made an Oration to them to this effect he confessed with griefe the cause of these perturbations was because hee entred into the sould of Christ not by the doore of Christ because the King made him Bishop not the Pope and if I had resigned it to the King againe at his commandement I had left a dangegerous example vnto the Catholique Church therfore now recognising my ingresse not to be Canonicall and my abilitie not sufficient for such a charge therfore I render into your fatherly hands the Archbishoprick heere of Canturbury and putting his Ring from his finger offered it to the Pope and desired a Bishop to be prouided for the Church of Canturbury and so with teares ended This done hee was bid stand a part after consultation they concluded being he had ventred his goods dignity and authoritie and his life for the liberties of the Church if he should now be depriued at the Kings pleasure it would be an examplâ— to others hereafter none to resist his Prince in like case and so weaken the Catholick Church and derogate the Popes authoritie and his cause being maintained it would bee a president to others to doe the like so hee receiued his Pastoraâ—l Office at the Popes hand againe with commendation and much fauour and â—he Pope sent him vnto the Abbey of Pontiuiacke in France with a Monkes habit where he was two yeares thence he remoued to Senon where he was fiue yeares so he was in exile seuen yeares The King beeing certified by his Ambassadors that the Pope inclined more to Becket then vnto him was wrathfull and sayling into Normandie sent ouer certaine iniunctions against the Pope and the Arch-bishop to this effect 1 Whosoeuer brought any interdict or curse from the Pope or Becket so bee apprehended and executed as a Traytor 2 That no Clarke Monke or conuert of any other countrey without the Iustice and Kings Letters to passe ouer or returne into the Realme otherwise to be imprisoned 3 None to appeale to the Arch-bishop or bring any transcript from them 4 No Decrée from them to stand in force or be receiued in England vpon paine of imprisonment 5 If any person shall keep the sentence of their interdict they shall bee exiled with all their kindred and take none of their goods with them and be bound without speciall licence not to resort where the Arch-bishop was 6 All the possessions and goods of such as fauoured the Pope or Arch bishop to be confiscate for the King 7 All such of the Clergy as were out of the Realme to bee warned in euery Sheere within three monethes to repayre home or else their rents and goods to â—eturne to the King 8 That the Peter pence shall be no more paid vnto the Apostolick Sea but to be reserued vnto the Kings Coffers The Arch-bishop writ to a friend of his to write to him with speed what was done touching the Kings Decrees heere set out which are these that all Hauens be diligently kept that no interdict or curse be brought in if the bringer bee a religious man his feet to be cut off if a Priest to loose his prâ—uy members if a lay-man to bee hanged if a Leper to be burned if a Bishop will depart for feare of the Popes Interdict let him haue nothing with him but his Staffe and that aâ—l Schollers and Students beyond the Seas shaâ—l repaire home or loose their Benefices and if they remaine still to loose the libertie of all returning if any Priest for the Popes interdict wil refuse to sing to loose his priuy members In summe al such Priests as shew themselues Rebels to the King to bee depriued of their Benefices Further it was proclaimed that all of the kindred of Thomas Becket should bee exiled with their goods with them and sent to him which was no little vexation to him to behold Moreouer the King writ to the Abbot of Pontiuiack where he lay not to retaine him in his house or else he would driue out of his Realme all the Monkes of his Order wherevpon hee remoued by the French Kings appointment to Senon as aforesaid and found of him fiue yeares In the meane time messengers went daily from the King to the Pope and from the Pope to the King and betwixt the Archbishop and others where I finde onely rehearsals of matters which are declared sufficiently in the History whereof if the Reader be desirous to see let him resort to the booke at large After these Letters sent too and fro in the 15. yéere of Henry the second the King misdoubting that the Archbishop would procéed in excommunication against his own person made his appeale to the presence of the Pope requiring to haue certaine Legates sent from Rome from the Popes side to take vp the matter betwixt the Archbishop and him requiring also that they might be absolued that were interdicted wherevpon two Cardinals sent from the Pope with Letters from the Pope came into Normandie where they appointed the Bishop to meete before the King but the Arch-bishop delayed his comming vntill eight daies after neither would come any further then Grisorsium where the two Cardinals and the Archbishop with other Bishops conuenting together had a treatie of reconciliation which came to no conclusion The two Cardinals writ to the Pope to this effect comming to England we found the controuersie more vehement then we would for the King and the greater part about him said the Arch-bishop stirred vp the French King against him and made the Earle of Flanders his open aduersarie and after the King had receiued your Letters and brought forth other Letters diuers and altering from them receiued of vs be was moued with no little indignation saying that since wee came from you the Archbishop receiued of you other coâ—trarie Letters wherby he was exempted from our Iudgement Moreouer the King and the Bishops there did affirme that the complaint that was made vnto you of the ancient customes of his progenitors for the most paâ—t was false affirming farther to vs that if there were any customes and lawes in his time that seemed prâ—iudiciall to the Statutes of the Church he would willingly reuoke and disanull the same therefore we other Bishops and Abbots of the land hearing the King so reasonable laboured by al meanes that the King should not breake from vs but incline to vs and to haue the matter brought before vs betwixt him and the Archbishop Wherevpon we sent our owne Chaplains with Letters to him appointing him the time and place where safely hee might meete with vs yet he made his dilatories till eight dayes after which â—tirred the Kings heart more then is to be thought thus when hee refused to
hee lamented oft to them about him that none would reuenge him of his enemy vpon occasion of which words 4. addressed theÌ„selues in great heat of hast within 4. daies after the said Christmas day they came to Canterbury they pressed at length into the palace where the Arch-b was sitting with his company about him they said they brought him a commandement from the king bad him chuse whether he would receiue it openly or secretly the company being commanded away and he alone they told him the King commanded him to repaire to the King his sonne to doe his duety and sweare fidelitie for your Baronage and to amend those things you haue committed against him in denying to be sworne to him he perceiued their intent and called for his company and they commanded him in the Kings name that he should absolue the 4. Bishops he answered he did not excommunicate them but the Pope if that were their griefe they should resort to him séeing you thus stand against the Coronation of our new King it séemeth you aspire to take his Crowne from him and to bee King your selfe he said nay if he had thrée crownes he would set them all vpon him except his father there is none whose honour I now tender and loue and touching the sequestring of the Bishops there was nothing done without the assent of the King for I complaine to him what iniury my Church had by their crowning the â—ing hee gaue me leaue to seeke my remedy at the Popes hand they said what doest thou maâ—e the King a Traytor and bewrayer of his own sonne when he commanded them to crâ—wne him and then gaue thee leaue to suspend them for so doing and they said thinkest thou we the kings subiects wil suffer this thou hast spoken enough against thine own head the Achbishop said since my comming ouer â—e hath suffered many iniuries and rebukes concâ—rning my selfe my men cattell wines and other goods yet the King writ to his sonne I should liue in safety and peace and now you come hether to threaten me they answered if you haue any â—niury the law is open and â—e said he sought for remedy at the Kings hands as long as hee could be suffered to speake with him but now I am stopped and can find no redresse nor can haue the benefit of law or reason such law as an Arch-bishop may haue I will Realme then they denounced he had spoken words to the ieopardie of his head so they depart charging the Monkes in the Kings name to keep him forthâ—comming the Arch-bishop would not fly for the king nor any man the names of the foure Souldiers were first Renold Berison Secondly Hugh Morteuill Thirdly William Thracy Fourthly Richard Britto who going to harnesse themselues returned the same day but the Hall doore being shut they went to a back doore and broke vp a window the Monkes had gotten the Arch-bishop into the Church and caused his crosse to be borne before him and procéeded into the Quiere the Haruest men following came to the Church doore the Monkes would haue shut the doore but as the Story saith the Bishop would not suffer them so they came into the church and the Bishop méeting them on the stayres was slaine euery man striking him with his swâ—rd in the head who fied into the north and at length were pardoned of the Pope by the Kings meanes and went to Ierusalem Newbergensis an ancient Chronographer condemneth the doings of Becket Cesarius a Monke in his eighth booke of Dialogues 48. yeares after the death of Becket writeth that it was a question amongst the Masters of Paris whether Thomas Becket were saued or damned But it is certaine this antheme collected and primered in his praise is blasphemous Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit fac nos Christe scandere quo Thomas asendit Wherein is a double lye first that hee dyed for Christ secondly that his bond should purchase heauen which none of the Apostles durst challenge for then Christ died in vaine After his death the king fearing the popes curse which the French king helped forwards what he could the King sent his excuse vnto the pope which he would not heare And after second messengers which some of the Cardinals receiued shewing them that the pope vsed to curse assoile on good-Friday which was néer at hand and it was noised that the King Bishops realme should be interdicted and herevpon the kings messengers were put into prison some of the Cardinals shewed the pope that the Kings messengers had power to sweare that the King should obey his penance which was taken both for the King the Archb. of Yorke so that in the said day the pope only cursed the déed doers consenters ayders harbourers of them the deed-doerâ— had in penance to goe in linnen clothes barefoote in fasting prayer to Ierusalem who by this hard penance are said to die in few yéeres after Two Cardinals were sent to inquire who were consenters to his death the king being not certaine wherefore their comming was with a great power entred into Ireland giuing charge that no bringer of any briefe should come into the realme or passe out without speciall license and an assurance to bring nothing preiudiciall to the Realme the King in short time subdued the whole land of Ireland which was gouerned by fiue Kings of whom foure submitted themselues only the fift the king Tonacta denied to be subdued kéeping himselfe in woods and Marshes In this time the two Cardinals were come to Normandy the next yéere in October the king went to them made his purgation touching the death of Beckeâ— taking his othe he was neuer aiding nor consenting but onely spake rigorous words against him wherefore for penance hee was sworne to send so much money to the holy land should find two hundred Knights for the defence thereof and should set forth by Christmas following his own person to fight for thrée yéeres excâ—pt the pope should dispence with him and that if he went into Spaine fought with the Sarracâ—ns as long as he was there he might prolong his iourney to Ierusalem IteÌ„ that he should not hinder or cause to be hindred any appellatioâ—s made to Râ—me Item That he nor his Sonne should dissent from Pope Alexander nor his Catholick successors Item That the goods and possessions taken from the Church of Canterbury should be restored Item that the foresaid decrées established against the church should be extinct and repealed besides other secret fastings and almes inioyned him All these conditions the King and his Son agreed vnto debasing himselfe with humilitie and submission before them whereof the Cardinals tooke no little glory vsing this versâ— of the Psalme Qui respicit terram facit eam tremere qui tangit montes fumigant The returning from Normandie by reason the Scots had made a road into England by the way as soon as he came to
the fight of Beckets Church he lighted went barefoote to his toombe whose steps were found bloudy by the roughnâ—sse of the stones and receiued a whip with a rod of euery Monke of the Cloister whereby thou maist see the lamentable superstition and ignorance of those dayes and the slauery that Kings and Princes were brought too vnder the Popes Clergy the same yeere almost the whole Citie of Canturbury was consumed with fire and the said Minster church cleane burnt The next yeare in a conuocation of Bishops Abbots and other of the Clergie at Westminster there was great discention betwixt the two Arch-bishops whether Yorke must beare his Crosse in the Dioces of Canterbury and whether the Bishopricks of Lincoln Chichester Worcester and Hereford were of the sea of York Wherefore the one appealed the other vnto the presence of the Pope How much better had it beene if the Supremacie had remained in the King whereby much trauell and great wastfull expences had bin saued and there cause morâ— indifferently and more spéedily decided Diuers of Glocester in the Dioces of York were excommunicated by the Archb. of Canterbury because being summoned they refused to appeare a Cardinall by the Kings procurement was sent from Rome to make peace by the meanes of the King it was agreed that Canterbury should release his claime to Glocester and absolue the Clarks thereof the bearing the crosse and other matters was referred to the other Bishops and a league of truce for fiue yeares betwixt them The next yeare Henry the second denided the Realme into six parts ordained thrée Iustices of assise on euery part to the first Norfolk Suffolk Cambridge shire Huntingdon-shire Buckingham-shire Essex Hereford-shire to the second Lincoln-shire Nottingham-shire Derby-shire Stamford-shire Warwick-shire Northampton-shire Leicester-shire Thirdly Kent Surry South-hampton-shire Sussex Berk-shire Oxford-shire Fourthly Heriford-shire Glocester-shire Worcester-shire Salop-shire Fiftly Wilt-shire Dorcester-shire Sommerset-shire Deâ—â—n-shire Cornwall Euerwick-shire Richmond-shire Lancaster Copland Westmâ—r-land Northumberland Cumberland In this yéere the Archbishop of Canterbury made thrée Arch-deacons where there was but one and the K. granted the pope that no Clarke should be called before a temporall Iudge except for his offence in the Forrest or his lay-fée that he holdeth and that no Bishopricke or Abbey should remaine but one yeere in the Kings hands without great cause This yeare there was great controuersie betwixt the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Abbot of S. Austen he being Elect whether the Bishop should come to his house to consecrate him or he to come to the Metropolitan church of Canterbury to be consecrated The â—bbot appealed to the audience of the Pope and went thither with a fat purse procured letters to the Bishop of Worcester to command the Arch-bishop to consecrat him in his Monastery because it did properly belong to the Iurisdiction of Rome should do so likewise to his successors without exception of obedience if the â—rchb refuse to doe it then he should doe it the Archb. vnderstanding it loth to yéeld vsed policy he watched a time when the Abbot was froÌ„ home came to the Monastery with all things appointed for the busines called for the Abbat to be consecrated the Abbot not being at home he fained himself not a little gréeâ—ed wherevpon the Abbot was disappointed faine to fill his purse a new make a new course to Rome to the Pope of whom he receiued his consecration This yéere a Cardinal was sent into England as few yéeres there was not one sent to get mâ—ny he was to make peace betwixt the Archbishops of York Canterbury who kept a Councel at Westminster to which all the chiefe of the Clergy resorted with great confluence Yorke thinking to preuent Canterbury came first and placed himselfe on the right hand of the Cardinall Canterbury seeing the first place taken refused to take the second Yorke alledged the old Decree of Gregory by whom this order was taken betwixt these two Metropolitans that he that should be first in election should haue the preheminence in dignity and goe before the other From words they went to blowes Canterbury hauing more seruants was to strong for Yorke plucked him from the right hand of the Cardinall treading on him with their feet that it was well hee escaped aliue his Robes were all rent from his back this Noble Romane Cardinall which should haue ended the strife committed himselfe to flight the next day Yorke shewed his Rochet to the Cardinall to testifie his wrong and appealed and cited the Archbishop of Canterbury and certaine of his men to the Pope The kingdome of England in the Henry this second his time extended so farre as hath not béen seene The King of Scots with all the Lords spirituall and temporal did him homage for them and their successors Ireland England Normandie Aquitane Gaunt c. Unto the mountaine of Pireni in the vtmost parts of the Ocean in the Brittish sea protector of France and offered to bée King of Ierusalem by the Patriarke and Master of the Hospitall there which he refused alledging his great charge at home and it might be his sonnes would rebell in his absence The fame of his wisedome manhood riches was so renowned through all quarters that messengers came from the Emperor of Rome and from the Emperour of Constantinople and from many great Kings Dukes and other great men to determine questions of strife and aske councell of him he raigned thirty fiue yéeres and hauing great warres yet neuer set tribute or taxe vpon his subiects nor first fruits nor appropriations of benefits vpon the Clergy yet his treasure beeing weighed by King Richard his Sonne after his death weighed 900000. pounds besides Iewels and Houshold-stuffe of which 11000. pounds came by the death of Robert Arch-bishop of Yorke for hee had procured a Bull of the Pope that if any Priest dyed without Testament he should haue all his goods His Sonne Henry whom he ioyned with him in his Kingdome and at his Coronation serued him as a Steward and set the first dish at the Table renouncing the name of King the Archbishop of Yorke sitting at the right hand of the young King he told him he might greatly reioyce being no King had such an Officer as he had the young King disdaining his words said My Father is not dishonored for I am a King and a Quéenes Sonne and so is not he He tooke Armes with the French King against his Father and persecuted him but after hee had raigned a few yeares died in his youth by the iust iudgement of God After his death his Sonne Richard called Cor-de-Lyon rebelled against his Father and Iohn his youngest Sonne did not degenerate from his Brothers steps the said Richard brought his Father to such distresse of body and minde that for thought he fell into an Ague and within fouâ—e daies dyed Richard méeting his Corps beginning to wéepe the bloud burst out of the
Kings nose at the comming of his Sonne giuing a monstration that he was Author of his death His Children after his death worthily rewarded for their vnnaturalnesse lost all they had beyond the Sea which their Father had gotten Alexander Pope decréed that no Arch-bishop should receiue the Pall vnlessâ— hée first sware obedience to the Pope These be the words in Englâ—sh of the giuing of the Pall. To the honour of Almighty God and of blessed Mary the Uirgin and of blessed S. Peter and S. Paul and of our Lord Pope and of the holy Church of Rome and of the Church committed to your charge we giue you the Pall taken from the body of Saint Peter as a fulnesse of the Pontificall Office which you may weare within your own Church vpon certain daies expressed in the priuiledgeâ— of the said Church granted by the Sea Apostolike This Pall ought to bee asked with great instance and within thrée moneths without which Pall he is not Arch-bishop but may be deposed The same Pall must be burned with him when hee dyeth and when it is giuen some priuiledge must be giuen with it or the old renewed the Arch bishops pay swéetly for it Euery Bishop must sweare to be obedient to Saint Peter the Apostolike Church of Rome and to the Pope to doe nothing whereby either of them or any member of them may be impaired nor helpe counsell or consent vnto any so doing not to vtter their councell any way sent to them to any body to their hurt to retaâ—ne and maintaine the Papacy and the Regalities of S. Peter against all men honorably to intreat the Popes Legats going and comming and helpe them in all necessities to be ready to come to a Sinod being called without any lawfull let to visite the Pallace of the Apostles euery third yeare by himselfe or a Messenger except otherwise licensed by the Pope not to sell giue or lease out any the possessions of his Church without the Popes license So God helpe him and the Holy Ghost By this Oath the Byshop could do nothing but what the Pope would in generall councels which was the corruption of them Besides this it was decreed in the said councell of Rome by 310. Byshops by Pope Alexander that none should haue spirituall promotion except he were of full age and borne in wedlocke that no Parish-Church should be voyd aboue sixe moneths that none within orders should meddle with temporal businesses that priests shall haue but one Benefice that Bishops be charged to find the Priest a liuing vntill he be promoted That open Usurers shall not communicate at Easter nor be buried within the Church yard That nothing shall be taken for ministring Sacraments or burying Item that euery Cathedrall Church should haue a Maister to teach Children fréely without taking any thing for the same In this Councell the vow of Chastity was laid vpon Priests Thomas Becket and Bernard were canonized for Saints In this yeare Richard the eldest Sonne of Henry the second succeeded his Father at which time Clement sat Pope succéeding Gregory who died a little before for sorrow for losse of the Holy Crosse by the Popes meanes He and Fredericke the Emperor and Phillip the French King went with their Armies to Palestina atchieuing the recouery of the Holy Land Richard in this iourney gat Cyprus Acon Ptolemayda Surrah For preparation for this iourney hee sold Lordships Castles Offices Liberties Priuiledges Byshopprickes c. He said he would sell London if he could finde one able to buy it Many Bishops purchased to their Bishopprickes diuers Lordships The Bishop of Winchâ—ster purchased Werregraue Meues The Bishop of Duresme Hadberge with all their appurtenances for 500. markes and purchased the whole Prouince of the King for his owne and himselfe to be made Earle of the same In this Kings daies there fell a great dissention in the Church of Yorke betwixt the Arch-bishop of Yorke and the Deane because euening Song was begunne before the Arch-bishoppe came his Grace comming into the Quire was angry because they tarryed not for him and commaunded the Quire to stay the Deanâ— and Treasurer willed them to fing on the Quire left and recanted and begun againe The Treasurer not to take the foyle caused the lights to be put out so the euening Song ceased for the Popish euening Song is blind without light though the Sunne shine neuer so bright His Grace suspended the whole Church from Diuine seruice vntill the parties had made him amends The next day being Ascention day the Deane and Treasurer would make no sarâ—sfaction the people would haue fallen vpon them if his Grace had not let them The Deane was faine to flye to his House and the Treasurour to Saint Williams Tombe for succour The Byshop excommunicated them and the Church was suspended from Seruice that day Thus much of the Heroicall câ—mbat betwixt these Ecclesiasticall persons King Richard in his iourney aforesaid talked with Abbot Ioachim of his Uisions and Prophesies especially of Antichrist hee expounded vnto him the place in the Reuâ—lation There be seuen Kings fiue are fallen one is now another not yet com He said they were seuen Persecutors of the Church Herod Nero Domitianus Maxentius Mahomet Turka the last which is not yet come was Antichrist which is already borne at Rome and should bee there exalted into the Apostolike Sea as the Apostle faith He is an Aduersary and exhalteth himselfe aboue all that is called GOD then the wicked man shall bee reuealed and the Lord shall consume him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him with the brightnesse of his comming Why said the King I thought Antichrist should haue béene borne in Antiâ—ch or Babylon and of the Tribe of Dan and ruled in Ierusalem thrée yeares and a halfe and disputed against Enoch and Elias and put them to death and then died himselfe and that sixty daies of repentance should be giuen to them that were seduced by his preaching When King Richard went his iourney he committed the Custody of his Realme principally to the Byshop of Duresme and the Bishop of Ely and to two Lay men The two Byshops fell at variance for superiority at length this order was taken by the King that Duresme should haue vâ—der his custody from Humber is the Scottish Seas Ely was ordained Chancellor hauing vnder his gouernment from the said stood of Humber all the South parts besides but Ely beeing more ambitious so practised with the King and his Ambassadors sending his Letters to the Pope obtained the authority Legatiue vpon the whole Realm of England and became so ambitious and proud that all the Realme cryed out of him he beeing intollerable vnto the Cleargy and Layty He assembled a generall Councell at London in colour for Religion but it was for his owne pompe and oppression of the Clergy and Layty wonderfully oppressing the Commons Hee vsed â—o ride with thousand Horses Noble-mens Sonnes were glad to be his
are not wont to tarry the consent of Princes therefore Wee commaâ—nd you vnder paâ—ne of the great curse that you câ—use him Whereupon they all assented sauing he whom the King had sent for the Arch bishop of Norwich Upon this the King conceiued great displeasure against the Monkes of Canterbury wherefore he banished 64. of them out of the Land The King sent Letters to the Pope sharply expostulating with him for reâ—uâ—ing the Bishop of Norwich and setting vp one Stephen Langton vnknowne to him and brought vp in the kingdome of France amongst his enemies Archbishop of Canterbury and that the Monkes without his consent presumed to promote him and meruailed that the Pope did not reuolue with himselfe how necessary his fauour had euer béene to them What great reuenues had procéeded hence thether the like whereof hath not béene receiued out of any Country on this side the Alpes and that he would stand for his liberties vnto death nor would not bee so shaken from the election of the Bishop of Norwich which he séeth so commodious to him and that if his request were not heard he would prouide by Seas that there should be no more such gâ—dding to Rome to export the riches of his Land thither whereby he is lesse abled against his Enemies and that he had sufficient Prelats of his owne and hath no néede of any from abroad Pope Innocentius writ to him againe Whereas wée haue written gently to you concâ—rning the matter of Canterbury you haue written to vs after a threatning sort and where wée aboue our duetie haue giuen to you you have not giuen to vs ouâ— duetie which you are bound to doe and though your sauour as you say be necessary for vs yet consider ours is not a little oporâ—une vnto you and whereas wee haue not shewâ—d the like honour to any Prince as to you you haue so much derogated to our Honour as no Prince besides hath presumed to doe Where you say the Archbishop is vnknowne to you and brought vp amongst year enemies Then be sheweth how learned â—e was how he was Prebend at Paris and of an hoâ—â—st stocke borne an Englishman and knowne to the King being he wrote to him thrée times before and saith that at the Monkes request he sent his Letters once or twise to the King for his assent although was not the manner of the Sea Apostolike who hath the fulnesse of the power of the Church of Canterbury to waite for princes consents in such elections therefore according to the Canons of the Fathers wâ— did proâ—ide that the said Church should be no longer 〈◊〉 of her Pastor therefore being this election hath so orderly proceeded vpon a person so meete for the same wâ—e will not for any mans pleasure nor may without danger of â—ame and conscience deferre the consummation thereof And my sonne seeing we haâ—e respected your Honour more then our duetie is study to Honour vs so much as â—uâ—tie requireth that you may deserue fauour at Gods hands and Ours and least doing contrary you bring you selfe into such a peâ—ke of tâ—oubles that you cannot riâ— your selfe againe for it will fall out he will haue the better to whom euery knée doth bowe whose turne I serue in the earth therefore obey not them that desire vnquietnesse that they might fâ—sh the better in a troubled water It will not be for your saftie and glory to resist God and the Church in whose quarrell the blessed and glorious Martyre Bishop Thomas hath lately shed his bloud especially seeing your Father and brother being Kings of England did giue ouer those thrée wicked Customes into the hands of the Sea Apostoâ—â—ke but if you will yéeld your selfe humbly into our hands we will looke that you and yours shall be sufficiently prouided for Thus haue you the glorious Letter of the proud Pope I beséech you marke it well Not long after proceeded a commaundement to certaine Bishops requiring them by the authoritie Apostolicall that if the King would not receiue the Prior of Canterbury and his Monkes then they should interdict him through his Realme Whereupon the foure Bishops of London Elâ— Winchester and Herford shewed the King thereof but the King refused the same and would not grant their request wherupon they pronounced the said Inâ—erdiction throughout England and Wales and the Church doores were shut vp with keyes and other fastnings Then the King tooke all the possessions of the foure Bishops into his hands and apointed certaine to keepe the Liuings of the Clergie throughout the Realme The Bishops cursed all that kept or medled with Church-goods against the wils of the owners Then they went to the Bishop of Canterbury and shewed him all the matter he promised he would shortly come to Canterbury himselfe or send some which should doe as much as himselfe 〈◊〉 came to the King that the Bishops had beene beyond-Sea with the Archbishop and were returned He sent to them Bishops Earles and Abbots to shew that the King would receiue the Archbishop Steuen and the Prior and all the Monkes of Canterbury promising on his behalfe that he should neuer take any thing of the Church-goods but would make amends for them taken and the Church should haue all her Franchices as amply as in King Edwards time the Confessor This agreement was concluded and ingrossed in a payre of Indentures the saide foure Bishops set their hands to one part the other part was caried to the King which he liked well but he would not make restitution of the Church-goods The foure Bishops would not agree to put out that Article then the King sent for the Archbishop to come to him and speake with him at Canterbury and for his safe conduct to come and goe at his will sent thrée Iustices to be pledges for him whereupon the Archbishoppe came to Canterbury and the King came to Châ—â—ham and sent his Treasurer to him to put out the clause of restitution which he denyed to doe or any word of the same Then the king caused to be proclâ—imed throughout the Realme that thâ—se that had any Church-liuings and went beyond-sea should returne at a certaine day or loose theâ—â— Liuings for euer And that all Sheriffes should inquire if any Church-man from that day forward receiued any commaundement from the Pope to apprehend him and bring him before him and that they should take into their hands vnto his vse all the Church Lands that were giuen by the Archbishop Steuen or the Priors of Canterbury from the time of the election of the said Archbishop and that all the woods of the Archbishop should be cut downe and solde Thou the Pope sent ouer two Legats which resorted to the King at Northampton where he held his Parliament and saluted him they said they came from the Pope to reforme the peace of holy Church and we admonish you in the Popes behalfe that you make full restitution of the goods that you haue rauished of holy Church and of
wounded for obeying their liege King came and were absolued of their owne Bishops but the Spirituall men were compelled to séeke their absolution of the Pope Some of the Clergie were not pleased that the King should be absolued vntill the King had payed all which any of the Clergie should demaund and complained of the Popes Legate that he was too partiall for the King in the matter of restitution and because he went with the Kings Officers to the Cathedrall Churches Abbyes Priories and other Churches vacant and appointed two Iucumbants to euery place one for the King and the other for the parties and commonly compelled the election to passe vpon him whom the king nominated The Archbishop called a Councell at Oxford some would not tary séeing the confysion thereof others reuiled the king most spiâ—efully behinde his backe saying he ought to bée taken for no Gouernour of theirs that it grew to a grieuous tumult and most grieuous commotion In this years Pope Inocent held the Councell at Rome called Lateran it was pretended to be for the râ—formation of the Church Uniuersall and to haue the holy Land recouered from the Turtes but it was because the Doctrine of the Truth which they call Hereâ—â—â— begin to 〈◊〉 very high by reason whereof the Empâ—rour Otho and many other Priestes and their Countries were excommunicated In this Councell he established by publique Deerce that the Pope should haue the correction of all Christian Princes and that no Emperour should bee admitted except he were sâ—orne to him and Crowned of him Item that whosoever spake euâ—il of the Pope should be punished in Hell with eternall damnation Item Transubstantiation was first inuented brought in and a Pix ordâ—ined to couer the bread and bell to be rung bâ—fore it when it went abroad and the Masse to bée made equall with Christs Gospell Item the Act was established and ratified of compelling Priests to abiure lawfull mâ—â—iage Marke how the Priests and their adherents were plagued for handling king Iohn so Stephen Lancton Archbishop of Canterbury in this Councell was excommunicated of Pope Inocent with all thâ—se Bishops Preâ—lates Priests Barons and Commons which had béene of Councell with him in the former Rebellion and when the Archbishop had 〈◊〉 instant sute to be absolued the Pope answered I sweare by Saint Peter thou shalâ— not so soone obtaine thy absolution for thou hast hurt the king of England and iniured â—uch the Church of Rome He was also suspended from Church saying Masse or exercising other Ecclesiasticall Office because he would not execute the Popes curse vpon the said Rebellious Barons and cursed all the other rebels with bâ—ll bookâ— and candle and they appealed to the generall Councell In the same yeare many were summoned to Rome because they would not consent to the Kings deposing and submitting to the Pope Thus the whole Realme was miserably deuided into two factious some Lords and Gentlemen a great number followed the King and loued his doings Others fled to the French King desiring of him his eldest sonne Lodowicke and they would elect him their King and that he would send with him a mightie Armie to subdue the King but as certaine Lords and Barons were chusing Lodowicke for their king the Pope sent a Cardinall to stop their rash and cruell attempts charging the French king vpon his alegiance with all possible power to â—auour and deâ—end King Iohn of England his Feodaâ—y or Tenant Tho French king answered The Realme of England was neuer yet part of Peters patrimony neither now is nor euer should be No Prince may pledge or giue away his Kingdome without the lawfull consent of his Barons If the Pope shall seâ— vp such a president he shall at his pleasure bring all Christian Princes and their Kingdomes to naught Though he be my aduersary I much lament that he â—â—th brought the noble ground and Quéene of Prouinces vnder miserable 〈◊〉 The chiefe of his Lords standing by cryed by the bloud of God in whome we hope to be saued we will sticke in this Article to the loosing of our heads that no King may put his â—and vnder tribute and make his Nobilitie captiue seruants Lodowicke 〈◊〉 that his purposed iourney might not vs let for the Barons haue elected mee and I will not loose my right but fight for it to death and I haue friâ—ndes there to which the King answered not belike doubting somewhat because he saw all 〈◊〉 of the Priests that they might liue licentiously in wealth frée from the Kings yoake The same time a such treasons and conspiracies were wrought by Clergie men that the King knew not where to finde trustie friends At length he went to Douer looking for ayde from other quarters to whom resorted a wonderful number of men from Flanders 〈◊〉 Holland and many other parts It was reported the Pope writ to them to aâ—de him First bâ—cause he submitted his kingdome to his protection and he had taken vpon him the 〈◊〉 of the white Crosse to winne againe Ierusalem Thirdly because he had gotten by him England and Ireland and was like to loose both Upon the Aâ—â—â—nciation day of our Lady hee â—ooke vpon him his voyagâ— againâ—â—â—he Turkes to recouer Ierusalem He told his seruants 〈◊〉 did prospeâ—â— with him since he submitted himselfs and his kingdomes to the Church of Rome In this yeere one Simon Langton was chosen 〈◊〉 of Yorke but he was deposed by the Pope because he was brotheâ— to Stephen â—rchbishop of 〈◊〉 wâ—â—m the Pope hated hauing brought him vp of naught and â—ound him so 〈◊〉 and he places the Bishop of 〈◊〉 in his â—oome The 〈◊〉 night the Pope renewed his curse vpon the king of France his 〈◊〉 for vsurping vpon king Iohn and against the said Simon Langton and Geruas Hobruge for prouoking him to the same with wonâ—erfull 〈◊〉 cousing the â—els to ring caâ—les to be â—â—ghted and doores opened the 〈…〉 to be red committing them wholy to the Deuâ—l and communded the â—ishops and 〈◊〉 to poblish it through the whole Realme to the â—errour of all subiects The 〈◊〉 Simon and Geruais derâ—â—â—d him and appealed vnto the 〈◊〉 all Councell for Lodowicke and themselues The Magestrates and citizens of London did likewise 〈…〉 at the Popes commandements and kept company with the excommunicated at â—able and Church in contempt of the Pope and 〈◊〉 Lodowicke at 〈◊〉 taking himselfe king made Simon Langton higâ— Chancellour and Geruais Hobruge his chiefe Preacheâ— vy whose daily Preaching the Barâ—â—â— and Citizens bring excommunicated caused all the Church doores to be opened and 〈◊〉 sung and Lodowicke was sit for them in all paints About this time Cardinall Pandulphus was made Bishop of Norwich for gathering Peter 〈◊〉 an old â—illage of the Pope other great labours â—one by him for the Pope About this time one Uicont of Meinn a 〈◊〉 man which came ouer with Lodowicke felll â—â—cke and called to him certaine English Baronâ— and said I pittie the
auncient Custoâ—es and disciplines of the ancient She prophesâ—eth likewise of Fryers There shall rise a sencelesse proud greedy people without Faith and subtile which shall eate the sâ—â—nes of the people pretending in Order of certaine deuout persons vnder the dissimuled cloake of beggers prâ—ferring themselues before others in fayned deuotion in puffed vp knowledge and pretenâ—ed holinesse walking without 〈◊〉 and the â—eaâ—e of God finding out many new mischiefes strong and sturdy Of wise men and Christes faithfull that Order shall bee accursed they shall cease from labour and studie for quietnesse rather taking on them the Order of flatterers then beggers they shall study altogether how to resist the Preachers of the trueth and kill them with the mightie The Deuill shall roote foure vices in them Flattery Enuiâ— Hypocrisie and Backbiting that by flattery they may haâ—e bouâ—tifull gifts that by Hypocricie they may please men and by Backâ—iting dispraise others and extoll themselues for the praise of men and sâ—ducing of the simple And in example of Martyres hauing no deuotion shall preach instantly They shall speake euill of Princes and withdraw the Sacraments from Pastors rereâ—uing the almes of the poore weake and néedy and conueying themselues into a multitude of people being familier with women teaching them how to deceiue their husbands and friends and conuey away their goods by stealth and giue it them and say that they wâ—uld pray for them so that they couer other mâ—ns faults curiously and forgâ—t their owne vtterly They shall take away things frâ—m Pirates théeues Church-pillers from Usurers Hereticks and Apostates Adulterers lecherous women bâ—udâ— from the mightie pâ—riured Marchants false Iudges Soldiers Tyrants Princee liuing against the Law and they shall follow the Deuill and swéetnesse of sinne deâ—icatenesse of life and 〈◊〉 to their eternall damnation all men shall sée this yet shall they daily become more indurate and wicked But when their iniquities and seducings shall bee tryed men shall cease to giue them then shall they goâ— about hungry and looking downe to the earth like madde dogges and shrinking in their neckes like Turtles that they may bée filled with bread then shall the people say Woâ— vnto you wretches children of sorrow the world seduced you the Deuill snared your moâ—ths your flesh slippery your heart without taste your minds wandring your eyes delighted in vanitie and madnesse your pâ—nches desire sweete dishes your feete swift to mischiefe consider how you were accounted 〈◊〉 and zealous poore rich men and simple stout men but you were deuout slatterers false betrayers peruerse backe â—iâ—ers holy hypocrites peruertâ—rs of the truth too much strickt and precise proud shamelesse and vnstable Doctors delicate Marâ—yres professors for lucre sake meeke slanderers religious couetous lowly proud godly hard men pleasâ—nt lyers peaceable persecuâ—ors oppressors of the simple inuenters of euill Sects vnmercifull louers of the world sellers of pardons spoylers of benefices vnprofitable makers of prayers seditious conspirers dronken whisperers desirous of honour curious in mens faults the extortioners of the world vnsatiable preachers pleasers of men seducers of women so weâ—s of discord Moses well prophesied of them in his Canticle A people without Councell and Wisdome would God they were wise and vnderstood and foresaw the latter ends to come you builded aloft and when you could build no higher you fell downe Like Simon Magus whom the Lord repressed and strooke with a mightie plagne so you likewise haue fallen through your deceiueable wickednesse lies 〈◊〉 the people shall say to them away teachers of peruersitie subuerters of verity brethren of the Shunamite father of Hereticall praâ—iâ—â—e false apostles you séeme to follow the life of the Apostles but follow not their steps one â—ot you children of iniquitie we will none of your trades and waies for presumptuous pride hath deceiued you and insatiable concupiscence subuerted your erronious heart and when you coueted to climbe vp higher and higher then by the iust Iudgement of God you haue fallen downe to euerlasting shame About the same time that the Franciscans and Dominicke Fryers began sprang vp the Croâ—bearers or Croucheâ— Fryers by Pope Innocent the 3. who raised an Army signed with the Crosse on their brest to 〈◊〉 against the Albenses whom the Pope and his sect account Hereticks About the parts of Tholous I finde in some records that the opinion of them was sound enough professing against the wanton wealth pride and tyranny of the Prelates denying the Popes authoritie to haue ground in Scriptures neither could they away with the ceremonies or traditions as Images Pardons Purgatory calling them blasphemous occupyings many of them were slaine at times and burned by the Pope and Symon Ecclesiasticus with other moe After King Iohn as aforesaid had submitted himselfe and his whole Realme vnder tribute to the Pope it is incredible how the insatiable aâ—arice of the Romaines did oppresse the Commons and all estates of the Realme especially the Churchmen who what for the Pope for the Legats for the Holy Land and other subtill deuises to get away their money were brought to such slauery and penury that whereas the King durst not or could not remedy their exclamations they were almost driuen by forâ—e to remedy their owne wrongs that they writ to the Bishops and other Ecâ—lesâ—asticall Gouernours that they had rather die then be thus confounded of the Romans that it was not vnknowne to them how they had deposed men and giuen away the Bâ—nefices after their owne lust and how they haue thundred excommunications against you if you place any in any Spirituall Liuing in any of your Dioces within the Realme vntill fâ—ue Romaines in euery Dioces and in euery Cathedrall such as the Pope shall name be prouided for to the valew of 100. lib. yearely and what other grieuances they doe inflict to the Layty and Nobles Wherefore wâ— considering the rigorous austeritie of the â—omanists which take vpon them to Iudgâ— and condemne vs and lay on vs intollâ—rable burdens therefore vpon a full aduise had amonst vs we haue though good rather to resist then to bee subict to their intollerable oppreâ—sions and greater slauâ—ry to be looked for hereafter Therefore we straitly command you as your friends that you doe not intermeddle or take part with them letâ—ing you vnderstand for trueth that in case you shall bee found culpable herein not onely your â—oods and possessions shall bee in danger of burning but aâ—â—o your bodies shall incurre the same perill as shall the said Romish opprâ—ssors In the raigne of Henry the third who succeeded King Iohn and raigned 57. yeares Cardinall Otho was sent to the King with Letters to him and other places for exactions of Money the Letters were to require for the Pope two Prebends in euery Cathedrall Church a portion of euery Abbot and of euery Couent as much as belonged to one Monke their good being equally deuided because the Church of Rome of greatly slandered that none could proceede there
and valiant Champion of the Faith vanquishing by the force of Scripture all such who by wilfuâ—l beggery blasphemed Christs Religion neither was he conâ—ict of heresie or burned by our prelates after his buriall God forbid our Prelates should condemne a man of such honesty for an heretick who amongst all the rest of our Uniuersitie had written in Logick Philosophy Diuinity Morality and the Speculatiue arte without pâ—are In witnes whereof we seale this testimonial with our common Seale 5. October 1406. Iohn Hus hauing read ouer Wickliffes Bookes concludeth by many infallible presumptions and reasons that hee was no Heretick but in the number of the saued and that it was a foolish consequent because the number of Prelates and Clergy in England France and Boheme doe count him for an Heretick that therefore he is one like is the reason for burning of his bookes for in the first Chapter of the Booke of Machabees they burned the Bookes of the Lord and tore them and whosoeuer was found to haue or vse them was put to death by the Kings commandement if this argued the wickednes of the bookes then the Law of God was wicked so likewise of the burning of S. Gregories bookes and of diuers other good men it followeth not because the Scribes and Pharisies condemned Christ as an Heretick that therefore he was one so Iohn Chrysostome was twice condemned an Hereticke by the Bishops and Clergy Besides the Articles afore there were other Articles gathered out of his Bookes which his malicious aduersaries peruersly collecting and maliciously expounding did exhibit to the Councell of Constance They sinne in Simony that be hired by temporal liuings to pray for others The prayer of the Reprobate preuaileth for no man Hallowing of Churches confirmation of children the Sacrament of orders bee reserued to the Pope and Bishops onely for temporall lucre Graduation and Doctor-ships in Uniuersities and Colledges as they bee vsed conduce nothing to the Church The excommunication of the Pope and his Prelates is not to be feared because it is the censure of Antichrist Such as founded Monasteries offend and all such as enter into them be members of the Diuell A Deacon or Priest may teach Gods word without the authority of the apostolike Sea They that enter into Monasticall Order or Religion are vnable to keep Gods commandements or to come to heauen except they returne The Church of Rome is the Synagogue of Satan neither is the Pope the immediate vicar of Christ nor of the Apostles The decretals of the popes be Apocripha and seduce from the faith of Christ and the Clergy that study them be fooles It is not necessarie to saluation to beleeue the Church of Rome to be supreme â—ead ouer all Churches It is but folly to beleeue the Popes pardons All othes made for any contract or ciuill bargaine betwixt man and man bée vnlawfull Benedick Francis Dominick Bernard and al other that haue béen patrons of priuat religions except they haue repented with such as entred into the same be in damnable state and from the pope vnto the lowest nouis they are all hereticks Thus you haue the whole summe of Wickliffes Articles albeit not as hee vttered them but as his froward aduersaries collected them out of his writings if some of them séeme hard or strange thinke it rather to be imputed to their euill will then to his good meaning as it might appeare if his bookes had now been extant but this is certaine howsoeuer his Articles were taken of the euill disposed with all good men he was highly fauoured and had in such estimation for his profound knowledge and great learning that all forren Nations were moued with his authoritie especially the Bohemians had him insuch reuerence that Iohn Hus the greatest doer in the Uniuersitie of Prage tooke profit of his Doctrine and openly defended his Articles Wickliffes Doctrine came into Bohemia by reason of a Student of Bohemia that was at Oxford being of Noble stock who returning to Prage carried certaine bookes of Wickliffes with him De realibus vniuersalibus De ciuili iure et Diuino De Ecclesia De questionibus varâ—â—s contra clerum c. a Noble man of Prage builded a Church called Bethelem giuing lands to it and finding two preachers euery day to preach to the people of the which Iohn Hus was one hee beeing familiar with the yong man reading and perusing these bookes tooke such pleasure and fruit thereby that he defended and commended them in schooles and sermons commending him for a good man wishing when he died to be there placed where his soule was We think it worth labour to shew certaine prophesies whereby so many persâ—cutions were figured and first the aforesaid Abbot Ioachim told King Richard as hée went to Ierusalem that the last of the seuen Kings spoken of in the Reuelation was Antichrist and that at that present hee should be bred at Rome and be exalted into the apostolick Sea according to the Apostle hee is exalted aboue all that is called God hee was in the yeare 1290. And in the Prophesie of Hildegardis afore mentioned she saith in the yeare 1200. the Doctrine of the Apostles and Iustice which God appointed to spirituall Christians beganne to war flack and doubtfull but this womanly time shall not so long continue as it hath done Bishop Fluensius doubted not openly to preach that Antichrist was borne in his daies Biâ—h Gerardus in the yeare of our Lord 1239. in his Book of the preseruation of Gods seruants doth coniecture Antichrist to be at hand by the rarity of prophesie and the gift of curing Hierome Sauanorol 69. yeares before prophesied that Italy shall be plagued by the scourge of God for the manifold sinnes thereof amongst the Princes as well Ecclesiasticall as secular and when the Cities of Rome and Florence are ouerthrowne then shall the Church bee renewed which shall happen very shortly and the Turkes and the Mauritanians shall bee conuerted vnto the knowledge of Christ and that one should passe the Alpes like vnto Cyrus and hee shall subuert all Italy I thinke it lacketh not his prophesie which happened in the yeare of our Lord 1501. that throughout all Germany there was scene vpon mens garments Crosses crownes of thornes similitude of Nailes and drops of bloud fâ—ll from heauen and oftentimes they fell within the houses insomuch that many women wore the same long time vpon their railes One Iohn a Franciscane Fryer in the yeare of our Lord 1346. fore-shewed that the Ecclesiasticall order should suffer much through the Ambitious auarice and pride of the Pope wherevpon Pope Clement the sixt cast him in the prison One Manfredus a Dominick Frier fore-shewed that Antichrist should rise vp in his time after the yeare of our Lord 1300. and should fully rage ouer the godly and that there should be persecution in the Church and hee said that the Cloyster Monkes did falsifie the Doctrine of Christ that the sacrifice of the Altar
please that they haue the kâ—yes of hell and heauen that they can excommunicate blesse and curse binde and lose at their pleasure for twelue pence they will sell the Kingdome of heauen by writing and clause of warrants sealed with the common Seale the Pope hath fained that he is the Treasurer of the whole Church hauing the treasure of the passion of Christ in his kéeping with the merits of all Saints in heauen whereby hee giueth fained pardons a poena et culpa and whereby he can deliuer all captiues being in purgatory at his pleasure and make them not to come there 10 The vow of Chastitie made by women imperfect by nature bringeth in horrible vices the murdering of Children borne before their time and before they are Christned the destruction of their natures by medicines accompanying amongst themselues and with beasts and any creature without life commeth to such vnséemlinesse that they are punished with hell torments wee would that Widdowes and Maides which take the mantle and ring were married John Bale a man indued with great knowledge and vnderstanding was condemned to death by Robert Triuillian chiefe Iustice 1382. albeit he was chiefe Iustice he suffered the like punishment and was hanged at Tyburne being iustly requited for the bloud which he had shed One Iohn Puruay was accused of heresie at Oxford Walden writeth hee was the Library of Lollards and glosâ—r vpon Wickliffe hee with Harford a Doctor of Diuinitie were greâ—uously tormented in the prison of Saltwood and made to recant at Paules Crosse by Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury and one and twenty yéers after taken and imprisoned againe by Chichely Archbishop of Canterbury these be his Articles he recanted 1 There can be no accident without the subiect in the Sacrament after consecration but there remaineth the same substance visible bread and the same wine as before the consecration as when a Pagan is baptized spiritually hee is a member of Christ yet he hath his nature and substance as before 2 Auricular Confession is a whispering destroying the liberty of the Gospel newly deuised by the Pope and Clergy to intangle the conscience in sinne and the soule in hell 3 He that is holy and predestinated to eternall life though he be a Lay man is a Priest before God 4 Wicked Prelates haue neither the keyes of hell nor heauen though the pope interdict the Realme he could not hurt but profit vs for thereby wee should be dismissed the seruice of his Church and his Lawes 5 If any make a vow to keep perpetuall chastitie or any other thing that God hath appointed him too no Prelate can compell him to keep it 6 Hee that hath taken the office of Priesthood though hee haue no charge of soules committed to him they may and ought to preach the Gospel freely else he is a théefe excommunicated of God and the holy Church 7 That Pope Innocent the fourth and six hundred Bishops and a thousand Prelates and the rest that ordained Transubstantiatiâ—n auricular confession and other such lawes were fooles heretickes blasphemers and seducers of the people and we ought not to beleeue them nor their successors nor obey their lawes except they be grounded on the Scripture or some reason that cannot be impugned About the same time Richard Wiche hauing preached the Gospel the Bishop of Durham made him recant these Articles 1 Images are not to be worshipped 2 God of his ordinarie power cannot make an Image bleed 3 That we should not confesse to a wicked Priest 4 Euery Lay-man is bound to know the Gospel and to preach it priuately or openly if he hauâ— habilitie 5 A Lay-man ought to pray in his own tongue which he vnderstands such prayer is most accepted 6 Euery priest according to his capacity is bound to know the whole Scripture and by his office to preach it 7 Pilgrimages to Ierusalem or Rome are vaine what you may haue there you may haue at home and Baptisme may as well bee had heeâ—e as in other places 8 Men or women in iourneying ought to haue their communication vpon the Scripture 9 No Priest ought to beg any thing almes is to be giuen to the lame feeble and sicke or they that haue been spoiled 10 The Crossâ— is not to be worshipped 11 Euery place is as fit for prayer as another 12 â—hey doe against the Law that burne men In the same yéere one William Santrey who â—nflamed with true Religion required in the Parliament that he might be heard for the commoditie of the whole realme but the matter being before smelt of the Bishoppes they obtained that the matter should be put to their hearings and Iudgements by whom hee was at last attached of heresie condemned for seuen Articles disgraded and burned by the commandement of the King Thirteene yeares after the death of Wickliffe Henry the fourth then raigning King Richard was deposed and put into the Tower and there died A Parliament was holden in which it was decreed that the fauourers of Wickliffe should be apprehended who then were called Lollards and if they did perseuere to bee deliuered to the Bishop of the Diocesse and from him committed to the correction of the secular Magistrate this brought a certaine Priest vnto punishment that yeare who was burned in Smithfield in presence of a great number I take it was Swinderby who as aforesaid was forced to recant by the Bishop of Lincolne Héere followeth the examination of Maister William Thorpe written with his owne hand hee sheweth first the reasons why he wrot it First at the earnest request of diuers friends and that hee had a desire of himselfe so to doe that profit might come thereby for the truth hath this condition where euer it is impugned it hath a swéet sauour and the more enemies addresse themselues to oppresse it the sweeter smell commeth thereof and will not passe away like smoke but rest in some cleane soule that thirsteth thereafter thirdly that the good by shewing it one to an other may strengthen one another and shewing it to some enemy of the truth hee may be astonied and conuerted His examination before ARVNDEL Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor in his Closet with but three with him Bishop WIlliam this twenty yeeres and more thou hast trauelled 〈◊〉 about the North and other Countreyes to poison all the Land with â—hy vntrue preaching but by Gods help thou art in my ward and I will let thee to inuenome the shéepe of my prouince but as Saint Paul saith as much as in vs is wee will haue peace with all men if thou wilt faithfully sware to submit thy selfe to my correction and ordinance I will be gracious vnto thée Thorp After he had made a confession of his Faith in the Trinitie and in the Sonne of God reciting the whole substance of the Gospel from the Conception of Christ vntill the holy Ghost was sent he beléeued the Catholike Church was all that euer were are or shal be that endeuour
to Church to pray their inward wits may be the more feruent in that their outward wits bee closed from outward seeing Christ blessd them that sawe him not and beleeued it sufficeth to know God in his word without Images Bishop Is it not a stirring thing to behold an Image Thorpe Being euery person of the Trinitie is eternall and you say it was not lawful to picture it before Christ and in that there were many Prophets Marâ—â—res and professors before Christ why was it not then as lawfull to make Images to moue men to deuotion as now it is Bishop The Synagogue of the Iewes had not authoritie to approue things as the Church now hath Thorpe Saint Gregory was of great dignitie as the Cannon Lawe witnesseth hee greatly commended a Bishoppe for forbidding Images to bee worshipped Bishop Ungratioâ—s losell thou sauorest truth no more then a hounâ— since at the Roode at the North dore at London and at our Lady at Walsingham and many other places in England are many great and praisable miracles â—one Thorpe I am certaine there is no such miracle done of God that any Image should be worshipped therefore I say as I haue often Preached None should tâ—ust there were any vertue in them nor vowe to them nor seeke to them nor 〈◊〉 bowe pray oâ—â—er kisse or incense them The Brasen Serpent was 〈◊〉 by Gods biddiâ—g â—et the good King Ezekiah because it was incensed so worthâ—â—y destroyed it and it is to bee dread that for the vnfaithfulnesse of â—en the Fâ—â—â—d 〈◊〉 power to 〈◊〉 the miracles that now are done in such places wherefore sâ—eing the God of 〈◊〉 is the most vnknowne and wonderfull Spirit what Image may he be painted 〈◊〉 Bishop As holy Church suffereth Images to â—ee painted and shewed it suffiseth to thâ—m that are members of holy Church but thou art 〈◊〉 member cut off from holy Church thou fauourest not the ordinances thereof Thou speakest against Pilgrimage and that pilgrimages to Canterbury â—euerley Carlington Walsingham are accursed and fâ—â—lish spending their goods in wast Thorpe There bée true trauellers trauell all their life with all their endeauour to please God that they may attaine to the heauenly Kingdome but I say now as I said at Shrewsbury I haue Preached often in other places and will doe as long as I liue God willing They that trauell their bodies and spend their money to sâ—eke or visite the bones of Images of this Saint or that such pilgrimage is neither praiseable or thankefull to God nor to any Saint of God since such pilgrimages almost all despise God and his commaundements and vppon Saints they waste blamefully Gods goods in such vaine Pilgrimages sometimes vpon vitious Hostices which they should doe workes of mercie withall vpon the poore and néedie they offer their goâ—ds to rich Priests which haue more then they nâ—ede many of them borrow other mens goods and neuer pay them and sometimes they steale them And they haue with them Singers that can sing wanton Songs and some will haue Bag-pipes so that euery Towne where they come with their noyse of singing piping â—angling of Canterbury Bels and the barking of dogs they make more noyse then if the king came thither with all his Clarions and Minstrels and if they bee a moneth in pilgrimage they will bee halfe a yeare after wranglers tale-bearers and lyers Bishop Lewde losell thou seest not farre enough into this matter it is fit they haue such musicke with them that when one goeth barefoote burteth his foote against a stone and maketh it bleede it is well done that his fellow sing a song or play on a bagge pipe to driue away with mirth the hurt of his fellowe and with such solace their trauell and wearinâ—sse is lightly and merrily brought forth Dauids last Psalme teacheth mee to haue diuerse â—nstruments of musicke Thorpe By the sentence of â—iuerse Doctors that musicke that Dauid and other Saints of the Old Lawe spake of ought not to be interpreted liâ—terally but gostly for Saint Paul saith all such thingâ— befell to them in figure therefore I vnderstand that the letter of this Psalme and other Psalmes and Sentences doth slay them that take them now literally This sence I vnderstand Christ approueth puâ—ting out the minstrels ere he would quicken the Damzell Bishop Lewd losell is it not lawfull so haue Organes in the Church to worship God withall Thorpe Yea by mans ordinance but a good Sermon to the peoples vnderstanding were much more pleasant to God Bishoppe Organs and delectable Songs quicken mens wits more then a Sermon Thorpe Worldly men delight in sencible solace but the faithfull louers of Christ delight to heare Gods word and vnderstand it truâ—ly and Saint Ierome saith No body may ioy with this world and raigne with Christ. Bishop What thinke you this 〈◊〉 will speake whereas hee hath no dreade being bee speaketh thus in my presence well well by God you shall bee ordained for Thou saidest Priests had no tittle to Tythes Thorpe One would know of me whether Priests by the word of God may curse one for not paying of Tythes Christ and his Apostles tooke no Tythes nor commanded none so to doe Saint Paul saith The Lord hath ordained that they that Preach the Gospell should liue of the Gospell And if Priests were now in measurable number and liued vertuously add taâ—ghâ— busily and truely Gods word without Tythes 〈◊〉 and other duâ—ies the people would giue them sufficiâ—nt liuings One of his Clarkes said How can that be slucâ— by the Law Priests can scarcely constraine the people to giue them their Liuing Bishop Thou sayest it is not lawfull in any case Thorpe I neuer taught in that wise I haue Preached in many places that it is not lawfull to sweare by any creature and that none ought to swrare in any case if without an oath he may excuse himselfe to them that haue authoritie so take an oath but as he cannot otherwise excuâ—e himselfe he ought onely to sweare by God taking him only that is true to witnesse truth And there were many other arguments wherein was no great matâ—er worth abridging if the reader be disposed hee may see the booke at large After hee had denied to sweare obedience vnto the Bishop except in those things that were according to the word of God the Archbishoppe bade the Constable haue him away in haâ—â—e Bishop I was led foorth and brought to a â—oule and vnhonest prison where I was neuer before when they were gone and had shut the doore I busied my selfe to thinâ—â— on God and thanke him of his goodnesse and I was greatly comforted that I was deliuered for a time from the sight hearing and presence and scorning and menasing of mine enemies but much more I reioyced in the Lord that of his grace he kept 〈◊〉 that without heauinesse and anguish of conscience I passed away from them Now O God to the praising of thâ— blessed name make vs one together by
was Anno 1415. if wee count from this yeare vnto the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and sixtéene in which yéere Martine Luther first began to write against the Pope wee shall finde the number of an hundred yéeres fully complete When as the Newes of the barbarous cruelty exercised against Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage was reported in Boheme their Disciples assembled and celebrated a memoriall of their deaths decréeing it to be holden yéerely and after they obtained certaine Churches of the King to preach and minister the Sacraments in then they suppressed diuers Monasteries and Pharasaicall and Idolatrous Temples driuing the vicious Priests and Monkes out of them or compelling them to a better order whereby their number augmented vnder the conduct of one Nicholas a Noble man and comming againe to the King for more Churches the King told Nicholas thou hast begun a Web to put me out of my Kingdome and I will make a rope of it wherewith I will hang thée Wherevpon Nicholas departed and the king went to a new Castle which he had builded and sent Ambassadours vnto the Emperour his brother for ayde The Protestants being assembled at Prage the King sent his Chamberlain with thrée hundred horsemen to run vpon them but he was faine to fly for fears of his life at this newes the King and all about him were amazed but his Cup-bearer said I knew these things would thus come to passe the King in a rage caught him threw him downe and would haue slaine him with his Dagger but béeing let with much adâ—e he pardoned him immediately the King fell sick of a Palsie and within eightéene daies died when he had marked the names of them which hée would haue put to death before the Princes which he had sent to for ayde were come when he had raigned 55. yeares and was 57. yéere old Immediatly after whose death a Noble man named Zischa minding to reuenge the iniuries of Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage gathered a number of men of Warre and subuerted the Monasteries and Idolatrous Temples breaking in péeces the Images driuing away the Priests and Monkes which hée said were kept vp in their Cloisters like Swine in their fat sties a fatting his army increased to fortie thousand men hée went to Pelzina where hee knew hée had many friends of his faction and tooke the Towne and fortified it strongly and some of his company tooke the Castle of Uissegard then the Quéene sent Letters to the Emperour Sygismond and other Nobles requiring ayde in the meane time the Quéene raised an armie with the treasure of the King which could not preuaile against them Then the Protestants sent Letters throughout the whole Realme that they should not let the Emperour enter who was an enemy to Boheme had bound the ancient Citie of the Prutenians vnto order by pledges put the Marques of Brandenburge from the Bohemian Crowne and not onely suffred but procured Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage to be burned and with all his endeuour doth impugne the Doctrine which they taught Zisca was twise assaulted of his enemies but was alway victor after he went to Ausca a towne out of which the Papists had cast many Protestants he tooke the towne and set it on fire the chéefe Papists fled to the Castle Lytius but he took the Castle and put them all to sword saue one then he chose a place by a riuer which was fenced by nature this place he compassed in with walles and commanded euery man to build them houses and named it Thaber and his companions Thabarites as if they had seene the transfiguration of Christ in the mount the way to it by land was scarse thirty foot broad for it is almost an Iland they had no horsemen vntill the Emperour sent Nicholas Maister of the Mintes with a thousand horsemen to withstand the Thaborites vpon whome Zisca came in the night and tooke away all his horses and armour In this time one Picardus comming out of the Low Countries into Boheme by inchantments got credit with the people and allured a number of men and women vnto him whom hee commanded to goe naked calling them Adamits and possessing a certaine Iland he called himselfe the Sonne of God they had no respect of marriage yet it was against the Law for any man to know a woman without the leaue of Adam but when any desired a woman hee must leade her in his hand to him and say I am inflamed to this woman and he answereth goe and multiply and replenish the earth he affirmed that they and their posteritie were free and all other bondmen on a time forty of this sect came out of the Iland anâ— slew two thousand husbandmen whom they called the children of the diuell Zisca hearing hereof and detesting their abominable doings let his army against them and subdued the Iland and slew them all sauing two of whom hee might vnderstand the superstition of the people In the meane time the Emperour with a great armie entered Boheme and got Cencho with large gifts and promises to render vp vnto him the Castle of Prage and there placed himselfe to anoy the towne the Cittizens of Prage sent for Zisca who speeded thether with his Thaborites and receiued the Citie vnder his gouernance the Castle was so strong it could not be conquered but by famine therefore they stopped all the passages that no victuals should bee carried in but the Emperour opened the passages by force and gaue them in the Castle all things necessarie and besieged the Citie and was crowned in the Metropolitane house in the Castle Zisca planted a strong Garrison vpon a high hill neere the Towne of Prage with whom the Emperours host skermishing hauing gotten the top of the hill were driuen back into a corner Some were slaine and some falling headlong from the hill were destroyed wherevpon the Emperour raised his siege and Zisca and his company returned to Taber they of Prage strongly besieged the Castle then they were compelled to eate horse-flesh and except the Emperour did ayde them by such a day they promised to yeeld it vp the Emperour was present before the day but entering into a strait vnder the Castle was sodenly set vpon by the Souldiers of Prage had a great ouerthrow and so leauing his purpose vndone returned back againe and the Castle was deliuered vnto them Zisca subuerted and burned fiue Monasteries in Pelâ—â—na and pitched himselfe at the Monastery of Saint Clare thither came the Emperour with his army but when Zisca brought his armie against him hee fled and shortly after left Boheme Then Zisca wonne Commitauia a famous Citie and burnt all the Priests therein and hauing but one eye in the siege of Raby hee lost that eye and was blind yet still he tooke the charge of his army After the Garisons of Prage went to Uarona where was a great garison of the Emperours and tooke it by force and tooke many other townes and holds After
and Ludney within the space of three or foure yeares 120. men and women which sustained great vexation for the profession of Christs Faith whose names are recited in the booke at large the Articles that were generally obiected against them were That auriculer confession is not to bee made vnto a Priest but vnto God because no Priest hath no power to absolue a sinner That no Priest can make the body of Christ in the Sacrament and that material bread remaineth after consecation That euery true Christian man is a Priest to God That none is bound vnder paine of damnation to Lent or other dayes prohibited That the Pope is Antichrist and his Prelates Antichrists disciples and that the Pope hath no power to binde and lose on earth and that it is lawfull to doe any worke except sinne vpon the holy daies That Priests may haue wiues lawfully That the Communications of the Prelates are not to be regarded That it is not lawfull to sweare in priuate causes That men ought no goe on Pilgrimage nor giue honour vnto Images of the Crosse of our Lady or other Saints That holy water hath no more vertue then other water That the death of Thomas Becket was neither holy nor meritorious That relickes as dead mens bones ought not to be worshipped or digged out of graues or set vp in Shrines That prayers made in all places are acceptable to God That men ought not to pray to any Saints but onely to God That bels and ringing in the Church were ordained to fill the Priests purses That it is no sinne to withstand the Ecclesiasticall precepts That the Catholicke Church is only the Congregation of the elect they did so agree in vniforme faith that whatsoeuer one did hold all did maintaine William White being a follower of Iohn Wickliffe yet laboured continually vnto the glory of his spoute Christ by reading writing and preaching The principall points of his Doctrine were these which he was forced to recant at Canterbury That men should seeke for forgiuenesse of sins only at Gods hands that the wicked liuing of the Pope and his holinesse is nothing else but a diuelish estate and heauie yoke of Antichrist therfore an enemy to Christs truth that men ought not to worship Images or other Idolatrous paintings nor the holy men which are deade That the Romish Church is the figtree that Christ cursed because it brought forth no fruit of the true belief That such as weare Coules or are annointed and shorne are the Lance-knights and soldiers of Lucifer and that all of them because their lamps are not burning shal be shut out when the Lord Christ shall come after his said recantation he was much more stronger in Christ and confessed his errour and offence and busying himselfe in preaching and conuerting the people to the doctrine of Christ in Norfolke he was apprehended by vertue of the Kings letters aforesaid and brought before the Bishop of Norwich by whom hee was contemned of 30. Articles and burned the said yeare in Norwich who was of so deuout and holy life that all the people had him in great reuerence One Margery wright confessed if any Saints were to be prayd vnto she would rather pray vnto him then any other when he was come to the stake thinking to open his mouth to exhort the people one of the Bishops seruants strooke him in the mouth Thus he receiued the Crowne of Marterdome to the grife of all good men in Norfolke his wife following his steps by â—er teaching confirmed many in the trueth Wherefore shee suffered much trouble and punishment that yeare By the saide Bishoppe the same yeare also was burned father Abraham of â—olchester and Iohn Waddon Priest for the like Article Amongst them that were arrested and caused to abiure in this yeare as aforesaid was Thomas Pie and Iohn Mendham of Aldborâ—ough who being conuicted vpon diuerse Articles before mentioned were ioyned penance sixe whippings about the 〈◊〉 Church of Alborrough before a solemne Procession sixe seuerall Sundaies and three whippings three seueral Market daies about the Market Place of 〈…〉 heads necks legs and feete bare their bodies onely couered with their 〈◊〉 and breeches either of them carying a taper in his hand of a pound waighâ— which tâ—pe the last Sunday after the Penance 〈◊〉 they should deuoutly offeâ— vnto the high Altar of the Church of Alborrough at the time of the â—ffeâ—tory of the high Masse and that going about the Market plâ—ce aforesaid they shal make foure stays euery one to receiue deuoutly thrée whips and if they would not obey this monition they were to be cited to appeare before the Bishop to shew cause why they should not bee excommunicated and to receiue such punishment as Iustice shall prouide in that behalfe this was their 〈…〉 of penance howbeit some were often more cruelly handled and after banished out of the Dioces and others were more straâ—ly vsed by lâ—ng imprisonment whereof we will briefly rehearse one or two for example Iohn Beuerley alias Batâ—ile a labourer hauing lyeâ— long in Irons and hauing nothing proued against him the Commissary made him sweare that euery yeare after he would confesse is slune once a yeare vnto his Curate and receiue the Sacrament at Easter and for his penance the Friday and Saturday next following hee should fast brâ—ad and water and vpon the Saturday be whipped from the Bishops Palace 〈◊〉 Norwich about all the streets and the Market place hauing in his hand a waxe candle of two pence to offer to the Image of the Trinitie after he had done his penance and because he had eaten flesh on Easter day and was not shriuen in Lent nor receiued on Easter day the Iudge inioyned him he should fast Tuesday Wednesday and Friday in Whitsun weeke hauing but one meale a day of Fish and other white meates and depart out of the Dioces and neuer come there againe Iohn Skilley of Flixton Miller was forced to abiure for holding the Articles aforesaid and for receiuing certaine godly men into his house had a most sharpe penance seauen yeares imprisonment in the Monastery of Langly and to fast with bread water euery Friday and to appeare euery Wednesday in the beginning of Lent and euery Munday and Thursday for two yeares after the seauen yeares before the Bishop his successor and Commissary in the Cathedrall Church of Norwich together with other penitâ—ntiaries to doe open penance for his offence diuerse others the same yeare were forced to abiuration and penance In this next yeare in the same Register were sixteene or seauenteene that were examined and did penance likewise amongst whom was Iohn Baker otherwise called Vsher Tunstall who for hauing a booke with the Pater noster Aue and Creede in English and for other Articles of Fasting Confession and inuocation was constrained to abiure and doe such penance as others did before him Another was Margerie Baâ—kster wife of Willam Backster against whom one Ioane Cliffe and
six women with the Lord of the place to be condemned for Hereticks because they said since Peter none was true Uicar of Christ but they onely which followed the pouerty of Christ. Hee condemned of heresie George the King of Boheme and depriued him made his whole stocke to be reiected and gaue his Kingdome to Mathias King of Panonia Pope Alexander the sixt succéeded him Hee receiued two thousand Florens for poisoning Gemen the Turkes brother at Rome Hee sent for help of the Turkes against the French King He was vngratefull to the Cardinals that chose him He commanded Marcinellus one of them to haue his hands and tongue cut off for speaking against his vices After sitting with his Cardinals and the rich Seâ—ators of Rome at dinner his man vnawares bringing a wrong Bottle vnto him he with his Cardinals about him were poisoned In his time the Angel which stood on the top of the Popes Church was beaten down with thunder which thing seemed to declare the ruine of the Pope-dome Pius the third succéeded Pope after him Iulius the second passing all other in iniquitie as he was going to warre he cast the keyes of S. Peter into the riuer Tybris saying being the keyes of Peter would not serue him to his purpose he would take himselfe to the sword of Paul By this Iulius partly with warre partly with cursings in seuen yeares 200000. Christians were destroyed he got many Citties out of Princes hands by bloudshed when he was made Pope he tooke an oath to haue a Councel within two yeares but breaking his Oath he was occupied in warres whervpon nine of his Cardinals departed from him and appointed a Councell at Pâ—sa they alledged the cause for that the Pope was forsworne and that they had diuers other crimes to accuse him of purposing to remooue him from his seate which hee had obtained through bribes and ambition Iulius commanded vnder great paine that none obeyed them the next yéere he called a Councell The French King seeing the Pope take part with the Uenetians against him called a Councell at Thurin in which Councell they agréed that the Pope ought not to war against any Prince without cause and that it was lawfull for the King to defend himselfe against him and that vniust excommunications were not to bée feared After the King sent to the Pope the decrées of the Councell who accursed the French King with all his Kingdome and the next yeare after this warlike Pope dyed The lamentable handling of RICHARD HVN who was priuily murdered in Lolards Tower in London HVN had a Child died in his house the Curate claiming the bearing-shéet for a Mortuarâ— Hun answered The Infant had no property therein whereupon he was cited to the Spirituall Court he sued the Curate in a Premunire and then the Priests of mallice accused him of heresie and brought him to Lolards Tower where he was found dead hanging by the necke in a girdle of silke The Bishop of London called Richard Fitziames and Doctor Horsey his Chancelor said â—e hanged himselfe and the Temporalty said he was murdered The Coronor summoned a Iury and viewed the body and many times they were with the Kings Councell and heard their opinions but in the mean season the Bishop burnt the dead carkase in Smithfield to the abhomination of the people but after the matter had beeâ—e heard by the Kings Iudges and after by the Kings Councell the King being present at lasâ— Doctor Horsey the Chancelor and one Charles the Bel-ringer of Pauls anâ— Ioseph the Bishops Somner were indicted of murder and the said Charles being in the Tower of London of his owne frée will said that Maister Chancelor deuised and wrote with his own hand all the heresies that were laid to Huns charge and that when Richard Hunne was slaine Iohn Bell-ringer bare vp a Waxe Candle and I went next to him and Maister Chancelor came vp last and Hunne was lying in his bed and Maister Chancelor said Lay hands on the Theefe and so all we murdered him and I put the girdle about his necke and Iohn Bell-ringer and I did heaue him vp and maister Chancelor pulled the girdle ouer the staple and so Hun was hanged The said Charles told Iulian Little his maid he killed him by putting a Wyer vp into his nose Before that time the Chanceller commaunded to be put vpon Huns necke a great coller of Iron with a great Chaine which is to heauy for any man or beast to weare and long to endure And before Huns death the Chanceller came into the Lolards Tower and kneeled downe before Hunne holding vp his hands and asked him forgiuenesse of all he had done and must doe to him And on the Sonday before the night in which he was destroyed he caused the Penitentiary of Paules to go to Hun and say a Gospell and make for him Holy Water and Holy bread and giue him which was done The Bishop did all he could by word or writing to the King and Cardinals and the Councell to smother the matter affirming that he hanged himselfe and that the Iury was forsworne and that the said Charles spoke that which he had done as before by reason of durance of imprisonment and that if the King and Councel should fauour this matter he should not be able to goe abroad for Heretickes and by the meanes of him and the spiritualty and money the Chancelor caused the Kinges Atturney to confesse on his arraignement him not to be guilty so he escaped to Excester and for shame neuer durst after come to London The Historie of Doctor VVESALIANVS THis Wesalia was complained vpon to Piorherus Archbishop of Mentz by the Thomists which is an Order holding of Thomas de Aquino The Bishop made him answer he should giue vp all his workes and writings which he had made and preached This being done they deuided them amongst themselues that euery man might finde out what errours and heresies they could His Articles and opinions were these That all men be saued fréely and through méere grace by faith in Christ Iesus frée-will to be nothing only that we should beléeue the word of God and not the glosse of any man or fathers that the word of God is to be expounded by the collation of one place with another that Prelats haue no authoritie to make lawes or expound the Scriptures by any peculiar right more then another that mens traditions as Fastings Feasts long prayers Pilgrimations and such like are to be reiected Extream vnction and confirmation to be reproued confession and satisfaction to be reprehended the primacy of the Pope he also affirmed to be nothing Upon which Articles this Wesalia by a generall assembly was condemned and his books to be burned He bring required of the Councell what he thought of the Uicar of Christ in earth He said he beléeued that Christ left no such Uicar in earth for ascending into heauen hee said Behold I am with you c. By
may rout It is a saying in Italy as soone as a Priest receiueth râ—sure the Diuell entereth into him It is a saying in Germany the neerer Rome the further from God and that all euill beginneth in Nomine Domine alluding vnto the Popes Bulles and when Bulles come from Rome binde well pour purses He that goeth once to Rome séeth a wicked man hee that goeth twice knoweth him he that goeth thrice bringeth him home with him The Court of Rome neuer regardeth the sheepe without the wooll Once were wooden Chalices and golden Priests now we haue golden Chalices and wooden priests Once Christians had blind Churches light hearts now they haue light Churches and blind hearts Many are worshipped for Saints in heauen whose soules bee burning in Hell It was a saying in France foure hundred yeâ—res before this time that Satan was let loose at Rome to destroy the whole Church Thomas Beckeâ— writ to the Cardinals that it was a common Prouerb that there is no right in Rome By these and such like innumerable Sayings it doth appeare what Iudgements the people had in those dayes of the Romish Clergy which was of GOD as a secret prophesie that Religion should bee restored shortly as it came to passe in this yeare one thousand fiue hundred and sixteene in which yeare Doctor MARTINE LVTHER first beganne to write before whom Picus Mirandola and Laurentius Valla and last of all Erasmus Roterodamus had somewhat broken the way before and had shaken the Monkes houses but LVTHER gaue the stroke and plucked downe the foundation all by opening one veine long hid before wherein lyeth the touchstone of all truth and Doctrine as the onely origine of our saluation which is our free Iustification by our Faith only in Christ the laborious trauels and constant preachings of this worthy man because they are at large in the History of Iohn Sleydan I neede not to stand thereon Luther was borne in Isleben in Saxony hee was a Student in the Uniuersitie of Magdâ—burge and Erford where Veselus was an old man as before is mentioned of whom it seemeth to bee that Luther speaketh of an Old Man there of whom hee learned many things touching Faith and hee thus expressed vnto him the Article of remission of sinnes wee may now generally beleeue onely that sinnes are and haue been remitted to some as the Diuels beléeue they were remitted to Peter or Dauid but that Gods expresse commandement is that euery man should beléeue particularly his sinnes are forgiuen and this is confirmed by Saint Bernard in his Sermon vpon the annunciation adde that thou beléeuest thy sinnes are forgiuen thée this is the Testimonie that the Holy Ghost giueth thee in thy heart and this is that the Apostle saith a man is freely iustified by Faith by whose words Luther said hee was strengthned and at last by prayer and reading he perceiued that Doctrine more euidently After hee began to expound the Epistle to the Romanes and the Psalmes so Diuinely that hee seemed to all the faithfull and learned a shining light which beganne to cleere after the long cloudy sky hee shewed the difference betwixt the Lawe and the Gospell Hee confounded the errour that then raigned in the Schooles and Sermons teaching that men merite remission of sinnes by their proper workes and were iust before GOD by outward Discipline as thâ— Pharisies taught But Luther expressely shewed that sinnes are freely remitted for the loue of the Sonne of GOD and that wee ought faithfully to embrace this bountifull gift His life was likewise correspondent to his profession whereby it appeared his words were not lip-labour but proceeded from the heart whereby many notable personages consented with him in his opinions at this time Luther altered nothing in the ceremonies but taught this onely doctrine as the principall of all others to wit the Doctrine of Repentance of remission of sinnes of Faith of true comfort in time of aduersitie euery man receiued good taste of this sweet Doctrine A Dominick Frier named Tecell caused the Popes indulgences to be carried and sold about the Coontreâ— Luther beeing moued with the blasphemous Sermons of this shamelesse Frier set vp certaine positiâ—ns against Indulgences openly vpon the Temples This Frier hoping to obtaine the Popes blessing assembled certaine Monkes and sophisticall Diuines and commaunded them to write something against Luther and in his Sermons he taught that Luther was an heretick and worthy to bee burned and he burned Luthers positions and the Sermon he writ against indulgences This forced Luther to intreat more amply of things and to maintaine the truth Frederick Duke of Saxony in the presence of the Emperor besought Erasmus his opinion if Luther had erred he answered his opinions were good but he desired he would moderate his stile Now Luther the plainer to expresse the doctrine of repentance of remission of sinnes of Faith and of Indulgences Hee added also these matters the difference of Diuine and humane Lawes the Doctrine of the vse of the Lords Supper of Baptisme and vowes touching the Question of the Popes power Eckius was the Author thereof to the intent to inflame the wrath of the Pope and Princes against Luther Upon this the Supper of the Lord was published to be vsed in both kindes priuate Masse was omitted and the Monasteries abandoned but this alteration was by Carolastadius in the absence of Luther He held in contempt the seditious Doctors of that time as Monetarius and the Anabaptists but especially the horâ—ed Bishops of Rome who arrogantly affirmed that Saint Peter had not onely the charge to teach the Gospell but to gouerne common-weales In the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred and one and twenty Luther entred into Wormes being sent for by the Emperour Charles the fift King of Spaine and Arch-Duke of Austrich who in the first yeare of his Empire made an assembly of Princes in his regall Citie And whereas Luther had published three yéeres before certaine new propositions to be disputed on at Wittenberge against the tyrannie of the Pope which were torne in péeces and burned by the Papistes Wherevpon they began to tend to vprore and yet Luther maintained openly his cause against the Clergy Wherevpon by the solicitation of the Romaine Legates LVTHER was sent for by the Herauld of Armes with Letters of safe conduct by the Emperour and Princes wherevpon hee came as before and was visited of many Earles Barons Knights Gentlemen Priests and the Comminaltie who frequented his lodging vntill night He came contrarie to the expectation of many and of his aduersaries for they thought he would not come because his bookes a few dayes before were condemned by publique proclamations and many perswaded him not to submit himselfe to any danger who answerd since I am sent for I am resolued to enter into Worms in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ though I knew there were so many Diuels to resist me as there be tiles to couer
Iacobus Lutherianus he was forced to recant but his mind renewed by the holy Ghost and he fled to Luther A Scholler borne at Abbevile in King Lewis his Pallace tooke away the Host from the Priest at Masse and brake it in peeces and trode it vnder his feete He was burned in the Swine-market the peeces of the Host and the pauement whereon it was trodden were gathâ—red and laid vp amongst the Treasures of the Pallace After Adrianus the sixt who succeeded Iulius came Pope Clement 7. whose life is in one verse described Bellorum hic fomes cunctorum lerna malorum he was poisoned with diuers of his Cardinals familiars with the smoak of torches In his time wroâ—e Nicholas Michiauellus who proueth that through y â— ambition of Popes procéedeth almost all euils wars amongst Christian men and that before the yeare 500. in all politick affaires the Bishop of Rome euer obayed the Emperors and Kings that the Cardinals in the first beginning of them were nothing but Popish Priests but after they inuaded the Temporall and Spirituall Iurisdiction vsurping aboue Kings and Emperors By thrée manner of waies the Romain Bishops did créep vp by excommunications by indulgences and force of Armes In this yeare the Turk wrote to the maister of the Rhodes to deliuer vp the Isle as followeth Solimanus Tsaccus King of Kings and Lord of Lords most mighty Emperor of Constantinople and Trapezuntis c. Unto the Reuerend Father Philip Vilerius Liladamus great Maister of the Rhodes to his Knights and the Communalty there The pitty of my afflicted people and your extreame iniuries moue me I command your speedy surrender of your Ile of Rhodes you may obtaine Our Grace to depart with your riches or if you will remaine in our Dominion your liberty shall not be diminished either in Religion or paying of tribute if you be wise preferre peace before cruell war if you be ouercome looke for extreame cruelty from which neither your force forraigne ayde nor your wals shall defend you I sweare by God the Maker of Heauen and Garth by the foure Histoâ—â—ographers of the Euangelicall Histories by the 8000. Prophets that came from Heauen and by our mighty God Mahomet aboue all others to be worshipped and the Spirits of my Father and Grand-Father and by this my Sacred Royall and Imperiall Head from our Palace at Constantinople The very same yeare the Island of Rhodes was lost and yéeleâ—d to the Turke to the great hindrance of all Christendome Henry Sudphen was desired of the Cittizens of Breame to come thither to preach when they had heard him they hyred him to bee their Preacher when the religious rout vnderstood thereof they desired of the Senate that such an Heretike might be banished the Towne which preached against the Catholike Church The Senate sent for the head men of the Parish and shewed them the complaint of the religious men They answered They knew no other but that hee was a learned honest Preacher yet if they can proue that he taught any thing contrary to the Word of God they will be ready with them to persecute him otherwise wee will not suffer him of malice to be driuen away The Senate certified the religioâ—s of this answer then they certified the Byshop thereof who sent two of his Councel to Breame for the Preacher they receiued this answere of the Senators That being he was hyred of the Church-wardens and was not conuicted of Heresie they could not obtaine of the Cittizens that he should be carried away Wherefore they desired the Byshop that he would send his learned men to dispute with him and if he were conuinced he should be punished else heâ— should not depart After when newes came that he preached more and more haynous maâ—ter against the religious Then they admonished the Cittizens of Brâ—ame into what ieoperdy their Common-wealth might fall by their Preachers preaching contrary to the decrées of the Pope and Emperour Further they said the Preacher was the Prisoner of the Lady Margaret and got Letters of her to require her Prisoner but all would not serue Then the Byshop decreed a prouinciall councell to be holden at Breamâ— which was accustomed to be at Bucksted whereunto this Henry was called but the Cittizens detained him at home Then Henry gathered a summe of his Doctrine into a few Articles and sent it with his Letters vnto the Archâ—bishop offering if he were conuicted of any error by the Word of God he would bee readiâ— to recant But shortly after the religious set vpon the Church-porch the Bull of Pope Leo the tenth and the Decrée of the Emperour made at Wormes notwithstanding he procéeded daily in preaching the Gospell The Papists sent their Chaplaines to euery Sermon to trap him in his wordes whereby many of them were conuerted and the greater part of those that were sent did openly witnesse his doctrine was Gods truth against which no man could contend and such as in all their liues they had not heard and that they must beléeue the same if they would be saued At last this Henry was sent for by Letters by the parishoners of Mâ—ldrophe to preach the Gospell to them and deliuer them out of the boâ—dage of Antichrist and because he had preached two yeare at Breame and that there were men sufficiently instructed in the Gospell to build further and that the Papists there were for the most part vanquished and that their folly was knowne euen to women and children and that Diedmar liued without a Pastor in the midst of Wolues he could not with a safe conscience deny their requests When he came thither he was ioyfully recâ—iued of the Parish-priest and others The Papists hearing hereof before he had preached stormed and fumed especiallie the Prior of the Black Monastery who went to the Officiall to take councell what was to be done least they lose their Kingdome they tooke councell to withstand the beginning that he might not haue leaue to preach least their crafts and wickednesses being laid open it were folly after to resist remembring what happened at Breame The next day early in the morning the Prior with the Chancelor went to the forty eight Presidents being vnlearned men and perswaded them what a seditious Fellow was come from Breame and there-withall if they would put him to death what fauour they should haue of the Byshop of Breame whereupon they decréed he should be put to death Further they had Letters from the forty eight Presidents vnto the Parish-priest commaunding him vnder great paine that heâ— should send away the said Henry without preaching The Priest maruelled at their meddling in such matters being it belonged not to them but the Parish-Priest onely to receiue and put out a Preacher and shewing this to Henry hee said he was sure hee must dye for the Gospell and it was as neare to Heauen to dye there as in another place and being he was sent for and was sure it would be
constantly that not onely many ignorant people were thereby drawne to the knowledge of the verity but a number which had some taste thereof were greatly confirmed Iohn Oecolampadius reporteth how a Prince murdered a good Pastor for preaching of the Gospell pretending hee was in a commotion hee sent a câ—uell Gentleman with a number of men to hang this Priest they came to the Priestes house and saluted him The Priest made them a great banquet and bad them eate and drinke chéerefully After dinner the Gentleman told his followers they must hang the Priest They said God forbid we should doe such a crime to hang one that hath intreated vs so gently his good chéere not yet disgested in vs The Priest desired them rather to carry him to prison to there Prince and propounded vnto him the gentlenes that he had alwaies vsed to the Gentlemen of the Countrey in spending his goods to entertaine them and aduertised him of the eternall toâ—ments which would follow an euill conscience protesting he had faithfully taught the Gospell and the cause hee had the ill will of some was for sharpely and openly reprouing the horrible vices of the Gentlemen The Gentleman told him he should gaine nothing by preaching in such sort for the Prince had commaunded him to hang him whose fauour hee would not loose to saue his life so they put him to death Oecolampadius reporteth of another godly Priest that when he came to the true vnderstanding of the Gospell O God said he who would haue thought it that so many learned and holy men haue wandred out of the right way and haue so long time béen wrapped in errors or that the holy Scriptures had been defiled with such horrible abuses for hee neuer vnderstood before that the Gospell was the vertty of God because it containeth much matter touching the crosse persecution ignomy after this good Pastor began to preach the Gospell there but many which repined that the Gospell should be freely preached caused him in the night to be taken by certaine souldiours which bound him hand foot and set him vpon a horse and led him vp down by a great rope before his wife and children were not moued with their grieuous sighes and teares after they had kept him long in prison that he had indured most terrible torments as well by his priuy members as other parts they iudged him to deth hauing no other cause against him but that he had maried a wife when the Fryers troubled him about Confession he said he had already confessed his sins vnto the Lord Iesus nothing doubting but that hee had receiued absolution of his sins and I said he shall this day be an acceptable sacrifice vnto my Sauior Iesus Christ for I haue done nothing for which I am condemned displeasing to God which giueth me a a quiet conscience and let them which thirst after blâ—ud consider that they offend him who truely iudgeth the harts of men who saith vengeance is mine and I will punish I desire to die I doe not much shorten my time for I am so leane that my skin is scarce able to couer my bones and I reioice in nothing but the Crosse of Christ Iesus Some could not abide these exhortations and made signes to the hangman to cast him into the Riuer after he was cast downe the Riuer was red which was a token that innocent bloud was shed they that were present were greatly amazed therat and returned home pensiue An other History by Oecolampadius an honest man when hee had wrongfully suffered most intollerable torments for being in a commotion and was condemned A Frier being brought vnto him when he was taken out of the dungeon and see the Frier Hée cryed with a loude voice O miserable wretch that I am now am I betrayed my last houre is at hand The dreame which I dreamed this night will come to passe The Frier plucking out a woodden crosse said poore man confesse thy sinnes in mine eare and after thou hast receiued absolution at mine hands doubt not but this day thou shalt goo straâ—te to the Kingdome of Heauen Who answered thou wicked Frier get thée away from me for I haue long bewailed my sinnes before the face of Christ who hath forgiuen me I haue no need of thy absolution which thou thy selfe doest not vnderstand Thou shouldest long since haue amended thy wicked and hâ—pocriticall life I know what thou art thou playest the Ape with mee thou hast a subtle heart which hath deceiued much people if thou hast any comfort out of the Gospell let mee haue it if not get thée away with thy portas whereat the Frier was confused The hangman wiser then the Frier bid him reade him something of the Passion whereat he would take great pleasure The foolish Frier had no other consolation but to hold the Crucifix of wood before him saying bâ—hold thy Sauiour which died for thée Looke on him and thou shalt bee comforted Hee answered get thee from mee thou naughty person this is not my Sauiour my Sauiour dwelleth in Heauen in whom I trust that he will not deliuer my soule to eternall death The Frier crossed himselfe and departed The Bishop of Constance caused Iohn Howghly a priest to bee burned at Merspurge for that he would not allow the Popes Doctrine in all points Iohn Frederick heyre to the Prince and Elector of Saxony was contracted by writings to the Lady Katherine the Emperours Sister But when Religion was altered in Saxony they swarued from their Couenants and the Empeâ—rorâ— Ambassador said there was no promise to be kept with hereticks In this yeare beeing the seuentéenth yeere of King Henry the eight his raigne there was great commotion in Suffolke and Norfolke by reason the Cardinall had sent commission in the Kings Name that euery man should pay the sixt part of his goods but it was appeased by the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke and the paiment released by the King This yeare the Cardinall tooke vpon him as the Kings chiefe Councellor Hee reformed the house and made new Officers in the house of the Duke of Richmond Also hee established a Councell and established another hâ—ushold for the Lady Mary then being Princes of the Realme Hee made the King beléeue hee need take no paines insomuch that the charge of all things was committed vnto him he gaue the King the Lease of the Mannor of Hampton Court and the King licenced him to lye in his Mannor of Richmond which K. Henry 7. loued so well whereat some grudged saying sée a Butchers Dogge lye in the Mannor of Richmond His pride was so high he regarded no man and was hated of all men Hee came to Paules the eleuenth of Ianuary a number of Bishops Abbots and Doctors attended him there hee sate in his Cloth of Estate of rich Cloth of Gold and Frier Barnes for heresie and two Marchants for eating flesh on Friday bare Faggots before him And this day
communed with him and was afraid to goe home the King deliuered him his Signet for a Token to deliâ—er to the Cardinall that he should not trouble him The Cardinall answered Though this discharged him yet he had no discharge for his Wife and sent for her and had troubled her if herâ—Daughter had not béene sicke of the plague of which sicknesse the said Fish within halfe a yeare after dyed and she marryed one Baynham which after was martyred as followeth in this Story To preuent the spreading abroad of this Libell there was a prohibition sent out â—y the Bishop of London for calling in this the New Testament and diuers other Books translated into English the names whereof because they are many I omit and leaue you to the booke at large King Henry about the twentith yeare of his raigne made an Oration vnto his Commons that though it had pleased God to send him a faire Daughter of a Noble woman and of him begotten to our great comfort and ioy yet it hath beene told vs by diuers great Clarks that neither she is Our lawfull Daughter nor her Mother Our lawfull wife but that we liue together abhominably in open adultery and when our Ambassadors were last in Fraunce motion was made that the Duke of Orleans should marry our said Daughter One of the chiefe Councellors said it were well done to know whether she be his lawfull Daughter or no because hee begat her on his brothers Wife which is directly against Gods Law Thinke you my Lords that these words touch not my body and soule and that it doth not daily and hourely trouble my Conscience I doubt not but euery one of you would seek remedy when the perill of your soule and losse of your inheritance is laid vnto you For this cause I haue asked Councell of the greatest Clarkes in Christeâ—dome and for this cause I haue sent for this Legate as a man indifferent to know the truth and settle my conscience and if the Queene be adiudged by the Lawe to bee my lawfull Wife it would be the most acceptable thing in my life both to cleere my conscience and for the good qualities which I know to bee in her besides her Noble parentage as almost this twenty yéeres I haue tried so that if I went to mary againe the mariage lawfull I would choose her before all women if the marriage proue vnlawfull I shall sorrow the departing from so good a Lady and louing a companion but much more lament that I haue so long liued in Adultery and haue no true heyre of my body to inherit this Realme Therefore I require you to make our minde knowne to our Subiects that they may pray for vs. The Quéene hearing thereof answered it was a great maruell that they would make question of this now after they had béene married twenty yeares and no question in the meane time and that all the learned at the time of the marriage did conclude it was lawfull and that both their fathers being so wise did not foresee it if there had béene any such doubt and the King my father sent to Rome and with great costs obtained a dispensation that I beeing one brothers wife procarâ—ally knowne might without scruple of conscience marry with the other brother lawfully which licence vnder lead I haue yet to shewe but I may thanke you my Lord Cardinall onely for this trouble this is of malice because I haue wonâ—red at your high pride and abhorred your voluptuous liuing and little regarded your tâ—ranny and for the malice you beare to my Nephew the Emperour because he would not make you Pope by force and the Quéene appealed to the Pope The King to try out the matter sent first to the Pope then to most part of alâ— Uniuersâ—ties first the Pope sent his two Legats Wolsey and Campeius to hearâ— and decide the Case they cited the King and Quéene personally to appeare or else by Proctors at the day the Legats with their crosses axes and pillers were set the King was ready to heare the determination requiring to haue an end notwithstanding from month to month they detracted the matter vntill August the King not taking it well to bee so vsed sent the Dukes of Northfolke and Suffolke vnto the Legats requiring them to hasten an end and to deferre no longer it is the manner of Rome about the beginning of August during the Dogge dayes to haue a solemne vacation in which neither Schooles bee vsed nor any Terme kept Cardinall Campeius pretending the order of Rome whereof he was a member answered hee neither could nor would goe against the ordinance thereof and before October he would procéed no further in the cause tâ—e Dukes séeing their pretended excuses and that by no wayes they would be intreated burst out in open defiance the Duke of Suffolke clapping his hands on the table sware by the Masse there neuer came Legate or Cardinall from Rome to doe good in England so in anger they departed from the Cardinall the King for quietnesse was content to tarryâ— vntill October but before October came Campeius was called home by letters frâ—m the Pope so the matter was left vndiscussed the King seeing himselfe thus deluded sent againe to Pope Clement desiring to hâ—ue an answere of the cause the Popâ— would take a pause and after send him word Twelue Uniuersities agreed in one consent that the mariage was vnlawfull and repugnant to the word of God and that no man is able to dispence with it but nothing was heard of from Rome wherefore the King assembling his Parliament sent the Lord Chancellour with twelue of the vpper house to notiâ—â—e the determinations of the Colleages as afore said vnto the lower house And the same yearâ— the King sent out a Proclamation for the abollishing of the Pope and establishing of the Kings Supremacy and hee brake off with the Cardinall and caused him to be attainted in Premuâ—ire and to bee apprehended and the Clergy maintaining thâ— power Legatiue of the Cardinall incurred the like premunire wherefore the Spirituall Lords were called by processe into the Kings Bench to answere but beforâ— the day of appearence they submitted themselues to the King offered him an hundred thousand pounds to pardon them by Act of Parliament and offered him the Title of Supreme head of the Church of England which they would neuer confesse beâ—ore whereby the Pope by the prouâ—dence of God lost his whole Iurisâ—iction anâ— Supremacy in England Patricke Hamelton a Scottish man hee was of the Kings bloud and family beeiâ—â— of the most ancient and Noble stocke and name in Scotland was of the Uniuersity of Marpurge in Germany he openly procéeding so intreated and iudged of matters of the Church with such praise as passed the expectation of his age that he made the common people and learned to admire him Francis Lambert in his Preface Dâ—â—icatory maketh mention of him then he tooke a companion with him and retâ—â—ned home
Idolatry to the bread and that Christ God and Man should dwell in a piece of bread but that he is in heauen sitting at the right hand of God but it is an Idoll as you vse it in the abhominable Masse making it a sacrifice propitiatory to the quicke and the dead and robbing the Church of one kind then Pauey bid Burne him Hereticke then he said God forgiue thee and shew thee more mercy then thou shewest me and God forgiue Sir Thomas Moore and prayed the people to pray for him and so praying died The next weeke after M. Pauey went vp into a Galery where he had a Roode before him and prayed and bitterly wept and his Maid finding him so doing he â—ad her take a rusty sword and make it cleane and not trouble him and immediatly hee tyed vp a rope and hung himselfe There was an Idoll named the Rood of Douer-Court many resortâ—d vnto it for it was blowne abroad that the power of it was so great that none could shut thâ— Churchâ—doore where it stood whereupon soure men came ten miles thither and took the Idoll from the Shriâ—e and a quarter of a 〈◊〉 from the place fired him who burned so bright that he lighted them homeward one mile After three of them were indicted of fellony and hanged in Chaines one at Douer Court called Nâ—cholas Mâ—â—sh Robert King in Dedham Robert Debnam at Cottaway which three persons aâ— their death did more edifie the people in godly learning then all the sermons preached there a long time before the fourth escaped the same yeare many Images were cast downe The Martirdome of Iohn Frith WHen Cardinall Wolsey prepared to build a Colledge in Oxford which now is called Christs Church whence he was sent for to the King being accused of certaine crimes in the way by immoderate purgations he killed himselfe and so left a most glorious péece of worke part but begun part halfe ended and but a smal part fully finished He appointed to that Colledge all such as were found to excell in any kind of learning amongst whom this Iohn Frith was one and William Tindall and Tauernar of Bostone and Iohn Clark and many others These were accused of heresie by the Cardinall and impriâ—oned in a déep Caue in tâ—e same Colledge where they were all infected through the stinke of Fish and Iohn Clarke wiâ—h other good men whose names are not knâ—wne died but Frith escaped and departed out of England for foure yeares and returning home Sir Thomas Moore promised great rewards to them that could take him and laid all the hauens for him At length he was taken at Reading for a Uacabound and being put in the stockes hee sent for the Schoolemaister and began in the Lattine tongue to bewaile his captiuity the Schoole-maister being ouercome with his eloquenâ—e tooke pitty on him and loueâ— his excellent wit then they fell to the Gréeke tongue wherewith he so inflamed the loue of the Schoole-maister that he went to the Magistrates and got him to be set at liberty without punishment but after he was trayterously taken and sent to the Tower where he had many conflicts with the Bishops but especially in writing with Sir Thomas Moore who wrote against certaine writings of Frithes against the Sacrament of the Altar which came to Sir Thomas Moores hands and Frith hauing gotten a Coppy of it wrote against it Cranmer Archbishop in his Apology against the Bishop of Winchester séemeth to haue collecteâ— Friths reasons aboundantly What Articles were obiected vnto him appeareth by a breefe Commentary written and sent to his friends out of prison as followeth First the whole matter of the examination was two Articles to wit purgatory and the substance of the Sacrament Touching purgatory they asked whether I beleeued that there was any place to purgâ— the spots of the dead after this life I denied there was any because the nature of man consisteth but of two parts the body and mind one Christ purgeth in this world by laying afflictions vpon vs and death the reward of sinne is laid vpon it but our soules are purged with the word of God which we drinke in through Faith to the saluation both of body and soule If you will shew a third part of man I will grant you a third place which you call Purgatory otherwise I must deny vnto you the Bishops shop of Purgatory Secondly it was required of me whether the very body of Christ were in the Sacrament of the Altar I answered it is both Christs body ours for as of many corns is made one loafe so we being diuers are but one body in Christ therein it signifieth our body so of the Wine that is made of many clusters one liquor But the same bread againe in that that it is broken signifieth the body of Christ declaring his body to be broken and put to death for our redemption and in that it is distributed the fruit of his Passion is signified the communication whereof equally redounds to all Christians And againe when it is receiued to be eaten it is the signification of the bodie of Christ admonishing vs that our inward man is refrâ—shed by the merits of Christ euen as the bread is receiued with our mouth to the outward nourishment of the body Then said they dost thou beléeue the very body of Christ to be contained in thâ— Sacrament really without trope or figure He answered No surely I doe not so thinke and when by no meanes he could be perswaded to recant hee was condemned to be burned When he was tyed to the stake in Smithfield there it dotâ— significantly appeare with what constancy he suffered he willingly embraced the fagâ—â—ts fire the wind blowing away the fire to his fellow that was tyed at his back and bâ—rned with him made his death the longer but God gaue him such strength and patience that as though he had felt no paine in that long torment he séemed rather to reioyce for his fellow then to be carefull for himselfe The examination of ANDREVV HEVVET that was burned with IOHN FRITH HE was a Prentice in Watling-stréete to a Taylor when he was asked what he thought touching the Sacrament of the last Supper he answered euen as Iohn Frith doth Then one of the Bishops said Dost thou not beléeue that it is really the body of Christ borne of the Uirgin Mary He said that I do not beléeue why said the Bishop he said Christ commanded me not to giue rash credit to them which say Behold here is Christ and there is Christ for many false Prophets shall rise vp saith the Lord. Then Stokly Bishop of London said Frith is condemned for an heretick and except thou reuoke thine opinion thou shalt be burned with him he said he was content The Bishop vsed many perswasiâ—ns to alure him to recant but could not wherefore he was burned with Frith as before When they were at the stake one Doctor Coke admonished all the people
that they should in no wise pray for them no more then they would for a Dog whereat Frith smiling desired the Lord to forgiue him and so departed About this time High Latimer was inhiâ—ited by the Bishop of London to preach in his Dioces and yet after he preached in the Precinâ—t of the Fryers Augustines of London The Lady Anne of Bullen although she was not yet married to King Henry yet she was in great fauour and daily she inclined the Kings mind more more against the Papists so that the same yeare the King and certaine of his Lords came into the Parliament house and he complained of the Cleargy that they were but halfe his Subiects yea and scarse our Subiects for their oath to the Pope at their consecration is cleane contrary to that which they make to vs and he deliuâ—râ—d to the Parliament the coppies of both their oaths These Oaths being thus receiued and â—pened to the people were the occasion that the Pope lost al his iurisdiction in England shortly after The matter falling out more and more against the Pope Sir Thomas Moore a great maintainer of the Pope was driuen to resigne his Chancelorship â— deliuer vp the great seale into the Kings hands After whom succéeded Sir Thomas Audley kéeper of the great seale a great fauorer of Christs Religion Lady ANNE of Bullen WIthin short time after the King married the Lady Anne Bullen Mother to Quéene Elizabeth who was the secret ayder and comforter of al the Professors of the Gospell and her almes shewed her life was accordingly which was a hundred gownes wéekly and other apparell yearely before she was married both to men women she also gaue much priuate almes to the widdowes and poore hoâ—sholders continually vntill she was apprehended And she euer gaue thrée or foure pounds at a time to them to buy them Kine and sent her Sub-almner about to the Townes where she lay that the Parisheners should make a bâ—ll of all the poore housholders in thâ—ir parish and some parishes receiued 7. 8. or 10. pounds to buy Kine withall Also she maintained many lâ—arned men in Cambridge so did the Earle of Wiltshirâ— her Father and the Lord Roch her Brothâ—r and she brought them in fauour with â—ing Henry She caried alwaies about her a little purse out of which she was wont daily to scatter abroad some almes to the needy thinking no day well spent wherein none had fared the better for her She kept her Maids and such as were about her imployed in making shirts and smocks for the poore but the Lady Dowager beeing deuorced made the Pope to curse the King and interdict the realme In the meane time Queene Anne beinâ— great with child in the next yeare following was crowned with high solemnity at Westminster and not long after brought to â—ed at Greenewich of the faire Lady Elizabeth The Lord Maior of London and his Brethren with forty cheefe Cittizens were commanded to be present with all the Nobles and Gentlemen The Kings Palace and all the wals to the Fryers were hanged with Arras â—â—d the Friers Church The Font war of Siluer and stood in the midst of the Church thrée steps high which was couered with fine linnen and diuers Gentlemen with aprones and towels about their necks gaue attendance about it Ouer the Font hung a faire Canopy of Crimson Sattin fringed with Gold The holy Maid of Kent CErtaine Monkes put into the heads of many of the Kings Subiects that they had Râ—uelation of God and his Saints that he was highly displeased with king Henry for the diuorcement of the Lady Katherine and surmised that God had reuealed vnto a Nun called Elizabeth Barton whom they called the Holy Maid of Kent that if the King did diuorce her he should not be King of this Realme one month after and not one day nor houre in Gods fauour She would shew marueilous alteration of her visage and body as if she had béene wrapt in a trance and inspired of God She spoke against sinne and reprooued the Gospell which she called heresies and spoke diuers things to the reproach of the King and Quéene and to the establishing of Idolatry Pilgrimage and derogation of Gods glory The Archbishop the Lord Cromwell and Maister Hugh Latimer with great labour found out her naughtinesse and condemned her and put her to death with certaine of her councell VVILLIAM TRACY Esquire A Little before this time William Tracy of Todington in Gloster-shire made his Will that he would haue no funerall pomp at his burying nor Masse and said that he trusted in God only and hoped by him to be saued and not by any Saint His Executor brought the Will to the Bishop of Canterbury that then was to proue it which he shewed to the Conuocation and they iudged him to be taken vp and burned as an heretick and sent a commisson to Doctor Parker Chancelor of Worcester to execute their sentence who accomplished the same The King hearing thereof sent for the Chancelor who laid the fault on the Bishop yet it cost him three hundred pount erâ— he could haue a pardon The storie of twenty foure burned at Paris IN this yearâ— were diuers writings set vp in Paris vpon the Porches and gates against the Masse and other papisticall superstitions whereupon many were apprehended and cast into prison but twenty foure were executed in seuerall places of the Citie of Paris The bearer of the Popes curse and interdictment against King Henrie and the Realme durst not come into the Realme with it but set it vp in Dunkerk in Flanders the king hearing thereof took great displeasure against the said Princesse Dowager and so stomacked the matter that the next yeare he called a Parliament and caused it to be prouided by sufficient Acts that the Pope should be vtterly abolâ—sht and himselfe to be establisht supreme head of the Church at which thing Sir Thomas Moore the Bishop of Rochester grudged and would not consent vnto it but openly resisted the same wherefore they were condemned of treason and headed at Tower-hill Likewise three Charter-Monks were hanged drawne and quartred at Tyburne for speaking trayterous words against the Kings Maiestie This yere the King set forth a Proclamation for the abolishing of the vsurped power and iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome wherein is declared that not onely the secular men granted him this iurisdiction but all the spiritualty in the Conuocation house vnder their seales wherin also he signified that he had addressed Letters vn-the Bishops of the Diocesse straitly commanding them that forthwith the sincere word of God should be preached euery Sonday and Holy-day vnto the people and Our stile and iurisdiction of supreme head appertayning onely to our Crowne and Dignity royall to be publisht and that the Popes vsurped name should be put out of all prayers masses or other books except it be to his reproach The life and storie of M. William Tindall FIrst he
was Schoolemaster to one Master Welch and for translating certain religious books into English and for arguing with a certain Priest that often vsed to his Masters house and confounding diuers points of their religion by the word of God he was pursued glad to go out of the Realme into Germany and there translated the Bible into English compiled diuers other books sâ—nt them into England wherby the dore and light vnto the Scriptures was daily more and more opened which before was many years closed in darknesse from thence he went to Aâ—twarp and had his abiding there and was lodged about a yeare in the house of one Thomas Poynets an English man which kept a house of English Merchants then came thither one Henry Philips hauing a seruant waiting on him M. Tindall became acquainted with him and had great confidence in him and had him often to dinner and supper with him and got him a lodging in M. Poynets house At length Philips wâ—nt to the high Court of Bruxelles to betray M. Tindall and procured to bring from thence with him the Procurator generall with othâ—r Officers which was not done with small charges from whom soeuer it came After Philips returning would haue M. Tindall to dine with him then hee desired M. Tindall to lend him fortie shillings which he did he told Philips he could not diâ—e with him for he was bid forth to dinner and he should goe with him And going forth to dâ—nner Philips hauing appointed the officers in the way he gaue them a signe that this was he they should apprehend then they took him and brought him to the Procurator generall who sent him to the Casâ—le of Filford and the Procurator generall went to Poynets house and sent away all that was there of M. Tindals The said Poynets and certain Merchants went ouer into England and got letters from the Coâ—ncell for M. Tindals deliuery vpon the deliuery wherof to the Councel of Bruxelles M. Tindall should haue bin deliuered vnto him which when Philips vnderstood he accused Poynets â—o be an heretick and a receiuer of such caused him to be apprehended kept 13. or 14. wéeks in prison but he escaped by night and got into England but M. Tindall was condemned and the same morning as he was had to the fire he deliuered a letter to the chiefe Kéeper of the Castle which the Kéeper himselfe brought to Poynets house who compared him to be fellow to the Apostles being in prison both for his conuersation and conuerting and preaching to the peoâ—le M. Tindall hearing by certaine Merchants what wonderfull feats a Iugler did he desired thâ—m that he might be present also at supper to see him play his parts accordingly the supper was appointed and the Merchants with Tindall were there present The Iugler being desired to vttâ—r his cunning shâ—wed all that he could do but all was in vaine at last with his labour sweating and toyle he saw nothing would go forward he confessed there was some man present at supper which disâ—urbed his doings For his letters that he wrote I refer thée to the book at large if thou dispose to sée them The Lord Cromwell keeper of the Kings priuie Seale Uicegerent of all the Kings iurisdiction ecclâ—siasticall sent out certaâ—n iniuncâ—ions by the Kâ—ngs authoritâ— for the preaching thâ— word of God for the bâ—tter publishing of the kings supremaâ—â—â— against idols 〈◊〉 on pilgrimage trusâ—ing in saints and to abrogate diuers holy-daies and for reformation to be had in diuers othâ—r ecclesiastical matters In the begiâ—â—g of this year the most noble and worthy Lady Queen Anne of Bullen after she had liued Qâ—â—â—ne three â—ears was cast into the Tower together with her brother the Lord Rochford and diuers others which shortly after were executed The words of the Queene at the time of her death Good Christian people I ame come hither to die I am iudged therto by the law therefore I will not speake against it I pray God preserue the King for there was neuer a gentler Prince and to me he was euer a good soueraigne and I râ—quire euery one to iudge the best of my cause so â— take my leaue of the world and of you all desiring you to praâ—â—or me Then she kneeled down and said Into thy hands I commend my soule Iesus receiue my soule diuers times vntill her head was striken off Fiue burned in Scotland SEauen years after Patrick Hamelton aforesaid there were fiue burned in Edenborough the chief Citie in Scotland two were Dominican Friers one Priest one Cannon and one Gentleman adiudged by the Archbishop of S. Andrewes Petrus Chappeâ—anus and the Franciscan Friers whose labour is neuer wanting in such matters The murther of ROBERT PACKINGTON HEe was a rich Mercer dwelling in Cheap side and was one of the â—urgesses of the Parliament for the Citie of London and had spoken against the couetousnesse and cruelty of the Clergie wherefore he was had in contempt with them therfore one Doctor Vincent Deane of Paules hired a stranger for sixtie crownes to kill him which he did in this manner this Packington vsed by foure of the clocke euery morning to go to a Church neare Cheap-side and in a mistie morning tâ—e hyred stranger shot him and killed him with a gunne as he crossed the street This could not be knowne vntill the death of the Deane then he repented the fact at his death and confessed it to his ghostly father In this yeare the Kings Maiestie by his Uicegerent the L. Cromwell sent out againe certaine Iniunctions vnto the Spiritualty for the reformation of religion for the maintenance of reading the Bible in English and for taking downe of Images with such other like The history of Iohn Lambert alias Nicolson BEing beyond Sea by reason of the persecution here he returned hoping the time had bin amended by the means of Quéen Anne and Cromwell and the abolishing of the Pope he became a Schoolemaster and being present at a Sermon preached by Doctor Taylor one that was a Bishop in K. Edwards time and died in the Tower in Queen Maries time after the Sermon hee vttered diuers arguments to the Preachers and desired to be resolued Taylor alledged businesse and desired him to write his minde which he did The first was vpon The cup is the new Testament and if these words doe not change neither the cup nor the wine into the new Testament by like reason the words spoken of the bread should not turn it corporally into the body of Christ. The second it is not agreeable to a naturall body to be in â—wo or more places ot one time therfore Christ hauing a naturall bodie cannot be in heauen on the right hand of his father and in the Sacrament Thirdly a naturall body cannot be without his forme and conditions as he cannot be without substance iâ— the Sacrament there is no forme and condition of the body of Christ no not
martyrdom We will passe ouer the Priest which was hanged in the Porters lodge of Gardener Bishop of Winchester and one Henrie his seruant burnt at Colchester and one Kerby a Taylor burnt at London because we haue no certainty of the time Doctor London Prebend of Windsor and one William Simonds which were the accusers of the foresaid fiue of Windsor they went about to trouble foure Gentlemen of the Kings priuie Chamber that they forced theÌ„ to plead their cause in open Court they declared to the King what danger they were in wherupon they themselues were called in question being conuicted of manifest periurie they were adiudged to weare papers signifying their periuries in the open market of Windsor then they were cast in prison at London where the said Doctor London died About this time was one Rogers a Lay-man of Northfolk burned by the Duke of Northfolke for the true affirmation of the Sacrament halfe a yeare after the Duke lost his eldest sonne and himselfe was committed to prison who then acknowledging his errour became more méeke to such kind of men Iohn Athee was indicted for saying He would not beleeue that which the knaue Priest made and Longs wife sold meaning the Host. And when it was told him God could make it flesh and bloud he said He might put into it a Chicks legge This yeare Iohn Heywood was attached for treason for denying the Kings supremacy but he recanted and confessed to the people that the Pope had no more authority then other Bishops and that the King was supreame head by the Law of God The destruction of Merindall and Cabriers IN the yeare 1218. as is aforesaid God raised vp one Waldo a rich Merchant of Lyons in France which hauing attained perfect knowledge by the word of God discouered the naughtines of the Ecclesiastical Ministers many ioyned themselues vnto them which were called Waldenses and being by persecution dispersed into diâ—ers Countries there were two towns remaining of their Religion in France to wit Merindall and Gabriers Certaine of the cheefe of Merindall were commanded to appeare at the Parliament of Prouence they would haue retained Aduocates to answere for them who told them it was not lawfull for them to giue councell to them because they were but Lutherans but one told them secretly That they should not appeare before the said Court except they were fully determined to be burned by a little fire made of Chaffe without any further iudgement for the Court had already determined the matter against them whereupon and because they had séene many good men serued so hauing no other cause of condemnation but that they were reported to be Lutherans for these causes they did not appeare at the day appointed wherevpon the Parliament gaue out an arrest whereby not onely they of Merindal that were appointed to appeare were condemned to be burned as attainted of heresie and high Treason and their goods confiscate vnto the King but also all the inhabitants of Merindall wherein was fourescore houses to be burned men women and children the towne to be rased and the trées cut vp 500. paces round about A little after there was a great banquet at Ayx at which was the president Cassane and many Counsellors and Nobles and the Archbishop of Arles and the Bishop of Aiâ— with their Ladies and Gentlewomen One that was the Bishop of Aixis Concubine said My Lord president will you not execute the arrest that is giuen out against the Lutherans of Merindall And she recited the manner of it forgetting nothing the Lord Alenson said Gentlewoman you haue learned this of them that would haue it so or else it was giuen out by a Parliament of women Then the L. of Senas said it is true you do not well to call the parliament a Parliament of women he answered he did not beléeue it for it is a thing that the â—ueliest tyrants of the world would iudge most inhumane detestable many of Merindal which séem to me to be very honest men theÌ„ the gentlâ—woman lifting vp her eyes with a great chafe said O that it pleased God that all Lutherans had hornes growing on their foreheads Then said my Lord Bewieu I would all Priests harlots chattered like Pies she said My L. you ought not to spâ—ak against our holy mother the Church for there was neuer any dogge that barâ—ed against the crosse but he waxed mad the Bishop of Aix laughed and clapt her on the back saying By my holy orders my minion you haue don me great pleasure remember me the lesson she hath taught you The Lord answered I will not learn of her nor of thée neither honesty nor honour for the most part of the Bishops and Priests are Adulterers Deceiuers Theeues Seducers I should not speake against the holy Church but I speake against a flocke of Wolues Dogges and abominable Swine Then said the Archbishop My L. you must giue account of these words in time and place he answered I would it were now for I wil be bound to proue more naughtines in Priests then I haue spoken When Christ called the Priests deceiuing Hypocrits blinde Seducers and robbers did he them any wrong They answered no for the most part of them were so Then said my Lord Bewieu Euen so is it with the Bishops and Priests for they are such kinde of men and worse Then he said Aâ—ant thou Herodias thou vnshamefac't and dishonest harlot is it thy part to speak in this coÌ„pany thou shouldst not desire the innocent bloud to be shed then she sayd if I were a man I would offer you combat to proue that I desire not to shed innocent bloud do you call the bloud of these wicked men of Merendoll innocent bloud I do desire and offer with my whoâ—e power that such as they should bee destroyed from the greatest to the least and to sée the beginning of this worke I haue not beene wanting to imploy all my credit and frienâ—â— and doe not spare neither body nor goods to make the vtter ruine and destruction of them and to deface their memory from amongst men I had rather méet ten diâ—els then one Lutheran After the Bishops and Clergy met againe to consult about the executing of the sayd Arest and they had a banket at the Bishops house of Ruda to this banket the â—ayrest and best Ladies of Aâ—inion were inuited to solace these good Prelates after they had dined danced and vsed their pastime they walked vntill supper and as they passed the stréets leading euery one a Gentlewoman vpon his arme they saw a man that sould dishonest Images to stirre vp the people to whoredome and knauery and all these pictures the Bishops bought which were as many as a Mule could carry a little further a Booke-binder had set out Bibles of lattin and french to seâ—l then the Bishops sayd who hath made thée so hardy to set forth these Marchandise to sell dost not thou know these Bookes
of such a kindred that she might haue liued in great prosperity if she would rather haue followed the world then Christ at the day of her execution she was brought into Smithfield in a chaire because she could not goe on her feete by meanes of her torments she was tyed by the middle with a chaiâ—e that held vp her body then Doctor Shaxton began his Sermon Anne Askew hearing and answering againe vnto him where hee sayd well she confirmed the same where hee iaid amisse she said hee speaketh without booke There was at the same time three burned with her One Nicholas Belemy a Priest of Shropshire Iohn Adams a Taylor and Iohn Lacels Gentleman of the Court and Kings houshold Wrisley Lord Chancellor the old Duke of Norfolke the Earle of Bedford and the Lord Mayor Wrisle sent Anne Askew the Kings Pardon if shee would recant she said the came not thither to deny her Lord and master Then were the Letters likewise offered vnto the others who in like maner followed the constancie of the woman Wherevpon the Mayor commanded the fire to bee put vnto them Sir George Blage of the Priuy Chamber was imprisoned condemned and should haue been burned but that the King pardoned him For saying the Masse auailâ—th neither quick nor the dead being asked what then it was good for he said belike to keep a horse from stumbling The troubles of Katherine Parre Henry the eight his last Wife for the Gospel by the meanes of Gardiner and others A Yéere after the King came from Bullen he was informed that the Quéens Katherine Parre was much giuen to the reading and study of â—he Scriptures and that shee had retained diuers godly learned Preachers to instruct her therein with whom shee vsed priuately to conferre and in the afternoones one of them made collation to her her Ladies and Gentlewomen and others disposed to heare in which Sermons they oftentimes touched the abuses in the Church and often shee would debate with the King touching Religion and perswade him as hee had to the glory of GOD and his eternall fame bâ—gunne a godly worke in banâ—shing that monstrous Idoll of Rome so hee would purge his Church from the dregges thereof wherein was yet great superstition And though the King in the later end grew oppâ—nionate and would not bee taught nor contended withall by Argument yet towards her he refrained his accustomed manner for neuer handmaide sought more to please her Mistresse then she to please his humour and she was of such singular beauty fauâ—ur and comely personage wherein the King was greatly delighted but Gardiner Bishop of Winchester Wrisley Lord Chancelor and others of the Kings Priuy Chamber practised her death that they might the better stop the passage of the Gospell and hauing taken away the patronesse of the professors of the truth they might inuade the remainder with fire and sword but they duâ—st not speake to the King touching her because they saw the King loued her so well At length the King was â—â—cke of a sore legge which made him very froward and the Queene being with him did not faile to vse all occasions to mooâ—â— him zealâ—usly to proceed in the reformation of the Church The King shewed some tokens of mislike and broke off the matter and knit vp the Arguments with gentle words and after plâ—asant talke she tooke her leaue The Bishop of Winchester beeing there the King immediately vpon her departure vsed these words It is a good hearing when women become such Clarks and much to my comfort to come in mine old age to be taught by my Wife Then the Bishop shewed a mislike that the Queene would so much forget her selfe to stand in Argument with his Maiestie whose Iudgement and Diâ—initie hee extolled to his face aboue Princes of that and other ages and of Doctors professed in Diuinitie and that it wss vnseemely for any of his Subiects to argue with him so malapertly and that it was gréeuous to all his Councelors and Seruants to heare the same inferring how perilous it hath euer been for a Prince to suffer such insolent words of a Subiect who as they are bold against their Soueraignes words so they want not will but strength to ouerthwart them in deeds Then the Religion by the Queene so stiffely maintained did dissolue the politick gouernâ—ment and made the peoples opinions so odious and perillous vnto the Princes estate that they daâ—e affâ—â—me that the greatest Subiect in the Land defendeth those arguments which they doe yet he said he would not neither durst without good warranty from his Maiestie speake his knowledge in the Queenes cause though many apparant reasons made for him and such as his duety and zeale to his Maiesâ—ies preseruation would not licence him to conceale though the vttering thereof through her and her faction might be his dâ—struction and theres which tendred his Maiesties safety without his Maiestie would be his protector which if hee would doe hee with others of his faithfull Councelors could disclose such Treasons cloked with heresies that his Maiestie should casâ—ly perceiue how perilous a matter it is to cherish a Serpent within his owne bosome and he crept so farre into the King at that time that he and his fellowes filled the Kings mistrustfull minde with such feares that the King gaue them warrant to consult together about drawing of Articles against the Queene wherein her life might be touched Then they thought it best at first to begin with such Ladies as she most esteemed and werâ— priuy to all her doing as the Lady Harbert after Countesse of Pembroâ—ke the Queenes Sister and the Lady Iane and the Lady Tirwit all of her Priuy Chamber and to accuse them vpon six Articles and to search there Closets and Coffers that they might finde somewhat to charge the Queene and that being found the Queâ—ne should bee taken and carried in a Barge by night to the Tower of which aduice the King was made priuy by Gardiner and the Lord Chancelor to which they had the Kings consâ—nt and the time and place appointed This purpose was so finely handled that it grew within few daies of the time appointed and the poore Quâ—ene suspected nothing but after her accustomed manner visited the King stillâ—â—â— deale with him touching Religion as before After the King brake the whole practise to one Doctor Wendy one of his Physitions telling him that hee would no longer bee troubled with such a Doctresse as shee was but charged him vpon his life not to vtter it to any But it came to passe that the Bill of Articles drawne against the Queene and subscribed with the Kings owne hand falling from the bâ—some of one of the Councell was found of some godly person and brought to the Queene who seeing it fell into a great agony and Melancholy The King hearing what perill of life she was in sent his Phisition vnto her and the said Doctor Wendy perceiuing the matter by her words brake with
her touching the said Articles deuised against her and gaue her warning of that mischiefe which hanged ouer her head beséeching her to be secret and to conforme her selfe to the Kings minde and no doubt she should finde him gracious After the King came to her himselfe vnto whom after she had vttered her griefe how it was for feare his Maiestie had forsaken her hee so refreshed her with comfortable words that she began to recouer Then shee commanded her Ladies to conuay away her Bookes which were against the Law and then she went to the King he courteously welcomed her and entred into talke of Religion séeming desirous to be resolued of the Queene of certaine doubts The Queene perceiuing to what purpose this his talke tended your Maiestie doth well know quoth shee and I am not ignorant of what great weaknesse by our first Creation is allotted to vs women to bee subiect vnto man as our head from which head all our direction must proceed and as God made man after his own Image that being indued with more speciall gifts of perfection might bee stirred to meditate heauenly things and obay his commandements so he made woman of man of whom and by whom she is to bee commanded and gouerned whose womanly weaknesse ought to bee tolerated and ayded that by his wisedome such things as be lacking in her might be supplied Therefore your Maiestie being so excellent in ornaments of wisedome and I so much inferiour in all respects of Nature Why doth your Maiestie in such defuse causes of Religion require my Iudgement which when I haue vttered said what I can yet I must and will referre my Iudgement in this and all causes to your Maiesties wisedome as my onely Anker supreme head and the gouernor heere in earth next vnto God Not so by Saint Mary said the King you are become a Doctor late to instruct vs. Shee answered your Maiestie hath much mistaken mee who haue euer thought it preposterous for the woman to instruct her husband but rather to learn of him and where I haue beene bold to hold talke with your Maiestie wherein there hath seemed some difference in opinion I haue not done it to maintaine opinion but to minister talke that your Maiestie might with lesse griefe passe the paine of your infirmitie being attentiue to your talke and that I might receiue some profit by your Maiesties learned Discourse wherein I haue not missed any part of my desire alwaies referring my selfe in such matters to your Maiestie â—hen said the King tendeth your Argument to no worse end then wee are now as perfect friends as euere we were and he imbraced her and kissed her saying it did him more good to heare these words then if he had heard newes of a hundred thousand pound fallen to him On the day that was appointed for the aforesaid Tragedy the King went into his Garden whether the Queene being sent for came onely the three Ladies aboue named waiting on her with whom the King was as pleasant as euer hee was in his life In the middest of his mirth the houre appointed being come the Lord Chancelor commeth into the Garden with forty of the Kings guard at his heâ—les with purpose to take the Queene with the three Ladies to the the Tower whom the King sternely beholding called him to him who on his knees whispered to the King the King cal'd him knaue arrant knaue and beastly foole and commanded him to auant out of his presence which words the Quéene heard though they were low spoken then he departed with his traine the whole mould of his deuice broken The Queene seeing the King so chaâ—ed spoke for the Lord Chancellor Ah poore soule quoth hee thou little knowest how euill hee deserueth this grace at thy hands he hath been towards thee sweet heart an arrant knaue and so let him goe If King Henry had liued hee and the French King had been at this point within halfe a yeere after to haue changed the Masse in both their Realmes into a Communion as wee now vse it and also vtterly to haue extirped the Popes vsurped power out of both their Realmes and they ment to exhort the Emperour to doe the like in Flanders and his other countreyes or else to breake off from him and herein quoth the Archbishop Cranmer the King willed mee to pen a forme thereof to be sent to the French King but that it was letten by the death of King Henry When the Bishops had brought ANNE ASKEVV and her fellow Martyrs to death being now in their triumph as the Pharisies were when they had killed Christ they deuised how to euer read the truth for euer wherevpon they made a strait Procâ—amation authorised by the Kings 〈◊〉 for abolishing of the Scripture and all other English Bookes which miâ—ht gâ—â—e light to the setting forth of Gods Word and the grace of the Gospell which thou maist see in the Booke at large which no doubt had done much hurt in the Church amongst the godly in bringing them to danger or keeping 〈◊〉 in blindnes had not the shortnes of the Kings daies stopped the malignant purposes of the Prâ—latâ—s causing the King to leaue that to the people by his death which by his life he would not grant for within foure monethes after the proclamation he deceased the eight and thirty yeare of his raigne The History touching the Persecutions in Scotland Deane Thomas Forret THis Deane Thomas Forret preached euery Sunday in his parish vpon the Epistle and Gospell which was nouelâ—y in Scotland to see any preach but the Black Friâ—r or the Gray Wherefore the Friers enuied him and accused him to the Bishop of Donkelden as an heretick which shewed the mysteries of the Scripture vnto the vulgar people to make the Clergy detestable The Bishop sending for him said my Ioy Deane Thomas I leue you well â— am informed you preach the Epistle and Gospel euery Sunday and that you take not the Cow for mortuarie nor the vpper Cloth for Crisome of your parishioners which is very preiudiciall to the Church men My ioy Deane Thomas take your Cow and your vpper Cloth and preach not euery Sunday for in so doing you will make the people thinke we should preach likewise But when you finde a good Epistle or a good Gospell that setteth forth the lâ—bertie of the Church preach that and let the rest be Thomas answered my parishioners pay me my duetiâ—s willingly and wâ—e agree well and where your Lordship saith it is too much â—o preach euery Sonday I thinke it too little and also would wish that your Lordship would doe the like nay nay we are not ordained to preach M. Forret and where your Lordship speaketh of a good and an euill Epistle I could neuer finde none but good Then spake my Lord I thanke God I neuer knew what the Old New Testament ment Wherevpon grew a prouerb you are like the Bishop of Dunkelden that knâ—w neither new
Latine VVALTER MILL AMongst the rest of the Martirs of Scotland the constancy of Walter Mill is not to be passed in silence out of whose Ashes sprang thousands of his opinion who chose rather to dye then to bee any longer ouer-trodden with the cruâ—â—l beastly and ignorant Byshops Abbots Monkes and Fryers and scone after his Martyrdome the Congregation began to debate true Religion against the Papists He climbing vp into a Pulpet to be examined before the Bishops they séeing him so weake partly by age and partly trauell and euill intreatment that hee could not climbe vp without helpe they thought they should not haue heard him but when he spake he made the Church sound with great stoutnesse that the Christions reioyced and the Aduersaries were ashamed At first hee knéeling praying long and was commaunded to rise and answere his Articles calling him Sir Walter Mill He said he ought to obay God more then Men and where you call me Sir Walter call me Walter for I haue bin ouer long one of the Popes Knights Oliphant What think you of Priests marriage Mille. I hold it a blessed band for Christ made it free to all men but you abhorre it and take other mens wiues and daughters you vow chastitie and breake it Paule hade rather marrie then burne the which I haue done for God neuer forbade marriage to any estate or degrée Oliph Thou sayest there is not seuen Sacraments Mille. Giue me the Lords Supper and Baptisme and take you the rest and if there be seuen why omit you one of them to wit marriage and giue your selues to whoredeme Oliph Thou art against the blessed Sacrament of the Altar Mill. If a King bid many to a feast and when they sit downe to eate he turn his back to them and eate vp all himselfe doth he not mock them euen so do you mock the people eating and drinking the Sacrament and giuing them none the Sacrament of God is not to be taken carnally but spiritually and stands in faith onely Your masse is wrong for Christ was once offered vpon the Crosse for mans trespasse and will neuer be offered againe Oliph Thou deniest the office of a Bishop Mill. I affirme those which you call Bishops doe not the workes of Bishops but liue after their sensuall pleasures and take no care for the flocke nor yet regard the word of God but desire to be honoured and called Lords Oliph Thou speakest against pilgrimages Mill. I say it is not commaunded in Scripture and that there is no greater whoredom in no places then at your pilgrimages except in common Brothell-houses Oliph Thou preachest priuatly in houses and openly in fields Mill. Yea man and in the Sea also sayling in a ship Oliph If thou wilt not recant I will pronounce sentence Mill. You shall know that I will not recant for I am corne and not chaffe I will not be blowne away with the winde nor burst with the flaile but I will abide both When sentence was pronounced and he to be deliuered to the temporall Iudge his constancie so moued the hearts of many that the Prouost of the Towne Patricke Learmond though he were Steward of the Bishops regalitie refused to bee his temporall Iudge and the Bishops Chamberlaine being therewith charged would not take vpon him so vngodly an office the Bishops seruants could get neuer a cord in the whole towne for money to tye him to the stake withall nor a Tarre barrell to burne him when he came to the stake He said to Oliphant Put me vp with thy hands and take part in putting me to death for by Gods law I am forbidden to lay hands on my selfe Then he put him vp with his hands and he ascended gladly saying Introibo ad altare Dei and desired he might speake to the people which was denied him they saying he had spoken too much already Then some of the yong men committed the burners and the Bishops their Masters to the Diuell and bade him speake what he pleased Then after he had prayed standing vpon the coales said I die onely for the defence of the faith of Christ for the which the faithfull Martyrs haue offered themselues gladly before being assured after the death of their bodies of eternall felicitie And I praise God he hath called me of his mercie amongst the rest of his seruants to seale vp his truth with my life therefore as you will escape eternall death be not seduced with the lies of Priests Monks Friers and the rest of that Sect but depend onely vpon the death of Iesus Christ and his mercie that you may in the time to come be deliuered from condemnation All the while the multitude greatly mourned perceiuing his mighty patience constancie and boldnesse whereby their hearts were so much enkindled and inflamed that he was the last Martyr that died in Scotland euer after for religion After this by Gods iust iudgement in the same place where Walter Mill was burned the Images of the great Church of the Abbey which passed in number and costlines were burned in time of reformation Heere followeth in the booke of Martyrs the names of diuers which were omitted by him in King Henrie the eighth his time and an instrument of the Popes definitiue sentence against Henrie the eighth for his diuorse with Katharine Dowager and the instrument of the Bull of Pope Leo against Martin Luther and his answer to it in which for breuitie sake I leaue thee to the booke at large if thou be disposed to see them and also the last Will and Testament of King Henry and the manner of his death A Storie of certain Friers in France in the Citie of Orleance in the yeare 1534. THe Mayors wife of the Citie prouided in her Will that she should be buried without any pompe or solemnitie for the Bell did vse to warne euery one to pray for the dead corps and when it is carried forth all or the most part of the begging Friers goe before it with Torches and Tapers and the more pompe is vsed the greater is the concourse of people but this woman would none of this gears the which buriall of hers her husband performed according as she required in her Will. Then one Colman and Steuen Arras Doctors of Diuinitie and the first a Coniurer set a young man which was a nouice ouer the Uault of the Church and when they came according to their vse to Mattins at mid-night he made a wonderfull noyse and shrieking then this Colman went to crossing and coniuring but the other aboue would not speake and being charged to make a signe whether he were a dumbe spirit or no hee ratled and made a great noyse againe Then they tolde some of the chiefest of the Citie what a heauie chance had happened and intreated them to come to their seruice at night When they were there and the seruice begunne he aloft made a great noyse being demaunded what he would he made signes he could not speake
and for his contempt and misdemeanor deposed Gardener Bishop of Winchester with Tunstall Bishop of Durham were cast into the Tower for their disobedience In this time of King Edward vnder this noble Protectoâ— this one commendation is proper vnto them that amongst all the Popish â—ort of whom some priuily stâ—le out of the Realme manie were craftie dissemblers some open aduersaries â— yet there was not one that lost his life during the whole time of the Raigne of this King for any matter of Religion Papist or Protestant except lone of Kentan English woman and one George a Dutchman who died for certaine Articles not necessarie to be rehearsed THOMAS DOBBE THis man in the beginning of King Edwards Raigne comming from S. Iohns Colledge in Cambridge to London as he passed through Paules Church there was a Priest at Masse at the South side of the Church being at the eleuation this yong man repleate with godly zeale pittying the ignorance and Idolatry of the people in honouring that which the Priest lifted vp he exhorted the people not to honour that visible bread as God which was neither God nor ordained of God to be honoured wherefore he was apprehended by the Mayor and accused to the Bishop of Canterburie and was committed to the Counter in Bread-stréete where shortly falling sicke he died whose pardon was obtained of the Lord Protector if he had liued IOHN HVNNE IN the first yeare of the Kings raigâ—e one Master Lewnax of Wresell and his wife sent this Iohn Hunne their seruant vnto the Bishop of Canterbury for denying the flesh and bloud of Christ to be really in the Sacrament of the Altar and saying he would neuer vaile his Hatte to it if he should be burned for it and that if he should heare masse he should be damned But because I finde nothing done therein I leaue it When this godly yong Prince was peaceably established in his Kingdome and had a godly wise and zealous Councell about him especially the Duke of Sommerset he earnestly desired the aduancement of the true honour of God and planting of sincere Religion and the sâ—ppressing of all Idolatry Superstition and hypocrisie throughout his Dominions Following the good example of the good King Iosias and being he found most of his Lawes repugnant to his zealous enterprise He by the aduice of his wise and Honorable Councell of his own regall authoritie did prosecute his godly purpose vntill by consent of the whole estate of Parliament he might establish a more free and vniforme order and those certaine wiâ—e learned and discreet personages for Commissioners generally to visit all the Bishopricks of this Realme to vnderstand and redresse the abuses of the same and diuided them into seuerall companies and assigned them seuerall Diocesses to be visited appointing to euery company one or two godly Preachers which should preach to the people at euery Sessions the true Doctrine of the Gospell of Christ and exhort them to all loue and obedience of the same and earnestly dehort them from their old superstition and wonted Idolatry and that they might the more orderly be directed in this their Commission there were deliuered vnto them certaine iniunctions and Ecclestasticall orders drawne out by the Kings learned Councell the which they should both inquire of and also command in his Maiesties behalfe to be thenceforth obserued of euery person to whom they did seuerally appertaine within their seuerall circuits the which Iniunctions if thou beest disposed for to reade I leaue thee for breuitie to the Booke at large Now during the time the Commissioners were in their circuits about diligent execution of their godly and zealous orders of the King and Councell deâ—iring a further reformation as well in Ecclesiasticall as in Ciuill gouernment appointed a Parliament to be summoned on the fourth of Nouember in the first yeare of his raigne which continued vntill the twenty foure day of December then next following Whereby he caused to be enacted that all Acts of Parliaments and Statutes touching menciâ—ning or any wise concerning Religion or opinions to wit the Statute of the first yeare of Richard the second and the statute made in the second yeare of the raign of Henry the fift and the statute madâ— in the fiftéenth yeare of the raigne of Henry the eight concerning the punishments and reformation of Hereticks and Lolards and the sixe Articles made in the thirty one yeare of Henry the eight and the statute made in the thirty thrée year of Henry the eight against the bookes of the old and new Testament in English and the printing and vttering of English or bookes writings and preaching the Scriptures an another Statute in the 35. yeare of Henry the eyght touching the qualification of the Statâ—te of sixe Articles and aâ—l and euery other Act or Acts of Parliament concerning Doctrine or matters of Religion should from thenceforth bee repealed and of none effect by occasion whereof all his godly subiects abiding within the Realme had free liberâ—y to professe the gospell and those beyond Sea wer not onely licensed to retâ—rne home but incouraged bouldly and faithfully to trauell in their calling so that God was much glorified and the people edified And in this Parliament it was enacted that the Sacrament should be ministred in both kinde and letters missiue were sent frâ—m the Councell to the Bishops of the Realme concerning the communion to bee ministred in both kinds and from Bishop to Bishop as thou maist sée in the booke at large Another Parliament was assembled in the second yeare of his Raigne beginning vppon the foorth day of Nouember 1548. continuing vntill the 14. day of March wherein a booke in English intituled the Booke of Common prayer and administration of the Sacraments and other Rightes and Ceremonies of the Church after the vse of the Church of England was concluded vppon by the Clergy which his highnesse receauing with great comfort did exhibiâ—â— it vnto the Lords and Commons of the Parliament who for the honour of God and great quietnesse which by the grace of God should ensue vppon that one vniforme right and order in such Common prayer rites and externe Ceremonies to bee vsed throughout England Wales Calice and the Marches of the same authoriseâ— the sayd Booke by Act of Parliament and set great penalty vpon them that woâ—ld bee disobeâ—ient thereto as is to be seene in the booke at large Aâ—so the mariage of Priests was authorized by the sayd Parliament by these procéedings and the Iniunctions which thou maiest see in the book at large thou maiest well perceaue the great zeale of the King and the Lord Protector in reformation of tâ—ue Religion and also the lingring slacknesse on the other side of others especially of the Bishops and old Popish Curats by whose cloked contempt and wilfull winking the Booke of Common prayers was long after the publishing thereof very irreuerently vsed throughout many places of this Realme which when the King by diuers
life is the gift of God The historie of VVILLIAM GARDNER an Englishman who constantly suffered in Portingall for the Truth HEe was borne at Bristow and gaue himselfe vnto the trade of Merchandise he was sent into Spaine by Master Paget being sixe and twenty yeares old the ship arriued by chance at Lishborne the chiefe Citie of Portugall he tarrying there about merchandise became a profitable seruant to his Master and others yet he reserued his religion in that popish countrey there were also besides him diuers good men in the same Citie neither lacked he good books nor the conference of good and honest men to whom he would often bewaile his weakenesse that he was not sufficiently touched with the hatred of his sinnes nor inflamed with the loue of godlinesse There was a solemne marriage celebrated betwéen two Princes the sonne of the King of 〈◊〉 and the daughter of the King of Spain to which marriage there was great resort of nobles and there lacked no Bishops with Miters nor Cardinals with Hats to set out this royall wedding William Gardner was there when they went forward to the celebrating of the Masse for that alone did serue for all purposes the Cardinall did execute it with much singing and Organ-playing the people stood with great deuâ—tion and silence praying looking knéeling and knocking their minds fully bent vpon the external sacrament which did grieuously prick and moâ—e this young man to sée so many noble personages and others so seduced with this Idolatriâ— that if the prease of people had not hindered him he would that day haue done some notable thing in the Kings presence he came home and made vp all his accounts of that was due to him and that which was owing to others that no man could aske any thing of him he fell to prayer and meditation of the Scriptures The Sunday came againe to be celebrated with like pompe and solemnitie The said William was early present and stoode as neere the Altar as he could When the King with all his Nobles were come the Masse began which was solemnized by a Cardinall when hee began to â—osse the Host too and fro round about the Chalice making certaine circles The said William Gardiner not able to suffer any longer hee ran to the Cardinall in the presence of the King Nobles and Citizens with the one hand hee snatched away the Cake and trâ—de it vnder his féet and with the other hand ouerthrew the Chalice Wherevpon rose great tumult and one wounded him with a Dagger in the soulder The King commanded to saue him whereby they abstained from murdering him When he was brought before the King he demanded what country man he was and how hee durst worke such a contumacie against his Maiestie and the Sacraments of the Church Hee answered hee was an English man by birth and Religion and am come hither for traffick of Marchandize and when I saw in this famous assembly so great Idolatry committed my conscience neither ought nor could any longer suffer but must needs doe that you haue séene me doe which was not done for any contumacy of your Maiestie but of purpose as before God I do confesse to séek the saluation of this people then vnderstanding that king Edward had restored Religion in England and thinking he had beene set on by some others they would know who set him on He answered he was not mooued thereto by any man but by his owne conscience but that hee owed this seruice first vnto God and secondly vnto their saluation and they ought to impute the act onely to themselues which so vnreuerently vsed the holy Supper of the Lord vnto so great Idolatry to the perill of their owne soules except they repented He was like to faint with the aboundance of blood that ranne out of his wound and Surgeons were sent to cure it then all English-men were committed vnto Prison and one Pendigrace because that he was his Bed-fellow was greeâ—ously tormented and examined and scarse deliuered after two yeares imprisonment Then they caused a Linnen Cloath to bee sowed round like a Ball which they violently put downe his throat to the bottome of his belly tyed with a small string which they held in their handes and when it was downe they pulled it vp againe with violence so plucking it too and fro through the meat pipe When all torments and tormentors were wearied they asked him if he did not repent his wicked deed he answered if it were to doe againe he thought he should doe it but he was sorie it was in the presence of the King the fault ought to be ascribed to the King and not to him in that he hauing power would not prohibit so great Idolatrie vsed amongst his people Three dayes after they brought him to execution when they had vsed all kind of torments against him then they cut off his right hand which he tooke vp with his left and kissed it then they cut off his other hand which he kneeling downe kissed and so he was carried to the place of execution where was an Engine from the which a great rope comming downe by a pullie was fastened about this Christian which first pulled him vp then there was a great pile of wood set on fire beneath him into the which he was by little and little let downe not with the whole body but so that his feet only felt the fire then he was hoysed vp and so let downe againe in the which torment he continued with a constant spirit and the more terribly he burned the more vehemently he prayed When his feet were burned the tormentors asked him whether he did not yet repent and exhorted him to call vpon our Ladie and other Saints he answered he had done nothing whereof he did repent and needed not our Ladies nor Saints help and what torments soeuer they vsed hee remained alwaies one desiring them to leaue off such vanities and follies for when Christ ceased to bee our Aduocate then he would pray our Lady to be his Aduocate and when they sought to stop his prayers he said Iudge mee O Lord and reuenge my cause against the vnmercifull people before he had ended the Psalme pulling him vp downe in the fire for the more torment the rope was burned hee fell into the middest of the fire where he changed his Temporall paines for eternall quietnes Thus GOD by this message did prouoke the Portugales to the sincere knowledge But this cruelty was not vnreuenged for with a sparke from the fire of his burning one of the Kings Shippes was burned and the Kings Sonne that was married died halfe a yeere after and the next yeare the King himselfe dyed The Clergy appointed a solemne Fast certaine daies for penance to purge that fact there be some yet as I haue heard diuers report out of whose remembrance this constant Martyr can neuer be pulled and is so fresh yet amongst them as if it were but lately done his
Harley Bishop of Herford after they saw the masse begin not abiding the sight thereof withdrew themselues from the company wherefore Taylor was commanded to attend but shortly after died and Harley because he was married was exâ—â—nded from the Parlament and his Bishoprick Then all statuts in K. Hen. the eight and K. Edwards time which were against papistrie were repealed Sir Iames Hales Iustice of the Common pleas notwithstanding he had ventured his life for Quéen Mary in not subscribing to King Edwards Will as before for giuing charge vpon the Statuts against Papistrie at the Assises he was committed to diuers prisons and so terrified that he wounded himselfe and meant to haue killed himselfe with a knife and after was contented to say as they willed him whereupon he was discharged but he neuer rested vntill he had drowned himselfe Then according to the Quéens commandement there begun a disputation in the Conuocation house about the Sacrament which continued six dayes wherein Doctor Weston was the chiefe on the Popes side who behaued himselfe outragiously in checking and â—aunting the matter of the disputation was onely of the Sacrament and the reasons no other then shall and haue beene set forth in this book wherefore for breuitie I omit them In conclusion the Quéen to take vp the matter sent her commandement to Bonner to dissolue the Conuocation and such as disputed on the contrary part were driuen some to flie some to denie and some to die though in most mens iudgements that heard the disputation they had the vpper hand In which Parliament also communication was moued of the Quéens marriage which was very euill taken of the people and of many of the Nobilitie who for this and for religion conspiring amongst themselues made a rebellion wherof Sir Thomas Wyat was chiefe News comming to London of this stirre in Kent the Quéen caused Wyat and the Duke of Suffolke who was fled to Warwickshire and Leister-shire there to gather a power and the two Carewes of Deuonshire to be proclaymed Traytors and Thomas Duke of Northfolke was sent into Kent against Wyat but about Rochester Bridge the Duke was forsaken of all his men and returned to London The Earle of Huntington was sent post to apprehend the Duke of Suffolke who entring the Citie of Couentrie before the Duke disappointed him and one Vnderwood his man betrayed and bewrayed him so that he was brought to the Tower of London In time Sir Peter Carew hearing what was done fled into France but the other were taken and the Quéen hearing of Wyats comming towards London she came into the Citie to Guild-hall where she made a vehement Oration against Wyat and to incourage them to stand with her Two dayes after the Lord Cobham was committed vnto the Tower and Wyat comming to Southwark being he could not enter that way into London he went with his Armie by Kingstone and came through the stréets to Ludgate but returning he was resisted at Temple-barre and there yeelded himselfe to Sir Clement Parson and was brought to the Court the residue of his armie were taken and a hundred killed for Sir George Harper and almost halfe his men ranne away from him at Kingstone Bridge and they which were taken were had to prison and many of them hanged and he himselfe executed at Tower-hill and quartered his head was set vpon Hay hill and after stolne away but there was great search made for the same Then the Lady Iane was beheaded two dayes before whose death Fecknam was sent to her by the Quéen to reduce her to papistrie The communication betwixt the Lady Iane and Fecknam Feck MAdam I lament your heauie case but I doubt not but you beare it constantly Iane. I litle lament my owne case but rather account it a token of Gods fauor vnto me more then euer he shewed to me before being a thing profitable for my soules health Feck I am com from the Quéen and Councel to instruct you in the faith though I trust I need not trauell ouer much in the performance thereof Iane. I heartily thanke the Queene that she is not vnmindfull of her humble subiect and I hope you will doe your dutie according to the message that you were sent on Feck What is then required of a Christian Iane. That he should beleeue in God the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost three persons and one God Feck What is there nothing else to bee required of a Christian but to beleeue Iane. Yes we must also loue him with all our heart soule and mined and our neighbour as our selfe Feck Why then Faith instifieth not Iane. Yes verily Faith as Saint Paul saith onely iustifyeth Feck Why Saint Paul saith if I haue all Faith without loue it is nothing Iane. True it is for how can I loue him whom I trust not or how can I trust him whom I loue not Faith and Loue goeth both together yet loue is comprehended in Faith Feck How shall we loue our neighbour Iane. To feede the hungry cloth the naked and giue drinke to the thirsty and to doe to him as we would doe to our selues Feck Why then it is necessary to saluation to doe good workes and not sufficient onely to beleeue Iane I deny that and affirme Faith onely saueth but it is meet for a Christian to follow Christ in good workes yet we may not say that they profit to saluation for when we haue done all that we can we are vnprofitable seruants and faith onely in Christâ— bloud saueth vs. Feck How many Sacraments are there Iane. Two the one of Baptisme the other of the Lords Supper Feck No there are seauen but what are signified by your two Sacraments Iane. By Baptisme I am washed with Water and regenerated by the Spiâ—t and the washing is a token I am Gods Childe The Lords Supper offered vnto me is a sure seale that by the blood of Christ I am made partaker of the euerlasting Kingdome Feck Do you not receiue the very body and blood of Christ Iane. I neither receiued flesh nor blood but Bread and wine which putteth me in remembrance that for my sins his body was broken and his blood shed and with it I receiue the benefit of his Passion Feck Doth not Christ say plainly This is my body Iane. So he saith I am the Vine and the doore and Saint Paul saith Hee calleth things that are not as though they were God forbid I should say I eate the body and blood of Christ for then I should pluck away my Redemption else there were two Christs for if his Disciples eate his body it was not broken vpon the Crosse and if it were broken vpon the Crâ—sse his Disciples did not eate it except he had two bodies Feck Could not Christ as possibley make his body to be eaten and broken as to bee borne of a Woman without Man and as to walke on the Sea and doe other miracles Iane. If God would haue done a miracle at
Saâ—nts departed and we beléeue as a Man departeth this life he is either blessed or damned for euer by reason whereof we affirme Purgatory Masses of Scala Caeli Trentals and such suffrages as the popish Church doth obtrude as necessary to be the Doctrine of Antichrist And wee beleeue two Sacraments of Christ Baptisme and the Lordes Supper and that they ought to be ministred according to the institution of Christ and that they bée no longer Sacraments then they were in vse and vsed to the end for which they were instituted and the mutilation of the one kind from the Lords Supper from the Lay people is Antichristian and so is the transubstantiation and so is the adoration of the Sacrament and the reseruation and carrying about of the â—ame and so is the Doctrine of the Masse it to be a propitiatory sacrifice for the quick and dead or a worke that pleaseth God and so of the inhibition of marriage in any state as vnlawfull we doubt not but we shall be able to proue all these our verities by Gods word and the Church which hath followed Gods word and Spirit and we hartily desire all men to be obedient with vs vnto all that bee in authority and not to cease to pray to God for them that he would gouerne them with his Spirit of wisedome and not to consent in any kind of rebellion against the Quéens Highnesse but where they cannot obey but they must disobey God there to suffer with all patience the pleasures of the higher powers as we are ready to do rather then we will consent to any doctrine contrary to this which we heere confesse wee shall be iustly conuinced thereof The Lord indue vs with his Spirit of truth and grace of perseuerance Upon the twentith day of Iuly the Prince of Spaine landed at Southampton He was the first that landed and presently he drew his Sword and carryed it naked in his hand a prettie way the Mayor of the Towne met him and deliuered him the Keyes which he receiued in his right hand and put his sword into his left then met him the Earle of Arundell and Lord Williams and brought him to his lodging The twenty fiue day He and Quéene Mary were married at Winchester by the Bishop there then they came to Windsor and from thence to Southwarke and from thence through the Citty of London to White-hall by the way many Pageants and glorious sights were made Upon the Cunduit in Gracious-stréet was painted King Henry the eight â—n harnesse with a Sword in one hand and in the other hand a Booke whereon was written Verbum Dei deliuering the Booke to his Sonne Edward painted by him Whereupon the Bishoppe of Winchester sent for the Painter and called him â—naue ranke Traytor and villaine for painting a Booke in King Henries hand and writing Verbum Dei thereon he should rather to haue put the Booke in Quéene Maries hand that was there also pictured for that she had reformed the Church and Religion Against this time Bonner in his Royalty and all his Prebendaries about him the doores of Pauls being shut a new Roode being laid vpon the Pauemâ—â—ts they sung diuers Prayers by the Roode then they annointed it with Oyle in diuers places After they crept vnto it and kissed it after they wayed it vppe into his accustomed place and the while the whole Quire sang Te Dâ—um and then the Bels rang for ioy From White-hall they went to Richmond then all the Lords had leaue to depart and there remained no English Lord at the Court but the Bishop of Winchester from thence to Hampton-Court where the Hall doore was continually kept shut that no man might enter vnlesse his arrand were first knowne which séemed strange to English-men Upon the fourth day of Nouember â—â—ue Priests did peâ—â—ance at Paules Crosse which were content to put away their Wiues and take vpon them againe to minister euery one of them had a taper in his hand and a rod wherewith the Preacher did disple them The twenty seauen day of Nouember Cardinall Poole being but a littlâ— before come into the Realme came to the Parliament-House the King and Quéene sitting vnder the Cloath of Estate and the Cardinall sitting on the right hand The Cardinall made a long Oration shewing first how this Realme had euer béene forward to receiue Religion first in the time of the Brittaines and then in the time of the Saxons and that the meanes came from Rome in the Faith of which Church we haue euer since continued and shewed what deuotion this Iland hath had to Rome that King Offa and Adulphus thought their obedience to the Sea not sufficient but in their owne persons went to the place where they receiued so great grace And when Carolus Magnus founded Paris hee sent into England for Alcuiâ—us which first brought learning to that Uniuersity I will not rehearse the benefits this Realme hath receiued from Rome nor the miseries this Realm hath suffered by swaruing from that Unity so all Countries that haue refused the Unity of the Catholike Faith hath had the like plagues as Asia and the Empire of Gréece by swarâ—ing from Rome are brought into the subiection of the Turke And Germany by swaruing from this vnity are afflicted with diuers Sects and factions then hee praâ—â—ed the King for his greatnésse and riches and the Quéen as one in whose hart God had preserued the Catholike truth when all light of the truth séemed vtterly to be extinct whom GOD had most miraculously brought vnto the Crowne being a helplesse Uirgin naked and vnarmed had the victory of all pollicies and armed powers prepared to destroy her and God hath appointed her to raigne ouer you for the restitution of true Religion and exterpation of errors and Sects God hath deuided his power vnto two parts heare in Earth that is into thâ— Imperiall and Ecclesiasticall power the Seculer Princes and Ministers of God to execute vengeance vpon transgressors and to preserue well doers which is represented in these two most excellent Princes the King and Quéene The other power is the power of the Keyes which belongeth by prerogatiuâ— to the Sea Apostlike of Rome from which Sea I am deputed Legate hauing the Keyes committed to my hands I confesse I haue the Keyes not as mine owne Keyes but as the keyes of him that sent mee but certaine impediments in you to receiue it must be taken away before my Commission can take place I came to reconcile and not to condemne and not to compell but to call againe My Commission is of Grace and clemency to all such as will receiue it touching the matterâ— past they shall be as things cast into the Sea of forgetfulnesse the meanes wherby you shall receiue this benefit is by reuoking the lawes wherby you haue disseuered yourselues from the vnity of Christs Church therefore you as prouident men for the weale of your soules and bodies pouder what is to be done
in this waightie cause The next day the three estates sitting in the Parlament-house all on their knees exhibited a Supplication to their Highnesses the King and Queene that their humble sute by their Graces intercession and meane might be exhibited vnto the Cardinall declaring themselues sorie and repentant for the Schisme committed in this Realme against the Apostolike Sea promising in token of their repentance to be readie vnto the vttermost of their power to doe their endeauour for the repealing of the said lawes and we desire that your Maiesties will so set forth this our humble sute that we may obtayne from the Sea Apostolike by the sayd most Reuerend Father as well particular as vniuersall absolution and that we may be receiued into the bosome of Christs Church so that this whole Realme may in perfect obedience vnto the Sea Apostolike serue God and your Maiesties to the furtherance of his honour and glorie The king and Queene deliuered it vnto the Cardinall who perceauing the effect thereof to answere his expectation hee receiued it most gladly and after he had thanked Almighty God for the prosperous successe of his comming from Rome by the Popes authoritie he gaue them full absolution Then they went to the Chappell sung te Deum with great ioy of the reconciliation the report of this was sent to Rome with great speed as well by the King and Cardinals Letters which thou maist see in the Booke of Martyrs Wherevpon the Pope caused Processions to bee made with great ioy for the conuersion of England and praising the Cardinals deligence and the deuotion of the King and Queene on Christmas Euen by his Bulles hee set forth a generall pardon to all such as did truely reioyce for the same The Sonday following the second of December Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor preached at Paules Crosse Upon the third to the Romans It is time that we should awake out of sleepe for our saluation is neerer then when we beleeued First he shewed how the saying of Saint Paul was verified vpon the Gentils which had long time slept in ignorance therefore to stir vp their dulnes he desired them to wake out of sleepe then hee compared our time to theirs As the sacraments of Christ did declare Christ to come our Sacraments declare that he is come now that hee is come the Iewes sacrifices bee done away aâ—d ours only remaine they had him as a signe but we haue his very body in our Sacrament wherefore it is time that we now also awake who haue slept rather dreamed this twenty yeares as shall bee declared by the properties of sléepe or dreame As we going to sléepe separate our selues from company so we haue separated our selues from the Sea of Rome no Realme in Christendome like vs and as Shepheards dreame sometimes of killing mayning or drowning and sometimes of beastlinesse so we haue not onely dreamed of beastlinesse but also done it and as in sléepe all ones senses is stopped that hee cannot see not smell nor heare so the Ceremonies of the Church being to mooue our senses are taken away whereby our senses are stopped and further when a man would sleepe he wil put out the Candle least it wake him So lately all such Writers as did hold with the Apostolike Sea are forbidden to be read and Images which were Lay mens Books were cast downe and burned Wee haue beene this twenty yeares without a head for when King Henry first tooke vpon him the head of the Church it was then no Church at all After whom King Edward could not be head but was onely a shaddow of a head and in our Queenes time we had no head for she alone could not be head and her two Arch-bishoppes were both conuicted of one crime and deposed in Henry the eights time when the tumult was in the North the King would haue giuen the supremasie againe to the Pope but the houre was not then come least it had beene said he did it for feare After Master Kneuet and I were sent Ambassadors to the Emperor to be a means to reconcile the King to the Pope but the time was not come for it might be said it was done for policy the matter was likewise moued in the beginning of King Edwards raigne hut the time was not yet come for it might haue been said the King was bought sold in his infancy neither was the houre come in the beginning of the Queens raign for it would haue bin said it was done in weaknes and if it had been done when the King first came it might haue been said it had beene done by violence but now hora est when nothing can be obiected but that it is the prouidence of God Now Pope Iulius the hath sent vnto vs this most reuerend Father the Cardinall not to reuenge iniuries done but to giue his benediction to those which defamed and perscâ—uted him And that they may be the meeter to receiue it let vs acknowledge our selues ofâ—enders against his Holinesse I doe not exclude my selfe of the number I will wéepe with them that wéepe and reioyce with them that reioyce The King and Quéenes Maiesties haue restored the Pope to his supremacy and the thrée Estates of Parliament haue also submitted themselues to his Holinesse and his successors for euer therefore let vs no longer stay And as S. Paul saith to the Corinthians He was their Father so may the Pope say he is â—ur Father for we receiued our doctrine first from Rome therefore he may challenge vs as his owne he hath preuented vs before we sought him he hath sent one of our Brethren to speake vnto vs not as vnto strangers and now let vs awake which so long haue slept and in our sléep don so much naughtinesse against the Sacraments and pulling downe the Altars which thing Luther would not do but reproued them which did In his prayer he prayed for the Pope and Cardinals and for the soules departed liuing in paines of Purgatory Upon Newyeares day at night thirty Men and Women and one Maister Rose a Minister were taken in a house in Bow Church-yard at the Communion and committed to prison and Maister Rose was examined before Cranmer and committed vnto the Tower Néere Lancaster in Lankishire at Cockram the Church-wardens and Parishoners made bargaine with one for the framing of their Roode who made them one and set it vp in their Church but they misliked his workemanship and refused to pay him the matter was brought before the Mayor of Doucaster thâ—y shewed the Mayor that the Rood they had before was a welfauoured man and he promised to make vs such another but this is the worst fauored thing that euer was séene gaping and grinning that none of our Children dare looke on him and come néere him the Mayor concluded the poore man must bee paid for if it will not serue for a God put a paire of Hornes on his head and it will
because it was according to the word of God the order of the primate church The other is euill because though some good Latine words be in it yet was it but as it were a little hony and milke with a great deale of poison to drinke vp all In the afternoone he being ready to preach againe to the Bishop where was Sir Iohn Mordant Boner â—aid vnto his charge the breaking of the proclamation and also heresie but his Charitie was content to let alone the Treason But hee would proue him an heretick and all such as taught the administration of the Sacraments and the order of the Primitiue Church are most pure that come neerest to the order of the Primatiue Church for the church was then in her infancy and could not abide that perfection which was after to bee furnished with ceremonies Sanders answered Saint Augustine saith ceremonies were at first ordained for the weake infirmitie of man therefore it was a token of the more perfection of the primatiue Church that it had â—ew ceremonies and a token of the 〈◊〉 of the Church papisticall because it had so many ceremonies 〈◊〉 blasphemous some vnsauourie and some vnproâ—â—table Then the Bishop bade him write what he beléeued of transubstantiation which he did saying My Lord you séeke my bloud and you shall haue it I pray God you may be baptized in it that you may after loath bloud-sucking and become a better man this writing the Bishop kept to cut his throate with Then the Bishop sent him to the Lord Chancellor who kneeling before him the Lord Chancellor said How happeneth it that you haue preached contrary to the Quéens Proclamation Saunders answered as he was admonished by Ezechiel because he saw perrilous times at hand he exhorted his parishioners to perseuer in those things which they had learned for by the example of the Apostles we must obey God before man we doe only professe the sinceritie of the word which although it be now forbidden vs to preach with our mouthes yet our bloud hereafter shall manifest the same The Bishop said carrie away this frensie foole to prison Saunders answered hee thanked God he had giuen him a place of rest where he might pray for the Bishops conuersion Saunders tolde one that lay with him in prison that in the time of his examination he was wonderfully comforted and receaued a taste of the communion of Saints a pleasant refreshing did issue from euery part of his bodie to his heart and from thence into all parts againe He continued in prison a yeare and three moneths and then he was sent for before the Lord Chancellor who offered him his pardon if he would recant which because he refused he was condemned vpon his opinion against the Sacrament with his hand in writing vnto Bonner as before is related Then he was carried vnto Couentrie and one night he was put into the common Gaole amongst other prisoners where he slept little but spent the night in prayer and instruction of others the next day he was ledde to execution into the Parke without the Citie going in olde gowne and a shirt bare-footed and as he went he oftentimes fell flat on the ground and prayed When he was come nigh to the place the officer told him he was one of them that marred the realme with heresie wherefore thou hast deserued death yet if thou wilt reuoke thine heresies the Quéen hath pardoned thée Then answered Saunders It is not I nor my fellow Preachers that haue hurt the realme but it is your-selfe and such as you are which alter Gods word for I hold no heresies bnt the doctrine of God and Christ vnto euerlasting life and so full swéetly he slept in the Lord. He wrote many godly letters to Diuines during the time of his imprisonment which thou mayest sée in the booke at large The martyrdome of IOHN HOOPER Bishop of Worcester ABout the beginning of the six Articles in the time of King Henry the eighth being in danger for religion he went beyond Sea where he was louingly entertained at Basill and at Zurick of Master Bullinger his singular friend where he married his wife which was a Burgundian and in the raign of King Edward he repaired home amongst many other English exiles who being come to London vsed to preach twise or at least once euery Sonday and at his Sermons the Church would be so full that none could enter further into the doores thereof hee was in tongue eloquent in Scriptures perfect in paines indefatigable after hee was called to preach before the King and soone after made Bishop of Gloster in that office he continued two yeares and behaued himselfe so well that his very enemies except it were for good doings and sharpe correcting of sinne could find no fault with him and after that he was made Bishop of Worcester hee sustained much vexation about his inuesting because he would not weare the Priestly vestures In his Bishops palace in euery corner there was fauour of honest conuersation and reading of the Scriptures there was no Courtly roysting or idlenes no pompe at all no dishonest word nor swearing euery day he had to dinner a certaine number of poore folke of the Citie by course and before dinner they were examined by him or his Deputies of the Lords Prayer the Articles of their Faith and ten Commandements In Queene Maries time hee was one of the first that was sent for to London by a Purseuant The Bishop of Winchester receiued him very approbriously rayling and rating him accused him of religion and committed him to the fleete The next yeare hee was sent for before the Bishop of Winchester of London of Durham of Landaffe and of Chichester where after hee had suffered many checkes taunts and mockes that he could not be suffered to make any answere because hee said hee would not goe from his Wife and that hee beleeued not the corporall presence in the Sacrament he was depriued of his Bishopricks By his committance he was to haue the liberty of the Fleete and when hee had payed fiue pound for his liberty the Warden complained to Gardiner and made him to bee committed close prisoner a quarter of a yeare then hee had libertie to come to dinner and supper and presently to returne to his Chamber without speaking to his friends the Warden and his Wife would euer bee picking quarrels with him and after one quarter of the yeare fell out with him about the Masse Then the Warden obtained of Gardiner that he should bee put into the Wardes where hee continued a long time hauing nothing to lye on but a rotten Couering with few Fethers in it On the oneside was the stinke and filth of the house on the other side the stinking Towne ditch so that the stinke infected him with diuers diseases and beeing very sicke hee cried for help but the warden when he hath knowne me ready to dye and poore men haue called to help him he hath
commaunded the doore to bee kept fast and charged none of his men to come at him saying let him alone it were a good riddance of him Untill he was depriued he paid him twenty shillings a wéeke for his table and since as the best Gentleman and yet vsed worse then the veriest Slaue he imprisoned and stripped his man to finde Letters but could finde none but a remembrance of their names that gaue him Almes and to vndoe them he deliuered the Bill vnto STEPHEN GARDINER there hee continued almost eightéenâ— monthes The twentith of Ianuary he was brought to Gardiners house at Saint Mary-Oueries where the Bishop of Winchester with other Bishops moued M Hooper earnestly to forsake his euill and corrupt doctrine preached in King Edwards daies and to returne to the vnity of the Catholike Church and to acknowledge the Popes Holines the supreame head thereof according to the determination of the whole Parliament promising that as he himselfe and other his Brethren had receiued the Popes blessing and Queene Maries mercy euen so mercy was ready to be shewed to him and others if hee would arise with them and condiscend to the Popes Hoâ—â—nes Maister Hooper answered for so much as the Pope taught doctrine contrary to Christs doctrine he is no member of Christs Church much lesse the head thereof therefore he could not condiscend to any such vsurped Iurisdiction neither doth he esteeme that Church to bee the Catholike Church of Christ for the true Church heareth onely the voyce of Christ her Spouse and flyeth the voyce of Strangers I desire the Queenes mercy if mercy may bee had with safety of conscience and without displeasure of GOD answere was made that the Queene would shew no mercy to the Popes Enemies then hee was sent to the Fleet againe for sixe dayes then he was brought againe before the Bishop of Winchester and other Commissioners in Saint-mary-Oueries Church and the next day condemned together with Master Rogers and then they were carried to New-gate where he remained sixe dayes Bonner and others resorted thither to him diuers times to perswade him to be a member of Antichrist and when they could not Bonner disgraded him then he was carried to Gloster to suffer death whereof he did greatly reioyce that he should there confirme his doctrine that hee had instructed so many in with his bloud Sir Anthony Kingston which was one of the Commissioners to see him executed came to him and lamented his case and desired him to consider that life is sweet and death is bitter therefore seeing life may be had desire to liue hereafter you may doe good who answered though death be bitter and life sweet yet death to come is more bitter and life to come more sweete therefore for the desire and loue I haue to the one and the terror of the other I doe not so much regard this death or esteeme this life but haue setled my selfe by the strength of Gods spirit rather to suffer any torments then to denie the truth of Gods word desiring you and others to pray for me He answered Well my Lord I perceiue there is no remedie I thanke God that euer I knâ—w you for whereas I was an adulterer and a fornicâ—tor God by your good instructions hath brought me to the forsaking and detesting of the same The same day a blinde boy got leaue to speake with Master Hooper the boy a little before had beene imprisoned at Gloster for confessing the truth After Master Hooper had examined him of his faith he said vnto him Ah poore boy GOD hath taken from thee thy outward sight but hee hath giuen thee another sight much more precious for he hath endued thy soule with the eye of knowledge and faith When he was burned he was not suffered to speake to the people Hee wrote many godly letters to diuers whilest he was in prison which thou mayest see in the booke at large Doctor Rowland Taylor THe Towne of Hadley was instructed by Thomas Bilney so well that you might haue found there many as well men as women that had often read ouer the Bible and could say a great part of Saint Paules Epistles by heart and giue a godly learned sentence in any matter of controuersie and there Children and Seruants were trained vp in the knowledge of Gods Word that the towne seemed rather to bee an Uniuersitie then a towne of clothing In this towne the said Rowland Taylor was Parson Hee most faithfully indeuoured himselfe to fulfill his charge No Sunday nor Holiday passed nor other time that hee could get the people together but hee preached to them the Word of GOD there was none so rich but hee would tell him his fault with such earnest and graue rebukes as best became a good Pastor Hee was ready to doe good to all men readily forgiuing his enemies Hâ—e was a Father to the poore Thus this good Shepheard continued all the time of King Edward In the beginning of Q. Maries raigne he retained in his Church the Seruice which was vsed in King Edwards time and faithfully preached against Popish corruptions which had infected the whole Countrey round about One Foster and one Clerke hyred one Iohn Auâ—rth Parson of Aldam a Popish Idolator and a whoremonger to set vp Masse againe at Hadly and builded him an Altar in the night their Altar was beaten downe and they builded it againe and watched it then the Priest came thither with all his implements and garments to play his Popish Pageant and was guarded with weapons lest he should be disturbed from this 〈◊〉 sacrifice Doctor Taylor seeing him said Thou Diuell who made thee so bolde to profane this Church of Christ with abominable Idolatrie To whom Foster said Thou Traytor why dost thou disturbe the Queenes proceedings He answered I am no Traytor but the Sheepheard that Christ hath appointed to feede this Flocke I commaund thee thou Popish Wolfe in the name of the GOD of heauen that thâ—u auoyde hence and presume not to poyson Christs Flocke with thy Popish Idolatrie Then Foster with his armed men tooke Taylor and violently carried him whether he would or no out of the Church and thrust his wife out after him because shee kneeâ—led downe and made humble supplication vnto God to bee reuenged of one of them and then they shut the doore least the people should â—aue rent their sacrificer in peâ—ces some that were without threw in stones anâ— missâ—d him but little Upon complaint to Gardiner hee sent for Taylor and though his friends and acquaintance perswaded him by all meanes possible they could to the contrarie yet hee was resolued to goe to the Bishop and to his Beard to tell him hee doth naught I am old though I suffer GOD will raise vp Teachers for his people I shall nâ—uer doe GOD so good seruice as now I may what Christian would not gladly die against the Pope and his adherents for I know the papacy is the Kingdome of Antichrist
Dignity he may well bee said twice marâ—ired first for diuers iniuries and mollestations which he suffered most vnworthily of his enemies in King Edwards time after the fall of the Duke of Somerset and of his martydome in Queene Maries time His Aduersaries in King Edwards time were â—ames Constantine his Register to whom he gaue the Office by Patent and a Doctor of the Law and Canon of the Cathedrall Church of S. Dauids and a Chanter of the same They did exhibit to the Kings Councell certain Articles to the insent to blemish the Bishops credit and vtterly as they thought and made their boasts to pull him from his Bishopricke and bring him in a premunire The cheefe effect of their Articles which were fifty sixe was that he did not in his Proceâ— that he made write the King supreame head of the Church and that he tollerated other superstitions and Idolatries After these wrangling Articles were giuen vp then the Bishop was called to answere the hearing whereof was committed vnto Sir Iohn Mason Knight and Doctor Woâ—ton Then they had a Commission into the Country where they examined sixscore and seauen witnesses and during the time of the examination of these witnesses the said Bishop was stayed at London because his aduersaries said if the Bishop should go into his Dioces he would let them of their proues During which trouble King Edward died and in Quéene Maries time another named Henry was made Bishop of S. Dauids who sent for the said Robert Farrar and committed him to prison and afterward declared vnto the saide Robert the great clemency that the King and Quéenes Highnesse pleasure was to bee offered vnto him if he would submit himselfe vnto the Lawes of this Realme and conforme himselfe vnto the vnity of the Catholike Church and séeing the said Robert made him no answere he ministred vnto him these Articles First whether he beleeue the marriage of Priests to be lawfull by the lawe of God and holy Church Secondly whether hee beleeued the very body and blood of Christ is really and substantially in the Sacrament without the substance of bread and wine Bishop Farrar would not answer vntill he saw a lawfull Commission so he was committed againe then he was called againe after and would answer no otherwise then as before whereupon he was pronounced Contuâ—nax and for punishment thereof to be counted Pro confesso and committed him againe The next day of appearance the said Bishop Farrar craued time to answere and at the time did answer Then the foresaid pretensed Bishop gaue him a writing of certaine Articles to subscribe vnto adding to the Articles before that the Masse was a propitiatorie Sacrifice for the quicke and the dead and that the generall Councels neuer erred neither 〈◊〉 erre that a man is not iustified by Faith only but by Charity also and that the Catholike Church onely hath authoritie of interpreting of the Scriptures and to compound Controuersies and also to appoint such things as appertaine to publike discipline and that the Church is visible as a citty vpon a hill knowne vnto all men and not obscure and vnknowne as the hereticks of our age doe teach To these Articles he refused to subscribe affirming that they were inuented by man and pertaine nothing to the Catholick Faith Then he assigned him a day to assigne them affirmatiuely or negatiuely which he would not doâ— but appeaâ—ed vnto the Cardinall notwithstanding they gaue sentence against him When they had put the priestly vestures on him to disgrade him hee called them ragges and relicks of Rome When he was brought to exâ—cution in the Ciâ—ie of Carmarden he was burned with Turffes and Soddes which was to him a more greeuous torment but praised be God he suffered it patiently The next moneth a godly man named Rawlins White was burned in Cardiffe in Wales THOMAS TOMKINS THomas Tomkins of Shordich in London Weauer was brought before Boner for all hitherto were condemned by Steuen Gardiner Lord Chancelor but hee being weary put off the rest vnto Boner of whom this Tomkins was the first who when by no meanes hee could bee driuen from the â—ruth Boner caused a burning Candle to be brought to him Then said he come on naughty knane if thou likest the torments of the fire so well I will make thee feele in this flame what it is to be burned then if thou be wise thou wilt change thy minde Then he commanded his right hand to be put into the fire but he indured the burning yet was not Bonet therewith contented but neuer rested vntill he had consumed the whole body to ashes in Smithfield He was condemned vpon these points First that his beleefe â— that the body of Christ is not truely and verily in the Sacrament of the Altar but onely in heauen and so in heauen that it cannot be really in the Sacrament and although the Church aâ— low the Masse a wholesome and profitable sacrifice yet my beliefe is that the Masse is full of Superstition and Idolatry and vnprofitable for my soule and the Sacrament of Baptisme ought to â—ee onely in the vulgar tongue and without such ceremonies as are vsed in the Latine Church and being exhorted to leaue his opinions Hee answered hee was brought vp in ignorance vntill now of late yeares and now I know the truth wherein I will continue vnto death and he said my Lord you would haue me forsake the truth and fall into error and heresie Then hee was condemned and deliuered vnto the Sheriffe who carried him to Newgate where hee remained most ioifull and constant vntill hee was conuayed to Smithfield and there sealed vp his Faith in the flaming fire The constant suffering of Higbed and Causon THese two were descended of worshipfull stocke in Essex which of all Shires was most fruitfull of Martyrs the one called Thomas Higbed of Horneden Hill the other Thomas Causon of Thunderst they were both in flourishing estate in riches and much more flourishing in godlines They were diuers times examined before Bonner and defended the truth valiantly and he and his fellowes did much labour to make them to recant but could not preuaile The substance of all their Arguments appeareth in a Confession that they wrote with their owne hands which was read in the Court of Paules before the Mayor and Sheriffes and all the people not without great sure before it could be licenced to be read First we beleeue and professe in Baptisme to forsake the Diuel all his works and all the vanities of the world and the lusts of the 〈◊〉 2 We beleeue the Articles of our Faith and that wee are bound to walke in Gods Commandements all the daies of our life 3 We beléeue the Lords Prayer containeth all things necessarie for soule and body and that we are thereby taught onely to pray to our heauenly Father and is no Saint nor Angell 4 We beléeue there is a Catholick Church euen the Communion of Saints builded vpon
and feare and beware that you turne not to this abhominable papistry against the which I shalll anoâ—e by Gods grace giue my bloud Let not the murthering of Gods Saints be any cause for you to relent but take occasion thereby to be stronger in the Lords quarrell and I doubt not but hee will bee a mercifull father vnto you and then I kissed them all and was carried vnto the fire When he came to the stake hee kissed it and then hee said so my Lord Rich beware beware for you doe against your conscience herein and without you repent the Lord will reuenge it for you are the cause of my death Thomas Osmond Fuller William Bamford alias Butler Nicholas Chamberlain Iohn Ardley and Iohn Simpson THese were sent out of Essex vnto Boner to be examined they had the same Articles ministred vnto them and agreed all in the same answeres in substance that Thomas Wats next aforesaid made and when by no meanes they could be perswaded from their constancie being many times sent for they were at last condemned and burned in seuerall places in Essex Chamberlain at Colchester Thomas Osmond at Maning-tree William Bramford at Harwidge Iohn Ardley told Boner my Lord neither you nor any of your Religion is of the Catholick Church for you are of a false Faith and shall bee deceiued at length beare as good a face as you can you will kill the innocent bloud and you haue killed many and oâ— gee about to kill more if euery hayre of my head were a man I would suffer death in the Faith that I am in At â—he Examination of Simpson and Ardley there were a great multitâ—de of people assembled in the Church of Paules round about the Consistory The Bishop being angry with their bold answeres cryed alowd haue him away haue him away Whâ—n the people in the Church heard these words thinking the prisoners had their iudgements they seuered themselues to make way which caused such a noise in the Church that they in the Consistory were amazed The Bishop asked what was the matter The standers by said there was like to be some tumulâ— for they were together by the eares The Bishop with the rest of the Court ranne away to the doore that goeth into the Bishops house but the rest being lighter footed then the Bishop recouered the doore first and throâ—ging hastily to get in kept the Bishop out and cried saue my Lord saue my Lord whereby they gaue the standers by good matter to laugh at whereby thâ—se were a little while stopped of 〈◊〉 Iudgement but not long after they were called to the fire Iohn Simpson suffered at Rochford and Iohn Ardley at Rayby IOHN BRADFORD HE was borne at Manchester in Lanâ—aster On the 13. day of August in the first yeare of Quâ—ene Mary Master Bourne Bishop of Bathe made a beastly Sermon at Paules Crosse to set vp popery as before is said Boner being present the people were ready to pull him out of the Pulpit and a Dagger was hurled at him and being put from ending his Sermon he intreated Bradford being with him to speake and appease the people when hee came into the place of the Preacher all the people cryed Bradford Bradford God saue thee Bradford And after they heard his godly exhortation they left off their raging Bourne thought himselfe not yet sure of his life vntill hee was safely housed thâ—ugh the Sheriffe and Mayor were ready to help him Wherefore hee desired Bradford not to depart from him vntill hee was in safety and â—radford went at his backe shaddowing him with his Gowne Amongst whom one Gâ—ntleman said Ah Bradford Bradford thou sauest him that will helpe to burne thee I giue thee his life for if it were not for thee I would runne him through with my sword within three dares after Bradford was sent for to the Tower and there the Councell charged him with sedition for this matter and committed him to the Tower and from the Tower to the Kings Bench in Southwarke and after his condemnation vnto the Counter in the Poultry whilst hee remained in these two prisons he preached twice a day continually almost two yeares After he was brought with Bishop Farrax as aâ—oresaid before the Lord Chancellor and the Queenes Commissioners after the Lord Chancellor had laid vnto his charge the aforesaid sedition at Paules and Boner had bore witnes against him and Bradford had shewed his innocency and affirmed that notwithstanding Boners seeing and saying yet the truth I haue told as at the day of Iudgement wiâ—l appeare in the meane time because I cannot be beleeued I am ready to suffer what God will licence you to doe to me Chan. To leaue this matter wilt thou returne againe and doe as wee haue done and thou shalt receiue the Queenes mercy and pardon Brad. My Lord I desire mercy with Gods mercy but mercy with Gods wrath God keepe me from Well said he if thou wilt not receiue mercy offred vnto thée know for a truth that the Queene is minded to make a purgation of all such as thou art Bradford answered I would be glad of the Queenes mercy to liue as a subiect without a clogge of Conscience otherwise the Lords mercy is better to me then life and I commit my life into his hands that will keep it that none can take it away without his pleasure There are twelue houres in the day as long as they last no man shall haue power thereon therefore his good will be done Life in his displeasure is worse then death and death in his true fauour is true life And after he had béen thrée times called before the Lord Chancellor at all which times there was no arguments of diuinitie but about transubstantiation For denying whereof and affirming that the wicked doe not receiue Christ though they receiue the Sacrament he was condemned after this the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Chichester came to him and argued this point and after them two Spanish Friers and diuers others at other times The summe of his Doctrine herein followeth Reasons against Transubstantiation gathered by IOHN BRADFORD 1 TErtullian saith that which is former is true that which is later is false Transubstantiation is a late Doctrine for it was not generally definâ—d vntill the Councell of Laterane about the yeare one thousand two hundred and fifteene vnder Innocent 3. before it was free to beleeue it or not beleeue it Ergo the Doctrine of Transubstantiation is false 2 That the words of Christs Supper be figuratiue the Circumstances of the Scripture the proportion of the Sacraments the sentences of all holy Fathers For a thousand yeares after Christ doe all teach It followeth there is no Transubstantiation 3 The Scriptures doe witnes that the Lord gaue bread to his Disciples and called it his body He took bread in his hands hee gaue thankes ouer bread he brake bread and gaue bread to his Disciples As Ireneus Tertullian Origene Cyprian Epiphanius
dignity because that which was common bread hath the dignitie to exhibit Christs body for now it is an holy bread sanctified by Gods word The third question was whether the masse were a liuely and propitiatorie sacrifice for them aliue and for them that be dead this article they denied to be true because Christ made one perfect sacrifice for the whole world neither can the Priests offer vp Christ againe for the sinnes of man neither is there any propitiation for our sins but his Crosse only And because neither for feare nor flatterie they could be made to recant at their second sitting they were condemned disgraded and deliuered to the secular power Upon the North-side of the towne of Oxford in the ditch ouer against Baliol Colledge the place of execution was appointed Doctor Ridley came vnto the stake in a faire black gowne such as he was wont to weare when he was Bishop with a tippet of sables about his neck M. Latimer came in a poore frize frock in one they might behold the honor they sometimes had in the other the calamitie whereunto they were now descended after Doctor Ridley had prayed seeing the chéerfulnes of M. Latimer he ran vnto him imbraced him and kissed him saying be of good heart brother for God will either asswage the fury of the flame or else strengthen vs to abide it Then Doctor Smith began his Sermon vpon 1. Co. 13. If I giue my body to the fire to be burned and haue not charity I shall gaine nothing thereby wherein he alledged that neither the holinesse of the person nor the manner of the death but the goodnes of the cause made a martyr this he prâ—ued by the example of Iudas and many others which then might be counted righteous because they desperatly sundred their liues from their bodies as he feared these men that stood before him would do and still he cried vnto the people to beware of them for they were hereticks died out of the Church at last he exhorted them to recant and come home again vnto the Church saue their liues and soules which else were condemned They would haue answered him but some ran to them stopt their mouthes with their hands would not suffer them to speak Then Doctor Ridley said Heauenly father I giue thée most hearty thanks that thou hast called me to be a professor of thée euen vnto death I beséech thée be mercifull to this Realme of England and deliuer the same from all her enemies When the fire was kindled he cried Into thy hands I commit my spirit Lord receiue my spirit crying often Lord Lord receiue my spirit M. Latimer crying as vehemently on the other side O Father of heauen receiue my soule Latimer died quickly but Ridley was long a 〈◊〉 by reason of the bad making of the fire yet he remained constant to the end The death of Stephen Gardner IN Nouember the next moneth after the burning of Ridley and Latimer in which moneth the Quéen died thrée years after Stephen Gardner a man hated of God and good men ended his wretched life He was borne in Berry in Suffolk and brought vp in Oxford his wit capacity and memory were excellent if they had bin well applied he was high-minded flattering his own conceit too much towards his superiours he was politick and pleasant to his inferiors fierce against his equals stout and enuious if they any thing withstood him in iudgment it was constantly reported that the nayles of his toes were crooked and sharp downward like the clawes of a beast his death happened so opportunely that England hath a great cause therefore to praise God not so much for the great hurt it had done in times past in peruerting his Princes in bringing in the sixe Articles in murthering GODS Saints and in defacing Christs most true Religion but especially for that he had thought to haue murthered our noble and religious Quéene Elizabeth for hee was the cause of all her danger and if it bee certaine which we haue heard that a Writ came downe from certaine of the Councell to the Tower where the Lady Elizabeth was for her execution it is sure this vile wily Winchester was the only Dedalus and framer of that Ingine but M. Brigs Lieutenant of the Tower certified the Quéen of the matter and there by preuented Achitophels bloudy deuices as Bonner Storie Thornton Harpsfield Downing with others were occupied in putting the branches to death so Gardner bent his deuices in assaying the root in casting such a plot to build vp his Poperie as he thought it should stand for euer whether he died with his tongue swolne out of his mouth as Arundell Bishop of Canterburie did or whether he stunke before he died as Cardinall Wolsey did who after he had vsed coniuration before so after he had poysoned himselfe by the way at his buriall he was so heauie that they let him fall and he gaue such a sauor that they could not abide him with such a suddaine tempest about him that all the Torches went out and could beare no light or whether he died in dispaire I referre all this vnto their reports of whom I heard it A great doer about Winchester reported that the Bishop of Chichester comming vnto Gardner began to comfort him with Gods promises and with frée Iustification in the bloud of Christ he said what my Lord will you open that gap now then farewell altogether to me and such other you may speake it but open this window to the people and then farewell altogether Iohn Web Gentleman George Roper and George Parke THese were condemned by the Bishop of Douer and Harpsfield for deâ—ying the reall presence in the sacrament of the Altar and were burned in one fire at Canterburie abiding most patiently their torments and counting themselues blessed that they were worthy to suffer for the Gospell William Wiseman and Iames Gore THis Wiseman died in Lollards Tower being there for religion the holy Catholike Church cast him out into the fields and commaunded that no man should burie him according as their deuout manner is to all that die in that sort whom they account not worthy of buriall but to be cast to dogges and birds yet good men buried him in the night Iames Gore being in the prison at Colchester for the truth of Gods word died much about this time IOHN PHILPOT HEe was Sir Peter Philpots sonne in Hampshire brought vp in new Colledge in Oxford going from Oxford into Italy comming from Uenice to Padua he was in danger through a Franciscan Frier accompanying him in his iourney who comming to Padua accused him of heresie In King Edwards time he had diuers conflicts with Gardner Bishop of Winchester after he was made Archdeacon of Winchester where he continued during King Edwards time to no small profit of those parts in Quéen Maries time he being one of the Conuocation with a few other sustained the cause of the Gospell manfully
that he was commended by the Ambassadors to the king for his singular wisedome grauitie and learning that he wonne such great credit that he was alone sent Ambassador to the Emperour to debate this businesse but the Emperour refused to determine the matter but remitted the whole question to the Popes court after he was sent to Rome Ambassadour to the Pope where he behaued himselfe with â—o lesse diligence that he compelled the Popes chiefe diuines by arguments to grant the mariage to be against the law but yet by the dispensation of the Pope it might be made lawfull Warram Archbishop of Canterbury dying he was sent for by king Henrie and made Archbishop of Canterbury then came in the question of the Popes supremacy and all the weight of the businesse was chiefly laid vpon Cranmers shoulders he therefore alone receiued answered and confuted all the obiections of the Papists he proued that the Popes Lordship was not brought in by any authoritie of Scriptures but by ambitious tyranny and that the chiefest power on earth belonged to the Emperor to kings and Potentates to whom the Pope Cardinals Bishops Priests by Gods commandement were no lesse subiect then other men and therefore it were best by the consent of the king and other estates the ambitious Lordship of the Pope being driuen out of England should keepe it selfe within his owne Italy as a riuer is kept within his bankes which was performed by act of Parliament then by little and little he reformed the Church into a more wholesome discipline of Christ and laboured to banish the Popes errours heresies and corruptions and he obtained of the king that certaine learned men should make a booke of Ecclesiasticall institutions which was called the Bishops Booke then the abolishing of Monasteries began to be talked of the kings desire was that all the Abbey lands should come vnto his coffers the Archbishop and others would haue them imployed to other good vses whereby the king being bent against Cranmer especially by the instigation of Gardiner Bishop of Winchester which sought all occasions to hinder the Gospel he set forth the 6. Articles by full consent of Parliament which contained the summe of Popish religion What slaughter by the space of 8. yeares these Articles made is already declared but after he forgoing his anger with the Archbishop séeing he stood against him in conscience not in stubburnesse he began to fauour him and thought to haue taken away the 6. Articles and reformed other matters if he had liued but Cranmer and the Lord protector brought it to passe in king Edwards dayes his story how he was vsed in Quéene Maries reign is mentioned before and his disputations at Oxeford and how he was condemned there and left in prison vntill this time And because the sentence was voyde in law because it was giuen by persons excommunicated for they were not then absolued by the Pope nor his authoritie receiued in the realme therefore there was a new commission sent from the Pope for the conuiction of Cranmer Latimer and Ridley and the Bishop of Glocester was appointed the Popes delegate and after they had condemned Latimer and Ridley as before is said The said Legate and his company being set in Saint Maries Church apparelled in his Pontificalibus as if the Pope in person had bene there the Bishop of Canterbury was brought before them putting off his cappe he did obeysance to the king and quéenes proctors then looking in the Legats face he put on his bonnet againe making no obedience toward him wherefore the Bishop sayd vnto him that it might beséeme him well waying the authoritie which he did represent to doe his duety to him he answered hee had sworne neuer to admit the Pope into this Realme and therefore he would commit nothing by signe or token which might argue his consent to the reâ—eiuing of him and that he did it not to any contempt of his person Then the Legate made an eloquent oration to put him in remembrance that from a meane gentleman he was raised to bee a Princes Ambassadour and further to be Archbishop and Primate of the Realmealmost 30 yeares and sâ— farre in trust with the king that he made him president of his councel and after left him in speciall trust for the gouernement of the young Prince during his minoritie such blessing God had giuen him whilest he continued in the Catholicke faith He exhorted him on the other side to consider how he was now fallen from his dignities and officices and in high displeasure of the King and Quéene iudged to die for high treason and all these things to haue happened vnto him only because he had seuered himself from the Sea of Rome and was become a father of new deuised religion and although your estate is so miserable that the meanest in this assembly will not change his condition and calling with you yet further he was like to fall by the iust iudgement of God into hell and euerlasting damnation if he did not repent of his errours and schismes whilest he had time of repentance whereunto he exhorted him earnestly repeating many places of Christs mercies to them that repent and shewed that to returne to the Church was the oâ—ely way to saue both body and soule and I doubt not but the King and Quéene will perdon your condemnation of treason if you will returne vnto the Church and forsake your opinions which I desire you to do Then Cranmer desired license to speake which was gently granted him first he made protestation that hee did not answere to him as to a lawfull Iudge because he was deputed for the Pope but to giue a reason of his faith which God hath commanded him to doe to euery one that shall demand a reason thereof Then he said My Lord you haue learnedly put me in remembrance of many things touching my selfe which I will not answere I acknowledge Gods goodnesse vnto me and thanke him as heartily for this estate that now I am in as euer I did for the time of my prosperity shewing that his greatest griefe was to sée the Popes Iurisdiction restored to England againe Alas what hath the Pope to do in England whose lawes are so farre different from the Lawes of this realme that whosoeuer sweareth to both must néedes incurre periury in the one And I am heartily sorry to thinke that her grace the day before her Coronation tooke an oath to obserue the lawes of this realme and also tooke an oath to the Bishop of Rome promising to maintaine that Sea which was impossible but shee must néeds be forsworne in the one And as for the matter of Heresie wherewith you charge mee I call God to witnesse I know none which I maintaine but if it be heresie to deny the Popes authority and the religion which the sea of Rome hath published vnto the world these latter yeares then all the ancient Fathers of the primitiue Church the Apostles and Christ himselfe
was a stubborne fellow an Heretick and a Traytor Spurdance There is no man I thanke God to accuse me iustly that euer I was disobedient to any Ciuill Lawes but I haue a Soule and a Bodie and my Soule is none of the Queenes but my body one goods are the Queens and I must giue God my soule and all that belongeth vnto it and in lawes contrarie to Gods lawes I must rather obey God then man you cannot proue by the word of God that you should not haue any grauen Images in your Churches for lay-mens bookes or to worship God by them or that you should haue any ceremonies in the Church as you haue Bish. It is a decent order to furnish the Church as when you goe to dinner you haue a cloth vpon the table to furnish it so at these ceremonies a decent order amongst Christians and if you will not doe them seeing they are the lawes of the Realme you are an heretick and disobedient therefore confesse with vs that you haue been in errour and come home Spurd The spirituall lawes were neuer truelier set forth then in my Master King Edwards daies and I trust in God that I shall neuer forsake them whilest so I liue He was sent to Bury where he remained in prison Iohn Hallingsdale William Sparrow Richard Gibson THese three were produced before Bonner Bishop of London Iohn Halingsdale said that neither in the time of King Edward the sixt nor at that present he did beleeue that in the Sacrament is really the body and bloud of Christ and he would not receiue the same because he did beleeue that the body of Christ was onely in heauen and he said that Cranmer Latimer Ridley Hooper and generally all that of late haue beene burned for hereticks did preach truly the Gospel and vpon their preaching he grounded his faith and he said that the saying of Saint Iohn in the eighteenth chapter of the Reuelation That the bloud of the Prophets and Saints and of all that were slaine vpon the earth was found in the Babylonicall Church is vnderstood of the Church whereof the Pope is head where upon hee was condemned William Sparrow was charged with a submission made the year before vnto the Bishop he said he was sorie that euer he made it and it was the worst deed he euer did and being charged that he went to the Church and heard Masse he confessed he did so but it was with a troubled conscience He tolde the Bishop that which you call truth I beleeue to be heresie he confessed that since his submission he had preached against the Sacrament of the Altar against auricular confession and other Sacraments and he said If euery haire of his head were a man hee would burne them all rather then goe from the truth and he said that the Ecclesiasticall Lawes and the Masse were naught and abhominable whereupon hee was condemned Richard Gibson was condemned for not comming vnto confession and for not receiuing the Sacraments of the Popish Masse and for that he would not sweare to answere vnto their intergatories laid against him When sentence was read against him he boldly affirmed that he was an enemy vnto them all in his minde though hee had kept it secret for feare of the Law and hee said hee was blessed in that he was cursed of them so these three were burned in Smithfield where they yeelded gloriously and ioyfully their soules into the hands of God Iohn Rowth Minister and Margaret Mearing IN King Edwards time he was a Preacher at New-Castle Barwicke and Carliel In Queene Maries time he fled with his Wife into Friseland and dwelled at Norden and liued by knitting of caps hâ—seâ— and such like things but in October last he came ouer into England to buy yarne and hearing of the secret societie of the congregation of Gods children their assembled hee ioyned himselfe vnto them and was elected their preacher and hee taught and confirmed them in the truth of the Gospell But on the twelfth of December hee with Cuthbert Simpson and others were apprâ—hended at the Sarisons head in Islington where the congregation had appointed to assemble themselues to pray and heare Gods word they were brought before the Councell who sent Rowgh to Newgate and writ to Boner to examine him and proceed according vnto the law who vpon examination before Bonner confessed that he had spoken against the number of the Sacraments being perswaded that there were but two Baptisme and the Lords Supper and that hee had taught that in the Sacrament of the Altar ther is not really and substantially the body and bloud of Christ but that the substance of bread and wine remaineth without transubstantiation and that hee thought Confession to a Priest necessarie if hee had offended the Priest but if the offence were vnto another it was not necessarie but the reconcâ—liation ought to bee made to the party so offended hee denyed Laâ—ine seruice and allowed the seruice of King Edwards time and hee commended the opinion of Thomas Cranmer Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer and that they were godly learned men He confessed he had béene familâ—ar with diuers Englishmen women in Frieseland and agréed with them in opinion as Maister Story Thomas Yong George Roe and others to the number of 100. persons which flâ—d thither for Religion vsing the order set forth in King Edwards time He said that he had béene at Rome about thirty daies and he saw no good there but much euill amongst which he saw one great abhomination to wit the Pope being a man that should goe vpon the ground to be carried vpon the shoulâ—ers of foure men as though he had béene God and no man also a Cardinall to haue his Harlot to ride openly behind him and thirdly a Popes Bull that gaue expresse licence to haue and vse the Stewes and keepe open bawdery by the Popes authority And he confessed that since his last comming vnto England hee had in sundry places in London read Prayers and Seruice as is appointed in the Book of Communion and had willed others to doe the like and he affirmed that hee being a Priest might lawfully marry and that his Children which hee had by his Wife were lawfull and he vtterly detested the seruice then vsed saying that if he shold liue as long as Methusala he would neuer come vnto the Church to heare the abhominable Masse and other seruice then vsed Whereupon he was disgraded and condemned he was a meanes to saue Docror Watsons life then Bishop of Lincolne when he preached erroneous doctrine in the dayes of King Edward the sixt and the said Watson beeing with Bonner at the examination of the said M. Rowgh to requite his good turne in sauing his life said there that he was a pernicious hereticke who did more hurt in the North parts then an hundred besides of his opinion M. Rowgh further said he had liued thirtie years and yet had not bowed his knee vnto Baall and
and thus he did vntill hee came vnto the stake but as soone as the fire was put vnto Abbes this blasphemer was striken with madnes wherewith he had charged the good martyr he cast off his shooes the rest of his clothes cried out thus did Abbes that true seruant of God who is saued but I am damned Thus hee ranne about the towne of Berry still crying Iames Abbes was a good man and saued but I am damned The Sheriffe tyed him vp in a darke house but he continued his old note and being brought to his Masters house in a Cart within halfe a yeere he died And beeing ready to die the parish Priest came to him with the Crucifix and the Host of the Altar but he cryed out of the Priest and defied all that baggage saying that the Priest aâ—d such other as he was were the cause of his damnation And that Iames Abbes was a good man and saued Clarke an open enemie of the Gospell and all good preâ—chers in King Edwards dayes hanged himselfe in the Tower of London The great and notable Papist called Troling Smith of late fell downe suddenly in the street and died Dalâ— the Promoter was eaten in his body with Lice and so died Cox a Protestant in King Edwards daies and in Quéene Maries daies a Papist and a Promoter being well when he went to bed he was dead before morning Alexander the keeper of Newgate who to hasten the poore lambes vnto the slaughter hee would goe to Boner Story and Colmley and others crying out rid my prison I am too much pestered with hereticks and he dyed very miserably being swollen and so rotten within that no man could abide the smell of him and Iames his son being left very rich in three yeares brought it to nâ—ght and shortly after as he went in Newgate market he fell downe suddenly and died Iohn Pether sonne in law to this Alexander ad horrible blasphemer of God and no lesse cruell vnto the prisoners rotted away and so died who commonly when he affirmed any thing he would say if it be not true I pray God I rot ere I die Iustice Lelon persecutor of Ieffrey Hurst died suddenly Robert Baulding aâ— the taking of William Seaman was striken with lightning wherevpon he pined away and died Beard the Promoter died wretchedly Robert Blomfield persecutor of VVilliam Browne consumed away miserably In K. Henries time Iohn Rockwood who in his horrible end cried All to late which were the words that he vsed in persecuting Gods children at Callice The Lady Honer a persecutor and George Bradway a false accuser were both bereft of their wits Richard Long a persecutor drowned himselfe Sir Rafe Ellerker as he was desirous to see the heart taken out of Adam Damlip he being slaine of the Frenchmen after they had mangled him and cut off his priuy members would not leaue him vntill they saw his heart cut out Doctor Foxford Chancelor to Bishop Stokely a cruell persecutor died suddenly Pauier or Pauie towne Clarke of London a bitter enemy vnto the Gospel hanged himselfe Doctor Pendleton died miserably and at his death he repented that euer he had yeelded to the Doctrine of the Papists Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochestâ—â— and Sir Thomas Moore after they had broâ—ght Iohn Frith Bayfield and Bainham and diuers others to death shortly after they themselues were made a publike spectacle of bloudy death at tower hil These persecuting Bishops died a little before Quéene Mary Coates Parfew Glune Brookes King Peto Day Holiman After Quéene Mary immediately followed Cardinall Poole and these persecuting Bishops Iohn Christopherson Hopton Morgan Iohn VVhite Rafe Bayne Owen Oglethorpe Cutbert Tonstall Thomas Raynolds And about the same timâ— died Doctor VVeston Maister Slethurst Seth Holland VVilliam Copinger and Doctor Steward great persecutors The residue that remained of the persecuting Clergy and escaped the stroke of death were depriued and committed vnto prisons these Bishops were committed vnto the Tower Nicholas Heath Archbishop of Yorke Thomas Thurlby Thomas Watson Dauid Poole Gilbert Burne Richard Pates Troublefield and Iohn Fecknam Abbot of Wesâ—minster and Iohn Boxell Dean of Windsor and Peterborough were committed with the said Bishops vnto the Tower Gouldwell Bishop of Saint Asse aâ—d Maurice Elect of Bangor ranne away Boner Thomas Wood Bishops were committed to the Marshalsey Cutbert Scot Bishop of Chester was in the Fleete from whence he escaped to Loâ—ane and there dyed These were committed vnto the Fleete Henry Cole Deane of Paules Iohn Harpsfield Arch-deacon of London Nicholas Harpsfield Arch-deacon of Canterbury Anthony Draycot Archdeacon of Huntington William Chadsey Archdeacon of Middlesex One Iohn Apowell mockeâ— one William Maulden as he was reading an English Seruice Booke in a Winters Euening mocking him at euery word with contrariâ— gaudes and flouting words Wherefore the said William checked him saying hee mocked not him but God As the said William was reading these words Lord haue mercy vpon vs Christ haue mercy vpon vs The other with a start suddenly said Lord haue mercy vpon me The said William asked him wherfore he was afrayd He answered when you reade Lord haue mercy vpon vs me thought the hayre of my head stood vpright with a great feare that came vpon me The next day in the morning he fell mad and after that hee lay day and night and his tongue neuer ceased crying out of the Diuell of hell I would see the Diuell of hell there he is there he goeth and such like words Thus he lay six daies that his Maister and all the rest of the house was weary of the noise and sent him to Bedlam At Waltamstow six miles from London certaine children were talking what God was and one said he was a good Old Father and a Maide of twelue yéeres old named Denys Benifield said what he is an old doting Foole The next day she was suddenly striken by the hand of God that all one side of her was black and she speechlesse and so she died the same night Some beeing in communication about Cranmer Ridley and Latimer in an house of Abingdon in Barkeshire One Leâ—ar â— plowman dwelling at Brightwell said that he saw that euill fauoured knaue Latimer when hee was burned and that he had téeth like a horse at which time and houre the son of the said Leauer most wickedly hanged himselfe in Shepton a mile from Abbington Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury gaue sentence against the Lord Cobham and died himselfe before him being sâ— striken in his tongue that he could neither swallow nor speake a good while before his death When Patrick Hamelton was burned for the truth in Scotland in the fire hee cited and appealed Frier Campbell that accused him to appeare before the High God to answere whether his accusation was iust or not betwixt that and a day of the next moneth which he named The said Frier dyed immediatly before the day came Haruy a Commissary which condemned a
to light before it was executed and the said Squire had the same most iust reward of his foresaid treason as his predecessors in like plots had The Earle of Essex Conspiracie LAstly I will conclude with the conspiracie of the late Earle of Essex for although it is not to be doubted but that his heart with many of his followers was vpright vnto the Quéene yet notwithstanding hee had many Papists in the plot with him whose hearts he knew not and by whom if his practise had tooke effect the Queene should haue beene in as great trouble and danger as euer she was in her life but the Lord of his accustomable wonderfull mercie deliuered her Maiestie from this danger likewise who both by his holy spirit of comfort preserued her mind still ioyfull without feare of her enemies and also her royall person and her realme by the safe custodie of his holy Angels from all wicked practises and treasons whatsoeuer vntill her olde age and vntill he at his time appointed called her Maiestie vnto himselfe out of her bedde in peace from a blessed Kingdome wherin she had long raigned in great glory in this world to raigne with his Sonne Iesus Christ in the Kingdome of vnspeakeable and eternall ioy and glorie in the world to come By this storie of Queen Elizabeth the Papists that haue any eie-sight of true vnderstanding may see by what wicked meanes the Pope and their Catholik Church hath alwaies gotten and maintained their most vnlawfull supremacie ouer kings And although they haue wonderfully preuailed against all superstitious Emperours and Kings by such like excommunications warres murthers and treasons as he vsed against Queene Elizabeth yet as God preserued her heart purely to sâ—icke to his sincere word and to despise all the Popes errors superstitions and trash so God mercifully preserued her and her Kingdome from all the Popes treacherous practises foure and fortie yeares fiue moneths and odde dayes with such glorie and peace as neuer Christian King had more her manifest protections of God were as apparant and as manifest as Dauids and as he and Salomon builded a most glorious materiall Temple in despite of their enemies most gloriously did she build vp the spirituall Temple and Spouse of Christ in despite of the Papists and the Pope and all kings that tooke their part her outward glorie and honour was â—quall wâ—th Salomons and she oâ—â—matched him in that neither her glorie in this world nor any other means could withdraw her from her true zeale in setting forâ—h the pure word of God wherefore all honour and glorie be giuen vnto God by this Realme of England and all his Church world without end Amen OVR MOST GRATIOVS King IAMEâ— WHen the Papists triumphing that their long â—xpected houre was come by Gods taking away thâ— most blessed Quéenâ— Elizabeth yet the Lord of his great mercie brought their ioy to nought by pâ—anting our deare Soueraigne Iames by his especiall grace to succeede Queene Elizabeth in these Realmes one that is as zealous of the word of God as she and one whom the Lord hath beene as prouident ouer in all his wayes as ouer her and indued with the like ioy in the Holy-Ghost in the assurance of Gods prouidence in time of danger wherefore no doubt but as the Lord hath so he will couer him and his Realmes with the shâ—dow of his wings from all papisticall treacheries euen as he did Queene Elizabeth This is worthie to be recorded vnto the perpetuall honour of his Maiestie that hee being hâ—ire apparant vnto Quâ—ene Elizabeth could neuer be inticed by any Prince or Papist to oppose himselfe against her When the rising was in the North and the rebels were â—led into Scotland he tooke the Quéens part though it were to the great ruine of much of his Kingdome he made a Proclamation in Anno 1588. that none of the â—panâ—sh Fléet should land vpon his coasts but that the English should be relieued of any thing they néeded and in the yeare 1592. hee executed as traytors in Scotland diuers for conspiring with the King of Spaine against England and before the comming out of the Spanish Fléet Don Barnardin Mendoza in an open Assembly did say in a 〈◊〉 that the young King of Scots whom hee called a boy had deceiued the King of Spaine but if the Kings Nauie might prosper against England the King of Scots should lose his crowne whereby it manifestly appeareth how true and faithfull his Maiestie was â—uâ—r vnto the late Quéene of famous memorie Touching GODS wonderfull preseruations ouer his royall person who hath safely preserued him a King almost this eight and fortie yeares in despite of all his enemies forreigne and domesticall and no doubt but heâ— had many yeâ— it doth most manifestly appeare in some great and vnheard of dangers out of which the Lord hath most miraculously deliuered him as from Gowries Treason and the Gun-powder Treason and others GOWRIES conspiracie against his Maiestie the fift of August being Tuesday Anno Dom. 1600. MAâ—â— Alexander Ruthwen second brother vnto the late Earle Gowrie came to his Maiestie as he was a hunting and told him that it chaunced the night before as he walked about the Towne of S. Iohnstone hee met a base fellow vnknowne vnto him and hauing suspition of him he narrowly looked to him and examined him and he said he found a great wide pot to be vnder his arme full of coined gold in great quantity whereupon he took him no body knowing thereof and bound him in a priuie darke house and locked many doores vpon him and said that he came in haste to aduertise his Maiesty thereof according to his bounden duety earnestly requesting his Maiestie with all diligence and â—ecrecie to take order therwith before any know thereof swearing that he had concealed it from all men yea from the Earle his brother whereupon the King suspected that it had béene some forreigne golde brought thither by some Iesuits for practising Papists to stirre vp some new sedition as they had often 〈◊〉 before and that the fellow that carried it was some Seminary so disguised for the more sure transporting thereof and with many earnest perswasions he got the Kings Maiesty as soone as he had done hunting to ride with him to the Earle Gowrâ—es house to dinner with a very small number with him and after dinner his Maiesty being ready to rise from the table and all his seruants in the hall at their dinner M. Alexander standing behinde his Maiesties backe pulled him softly rounding in his Maiesties eare that it was time to goe but that he would fainâ— haue been quit of the Earle his brother wishing the K. to send him out into the hall to entertain his guests whereupon the K. called for drink and in a mâ—rrie and homely manner sayd to the â—arle That although the Earle had séene the fashion of entertainment in other countreyes yet he would teach him the Scottish fashion séeing he was a
his own seruants with him Yet it pleased God after many strokes on all hands to giue his maiesties seruants the victory the said E. of Gowry being striken dead with a stroke through y â— hart which the said sir Io Ramsey gaue him without once crying vpoÌ„ God the rest of his seruants dung ouer the staires with many hurts as â—n like maner y â— said sir Tho Erskin 〈◊〉 Hugh Hereis sir Iohn Ramsey were all thrâ—â— very sore hurt and wouâ—ded But al the time of this â—ight the D. of Lâ—nnox the Earl of Mar the rest of his Maieâ—ties traine â—ere striking with great hammerâ— at the vtter doore whâ—rby his maiesty paâ—â—t vp to the chamber with the said M. Alexander which also he had lockt in his by-comming with his maiesty to the chamber but by reason of the strength of the said double doore â—he whole wall being likewise of boords and yéelding with the strokesâ— it did bide the◠〈◊〉 space of half an houre more before they could break it â— hauâ— entreâ—â—e who 〈…〉 with his maiesty found beyond their expectation his Maiesty deliuered from so imminent a perill the said late Earle the principall conspirator lying dead at his Maiesties â—éet Immediatly thereafter his maiesty knéeling down on his knées in the middest of his own seruants they all kneeling round about him his maiesty out of his own mouth thanked God of that miraculous deliuerance and victory assuring himselfe that God hath preserued him from so dispaiâ—ed a peril for the perfecting of some greater work behind to his glory and for procuring by him the weale of his people y â— God had committed to his charge In the first beginning of the Kings Maiesties raign ouer England William Watson William Clarke Seminary Priests and George Brooke brother vnto the Lo Cobham had most traiterously deuised a plot whereby the Kings person should haue bâ—en surprised and the whole kingdome ouerthrowne and they had entised to the imbracing their trayterous Machinations Anthony Copley Gentleman Sir Griffin Markam Knight the Lord Cobham the Lord Gray Sir Walter Rawleigh and others But before they had brought their Conspiracies vnto â—ffect the Lord of his accustâ—med goodnes and carefulnes ouer his Maiestie made all their Conspiracies apparant vnto the King and his Councell and about the middest of Iuly in the first yeare of his Highnes raigne proclamations were made out for the apprehension of them whereby they were taken and in Nouâ—mber after they were all condemned of High Treason and the nine and twenty day of Nouember the two Priests were executed and sir dayes after George Brooke was â—eheaded and the ninth of December Sir Griffin Markam and the Lord Cobham and the Lord Gray after they had been seuerally brought vpon the scaffold in the Castle of Winchester and had made their Confessions and prepared themselues likewise seuerally to die vpon the sudden the Kings warrant written with his own hand was there deliuered vnto Sir Beniamin Tichborne high Sheriffe of Hampshire commanding him to stay execution these three and Sir Water Rawleigh were returned priâ—oners vnto the Tower the fifteenth of December The Gunpowder Treason THomas Pearcy Robert Catesby Thomas Winter others in the last yeare of the raigne of Q. Elizabeth by the inâ—â—igation of certaine Iesuites practised with thâ— King of Spain to send a well â—urnished Army vpon England promising him great ayde to entertaine them at their arriuall at Milford Hauen and to that purpose the King promised to 〈◊〉 them fifâ—y thousand pound for leuying of horse and foote and preparation of Munition in England to second them but whilst this was in a manner concluded Q. Elizabeth dyed the King of Spaine vpon certaine knowledge that K. Iames was established dispatchâ—d his Ambassadors and Commissioners for England â—or coâ—firmation of a lasting Peace between them yet neuerthelesse the said Rob. Catesby sent Tho Winter againe to the King of Spaine to resolicite their former proiect but the King answered him your old Quéens is dead with whom I had wars and you haue a new King with whom I haue euer bin in good peace and amity and for continuance thereof I haue sent my speciall Commissioners and vntill I sée what will become thereof I will not hearken vnto any other course whatsoeuer When Winter returned and made this knowne vnto Catesby Pearcy and the rest then they began to cast about what they might doe of themselues to aduance the Romance Catholick Religion but first they would see the euent of the first Parliament if that would mittigate any former Lawes and try what good the Conclusion of Peace with Spaine would doe vnto them before they attempted any further but when they perceiued that neither Parliament nor publike Peace sorted in any part to their desire and that the Peace concluded was rather a more ready meanes for the Law to procéed against them then otherwise because the Peace concerned onely the Amitie of Christian Princes for the generall good of Christendome without any particular or priuat respect then Catesby told the rest he had a deuice in his head that should free them and the rest of the English Catholiques from their oppressions and when he had found out â—it Ministers for execution of his deuice after they had taken oath and Sacrament for secresie hee told them hee had deuised the meane to vndermine and blow vp the Parliament house at the instant when the King Queene Prince Peeres and Commons were all assembled which proiect they presently embraced and forthwith Pearcy hired certaine lodgings close to the Parliament house and then they appointed Miners who with great difficultie digged and vndermined a part of the wall but after a while they vnderstood that the Uaâ—t right vnder the Parliament house was to bee let to hyre then Guydo Fawkes went and hyred it this Fawkes was late a Souldiour in Flanders and for this purpose was sent for who by consent of the rest changed his namâ— and was called Iohn Iohnson Maister Pearcies man after they had hyred the Uaut theâ— secretly conuayed into it thirty and sir barrels of powder and couered them all ouer with Billets and Faggots â—bout ten daies before the Parliamâ—nt should begin an vnknowne party in the Euening met a seruant of the Lord Mounteagles in the streâ—t and deliuered him a Letter charging him speedily to giue it vnto his Lord which he did when his Lord had read it and obserued the dangerous câ—ntents with a speciall caueat not to appeare the first day of Parliament he was amazed and forthwith deliuered it to the Earle of Salisbury the Kings Principall Secretary a chiefe Counselor of Estate when the Earle had iudiciously obserued the strange Phrase and Tenor thereof with the terrible threats therein against the whole State he acquainted the Lord Chamberlain therewith and then they câ—nioined vnto them the Lord Admirall the Earles of Worcester and Northampton who instantly consulted what was
which the Lord hath appointed him supreme head next vnder his Sonne Iesus Christ ouer all causes spirituall and temporall being that he maintaineth and defendeth the very same Doctrines and no other which Christ the Apostles and the Priâ—â—itiue Church taught as the Lord hath most wonderfully blessed and pâ—ospered them by the hands of Queen Elizabeth and his Maiestie this many yéeres so vndoubtedly his wings of most safe preseruation shall be still ouer this realme so long as no Idolatry is in Israel I meane maintained by the Lawes of the Realme For though there bee many Idolatrous Papists yet the Law is against them and though there bee many sinnes and wickednesses in England yet the Lawes of the Realme are most strict against them therefore the Realme is holy and righteous because the lawes bee holy and righteous and although there bee aboundance of wicked and abhominable people in this Realme yet there bee as many both holy and righteous men and women as euer were in them Therefore certainely the LORD will not destroy or plague this Realme for their sakes that bee wicked and prophane iâ— them but most surely still blesse and preserue them for their sakes that be righteous and holy therein as hetherto hee hath done wherefore vnto him bee all honour praise glory power and Dominion of all the inhabitants of this Realme and of all his Church world without end The last but not the least vse of these precedent Stories is therein diligently to mark the vnspeakeable cruelty tyranny and most subtill and wicked practises of Papists in many ages before Queen Mary but then it was at the heigth and then papists shewed their hearts truely without dissimulation and from them haue come all the treacherous practises against Queene Elizabeth and all the treacherous practises against our dread Soueraigne K. Iames onely Gowries treason excepted but they neuer deuised a more vngodly and inhumane tragedy most abhominable to God and odious in the iudgment of all men as their most diuellish practise to blow vp the Parliament house with Gunpowder to the destruction of his Maiestie his Queene and all his Royal issue with all the Nobilitie Bishops Iudges and chiefe of the Commons of this Realm with many thousands besides to the vtter vndoing of this most noble Kingdome Their cruelty in Spaine LIkewise of this their cruelty which no tongue is able to expresse sufficient testimony would appeare by the most cruell murders vpon Gods Saints committed from time to time in innumerable abundance both vpon our country men there own and others by the most diuelish and cruell inquisitoâ—s of the Spaniards but these serpents are become so wise and subtill that there is no certaine record to bée found in any writer of their doings therein since the booke of Martyrs but for all their subtilty they cannot hide it from Christ Iesus at the day of Iudgement The cruell practises of the Papists in France LIkewise there helâ—ish cruelty hath been declared in no place in the world so plainely as it hath been in France by the innumerable massacres and murders of Gods Saints that they haue there committed I will onely recite one massacre and the death of their two last Kings of France for by these and other such like crueltyes alreadie declared out of the Booke of Martyrs it is easily séene that they are the Brothers of Caine and Children of the Deuill In the yeare one thousand fiue hundred seauenty two the Duke of Guise by the aduice of the French King Charles the ninth came with a great company of Souldiours at midnight into the stréetes of Paris to massacre the Protestants the marke of the Executioners should be a hankerchéefe tyed about their Armes with a white Crosse in their Hats and the Pallace Bell ringing at the breake of the day should giue the Signall they beganne by knocking at the Admirals Gate who was a Protestant they stabbed him that came to open the Gate then they entred the Admirals Chamber one thrust him through the body and striketh him on the head another shot him thorough with a Pistoll another wounded him in the legs and euery one of them giue him a blow then the Duke of Guise commanded them to cast him to him out of the Widdow then the Duke spurned him with his foote and going into the stréete said Courage Companions we haue begunne happily let vs procéede to the rest the King commaunds it One carried the Admiralls head vnto the King and Queen his Mother who sent it imbalmed vnto the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorraine for assurance of the death of their Capitall enemy one cut off his head another his priuy members and three daies they dragged his carkase with all indignity thorough the streetes then they hanged it vppe by the feete They murdered all his Seruants and Gentlemen in his quarter with like fury they murdred all the other Protestants throughout the Citty and Subburbs of all ages conditions and Sexes Men Women and Children rich and poore There was heard in Paris a lamentable cry of people going vnto death a pittifull complaint of such as cryed for mercy the streete were strewed with carkases the pauements market place and riuer was died with blood they destroyed that day aboue ten thousand of innocent Protestants Henry the Third HENRIE the third King of France of the house of Valois a milde and tractable Prince courteous wittie eloquent and graue but of easie accesse deuout louing learning aduancing good wits a bountifull rewarder of men of merit a friend to peace and a Prince who deserued to be placed amongst the worthiest of that Monarchy was trayterously murdered by a deuillish Monke on this manner When as the Suisses and Lansquenets of Sansie and Pontoise were by force reduced to the Kings obedience The Duke of Longuevill gathered an Army of twenty thousand men and ioyned with them Whereupon the Kings forces being about fortie thousand men lodged about Paris and tooke Saint Cloud and made the Parisians ready to yeelde Whereat the Popish Monkes and Priests of that Citty were so much displeased that they vowed reuenge thereof And one Iames Clement a Monke an excrament of hell a Iacobine by profession of the age of twenty two or twenty thrée years old vowes to kill the Tyrant and to deliuer the Citty besiedged This damnable proiect he imparts to Doctour Bourgâ—ing Prior of his Couent to Father Commolet and other Iesuits and to the heads of the League to the cheefe of the sixeteene and to the forty Councellors at Paris All encourage him to doe this happy designe they promise him Abbaies and Byshopprickes and if hee chance to be made a Martyr no lesse then a place in heauen aboue the Apostles They caused the Preachers to perswade the people to patience seauen or eight daies for before the end of the weeke they should see a notable accident which should set all the people at libertie The Priests of Orleance Rouan and Amiens
3 Bâ—zaes Register of Martyrs vnder Decius 11 Boniface the forerunner of Antichrist 24 Beda Priest wrote 37. vollums 27 Boniface an Englishman Archbishop of Mentz and Martir Ibid. Bohemians suppresse Idolatrous Temples 127 Basill besiedged by the Dolphiâ— of France 145 Barnes a Fryer beares Fagots for eating flesh on a Fryday 166 Bilney a great Preacher of the truth his articles abiuration and martyrdome afterwards 177 Bayfield a Monke of Berry a valiant Martyr his cruell vsage and martyrdome 179 Baynham a Lawyer whipt rackt and martyred for maintaining the truth 181 Bartrucke a Scottish Knight confutes certaine Articles of the Papists for which he is condemned and his picture burried 193. 194. 195. Byble at large set vp in euery Church 200 Bonners examination his pride before the Commissioners 225 His vnreuerent and forward words his imprisonment and depriuation 226 Bâ—ner compares Priests to the virgin Mary 240 Bradfords declaration of the manner of disputaon he meant to hold 244 Beckets Image twice set vp at Mercers Chappell and throwne downe 256 Bishoppe of Chester who condemned George Marsh burned with a harlot dies therof 268 Barlow for bearing witnesse of the truth sent to the Fleet. 269 Berd the Promoter his cruelty to Iames Treuisam and other Professors 281 Bartlet Greene Gent. in trouble for writing the Queene is not yet dead meaning Queene Mary and afterwards for denying the Sacrament of the Altar condemned burnt 313 Blind Boy martyred at Glocester 323 Bloudy Commission granted by King Philip and Queene Mary to prosecute the poore members of Christ whereupon 22. are brought before Bonner out of Essex 330 Barbara Final burned at Canterbury 332 Bradbregs widow burned at Canterbury Ibid Bends wife burned at Canterbury Ibid Berry a Priest and Commissary a Persecutor of the faithfull his suddaine and fearefull end 356 Bate a Barber a persecutor of the faithfull his suddaine death 362 C CAligula Caesar. 2 Commodus Son to Verus Emperor 7 Contention between the East West Church for the obseruation of Easter day Ibid Constantine the Emperor borne in Brittaine 18 His prayers to his Souldiers Ibid. His immunity to the ministry his prouision for liberall sciences 19 Constantine with the helpe of three legions of Souldiours out of Brittany obtains the peace of the vniuersall Church 20 Councell at Sternhalt for the obseruation of Easter 25 Councell of Constance 26 Carolus Magnus proclaimed Emperor 25 Cambridge erected by Sigisbert 29 Chester built 33 Cloud halfe blood halfe fire seene in England 39 Canutus succeeds Siranus and erects the monastery of S. Edmonsbury 40 Councell at Vercellis 43 Councell at Mentz vnder Pope Leo 9. Ibid. Councell at Latteran Ibid. Councell at Mantua against Priests marriages Ibid. Controuersie betweene Canterbury and Yorke for the Primacy 45 Calixtus the second Pope 50 Complaints of sundry abuses in the Church 51 Contention betweene the Bishop of Yorke and Canterbury 68 Conclusions put vp to the Parliament 93 Councell of Constance for pacifying a schisme betwixt 3. Popes in which Iohn the Pope was deposed proued to be an hereticke a murtherer a Sodomite and many others in the 8. Session Iohn Wickliff and his forty Articles were condemned 112 Councell of Basill send Ambassadors to the Bohemians with their answers 130 Councell of Basil begun 137 Contention between two Popes 145 Constantinople taken 146 Clement the seuenth Pope his wicked life and death 162 Collins for holding vp a little Dogge when the Priest was at Masse burned and the Dogge with him 190 Cowbridge after he was almost starued martyred at Oxford 191 Cardinall Poole attainted of high treason flyes to Rome 200 Commotions in Oxfordshire Yorkshire Norfolke and Suffolke 222 Commotions in Oxford and Buckingham appeased by the Lord Grey 224 Commotion in the North. ibid. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury offers to defend the book of common-prayer 235 Communication between Doctor Ridley and Secretary Bourne in the â—ower 240 Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury sent to Oxford to dispute 242 Cat apparelled like a Priest hanged at the Crosse in Cheapside 244 Cardinal Pools Oration in the Parlament-house 246 Christianus king of Denmark his Letters to Q. Mary for Miles Câ—uâ—rdale 256 Causon of Thunderst in Essex for maintayning the truth burned at Kayley 262 Christopher Wade burned at Dartford for denying the reall presence in the Sacrament 281 Cornelius Burgie burned 295 Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury his parentage and education hee is sent Ambassador to the Emperour he is sent Ambassadour to the Pope he seekes to banish Popish errors and to reforme the Church he is charged with heresie for denying the Popes power he is condemned and disgraded by Bonner Bonners Oration in disgrace of him he is allured to recant by fair promises and entreaty his martyrdome from fol. 315. to 32â— Christopher Liâ—â—er burned 322 Cisley Ormes burned 343 Cuthbert Simpson Martyr 354 Christian George burned 357 Christopher Browne burned at Canterbury 365 D. DEscription of the Primitiue and later times of the Church 1 Domitius Caesar. 2 Dâ—cius tyrannie against Christians 11 Danes enter England and burn the I le of Sheppey in Kent 30 Danes take Yorke 32 Dunston Abbot of Glastenbury banished by Eâ—â— wine 36 Danes arriue and do much spoile 39 Danes suddenly slaine vpon S. Brices day 40 Danes begin to be Christians 41 Diuers Popes at one time 52 Dominicans or black Fryers order instituted 78 Diuorce of K. Henry the eighth and Q. Katharine 174 Duke of Norfolk committed 201 Destruction of Merindall Cabriers in Fr. 202 â—od alias Scot burnt at Callice 206 Daâ—id Beaton Archb. and Cardinal in Scotland his miserable end and buriall in a dunghill 215 Duke of Sommerset protector his history proclamation against him sent to the Tower discharged againe committed to the Tower again arraigned at Westminst and condemned beheaded at Tower-hill 230 231 232 Duke of Northumberland beheaded 235 Dagger throwne at the Preacher at Paules crosse ibid. Disputations in the Conuocation house about the Sacrament 256 Duke of Suffolk brought to the Tower ib. Duke of Suffolke beheaded at the Tower-hill 239 Derick Caruer condemned 281 Dunstone Chittenden famished in the Castle of Canterbury 329 Denis Burges Martyred at Lewis 332 Denis Brigs martyred 349 Dunning the cruell Chancellors sudden death 356 E. EVstachius a Captain with his wife family martyred 4 England troubled only with the tenth persecution 16 Ethelbert King of Kent 21 Edwine conuerted by Paulinus and christened at Yorke 25 Ethelwood conuerts the people of South-sax 26 Empire translated from the Grecians to the Frenchmen 28 Egbert sole King 30 Ethelwolph Bishop of Winchester succeedes K. by the Popes dispensation his superstition ibib Edw. the elder subdues Wales and Scotland and is alwaies victorious 35 Edmund expels the Danes and is slaine at Glassenbury 36 Edwine crowned at Kingstone ibid. Edward succeds Edgar and is murthered 39 Egelred King ibid. Elphegus Bishop of Canterbury put to death at Grenwich 40 Eldred driues out Canutus ibid. Edmund sirnamed Ironside
chosen King by the Citizens of London and Nobles 41 Edricus kills Edmund ibid. Edward the sonne of Emma chosen King and crowned at Winchester ibid Elinor Cobham banished into the Isle of Man 147 Elizabeth Sampson conuented for speaking against Pilgrimages ibid. Elizabeth Burton called the holy-maid of Kent a notable imposter put to death 184 Edward the sixt King of England restores the Scriptures in the mother tongue 220 Edward the sixt dies his praier at his death 233 234 Elizabeth Warne Martyr 285 Edward Sharpe like pure golde tried in the fire 329 Edmund Allen and Katharine his wife martyrs 332 Elizabeth a blinde maide Martyr ibid. Elizabeth Hooper burned 339 Ellen Euring denying the lawes set out by the Pope condemned 340 Elizabeth Falkes examined and condemned ibid. F. FRedericke the Emperour ouerthrown by the Venetians and taken 54 Franciscans order begun 78 Fredericke the second Emperour persecuted by Popes 83 Foure and twenty burned in Paris 185 Fiue burned in Scotland 186 Fetherston for denying the supremacie hanged 200 Frier burned at Rochestâ—r 343 G. GOdwin forswearing himselfe choked 42 Gregory the eighth Pope 50 Grosthead Bishop of Lincolne 84 George Carpenter burned 167 George Constantine apprehended for heresie 171 Gefferey Lon for dispersing of Luthers bookes forced to abiuâ—â— 178 Giles Germaâ—e burned at S. Giles in the fields 192 George Blage Knight imprisoned and condemned for speaking against the Masse but pardoned 209 George Wisard of Scotland his persecution and martyrdome 214 Gardner Bishop of Winchester sent to the Tower 220 Gernsey and Gersey inuaded by the French 225 Gardner an Englishman cruelly tormented at Lisbon in Portugall for maintayning of the truth 228 Gibbets set vp for Wiats souldiers 244 Gardner Bishop of Winchester his Sermon at Paules crosse 247 Gardner calls the Preacher before him at Saint Mary-Oueries 249 Gods iudgement vpon the Parson of Arundell 264 George Marsh cruelly vsed and burned 267 George Tankerfield of London Cook condemned 285 George King died in prison ibid. George Catmer burned 290 George Broadbridge burned at Canterburie 291 Gardner Bishop of Winchester his historie and death 303 George Soper burned at Canterburie 304 George Parke burned at Canterbury ibid. George Ambrose Fuller burned in Smithfield 327 George Stephens martyred 332 George Eagles alias Trudgeouer hanged drawn and quartered betweene two Theeues 342 George Eagles sister burned 343 H. HIeraclius cuts off the Popes hands feet 24 Harold last King of the Saxons 42 Hildebrana Pope a Sorcerer 45 Honorious the second Pope 51 He is taken with whores ibid. Henry the first king of England dies ibid. Henry the second his pennance for the death of Becket 67 He diuides the Realme into sixe parts and ordaines Iustices of Assizes 68 His great fame and large Dominions ibid. Henry the Sonne of Henry the second his disobedience and death 69 Hildegris is a Propheâ—â—sse 79 Henry the third King of England 81 Henry the fift crowned 104 Hugh Pie of Ludney for holding sundry opinions contrary to the Church of Rome accused and purged before the Bishoppe of Norwitch 141 Henry the fifts cruell commition for aâ—taching sundry suspected of Lolardy ibid. Harman Peterson committed to the Counter for not being confessed in Lent 161 Henry Voz burned at â—â—uxels for maintaining Luthers opinions 161 Henry Sudphen of Breame his piety persecution and martyrdome 163. 164. Henry the 8. entitled defender of the faith 170 His solemnity at the receiuing of the title of defender of the faith ibid. Henry Finmore Taylor burnt at Winsor 201 Haruy a Commissary a persecutor hanged drawne and quartered 206 Homes a Yeoman of the Guard his cruelâ—ie to Doctor Taylor 261 Higbed of Horden burnt at Horden 262 Humphry Middleton martired at Canterbury 280 Henry Laurence burnt at Canterbury 284 Hugh Latimer Bishoppe of Worcester his conference with Antonian his parentage his godly Sermuns his charity to the poore and needy accused of heresie his subscription to certaine Articles propounded vnto him he is committed to the Tower his prayer for the Lady Elizabeth his martyrdome at Oxford with Bishoppe Ridley from folio 293. to 303. Hugh Lame Rock an old lame man burned at stratford the Bow 322 Hooke burned at Chester 329 Hugh Fox burned in Smithfield 354 Henry Pond burned in Smithfield 362 I IErusalem destroyed by Tytus Vespasian 2 Iohn banished to bathmos 3 Iudas Thadeus slaine ibid. Iraeneus with many others martired 8 Ignatius martyr 4 Iue King of West Saxons goes to Rome 26 Innocentius the second Pope 51 Iohn King of England 71 Iohn Claydon a Currier burnt in Smithfield 104 Iohn Hus his History his Articles put to him his answer his constant end 113. 114. 115. Ierome of Pragâ— his hard vsage and marryrdome 125. 126. Iohn Wadden Priest burned 142 Iohn Wendham of Alborough cruelly handled for maintayning the truth ibid. Iohn Beuerley whipped for the truth ibid. Iâ—hn Stelley of Flixton forced to abiure 143 Iohn Burrell forced to abiure ibid. Iohn Finch forced to doe penance ibid. Iubilee at Rome 145. 146. Iulius the second Pope exceedes all his predeceâ—sors in iniquity 151 Iohn Coyns for contemning the Sacrament of the Altar and not receuing at Easter died at Saint Martins 160 Iames Gossen Dutchman committed for not receiuing at Easter 161 Iohn Wiâ—cock a Scotish Frier committed for preaching against holy water and purgatory ibid. Iohn Esry burned ibid. Iohn Athelane burned 165 Iohn Thewxbury burned in Smithfield 179 Iohn Randall found in his study hanged in his girdle 180 Iohn Frith Martyred 18â— Iohn Lambert martyred 187. 188 Iohn Painter burned 192 Iniunctions set out in the 38. yeare of King Henry the eight ibâ—d Iohn Porter a taylor famished to death 200 Idolatry suppâ—essed 〈◊〉 Iames Morten burned ibid. Iohn Marbeck condemned and pardoned by the King 211 Iohn Athee indited for speaking against the Sacrament ibid. Iohn Adams burnt 209 Iohn Lacels a Gentleman burnt ibid. Iohn Browne burnt 219. Iohn Hun troubled about the Sacrament 221 Ioh. Alasco vncle to the k. of Poland banisht 239 Iests of a Roode at Cockram in Lancashire 248 Iames George dies in prison and is buried in the fields 249 Iohn Rogers first Martyre in Q. Maries daies 249. 250 Ihon Hooper his martyrdome 254. Ihon Laurence burned at Colchester 264. Iudge Hales his History and death 265. Iulius the third Pope his wicked life and prophanenesse 266. Ihon Awcoke died in prison Ibid. Iohannes de casa a Deane of the Popes chamber playes the Sodomite and defends it Ibid. Iohn Cardmaker his martyrdome 268. Iohn Warne burned Ibid. Iohn Hardley his martyrdome 274. Iohn Simpson suffered at Rochford for maintayning the truth Ibid. Iohn Bradford his reasons against transubstantiation and his martyrdome 275 to 278. Iohn Lease a prentice burned with Maister Bradford 278 Iohn Bland martyred 279. Iohn Franbesh martyred 280. Iames Treuisam persecuted and after his death buried in More fields 281 Iohn Lanuder of Godstone martired for the truth 282. Iohn Aleworth dyed in prison 283. Iames Abbs burned
That all Church seruice should be in Latine except with the Sclauonians and Polonians Sequences in Masse were by him first allowed by him Priests began to be â—â—strained from Mariage wherof Hulderick Bishop of Ausâ—rough sent a Letter to the Pope that his Decrees concerning single life of the Clergie were farre discrepant from al discretion I feare how the Members of the Body wil do when the Head is so greatly out of frame Is not this a violence tyranny when a man is compelled by your Decrees to doe that which is against the Institution of the Gospell and the old Law as appeareth by many examples there be many vnder a false pretence of Continencie going about to please men more then God some lye with their fathers wiues some are Sodomits and play the beasts with brute beasts wherefore as Saint Paul saith Because of Fornication let euery one haue his owne wife When the Counsell of Nice went about to establish this Decrée one Paphnutius withstood them confessing Mariage to be honorable and called the bed of Matrimonie Chastitie and perswaded the Counsell from making that Law some take Saint Gregory for their defence in this matter being ignorantly deceiued how dangerous this Decree was and how Saint Gregory after reâ—â—ked the same with conâ—igne fruit of repentance for as he sent to his Fish pond to haue Fish hée sée more then 6000. Infants heads which were taken out of the same Mote then he confessed his Decrée to be the cause of that so lamentable a murder so he altered his Decrée commending the counsell of the Apostle which saith It is better to marry then to burne What can be more foolish then when any Bishop or Archdeacon runne themselues headlong into all lust and Adultery and Incest and Soâ—omitrie yet shame not to say that chaste Mariage of Priests stinkes and they adde this filthy and foolish suggestion that it is more honest priuily to haue to doe with many women then openly to be bound to one wife After this Nicholas succéeded Pope Adrianus the 2. Ioannes the 9. Martinus the 20 Adrian the 3. and Stephen the 1. By this Adrian it was decreed that no Emperour after that time should haue any thing â—o doe in the election of the Pope and thus began the Emperours first decay and the Pâ—pacie to swell and rise aloâ—t About the latter end of the raigne of Ethelwolfe the Danes with 33. ships arriued about Hampshire through whose barbarous tyranny much blâ—ut shed and murder hapneâ— heere amongst English men They first ouercame Ethelwolfe and after he and his Sonne Ethelbaldus warring against them in Souâ—herâ— at Okley â—raue them to the Sea where they houering a space burst in againe with horrible crueltie Besids the iust Iudgement of God for their manifold sinnes which at this time most plentifully abounded there was two outward causes of the Danes comming into England the first was the death of Lothbroke which was falsly imputed to King Edmond as is â—â—â—ore recited The other was giuen by the meanes of Osbright raigning vnder the King of West Saxons in the North parts who rauished the wife of Bruer one of his Nobles wherefore the said Bruer tooke shipping and sayled into Denmarkâ— where hee was brought vp and had great friends and making his mone to Codrinus the King who being glad of some iust quarrell leuied a great Army and sent them with â—ugnar and Hâ—bba his chiefe Captaines into England who first arriued at Holdernesse and burned vp the Contry and killed without mercie men women and children and entring towards Yorke entred battell with Osbright where he with the most part of his Army was slaine so they tooke possession of Yorke Ethelbald eldest sonne of Ethelwolfe succeeded his Father in Westsex and Ethelbright â—is second sonne in Kâ—nt they raigned both together 5. yeares Ethelbald maried Iudith his Stepmother his Fathers wife After these two succeeded Ethelred his third sonne he was so incumbred with the Danes that he and his brother Alured fought nine battels with them in one yeare and they spoyled and burned the citie of Yorke The Northumberlands likewise rebelled thinking to recouer their Kingdome againe whereby the strength of England was weakened and the Danes the more preuailed after he had raigned 5. yeares in much trouble he died Alured otherwise called Alfride his brother succeeded him in the second Monâ—tâ— that he was made King he gaue the Danes a battell besides Wilton but he was put to the worst yet the Danes did agree with him to depart out of Westsax and reâ—â—ned from Reâ—ding to London and abode there all that winter the number of the Danes were so increased as it is written of thâ—m that in one day 3000. of them were slaine shoâ—ty after they increased double as many The Danes hauing the Rule of the North part of England from the Thames wiâ—h Mâ—rcian London and Essex they disdaâ—â—ed that Alfride should beare any rule on the other side of the Thames whereupon three Kings of the Danes with all their strength made warre with him that King Alfride being ouerset with his eâ—emiâ—s and forsaken of his people he withdrew himselfe into a wood Country in Summersetshire called Etheling standing in a Marsh that there is no comming to it without boâ—e where he had nothing to liue by but what he got by hunting and fishing there was a Cottage of a poore Swineheard called Dunwolfus by whom the King was cheered with such poore fare as he and his wife could make him for which the king after set the Swineheard to learning and made him Bishop of Winchester Notwithstanding the king in time was comforted by the prouidence of God First 1300. Danes were slaine as they landed by an ambushment of King Alfrids men who lay in Garison for their owne safetie then the King shewed himselfe more at large and men out of Wiltshire Somersetshire and Hampshire came to him vntill hee had a strong company Then the king apparelled himselfe in the habit of a Minstrell as he was very skilfull in Musicke and entred into the Tents of the Danes lying at Eddingdon and there espied their Idlenesse and heard much of their Counsell and sodainly in the nigh he fell vpon the Danes and slew a great multitude of them his Subiects bearing of his manly Uictories drew to him daily so he wonne Winchester from the Danes and diuers other townes and forced them to sêeke peace the which was concluded vpon condition that Gutrum their King should be Christned and that such as would not be Christned should depart the Country King Alfride was king Gutrums Godfather at his Baptisme and named him Athelstan then he gaue Norfolke Suffolke and part of Cambridgeshire and Northumberland to them that were Christned those that would not be Christned though they departed the Realme they did diuerse times returne againe and did much spoile in many parts of the Realme but King Alfride ouercame them euer During the whole
you suffer it not to be transported out of the Realme but kéepe it vntill the returne of the Ambassadours and that you make this our inhibition common to your Arch-Deacons and Officials At length the Ambassadors came home bringing word that the Pope was greatly displeased with the Realme saying Rex Anglorum qui iam recalcitrat frederiscat suum habet consilium ego vero meum habeo quod sequar c. And that they were halfe counted Schismatickes for speaking in the Kinges behalfe and could no more be heard the King being insenfed heere-with sent out Proclamations through all the Realme that none should consent to any taxe of Money for the Pope he hearing of it in cruell rage sent to the Prelats vppon paine of interdiction to prouide the saide summes of Money by the Feast of Assumption the King for feare of the Pope durst not stand to the liberties of the Church Moreouer the gulfe of the Romish Auarice waxt so immeasurable that he shamed not vpon his curse to aske the third part of Church goods and the yearely fruit of all vacant Benefices Otho comming to Oxford lying in the house of Osney was receiued with great honour the Schollers presenting him honourable Dishes and rewards Dinner being done they came to welcome him comming to the Gate the Porter an Italian asked what they would haue and holding the doore halfe open with contumelious tearmes thrust them out they with force thrust open the gate and came in the Romaines within fell to alarum by the eares together some of the Schollers going â—or Weapons the Maister Cooke cast scalding liquor wherein meat was sodden in the face of a poore Scholler an Irish-man which waighted for Almes another Scholler a Welsh-man séeing it shot the Cooke thorough with an Arrow and killed him Whereupon was a great clamour the Cardinall hearing the tumult like a valiant Romaine ranne vp into the stéeple and locked himselfe 〈◊〉 vntill midnight The Schollers sought all corners for the Legate crying out Where is that Usurer that Symâ—niacks that Proylar and Extortioner of our Liuings and Monies Who peruerteth the King and subuerteth the Kingdome enriching himselfe with our spoyles The Cardinall heard all this and held his peace and conuayed himselfe by night vnto the King and the King sent to Oxford a garison of armed men to deliuer the Romaines which were hid for feare of the Schollers One Odo a Lawyer and thirty of the Schollers were apprehended and carried to Wallingford Castle and thence in Charts to London and by much intreaty of the Bishops were brought bare-footed to the Legats doore where they pardoned and the Uniuersity released of interdiction The State of Germany and of the Emperour Friderick the second was then as much or more pittifull then that of England who were so persecuted by Pope Innocentius Honorius Gregorius Celestinus Innocentius the fourth infamed with excommunications and did commonly warre against them in open fielde and all with English mens Money first they made him Emperour against Otho whom they depriued then for clayming his right in Apulia and Sicilia they accursed him when they had warred against him they sent him to fight against the Turkes who recouered Ierusalem Nazareth and Ioppe from the Souldane Whilst hee was occupied in these Warres these vnholy Fathers inuaded his Lands and possessions at home subduing Apulia vnder his owne possession and inhibiting his Souldiours to goe ouer to him and when the Emperour sent to the Pope and other Christian Princes his Letters gratulatory declaring what God wrought by him against the Turkes the Pope stayd the Messengers kept the Letters close and caused it to be noysed abroad that the Emperour was dead and the said Pope Gregorie the ninth wrote to the Souldane that he should not render the holy Land into the Emperours handes The Emperour hearing this stirre of the Pope tooke truce with the Souldane for tenne yeares and repayreth home and driueth the Popes Army out of Apulia and recouered all the Pope had gotten from him before The Pope laid his cursse vpon the Emperour for making truce with the Souldane and conspired with the Tuscanes and Lombards against him the Emperor at the instigations of the Princes glad to compose with the Tyrant was faine to ransome the absolution of the Pope for ten hundred thousand ounces of gold and yet hee sent to the Princes of Germany charging them to admit none of the Emperors stocke to be King of the Romaines and stirred vp the Citties of Italy against him The Emperor vnderstanding his politick and subtile traynes marched into Italy where he put downe the Rebels and recouered againe the Citties belonging to the Empire Wherefore a new excommunication was laid vpon him and all his Subiects released of obedience and loyalty and much indulgences and eternall life promised to them that would fight against him After Gregorie succéeded Celestinus the fourth who raigned not long After him succéeded Innocentius the fourth who following the steps of his predecessors called a generall Councell at Lyons as is before mentioned where standing vp he cited the Emperour his Legate required lawfull time for him to come which hee would not graunt but in his fury denounced him accursed and depriued him of his Imperiall Dignity charging him with periury and sacriledge writing Libels of defamation to all Kings The Emperour made purgation of these â—landers charging the Pope not with fained but true and most hainous crimes of slander falshood perdition periury rebellion hypocrisie and prooueth him by his Letters to be very Antichrist Hee wrote to the French King that hee much marueiled that the prudence and wisedome of the French-men did not more quicke then others sée the Popes subtilty and couetousnesse purposing to subdue all Realmes as he hath done England and doth presumptuously achieue to subdue the Maiesty of the Imperiall Crowne This Emperor departed to Apulia and there dyed being poysoned as some thinke by meanes of the Pope In the time of this Innocent dyed one Robert Grosted Byshop of Lincolne a famous learned man as that time serued whose Sermons to this day are extant in the Quéenes Library at Westminster There is one speciall Sermon written to Innocent Cestrensis writeth that he was greeued for the exactions of the Pope in England and would not admit of the Popes Nephew to be Canon of his Church Writing to the Pope that hee could not admit such into his Church which did neither know themselues nor their charges hee was therefore called to Rome and excommunicated who appealing from the Pope to Iesus Christ shortly after departed Two yeares after the said Pope being asleepe one apparelled Bishoplike appeared vnto him and striking him with his Staffe saide Surge miser veni in iudicium the next day after the Popes Bed was found bloody and he dead After Henry the third succeeded his Sonne Edward the first who raigned thirty fiue yeares Edward the second his Sonne succeeded him who raigned