What Wesley Left Out

~180 words

the  archbishop's  house  at  Otford,  being 
there  destitute  of  all  help  and  furniture  of  loooks,  as  by  his  own  words 
is  to  be  gathered.  But,  so  the  providence  of  God  Avrought  for  Lam-  The 
bert,  that  within  short  space  after,  a.d.  1533,  the  said  archbishop  a^^,',^  "^ 
Warham  died  ;  whereby  it  seemeth  that  Lambert,  for  that  time,  was  ^'fi>«P 

Ti  11TA/-1  •!  Warham. 

delivered.     In  the  mean  while  Dr.  Cranmer  was  sent  over  m  embas-  cranmer 
sage,  with  the  earl  of  Wiltshire,  Dr.  Stokesley,  Dr.  Kern,  Dr.  Benet,  ^™'to'the 
and  other  learned  men,  to  the  bishop  of  Rome  lying  then  at  Bologna,  bishop  of 
to  dispute  the  matter  of  the  king's  marriage  openly,  first  in  the  court 
of  Rome,   then  in  the  court  of  the  emperor  ;  where,   after  sundry 
promises,  and  appointments  made,  yet,  Avhen  the  time  came,  no  man 
there  appeared  to  dispute  with  them,  in  these  two  propositions  :  first,  Proposi- 
that  no  man,  'jure  Divino,'  could  or  ought  to  marry  his  brother's  craniner. 
wife  :  secondly,  that  the  bishop  of  Rome  by  no  means    ought  to 
dispense  to  the  contrary.     But  of  this  more  copiously  we  will  treat 
(the  Lord's  grace  permitting),  in  the  sequel  of  our  story,  coming  to 
Dr.  Cranmer's  life

~695 words

London,   and  there  exercised  himself  ^ury. 
about  the  stocks,  in  teaching  children  both  in  the  Greek  and  Latin 

(1)  1  Cor.  i.  (2)  Isai.  xxix. 

VOL.  V.  Q 


226  LAMBKUT    APPLIKTIl    HIMSELF    TO    LEARNING. 

Henry    toiiguc.     Aiicl  forasiuucli  as  priests,  in  those  days,  could  not  be  per- 
mitted to  have  wives,  he  left  his  priesthood,  and  applied  himself  to 


A.  D.  that  function  of  teaching,  intending  shortly  after  also  to  be  free  of 
^^•^^-  the  Grocers,  and  to  be  married.  But  God,  who  disposeth  all  men's 
])urposes  after  the  secret  pleasure  of  his  own  will,  did  both  intercept 
his  marriage,  and  also  his  freedom,  and  married  him  to  his  Son  Christ 
Jesus  (as  now  consequently  followeth  to  be  declared),*  bringing'  him 
into  the  freedom  of  his  spiritual  kingdom,  to  reign  with  him. 

And  thus  much,  briefly,  touching  the  first  education  and  bringing 
up  of  John  Lambert ;  hereafter  it  followeth  more  at  large  to  discourse 
and  declare  the  whole  process  and  order  of  his  doings  and  disputa- 
tions, with  the  order  and  manner  of  his  death  and  condemnation. 
This  death  and  punishment  of  his  happened  in  this  year  ;  being  so 
much  the  more  lamentable,  in  that  it  was  first  occasioned,  and  after- 
Avards  brought  to  pass,  by  no  others  than  by  such,  whom,  for  the 
common  society  of  the  profession  of  the  gospel,  it  had  been  more  meet 
to  have  been  authors  of  his  safeguard,  rather  than  the  causers  of  his 
destruction.  But  this  is  the  accustomed  craft  and  malice  of  that 
ancient  serpent,  which  intermeddleth  himself  in  all  congregations, 
envying  all  men's  felicity  and  welfare,  rejoicing  in  nothing  but  in  the 
death,  and  blood  of  innocents  ;  seeking  occasions  of  sedition,  not 
only  amongst  the  wicked,  but  the  good  also  ;  stirring  brethren  often- 
times to  contention  amongst  themselves ;  and  that  so  craftily,  that 
his  policies  can  never  be  perceived  until  the  mischief  be  done.  I  would 
to  God  that  as  this  is  a  common  complaint  to  all  countries,  so  this  our 
region  of  England,  amongst  others,  were  free  from  it,  and  not  more 
infected  herewith  than  the  rest.  Where  now,  in  a  manner,  shall  a 
man  find  more  slaughter  of  the  commons,  subversion  of  the  nobles, 
burning  of  good  men,  and  most  cruel  contentions,  which  are  never,  in 
a  manner,  ended  but  with  bloodshed  :  that  mischievous  disturber  of 
human  concord  and  quietness  doth  so  incessantly  rage  ! 

But  as  I  am  here  forced  to  speak  against  my  will,  so  would  to  God 
that,  even  with  my  own  contumely  and  hatred,  I  might  engTave  more 
meekness  in  the  hearts  of  our  men  ;  which,  notwithstanding,  I  doubt 
not  but  will  shortly  come  to  pass,  by  the  most  prosperous  success 
of  learning,  which  daily  flourisheth  more  and  more  in  England  :  and 
as  it  is  to  be  hoped,  foreign  examples,  and  greater  experience  of  things, 
will  bring  a  more  civility  to  this,  which  is  already  obtained  by 
learning.  But,  because  we  will  not  pass  our  bounds  too  far,  we  will 
return  again  to  the  matter  as  touching  John  Lambert,  intending  to 
make  declaration  of  his  cause  even  from  the  first  beginning,  so  far 
forth  as  we  could  attain  unto  the  knowledge  thereof. 

So  soon  as  the  dark  clouds  of  ignorance  were  driven  away,  and  that 
the  brightness  of  the  gospel  began  to  shine  in  England,  there  was  at 
the  same  time,  although  not  of  the  number  of  those  who  sustained  the 
first  assaults  of  the  adversaries,  the  afore-named  John  Lambert ;  who, 
partly  for  the  cruelty  of  the  time,  and  partly  for  the  desire  of 
learning,  which  he  was  always  inclined  imto,  departed  into  foreign 
lands,  being  but  a  young  man,  where  he  understood  that  learning  did 
most  flourish.  From  thence,  after  a  few  years,  he  returned  again, 
hoping  that  the  time  had  been  amended,  for  that,  by  the  means  of 

(1)  See  Edition  1563  p.  528 ;  also  Edition  1559,  p.  146  .—Ed. 


THE    FIRST    OCCASION    OF    LAMBfillx's    TKOUBLES.  227 

queen  Anne  and  Cromwell,  and  the  abolishing  of  the  pope,  all  things    Henry 
seemed  more  prosperous  and  quiet  in  England  ;  and  began  to  set  his     ^^^^- 


mind  to  the  setting  forth  of  the  gospel.*  A.  D. 

Thus  then,  after  that  John  Lambert  now  had  continued  in  this    ^538. 
vocation  of  teaching,  with  great  commendation,  and  no  less  commodity 
to  the  youth,  it  happened  this  present

~454 words

he  had  written  his  mind,  came  again  unto  him.     The  sum  of 
his  arguments  were  ten,  which  he  comprehended  in  writing,  proving 
the  truth  of  the  cause,  partly  by  the  Scriptures,  and  partly  by  good 
reason  and  by  the  doctors  :  which  arguments,  although  they  came  not  His  argu- 
all  unto  our  hands,  yet  such  men  as  were  present  at  those  affairs, 
reported  them  to  be  of  great  force  and  authority ;  and  of  a  few,  Avhich 
were  borne  away  in  memory,  the  first  reason  was  this,  gathered  upon 
Christ's  words,  where  it  is  said  in  the  gospel,  "  This  cup  is  the  New 
Testament." 

'And  if,'  saith  he,  'these  words  do  not  change  either  the  cup,  or  the  wine,  Effect  of 
corporally  into  the  New  Testament,  by  like  reason  it  is  not  agreeable  that  the  the  words 
words  spoken  of  the  bread,  should  turn  the  bread  corporally  into  the  body  of  elation 
Christ.' 

Another  reason  was  this  :  that  it  is  not  agreeable  to  a  natural  body  to  be  in  two  One  body 
places  or  more  at  one  time  :  wherefore  it  must  follow  of  necessity,  that  either  fl^  n\any 
Christ  had  not  a  natural  body,  or  else,  truly,  according  to  the  common  nature  of  places  at 
a  body,  it  cannot  be  present  in  two  places  at  once,  and  much  less  in  many,  that  J'"':'^',,"'''" 
is  to  say,  in  heaven  and  in  earth ;  on  the  right  hand  of  his  Father,  and  in  the 
sacrament. 

Moreover,  a  natural  body  cannot  be  without  its  form  and  shape,  conditions 
and  accidents  ;  like  as  the  accidents  and  conditions  also  cannot  be  without  their 
subject  or  substance.     Then,  forasmuch  as  in  the  sacrament  there  is  no  quality, 
quantity,  or  condition  of  the  body  of  Christ,  and  finally  no  appearance  at  all 
of  flesh ;    who    doth   not  plainly  perceive,  that  there  is  no  transubstantiated  forms 
body  of  his  in  the  sacrament?     And,  to  reason  by  the  contrary :  All  the  proper  cannot  be 
conditions,  signs,  and  accidents,  whatsoever  they  be,  pertaining  to  bread,  we  do  ("g's^b- 
see  to  be  present  in  the  sacrament,  which  cannot  be  there  without  the  subject ;  ject. 
therefore  we  must  of  necessity  confess  the  bread  to  be  there. 

He  added  also  many  other  allegations  out  of  the  doctors.  But  to 
be  short,  this  Taylor  the  preacher,  whom  I  spake  of  before,  willing 
and  desiring,  as  is  supposed,  of  a  good  mind  to  satisfy  Lambert  in 
this  matter,  amongst  others  whom  he  took  to  counsel,  he  also  con- 
ferred -with  Dr.  Barnes  ;  which  Barnes,  although  he  did  otherwise  Bames. 

(1)  He  died  in  1554.  [' Si  non  inter  martyres,  at  confessiores,' &c.  See  Edition  1553,  p.  147. 
—Ed.] 

q2 


228  THE    PKllNICIOUS    COUNSELS    OF    GARDINER. 

iTmry   favour  thc  gospcl,  and  was  an  earnest  preacher,  notwitlistanding  seemed 
not  greatly  to  favour  this  cause ;  fearing,  peradventurc,  that  it  would 


A. p.    {jyeej  among  the  people  some  let  or  hinderance  to  the  preaching  of 
1_L  thc  gospel  (which  was  now  in  a  good  forwardness),  if  such  sacramen- 


taries  should  be  suifered.  He  persuaded  Taylor,  by  and  by,  to  put 
up  the  matter  to

~437 words

the  bishops  to  the  king's  majesty.  But  howsoever  the  matter 
was,  the  rumour  of  that  disputation  was,  by  and  by,  spread  throughout 
the  whole  court. 

I   told  you   before,  how  that   king   Henry  for   two  years   past, 

showing  the  part  of  a  hard  husband,  had  beheaded  queen  Anne  his 

wife ;  which  deed  did  not  only  greatly  displease  the  German  princes 

(who   for   that   only  cause  had  broken  off  the   league  Avith  him, 

A.D.  1536),  but  also  many  other  good  men  in  England.     Moreover, 

how  that,  Avithin  a  while  after,  abbeys  began  to  be  subverted,  and  all 

their  goods  to  be  confiscated  and  given  abroad:  for  which  causes, 

but  especially  for  the  late  abolishing  of  the  bishop  of  Rome,  the 

commons  had  conceived  a  very  evil  opinion  of  him,  insomuch  that 

the  seditious  sort  rebelled  against  him. 

Gardiner       At  that  time  Stephen  Gardiner,  then  bishop  of  Winchester,  was 

winche°-  in  authority  amongst  the  king's  councillors,  who,  as  he  was  of  a  cruel 

^"'         nature,  so  was  he  no  less  of  a  subtle  and  crafty  wit,  ever  gaping  for 

some  occasion  how  to  let  and  hinder  thc  gospel :  albeit  a  long  time 

he  was  not  so  greatly  esteemed  with  the  king,  that  he  could  much 

prevail  to  achieve  his  conceived  purpose.     But,  at  length,  upon  this 

matter  advising  himself,  he  thought  he  had  apt  occasion  and  oppor- 

The  per-  tuuity  to  accomplisli  his  desire  :  neither  did  he  foreslack  the  occasion 

counsel    ministcred,  but  went  straight  unto  the  king,  privily  admonishing  him, 

y^^^      and  with  fair  flattering  words  giving  him  most  pernicious  counsel. 

Winches-  declaring  how  great  hatred  and  suspicion  was  raised  upon  him  in 

'"■         almost  all  places;  first,  for  abolishing  the  bishop  of  Rome's  authority; 

then  for  subversion  of  the  monasteries ;  and  also  for  that  the  divorce 

of  queen  Katherinc  was  yet  fresh  in  men's  minds  :  and  now  the  time 

served,  if  he  would  take  it,  easily  to  remedy  all  these  matters,  and 

pacify  the  minds  of  them  that  were  displeased  and  offended  with  him, 

if  only  in  this  matter  of  John  Lambert  he  would  manifest  unto  the 

people  how  stoutly  he  would  resist  heretics  ;  and  by  this  new  rumour 

he  Avould  bring  to  pass,  not  only  to  extinguish  all  other  former 

rumours,  and  as  it  were  with  one  nail  to  cbive  out  another,  but  also 

should  discharge  himself  of  all  suspicion,  in  that  he  now  began  to  be 

reported  to  be  a  favourer  of  ncAv  sects  and  opinions. 

The  king,  giving  ear  more  willingly  than  prudently  or  godlily  to 


A    GREAT    COUNCIL    HOLDKN  AGAINST    HERETICS.  229 

this  siren,  immediately  received  the  wicked  counsel  of  the  bishop,  and    ti'^nru 

by  and  by

~250 words

like  reason,  may  it  not  be  in  many 
places  ? 

In  this  manner  the  archbishop  began  to  refute  the  second  argu- 
ment of  Lambert,  which,  as  we  have  before  said,  was  written  and 
delivered  by  the  said  Lambert  unto  the  preacher  ;  for  the  king  had 
first  disputed  against  his  first  reason. 

Lambert  answered  unto  this  argument,   saying,  that   the  minor  i-am- 
was  not  thereby  proved,  that  Christ's  body  was  dispersed  in  two  places  JweAo"' 
or  more,  but  remained  rather  still  in  one  place,  as  touching  the  man-  J;™'sob- 
ner  of  his  body.     For  the  Scripture  doth  not  say  that  Christ,  being  jettion. 
upon    earth,    did  speak   unto    Paul ;   but  that  "  suddenly   a   light 
from  heaven  did  shine  round  about  him,  and  he,  falling  to  the  ground, 
heard  a  voice,  saying  unto  him,  Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutest  thou  me  ? 
I   am  Jesus  whom  thou  persecutest,"  &c.'     Here  this  place  doth 
nothing  let,  but  that  Christ,  sitting  in  heaven,  might  speak  unto  Paul, 
and  be  heard  upon  earth :  for  they  that  were  with  Paul  verily  heard 
the  voice,  but  did  see  no  body. 

The  archbishop,  on  the  contrary  part,  said,   "  Paul  himself  doth  His  reply, 
witness  that  Christ  did  appear  unto  him  in  the  same  vision." 

But  Lambert  again  said,  that  Christ  did  witness  in  the  same  place, 
that  "  he  would  again  appear  unto  him,  and  deliver  him  out  of  the  Answer 
hands  of  the  Gentiles :"  notwithstanding,  we  read  in  no  place  that  repiy!^ 
Christ  did  corporally  appear  unto  him. 

Thus  when  they  had  contended  about  the  conversion  of  St.  Paul, 
and  Lambert  so  answering  for  himself

~231 words

he  was  in  two  or  in 

L_  divers  places,  according  to  tlie  manner  of  his  body. 

A.  D.        Then  Winchester  again,  abusing  the  authority  of  Paul,  repeated 
^'^^^'    the  ])lace  out  of  2  Cor.  v.,  "  And  if  so  be  we  have  known  Christ  after 
the  flesh,  now,  henceforth,  know  we  him  so  no  more,'"'  &c. 
Lambert        Lauibcrt  auswcrcd,  that  this  knowledge  is  not  to  be  understood 
eth  lu      according  to  the  sense  of  the  body,  and  that  it  so  appeared  sufficiently 
ter""  "-s-  \^y  g^_  Paul,  who,  spcakiug  of  his  own  revelation,  saith  thus :  "  I 
know  one,  whether  in  the  body,  or  without  the  body,  God  knoweth, 
who  was  rapt  into  the  third  heaven ;  and  I  know  not  whether  in  the 
body  or  without,  God  knoweth  :"  whereby,  even  by  the  testimony  of 
St.  Paul,  a  man  shall  easily  gather,  that  in  this  revelation  he  was 
taken  up  in  spirit  into  the  heavens,  and  did  see  those  things  ;  rather 
than  that  Christ  came  down  corporally  from  heaven,  to  show  them 
unto  him  :  especially  for  that  it  was  said  by  the  angel,  that  even  as 
he  ascended  into  heaven,  so  he  should  come  again.     And  St.  Peter 
saith,  "  whom  it  behoveth  to  dwell  in  the  heavens."    And  moreover, 
appointing  the  measure  of  time,  he  addeth,  "  even  until  that  all  things 
be  restored,"  &c.     Here  again,  Lambert,  being  taunted  and  rebuked, 
could  not  be  suffered  to  prosecute  his  purpose. 
i)ishoi?of       After  the  bishop  of  Winchester  had   done,  Tonstal,  bishop  of 
a'aili's™'  Durham

~884 words

commandment,  taking  the  schedule  of  con- 
demnation in  hand,  read  the  same  ;  wherein  was  contained  the  burning 
of  heretics,  who  either  spake  or  wrote  any  thing,  or  had  any  books  by 
them,  repugnant  or  disagreeing  from  their  papistical  church  and  tra- 
dition touching  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  :  also  a  decree  that  the 
same  should  be  set  upon  the  church  porches,  and  be  read  four  times 
every  year  in  every  church  throughout  the  realm,  whereby  the  wor- 
shipping of  the  bread  should  be  the  more  firmly  fixed  in  the  hearts 
of  the  people.     And  in  this  manner  was  the  condemnation  of  John 
Lambert ;  wherein  great  pity  it  was,  and  much  to  be  lamented,  to 
see  the  king's  highness  that  day  so  to  oppose,  and  set  his  power  and 
strength  so  fiercely  and  vehemently,  in  assisting  so  many  proud  and 
furious  adversaries  against  that  one  poor  silly  soul,  to  be  devoured, 
whom  his  majesty,  with  more  honour,  might  rather  have  aided  and 
supported,  being  so  on  every  side  oppressed  and  compassed  abou^t 
without  help  or  refuge,  among  so  many  wolves  and  vultures  ;  espe- 
cially in  such  a  cause,  tending  to  no  derogation  to  him  nor  his  realm, 
but  rather  to  the  necessary  reformation  of  sincere  truth  and  doctrine 
The  part  dccaycd.     For  therein,  especially,  consistcth  the  honom*  of  princes, 
i)rinfe°.°    to  pity  the  miserable,  to  relieve  the  oppressed,  to  rescue  the  wrongs 
of  the  poor,  and  to  tender  and  respect  the  weaker  part,  especially 
where  right  and  truth  stand  with  him  :   which  if  the  king  had  done 
that  day,  it  had  been,  in  my  mind,  not  so  much  for  the  comfort  of 
that  poor  persecuted  creature,  as  it  would  have  redounded  to  the  im- 
mortal renown  of  his  princely  estate  to  all  posterity. 


HIS    MARTYRDOM.  235 

*  But'  how  mucli  more  commendable  for  thee,  O  king  Henry  !    Henry 

(if  that  I  may  a  little  talk  with  thee,  wheresoever  thou  art,)  if  thou _ 

hadst  aided  and  holpen  the  poor  little  sheep,  being  in  so  great  perils  A.  D. 
and  dangers,  requiring  thy  aid  and  help  against  so  many  vultures  and  ^^^^- 
leopards  ;  and  hadst  granted  him  thy  authority,  to  use  the  same  for 
his  safeguard,  rather  than  unto  the  others,  to  abuse  it  unto  slaughter. 
For  they,  even  of  themselves,  were  cruel  enough,  that  thou  shouldst 
not  have  needed  to  have  given  thy  sword  of  authority  unto  those  mad 
men,  whose  force  and  violence  if  you  had  that  day  broken,  believe 
me  !  you  should  have  committed  a  worthy  spectacle  unto  all  men, 
and  have  done  a  most  commendable  and  praiseworthy  thing  for  your- 
self. For  what  hath  that  poor  man  Lambert  offended  against  you, 
who  never  so  much  as  once  willed  you  evil,  neither  could  resist 
against  you  ! 

But,  peradventure,  you  thought  him  to  be  a  heretic  !  At  the 
least  his  reasons  and  allegations  should  have  been  moderately  heard  ; 
which  if  they  had  seemed  more  sound,  you  should  have  given  place 
unto  the  truth  ;  if  not,  notwithstanding,  he  should  have  been  con- 
vinced, either  with  the  like  or  more  strong  arguments,  and  have  been 
reclaimed  by  all  manner  of  means  again  into  the  way  ;  for  an  error 
is  not  overcome  with  violence,  but  with  truth.  Truly  it  Avas  not 
meet  that  you  should  have  refused  him,  who  so  obediently  yielded 
and  submitted  himself  unto  you.  But,  O  king  Henry  !  I  know  you 
did  not  follow  your  own  nature  therein,  but  the  pernicious  counsels 
of  the  bishop  of  Winchester  :  notwithstanding,  your  wisdom  should 
not  have  been  ignorant  of  this  (which  all  other  kings  also  ought  to 
consider,  who,  at  this  present,  through  the  wicked  insinuations  of  the 
bishops  and  cardinals,  do  so  rage  against  the  simple  servants  of  Christ), 
that  the  time  shall  once  come,  when  ye  shall  give  account  for  all 
the  offences  which  you  have  either  committed  by  your  o^vn  fault,  or 
by  the  counsel  or  advice  of  others,  what  shall  then  happen,  if  these 
miserable  heretics,  which  you  here  in  this  world  do  so  afflict  and 
torment,  shall  come  with  Christ,  and  his  apostles  and  martyrs,  to 
judge  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel,  sitting  upon  their  seats  ?  if  they,  with 
like  severity,  shall  execute  their  power  upon  you,  what  then  I  say 
shall  become  of  you  ?  With  what  face  will  ye  behold  their  majesty, 
who  here  in  this  world  have  showed  no  countenances  of  pity  upon 
them  ?  With  what  heart  will  ye  implore  their  mercy,  who  so  unmer- 
cifully rejected  and  cast  them  off,  when  they  fled  unto  your  pity  and 
mercy  ?  Wherefore,  if  that  the  ears  of  princes  be  so  prompt  and 
ready  to  hearken  unto  the  counsels  of  others,  being  void  of  counsel 
themselves,  why  do  they  not  rather  set  apart  these  flatterers,  back- 
biters, and  greedy  blood-suckers,  and  hearken  unto  the  wholesome 
counsel  of  the  prophetical  king?  who,  crying  out  in  the  Psalms, 
sayeth,  "  Now,  ye  kings,  understand,  and  ye  which  judge  the  earth 
be  wise  and  learned,  serve  the  Lord  in  fear,  and  rejoice  in  him  with 
trembling.  Embrace  his  Son,  least  that  ye  err  and  perish  from  the 
just  way ;  for,  when  his  wrath  shall  suddenly  kindle,  blessed  are  all 
they  which  trust  in  him.""  * 

But  thus  was  John  Lambert,  in  this  bloody  session,  by  the  king 
judged  and  condemned  to  death ;  whose  judgment  now  remaineth 

(1)  See  Edition  1563,  pp.  533,  534  ;  also  Edition  1559,  p.  153.— Ed. 


236  Lambert's  apology  to  the  king. 

Henry    with  tlic  Lorcl  affainst  that  day,  when  before  the  tribunal  scat  of 

VIII  • 

, L_  that  great  Judge

~165 words

being  a  smith*'s  son,  Avhose  mother  married  aftcrAvards  to  a  shearman.'^ 

In  the  simple  estate  and  rude  beginnings  of  this  man,  as  of  divers 

others  before  him,  Ave  may  sec  and  learn,  that  the  excellency  of  noble 

virtues  and  heroical  proAvesses  Avhich  advance  to  fame  and  honour, 

stand  not  only  upon  birth  and  blood,  as  privileges  only  entailed 

and  appropriate  to  noble  houses ;  but  are  disposed  indifferently,  and 

proceed  of  the  gift  of  God,  Avho  raiscth  up  the  poor  abject  many  times 

out   of  the  dunghill,  and  matcheth  him  in  throne  Avitli  peers  and 

princes.* 

commen-      ^s  touchiug  the  Order  and  manner  of  his  coming  up,  it  Avould  be 

dation  of  supcrfluous  to  discoursc  what  may  be  said  at  large ;  only,  by  Avay  of 

weT       story,  it  may  suffice  to  give  a  touch  of  certain  particulars,  and  so 

(1)  See  Edition,  l.iC3,  p.  589.— Ed.        (2)  '  Shireman.'  Edit.  15"0.— Ld.        (3)  Psalm  cxiii.  7, 8. 


THE    LIFE    OF    THE    LORD    CROMWELL.  363 

to  proceed.     Although  the  humble  condition  and  poverty  of  this    iienry 
man  was  at  the  beginning  (as  it  is  to  many  others)  a  great  let  and 


liinderance  for  virtue  to  show  herself ;  yet

~1,423 words

be  their  clerk  or  secretary,  or 
in  some  such  like  condition  placed,  pertaining  to  their  affairs. 

It  happened,  the  same  time,  that  the  town  of  Boston  thought  good  The 
to  send  up  to  Rome,  for  renewing  of  their  two  pardons,  one  called  merthan- 
the  greater  pardon,  the  other  the  lesser  pardon.  Which  thing  although  t'l^e*^^^"^ 
it  should  stand  them  in  great  expenses  of  money  (for  the  pope's 
merchandise  is  always  dear  ware),  yet  notwithstanding,  such  sweetness 
they  had  felt  thereof,  and  such  gain  to  come  to  their  town  by  that 
Romish  merchandise  (as  all  superstition  is  commonly  gainful),  that 
they,  like  good  catholic  merchants,  and  the  pope's  good  customers, 
thought  to  spare  for  no  cost,  to  have  their  leases  again  of  their  pardons  His  leases- 
renewed,  whatsoever  they  paid  for  the  fine.     And  yet  was  all  this  doM." 
good  religion  then,  such  was  the  lamentable  blindness  of  that  time. 

This  then  being  so  determined  and  decreed  among  my  country- 
men of  Boston,  to  have  their  pardons'  needs  repaired  and  renewed 
from  Rome,  one  Geffery  Chambers,  and  another  companion,  were 
sent  as  the  messengers,  with  writings  and  money  no  small  quantity, 
well  furnished,  and  with  all  other  things  appointed,  necessary  for  so 
chargeable  and  costly  an  exploit.  Chambers,  coming  in  his  journey 
to  Antwerp,  and  misdoubting  himself  to  be  too  weak  for  the  com- 
passing of  such  a  weighty  piece  of  work,  conferred  and  persuaded 
with  Thomas  Cromwell  to  associate  him  in  that  legacy,  and  to  assist 
Imn  in  the  contriving  thereof.  Cromwell,  although  perceiving  the 
enterprise  to  be  of  no  small  difficulty,  to  traverse  the  pope's  court, 
for  the  unreasonable  expenses  amongst  those  greedy  cormorants,  yet, 
having  some  skill  of  the  Italian  tongue,  and  as  yet  not  grounded  in 
judgment  of  religion  in  those  his  youthful  days,  was  at  length 
obtained  and  content  to  give  the  adventure,  and  so  took  his  journey 
towards  Rome.  Cromwell,  loth  to  spend  much  time,  and  more  loth  cromweii 
to  spend  his  money ;  and  again,  perceiving  that  the  pope's  gi-eedy  Rome'" 
humour  must  needs  be  served  with  some  present  or  other  (for  with- 
out rewards  there  is  no  doing  at  Rome),  began  to  cast  with  himself, 


864  THE  LIFE  OF  THE  LORD  CROMWELL. 

7/enn/    what  lliinfT  best  to  ilcvisc,  wlierein  lie  might  best  serve  the  pope''s 
devotion. 


A.D.  At  length,  having  knowledge  how  that  the  pope's  holy  tooth 
1525  grcatlv  delighted  in  new-fangled  strange  delicates,  and  dainty 
15*40    Wishes,  it  came  into  his  mind  to  prepare  certain  fine  dishes  of  jelly, 

'-  after  the  best  fishion,    made   after   our  country   manner   here   in 

England ;  which,  to  them  of  Rome,  was  not  known  nor  seen  before. 
This  done,  Cromwell,  observing  his  time  accordingly,  as  the  pope 
was  newly  come  from  hunting  into  his  pavilion,  he,  with  his  com- 
panions, approached  with  his  English  presents,  brought  in  with  'a 
three  man's  song '  (as  we  call  it)  in  the  English  tongue,  and  all  after 
the  English  fashion.     The  pope,  suddenly  marvelling  at  the  strange- 
ness of  the  song,  and  understanding  that  they  were  Englishmen,  and 
that  they  came  not  empty  handed,  willed  them  to  be  called  in. 
Presents  Crouiwell    thcrc,    showing   his    obedience,    and    offering   his    jolly 
pope.^      junkets,  "  such  as  kings  and  princes  only,"  said  he,  "  in  the  realm  of 
^/Boston  England  use  to  feed  upon,"  desired  the  same  to  be  accepted  in  benc- 
pardons.   volcut  part,  whicli  he  and  his  companions,  as  poor  suitors  unto  his 
holiness,  had  there  brought  and  presented,  as  novelties  meet  for  his 
recreation,  &c. 

Pope  Julius,  seeing  the  strangeness  of  the  dishes,  commanded  by 
and  by  his  cardinal  to  take  the  assay;  who,  in  tasting  thereof,  liked 
it  so  well,  and  so  likewise  the  pope  after  him,  that  knowing  of  them 
what  their  suits  were,  and  requiring  them  to  make  known  the  making 
of  that  meat,  he,  incontinent,  without  any  more  ado,  stamped  both 
their  pardons,  as  well  the  gi-eater  as  the  lesser. 
Boston         And  thus  were  the  jolly  pardons  of  the  town  of  Boston  obtained, 
obtained   as  you  have  heard,  for  the  maintenance  of  their  decayed  port.     The 
at  Rome.  ^Qpy  (jf  thcsc  pardous   (whicli  I  have  in  my  hands),  briefly  com- 
prehended, Cometh  to  this  effect : 

THE    EFFECT    AND    COXTEXTS    OF    THE    BOSTON    PARDONS. 

Their  Tliat  all  the  brethren  and  sisters  of  the  Guild  of  Our  Lady  in  St.  Botolph's 

eft'ect  and  church   at  Boston,  should  have  free  license  to  choose  for  their  confessor  or 

ghostly  father  -vvhom  they  would,  either  secidar  priest  or  religious  person,  to 

assoil  them  plenarily  from  all  their  sins,  except  only  ui  cases  reserved  to  the 

pope. 

Also,  should  have  license  to  carry  about  with  them  an  altar-stone,  whereby 

they  might  have  a  priest  to  say  them  mass,  or  other  divine  service  where  they 

would,  without  prejudice  of  any  other  church  or  chapel,  though  it  were  also 

before  day,  yea  and  at  three  o'clock  after  midnight  in  the  summer  time. 

Pardon  Furthermore,  that  all  such  brethren  and  sisters  of  the  said  guild,  who  should 

for  visit-    resort  -to  the  chapel  of  Our  Lady  in  St.  Botolph's  church,  at  the  feast  of  Easter, 

Lady'"'^     Whitsuntide,   Corpus  Christi,  the  Nativity,  or  the  Assmnption  of  Our  Lady, 

chapel  in  or  in  the  octaves  of  them,  the  feast  of  St.  Michael,  and  the  first  Sunday  in 

Boston.     Lent,  should  have  pardon  no  less  than  if  they  themselves  personally  had  visited 

the  stations  of  Rome. 

Price  of         Provided  that  every  such  person,  man  or  woman,  entering  into  the  same 

Boston      guild,  at  his  first  entrance  should  give  to  the  finding  of  seven  priests,  twelve 

par  on6.    ,.|jj,j.jg{^gj.g^  j^j^d  thirteen  beadsmen,  and  to  the  lights  of  the  same  brotherhood 

and  a  grammar  school,  six  shillings  and  eight  pence  ;  and  for  every  year  after. 

twelve  pence. 

And  these  premises,  being  before  granted  by  pope  Lmocent  and  pope  Julius 
IL, this  pope  Clement  also  confirmed;  granting  moreover,  that  whatsoever  bro- 
ther or  sister  of  the  same  guild,  through  poverty,  sickness,  or  any  other  let, 
coidd  not  resort  personally  to  the  said  chapel,  notwithstanding,  he  should  be 


THE    LIFE    OF    THE    LOUD    CROMWELL 


36^ 


dispensed  withal,  as  well  for  that,  as  for  all  other  vows,  irregiilavities,  censures  Henr^ 
canonical  whatsoever ;  only  the  vow  of  going  the  stations  of  Rome,  and  going  ^^^^- 
to  St.  James  of  Compostella  excepted,  &c. 

He  also  granted  nnto  tlieni  power  to  receive  full  remission,  '  a  poena  et 
culpa,'  once  in  their  life,  or  in  the  hour  of  death. 

Item,  that  having  their  altar-stone,  they  might  have  mass  said  in  any  place, 
though  it  were  unhallowed.  Also  in  the  time  of  interdict,  to  have  mass  or  any 
sacrament  ministered;  and  also,  being  departed,  that  they  might  be  buried  in 
christian  burial,  notwithstanding  the  interdict. 

Extending,  moreover,  his  grant,  that  all  such  brethren  and  sisters,  in  resort- 
ing to  the  aforesaid  chapel  of  Our  Lady  upon  the  Nativity,  or  upon  the  As- 
sumption of  Our  Lady,  giving  supportation  to  the  aforesaid  chapel,  at  every 
such  festival  day  should  have  full  remission  of  all  their  sins.    Or  if  they,  for  any  p^.J'^gf^^" 
impediment,  could  not  be  present  at  the  chapel  aforesaid,  yet,  if  they  came  unto  ■  scala 
their  own  parish  church,  and  there  said  one  Pater-Noster,  and  Ave-Maria,  they  Cceli', 
should  enjoy  the  same  i-emission  above   specified ;  or  whosoever  came  every  ^o^g, 
Friday  to  the  same  chapel,  should  have  as  much  remission,  as  if. he  went  to  the 
chapel  of  Our  Lady  called  '  Scala  Coeli.' 

Furthermore,  that  whatsoever  christian  people,  of  what  estate  or  condition 
soever,  either  spiritual  or  temporal,  would  aid  and  support  the  chamberlains  or 
substitutes  of  the  aforesaid  guild,  should  have  five  hundred  years  of  pardon.         r^,-^^  p^p^ 

Item,  to  all  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  same  guild  was  granted  free  liberty  to  selleth 
.■eat  in  time  of  Lent,  or  other  fasting  days,  eggs,  milk,  butter,  cheese,  and  also  j^^'^J^JJ'" 
flesh,  by  the  counsel  of  their  ghostly  father  and  physician,  without  any  scruple  cheese. 
of  conscience. 

Item,  that  all  partakers  of  the  same  guild,  and  being  supporters  thereof, 
who,  once  a  quarter,  or  every  Friday  or  Saturday,  either  in  the  said  chapel  in 
St.  Botolph's  cluu-ch,  or  any  other  chapel,  of  their  devotion,  shall  say  a  Pater- 
Noster,  Ave-Maria,  and  Ci-eed,  or  shall  say,  or  cause  to  be  said,  masses  for  pardon 
souls  departed  in  pains  of  purgatory,  shall  not  only  have  the  full  remission  due  for  souls 
to  them  that  visit  the  chapel  of  Scala  Cceli,  or  of  St.  John  Lateran,  but  also,  J"^^"''"^' 
the  souls  in  purgatory  shall  enjoy  full  remission,   and  be  released  of  all  their 
pains. 

Item,  that  all  the  souls  departed  of  the  brothers  and  sisters  of  the  said  guild, 
also  the  souls  of  their  fathers  and  mothers,  shall  be  partakers  of  all  the  prayers, 
suffrages,  almoses,  fiistings,  masses,  and  matins,  pilgrimages,  and  all  other 
good  deeds  of  all  the  holy  church  militant  for  ever,  &;c. 

These  indulgencies,  pardons,  grants,  and  relaxations,  were  given 
and  granted  by  pope  Nicholas  V.,  pope  Pius  II.,  pope  Sixtus  IV., 
and  pope  Julius  II.,  of  Avhich  pope  Julius  it  seemeth  that  Cromwell 
obtained  this  pardon  aforesaid  about  the  year  of  our  Lord  1510  • 
which  pardon  again  afterwards,  through  the  request  of  king  Henry, 
A.D.  1526,  Avas  confirmed  by  pope  Clement  VII.  And  thus  much 
concerning  the  pardons  of  Boston,  renewed  by  means  of  Thomas 
Cromwell,  of  pope  Julius  11.^ 

All  this  while  it  appeareth  that  Cromwell  had  yet  no  sound

~341 words

the   same  time  one  sir  Christo])her  Hales,  knight, 
iiaie"     master  of  the  rolls,  Avho,  notwithstanding,  Avas  then  a  mighty  papist; 
fhe^roiis''^  yet  bare  he  such  favour  and  good  liking  to  CromAvell,  that  he  com- 
a  helper   nicnded  him  to  the  king,  as  a  man  most  fit  for  his  purpose,  having 
weii'^to"    then  to  do  against  the  pope.     But  here  before  is  to  be  understood, 
the  king.  .j.|^j^|.   Ci-Q^^^v^,]]  iijifl  greatly  been   complained  of  and  defamed,  by 
certain  of  authority  about  the  king,  for  his  rude  manner  and  homely 
dealing,  in  defacing  the  monks'  houses,  and  in  handling  of  their  altars, 
&c.     Wherefore  the  Icing,  hearing  of  the  name  of  CroniAvell,  began 
to  detest  the  mention  of  him  ;  neither  lacked  there  some  standers-by, 
Avho,  Avith  reviling  Avords,  ceased  not   to  increase  and   inflame  the 


THE    LIFE    OF    THE    LORD    CROMWELL.  367 

king''s  hatred  against  liirn  :  what  their  names  were  it  shall  not  need    iicnry 

here  to  recite.     Among  others,  there  present  at  the  same  hearing, 

was  the  lord  Russell,  earl  of  Bedford,  whose  life  Cromwell  before  A.D. 
had  preserved  at  Bologna,  through  politic  conveyance,  at  what  time  ^^^^ 
the  said  earl,  coming  secretly  in  the  king''s  affairs,  was  there  espied,    ,  -  ° 

and  therefore  being  in  great  danger  to  be  taken,  through  the  means '— 

and  policy  of  Cromwell  escaped. 

This  lord  Russell  therefore,  not  forgetting  the  old  benefits  past,  Lord 
and  with  like  gratuity  willing  again  to  requite  what  he  had  received,  ^^^T^f 
in  a  vehement  boldness  stood  forth,  to  take  upon  him  the  defence  of  ^'^''^''^^• 
Thomas   Cromwell,  uttering  before    the    king   many  commendable  the 
words  in  the  behalf  of  him,  and  declaring  withal  how,  by  his  singular  cromweii 
device  and  policy,  he  had  done  for  him  at  Bologna,  being  there  in  ^^^^l^^, 
the   king''s  affliirs  in  extreme  peril.     And  forasmuch  as   now   his  "a. 
majesty  had  to  do  with  the  pope,  his  great  enemy,  there  was  (he  nTJI^detu 
thought)  in  all  England  none  so  apt  for  the  king's  purpose,  who  ^  "i™"^'' 
could  say  or  do  more  in  that  matter,  than  could  Thomas  Cromwell :  '^'"s- 
and  partly  gave  the  king  to  understand  wherein.     The  king  hearing 
this,  and  specially  marking  the  latter  end  of  his  talk,  was  contented 
and

~4,261 words

had  not  resisted  continually  their  enterjjrises. 
Anassem-      It  happened  that  after  the  abolishing  of  the  pope,  certain  tumults 
learned     began  to  risc  about  religion  ;  whereupon  it  seemed  good  unto  king 
pdntedby  Henry,  to  appoint  an  assembly  of  learned  men  and  bishops,  who 
the  king,  sliould  sobcrly  and  modestly  treat  and  determine  those  things  which 
pertained  unto  religion.      Briefly,  at  the  king's  pleasure,   all   the 
learned  men,  but  especially  the  bishops,  assembled,  to  whom   this 
matter  seemed  chiefly  to  belong.      Cromwell   thought  also  to  be 
present  himself  with  the  bishops,  and,  by  chance,  meeting  Mith  Alex- 
wu™Afe-  ander  Alcsius  by  the  way,  a  Scottish  man,  brought  him  with  him  to 
to"the^**"^'  the  Convocation-house,  where  all  the  bishops  were  assembled  toge- 
assembiy.  thcr.'      This  was  in  the  year  1537.      The  bishops  and  prelates 

(1)  Matt.  XV.  13.  (2)  See  Edition  1563,  p.5i)3.— Ed. 

(3)  The  whole  of  this  account  of  what  passed  in  the  Convocation-linuse,  is  taken  hy  Foxe  verba- 
tim, with  the  exception  of  the  necessary  chanpe  of  pronouns,  from  a  statement  made  by  Alexander 
Alesius  himself  in  a  rare  tract,  an  imperfect  copy  of  which  is  in  tlie  lil)rary  of  St.  Paul's  cathedral. 
The  title  of  the  work  (which  is  wanting  in  the  copy  alluded  to)  runs  thus  :  '  Of  the  auctoritye  of 
the  Word  of  God  agaynst  the  Bisshop  of  London,  wherein  are  conteyned  certen  disputacyons  had  in 
the  Parlement  Howse  betwene  the  Bisshops,  abowt  the  nomber  of  the  Sacraments,  and  other 
things,  very  necessary  to  be  known  :  made  by  Alexander  Alane,  a  Scot,  and  sent  to  the  Duke  of 
Saxon.'  Ifimo.  From  the  same  work  it  appears  that  the  author  had  been  '  specially  called  into 
Ingland  (from  Antwerp)  by  the  right  noble  Lord  Crumwel  and  the  Archbisshop  of  Caterberj','  by 
whom  he  had  not  only  been  '  lovingly  received,'  but  also  by  the  King  himself.  He  was  subse- 
quently sent  to  Cambridge,  '  to  reade  a  lecture  of  the  scripture  there,'  but  was  stopped  by  the  oppo- 
site party,  on  an  alleged  infringement  of  the  Statutes.  On  this,  for  a  while,  he  abandoned  theology 
for  phvsic.  studying  under  '  Doctor  Nicolas '  of  London.  The  meeting  of  Alesius  with  Oroniwell, 
on  this  occasion,  appears  to  have  been  entirely  accidental.  For  a  further  account  of  Alesius,  whose 
name  is  sometimes  translated  Hales,  or  Ales,  and  sometimes  Alan  :  .see  M'Kenzie's  Scots  Writers, 
fol.  vol.ii.  p.  183;  also  Herbert's  Account  of  Printing,  vol.  iii.  pp.  I5ii  and  1553.— Ed. 


DISPUTES    IN    THE    CONVOCATION-HOUSE.  379 

attending  upon  the  coming  of  Cromwell,  as  he  was  come  in,  rose  up 
and  did  obeisance  unto  him  as  to  their  vicar-general,  and  he  again 
saluted,  every  one  in  their  degree,  and  sat  down  in  the  highest  place 
at  the  table,  according  to  his  degree  and  office ;  and,  after  him, 
every  bishop  in  his  order,  and  doctors.  First,  over  against  him,  sat 
the  archbishop  of  Canterbury  ;  then  the  archbishop  of  York,  the 
bishops  of  London,  Lincoln,  Salisbury,  Bath,  Ely,  Hereford,  Chi- 
chester, Norwich,  Rochester,  and  Worcester,  &c.  There  Cromwell, 
in  the  name  of  the  king  (whose  most  dear  and  secret  counsellor  at 
that  present  he  was,  and  lord  privy  seal,  and  vicar-general  of  the 
realm),  spake  these  words  in  manner  following : 

CromwelFs  Oration  to  the  Bishops  assembled  in  the  Convocation 

House. 

Right  reverend  fathers  in  Christ !  The  king's  majesty  giveth  you  high 
thanks  that  ye  have  so  diligently,  without  any  excuse,  assembled  hither  accord- 
ing to  his  commandment.  And  ye  be  not  ignorant  that  ye  be  called  hither  to 
determine  certain  controversies,  which  at  this  time  be  moved  concerning  the 
christian  religion  and  faith,  not  only  in  this  realm,  but  also  in  all  nations 
througliout  the  world.  For  the  king  studieth  day  and  night  to  set  a  quietness 
in  the  church  ;  and  he  cannot  rest  until  all  such  controversies  be  fully  debated 
and  ended,  through  the  determination  of  you,  and  of  his  whole  parliament. 
For,  although  his  special  desire  is  to  set  a  stay  for  the  unlearned  people,  whose 
consciences  are  in  doubt  what  they  may  believe  ;  and  he  himself,  by  his  excel- 
lent learning,  knoweth  these  controversies  well  enough,  yet  he  will  suffer  no 
common  alteration,  but  by  the  consent  of  you  and  his  whole  parliament :  by 
Avhich  thing  ye  may  perceive  both  his  high  wisdom,  and  also  his  great  love 
toward  you.  And  he  desireth  you,  for  Christ's  sake,  that  all  malice,  obstinacy,  xhe 
and  carnal  respect  set  apart,  ye  will  friendly  and  lovingly  dispute  among  your-  king's 
selves  of  the  controversies  moved  in  the  church  ;  and  that  you  will  conclude  all  toH",^"* 
things  by  the  word  of  God,  without  all  brawling  or  scolding :  neither  will  his  bisiiops. 
majesty  suffer  the  Scripture  to  be  wrested  and  defaced  by  any  glosses,  any 
papistical  laws,  or  by  any  authority  of  doctors  and  councils ;  and  nmch  less 
will  he  admit  any  articles  or  doctrine  not  contained  in  the  Scripture,  but 
approved  only  by  continuance  of  time  and  old  custom,  and  by  unwritten 
verities,  as  ye  were  wont  to  do.  Ye  know  well  enough,  that  ye  be  bound  to 
show  this  service  to  Christ  and  to  his  church ;  and  yet,  notwithstanding,  his 
majesty  will  give  you  high  thanks,  if  ye  will  set  and  conclude  a  godly  and  a 
perfect  unity  :  whereunto  this  is  the  only  way  and  mean,  if  ye  will  deteiTnine 
all  things  by  the  Scripture,  as  God  commandeth  you  in  Deuteronomy;  which 
thing  his  majesty  exhorteth  and  desireth  you  to  do. 

When  Cromwell  had  ended  this  his  oration,  the  bishops  rose  up 
altogether,  giving  thanks  unto  the  king''s  majesty,  not  only  for  his 
great  zeal  toward  the  church  of  Christ,  but  also  for  his  most  godly 
exhortation,  worthy  so  christian  a  prince. 

Lumediately  they  rose  up  to  disputation,  where  Stokesley  bishop  stokesUy 
of  London,  the  first  of  all.  being  the  most  earnest  champion  and  ethTht 
maintainer  of  the  Romish  decrees  (whom  Cromwell  a  little  before  ^^'■'^^ 
had  checked  by  name,  for  defending  unwritten  verities),  endeavoured  mems. 
himself,  with  all  his  labour  and  industry,  out  of  the  old  school  glosses, 
to  maintain  the  seven  sacraments  of  the  church  :  the  archbishop  of 
York,  and  the  bishops  of  Lincoln,  Bath,  Chichester,  and  Norwich, 
also,  favoured  his  part  and  sect.  On  the  contrary  part  were  the  arch- 
bishop   of  Canterbury,    the   bishops    of  Salisbury,    Ely,   Hereford, 
Worcester,  with  many  others. 


880 


THE    LIIE    OF    THE    LOUD    CIIOMWELL 


Hen  ry 
VIII. 

A.D. 
1537 

to 
1540. 


Sojihis- 
tication 
of  words 
to  be 
avoided. 


Ques- 
tions of 
religion 
to  lie 
discuss- 
ed. 


False 

worsliip- 

piiig. 


Cere- 
monies. 


All  be 
not  sacra 
ments 
wliich 
have  the 
name. 


After  much  communication  had  on  either  part,  and  when  they  had 
long  contended  about  the  testimonies  of  the  doctors,  who,  as  it  seemed 
unto  them,  dissented  and  disagreed  among  themselves,  the  archbishop 
of  Canterbury  at  last  spake,  and  said  thus  unto  them : 

I'he  Archbishop  of  Canterbury's  Oration  to  the  Bishops. 

It  beseemetli  not  men  of  learning  and  gravity  to  make  much  babbling  and 
brawling  about  bare  words,  so  that  we  agree  in  the  very  substance  and  effect  of 
the  matter.  For  to  brawl  about  words,  is  the  property  of  sophistcrs,  and  such 
as  mean  deceit  and  subtlety,  who  delight  in  the  debate  and  dissension  of  the 
world,  and  in  the  miserable  state  of  the  church  ;  and  not  of  them  that  should 
seek  the  glory  of  Christ,  and  should  study  for  the  unity  and  quietness  of  the 
church.  There  be  weighty  controversies  now  moved  and  put  forth,  not  of 
ceremonies  and  light  tilings,  but  of  the  tnie  understanding,  and  of  the  right 
difference  of  the  law  and  of  the  gospel ;  of  the  manner  and  way  how  sins  be 
forgiven ;  of  comforting  doubtful  and  wavering  consciences,  by  what  means 
they  may  be  certified  that  they  please  God,  seeing  they  feel  the  strength  of 
the  law  accusing  them  of  sin ;  of  the  true  use  of  the  sacraments,  whether  the 
outward  work  of  them  doth  justify  man,  or  whether  we  receive  our  justification 
by  faith.  Item,  which  be  the  good  works,  and  the  true  service  and  honour 
which  please  God ;  and  whether  the  choice  of  meats,  the  difference  of  gar- 
ments, the  vosvs  of  monks  and  priests,  and  other  traditions,  which  have  no 
word  of  God  to  confirm  them  ;  whether  these,  I  say,  be  right  good' works,  and 
such  as  make  a  perfect  christian  man,  or  no?  Item,  whether  vain  service 
and  false  honouring  of  God,  and  man's  traditions,  do  bind  men's  con- 
sciences, or  no  ?  Finally,  whether  the  ceremony  of  confirmation,  of  orders,  and 
of  annoiling,  and  such  others  (which  cannot  be  proved  to  be  instituted  of 
CIn-ist,  nor  have  any  word  in  them  to  certify  us  of  remission  of  sins),  ought  to 
be  called  sacraments,  and  to  be  compared  with  baptism  and  the  supper  of  the 
Lord,  or  no? 

These  be  no  light  matters,  but  even  the  principal  points  of  our  christian 
religion  :  wherefore  we  contend  not  about  words  and  trifles,  but  about  high  and 
earnest  matters.  Christ  saith,  '  Blessed  be  the  peacemakers,  for  they  shall  be 
called  the  sons  of  God.'*  And  Paul,  writing  unto  Timothy,  commanded  bishops 
to  avoid  brawling  and  contention  about  words,  which  be  profitable  to  nothing, 
but  unto  the  subversion  and  destruction  of  the  hearers;  and  admonishcth  him 
especially,  that  he  should  resist  with  the  Scriptures,  when  any  man  disjjuteth 
with  him  of  the  faith  :  and  he  addeth  a  cause,  whereas  he  saith,  '  Doing  tliis 
thou  slialt  preserve  both  thyself,  and  also  them  which  hear  thoc.'^  Now,  if  ye 
will  follow  these  counsellors,  Christ  and  Paul,  all  contention  and  brawling  about 
words  must  be  set  apart,  and  ye  must  establish  a  godly  and  a  perfect  unity  and 
concord  out  of  the  Scripture.  Wherefore,  in  this  disputation,  we  must  first 
agree  of  the  number  of  the  sacraments,  and  what  a  sacrament  doth  signify  in 
the  holy  Scripture ;  and  when  we  call  baptism  and  the  supper  of  the  Lord, 
sacraments  of  the  gospel,  what  we  mean  thereby.  I  know  right  well  that  St. 
Ambrose,  and  other  authors,  call  the  washing  of  the  discij)lcs'  feet,  and  other 
things,  sacraments ;  which  I  am  sure  you  yourselves  would  not  sutler  to  be 
numbered  among  the  other  sacraments. 


Alcsius 
reasnneth 
with  the 
bishop. 


When  he  had  ended  his  oration,  Cromwell  commanded  Alcsius, 
who  stood  by  (whom  he  perceived  to  give  attentive  ear  to  that  which 
was  spoken),  to  show  his  mind  and  opinion,  declaring  to  the  bishops 
before,  that  he  was  the  king's  scholar ;  and  therefore  desired  them  to 
be  contented  to  hear  him  indifferently. 

Alcsius,  after  he  had  first  done  his  duty  unto  the  lord  Cromwell, 
and  to  the  ])relates  of  the  church,  said  in  this  wise  : 


(1)  Matt.  V.  9. 


(2)  1  Tim   iv.  16. 


DISPUTES    IN    THE    CONVOCATION-HOUSE.  381 

llovry 

The  Oration  of  Alexander  Alesius  to  the  Bishops.  - 

AD 
Right  honourable  and  noble  lord,  and  you  most  reverend  fathers  and  prelates    1540* 

of  the  cliurch  !  although  1  come  imprepared  unto  this  disputation,  yet,  trusting 

in  the  aid  of  Clirist,  who  promiseth  to  give  both  mouth  and  wisdom  unto  us 
when  we  be  required  of  our  faith,  I  will  utter  my  sentence  and  judgment  of  this 
disputation.     And  I  think  that  my  lord  ai-chbishop  hath  given  you  a  profitable 
exhortation,  that  ye  should  first  agree  of  the  signification  of  a  sacrament,  whether 
ye  will  call  a  sacrament  a  ceremony  instituted  by  Christ  in  the  gospel,  to  signify 
a  special  or  a  singular  virtue  of  the  gospel  and  of  godliness  (as  Paul  nameth  The 
remission  of  sins  to  be),  or  whether  ye  mean  every  ceremony  generally,  which  "^™''  ^ 
may  be  a  token  or  a  signification  of  a  holy  thing,  to  be  a  sacrament  ?    For  after  ment, 
this  latter  signification,  I  will  not  stick  to  grant  you  that  there  be  seven  sacra-  how  far 
ments,  and  more  too,  if  ye  will.   But  yet  Paul  seemeth  to  describe  a  sacrament  eth^"'" 
after  the  just  signification,  where  he  saith,  '  that  circumcision  is  a  token  and  a 
seal  of  the  righteousness  of  faith.'*     This  definition  of  one  particular  sacrament  what  is 
must  be  understood  to  appertain  unto  all  sacraments  generally :  for  the  Jews  had  ^  sacra- 
but  one  sacrament  only,  as  all  the    scholastical  writers  do  grant.     And  he  ™''"  ' 
describeth  baptism  after  the  same  manner,  in  the  Ephesians,  where  he  saith, 
that  Christ  doth  sanctify  the  church  ;^  that  is  to  say,  all  that  be  baptized,  through 
the  bath  of  water,  in  the  word  of  life.     For  here,  also,  he  addeth  the  word  and 
promise  of  God  unto  the  ceremony.    And  Christ,  also,  requireth  faith  where  he 
saith,  *  Whosoever  believeth  and  is  baptized,  shall  be  saved. 

And  St.  Augustine  describeth  a  sacrament  thus  :  '  The  word  of  God,  coming  God's 
unto  the  element,  maketh  the  sacrament.'   And,  in  another  place,  he  saith, '  A  word  and 
sacrament  is  a  thing  wherein  the  power  of  God,  under  the  form  of  visible  things,  g™,™^*^ 
doth  work  secretly  salvation.'   And  the  Master  of  the  Sentences  doth  describe  a  with'ace- 
sacrament  no  otherwise  :  'A  sacrament,'  saith  he,  'is  an  invisible  grace,  and  '^'^"{"'If' 
hath  a  visible  form:  and  by  this  invisible  grace  I  mean,'  saith  he,  'remission  a  sacra- 
of  sins.'     Finally,  St.  Thomas  denieth  that  any  man  hath  authority  to  institute  ment. 
a  sacrament.     Now,  if  ye  agree  unto  this  definition  of  a  sacrament,  it  is  an  ha'tirthe 
easy  thing  to  judge  of  the  number  of  those  sacraments  which  have  the  manifest  power. 
word  of  God,  and  be  instituted  by  Christ,  to  signify  unto  us  the  remission  of 
our  sins. 

St.  Augustine^  saith,  that  there  be  but  two  such  sacraments ;  his  words  be  Christ's 
these,  '  First,  I  would  have  thee  to  understand  the  sum  and  effect  of  this  dis-  "^{j"'^'', 
putation,  which  is  this  :  That  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  (as  he  himself  saith  in  but  with 
the  gospel)  hath  laden  us  but  with  a  light  and  easy  yoke  or  burden.     Where-  few  and 
fore  he  hath  knit  together  the  fellowship  of  his  new  people  with  sacraments,  ^^J^^. 
very  few  in  number,  very  easy  to  be  kept,  and  very  excellent  in  signification ;  ments. 
which  be  baptism,  and  the  supper  of  the  Lord,  and  such  others,  if  there  be 
any  more  commanded  in  the  holy  Scripture ;  those  except,  which  were  burdens 
for  the  servitude  of  the  people  in  the  old  law,  for  the  hardness  of  their  hearts,' 
&c.     And  again,  in  the  third  book  of  The  Learning  of  a  Christian  Man,  he 
saith :   '  The  Scripture  hath  taught  us  but  few  signs,  as  be  the  sacrament  of 
baptism,  and  the  solemn  celebration  and  remembrance  of  the  body  and  blood 
of  the  Lord,'  &c. 

Then  the  bishop  of  London,  who  could  scarcely  refrain  himself  all  stokesiey 
this  while,  and  now  could  forbear  no  longer,  brake  out  in  this  manner :  against 
"■  First  of  all,"  saith  he,  "  where  you  allege  that  all  the  sacraments  ^''^s"'^- 
which  are  in  the  church,  instituted  by  Christ  himself,  have  either 
some  manifest  ground  in  the  Scriptures,  or  ought  to  show  forth  some 
signification  of  remission  of  sins,  it  is  false,  and  not  to  be  allowed." 

Then  said  Alesius,  that  he  would  prove  it,  not  only  by  manifest 
authorities  of  Scripture,  but  also  by  evident  testimonies  of  ancient 
doctors  and  school-writers. 

But  the  bishop  of  Hereford  (who  was  then  lately  returned  out  of 

(1)  Rom.  iv.  11.  (2)  Ephes.  v.  26.  {Z)  August,  ad  Januarium,  Epi.s.  118. 


to 
1540. 


382  THE    LIFE    OF    THE    LOHD    CROMWELL. 

Henry    Germany,  where  he  had  been  ambassador  for  the  king  to  the  pro- 

^^^^-     testants),  being  moved  with  the  bishop  of  London's  frowardness, 

A.D.    turning  himself  first  to  Alexander  Alesius,  willed  him  not  to  contend 

1537    -^yritii  the  bishop  in  such  manner,  by  the  testimonies  of  doctors  and 

schoolmen,  forasmuch  as  they  do  not  all  agree  in  like  matters,  neither 

are  they  steadfast  among  themselves  in  all  points,  but  do  vary,  and 

^otT'^b    "^  many  points  are  utterly  repugnant.    "  Wherefore,  if  this  dispu- 

stuck  to    tation  shall  be  decided  by  their  minds  and  verdicts,  there  shall  be 

terror'     nothing  established,  neither  shall  appear  any  way  of  agreement  to 

faith.       follow.     Furthermore,  we  be  commanded  by  the  king,   that  these 

controversies  should  be  determined  only  by  the  rule  and  judgment 

of  the  Scripture."      This  he  spake  unto  Alesius.     Then,   turning 

himself  unto  the  bishops,  he  likewise  admonished  them,  with  a  grave 

and  sharp  oration,  which  we  thought  not  good  to  omit  in  this  place. 

The  Oration  of  Foxe,  Bishop  of  Hereford,  unto  the  Bishops. 

The  Think  ye  not  that  we  can  by  any  sophistical  subtleties  steal  out  of  the  world 

gospel  again  the  light  which  every  man  doth  see.  Christ  hath  so  lightened  the  world 
in^al'l"^  at  this  time,  that  the  light  of  the  gospel  hath  put  to  flight  all  misty  darkness; 
places,  and  it  will  sliortly  have  the  higher  hand  of  all  clouds,  though  we  resist  in  vain 
The  ever  so  much.     The  lay  people  do  now  know  the  holy  Scripture  better  than 

rtTli^euce  i"«i"y  ^^  ^^  >  ^^^  ^^^  Germans  have  made  the  text  of  the  Bible  so  plain  and 
of  the       easy,  by  the  Hebrew  and  Greek  tongues,  that  now  many  things  may  be  better 
Germans  understood  without  any  glosses  at  all,  than  by  all  the  commentaries  of  the 
latingTlie  doctors.     And,   moreover,  they  have  so  opened  these  controversies  by  their 
Bible.       writings,  that  women  and  childi-en  may  wonder  at  the  blindness  and  falsehood 
that  have  been  hitherto.    Wherefore  ye  must  consider  earnestly  what  ye  will 
determine  of  these  controversies,  that  ye  make  not  yourselves  to  be  mocked  and 
laughed  to  scorn  of  all  the  world,  and  that  ye  bring  them  not  to  have  this  opi- 
nion of  you,  to  think  evermore  hereafter,  that  ye  have  neither  one  spark  of 
It  is  a       learning,  nor  yet  of  godliness  in  you.     And  thus  shall  ye  lose  all  your  estima- 
vain  hope  ^j^j^  ^j^^  authority  with  them,  that  before  took  you  for  learned  men,  and  pro- 
upon  the   fitable  members  unto  the  commonwealth  of  Christendom.     For  that  which  you 
pope's  au-  ^o  hope  upon,  that  there  was  never  heresy  in  the  church  so  great,  but  that 
t'onty.     pj-ocess  of  time,  with  the  power  and  authority  of  the  pope,  hath  quenched  it,  is 
nothing  to  the  purpose.    But  ye  must  turn  your  opinion,  and  think  this  surely, 
that  there  is  nothing  so  feeble  and  weak,  so  that  it  be  true  but  it  shall  find 
place,  and  be  able  to  stand  against  all  falsehood.' 
Truth  the      Truth  is  the  daughter  of  time,  and  time  is  the  mother  of  truth  ;  and  what- 
dauRhter  soever  is  besieged  of  truth,  cannot  long  continue  ;  and  upon  whose  side  truth 
doth  stand,  that  ought  not  to  be  tliought  transitory,  or  that  it  will  ever  fall.    All 
tilings  consist  not  in  painted  eloquence,  and  strength  or  autliority  :  for  the  truth 
is  of  so  great  power,  strength,  and  efficacy,  that  it  can  neither  be  defended  with 
•words,  nor  be  overcome  witlt  any  strength,  but  after  slie  hath  hidden  herself 
long,  at  length  she  putteth  up  her  head  and  appeareth,  as  it  is  written  in 
Esdras :  '  A  king  is  strong ;  wine  is  strong ;  yet  women  be  more  strong  :  but 
truth  excelleth  all.'* 

"To  this  effect,  in  a  manner,  and  much  more,  did  he  speak  and 
utter  in  that  convocation,  both  copiously  and  discreetly  ;  through 
whose  oration  Alesius,  being  encouraged,  proceeded  to  urge  the  bishop 
further  with  this  argument. 

The  Argument  in  Form. 

Ba-     Sacraments  be  seals  ascertaining  us  of  God's  good  will. 
ro-       Without  the  Word  there  is  no  certainty  of  God's  good  will. 
CO.       Ergo,  Without  the  Word  there  be  no  sacraments. 

(1)  Truth  will  come  out  at  last.  (2)  1  Esdras  iii. 


DISPUTES    IN    THE    CONVOCATION-HOUSE.  383 

The  first  part  of  this  reason  is  St.  Paul's  own  saying,  in  the  fourth  to  the  Henry 
Romans,  where  he  saith,  that  circumcision  '  is  a  token  and  a  seal  of  the  right-  yiU- 
eousness  of  faith  :''  Ergo,  it  requireth  faith  to  certify  man's  heart  of  the  will  of  .  y. 
God.  But  the  word  of  God  is  the  foundation  of  faith,  as  St.  Paul  witnesseth,  ,  ,'„J 
'  Faith  Cometh  by  healing,  and  hearing  cometh  by  the  word  of  God:'*  for  the  , 
mind  must  be  tauglit  and  instructed  to  the  will  of  God  by  the  word,  like  as  the     ,  ^An 

eye  is  taught  and  instructed  by  the  outward  ceremony.     And  so  Paul,  by  that L 

saying,  confuteth  this  opinion,  that  the  sacraments  should  make  men  righteous 
and  just  before  God  for  the  very  outward  work,  without  faith  of  them  that 
receive  them. 

And  after  this  manner  doth  Paul  speak  unto  the  Ephesians  -.^  that  Christ  doth  Sacra- 
sanctify  his  church,  through  the  bath  of  water,  in  the  word  of  life.     And  foras-  ^,^"  ^^  {,g 
much  as  he  joineth  the  word  unto  the  ceremony,  and  declareth  the  virtue  and  gathered 
power  of  the  word  of  God,  that  it  bringeth  with  it  life,  he  doth  manifestly  °"' °^ ''^® 
teach  tliat  the  word  of  God  is  a  principal  thing,  and  even  as  it  were  the  very  God. 
substance  and  body  of  the  sacrament ;  and  the  outward  ceremony  to  be  in  very 
deed  nothing  else  but  a  token  of  that  lively  inflammation,  which  we  receive 
through  faith  in  the  word  and  promise.     St.  Paul  also,  in  ministering  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  supper,  doth  manifestly  add  the  words  of  Christ :  '  He  took 
bread, '  saith  he,  '  and  when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  brake  it,  and  said.  Take 
ye  this,  and  eat  ye  this,  for  it  is  my  body.'     Item,  '  Do  ye  this  in  my  remem- 
brance.'   Besides  this,  he  teacheth  evidently  that  only  Christ,  and  none  but  he,  Christ's 
had  power  to  institute  a  sacrament ;  and  that  neither  have  the  apostles,  nor  institu- 
hath  the  church,  any  authority  to  alter,  or  to  add,  any  thing  unto  his  ordinance,  '^'""f^^e' 
whereas  he  saith,  '  For  I  received  of  the  Lord,  that  which  I  delivered  unto  altered. 
you,'*  &c.     To  what  purpose  should  he  go  about  to  move  the  people  to  believe 
him,  and  to  win  their  hearts  with  this  protestation,  if  it  had  been  lawful  for  him 
to  have  made  any  sacraments,  or  to  have  altered  the  form  and  manner  of 
ministering  the  sacrament,  as  some  men  both  wickedly  and  shamefully  do 
affirm,  that  the  apostles  did  alter  the  form  of  baptism. 

When  he  had  spoken  thus  much,  the  bishop  of  London  did  inter- 
rupt him,  and  said  thus  : 

The  Answer  of  the  Bishop  of  London  against  Alesius. 

Let  us  grant  that  the  sacraments  may  be  gathered  out  of  the  word  of  God,  Unwrit- 
yet  are  ye  far  deceived  if  ye  think  that  there  is  none  other  word  of  God,  but  ten  veri- 
that  which  every  souter  and  cobbler  doth  read  in  this  mother  tongue.     And  if  tr^df"*^ 
ye  think  that  nothing  pertaineth  unto  the  christian  faith,  but  that  only  which  is  tions  of 
written  in  the  Bible,  then  err  ye  plainly  with  the  Lutherans  :  for  St.  John  saith,^  fathers  in 
that  Jesus  '  did  many  things  which  be  not  written  ;'  and  St.  Paul  commandeth  force  with 
the  Thessalonians  <>  to  observe  and  keep  certain  unwritten  traditions  and  cere-  God's 
monies.     Moreover  he  himself  did  preach  not  the  Scripture  only,  but  even  also  ^"^^  j" 
the  traditions  of  the  elders.'     Finally,  we  have  received  many  things  of  the 
doctors  and  councils  of  by-times,  which,  although  they  be  not  written  in  the  Bible, 
yet  forasmuch  as  the  old  doctors  of  the  church  do  make  mention  of  them,  we  The  un- 
ought  to  grant  that  we  received  them  of  the  apostles,  and  that  they  be  of  like  "^""^i 
authority  with  the  Scripture ;  and,  finally,  that  they  may  worthily  be  called,  God, 
the  word  of  God  unwritten. 

Now  when  the  right  noble  lord  C'romwell,  the  archbishop,  with 
the  other  bishops,  who  did  defend  the  pure  doctrine  of  the  gospel, 
heard  this,  they  smiled  a  little  one  upon  another

Cut continues beyond the first 4,000 words shown here — about 261 more in the scan at the link above.

~572 words

sent  for 
the  mayor  of  the  city  of  London  :  but  what  was  said  unto  the  lord 
mayor  is  unknown,  saving  that  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  the  wife 
of  the  person  aforesaid  resorted  again  unto  the  lord  mayor,  suing  to  get 


THE    LIFE    OF    THE    LORD    CROMWELL,  387 

her  husband  delivered  out  of  prison,  declaring  how  that  she  had  two    Henry 
small  children,  and  had  nothing  to  help  her  and  them,  but  only  her 


husband,   who  laboured  for  their  livings.     Unto  whom  the  mayor    A.  D. 
answered,  "  What  come  ye  to  me  ?  You  are  taken  up  by  the  king's    ^^'^^- 
council.     I  supposed,  that  you  had  come  to  desire  me  that  your  hus-  ^'^^  'o.f<i 
band  should  not  stand  upon  the  pillory  in  Cheapside  on  Monday  next,  answer  to 
with  the  one  half  of  the  pig  on  his  one  shoulder,  and  the  other  half  "oman^ 
on  the  other."    Also  the  mayor  said  unto  her,  that  he  could  not  de- 
liver him,  without  the  consent  of  the  rest  of  his  brethren  the  aldermen  : 
wherefore  he  bade  her,  the  next  day  following,  which  was  the  Sabbath- 
day,  to  resort  unto  Paul's,  to  St.  Dunstan's  chapel,  and  when  he  had 
spoken  with  his  brethren,    he  would  then   tell  her   more.     Other 
answer  could  she  not  get  at  that  time ;  wherefore  she  went   unto 
Master  Wilkinson,  then  being  sheriff  of  London,  desiring  him  to  be 
good  unto  her,  and  that  she  might  have  her  poor  husband  out  of  prison. 
Unto  whom  Master  Wilkinson  answered,  "O  woman,  Christ  hath  laid  The  gen- 
a  piece  of  his  cross  upon  thy  neck,  to  prove  whether  thou  wilt  help  oi^Masier 
him  to  bear  it  or  nof  saying,  moreover,  unto  her,  that  if  the  lord  ^^'J'kin 
mayor  had  sent  him  to  his  Compter,  as  he  sent  him  to  his  brother's,  sheriff  of 
he  should  not  of  tamed  there  an  hour  :  and  so  commanded  her  to  to'The"' 
come  the  next  day  unto  him  to  dinner,  and  he  would  do  the  best  for  p"*''"*^''- 
her  he  could.     So  the  next  day  came,  and  this  woman  resorted  again 
to   Master  Wilkinson's,  according  as  he  bade  her,  who   also   had 
bidden  divers  guests,  unto  whom  he  spake  in  her  behalf.     But  as 
they  were  set  at  dinner,  and  she  also  sitting  at  the  table,  when  she 
saw  the  hot  fish  come  in,  she  fell  down  in  a  swoon,  so  that  for  the 
space  of  two  hours  they  could  keep  no  life  in  her.     Wherefore  they 
sent  her  home  to  her  house  in  Paternoster-row,  and  then  they  sent 
for  the  midwife,  supposing  that  she  would  have  been  delivered  incon- 
tinent of  her  child  that  she  went  with  (but  after  that  she  came  some- 
what again  to  herself),  where  she  lay  sick,  and  kept  her  bed  the  space 
of  fifteen  weeks  after ;  being  not  able  to  help  herself,  but  as  she  Avas 
helped  of  others,  during  the  time  of  fifteen  weeks. 

Now,  to  show  further  what  became  of  this  pig,  whereof  we  have  Whatcod 
spoken  so  much,  it  was  carried  into  Finsbury  field  by  the  bishop  of  tob^e""^"' 
London's  sumner,  at  his  master's  commandment,  and  there  buried.  '^ejgti,f"" 
The  Monday  following,  being  the  fourth  day  after  that  this  prisoner  burieth. 
aforesaid  was  apprehended,  the  mayor  of  London,  with  the  residue  of 
his  brethren,  being  at  Guildhall,  sent  for  the  prisoner  aforenamed,  and 
demanded  sureties  of  him  for  his  forthcoming,  whatsoever  hereafter 
should  or  might  be  laid  unto  his  charge  :  but  for  lack  of  such  sure- 
ties as  they  required

~2,096 words

the  means  of  the  lord  Cromwell,  lie  was  sent 

Gray,  a     homc  affaiu  and  delivered.    One  otlier  example,  thoudi  it  be  somewhat 

Sin  i  til  ^  .        ■*■  ^ 

delivered  long,  with  the  circumstauces  and  all,  I  will  declare  :  how  he  helped  the 
secretary  that  then  was  to  Dr.  Cranmer  archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
which  secretary  is  yet  alive,  and  can  bear  present  record  of  the  same. 


by  Crom- 


HOW    THE    LORD     CROMWELL     HELPED     CRANMER  S     SECRETARY. 

Cranmer       Mention  was  made  before,  how  king  Henry,  in  the  twenty-first 
fhreedays  J^ar  of  his  rcigu,  caused  the  Six  Articles  to  pass,  much  against  the 
menT"''    ruint^i  and  contrary  to  the  consent,  of  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
agaiiist     Thomas  Cranmer,  who  had  disputed  three  days  against  the  same,  in 
artici'es.    the  parliamcnt-house,  with  great  reasons  and  authorities.     Which 
articles,  after  they  were  granted  and  passed  by  the  parliament,  the 
king,  for  the  singular  favour  which  he  ever  bare  to  Cranmer,  and  re- 
verence to  his  learning,  being  desirous  to  know  what  he  had  said  and 
objected  in  the  parliament  against  these  articles,  or  what  could  be 
alleged  by  learning  against  the  same,  required  a  note  of  the  arch- 
bishop of  his  doings,  what  he  had  said  and  opposed  in  the  parliament 
touching  that  matter.     And  this  word  was  sent  to  him  from  the  king 
by  Cromwell  and  other  lords  of  the  parliament,  whom  the  king  then 
sent  to  dine  with  him  at  Lambeth,  somewhat  to  comfort  again  his 
gi-ieved  mind  and  troubled  spirits,  as  hath  been  above  recited. 

Whereupon,  when  this  dinner  Avas  finished,  the  next  day  after,  the 
archbishop,  collecting  both  his  arguments,  authorities  of  Scri])ture, 
and  doctors  together,  caused  his  secretary'  to  write  a  fair  book  thereof 
for  the  king,  after  this  order.  First,  the  Scriptures  were  alleged; 
then  the  doctors  ;  thirdly,  followed  the  arguments  deduced  irom 
those  authorities.  This  book  was  written  in  his  secretary\s  chamber ; 
where,  in  a  by-chamber,  lay  the  archbishop's  almoner.  When  this 
book  was  fair  written,  and  while  the  secretary  was  gone  to  deliver  the 
same  unto  the  archbishop  his  master,  who  was  (as  it  then  chanced) 
ridden  to  Croydon,  returning  back  to  his  chamber,  he  found  the  door 
shut,  and  the  key  carried  away  to  London  by  the  almoner. 

At  this  season  also  chanced  the  father  of  the  said  secretary  to  come 
to  the  city,  by  whose  occasion  it  so  fell  out,  that  he  must  needs  go 
to  London.  The  book  he  could  not  lay  in  his  chamber,  neither 
durst  he  commit  it  to  any  other  person  to  keep,  being  straitly  charged, 
in  any  condition,  by  the  archbishop  his  master,  to  be  circumspect 
thereof;  so  that  he  determined  to  go  to  his  father,  and  to  keep  the 
book  about  him.  And  so  thrusting  the  book  under  his  girdle,  he 
went  over  unto  Westminster  bridge  with  a  sculler,  where  he  entered 
into  a  wherry  that  went  to  London,  wherein  were  four  of  the  guard, 
who  meant  to  land  at  Paurs  wharf,  and  to  pass  by  the  king's  highness, 
who  then  was  in  his  barge,  with  a  great  number  of  barges  and  boats 
about  him,  then  baiting  of  bears  in  the  water,  over  against  the  bank. 
These  aforesaid  yeomen  of  the  guard,  when  they  came  against  the 

tl)  The  name  of  this  secretary  was  Master  Ralph  Morice,  being  yet  alive. 


THE    LIFE    OF    THE    LORD    CROMWELL.  389 

kino's  barge,  tlicy  durst  not  pass  by  towards  PauFs  wharf,  lest  they    Henry 


VIII. 


shoukl  be  espied,  and  therefore  entreated  the  secretary  to  go  with 
them  to  the  bear-baiting,  and  they  would  find  the  means,  being  of  the    y^;^' 


guard,  to  make  room,  and  to  see  all  the  pastime.     The    secretary, 
perceiving  no  other  remedy,  assented  thereto.     When  the  wherry  j^aiting 
came  nigh  the  multitude  of  the  boats,  they,  with  poleaxes,  got  the  IJ,^°JJjj""' 
wherry  so  far,  that  being  compassed  with  many  other  wherries  and  before  the 
boats,  there  was  no  refuge  if  the  bear  should  break  loose  and  come   "'^' 
upon  them  ;  as  in  very  deed,  within  one  pater-noster — while,  the  bear 
brake  loose,  and  came  into  the  boat  where  the  yeomen  of  the  guard 
were,  and  the  said  secretary.     The  guard  forsook  the  wherry,  and  Tail  yen- 
went  into  another  barge,  one  or  two  of  them  leaping  short,  and  so  fell  iiTkeep- 
into  the  water.     The  bear  and  the  dogs  so  shook  the  wherry  wherein  ^f'*- 
the   secretary  was,  that  the  boat,   being  full  of  water,   sunk  to  the 
ground  ;  and  being  also,  as  it  chanced,  an  ebbing  tide,  he  there  sat  in 
the  end  of  the  wherry,  up  to  the  middle  in  water ;  to  whom  came  the 
bear  and  all  the  dogs.     The  bear,  seeking  as  it  were  aid  and  succour 
of  him,  came  back  with  his  hinder  parts  upon  him,  and  so  rushing 
upon  him,  the  book  was  loosed  from  his  girdle,  and  fell  into  the 
Thames,  out  of  his  reach. 

The  flying  of  the  people  after  that  the  bear  was  loose,  from  one  cran- 
boat  to  another,  was  so  cumberous,  that  divers  persons  were  thrown  book'' 
into  the  Thames ;  the  king  commanding  certain  men  that  could  swim  ^f™^^ 
to  strip  themselves  naked,  and  to  help  to  save  them  that  were  in  articles 
danger.     This  pastime  so  displeased  the  king,  that  he  bade  "  away,  Thames, 
away  with  the  bear,  and  let  us  go  all  hence  !''' 

The  secretary,  perceiving  his  book  to  fleet  away  in  the  Thames, 
called  to  the  bearward  to  take  up  the  book.     When  the  bearward 
had  the  book  in  his  custody,  being  an  arrant  papist,  far  from  the 
religion  of  his  mistress  (for  he  was  the  lady  Elizabeth*'s  bearward, 
now  the  queen's  majesty),  ere  the  secretary  could  come  to  land,  he 
had  delivered  the  book  to  a  priest  of  his  own  affinity  in  religion,  cran- 
standing  on  the  bank,  who,  reading  in  the  book,  and  perceiving  that  ^ok^^e- 
it  was  a  manifest  refutation  of  the  Six  Articles,  made  much  ado,  and  I'vered  to 
told  the  bearward,  that  whosoever  claimed  the  book,  should  surely  priest. 
be  hanged.     Anon  the  secretary  came  to  the  bearward  for  his  book. 
"■  What,"  quoth   the  bearward,   "  dare  you  challenge  this  book  .'' 
Whose  servant  are  you  .f*"     "  I  am  servant  to  one  of  the  council," 
said  the  secretary,    "  and  my  lord  of  Canterbury  is  my  master." 
"  Yea  marry,"  quoth  the  bearward,  "  I  thought  as  much :  you  be 
like,  I  trust,"  quoth  the  bearward,  "  to  be  both  hanged  for  this  book." 
"  Well,"  said  he,  "  it  is  not  so  evil  as  you  take  it,  and,  I  warrant  you, 
my  lord  will  avouch  the  book  to  the  king's  majesty.    But  I  pray  you 
let  me  have  my  book,  and  I  will  give  you  a  crown  to  drink."     "  If 
you  will  give  me  five  hundred  crowns,  you  shall  not  have  it,"  quoth 
the  bearward. 

With  that  the  secretary  departed  fi-om  him,  and  understanding  the 
malicious  frowardness  of  the  bearward,  he  learned  that  Blage,  the 
grocer  in  Cheapside,  might  do  much  with  the  bearward,  to  whom 
the  secretary  brake  this  matter,  requiring  him  to  send  for  the  bear- 
ward to  supper,  and  he  would  pay  for  the  whole  charge  thereof ;  and 
besides  that,  rather  than  he  would  forego  his  book  after  this  sort,  the 


390  THE    LIFE    OF    THt    LORD    CROMWELL. 

Henry  bcuFward  sliould  havc  twenty  shillings  to  drink.  The  supper  was 
^^^^"  prepared ;  the  bearward  was  sent  for  and  came.  After  supper  the 
A.  D.  matter  was  treated  of,  and  twenty  shillings  offered  for  the  book.  But 
^^'^Q-  do  what  could  be  done,  neither  friendship,  acquaintance,  nor  yet 
reward  of  money,  could  obtain  the  book  out  of  his  hands,  but  that  the 
same  should  be  delivered  unto  some  of  the  council  that  would  not  so 
slightly  look  on  so  weighty  a  matter,  as  to  have  it  redeemed  for  a 
supper,  or  a  piece  of  money.  The  honest  man,  Master  Blage,  with 
many  good  reasons,  would  have  persuaded  him  not  to  be  stiff  in  his 
own  conceit,  declaring  that  in  the  end  he  should  nothing  at  all  prevail 
of  his  purpose,  but  be  laughed  to  scorn  ;  getting  neither  penny  nor 
praise  for  his  travail.  He,  hearing  that,  rushed  suddenly  out  of  the 
doors  from  his  friend  Master  Blage,  without  any  manner  of  thanks- 
giving for  his  supper,  more  like  a  bearward,  than  like  an  honest  man. 
When  the  secretary  saw  the  matter  so  extremely  to  be  used  against 
him,  he  then  thought  it  expedient  to  fall  from  any  farther  practising 
of  entreaty  with  the  bearward,  as  with  him  that  seemed  rather  to 
be  a  bear  himself,  than  the  master  of  the  beast;  determining  the 
next  morning  to  make  the  lord  Cromwell  privy  of  the  chance  that 
happened. 

So,  on  the  next  day,  as  the  lord  Cromwell  went  to  the  court,  the 

secretary  declared  the  whole  matter  unto  him,  and  how  he  had  offered 

him  twenty  shillings  for  the  finding  thereof   "Where  is  the  felloAv  .f*" 

quoth  the  lord  Cromwell.     "  I  suppose,"  said  the  secretary,  "  that 

he  is  now  in  the  court,  attending  to  deliver  the  book  unto  some  of 

the  council."     "  Well,""  said  the  lord  Cromwell,   "  it  maketh  no 

matter ;  go  with  me  thither,  and  I  shall  get  you  your  book  again." 

The  bear-  When  the  lord  CroniAvell  came  into  the  hall  of  the  court,  there  stood 

waueth     the  bearward,  with  the  book  in  his  hand,  waiting  to  have  delivered 

the^book  ^^^  ?>?^'mc  uuto  sir  Anthony  Brown,  or  unto  the  bishop  of  Winchester, 

to  the      as  it  was  reported.    To  whom  the  lord  Cromwell  said,  "  Come  hither, 

fellow  !  what  book  hast  thou  there  in  thy  hand  ?"  and  with  that  snatched 

the  book  out  of  his  hand,  and  looking  in  the  book,  he  said,  "  I  know 

Cromwell  this  hand  well  enough.    This  is  your  hand,"  said  he  to  the  secretary. 

fhe'book   "  But  where  hadst  thou  this  book .?"  quoth  the  lord  Cromwell  to  the 

fromhim.  bearward.     "  This  gentleman  lost  it  two  days  ago  in  the  Thames," 

said  the  bearward.    ""  Dost  thou  know  whose  servant  he  is  ^"  said  the 

lord  Cromwell.      "  He  saith,"  quoth  the  bearward,  "  that  he  is  my 

lord  of  Canterbury's  servant."    "  Why  then  didst  thou  not  deliver  to 

him  the  book,  when  he  required  it  .'^"  said  the  lord  Cromwell.   "  Who 

made  thee  so  bold,  as  to  detain  and  withhold  any  book  or  writing  from 

a  councillor's  servant,  especially  being  his  secretary  .'*   It  is  more  meet 

for  thee  to  meddle  with  thy  bears,  than  with  such  writing ;  and  were 

it  not  for  thy  mistress'  sake,  I  would  set  thee  fast  by  the  feet,  to 

teach  such  malapert  knaves  to  meddle  with  councillors'  matters.   Had 

not  money  been  well  bestowed  upon  such  a  good  fellow  as  this  is  .''  that 

knoweth  not  a  councillor's  man  from  a  cobbler's  man  !"     And  with 

those  words  the  lord  Cromwell  went  up  into  the  king's  chamber  of 

The        presence,  and  the  archbishop's  secretary  with  him,  where  he  found,  in 

crmlmeu  t^c  chamber,  the  lord  of  Canterbury.    To  whom  he  said,  "  My  lord  ! 

to  arch-    I  J^avc  fouud  hcrc  good  stuff  for  you  (showing  to  him  the  paper  book 

cranmer.  that  he  had  in  his  hand),  ready  to  bring  both  you,  and  this  good 


IHK    LIFE    OF    THF    LOUU    CROMWELL.  391 

fellow  your  man,  to  the  halter ;   namely,  if  the  knave  bearward,  now    H'^wy 

in  the  hall,  might  have  well  compassed  it."     At  these  words  the — 

archbishop  smiled,  and  said,  "  He  that  lost  the  book  is  like  to  have    ^-D. 

the  worst  bargain,  for  besides  that  he  was  well  washed  in  the  Thames, 

he  must  write  the  book  fair  again :""  and,  at  these  words,  the  lord 
Cromwell  cast  the  book  unto  the  secretary,  saying,  "  I  pray  thee, 
Morice  !  go  in  hand  therewith,  by-and-by,  with  all  expedition,  for  it 
must  serve  a  turn."  "  Surely,  my  lord,  it  somewhat  rejoiceth  me," 
quoth  the  lord  Cromwell,  "  that  the  varlet  might  have  had  of  your 
man  twenty  shillings  for  the  book,  and  now  I  have  discharged  the 
matter  with  never  a  penny,  and  shaken  him  well  up  for  his  over-much 
malapertness.  I  know  the  fellow  well  enough,"  quoth  he,  "  there  is 
not  a  ranker  papist  within  this  realm  than  he  is,  most  unworthy  to  be 
a  servant  unto  so  noble  a  princess."  And  so,  after  humble  thanks 
given  to  the  lord  Cromwell,  the  said  Morice  departed  with  his  book, 
which,  when  he  again  had  fair  written  it,  Avas  delivered  to  the  king's 
majesty  by  the  said  lord  Cromwell,  within  four  days  after. 

THE    LOUD    CROMWELL,   NOT    FORGETTING    HIS    OLD    FRIENDS  AND 
BENEFACTORS. 

It  is  commonly  seen,  that  men  advanced  once

~227 words

owing  him  in  England,  and  two  thousand  in  Spain.  Whereunto  the  lord  Crom- 
well, answering  again,  said,  '  Touching  the  things.  Master  Frescobald  !  that  be 
already  past,  although  it  cannot  now  be  undone  by  man's  power,  nor  by  policy 
called  again,  which  hath  happened  unto  you  by  the  unstable  condition  and 
mutability  of  this  world,  altering  to  and  fro ;  yet  is  not  your  sorrow  so  peculiar 
to  yourself  alone,  but  that,  by  the  bond  of  mutual  love,  I  must  also  bewail  with 
you  this  your  state  and  condition  :  which  state  and  condition  of  yours,  though 
it  may  work  in  you  matter  of  just  heaviness,  yet  notwithstanding,  to  the  intent 
you  may  receive,  in  this  your  heavy  distress,  some  consolation  for  your  old 
courtesy,  showed  to  me  in  times  past,  the  like  courtesy  now  requireth  of  me 
again,  that  I,  likewise,  should  i-epay  some  portion  of  that  debt  wherein  I  stand 
bound  unto  you ;  according  as  the  part  of  a  thankful  man  bindeth  me  to  do,  in 
requiting  your  benefits  on  my  part  heretofore  received.  And  this  further  I 
avouch  on  the  word  of  a  true  friend,  that  during  this  life  and  state  of  mine,  I 
will  never  fail  to  do  for  you,  wherein  my  authority  may  prevail  to  supply  your 
lack  and  necessity  :  and  so  let  these  few  words  suffice  to  give  you  knowledge 
of  my  friendly  meaning.     But  let  me  delay  the  time  no  longer.' 

Then

~905 words

hearing  of  the 
coming  of  Cromwell,  brake  many  frays,  and  much  evil  rule,  as  well 
appeared  by  a  certain  notorious  fray  or  riot,  appointed  to  be  fought 
by  a  company  of  ruffians  in  the  street  of  London  called  Paternoster- 
row;  where  carts  were  set  on  both  sides,  prepared  on  purpose  to 
enclose  them,  that  none  might  break  in  to  part  them.     It  happened  a  fiay  in 
that  as  this  desperate  skirmish   should  begin,  the  lord  Cromwell,  „o1it^eV- 
coming  the  same  time  from  the  court  through  PauFs  Church-yard,  l"^^:^;^^^ 
and  entering  into  Cheap,  had  intelligence  of  the  great  fray  toward,  byj^''""'- 
and  because  of  the  carts  he  could  not  come  at  them,  but  was  forced 
to  go  about  the  Little  Conduit,  and  so  came  upon  them  through 
Pannier-alley.      Thus,  as  the  conflict  began  to  wax  hot,  and  the 
people  were   standing  by  in  great  expectation  to  see  them  fight, 
suddenly,  at  the  noise   of  the  lord  CromwelFs  coming,   the  camp 
brake  up,  and  the  ruffians  fled,  neither  could  the  carts  keep  in  those 
so  courageous  campers,  but  well  was  he  that  first  could  be  gone. 
And  so  ceased  this  tumultuous  outrage,  without  any  other  parting ; 
only  through  the  authority  of  the  lord  CromwelFs  name. 

One  example  more  of  the  like  affinity  cometh  here  in  mind,  which  a  story 

1  ',  .-1  •  ,•  •  r   i'L      between 

ought  not  to  be  omitted,  concerning  a  certain  servmgman  ot  the  cronnveii 
like  ruffianly  order;  who,  thinking" to  dissever  himself  from  the  ^;j;J.;\^ 
common  usage  of  all  other  men  in  strange  newfangleness  of  fashions 
by  himself  (as  many  there  be  whom  nothing  doth  please,  which  is 
daily  seen  and  received),  used  to  go  with  his  hair  hanging  about  his 
cars  down  unto  his  shoulders,  after  a  strange  monstrous  manner 
(counterfeiting  belike  the  wild  Irishmen,  or  else  Crimisus,  the  Trojan, 
whom  Virgil  speaketh  of),  as  one  Aveary  of  his  own  English  fashion ; 
or  else  as  one  who,  ashamed  to  be  seen  like  a  man,  would  rather  go 


390  THE    LIKE    OF    THE    LORD    CROMWELL. 

Ucnry    likc  a  woinaii ;  or  like  to  one  of  the  Gorgon  sisters ;  but  most  of  all 
like  to  himself;  that  is,  like  to  a  ruffian,  that  could  not  tell  how 


A.D.    to  go. 

1540.        ^g  ^i^jg  rufgan,  ruffling  thus  with  his  locks,  was  walking  in  the 


The  ruf-  streets,  as  chance  was,  who  should  meet  him  but  the  lord  Cromwell ! 
tiic  long  who,  beholding  the  deform  and  unseemly  manner  of  his  disguised 
^^^"'  i^oii^i??  f^ill  of  much  vanity  and  hurtful  example,  called  the  man,  to 
question  with  him  whose  servant  he  was :  which  being  declared,  then 
was  it  demanded  whether  his  master  or  any  of  his  fellows  used  so  to 
go  with  such  hair  about  their  shoulders  as  he  did,  or  no  :  which  when 
lie  denied,  and  was  not  able  to  yield  any  reason  for  refuge  of  that  his  i 
monstrous  disguising,  at  length  he  fell  to  this  excuse,  that  he  had 
made  a  vow.  To  this  the  lord  Cromwell  answered  again,  that  foras- 
much as  he  had  made  himself  a  votary,  he  would  not  force  him  to 
break  his  vow,  but  until  his  vow  should  be  expired,  he  should  lie  the 
mean  time  in  prison  :  and  so  sent  him  immediately  to  the  Marshalsea, 
where  he  endured ;  till  at  length  this  '  Intonsus  Cato,'  being  per- 
suaded by  his  master  to  cut  his  hair,  by  suit  and  petition  of  friends, 
he  was  brought  again  to  the  lord  Cromwell,  Avitli  his  head  polled 
according  to  the  accustomed  sort  of  his  other  fellows ;  and  so  Mas 
dismissed. 

Hereunto  also    pertaineth    the    example    of  friar  Bartley,    who, 

wearing  still  his  friar's  cowl  after  the  suppression  of  religious  houses, 

Cromwell,  coming  through  PauFs  Church-yard,  and  espying  him  in 

Rheines's  shop,  "  Yea,"  said  he,  "  will  not  that  cowl  of  yours  be  left  . 

Friar       ofF  yet  ?     And  if  I  hear,  by  one  o"'clock,  that  this  apparel  be  not 

eastern     changed,    thou   shalt   be  hanged  immediately,    for  example  to  all 

hTriviar-s  ^thers.""     And  so,   putting  his  cowl  away,   he  durst  never  Avear  it 

cowl.       after. 

If  the  same  lord  Cromwell,  who  could  not  abide  this  servingman 
so  disfigured  in  his  hair,  were  now  in  these  our  days  alive,  with  the 
same  authority  which  then  he  had,  and  saw  these  new-fangled 
fashions  of  attire,  used  here  amongst  us  both  of  men  and  women. 
The  men-  I  supposc  vcrily,  that  neither  these  monstrous  ruffs,  nor  these  pro- 
sioprof  digious  hose,  and  prodigal,  or  rather  li}i3erbolical,  barbarous  breeches 
i^ck'a"^  (which  seem  rather  like  barrels  than  breeches),  would  have  any  place 
crom-  in  England.  In  which  unmeasurable  excess  of  vesture  this  I  have 
to  marvel :  First,  how  these  servingmen,  who  commonly  have  nothing 
else  but  their  wages,  and  that  so  slender  and  bare,  can  maintain  such. 
slops,  so  huge  and  so  sumptuous,  which  conunonly  stand  them  in 
more  than  their  three  years'*  wages  do  come  unto.  Secondly,  I 
marvel  that  their  masters  and  lords  (who  shall  yield  to  God  account 
of  their  servants''  doings)  do  not  search  and  try  out  their  servants'* 
walks,  how  they  come  by  these  expenses  wherewith  to  uphold  this 
bravery,  seeing  their  stipendiary  wages,  and  all  revenues  else  they 
have,  will  not  extend  thereunto.  Thirdly,  this  most  of  all  is  to  be 
marvelled,  that  magistrates,  who  have  in  their  hands  the  ordering 
and  guiding  of  good  laws,  do  not  provide  more  severely  for  the 
needful  reformation  of  these  enormities.  But  here  we  may  well  see, 
and  truly  this  may  say,  "  that  England  once  had  a  Cromwell

~323 words

light ;   what  crafty  jugglings,  what  idola-  _lfl^, 
trous  deceptions  and  superstitious  illusions,  he  detected  and  abolished  Divers 

L  I  '  ^  corrii])- 

out  of  the  church.     What  posterity  will  ever  think  the  church  of  the  tions  m 
pope,  pretending  such  religion,  to  have  been  so  wicked,  so  long  to  church 
nbuse  the  people's  eyes  with  an  old  rotten  stock,  called  the  Rood  of  ^^|j''^'J^'^ 
Grace,  wherein  a  man  should  stand  enclosed,  with  a  hundred  wires  fonneaby 
within  the  rood,  to  make  the  image  goggle  with  the  eyes,  to  nod  with  ti™  ron.i 
his  head,  to  hanff  the  lip,  to  move  and  shake  his  iaws,  accordinij  as  of  grace 
the  value  was  of  the  gift  which  was  offered  ?  If  it  were  a  small  piece  with  his 
of  silver,  the  image  would  hang  a  frowning  lip  ;  if  it  were  a  piece  of  '^^'''*" 
gold,   then  should  his  jaws  go  merrily.     Thus  miserably  were  the 
people  of  Christ  abused,  their  souls  seduced,  their  senses  beguiled, 
and  their  purses  spoiled,  till  this  idolatrous  forgery,  at  last,  by  Crom- 
well's means,  was  disclosed,  and  the  image,  with  all   his  engines, 
showed  openly  at  PauFs  Cross,  and  there  torn  in  pieces   by  the 
people.     The  like  was  done  by  the  blood  of  Hayles,  which,  in  like  The  blood 
manner,  by  Cromwell  was  brought  to  PauFs  Cross,  and  there  proved  "^^^y''^^- 
to  be  the  blood  of  a  duck.     Who  would  have  judged,  but  that  the  The  hoiy 
maid  of  Kent  had  been  a  holy  woman,  and  a  prophetess  inspired,  had  Kentrtaii 
not  Cromwell  and  Cranmer  tried  her  at  PauFs  Cross,  to  be  a  strong  I'eiore. 
and  lewd  impostor.     What  should  I  speak  of  Darvel  Gartheren,  of 
the  rood  of  Chester,  of  Thomas  Becket,  of  oiir  lady  of  Walsingham,  stocks 
with  an  infinite  multitude  more  of  the  like  affinity  ?  all  which  stocks  jJJJfpj.g 
and  blocks  of  cursed  idolatry,  Cromwell,  stirred  up  by  the  providence  amoved 
of  God,  removed  them  out  of  the  people's  way,  that  they  might  walk  way. 
more  safely  in  the  sincere  service  of  Almighty  God.' 

While  the  lord  Cromwell

~506 words

more  it  was  diminished  from  the  late  married 
Anne  of  Cleves,  the  less  favour  he  bare  unto  Cromwell.    Besides  this 
Gardiner,  there  lacked  not  other  back  friends  also,  and  ill  willers  in 
the  court  about  the  king,  which  little  made  for  Cromwell,  both  for 

(1)  See  also  page  404.  —Ed. 


398  THE    LIFE    OF    THE    LOUD    CKOMWELL. 

Henry  his  rcligioii  wliicli  they  nuilignod,  and  for  other  private  grudges  also, 

incident  by  the  way. 

A.  D.        Over  and  besides  all  this,  it  is,  moreover,  supposed,   that  some 

'—  part  of  displeasure  might  arise  against  him  by  reason  of  a  certain 

talk  which  happened  a  little  before  at  Lambeth  ;  at  what  time  the 
king,  after  the  making  of  the  Six  Articles,  sent  the  said  lord  Cromwell 
his  vicegerent,  with  the  two  dukes  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk,  with  all 
the  lords  of  the  parliament,  to  Lambeth,  to  dine  with  the  archbishop 
(who  mightily  had  disputed  and  alleged  in  the  parliament  against  the 
said  articles),  to  cheer  and  comfort  his  daunted  spirits  again. 
Talk  be-  There  the  said  Cromwell,  with  the  other  noble  lords,  sitting  with 
Cromwell  the  archbishop  at  his  table  in  talk,  as  every  lord  brought  forth  his 
SnTo'rds  sentence  in  commendation  of  Cranmer,  to  signify  what  good  will  both 
at  Lam-  the  king  and  they  bare  unto  him  ;  among  the  rest,  one  of  the  com- 
pany, entering  into  a  comparison  between  the  said  Thomas  Cranmer 
and  Thomas  Wolsey,  late  cardinal  of  York,  declared  that  Cranmer, 
in  his  judgment,  was  much  to  be  preferred  for  his  mild  and  gentle 
nature,  whereas  the  cardinal  was  a  stubborn  and  a  churlish  prelate, 
and  one  that  could  never  abide  any  noble  man.  "  And  that,"  said  he, 
"  know  you  well  enough,  my  lord  Cromwell !  for  he  was  your  mas- 
ter," &c.  At  these  w^ords  the  lord  Cromwell,  being  somewhat 
touched  to  hear  the  cardinal's  service  so  cast  in  his  teeth,  inferred 
again,  saying,  that  he  could  not  deny  but  he  was  servant  some  time  to 
cardinal  Wolsey,  neither  did  repent  the  same ;  for  he  received  of  him 
both  fee,  meat,  and  drink,  and  other  commodities :  but  yet  he  was 
never  so  far  in  love  Avith  him,  as  to  have  waited  upon  him  to  Rome, 
if  he  had  been  chosen  pope,  as  he  understood  that  he  would  have 
done,  if  the  case  had  so  fallen  out.  Which  when  the  other  had 
denied  to  be  true,  Cromwell  still  persisted,  affirming  the  same,  and 
showing,  moreover,  what  number  of  florins  he  should  have  received, 
to  be  his  admiral,  and  to  have  safely  conducted  him  to  Rome,  in  case 
he  had  been  elected  bishop  of  Rome.  The  party,  not  a  little  moved 
with  these  words,  told  him,  he  lied.  The  other  again  affirmed  it  to 
be  true.  L^pon  this,  great  and  high  words  rose  between  them  ;  which 
contention,  although  it  was,  through  entreaty  of  the  archbishop  and 
other  nobles,  somewhat  pacified  for  the  time,  yet  it  might  be,  that  some 
bitter  root  of  grudge  remained  behind,  which  afterwards  grew  unto  him 
to  some  displeasure.  And  this  was  a.d.  153.9,  in  the  month  of  July.* 
A  pariia-  After  this,  the  next  year  following,  which  was  1540,  in  the  month 
cronnveii  0^  April,  was  holdcn  a  parliament,  which,  after  divers  prorogations, 
appre-  ^yas  contiuucd

~983 words

expressly  against  the  sacrament  of  the  altar ;  and  that  after  the 
translation  thereof,  he  commended  and  maintained  the  same  for  good 
and  christian  doctrine.     Over  and  besides  all  this,  they  brought  in 
certain  witnesses  (what  they  were,  the  attainder  expresseth  not),  who 
most  especially  pressed  (or  rather  oppressed)  him  with  heinous  words 
spoken  against  the  king  in  the  church  of  St.  Peter  the  Poor,  in  the 
month  of  March,   in  the  thirtieth  year  of  the  king's  reign ;  which 
Avords  if  they  be  true,  as  the  attainder  doth  purport,  three  things  I 
have  here  much  to  marvel  at.     I'irst,  if  his  adversaries  had  so  sure  wit- 
hold  and  matter  against  him,  then  what  should  move  them  to  make  a^atnst 
such  hasty  speed,  in  all  post  haste  to  have  him  dispatched  and  rid  out '"™  *'."^- 
of  the  way,  and  in  no  case  could  abide  him  to  come  to  his  purgation  ? 
which  if  he  might  have  done,  it  is  not  otherwise  to  be  thought,  but  he 
would  easily  have  cleared  himself  thereof. 

Secondly,  this  I  marvel,  that  if  the  words  had  been  so  heinous 
against  the  king  as  his  enemies  did  pretend,  why  then  did  those 
witnesses  wno  heard  those  words  in  St.  Peter's  church  in  the  thirtieth 
year  of  the  king's  reign,  conceal  the  said  words  of  such  treason  so 
long,  the  space  almost  of  two  years,  and  now  uttered  the  same  in 
the  two-and-thirtieth  year  of  the  king's  reign,  in  the  month  of  July. 

Thirdly,  here  is  again  to  be  marvelled,  if  the  king  had  known  or 
believed  these  words  to  be  true,  and  that  Cromwell  had  been  indeed 
such  a  traitor  to  his  person,  why  then  did  the  king,  so  shortly  after, 
lament  his  death,  wishing  to  have  his  Cromwell  alive  again  "?  What 
prince  will  wish  the  life  of  him  whom  he  suspecteth  undoubtedly 
to  be  a  traitor  to  his  life  and  person  't  Whereby  it  may  appear 
what  judgment  the  king  had  of  Cromwell  in  himself,  howsoever  the 
parliament,  by  sinister  information,  was  otherwise  incensed  to  judge 
upon  him. 

Such  malicious  makebates  about  princes  and  parliaments,  never  what 
lacked  in  commonweals.     By  such  king  Athelstan  was  incensed  to  maiidous 
kill  his  brother  Edwin.     So  was  king  Edward  II.  deposed.     So  like-  ^^y-^- 
wise,  when  king  Richard  II.  was  once  brought  into  the  Tower,  what  make  in  a 
crimes  and  accusations  were  laid  against  him  in  the  parliament  ?     So  we'aUh." 
was  Humphrey  the  good  duke  of  Gloucester,  the  king's  uncle,   by 
Henry  Beaufort  bishop  of  Winchester,  and  others,  in  the  parliament 

(1)  On  the  29th  of  June  the  Bill  of  Attainder  passed.     See  Journals,  p.  146.— Ed. 


400  THE    LIFK    OF    THK    LOUD    CROMWEM.. 

Tienry    holdcn  at  Biiry,  arrested  as  a  traitor,  and  falsely  made  away.     What 
_  great  treason  was  in  the  words  of  him,  who,  dwelling  in  Cheapsidc,  at 


A.  D.  the  sign  of  the  Crown,  said  merrily  to  his  son,  that  if  he  lived,  he 
^^^^-  would  make  him  heir  to  the  crown  ?  and  yet  was  he  therefore 
attainted  and  judged  for  a  traitor.  In  the  time  of  king  Henry  VIII. 
how  was  that  parliament  incensed,  wherein  both  queen  Anne  was 
falsely  condemned,  and  queen  Elizabeth  her  daughter  as  falsely  dis- 
herited .f*  To  omit  here  the  attainder  of  the  duke  of  Buckingham, 
wrought  by  the  cardinal  of  York ;  of  the  lord  Cobham  likewise,  and 
sir  Roger  Acton  :  if  the  cause  of  the  lord  Henry  late  earl  of  Surrey 
were  well  tried  out,  peradventure  no  such  heinous  purpose  of  any 
treason  should  be  found  therein,  as  then  was  made.  Who  incensed 
the  late  duke  of  Somerset  to  behead  his  own  brother,  but  such  make- 
bates  as  these  ?  and  afterwards,  when  the  said  duke  himself  was 
attainted  for  a  traitor,  and  condemned  for  a  felon,  a  briber,  and 
extortioner,  how  was  the  parliament  then  incensed .?  Adam  Dam]i[i 
received  of  cardinal  Pole  at  Rome  but  a  silly  crown  in  way  of  alms, 
and  there-for,  by  means  of  Stephen  Gardiner,  was  attainted  for  a 
traitor.  George  Eglcs  did  but  read  sometimes  in  woods,  and  by 
the  said  Gardiner  was  also  condemned,  and  suffered  as  a  traitor. 
Not  that  I  here  speak  or  mean  against  the  high  courts  of  pai- 
liaments  of  this  our  realm,  necessarily  assembled  for  the  common- 
wealth, to  whom  I  always  attribute  their  due  reverence  and  authoritv. 
Autho-  But,  as  it  happeneth  sometimes  in  general  councils,  which,  though 
paHia-  they  be  ever  so  general,  yet  notwithstanding  sometimes  they  may 
ments.  ^^^  Jq  gj,j.  j^-^  -^^gigi^ty  matters  of  religion  ;  so,  likewise,  they  that  .say 
that  princes  and  parliaments  may  be  misinformed  sometimes,  bv 
some  sinister  heads,  in  matters  civil  and  politic,  do  not  therein 
derogate  or  impair  the  high  estate  of  parliaments,  but  rather  give 
wholesome  admonition  to  princes  and  parliament  men,  to  be  more 
circumspect  and  vigilant  what  counsel  they  shall  admit,  and  what 
witnesses  they  do  credit.  For  private  affection,  which  commonly 
beareth  a  great  stroke  in  all  societies  and  doings  of  men.  creepetli 
sometimes  into  such  general  councils,  and  into  prince''s  courts  also, 
either  too  much  amplifying  things  that  be  but  small,  making  moun- 
tains of  molehills,  or  else  too  much  extenuating  thing's  that  be  of 
themselves  great  and  weighty,  according  as  it  is  truly  said  by  the 
poet  .Tuvcnal,  "  Dat  veniam  corvis,  vexat  censura  columbas  ;"  or,  as 
our  English  proverb  showeth,  "As  a  man  is  friended,  so  is  his 
matter  ended,'"  and  "  Where  the  hedge  is  low,  a  man  may  lightly 
make  large  leaps ;"  or  rather,  to  speak  after  the  French  ]jhras(', 
AFrj-nch  "  Qui  son  chicu  veut  tuer,  la  rage  lui  met  sur ;"  that  is,  "  He  that  is 
disposed  to  have  his  dog  killed,  first  makcth  men  believe  that  he  is 
mad."  And  thus  much  having  declared  touching  the  matter  of  his 
accusation,  the  rest  I  refer  to  the  high  parliament  of  that  Mighty 
King,  who  shall  one  day  bring  all  things  to  perfect  light. 

In  the  mean  season,  howsoever  the  cause  of  the  lord  Cromwell 
standeth  true  or  false

~265 words

when  the  king  had  granted,  the  said  Master  Sadler,  as  he  was 

VOL.   V.  D    D 


402 


THE  LIFE  AND  DEATH  OF  THE  LORD  CROMWEM,. 


Henry    rcqiiirccl,  presented  the  letter  unto  the  king,  Avhich  he  commanded 

L  thrice  to  be  read  unto  him,  insomuch  that  the  king  seemed  to  be 

A.D.    moved  therewith. 

*At'  last,  three  years  after  all  this  was  done,  Cromwell  being  cir- 
cumvented with  the  malicious  craft  and  policy  of  divers,  that,  by 
occasion  of  mention  made  touching  the  king''s  divorce  with  the  lady 
Anne  of  Cleves,  he  had  said  these  words :  "  That  he  wished  his 
dagger  in  him  that  had  dissolved  or  broken  that  marriage ;"  here- 
upon it  was  objected  against  him  by  Thomas  duke  of  Norfolk  and 
others,  that  it  was  spoken  against  the  king,  who,  at  that  time  being  in 
love  with  Catherine  Howard,  was  the  chief  cause  and  author  of  that 
divorce.  Whereupon  divers  of  the  nobles  conspiring  against  him, 
some  for  hatred,  and  some  for  religion's  sake,  he  was  cast  into  the 
Tower  of  London  ;  where,  as  it  happened  (as  it  were  by  a  certain 
fatal  destiny),  that  whereas  he,  a  little  before,  had  made  a  law,  that 
whosoever  was  cast  into  the  Tower,  should  be  put  to  death  without 
examination,  he  himself  suffered  by  the  same  law.  It  is  said 
(which  also  I  do  easily  credit),  that  he  made  this  violent  law,  not  so 
much  for  any  cruelty  or  tyranny,  as  only  for  a  certain  secret  purpose, 
to  have  entangled  the  bishop  of  Winchester,  who,  albeit  he  was, 
without  doubt,  the  most  violent  adversary  of  Christ  and  his  religion, 
notwithstanding,  God,  peradventure,  would  not  have  his  religion  set 
forth  by  any  wicked  cruelty,  or  otherwise  than  was  meet  and  con- 
venient.* 
Cromwell

~276 words

fire,  and  to  cast  in  their 
faggots.      Now,  while  the  sermon  was  a  doing.  Dr.  Barnes  and  the 
Still-yard  men  were  commanded  to  kneel  down,  and  ask  forgiveness  of  I 
God,  of  the  catholic  church  and  of  the  cardinal's  grace  :  and,  after  that, 
he  was  commanded,  at  the  end  of  the  sermon  to  declare,  that  he  was 
more  charitably  handled  than  he  deserved,  or  was  worthy;  his  heresies 
were  so  horrible  and  so  detestable.    And  once  again  he  kneeled  down 
on  his  knees,  desiring  of  the  people  forgiveness  and  to  pray  for  him. 
And  so  the  cardinal  departed  under  a  canopy,  with  all  his  mitred 
men  with  him,  till  he  came  to  the  second  gate  of  Paul's  ;  and  then 
he  took  his  mule,  and  the  mitred  men  came  back  again.    Then  these 

(1)  The  crucifix  near  the  north  door-,  pulled  down  in  154?.     See  Dugdale's  History  of  St.  Paul's 
(Lond.  1814),  pp.  15  and  112,-  £d. 


THE    STORY    OF    DR.   RARNES    AND    OTHERS.  419 

poor  men,  being  commanded  to  come  down  from  the  stage  (whereon    ^enry 

the  sweepers  use  to  stand  when  they  sweep  the  church),  the  bishops 1- 

sat  them  down  again,  and  commanded  the  knight-marshal  and  the    ^•^- 

warden  of  the  Fleet,  with  tlieir  company,  to  carry  them  about  the '- 

fire.     And  so  were  they  brought  to  the  bishops,  and  there,  for  abso-  j^JJ^onfor 
lution,  kneeled  down  ;  where  Rochester  stood  up  and  declared  unto  iiearin^ 
the  people,  how  many  days  of  pardon  and  forgiveness  of  sins  they  sermon. 
had,  for  being  at  that  sermon  ;  and  there  did  he  assoil  Dr.  Barnes 
with  the  others,  and  showed  the  people  that  they  were  received  into 
the  church  again

~340 words

Yet 
notwithstanding,  shortly  after,  by  means  of  the  said  reporters,  they 
were  sent  ibr  to  Hampton  Court ;  who  from  thence  were  carried  to 
the  Tower,  by  sir  John  Gostwike.  From  thence  they  never  came 
out  till  thev  came  to  their  death,  as,  Christ  willing,  shall  more  here- 
after appeal-. 

*  Tlien*  the  protcstants  went  again  beyond  the  seas  ;  the  priests 
were  divorced  from  their  wives  ;  certain  bishops  were  deposed  from 
their  bishoprics ;  and  other  good  men  denied  Christ  and  bare  fliggots 
at  Paul's  cross.  Then  immediately,  without  judgment,  they  were 
put  to  death,  as  it  is  manifest ;  but  the  death  Avas  in  such  form,  that 
a  papist  and  a  protestant  were  laid  upon  one  hurdle,  to  be  drawn  to 
Smithfield.  This  was  Winchester's  device,  to  colour  his  own  tyranny, 
and  to  make  the  people  doubtful  what  faith  they  should  trust  to. 

At  his  death.  Dr.  Barnes  gave  great  commendations  to  the  king s 
majesty,  that  he  should  fear  God,  and  maintain  religion,  and  keep 
marriage  undefilcd  most  lionourably ;  and  then  declared  his  faith  and 
his  articles.     Then  they  prayed  together,  and  Barnes  said  to  Master 

(1)  See  Edition  1563,  p.  604.— Ed. 


THE    STORY    OF    THOMAS    GARRET,    MARTYR. 


421 


Priest,  being  sheriff,  "  Know  ye  Avlicreforc  I  die,  seeing  T  was  never    //^"fvy 

examinetl  nor  called  to  any  judgment  'f     He  answered.  He  knew — 

nothing,  but  thus  we  are  commanded.     Then  he  took  Master  Sheriff  ^^• 

by  the  hand,  and  said,  "  Bear  me  witness,  and  my  brother,  that  we  1- 

die  christianly  and  charitably  ;  and  I  pray  you  and  all  the  people  to 
pray  for  us :  and  if  the  dead  may  pray  for  the  quick,  we  will  ])ray 
for  you."  And  so  he,  and  the  rest,  forgave  their  enemies,  and  kissed 
one  another,  and  stood  liand  in  hand  at  the  stake,  praying  continually 
until  the  fire  came  :   and  so  rested  in  Christ  Jtsus.* 

And  thus,  hitherto,   concerning  the  history  of  Barnes.     Now  let 
us,  likewise,  consider  the  story  and  doings  of  Thomas  Garret. 

oT^e  .^itory  of  CfjomajS  <i5arret  or  vJ^accarD,  anD  of  fjt.^;  trouble  m 

^i^VforC. 

TESTIFIED    AND     EECORDKD    BY    ANTHONY    DALABER,    WHO    WAS 
THERE    PRESENT    THE    SAME    TIME. 

About  the  year  of  our  Lord  1526,  Master

~154 words

to  be  imprisoned  for  selling  of  those  heretical  books  (as 
thej'  termed  them),  because  they  spake  against  the  usurped  authority  and  erro- 
neous   doctrine  of  the  bishop  of  Home,   and  his   no    less  impure  and    filthy 
synagogue.     For  it  was  not  unknown  to  cardinal  Wolsey,  and  to  the  bishop  of 
London,  and  to  others  of  that  ungodly  generation,  that  Master  Garret  had  a 
great  number  of  those  *heretical'  books,  as  the  world  then  accounted  them  ;  * 
and  that  he  was  gone  to  Oxford,  to  make  sale  of  them  there,  to  such  as  he 
knew  to  be  the  lovers  of  the  gospel.     Wherefore  they  determined  to  make 
forthwith  a  privy  search  through  all  Oxford,  to  apprehend  and  imprison  him,  A  privy 
and  to  burn  all  and  every  his  aforesaid  books,  and  him  too,  if  they  could  :  so  ^'If'^'V" 
burning  hot  was  the  chai'ity  *ofi  these  holy  fathers.*     But  3^et  at  that  time,  for  him. 
one   of  the  aforesaid  proctors,  called  Master

~218 words

could,  depart  out  of  Oxford:  for  if  he  were  taken  in 
the  same  search,  no  remedy  but  he  should  be  forthwith  sent  up  unto  the  car- 
dinal, and  so  he  should  be  committed  unto  the  Tower. 

The  Chi'istmas  before  that  time,  I,  Anthony  Dalaber,  then  scholar  of  Alban's- 
hall,*  who  had  books  of  Master  Garret,  had  been  in  my  country  in  Dorsetshire, 
at  Stalbridge,  where  1  had  a  brotlier  parson  of  that  parish,  who  was  very 
desirous  to  have  a  cui'ate  out  of  Oxford,  and  willed  me,  in  any  wise,  to  get  him 
one  there,  if  I  could.  This  just  occasion  offered,  it  was  thought  good  among 
the  brethren  (for  so  did  we  not  only  call  one  another,  but  were  indeed  one  to 
another,)  that  Master  Garret,  changing  his  name,  should  be  sent  forth  with  my 
letters  into  Dorsetshire  to  my  brother,  to  serve  him  there  for  a  time,  until  he 
might  secretly  convey  himself  from  thence  some  whither  over  the  sea.  Ac- 
cording hereimto  I  wrote  my  letters  in  all  haste  possible  unto  my  brother,  for 
Master  Garret  to  be  his  curate,  but  not  declaring  what  he  was  indeed ;  for  my  a'^ainst 
brother  was  a  rank  papist,  and  afterwards  was  the  most  mortal  enemy  that  ever  brother. 
I  had,  for  the  gospel's  sake. 

So  the  Wednesday,  in  the  morning  before  Shrovetide,  Master

~572 words

prisoner  in  his  own  chamber.  There  was  great  joy  and  rejoicing  among  all  the 
the  privy  papists  for  his  apprehension,  and  especially  with  Dr.  London,  warden  of  the 
search.  New  college,  and  Dr.  Iligdon,  dean  of  Frideswide's,  two  arch-papists,  who 
immediately  sent  their  letters,  in  post-haste,  unto  the  cardinal,  to  inform  him 
of  the  apprehension  of  this  notable  heretic ;  for  which  their  doing,  they  were 
well  assured  to  have  great  thanks.  But  of  all  this  sudden  hurly-biu'ly  was  I 
utterly  ignorant,  so  I  knew  neither  of  Master  Garret's  so  sudden  return,  neither 
that  he  was  so  taken ;  *fori  after  1  had  sent  him  out  of  Oxford  with  my  letters, 
as  before  is  said,  the  same  week  having  taken  a  chamber  in  Gloucester  college, 
for  the  purpose  of  studying  the  civil  law,  because  the  scholars  in  Alban's-hall 
were  all  sophisters,  I  removed  all  such  poor  stuff  as  I  had,  from  thence,  unto 
Gloucester  college ;  and  there  was  I  much  busied  in  setting  up  in  order,  my 
bed,  my  books,  and  such  things  else  as  I  had,  so  that  I  had  no  leisure  to  go 
forth  any  where  those  two  days,  Friday  and  Saturday.  And  having  set  up  all 
my  things  handsomely  in  order  the  same  day  before  noon,  I  determined  to 
spend  that  whole  afternoon,  imtil  even-song  time,  at  Fridesewide  college,  at  my 
book  in  mine  own  study ;  and  so  shut  my  chamber-door  unto  me,  and  my  study 
door  also,  and  took  into  my  hand  to  read  Francis  Lambert,  upon  the  Gospel 
of  St.  Luke,  which  book  only  I  had  then  within  there ;  all  my  other  books 
written  on  the  Scripture,  of  which  I  had  a  great  number,  as  of  Erasmus,  of 
Luther,  of  fficolampadius,  &c.,  I  had  yet  left  in  my  chamber  at  Alban's-hall, 
where  I  had  made  a  very  secret  place  to  keep  them  safe  in,  because  it  was  so 
dangerous  to  have  any  such  books.  And  so,  as  I  was  diligently  reading  in  the 
said  book  of  Lambert  upon  Luke,  suddenly  one  knocked  at  my  chamber-door 
very  hard,  which  made  me  astonished,  and  yet  I  sat  still,  and  would  not  speak ; 
then  he  knocked  again  more  hard,  and  yet  I  held  my  peace ;  and  straightway 
he  knocked  yet  again  more  fiercely,  and  then  I  thought  this :  peradventure  it 
is  somebody  that  hath  need  of  me  ;  and  therefore  I  thought  myself  bound  to 
do,  as  I  would  be  done  unto :  and  so,  laying  my  book  aside,  I  came  to  the  door, 
and  opened  it,  and  there  was  Master  Garret  as  a  man  amazed  (whom  I  thought 
then  to  have  been  with  my  brother),  and  one  with  him.* 

As  soon  as  he  saw  me,  he  said  he  was  undone,  for  he  was  taken.  Thus  he 
spake  unadvisedly,  in  the  presence  of  a  young  man  that  came  with  him.  When 
the  young  man  was  departed,  I  asked  him  what  he  was,  and  what  acqiuiintance 
he  had  with  him.  He  said,  he  knew  him  not;  but  he  had  been  to  seek  a 
monk  of  his  acquaintance  in  that  college,  who  was  not  in  his  chamber ;  and 
thereupon  desired  his  servant  (not  knowing  my  chamber,  for  that  I  was  newly 
removed  thither)  to  bring  him  to  me ;  and  so  forth  declared  how  he  was  re- 

,*!  ^„'^.',^!!   turned  and  taken  that  night  in  the  privy  search,  as  ye  have  heard ;   and  that 
cuioiisae-  •  1      n    1  •  ^         J  ' 

Ijveraiice  now,  wlien  the  commissary  and  all  ins

~4,102 words

his  journey,  that  he  might  well  escape  .    ^^ 

the  danger  of  all  his  enemies,  to  the  glory  of  his  holy  name,  if  his  good  pleasure  C  _'.  „" 
and  will  so  were.     And  then  we  embraced,  and  kissed  the  one  tiie  other,  the      ^     ' 


tears  so  abundantly  flowing  out  from  both  our  eyes,  that  we  all-be-wet  both  our  Hechan^- 
faces,  and  scarcely  for  sorrow  could  we  speak  one  to  another:  and  so  he  de-  '^"i '"« 
parted  from  me,  appareled  in  my  coat,  being  committed  unto  the  tuition  of  our  andiueth 
almighty  and  merciful  Father. 

When  he  was  gone  down  the  stairs  from  my  chamber,  I  straightways  did  Parting 
shut  my  chamber-door,  and  went  into  my  study,  and  taking  the  New  Testa-  '"'tween 
menti  in  my  hands,  kneeled  down  on  my  knees,  and  with  many  a  deep  sigh  and"^*^' 
and  salt  tear,  I  did,  with  much  deliberation,  read  over  the  tenth  chapter  of  St.  Dalaber, 
Matthew's  Gospel ;  and  when  I  had  so  done,  witli  fervent  prayer  I  did  commit 
unto  God  that  our  dearly  beloved  brother  Garret,  earnestly  beseeching  him,  in  Dalaber's 
and  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake,   his   only  begotten  Son  our  Lord,   that  he  would  v^^y"  ''""^ 
vouchsafe  not  only  safely  to  conduct  and  keep  our  said  dear  brother  from  the 
hands  of  all  his  enemies ;  but  also,  that  he  would  endue  his  tender  and  lately 
born  little  flock  in  Oxford  with  heavenly  strength,  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  that  they 
might  be  well  able  thereby  valiantly  to  withstand,  to  his  glory,  all  their  fierce 
enemies ;  and  also  might  quietly,  to  their  own  salvation,  with  all  godly  patience 
bear  Christ's  heavy  cross,  which  I  now  saw  was  presently  to  be  laid  on  their 
yormg  and  weak  backs,  unable  to  bear  so  huge  a  burden,  without  the  great  help 
of  his  Holy  Spirit. 

This  done,  I  laid  aside  my  book  safe,  folded  up  Master  Garret's  gown  and 
hood,  and  laid  them  in  my  press  among  mine  apparel ;  and  so,  having  put  on 
my  short  gown,  shut  up  my  study  and  chamber-doors,  and  went  toward  Frides- 
wide's,  to  speak  with  that  worthy  martyr  of  God,  Master  Clark,  and  others.  Master 
and  to  declare  unto  them  what  had  happened  that  afternoon.  But  of  purpose  '^'''"'^  ^ 
I  went  by  St.  Mary's  church,  to  go  first  unto  Corpus  Christi  college,  to  speak  w!mhy  "^ 
with  Diet  and  Udal,  my  faithful  brethren  and  fellows  in  the  Lord  there.  But  learned 
by  chance  I  met  by  the  way  with  a  brother  of  ours,  one  Master  Eden,  fellow  of  ™^"' 
Magdalen  college,  who,  as  soon  as  he  saw  me,  came  with  a  pitiful  countenance 
unto  me,  saying,  that  we  wei'e  all  undone,  for  Master  Garret  was  returned 
again  to  Oxford,  taken  the  last  night  in  die  privy  search,  and  was  in  prison 
with  the  commissary.  I  said,  it  was  not  so.  He  said,  it  was  so.  I  told  him,  it 
could  not  be  so,  for  I  was  sure  he  was  gone.  He  answered  me  and  said,  '  I 
know  he  was  gone  with  your  letters,  but  he  came  again  yesterday  in  the  even, 
and  was  taken  in  his  bed  at  Radley's,  this  night,  in  the  privy  search  ;'  'for,' 
quoth  he,  '  I  heard  our  proctor.  Master  Cole,  say  and  declare  the  same  this 
day  in  our  college,  to  divers  of  the  house.  But  I  told  him  again,  that  I  was 
well  assured  he  was  now  gone,  for  I  spake  with  him  later  than  either  the 
proctor  or  the  connuissary  did :  and  then  I  declared  the  whole  matter  unto  him, 
how  and  when  he  came  unto  me,  and  how  he  went  his  way,  willing  him  to  de- 
clare the  same  unto  our  other  brethren,  whom  he  should  meet  withal,  and  to 
give  God  hearty  thanks  for  this  his  wonderful  deliverance,  and  to  pray  him,  also, 
that  he  would  grant  him  safely  to  pass  away  from  all  his  enemies.  And  I  told 
him  that  I  was  going  unto  Master  Clark  of  Frideswide's,  to  declare  unto  him 
this  matter ;  for  I  knew  and  thought  verily,  that  he,  and  divers  others  there, 
were  in  great  sorrow  for  this  matter.  Then  I  went  straight  to  Frideswide's, 
and  even-song  was  begun,  and  the  dean  and  the  other  canons  were  there  in  their 
grey  amices ;  they  were  almost  at  Magnificat  before  I  came  thither.  I  stood 
at  the  choir  door  and  heard  Master  Taverner  play,  and  others  of  the  chapel 
there  sing,  with  and  among  whom  I  myself  was  wont  to  sing  also ;  but  now  my 
singing  and  music  were  turned  into  sighing  and  musing. 

As  I  thus  and  there  stood,  in  cometh  Dr.  Cottisford,  the  commissary,  as  fast  The  pha- 
as  ever  he  could  go,  bare-headed,  as  pale  as  ashes  (I  knew  his  grief  well  '''^'^'^s 
enough) ;  and  to  the  dean  he  goeth  into  the  choir,  where  he  was  sitting  in  his  at"";a'r^-'' 
stall,  and  talked  with  him  very  sorrowfully :  what,  I  know  not ;  but  whereof,  I  refs'es- 
might  and  did  well  and  truly  guess.  I  went  a-side  from  the  choir  door,  to  see  f^ajie  out 
and  hear  more.  The  commissary  and  dean  came  out  of  the  choir  wonderfidly  °  P"''""- 
troubled,  as  it  seemed.     About  the  middle  of  the  church  met  them  Dr.  London, 

(\)  The  New  Testament  of  Erasmus's  Translation.     Ed.  15G3,  p.  606.— Ed. 


424 

Henry 
VUl. 

A.D. 
T540. 


Sumner 
and  Bets. 


Dalaber's 
chamber 
searched 
for  Gar- 
ret. 


THE  STOUV  OF  THOMAS  GARRET,  MARTYR, 

puffing,  blustering,  and  Wowing,  like  a  hungry  and  greedj'  lion  seeking  his 
prey.  They  talked  together  awhile,  but  the  commissary  was  much  blamed 
by  them  for  keeping  of  his  prisoner  so  negligently,  insomuch  that  he  wept  for 
sorrow.  And  it  was  known  abroad  that  Master  Garret  was  escaped,  and  gone  out 
of  the  commissary's  chamber  at  even-song  time  ;  but  whither,  no  man  could  tell. 

These  doctors  departed,  and  sent  abroad  their  servants  and  spies  everywhere. 
Master  Clark,  about  the  middle  of  the  'compline,''  came  forth  of  the  choir:  I 
followed  him  to  his  chamber,  and  declared  what  had  happened  that  afternoon, 
of  Master  Garret's  escape.  He  was  glad,  for  he  knew  of  his  fore-taking. 
Then  he  sent  for  one  Master  Sumner,  and  for  Master  Bets,  fellows  and  canons 
there.  In  the  meanwhile  he  gave  me  a  very  godly  exhortation,  praying  God  to  give 
me,  and  all  the  rest  of  our  brethren,  '  Prudentiam  serpentinam  et  simplicitatem 
columbinam ;'  for  we  should  have  shortly  much  need  thereof,  as  he  verily  thought. 
When  Master  Sumner  and  Master  Bets  were  come  unto  him,  he  caused  me  to 
declare  again  the  whole  matter  to  them  two ;  and  they  were  very  glad  that 
Master  Garret  was  so  delivered,  trusting  that  he  should  escape  all  his  enemies. 
Then,  desiring  them  to  tell  unto  our  other  brethren  what  had  happened  (for 
there  were  divers  other  in  that  college),  I  went  to  Corpus  Christi  college,  to 
comfort  our  brethren  there,  being  in  like  lieaviness.  *When^  I  came  to 
Corpus  Christi  college  I  found  together,  in  sir  Diet's  chamber,  tarrying  and 
looking  for  me,  Fitzjames,  Diet,  and  Udal.  They  knew  all  the  matter  before 
by  Master  Eden,  whom  I  had  sent  unto  Fitzjames ;  but  yet  I  declared  the 
matter  unto  them  again.  And  so  I  tarried  there,  and  supped  with  them  in 
that  chamber,  where  they  had  provided  meat  and  drink  for  us,  before  my  com- 
ing :  at  which  supper  we  were  not  very  merry,  considering  our  state  and  peril 
at  hand.  When  we  had  ended  our  supper  and  committed  our  whole  cause, 
with  fervent  sighs  and  hearty  prayers,  unto  God  our  heavenly  Father,  Fitzjames 
would  needs  have  me  to  lie  that  night  with  him,  in  my  old  lodging  at  Alban's 
hall ;  and  so  I  did.  But  small  rest,  and  little  sleep,  took  we  both  there  that 
night. 

On  the  Sunday,  in  the  morning,  I  was  up  and  ready  by  five  o'clock ;  and  as 
soon  as  I  could  get  out  at  Alban's  hall  door,  I  went  straight  towards  Glou- 
cester college  to  my  chamber.*  It  had  rained  that  morning  a  good  shower,  and 
with  my  going  I  had  all  besprinkled  my  hose  and  shoes  with  mire.  And  when 
I  was  come  unto  Gloucester  college,  which  was  about  six  o'clock,  I  found  the 
gates  fast  shut ;  whereat  I  did  much  marvel,  for  they  were  wont  to  be  opened 
daily  long  before  that  time.  Then  did  I  walk  up  and  down  by  the  wall  there,  a 
whole  hour  before  the  gates  were  opened.  In  tlie  meanwhile,  my  musing  head 
being  full  of  forecasting  cares,  and  my  sorrowful  heart  flowing  with  doleful 
sighs,  I  fully  determined  in  my  conscience  before  God,  that  if  I  should  chance 
to  be  taken  and  be  examined,  I  would  accuse  no  man,  nor  declare  any  thing 
further  than  I  did  already  perceive  was  maniiestly  known  before.  And  so, 
when  the  gate  was  opened,  thinking  to  shift  myself,  and  to  put  on  a  longer 
gown,  I  went  in  towards  my  chamber,  and,  going  up  the  stairs,  would  have 
opened  my  door,  but  I  could  not  in  a  long  season  do  it ;  whereby  I  perceived 
that  niy  lock  had  been  meddled  withal,  and  therewith  was  somewhat  altered :  yet, 
at  last,  with  much  ado,  I  opened  the  lock  and  went  in.  When  I  came  in,  I 
saw  my  bed  all  to  be  tossed  and  tumbled,  my  clothes  in  my  press  thrown  down, 
and  my  study-door  open ;  whereat  I  was  much  amazed,  and  thought  verily  that 
some  search  was  made  there  that  night  for  Master  Garret,  and  that  it  was 
known  of  his  being  with  me,  by  the  monk's  man  that  brought  him  to  my 
chamber. 

Now  was  there  lying  in  the  next  chamber  unto  me  a  monk,  who,  as  soon  as 
he  had  heard  me  in  the  chamber,  came  to  me,  and  told  how  Master  Garret  was 
sought  for  in  my  chamber  that  night,  and  what  ado  there  was  made  by  the 
commissary,  and  the  two  proctors,  with  bills  and  swords  thrust  through  my 
bed-straw,  and  how  every  corner  of  my  chamber  was  searched  for  Master 
(iarret:  and  albeit  his  gown  and  his  hood  lay  therein  my  press  with  my  clothes, 
yet  they  perceived  them  not.  Then  he  told  me  he  was  commanded  to  bring 
line,  as  soon  as  I  came  in,  unto  the  prior  of  the  students,  named  Anthony  Dun- 
stan,  a  monk  of  Westminster.  Tliis  so  troubled  me,  that  I  forgot  to  make 
clean  my  hose  and  shoes,  and  to  shift  me  into  another  gown ;  and  therefore  so 

(1)  The  '  compline,'  was  the  last  or  evening  [irayer.  -Ed.         (2)  See  Edition  15C3,  p.  CO/.— £d. 


WITH    THE    TROUBLE    OF    ANTHONY    DALABEIl,  425 

all  be-dirted  as  I  was,  and  in  my  short  gown,  I  went  with  him  to  the  said  prior's  iifimy 
chamber,  where  I  found  the  said  prior  standing,  and  looking  for  my  coming,  yni. 
He  asked  me  where  I  had  been  that  night.  I  told  him  I  lay  at  Alban's  hall,  ~~a~T) 
with  my  old  bedfellow  Fitzjames;  but  he  would  not  believe  me.  He  asked  me,  i  r*  ,f)' 
if  Master  Garret  were  with  me  yesterday.     I  told  him.  Yea.     Then  he  would 


know  where  he  was,  and  wherefore  he  came  unto  me.     I  told  him,  I  knew  not  Brougiit 
where  he  was,  except  he  were  at  Woodstock.     For  so  (said  I)  he  had  showed  pijo/uf 
me  that  he  would  go  thither,  because  one  of  the  keepers  there,  his  friend,  had  GIouccm- 
promised  him  a  piece  of  venison  to  make  merry  withal  the  Shrovetide ;  and  that  f"^  ^°'" 
he  would  have  borrowed  a  hat  and  a  pair  of  high  shoes  of  me,  but  I  had  none 
indeed  to  lend  him.     This  tale  I  thought  meetest,  though  it  were  nothing  so. 
Then  had  he  spied  on  my  finger  a  big  ring  of  silver,  very  well  double  gilt,  with 
two  letters  A.  D.,  engraved  in  it  for  my  name  :  I   suppose  he  thought  it  to  be 
gold.     He  required  to  see  it.     I  took  it  unto  him.     When  he  had  it  in  his 
hand,  he  said  it  was  his  ring,  for  therein  was  his  name :    An  A,  for  Anthony,  Dn'aber's 
and  a  D,  for  Dunstan.     When  1  heard  him  so  say,  I  wished  in  my  heart  to  be  ["J^. 
as  well  delivered  from  and  out  of  his  company,  as  I  was  assured  to  be  delivered  from  him. 
from  my  ring  for  ever. 

Then  he  called  for  pen,  ink,  and  paper,  and  commanded  me  to  write  when  Appre- 
and  how  Garret  came  unto  me,  and  where  he  was  become.     I  had  scarcely  ^i^nded 
written  three  words,  but  the  chief  beadle,  with  two  or  three  of  the  commissary's  bled  for 
men,  were  come  unto  Master  Prior,  requiring  him  straightways  to  bring  us  Garret, 
away  unto  Lincoln  college,  to  the  commissary,  and  to  Dr.  London  :  whither 
when  I  was  brought  into  the  chapel,  there  I  found  Dr.  Cottisford,  commissary ; 
Dr.  Higdon,  then  dean  of  the  cardinal's  college ;   and  Dr.  London,  warden  of 
the  New  college,  standing  together  at  the  altar  in  the  chapel.     When  I  was 
brought  unto  them,  after  salutations  given  and  taken  between  them,  they  called 
for  chairs  and  sat  down,  and  called  for  me  to  come  to  them.     And  first  they 
asked  what  my  name  was.     I  told  them  that  my  name  was  Anthony  Dalaber. 
Then  they  also  asked  me  how  long  I  had  been  student  in  the  university,  and  I 
told  them  almost  three  years :  and  they  asked  me  what  I  studied.     I  told  them 
that  I  had  read  sophistry  and  logic  in  Alban's  hall,  and  now  was  removed  unto 
Gloucester  college,  to  study   the  civil  law,  which  the  aforesaid  prior  of  the 
students  affirmed  to  be  true.     Then  they  asked  me  whether  I  knew  Master 
Garret,  and  how  long  I  had  known  him.     I  told  them  I  knew  him  well,  and 
had  known  him  almost  a  twelvemonth.     They  asked  me,  when  he  was  with 
me.     I  told  them  yesterday  at  afternoon. 

Now  by  this  time,  while  they  had  me  in  this  talk,  one  came  unto  them  who  The  exi- 
was  sent  for,  with  pen,  ink,  and  paper;   I  trow  it  was  the  clerk  of  the  univer-  niination 
sity.     As  soon  as  he  was  come,  there  was  a  board  and  tressles,  with  a  form  for  ^er. 
him  to  sit  on,  set  between  the  doctors  and  me,  and  a  great  mass  book  laid 
before  me  ;  and  I  was  commanded  to  lay  my  right  hand  on  it,  and  to  swear 
that  I  should  truly  answer  unto  such  articles  and  interrogatories  as  I  should  be 
by  them  examined  upon.     1  made  danger  of  it  awhile  at  first,  but  afterwards, 
being  persuaded  by  them,  partly  by  fair  words,  and  partly  by  great  threats,  I 
promised  to  do  as  they  would  have  me  ;  but  in  my  heart  meant  nothing  so  to  Loj^jon 
do.      So  I  laid  my  hand  on  the  book,  and  one  of  them  gave  me  my  oatli,  and,  warden 'of 
that  done,  commanded  me  to  kiss  the  book.     Then  made  they  great  courtesy  ^^^^  ^f'- 
between  them,  who  should  examine  me,  and  minister  interrogatories  unto  me.  arch'-pha- 
At  the  last,  the  rankest  papistical  pharisee  of  them  all,  Dr.  London,  took  upon  risee. 
him  to  do  it. 

Then  he  asked  me  again,  by  my  oath,  where  Master  Garret  was,  and  whither 
I  had  conveyed  him.  I  told  him,  I  had  not  conveyed  him,  nor  yet  wist  where 
he  was,  nor  whither  he  was  gone,  except  he  were  gone  to  Woodstock  (as  I  had 
before  said),  as  he  showed  me  he  would.  Then  he  asked  me  again,  when  he 
came  to  me,  how  he  came  to  me,  what  and  how  long  he  talked  with  me,  and 
whither  he  v/ent  ft-om  me.  I  told  him  he  came  to  me  about  even-song  time  ; 
and  that  one  brought  him  unto  my  chamber-door,  whom  I  knew  not ;  and  that 
he  told  me  he  would  go  to  Woodstock  for  some  venison  to  make  merry  withal 
this  Shrovetide ;  and  that  he  would  have  borrowed  a  hat,  and  a  pair  of  high 
shoes  of  me,  but  I  had  none  such  to  lend  him  ;  and  then  he  straight  went  his 
way  from  me,  but  whither  I  know  not.  All  these  my  sayings  the  scribe  wrote 
in  a  paper  book. 


426 


THE    STOKV    OF    THOMAS    GARRET,    MARTYR, 


Henry 
VIII. 


A.D. 
1540. 


sent  in 

the 

stocks. 


Then  they  earnestly  required  nie  to  tell  them  whither  I  had  conveyed  him, 
for  surely,  they  said,  I  brought  him  going  some  whither  this  morning;  for  tliey 
might  well  perceive,  by  my  foul  shoes  and  dirty  hosen,  that  I  liad  travelled 
with  him  the  most  part  of  this  night.  I  answered  plainly,  that  I  lay  at  Alban's 
hall,  with  sir  Fitzjames,  and  that  I  had  good  witness  thereof  there.  They 
asked  me  where  I  was  at  even-song.  I  told  them,  at  Frideswide's,  and  that  I  saw 
first  Master  Commissary,  and  then  Master  Doctor  London,  come  thither  at  that 
time  unto  Master  Dean  of  Frideswide's ;  and  tliat  I  saw  them  talking  together 
in  the  church  there.  Dr.  London  and  the  dean  threatened  me,  that  if  I  would 
not  tell  the  truth,  where  I  had  done  him,  or  whither  he  was  gone,  I  should 
surely  be  sent  to  the  Tower  of  London,  and  there  be  racked,  and  put  into 
Little-ease. 1  But  Master  Commissary  prayed  me,  with  gentle  words,  to  tell  him 
whei'e  he  was,  that  he  might  have  him  again,  and  he  would  be  my  very  great 
friend,  and  deliver  me  out  of  trouble  straightway.  I  told  him  I  could  not  tell 
where  he  was,  nor  whither  he  was  become.  Thus  they  did  occupy  and  toss  me 
almost  two  hours  in  the  chapel,  sometimes  with  threatenings  and  foul  words  ; 
and  then  with  fair  words  and  fair  promises  flattering  me.  Then  was  he  that 
brought  Master  Garret  unto  my  chamber  brought  before  me,  and  caused  to 
declare  what  Master  Garret  said  unto  me,  at  his  coming  to  my  chamber  :  but 
I  said  plainly,  I  heard  him  say  no  such  thing;  for  I  thought  my  '  nay '  to  be  as 
good  as  his  '  yea,'  seeing  it  was  to  rid  and  deliver  my  godly  brother  out  of 
trouble  and  peril  of  his  life. 

At  last,  when  they  could  get  nothing  of  me  whereby  to  hurt  or  accuse  any 
man,  or  to  know  any  thing  of  which  they  sought,  they  all  three  together  brought 
me  up  a  long  stairs  into  a  great  chamber  over  Master  Commissary's  chamber, 
Anthony  wherein  stood  a  great  pair  of  very  high  stocks.  Then  Master  Commissary 
Dalaber  asked  me  for  my  purse  and  girdle,  took  away  my  money  and  my  knives,  and 
then  they  put  both  my  legs  into  the  stocks,  and  so  locked  me  fast  in  them  ;  in 
which  I  sat,  my  feet  being  almost  as  high  as  my  head ;  and  so  departed  they 
(I  think  to  their  abominable  mass),  locking  fast  the  chamber-door,  and  leaving 
me  alone. 

When  they  all  were  gone,  then  came  unto  my  remembrance  the  worthy  fore- 
warning and  godly  declaration  of  that  most  constant  martyr  of  God,  Master 
John  Clark,  my  father  in  Christ,  who,  well  nigh  two  years  before  that,  when  I 
did  earnestly  desire  him  to  grant  me  to  be  his  scholar,  and  that  I  might  go  with 
him  continually  when  and  wheresoever  he  should  teach  or  preach  (which  he 
Exhorta-  did  daily),  said  unto  mc  much  after  this  sort,  '  Dalaber !  you  desire  you  wot 
iv'laster      ^'^^^  "^'l'^*-)  ^^^^  that  which  you  are,  I  fear  me,  unable  to  take  upon  you  :  for 
Clark  to    though  now  my  preaching  be  sweet  and  pleasant  unto  you,  because  there  is 
Dalaber.    yg^  ^o  persecution  laid  on  you  for  it,  yet  the  time  will  come,  and  that  perad- 
venture  shortly,  if  ye  continue  to  live  godly  therein,  that  God  will  lay  on  you 
the  cross  of  persecution,  to  try  you  withal,  whether  you  can,  as  pure  gold,  abide 
the  fire,  or,  as  stubble  and  dross,  be  consumed  therewith.    For  the  Holy  (iliost 
The  cross  plainly  afiirmeth  by  St.  Paul,   '  Quod  omnes  qui  pie  volunt  vivere  in  Christo 
ly  fo'u'ow-  '^*^^"'  persecutionem  patientur.'-    Yea,  you  shall  be  called  and  judged  a  heretic; 
eth  the      you  shall  be  abhorred  of  the  world  ;  your  own  friends  and  kinsfolk  will  forsake 
you,  and  also  hate  you ;  and  you  shall  be  cast  into  prison ;  and  no  man  shall 
dare  to  help  or  comfort  you  ;  and  you  shall  be  accused  and  brought  before  the 
bishops,  to  your  reproach  and  shame,  to  the  great  sorrow  of  all  your  faithful 
friends  and  kinsfolk.     Then  will  ye  wish  ye  had  never  known  this  doctrine ; 
then  will  ye  curse  Clark,  and  wish  that  ye  had  never  known  him,  because  he 
hath  brought  you  to  all  these  troubles.    Therefore,  rather  than  that  you  should 
do  this,  leave  off  from  meddling  with  this  doctrine,  and  desire  not  to  be,  and 
continue,  in  my  company.' 

At  which  his  words  I  was  so  grieved,  that  I  fell  down  on  my  knees  at  his  feet, 
and  with  abundance  of  tears  and  sighs,  even  from  the  very  bottom  of  my  heart 
I  earnestly  besought  him,  that  for  the  tender  mercy  of  God,  showed  to  us  in 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  he  would  not  refuse  me,  but  receive  me  into  his  com- 
pany, as  I  iiad  desired ;  saying  that  I  trusted  verily,  that  he  which  had  begim 
this  in  me,  would  not  forsake  me,  but  give  me  grace  to  continue  therein  unto 
the  end.  When  he  heard  me  say  so,  he  came  to  me,  took  me  up  in  liis  arms, 
and  kissed  me,  the  tears  trickling  down  from  his  eyes,  and  said  unto  me :  '  The 


gospel. 


(1)  '  Little-ease,'  was  one  of  the  cells  in  the  Tower.— Ed. 


^2)  2  Tim.  iii.  12. 


WITH    THE    TROUBLE    OF    ANTHOXY    DALABER.  427 

Lord  Almighty  grant  you  so  to  do,  and  from  henceforth  for  ever  take  me  for  He.vry 
your  father,  and  I  will  take  you  for  my  son  in  Christ.'  Now  were  there  at  that  Vlii. 
time  in  Oxford  divers  graduates  and  scholars  of  sundry  colleges  and  halls,  .  „ 
whom  God  had  called  to  the  knowledge  of  his  holy  word,  who  all  resorted  unto     ^  '     ' 

Master  Clark's  disputations  and  lectures  in  divinity  at  all  times  as  they  might;  L 

and  when  they  might  not  come  conveniently,  1  was,  by  Master  Clark,  appointed 
to  resort  to  every  one  of  them  weekly,  and  to  know  what  doubts  they  had  in 
any  place  of  the  Scripture ;  that  by  me,  from  him,  they  might  have  the  true 
understanding  of  the  same ;  which  exercise  did  me  much  good  and  profit,  to 
the  understanding  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  which  I  most  desired. 

This  aforesaid  forewarning  and  godly  declaration  (I  say)  of  this  most  godly 
martyr  of  God  Master  Clark,  coming  to  my  remembrance,  caused  me,  with 
deep  sighs,  to  cry  unto  God  from  my  heart,  to  assist  me  with  his  Holy  Spirit, 
that  I  might  be  able  patiently  and  quietly  to  bear  and  suffer  whatsoever  it 
should  please  him,  of  his  fatherly  love,  to  lay  on  me,  to  his  glory,  and  the  com-  Dalaber 
fort  of  my  dearly  beloved  brethren,  whom  I  thought  now  to  be  in  great  fear  amied 
and  anguish,  lest  I  would  be  an  accuser  of  them  all :  for  imto  me  they  all  were  ^nce  and 
well  known,  and  all  their  doings  in  that  matter.     But,  God  be  blessed !   I  was  constan- 
fuUy  bent  never  to  accuse  any  of  them,   whatsoever  should  happen  to  me.  *^^' 
Before  dinner  Master  Cottisford  came  up  to  me,  and  requested  me  earnestly  to  Cottisford 
tell  him  where  Master  Garret  was,  and,  if  I  would  so  do,  he  promised  me  P^^^^u- 
straightways  to  deliver  me  out  of  prison.    But  I  told  him  I  could  not  tell  where  Dalaber 
he  was  :  no

Cut continues beyond the first 4,000 words shown here — about 102 more in the scan at the link above.

~766 words

be  kept  in  prison  till  Oxford, 
further  order  was  taken. 

*Articles'   objected  against  Thomas  Garret,^  Master  of  Arts,  some 
time  Parish  Priest,  Curate  of  All-Hallows  in  Honey-lane. 

First,  for  having  divers  and  many  books,  treatises  and  works  of  Martin  Luther 
and  of  his  sect,  as  also  for  dispersing  abroad  of  the  said  books  to  divers  and 
many  persons  within  this  realm ;  as  well  students  in  the  university  of  Oxford 
and  Cambridge,  as  other  spiritual,  temporal,  and  religious  men,  to  the  intent  to 
have  advanced  the  said  sects  and  opinions. 

(1)  These  articles  are  introduced  from  the  first  edition  of  the  Acts  and  Monuments,  London, 
1563,  p.  477.— Ed. 

(2)  The  name  of  this  good  man  varies  slightly  in  the  spelling.  In  the  Latin  edition,  Basle,  1559, 
p.  165,  see  '  Garardus.'  In  vol.  iv.  p.  586,  in  a  very  rare  catalogue,  from  the  first  edition,  of  certain 
persons  'who  were  forced  to  abjure  in  king  Heiuy's  days,'  he  appears  as  Thomas  Gerarde,  priest; 
while  at  page  421  of  this  volume  he  is  designated  as  Garret  or  Garrerd. — Ed. 


428  THE    STOllY    OK    THOMAS    GAUllET,    "MARTYR. 

Henry         Item, for  having  the  said  books  iii  his  custody;  for  reading  them,  secretly  in 
^^^^-     privy  places  and  suspected  company,  declaring  and  teaching  heresies  and  errors 
A.D.     contained  in  them. 
154o'         Item,  for  that  in  his  own  person,  he  followed,  advanced,  and  set  forth,  the 

-"  said  sect  and  opinions,  and  also  moved,  stirred,  and  counselled  others  to  follow 

and  advance  the  same  ;  not  cmly  within  the  citj-  and  diocese  of  London  and 
Lincoln,  but  also  in  the  universities  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  with  divers  other 
places. 

Item,  for  affirming  and  believing  '  Quod  opera  nostra  quantumvis  bona  in 
specie  nihil  conducunt  ad  justificationem  nee  ad  meritum,  sed  sola  fides.' 

Item,  for  affirming  and  believing,  that  pardons  do  not  profit,  either  them  that 
be  dead,  nor  yet  them  that  live. 

Item,  that  the  laws  and  constitutions  of  holy  church  are  not  to  he  observed, 
nor  ought  to  bind  any  man. 

Item,  for  reputing  catholic  bishops  of  the  church  to  be  pharisees,  and  so 
naming  them  in  writing. 

Item,  that  fasting  days  ordained  by  the  church,  are  not  to  be  observed. 

Item,  that  we  should  pray  only  to  God  and  to  no  saints. 

Item,  that  images  in  churches  ought  not  to  be  used  and  had. 

Item,  that  vows  of  pilgrimages  are  not  to  be  kept. 

Item,  that  every  man  may  preach  the  word  of  God,  and  that  no  law  to  the 
contrary  can  be  made. 

Item",  that  he  knew  certain  religious  persons  who  printed  English  books  or 
some  that  intended  to  print  such  books. 

Item,  that  he  fled  away,  in  a  layman's  apparel,  from  Oxford  to  Bedminster, 
when  he  should  have  been  attached  for  heresy. 

For  these  articles,  and  such  like,  he  was  abjured  before  Cuthbert, 

bishop  of  London ;  John,  bishop  of  Lincoln  ;  and  John,  bishop  of 

Bath  and  Wells  :  no  mention  made  of  the  year  and  time,'  nor  yet  of 

any  penance  then  enjoined.* 

Tiie  There  -were  suspected,  besides,  a  great  number  to  be  infected  witli 

of"odi     heresy,  as  they  called  it,  for  having  such  bool^s  of  God^s  truth  as 

brethren  GaiTct  sold  uuto  tlicm  ;  as  Master  Clark,  who  died  in  his  chamber, 

ford.^      and  could  not  be  suffered  to  receive  the  communion,  being  in  prison, 

and   saying  these  words,  "  crede,  et  mauducasti  ;""  Master  Sumner, 

Master  Bets,  Taverner  the  musician,  Radlcy,  with  others  of  Fridcs- 

wide  college ;   of  Corpus  Christi  college,  as  Udal  and  Diet ;   with 

others  of  Magdalen  college ;   one  Eden,  with  others  of  Gloucester 

collet>-e  ;  and  two  black  monks,  one  of  St.  Augustine's  of  Canterbury, 

named  Langport,  the  other  of  St.  Edmund's  liury,  moid^,  named  John 

Salisbury ;   two  white  monks  of  Bernard   college ;   two   canons  of 

Ferrar,     St.  Mary's  coUcgc,  ouc  of  them  named  Robert  Ferrar,   afterwards 

o?st'      bishop  of  St.  David's,  and  burned  in  queen  INIary's  time.    These  twa 

David's,    ^^.j^ions,  bccausc  they  had  no  place  in  the  university  with  the  others, 

went  on  the  contrary  side  of  the  procession  bare-headed,  and  a  beadle 

before  them  to  be  known  fioni  the  others.    Divers  others  there  were, 

whose  names  I  cannot  remcnd)er,  who  were  forced  and  constrained  to 

forsake  their  colleges,  and  sought  their  friends.     Against  the  pro- 

ccssi(m  time  there  was  a  great  fire  made  upon  the  top  of  Carfax,- 

whereinto  all  such  as  were  in  the  said  procession,  either  convicted  or 

suspected  of  heresy,  were  commanded,  in  token  of  repentance  and 

reno\incing  of  their  errors,  every  man  to  cast  a  book  into  the  fire,  as 

they  passed  by. 

After  this,  Master

~446 words

there  accused  for  erroneous  doctrine. 

Percase  thou  wilt  muse,  gentle  reader  !  what  erroneous  doctrine  Quarrel 
here  could  be  picked  out.  Note  therefore,  for  thy  learning ;  and  he  against 
that  listeth  to  study  how  to  play  the  sycophant,  let  him  here  take 
example.  The  knot  found  in  this  rush  was  tliis  :  for  that  he  preached 
erroneously  at  PauFs  cross,  teaching  the  people  that  all  that  were 
born  of  Sarah  were  freely  justified,  speaking  there  absolutely,  without 
any  condition  either  of  baptism,  or  of  penance,  &c.  Who  here 
doubteth,  but  if  St.  Paul  himself  had  been  at  PauFs  cross,  and  had 
preached  the  same  Mords  to  the  Englishmen,  which  he  wrote  to 
the  Galatians  in  this  behalf,  '  ipso  facto,'  he  had  been  apprehended 
for  a  heretic,  for  preaching  against  the  sacrament  of  baptism  and 
Tepentance '? 

Furthermore  it  was  objected  against  him  touching  matter  against  ^"°^^ 
magistrates,  and  laws  by  them  made.    Whereunto  he  answered  again  for 
and  affirmed  (as  he  had  before  preached),  that  no  magistrate  of  him-  agaUist"^ 
self  could  make  any  law  or  laws,  private  or  otherwise,  to  bind  the 
inferior  people,  unless  it  were  by  the  power,  authority,  and  command- 
ment of  his  or  their  princes  to  him  or  them  given,  but  only  the  prince. 

(1)  Gal.  iy.  22—31. 


Jerome's 
sermons. 


magis- 


Henry 
VIII. 


A.D. 
1540. 


Works  no 

part  of 
our  salva- 
tion. 
Good 
works 
avail  only 
by  im 
putation. 


430  THE  STORV  OF  BARNES,  JEROME,  AND  GARRET, 

And  moreover,  to  confirm  the  same  lie  added,  saying,  tliat  if  the 
prince  make  laws  conscntinc;-  to  God^s  laws,  we  are  bound  to  obey 
them.  And  if  he  make  laws  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  God,  and  be 
an  evil  and  wicked  prince,  yet  are  we  bound  humbly  to  suffer  him, 
and  not  violently  to  resist  or  grudge  against  him. 

Also  concerning  his  sermons,  one  Dr.  Wilson  entered  into  disputa- 
tion with  him,  and  defended,  that  good  works  justified  before  God, 
and  were  necessary  and  available  to  salvation.  To  whom  Jerome 
answered  again,  that  all  works,  whatsoever  they  were,  were  nothing 
worth,  nor  any  part  of  salvation  of  themselves,  but  only  referred  to 
the  mercy  and  love  of  God,  which  mercy  and  love  of  God  direct  the 
workers  thereof;  and  yet  it  is  at  his  mercy  and  goodness  to  accept 
them :  which,  to  be  true,  Dr.  Wilson  neither  could,  nor  did,  deny. 

THE     STORY     OF     BARNES,     JEROME,     AND     GARRET,     CONTINUED, 
WITH    THE    CAUSES    OF    THEIR    MARTYRDOM. 

And  thus  much  concerning  the  several  stories  of  these  three  good 
men.  Now  let  us  see  the  order  of  their  martyrdom,  joining  them 
all  together ;  what  was  the  cause  of  their  condemnation ;  and  what 
were  their  protestations  and  words  at  their  suffering. 

Ye  heard  before,  how

~606 words

was  appointed  before  for  Barnes 
to  occupy  that  room.  Gardiner  therefore,  determining  to  declare  the 
gospel  of  that  Sunday  containing  the  devil's  three  temptations,  began 
amongst  other  things  to  note  the  abuse  of  Scripture  amongst  some,  as 
the  devil  abused  it  to  Christ ;  and  so,  alluding  to  the  temptation  of 
the  devil,  wherein  he  alleged  the  Scripture  against  Christ,  to  cast  him- 
self downward,  and  that  he  should  take  no  hurt,  he  inferred  thereupon, 
saying : 

* Now-a-days,'  quoth  he,  'the  devil  tcnipteth  tlie  world,  and  biddetli  them  to 
cast  themselves  backward.  There  is  no  '  forward'  in  the  new  teaching,  but  all 
backward.  Now  the  devil  teacheth,  come  back  from  fasting,  come  back  from 
praying,  come  back  from  confession,  come  back  from  weeping  for  thy  sins ;  and 
all  is  backward,  insomuch  that  men  nuist  now  learn  to  say  their  Pater-Noster 
backward.  For  where  we  said,  Forgive  us  our  debts,  as  we  forgive  our  debtors; 
now  it  is,  As  thou  forgavest  our  debts,  so  I  will  forgive  my  debtors ;  and  so 
God  must  forgive  first ;  and  all,  I  say,  is  turned  backward,  &c. 

Amongst  other  things,  moreover,  Gardiner  *  noted  the  devil's  craft  and  shift 

in  deceiving  man ;  who,  envying  his  felicity,  and  therefore  coveting  to  have 

man  idle,  and  void  of  good  works,   and   to  be  led  in  that  idleness  with  a  vain 

hope  to  live  merrily  at  his  j)leasure  here,  and  yet  to  have  heaven  at  the  last, 

Gardiner,  hath,  for  that  purpose,  procured  out  pardons  from  Rome,  wherein  heaven  was 

ffiarTand  ^'•^^'^  ^°^  ^  \\ti\<i  money  ;  and  to  retail  that  merchandise,  the  devil  used  friars  for 

pardons     his  ministers.     Now  they  be  gone,  with  all  their  trumpery;  but  the  devil  is  not 

(1)  Out  of  the  preface  of  Stephen  Gardiner  against  George  Joye.     [London,  1546.  Svo. — Ed.] 


The 

effect  of 
Stephen 
Gardi- 
ner's 
sermon. 


Pardon 
procured 
by  the 
devil, 
quoth 


WITH    THE    CAUSES    OF    THEFK    MARTYRDOM.  431 

yet  gone,  &c.     And  now  that  the  devil  perceivetli  that  it  can   no  longer  be  Henry 

borne  to  buy  and  sell  heaven  by  the  friars,  he  hath  excogitated  to  offer  heaven,  yiu. 

without  works  for  it,  so  freely,  that  men  shall  not  need  for  heaven  to  work  ,    j, 

at  all,  whatsoever  opportunity  they  have  to  work:  marry!  if  they  will  have  any  \^aq 

higher  place  in  heaven,  God  will  leave  no  work  unrewarded  ;  but  as  to  be  in  !_ 

heaven    needs   no  works   at  all,   but  only   belief,   only,   only,i    and   nothing 
else,'  &c. 

This  sermon  of  Stephen  Gardiner  finished,  Dr.  Barnes,  who  was  xue  ser- 
put  off  from  that  Sunday,  had  his  day  appointed,  which  was  tlie  sanies 
third  Sunday  next  following,  to  make  his  sermon ;  who,  taking  the  [^'^'^"Jfj, 
same  text  of  the  gospel  which  Gardiner  had  done  before,  was,  on  the  ner. 
contrary  side,  no  less  vehement  in  setting  forward  the  true  doctrine 
of  christian  religion,  than  Winchester  had  been  before  in  plucking 
men  backward  from  truth  to  lies,  from  sincerity  to  hypocrisy,  from 
religion  to  superstition,  from  Christ  to  Antichrist.     In  the  process 
of  which  sermon  he  proceeding,  and  calling  out  Stephen  Gardiner  by 
name  to  answer  him,  alluding  in  a  pleasant  allegory  to  a  cock-fight ; 
terming  the  said  Gardiner  to  be  a  fighting  cock,  and  himself  to  be 
another :  but  the  garden  cock  (he  said)  lacketh  good  spurs  :  object- 
ing moreover  to  the  said  Gardiner,  and  opposing  him  in  his  gram- 
mar rules  ;  thus  saying,  that  if  he  had  answered  him  in  the  schools, 
so  as  he  had  there  preached  at  the  Cross,  he  would  have  given  him 
six  stripes  :  declaring  furthermore  what  evil  herbs  this  Gardiner  had 
set  in  the  garden  of  God's  Scripture,  &c. 

Finally,  with  this  sermon  Gardiner  was  so  tickled  in  the  spleen, 
that  he

~344 words

thing  good  or  acceptable 
before  the  grace  of  justification,  or  not.'*"     This  question  arose  upon 

(1)  Stephen  Gardiner  cannot  abide  '  only,  only.' 


432  THE    STORV    OF    BARNES,    JEROME,    AND    GARRET, 

jf<^nnj  a  certain  contention  which  had  been  between  them  before :  for 
^^^^'  Barnes  had  affirmed,  that  albeit  God  requireth  of  us  to  forgive  our 
A.  D.  neighbour,  to  obtain  forgiveness  of  him ;  yet,  he  said,  that  God 
1540.  must  forgive  us  first,  before  we  forgive  our  neighbour ;  for  else,  to 
The  forgive  our  neighbour  were  sin,  by  the  text  which  saith :  "All  that  is 
between  ^ot  of  faith,  is  of  siu,"'  &c.  Thus  the  matter  being  propounded, 
Barnes  Gardiucr,  to  prove  the  contrary,  came  forth  with  his  arguments  two 
Gardiner,  or  thrcc :  to  the  wliicli  arguments  (saith  Gardiner)  Barnes  could  not 
giveth  us,  answer,  but  desired  to  be  spared  that  night,  and  the  next  morning 
fgj°i^^^''^  he  would  answer  his  arguments.  In  the  morning,  Gardiner  with  the 
our  hearers  being  again  assembled.  Dr.  Barnes,  according  to  the  appoint- 
bour.  ment,  was  present,  who  then  went  about  to  assoil  his  arguments. 
Gmdi-  rp^  i^^g  solutions  Gardiner  again  replied  :  and  thus  continued  they  in 
report.  tJ^jg  altcrcatiou  by  the  space  of  two  hours.  In  the  end  of  this  cock- 
tation  fight,  Winchester  thus  concludeth  this  glorious  talc,^  and  croweth 
Barnes"  Up  the  triumph  ;  declaring  how  Barnes  besought  him  to  have  pity 
fP"^,.       on  him,  to  forgive  him,  and  to  take  him  to  be  his   scholar:  whom 

Gardiner.  .    ^       . 

then  the  said  Winchester  (as  he  himself  confesseth)  receiving,  not 

as  his  scholar,  but  as  his  companion,  offered  to  him  a  portion  out  of 

Gardiner  his  living,  to  tlic  sum  of  forty  pounds  a  year,  which  if  it  be  true  (as 

tf  Barnes  ^tsphcn  Gardiner  himself  reporteth),  why  then  doth  this  glorious 

forty        cockatrice  crow  so  much  against  Barnes  afterwards,  and  cast  him  in 

year"  ^  '^  the  tccth,  bearing  all  the  world  in  hand  that  Barnes  was  his  scholar  ? 

whereas    he   himself  here  refuseth  Barnes   to  be   his    scholar,  and 

receiveth  him  as  his  companion,  fellow-like :  but  to  the  story. 

This  done

~443 words

at  London  the  Monday  following : 
Avhich  he  did,  with  a  certain  other  companion  joined  unto  him.  Who 
he  was,  Winchester  there  doth  not  express,  only  he  saith  that  it  was 
neither  Jerome  nor  Garret.  In  this  next  meeting  between  Barnes 
and  the  bishop,  upon  the  aforesaid  Monday,  the  said  bishop  studying 
to  instruct  Barnes,  littered  to  him  certain  articles  or  conclusions,  to 
the  number  of  ten,  the  effect  whereof  here  foUoweth. 

Winchester''s  Articles  against  Barnes. 

I.  The  effect  of  Christ's  passion  hath  a  condition.  Tlie  fulfilling  of  the  con- 
dition diminisheth  nothing  the  effect  of  Christ's  passion. 

II.  They  that  will  enjoy  the  effect  of  Christ's  passion  must  fulfil  the  con- 
dition. 

III.  The  fulfilling  of  the  condition  requireth  first  knowledge  of  the  condition  ; 
which  knowledge  we  have  by  faith. 

IV.  Faith  cometh  of  God,  and  this  faith  is  a  good  gift ;  it  is  good  and  pro- 
fitable to  me ;  it  is  profitable  to  me  to  do  well,  and  to  exercise  this  faith  :  ergo, 
by  the  gift  of  God,  I  may  do  well  before  I  am  justified. 

V.  Therefore  I  may  do  well  by  the  gift  of  God  before  I  am  justified,  towards 
the  attainment  of  justification. 

VI.  There  is  ever  as  much  charity  towards  God  as  faith :  and  as  faith  in- 
creaseth,  so  doth  charity  increase. 

VII.  To  the  attainment  of  justification  are  required  faith  and  charity. 

VIII.  Everything  is  to  be  called  freely  done,  whereof  the  beginning  is  free 
and  set  at  liberty,  without  any  cause  of  provocation. 

IX.  Faith  must  be  to  mc  the  assurance  of  the  promises  of  God  made  in 

1)  Rom.  xiv.  23.  l2)  Stepiun  Gardi-ier,  in  his  preface  to  George  Joye. 


WITH    THE    CAUSES    OF    THKIR    MAUTYUDOM.  43i3 

Christ  (if  I  fulfil  the  condition),   and  love   must  accomplish  tlie   condition :  Henry 

whereupon  followeth  the  attainment  of  the  promise  according  to  God's  truth.  f^m. 

X.  A  man  being  in  deadly  sin,  may  have  grace  to  do  the  works  of  penance,  t^  j) 

whereby  he  may  attain  to  his  justification.  1540 


These  articles,  forasmuch  as  they  be  sufficiently  answered  and  Answer 
replied  unto  by  George  Joye,  in  his  joinder'  and  rejoinder^  against  folnder  of 
Winchester,  I  shall  not  need  to  cumber  this  work  with  any  new  ado  •'''^'^• 
therewith,  but  only  refer  the  reader  to  the  books  aforesaid,  where  he 
may  see  matter  enough  to  answer  to  these  popish  articles. 

I  told  you  before,  how  the  king  was  contented  that  Barnes  should 
resort  to  the  house  of  the  bishop  of  Winchester,  to  be  trained  and 
directed  by  the  bishop :  which  Barnes  then  hearing  the  talk  of  the 
people,  and  having  also  conference  with  certain  learned  men,  Avithin  -wfir^fniy

~209 words

come  still,  but  else  he  him. 
Avould  come  no  more;  and  so  clean  gave  over  the  bishop. 

This  being  known  unto  the  king,  through  sinister  complaints  of 
popish  sycophants,  Barnes  again  was  sent  for,  and  convented  before 
the  king  ;  who,  being  grievously  incensed  against  him,  enjoined  both 
him,  Jerome,  and  Garret,  at  the  solemn  Easter  sermons  at  St.  Mary 
Spittal,  openly  in  writing  to  revoke  the  doctrine  which  they  before 
had  taught ;  at  which  sermon  Stephen  Gardiner  also  himself  was 
present,  to  hear  their  recantation. 

First  Dr.  Barnes,  according  to  his  promise  made  to   the  king,  Barnes 
solemnly  and  formally  began  to  make  his  recantation  ;  which  done,  wfnchis- 
he,  with  much  circumstance  and  obtestation,  called  upon  the  bishop  t^r,  at  his 
(as  is  above  touched),  and,  asking  ot  him  forgiveness,  required  him,  tohoWup 
in  token  of  a  grant,  to  hold  up  his  hand,  to  the  intent  that  he  there  ^'^  ^^^^'^' 
openly  declaring  his  charity  before  the  world,  the  bishop  also  would 
declare  his  charity  in  like  manner      Which  Avhen  the  bishop  at  first 
refused  to  do  as  he  was  required,  Barnes  again  called  for  it,  desiring 
him  to  show  his  charity,  and  to  hold  up  his  hand ;  which  when  he 
had  done  with  much  ado,  wagging  his  finger  a  little,  then  Barnes, 
entering  into  his  sermon,  after  his   prayer  made,  beginneth  the  pro- 
cess of  a  matter,  preaching

~187 words

apprehended,  and  committed  to  the  Tower.     Stephen  Gardiner,  in  commit- 
Uis  aforesaid  book  against  George  Joye,  would  needs  clear  himself,  Tower, 

(1)  Printed  in  1543.   ICmo.— En.  (2)  Printed  in  1546.  lymo.— Ed, 

VOL.  V.  F    F 


434 


Henry 
VIII. 

A.D. 
1540. 

Gardiner 
had  no 
access  to 
the  king's 
council  a 
year  and 
more 
before 
the  lord 
Crom- 
well's 
faU. 

Process 
against 
Barnes, 
Jerome, 
and 
Garret. 


Barnes 
falsely 
slander- 
ed. 


Barnes 
confes- 
sion. 


All  men 
works 
imper- 
fect. 


THE    .STORY    OF    BAllNES,    JEROME,    AND    GARRET, 

tliat  he  was  no  party  to,  nor  cause  of  their  casting  into  the  Tower ; 
and  giveth  this  reason  for  him,  for  that  he  had  then  no  access,  nor 
liad  after,  so  long  as  CromwelFs  time  lasted,  to  the  king's  secret 
counsel :  yet,  notwithstanding,  the  said  Gardiner  cannot  persuade  us 
to  the  contrary,  but  that  his  privy  complaining  to  the  king,  and  his 
secret  whisperings  in  his  friend's  ears,  and  his  other  Avorkings  by  his 
factors  about  the  king,  was  a  great  sparkle  to  set  their  faggots  a&:e. 

Thus  then  Barnes,  Jerome,  and  Garret,  being  committed  to  the 
Tower  after  Easter,  there  remained  till  the  thirtieth  day  of  July

~7,939 words

the  goodness  of  their  cause,  and  quiet  of  their  conscience. 

1540^       Wherein  is  to  be  noted  how  mightily  the  Lord  worketh  with  his 

DiiTar-      grace  and  fortitude  in  the  hearts  of  his  servants,  especially  in  such  as 

tweeii      causeless  suffer,  with  a  guiltless  conscience,  for  religion''s  sake,  above 

suffer *for'  others  who  suffer  otherwise  for  their  deserts.     For  whereas  they  avIio 

['"'•'^       suffer  as  malefactors,  are  commonly  Avont  to  go  heavy  and  pensive  to 

others      their  death ;  so  the  others,  with  heavenly  alacrity  and  cheerfulness, 

for^theTr    do  abide  whatsoever  it  pleaseth  the  Lord  to  lay  upon  them  :  example 

serts'^''     whereof  we  have  right  well  to  note,  not  only  in  these  three  godly 

Cheerful  uiartyrs  above  mentioned,  but  also  in  the  lord  Cromwell,  who  suffered 

of  crom-  ^^^''  ^^^^  ^^y^  before,  the  same  no  less  may  appear ;  who,  although  he 

h''''ri*'     was  brought  to  his  death,    attainted  and  condemned  by  the  par- 

'  liament,  yet  what  a  guiltless  conscience  he  bare  to  his  death,  his 

christian  patience  well  declared  ;  who,  first  calling  for  his  breakfast, 

and  cheerfully  eating  the  same,  and,  after  that,  passing  out  of  his 

prison  down  the  hill  within  the  Tower,  and  meeting  there  by  the 

way  the  lord  Hungerford,  going  likewise  to  his  execution  (who,  for 

other  matter,  here  not  to  be  spoken  of,  Avas  there  also  imprisoned), 

and  perceiving  him  to  be  all  heavy  and  doleful,  with  cheerful  coun- 

comfort-  tenance  and  comfortable  words,  asking  why  he  was  so  heavy,  he  willed 

twds  of  him  to  pluck  up  his  heart,  and  to  be  of  good  comfort ;  "  for,"  said 

ti^S ''"  ^^®'  "  ^^^^  is  no  cause  for  you  to  fear ;  for  if  you  repent,  and  be 

Hunger-  heartily  sorry  for  that  you  have  done,  there  is  for  you  mercy  enough 

/ohig  to  ^  with  the  Lord,  who,  for  Christ"'s  sake,  will  forgive  you  ;  and  therefore 

be  not  dismayed.     And  though  the  breakfast  which  we  are  going  to, 

be  sharp,  yet,  trusting  to  the  mercy  of  the  Lord,  we  shall  have  a 

joyful  dinner."    And  so  went  they  together  to  the  place  of  execution, 

and  took  their  death  patiently,  July  28th,  1540, 

A    NOTE    OF    THREE    PAPISTS,   POWEL,  FETHERSTONE,  AND  ABEL, 

EXECUTED    THE    SAME    TIME    AVITH    BARNES,    JEROME, 

AND    GARRET. 

The  same  time  and  day,  and  in  the  same  place,  where  and  when 
these  three  above  mentioned  did  suffer,  three  others  also  were  exe- 
cuted, though  not  for  the  same  cause,  but  rather  the  contrary,  for 
denying  the  king's  supremacy;  whose  names  were  Powel,  Fether- 
stonc,  and  Abel :  which  spectacle  so  happening  upon  one  day,  in 
two  so  contrary  parts  or  factions,  brought  the  people  into  a  marvel- 
lous admiration  and  doubt  of  their  religion,  which  part  to  follow  and 
take  ;  as  might  so  well  happen  amongst  ignorant  and  simple  people, 
seeing  two  contrary  parts  so  to  suffer,  the  one  for  popery,  the  other 
against  popery,  both  at  one  time.     Insomuch  that  a  certain  stranger 
being  there  present  the  same  time,  and  seeing  three  on  the  one  side, and 
The        three  on  the  other  side  to  suffer,  said  in  these  words,  "  Deus  bone  ! 
suanKerf  quomodo  hic  vi\Tint  gentes .''  hie  suspenduntur  papistse,  illic  com- 
hoThpa-   ^wruntur  antipapistse."     But  to  remove  and  take  away  all  doubt 
pists  and  hereafter  from  posterity,  whereby  they  shall  the  less  marvel  how  thia 
ants"o     so  happened,  here  is  to  be  understood  how  the  cause  thereof  did  rise 
suffer,      jjj^^i  proceed ;  which  happened  by  reason  of  a  certain  division  and 


their 
deaths. 


THE    AUTHOR  S    DIFFERENCE    WITH    ALAN    COPE. 


439 


discord  among  the  king's  council,  who  were  so  divided  among  them-  nenry 
selves  in  equal  parts,  that  the  one  half  seemed  to  hold  with  the  one 
religion,  the  other  half  with  the  contrary;  the  names  of  whom, 
although  it  were  not  necessary  to  express,  yet  being  compelled  for 
the  setting  forth  of  the  truth  of  the  story,  we  have  thought  good  here 
to  annex,  as  the  certainty  thereof  came  to  our  hands. 


A.D. 
1540. 


Canterbury, 

Suffolk, 

Viscount  Bewchanip, 


PROTESTANTS. 

Viscount  Lisle, 
Russell,  Treasurer, 
Paget, 


Sadler, 
Audeley. 


Winchester, 
Durham, 
Norfolk, 
Southampton, 
Anthony  Brown, 


William  Paulet, 

John  Baker, 

Richard,  Chancellor  of  the  Augmentation. 

Wingfield,  Vice  Chancellor. 


This  division  and  separation  of  the  council  amongst  themselves, 
caused  both  these  parts  above  mentioned,  the  one  for  one  religion, 
the  other  for  another,  to  suffer  together.  For,  as  the  one  part  of  the 
council  called  for  the  execution  of  Barnes,  Garret,  and  Jerome ;  so 
the  other  part,  likewise,  called  for  the  execution  of  the  law  upon 
Powel,  Fetherstone,  and  Abel;  which  six,  being  condemned  and 
drawn,  to  the  place  of  execution,  two  upon  a  hurdle,  one  being  a 
papist,  the  other  a  protestant,  thus,  after  a  strange  manner,  were 
brought  into  Smithficld,  where  all  the  said  six  together,  for  contrary 
doctrine,  suffered  death  ;  three,  by  the  fire,  for  the  gospel ;  the  other 
three,  by  hanging,  drawing,  and  quartering,  for  popery. 

Alan  Cope,  in  his  worshipful  Dialogues,  making  mention  of  these 
three  aforesaid,  Powel,  Fetherstone,  and  Abel,  amongst  others  who 
died  in  king  Henry's  days  in  the  like  popish  quarrel,  that  is,  for  the 
like  treason  against  their  prince  (being  in  all  to  the  number  of  twenty- 
four),  extolleth  them  not  only  in  words,  but  with  miracles  also,  up  to 
the  height  of  heaven,  among  the  crowned  martyrs  and  saints  of  God. 
To  the  which  Cope,  because  in  this  haste  of  story  I  have  no  leisure 
at  this  present  to  give  attendance,  I  shall  wait  attendance  (the  Lord 
willing)  another  time,  to  join  in  this  issue  with  him  more  at  leisure. 
In  the  meantime,  it  shall  suffice  at  this  present  to  recite  the  names 
only  of  those  twenty-four  rebels,  whom  he,  of  his  popish  devotion,  so 
dignified  with  the  pretensed  title  of  martyrs  :  the  names  of  thirteen 
of  which  monkish  rebels  be  these  here  following :' 


The  coun- 
cil divid- 
ed in  re- 
ligion. 


Two  toge- 
ther laid 
upon  the 
hurdle ; 
the  one  a 
papist, 
the  other 
a  protest- 
ant. 


Traitors 

made 

mai-tyrs. 


Neither 
good  mar- 
tyrs to 
God,  nor 
good  sub- 
jects to 
the  king. 


John  Houghton, 
Robert  Laurence, 
Augustine  Webster, 
Reginald  of  Sion, 
John  Haile, 


John  Rochester, 
Jacobus  Wannere, 
John  Stone, 
John  Traverse, 


William  Home, 
Powell, 
Fetherstone, 
Abel. 


Besides  these  there  were  other  nine  Carthusian  monks  who  died  in 
the  prison  of  Newgate ;  to  which  number  if  you  add  Master  More 
and  the  bishop  of  Rochester,  the  '  summa  totalis"'  cometh  to  twenty- 

(1)  '  Dialog!  Sex'  (Antw.  1566),  pp.  993—995.    Reginald  is  said  to  he  '  ordinis  Brigitani.'— Ed. 


440  SEVERITY    WITH    WHICH    THE    SIX    ARTICLES    ARE    EXFOHCED. 

-ffenry    four,  whom  tlic  s.iicl  Co))c  Tiiijustly  croAvncd  for  martyrs.     But  of 

L  these  more  shall  be  said  (the  Lord  willing)  hereafter. 

A.D. 

L.      Thus,  having  discoursed  the  order  of  the  six  articles,  with  other 

turTance  "^^^^^cr  likcwisc  following  in  the  next  parliament,  concerning  the  con- 
in  Enfi-  dcmuation  of  the  lord  Cromwell,  of  Dr.  Barnes,  and  his  fellows,  let 
the  six  "  us  now  (proceeding  further  in  this  history)  consider  what  great  dis- 
ariicies.  t^j-i^ance  and  vexations  ensued  after  the  setting  forth  of  the  said 
articles,  through  the  whole  realm  of  England,  especially  among  the 
godly  sort :  wherein  first  were  to  be  mentioned  the  straight  and 
severe  commissions  sent  forth  by  the  king''s  authority,  to  the  bishops, 
chancellors,  officials,  justices,  mayors,  and  bailiffs  in  every  shire,  and 
other  commissioners  by  name  in  the  same  commissions  expressed  ; 
and,  amongst  others,  especially  to  Ecbiiund  Bonner  bishop  of 
London,  to  the  mayor,  sheriffs,  and  aldermen  of  the  same,  to  inquire 
diligently  after  all  heretical  books,  and  to  burn  them.  Also  to 
inquire  after  all  such  persons  whatsoever,  culpable  or  suspected  of 
such  felonies,  heresies,  contempts,  or  transgressions,  or  speaking  any 
words  contrary  to  the  aforesaid  act,  set  forth,  of  the  six  articles.  The 
tenor  of  the  said  commissions  being  sufficiently  expressed  in  ancient 
records,  and  in  the  bishops'  registers,  and  also  partly  touched  before,' 
therefore,  for  tediousness  I  here  omit :  only  showing  forth  the  com- 
mission directed  to  Edmund  Bonner  bishop  of  London,  to  take  the 
oath  of  the  mayor  of  London,  and  of  others,  for  the  execution  of  the 
commission  aforesaid ;  the  tenor  whereof  here  followeth : 

The  Commission  for  taking  the  Oath  of  the  Mayor  of  London  and 
Others,  for  the  execution  of  the  Act  aforesaid. 

Henry  the  Eighth,  by  the  grace  of  God,  king  of  Enghmd  and  of  France, 
defender  of  the  faith,  lord  of  Ireland,  and  in  earth  supreme  head  of  the  clnn-ch 
of  England,  unto  the  reverend  father  in  Christ  Edmund  Bonner,  bishop  of 
London,  and  to  his  wellbeloved  the  bishop's  chancellor,  health.  Know  ye  that 
we  have  given  you,  jointly  and  severally,  power  and  authority  to  receive  the 
oaths  of  William  Roche,  mayor  of  London;  John  Allen,  knight;  Ralph  War- 
ren, knight ;  Richard  (iresham,  knight;  Roger  Cholmley,  knight,  serjeant-at- 
law  ;  John  Gresham ;  Michael  Dormer,  archdeacon  of  London,  the  bishop'3 
commissary  and  ofhcial ;  Robert  Chidley,  Guy  Crayford,  Edward  Hall,  Robert 
Broke,  and  John  Morgan,  and  every  of  them,  our  commissioners  for  heresies, 
and  other  offences  done  within  our  city  of  London  and  diocese  of  the  same,  ac- 
cording to  the  tenor  of  a  certain  schedule  hereunto  annexed.  And  therefore  we 
command  you  that  you  receive  the  oaths  aforesaid ;  and  when  you  have  received 
them,  to  certify  us  into  our  chancery,  imdcr  your  seals,  returning  this  our  writ. 
Teste  me  ipso  at  Westminster  the  twenty-ninth  of  January,  in  the  thirty- 
second  year  of  our  reign. 

What  the  oath  was  of  these  commissioners  whereunto  they  were 
bound,  read  before. 

A    XOTE    now    BOXNER     SAT    IN    THE    GUILDHALL    IN    COMMISSION 

FOR    THE    SIX    ARTICLES  :    ALSO    OF    THE    CONDEMNING 

OF    MEKINS. 

Upon  this  commission  given  unto  Edmund    Bonnei-,  he,  com-ng 
to  the  Guildhall,  with  other  commissioners,  to  sit  upon  the  statute 

(I)  Read  before  page  262. 


BONNER    31TTETH    IX    COMMISSION    FOR    THE    SIX    ARTICLES.  441 

of  the  Six  Articles,  began  eftsoons  to  put  in  execution  his  authority    Henry 
after  a  rigorous  sort,  as  ye  shall  hear.     And  first,  he  charged  certain 


juries  to  take  their  oath  upon  the  statute  aforesaid,  who,  being  sworn,    A.D. 
had  a  day  appointed  to  give  their  verdict :  at  which  day  they  indicted    ^^^^- 
sundry  persons,  who,  shortly  after,  were  apprehended  and  brought  to 
ward  ;  who,  after  awhile  remaining  there,  were,  by  the  king  and  his 
council,  discharged  at  the  Star-chamber,  without  any  further  punish- 
ment. 

Not  long  after  this,  sir  William  Roche  being  mayor,  Bonner  with 
other  commissioners  sat  at  the  Guildhall  aforesaid,  before  whom  there 
were  a  certain  number  of  citizens  warned  to  appear ;  and  after  the 
commission  read,  the  said  parties  were  called  to  the  book,  and  when 
five  or  six  were  sworn,  one  of  the  said  persons,  being  called  to  the 
book,  Bonner  seemed  to  mislike,  and  said,  "  Stay  awhile,  my  mas- 
ters," quoth  he  ;  "I  would  ye  should  consider  this  matter  well  that 
we  have  in  hand,  which  concerneth  the  glory  of  God,  the  honour  of 
the  king,  and  the  wealth  of  the  realm  ;  and  if  there  be  any  here 
among  you  that  doth  not  consider  the  same,  it  were  better  that  he 
were  hence  than  here."  Then  communed  the  commissioners  with 
Bonner  about  that  man,  so  that  at  length  he  was  called  to  the  book 
and  sworn,  not  altogether  with  his  good  will. 

When  the  two  juries  were  sworn,  Bonner  taketh  upon  him  to  give 
the  charge  unto  the  juries,  and  began  with  a  tale  of  Anacharsis,by  which 
example  he  admonished  the  juries  to  spare  no  persons,  of  what  degree 
soever  they  were.  And  at  the  end  of  his  charge,  he  brought  forth  Mekins 
to  the  bar  a  boy,  whose  name  was  Mekins,  declaring  how  grievously  fj'^by"*' 
he  had  offended  by  speaking  of  certain  words  against  the  state,  and  Bonner, 
of  the  death  of  Dr.  Barnes  ;  and  produced  into  the  said  court  two 
witnesses,  who  were  there  sworn  in  the  face  of  the  court.  So  a  day 
was  assigned  upon  which  the  juries  aforesaid  should  give  up  their 
verdict ;  at  which  day  both  the  commissioners,  and  the  said  juries, 
met  at  Guildhall  aforesaid.  Then  the  clerk  of  the  peace  called  on 
the  juries  by  their  names,  and  when  their  appearance  was  taken, 
Bonner  bade  them  put  in  their  presentments.  Then  said  the  fore-  Wiiiiam 
man  of  that  jury,  whose  name  was  William  Robins ;  "  My  lord,"  j„ror"^' 
Avith  a  low  courtesy,  "  we  have  found  nothing  :"  at  which  words  he 
fared  as  one  in  an  agony,  and  said,  "  Nothing  "^  have  ye  found 
nothing  ?  what  nothing  ?  By  the  faith  I  owe  to  God,"  quoth  he  to 
the  foreman,  "  I  would  trust  you  upon  your  obligation  ;  but  by  your 
oath  I  will  trust  you  nothing."  Then  said  some  of  the  commissioners; 
"  My  lord,  give  them  a  longer  day."  "  No,"  quoth  he,  "  in  Lon- 
don they  ever  find  nothing.  I  pray  you  what  say  you  to  Mekins  ?" 
"  My  lord,"  quoth  the  foreman,  "  we  can  say  nothing  to  him,  for 
we  find  the  witnesses  to  disagree.  One  affirmeth  that  he  should  say 
the  sacrament  was  nothing  but  a  ceremony ;  and  the  other,  nothing 
but  a  signification."  "  Why,"  quoth  Bonner,  "  did  he  not  say  that 
Barnes  died  holy  ?"  Then  pausing  awhile,  he  bade  call  the  other 
jury.  "  Put  in  your  verdict,"  quoth  he,  "  My  lord,"  said  one,  "  we 
have  found  nothing."  "Jesus!"  quoth  he,  "is  not  this  a  strange 
case  ?" 

Then  spake  one  of  the  same  jury,  whose  name  was  Ralph  Foxley,  ^^|p^ 
and  said,  "  My  lord,  wlien  you  gave  us  charge,  wc  desired  to  have  juror.  ' 


442  BONNER    SITTETH    IN    COMMISSION    FOR    THE    SIX    ARTICLES. 

ffenry   tlic  parsoTis   and   curates  of  every  parish  to  give  us  instructions; 
^^^^'    and  it  was  denied  us."     Then  stood  up  the  recorder,^  and  said,  it 


A.  D.    was  true  indeed  that  he  had  spoken ;  and  therewithal  said,  "  This 

^^'^^-    last  year  were  charged  two  juries,  which  did  many  things  naughtily 

and  foolishly,  and  did  as  much  as  in  them  lay  to  make  an  uproar 

among  the  king's  people  ;  and  therefore  it  was  thought  not  meet  that 

they  shovdd  give  information  to  you."     "  Nay,  nay,"  quoth  Bonner, 

"  this  was  the  cause  :  If  the  parson  or  curate  should  give  information 

Asainst    according  to  his  knowledge,  then  what  will  they  say  ?     '  I  must  tell 

pSs  of  "^y  confession  to  a  knave-priest,  and  he  shall  go  by-and-by  and  open 

London,    jt.'  "   "  What !"  sald  my  lord  mayor,  "  there  is  no  man,  I  trow,  that 

will  say  so  ?"     "  Yes,  by  my  troth,"  quoth  Bonner,  "  knave-priest, 

knave-priest."     Then  said  my  lord  mayor,  somewhat  smiling,  "  There 

be  some  of  them  slippery  fellows;  and  as  men  find  them,  so  will  they 

Bonner     ofttimcs  report."    Bonner,  not  well  contented  with  those  words,  said 

for'the     to  the  jury,  "My   masters,    what  say  you  to   Mekins?"      They 

condem-  answcrcd,  "  The  witnesses  do  not  agree,  therefore  we  do  not  allow 

Mekins.    them."     "  Why,"  quoth  Bonner,  "  this  court  hath  allowed  them." 

Then  said  one  of  the  jury  to  the  recorder,  "  Is  it  sufficient  for  our 

discharge,  if  this  court  do  allow  them  .P"     "  Yea,"  said  the  recorder, 

"  it  is  sufficient ;"  and  said,  "  Go  you  aside  together  aAvhile,  and 

bring  in  your  verdict."     After  the  jury  had  talked  together  a  little 

while,  they  returned,  to  the  bar  again  with  their  indictment,  which  at 

Bonner''s  hand  was  friendly  received  ;  so  both  they  and  the  other 

jury  were  discharged,  and  bidden  take  their  ease.     Thus  ended  the 

Mekins     court  for  that  day.    Shortly  after  they  sat  for  life  and  death.   Mekins 

{'^°"siit    ]3eii-,g  brought  to  the  bar,  and  the  indictment  read,  Bonner  said  to 

i^ar.         him,  "  Mekins,  confess  the  truth,  and  submit  thyself  unto  the  king's 

law,  that  thy  death  may  be  an  example  to  all  others." 

This  Richard  Mekins,  being  a  child  that  passed  not  the  age  of 
fifteen  years  (as  Hall  reporteth),^  as  he  had  heard  some  other  folks 
talk,  so  chanced  he  to  speak  against  the  sacrament  of  the  altar; 
which  coming  to  Bonner's  cars,  he  never  left  him  (as  afore  doth 
plainly  appear)  before  he  had  brought  him  to  the  fire.  During  the 
time  of  his  imprisonment,  neither  his  poor  father  nor  mother,  for 
fear,  durst  aid  him  with  any  relief;  whereby  he  there  endured  in 
great  misery.  At  what  time  he  was  brought  unto  the  stake,  he  was 
taught  to  speak  much  good  of  the  bishop  of  London,  and  of  the 
great  charity  he  showed  to  him,  and  to  defy  and  detest  all  heretics 
and  heresies,  but  especially  Dr.  Barnes,^  unto  whom  he  imputed  the 
learning  of  that  heresy,  which  was  the  cause  of  his  death.  The  poor 
lad  would,  for  safeguard  of  his  life,  have  gladly  said  that  the  twelve 
a])ostles  had  taught  it  hmi ;  such  Avas  his  childish  innocency  and  fear. 
But  for  this  deed  many  spake  and  said,  "  It  was  gi-eat  shame  for  the 
bishop,  whose  part  and  duty  it  had  been  rather  to  have  laboured  to 
save  his  life,  than  to  procure  that  terrible  execution ;  seeing  that  he 
was  such  an  ignorant  soul,  that  he  knew  not  what  the  affirming  of 
heresy  was. 

(1)  This  recorder  was  sir  Roger  Cholmlcy.  (2)  Page  841.  Edit.  1S09.— Ed. 

(3)  And  how  could  he  take  that  learning  of  Dr.  Barnes,  when  Dr.  Barnes  was  never  of  that 
opinion. 


PERSECUTION    IN    LONDON    FOR    THE    SIX    ARTICLES.  443 

Henry 
VIII 

0icf)ati)  ^pencec,  0am.^eji,  anD  l)mti,  laactpc*?,  tofjo  guttered  at    L 

^ali.^ljui:?.  A.  D. 

1541. 

About  the  same  time  also  a  certain  priest  was  burned  at  Salisbury, 
who,  leaving  his  papistry,  had  married  a  wife,  and  became  a  player 
in  interludes,  with  one  Ramsey  and  Hewet,  which  three  were  all 
condemned  and  burned ;  against  whom,  and  especially  against 
Spencer,  was  laid  matter  concerning  the  sacrament  of  the  altar.  He 
suffered  at  Salisbury. 

Although  this  inquisition  above  mentioned  was  meant  properly 
and  especially  concerning  the  Sis  Articles,  yet  so  it  fell  out,  that  in 
short  space  doubts  began  to  arise,  and  to  be  moved  by  the  quest : 
whether  they  might  inquire  as  Avell  of  all  other  opinions,  articles, 
and  cases  of  Lollardy,  or  for  speaking  against  holy  bread,  holy 
water,  or  for  favouring  the  cause  of  Barnes,  of  friar  Ward,  sir 
Thomas  Rose,  &c.  :*  whereupon  great  perturbation  followed  in  all 
parishes  almost  through  London  in  the  year  aforesaid,  which  was 
1541,  as  here  ensueth  in  a  brief  summary  table  to  be  seen. 

211  firief  ^Table  of  tf)e  CcouWe^  at  S.onDon,  in  tfje  time  of  tf|e  ^iji' 

2Cctlcle^^ 

CONTAINING    THE    PERSONS    PRESENTED,    WITH    THE    CAUSES 
OF    THEIR    PERSECUTION. 

In  St.  Alban's  Parish  in  London. 

John  Dixe  was  noted  never  to  be  confessed  in  Lent,  nor  to  receive  at  Easter, 
and  to  be  a  sacramentary. 

Richard  Chepeman  ;  for  eating  flesh  in  Lent,  and  for  working  on  holy-days, 
and  not  coming  to  the  churcli. 

Mrs.  Cicely  Marshall ;  for  not  bearing  her  palm,  and  despising  holy  bread 
and  holy  water. 

Michael  Hawkes ;  for  not  coming  to  the  chmxh,  and  for  receiving  young 
men  of  the  new  learning. 

Master  John  Browne ;  for  bearing  with  Barnes. 

Anne,  Bedike's  wife ;  for  despising  our  Lady,  and  not  praying  to  saints. 

Andrew  Kempe,  William  Pahen,  and  Richard  Manerd;  for  disturbing  the 
service  of  the  church,  with  brabbling  of  the  New  Testament. 

In  the  Parish  of  Trinity  the  Less. 

William  Wyders  denied,  two  years  before,  the  sacrament  to  be  Christ's  body, 
and  said  that  it  was  but  only  a  sign. 

William  Stokesly ;  for  rebuking  his  wife  at  the  church  for  taking  holy  water. 

Roger  Davy ;  for  speaking  against  worshipping  of  saints. 

Master  Blage ;  for  not  coming  to  his  parish  church,  not  confessing,  nor 
receiving. 

St.  John  Baptist  in  Wallbrook. 

WiUiam  Clinch ;  for  saying,  when  he  seeth  a  priest  preparing  to  the  mass, 
'  Ye  shall  see  a  priest  now  go  to  masking.'  Item,  For  calhng  the  bishop  of 
Winchester,  '  False  flattering  knave.'  Item,  For  burying  his  wife  without  dirge, 
and  causing  the  Scot  of  St.  Katherine's  to  preach  the  next  day  after  tlie  burial. 

William  Plaine ;  seeing  a  priest  going  to  mass,  said,  '  Now  you  shall  see  one 
in  masking.'      Item,  Wlien  he  came  to  the  church,  with  loud  reading  the 
English  Bible  he  disturbed  the  divine  service. 
(1)  Ex  Regist.  Lond. 


444  PERSECUTION    IN    LONDON    FOR    THE    SIX    ARTICLES. 

vni.  St.  Botolph's  at  Billingsgate. 


A.  D.         Herman  Johnson,  Jerome  Akon,  Giles  Hosteman,  Richard  Bonfeld,  Thomas 
1541.    Cowper,   Humphrey  Skinner,  John  Sneudnam,  Richard  Philips,   JohnCelos: 

these  nine  persons  were  presented,  for  that  they  were  not  confessed  in  Lent, 

nor  had  received  at  Easter. 

St.  Nicliolas,  in  the  Flesh  Shambles. 

John  Jones,  William  Wright,  Peter  Butcher,  Roger  Butcher:  these  four 
were  presented  for  not  keeping  the  divine  service  in  the  holy  days. 

Brisley's  wife,  for  busy  reasoning  on  the  new  learning,  and  not  keeping  the 
church. 

St.  Andrew's  in  Holborn. 

Mrs.  Castle;  for  being  a  meddler,  and  a  reader  of  the  Scripture  in  the  church. 

Master  Galias,  of  Bernard's  Inn  ;  for  withstanding  the  curate  censing  the 
altars  on  Corpus  Christi  even,  and  saying  openly  that  he  did  naught. 

Master  Pates,  of  David's  Inn,  and  Master  Gahas;  for  vexing  the  curate  in 
the  body  of  the  church,  in  declaring  the  king's  injunctions  and  reading  the 
Bishop's  Book,  so  that  he  had  much  ado  to  make  an  end. 

St.  Mildred  in  Bread-street. 

William  Beckes  and  his  wife  ;  suspected  to  be  sacramentaries,  and  for  not 
creeping  to  the  cross  on  Good  Friday. 

Thomas  Langham,  William  Thomas,  Richard  Beckes,  William  Beckes : 
these  four  were  presented  for  interrupting  the  divine  service. 

Ralph  Symonds  ;  for  not  keeping  our  Lady's  mass,  which  he  was  bound  to 
keep. 

John  Smith,  apprentice;  for  saying  that  he  had  rather  hear  the  crj'ing  of 
dogs,  than  priests  singing  matins  or  even-song. 

St.  Magnus**  Parish. 

Thomas  Bele,  John  Sturgeon,  John  Wilshire,  Thomas  Symon,  Ralph  Clervis 
and  his  wife,  James  Banaster,  Nicholas  Barker,  John  Sterky,  Christopher  Smith, 
Thomas  Net :  these  eleven  persons  of  St.  Magnus'  parish  were  presented  and 
accused  for  maintaining  of  certain  preachers  (as  then  it  was  called)  of  the  new 
learning,  as  Wisedom,  Rose,  friar  Ward,  and  sir  William  Smith,  alias  Wright. 

Nicholas  Philip ;  for  maintaining  heresies  and  Scripture  books,  and  for 
using  neither  fasting  nor  prayer. 

Richard  Bigges ;  for  despising  holy  bread,  putting  it  in  the  throat  of  a  bitch, 
and  for  not  looking  up  to  the  elevation. 

St.  Mary  Magdalen  in  Milk-street. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Statham;  for  maintaining  in  her  house  Latimer,  Barnes, 
Garret,  Jerome,  and  divers  others. 

John  Duffet;  for  marrying  a  woman  who  was  thought  to  be  a  nun. 

St.  Owen's  Parish,  in  Newgate  Market. 

William  Hilliard  and  DufFet ;  for  maintaining  Barnes,  Jerome,  and  Garret, 
with  others. 

Grafton  and  WTiitchurch ;  suspected  not  to  have  been  confessed. 

St.  Martin's  at  the  Well  with  two  Buckets. 

John  Greene,  Mother  Palmer,  Christopher  Coots,  William  Selly,  Alexander 
Frere,  William  Bredi,  John  Bush,  William  Somerton,  George  Durant,  Master 
David's  apprentice:  all  these  being  of  the  parish  of  St.  Martin's,  at  the  Well 
with  two  Buckets,  were  presented  for  contemning  the  ceremonies  of  the  church ; 


PERSECUTION    IN    LONDON    FOR    THE    SIX    ARTICLES.  445 

also  some  for  walking  in  the  sacring  time  with  their  caps  on  :  some  for  turning  Henry 
their  heads  away :  some  for  sitting  at  their  doors  when  sermons  were  in  the  ^Hi- 
church,  &c.  ^  j^ 

St.  MicliaePs  in  Wood-street.  ^^^^- 

Robert  Andrew ;  for  receiving  heretics  into  his  house,  and  keeping  disputa- 
tion of  heresy  there. 

John  Williamson,  Thomas  Buge,  Thomas  Gilbert,  W.  Hickson,  Robert  Daniel, 
Robert  Smitton :  these  other  six  were  suspected  to  be  sacramentaries  and  rank 
heretics,  and  procurers  of  heretics  to  preach,  and  to  be  followers  of  their  doctrine. 

St.  Botolph's  at  Billingsgate. 

John  Mayler ;  to  be  a  sacramentary,  and  a  railer  against  the  mass. 
Richard  Bilby,  draper ;  presented  for  saying  these  words,  '  That  Christ  is  not 
present  in  the  blessed  sacrament' 

St.  Giles's  Without  Cripplegate. 

Henry  Patinson  and  Anthony  Barber :  these  two  were  detected  for  maintain

Cut continues beyond the first 4,000 words shown here — about 3,939 more in the scan at the link above.

~7,877 words

back  and  body  in  pieces  : 
in  which  devilish  torment,  whether  John  Porter  was  slain  or  no,  it  is 
not  certain.  But  howsoever  it  was,  this  is  known,  that  he  was  found 
dead  (as  is  afi)resaid)  in  the  dungeon,  with  such  groaning  and  piteous 
noise  heard  the  night  before  in  the  said  dungeon,  as  is  declared. 

3fl  Bote  of  one  C^oma.^  ^ommcri?,  impri^oncD  for  tfie  <©osfpeI. 

Thepe-  Auiongst  tlicsc  LoudoucTS  tlius  troubled  by  the  clergy,  wc  will 
nanoe  of  ^^^  ^^^  (though  a  Httlc  out  of  placc)  another  note  of  a  merchant, 
"'"'•       called  Thomas  Somniers,  who  died  in  the  tower  of  London,  for  con- 


A    NOTK    OF    THOMAS    SOJIJIEllS.  453 

fessing  of  the  gospel ;  which  Thomas,  being  a  very  honest  merchant    Heryry 

and  wealthy,  was  sent  for  by  the  lord  cardinal,  and  committed  to  the 

tower,  for  that  he  had  Luther's  books  (as  they  termed  them) ;    and    A.  D. 
after  great  suit   made  for  him  to  the  said    cardinal,  his  judgment    ^^'^^- 
was,  that  he  should  ride  from  the  Tower  into  Cheapside,  carrying  a 
new  book  in  his  hand,  and  with  books  hanging  round  about  him, 
Avith  three  or  four  other  merchants  after  the  same  order  ;  which  was 
done.     And  when  Master  Sommers  should  be  set  on  a  collier's  nag, 
as  the  rest  of  his  fellow-prisoners  were,  a  friend  of  his,  called  Master 
Copland,  brought  him  a  very  good  gelding,  fair  dressed  with  bridle 
and  saddle ;  and  when  the  bishop's  officers  came  to  dress  him  with 
books,  as  they  had  trimmed  the  others,  and  would  have  made  holes 
in   his  garment,  to  have  thrust  the  strings  of  the  books  therein ; 
"  Nay,"  said  Sommers,  "  I  have  always  loved  to  go  handsomely  in 
my  apparel :"  and  taking  the  books  and  opening  them,  he  bound 
them  together  by  the  strings,  and  cast  them  about  his  neck  (the 
leaves  being  all  open)  like  a  collar ;  and  being  on  horseback,  rode 
foremost  through  the  streets,  till  they  came  about  the  Standard  in  b^ks"' 
Cheapside,  where  a  great  lire  was  made  to  burn  their  books  in,  and  ^™^^^  '"^ 
a  pillory  set   up  there  for   four  persons,  in  token  that   they  had  side. 
deserved  it. 

In    the   mean    time,  by   the  way   as  they  should  come,  it  was 
appointed  that  one  should  go  before  them  with  a  basin,  at  the  noise 
whereof  Master  Sommers's  horse,  being  a  lofty  gelding  and  fierce, 
w^as  in  such  a  rage,  that  he  who  rung  the  basin,  being  afraid  of  him- 
self, was  fain  to  go  alone  a  great  space  before  that  any  horseman  fol- 
lowed after.     At  length,  when  they  came  to  the  fire,  every  of  them 
having  a  book  in  his  hand,  they  were  commanded  to  cast  their  books 
into  the  fire.     But  when  Master  Sommers  saw  that  his  New  Testa-  The  Pa- 
ment  should  be  burned,  he  threw  it  over  the  fire,  which  was  seen  by  fhe  n""™ 
some  of  God's  enemies,  and  brought  to  him  again,  commanding  him  ^^^^*j^- 
to  cast  it  into  the  fire,  which  he  would  not  do,  but  cast  it  through 
the  fire ;  which  thing  was  done  three  times ;  but  at  last  a  stander-by 
took  it  up,  and  saved  it  from  burning.     But  not  long  after,  the  said 
Master  Sommers   was    again    cast   into    the    Tower   by  the  cardi-  sommers 
nal,    through    the    cruelty   of    the    bishops    and    their    adherents,  ^^^'^  in 
who,  soon  after,  died   in  the  said  prison  for  the  testimony  of  his  Tower, 
faith. 

What  trouble  and  vexation  happened  amongst  the  godly  brethren 
in  London  for  the  Six  Articles,  hitherto  we  have  discoursed :  albeit 
neither  have  I  comprehended  all  who  were  molested  through  all  the 
parishes  of  London,  nor  again  did  this  rigorous  inquisition  so  cease 
within  the  precincts  of  this  city  only,  but  also  extended  further  to 
Salisbury,  Norfolk,  Lincoln,  and  through  all  other  shires  and  quarters 
of  the  realm ;  so  that  Avhere  any  popish  prelate  most  bare  stroke, 
there  persecution  most  increased.  The  bishop  of  Lincoln,  the  same 
time,  was  John  Longland,  and  Dr.  Draycot,  his  chancellor ;  of  whose 
rigorous  doings  ye  have  heard  enough  and  too  much  before.  His 
ready  diligence  in  all  popish  quarrels,  as  it  never  lacked  before,  so 
now,  in  the  execution  of  these  Six  Articles,  it  was  not  far  behind  :  in 
whose  diocese  divers  good  men  and  women,  especially  about  Buck- 


40-]-  BKUNAKD    AND    MOKTOX,    MARTYUS. 

iinirn    iiioliam  and  Amersliam,'  and  quarters  thereabouts,  were  grievously 

. L.  disquieted,  appearing  yet  in  the  register ;  as  for  instance  : 

A.D. 

^•^^^-  Elenore  Godfrey,  of  Great  Marlow, 

For  laughing  and  speaking  certain  words  against  one  Thomas  Collard,  who, 
like  a  pope-holy  hypocrite,  in  the  church  of  Marlow,  used  at  mass-time 
to  crouch  behind  the  children  ;  and  when  the  priest  crossed  his  head  with  the 
saucer  (as  she  termed  it)  he  would  cross  his  head  likewise.  And  for  these  words 
siie  was  convented  before  the  bishop,  and  miserably  vexed. 

William  Hart,  of  Great  Brickhill, 

For  saying  these  words :  '  Thinkest  thou  that  God  Almighty  will  abide  over 
a  knave  priest's  head?' 

Christopher  Erles,  of  Risborough, 

Because  he  did  no  reverence  unto  the  sacrament,  coming  to  the  church  ;  and 
for  looking  upon  his  book  at  the  time  of  elevation  ;  and  that  he  would  not  come 
to  see  the  elevation,  &c.  Item,  as  he  was  woi-king  upon  a  piece  of  fustian  on 
a  holy-day,  and  being  asked  why  he  kept  not  the  holy-day,  he  answered  that 
that  was  no  work,  and  that  it  was  better  to  do  that,  than  to  sit  at  the  alehouse 
drinking  drunk. 

William  Fastendicli,  of  Woburn, 

For  speaking  certain  words  against  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  and  because 
he  believed  not  that  it  was  the  very  body  of  Christ. 

William  Garland,  of  West  Wycombe. 

William  Garland,  talking  of  extreme  unction,  said  that  those  things  were 
godly  signs,  but  there  were  but  two  sacraments,  &-c. 

William  Web,  of  the  same  Parish, 
Because  he  set  the  image  of  a  headless  bear  in  the  tabernacle  of  St.  Roke. 

Also  Master  Barber,  who  recanted. 

About  the  same  time  John  Longiand,  bishop  of  Lincoln,  burned 
two  upon  one  day,  the  one  named  Thomas  Bernard,  and  the  other 
.lames  Morton ;  the  one  for  teaching  the  Lord's  Prayer  in  English, 
and  the  other  for  keeping  the  Epistle  of  St.  James  translated  into 
English. 

In  Oxford  also  the  same  time,  or  much  thereabout,  recanted  one 

Master  Barber,  master  of  arts  of  that  university,  a  man  excellently 

learned  ;  who,  being  called  up   to  Lambeth  before  the  archbishop 

Thomas  Cranmcr,  Avas  in  his  examination  so  stout  in  the  cause  of 

the  sacrament,  and  so  learnedly  defended  himself  theren,  that  (as 

it  is  credibly  affirmed  of  them  that  yet  be  alive,  and  were  present 

thereat)  neither   Cranmer  himself,   nor  all  they  could   well  answer 

to   his  allegations  brought  out  of  Augustine ;    wherein  he  was  so 

Tiie  re-    prompt  and  ripe  of  himself,  that  the  archbishop,  Avith  the  residue  of 

of  BMiH-r  ^^'^  company,  were  brought  in  great  admiration  of  him.     Notwith- 

atoxford.  standing,  by  compulsion  of  the  time,  and  danger  of  the  Six  Articles, 

(1)  Ex  Regisf.  Lincoln. 


A    KIDICULOUS    PAGEANT    IN    OXl'OKD.  455 

at  last  he  relented,  and,  returnini^  arain  to  Oxford,  was  there  caused    ^'^nnj 

VTTT 

to  recant.      After  which  the  good  man   long   prospered   not,  but ^L- 

Avore  awayj  A.D. 

1541. 


%  merr»  anD  pleasant  Narration,  toucljing  a  faf^Sc  fearful 
^linaQination  of  jricc, 

RAISED     AMONG     THE     DOCTOUS     AND     MASTERS     OF     OXl'OllD,    IN 

ST.  mart's    church,  at    the     RECANTATION    OF    MASTER 

MALARY,    MASTER    OF    ARTS    OF    CAMBIUDGE. 

*  Hitherto,^  gentle  reader,  we  have  remembered  a  great  number  of 
lamentable  and  bloody  tragedies  of  such  as  have  been  slain  through 
extreme  cruelty :  now  I  will  here  set  before  thee  again  a  merry  and 
comical  spectacle,  whereat  thou  mayest  now  laugh  and  refresh  thyself, 
which,  forasmuch  as  it  did  necessarily  accord  with  our  present  enter- 
prise, I  have  not  thought  it  good  to  pass  it  over  with  silence.  For 
God  hath  oftentimes,  by  divers  manifest  means,  deluded  the  craft  and 
subtlety  of  the  bishops  and  their  vain  hypocrisy  ;  as,  for  example,  in 
Joan  of  Mentz,  who,  being  a  woman,  and  secretly  dissimuling  her 
kind,  ruled  the  bishopric  of  Rome ;  but,  by  being  delivered  of  a 
child  before  her  time,  even  in  the  midst  of  open  procession,  she 
defiled  that  see,  that  the  note  or  blot  thereof  will  never  be  wiped  out 
again.  Besides  that,  how  great  reproach  and  derision,  even  of 
children,  was  in  that  pompous  and  ridiculous  ambassade  of  Thomas 
Wolsey  and  Lawrence  the  cardinal,  whereof  we  have  before  spoken. 
And  now  again  the  divine  Wisdom  deluded  the  cruel  toils  of  the 
bishops ;  for*  this  recantation  of  Master  Barber  aforesaid,  in  the 
university  of  Oxford,  bringeth  me  in  remembrance  of  another  recan- 
tation likewise,  happening  not  long  before  in  the  said  university, 
which  I  thought  here  not  to  overpass. 

There  was  one  Master    Malary,    master  of  arts  of  Cambridge,  Recauta- 
scholar  of  Christ's  College,  who,  for  the  like  opinions  to  those  above  m^'i"'. 
rehearsed,  holden  contrary  to   the  catholic  determination   of  holy 
mother  church  of  Rome,  that  is,  for  the  right  truth  of  Christ's  gospel, 
was  convented  before  the  bishops,  and,  in  the  end,  sent  to  Oxford, 
there  openly  to  recant,  and  to  bear  his  faggot,  to  the  terror  of  the 
students  of  that  university.  The  time  and  place  were  appointed,  that  Maiary 
he  should  be  brought  solemnly  into  St.  Mary's  church  upon  a  Sun-  fn^o^lt.' 
day  ;  where  a  great  number  of  the  head  doctors  and  divines,  and  others  ^^''5''? 
of  the  university  were  together  assembled,  besides  a  great  multitude  with  his 
of  citizens  and  town-dwellers,  who  came  to  behold  the  sight.     Fur-  ^^^°^' 
thermore,   because  that  solemnity   should  not   pass  without   some 
effectual  sermon  for  the  holding  up  of  the  mother-church  of  Rome, 
Dr.  Smith,  reader  then  of  the  divinity  lecture,   was  appointed  to  cr.  smith 
make  the  sermon  at  this  recantation.     Briefly,  at  the  preaching  of  p^'^^j^'^'"^^,^ 
this  sermon  there  was  assembled  a  mighty  audience  of  all  sorts  and  cantation 
degrees,  as  well  of  students  as  others.     Few  almost  were  absent  who  I'ary.'*" 
loved  to  hear  or  see  any  news ;  insomuch  that  there  was  no  place 
almost  in   the  whole   church,  which  was  not  fully  replenished  with 
concourse  and  throng  of  people. 

fl)  Ex  testimonio  Bad.  Moric. 
.     (1!)  See  Eclilioii  15U3,  i>age  (i21.     Also  iht  Laliii  cdilit  ii,  Ijjfl,  ji.  \z\3.—i^n. 


456  A    UIDICULOUS    PAGEANT    IX    OXFORD. 

Jit'nry        All  tliiiigs  bcinji:  tlius  pvcparcd  and  set  in  readiness,  cometh  forth 
poor  Malary  with  his  faggot  upon  his  shoulder.     Not  long  after,  also, 


A.  D.  proceedeth  the  doctor  into  the  pulpit,  to  make  his  sermon,  the  purpose 
^^^^-   and  argument  whereof  was  wholly  upon  the  sacrament ;  the  which 
doctor,  for  the  more  confirmation  and  credit  to  his  words,  had  ])ro- 
The  sa-    vidcd  the  holy  catholic  cake,  and  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  there  to 
oHhe"'    hang  by  a  string  before  him  in  the  pulpit.     Thus  the  doctor,  Avith 
altar        \^\^  god-almiglity,  entering  his  godly  sermon,  had  scarce  proceeded 
into  the    iuto  the  midst  thereof,  the  people  giving  great  silence  with  all  reverence 
^"''"''      unto  his  doctrine,  but  suddenly  was  heard  into  the  church  the  voice 
of  one  crying  in  the  street,  "  Fire,  fire  !""     The  party  who  thus  cried 
first  in  the  street  was  called  Heuster.    *The'  occasion  of  this  exclama- 
tion came  by  a  chimney  that  was  on  fire  in  the  town,  wherein  the 
fire,  having  taken  hold  of  the  soot  and  dry  matter,  burned  out  at  the 
top  of  the  chimney,  and  so  caused  the  neighbours  to  make  an  out- 
cry.*    This  Heuster  coming  from  Allhallows  parish  saw  the  chimney 
on  fire,  and  so  passing  through  the  street  by  St.  JNIary's  church,  cried 
"  fire,  fire  !"  as  the  fashion  is  ;  meaning  no  hurt.  *Such'  is  the  order 
and  manner  amongst  the  Englishmen,  much  diverse  and  contrary  to 
that  which  is  used  among  the  Germans.     For  whensoever  any  fire 
happeneth  in  Germany,  by  and  by,  the  bells  ringing  in  the  steeples 
stir  up  the  people  to  help,  who  immediately  are  all  ready  in  anuour; 
some  go  unto  the  walls,  others  beset  the  ways,  and  the  residue  are 
appointed  to  quench  the  fire.    The  labour  is  diversely  divided  amongst 
them,  for  while  some  fetch  water  in  leather  buckets,  others  cast  on  the 
water,  some  climb  the  houses,  and  some  with  hooks  pull  them  down ; 
some  again  attend  and  keep  watch  without,  riding  about  the  fields, 
so  that,  by  this  means,  there  lacketh  neither  help  within,  neither  safe- 
guard without.     But  the  like  is  not  used  here  in  England  :  for  when 
any  such  thing  happeneth,  there  is  no  public  sign  or  token  given,  but 
the  outcry  of  the  neighbours  doth  stir  up  all  the  others  to  help.   There 
is  no  ]>ublic  or  civil  order  in  doing  of  things,  neither  any  division  of 
labour,  but  every  man,  running  headlong  together,  catchcth  whatsoever 
cometh  next  to  hand  to  quench  the  fire.* 
A  maze         T\\\s  souud  of  fire  being  heard  in  the  church,  first  of  them  that 
smith'.«!    stood  outemiost  next  to  the  church  door,  so  increased  and  went  from 
audience.  ^^^  ^^  another,  that  at  length  it  came  unto  tlie  ears  of  the  doctors, 
and  at  last  to  the  preacher  himself;  who,  as  soon  as  they  heard  the 
matter,  being  amazed  with  sudden  fear,  and  marvelling  what  the 
matter  should  mean,  began  to  look  up  into  the  top  of  the  church, 
and  to  behold  the  walls.     The  residue  seeing  them  look  up,  looked 
st.Mar>'s  up  also.     Tlicu  began  they,  in  the  midst  of  the  audience,  to  cry  out 
oXrd'"  with  a  loud  voice,  "  Fire,  fire  !''  "  Where  r  saith  one  ;  ''  Where  r 
su'rlfs  d  ^^^^^^  another.     "  In  the  church  !"  saith  one.     The  mention  of  the 
to  he  set   church  was  scarcely  pronounced,  when,  as  in  one  moment,  there  Avas 
heretfcs.^  a  comuion  Cry  amongst  them,   "  The  church  is  on  fire  !   the  church 
is  set  on  fire  by  heretics  !^''  &c.  And,  albeit  no  man  did  see  any  fire 
Deinders  at  all,  yct,  forasuuich  as  all  men  cried  out  so,  every  man  thought  it 
true  that  they   heard.      Then  was  there  such  fear,   concourse,  and 
tumult  of  people,  through  the  whole  church,  that  it  cannot  be  declared 
in  words  as  it  was  indeed. 

And  as  in  a  great  fire  (where  fire  is  indeed),  we  sec  many  times 

(1)  Sec  Kditicn,  )J(J3,  p.  C21'.— lie. 


A    RIDICULOUS    PAGEANT    IN    OXFORD.  457 

liow  one  little  spark  giveth  matter  of  a  mighty  flame,  setting  whole    Henry 
stacks  and  piles  a-burning ;  so  here,  upon  a  small  occasion  of  one 


man's  word,  kindled  first  a  general  cry,  then  a  strong  opinion,  running   A.  D. 
in  every  man's  head  within  the  church,  thinking  the  church  to  be  on    ^^4^- 


fire,  where  no  fire  was  at  all.     Thus  it  pleased  Almighty  God  to  How 

.  '  '-'•'.  great 

delude  these  deluders ;  that  is,  that  these  grent  doctors  and  wise  men  clerks, 
of  the  schools,  who  think  themselves  so  wise  in  God's  matters  as  cdvtd' 
thouq-h  thev  could  not  err,  should  see,  by  their  own  senses  and  nuk^-  o"en-. 

o,/^  ,"  •^.  1  times  m 

ments,  how  blinded  and  infatuated  they  were,  in  these  so  small  matters  small 
and  sensible  trifles. 

Thus  this  strong  imagination  of  fire  being  fixed  in  their  heads,  as 
nothing  could  remove  them  to  think  contrary  but  that  the  church  was 
on  fire,  so  every  thing  that  they  saw  or  heard  increased  this  suspicion 
in  them,  to  make  it  seem  most  true,  which  was  indeed  most  false. 
The  first  and  chiefest  occasion  that  augmented  this  suspicion,  was  the 
heretic  there  bearing  his  faggot,  which  gave  them  to  imagine  that  all 
other  heretics  had  conspired  with  him,  to  set  the  church  on  fire. 

After  this,  through  the  rage  of  the  people,  and  running  to  and  fro,  Much 
the  dust  was  so  raised,  that  it  showed  as  it  had  been  the  smoke  of  done  in 
fire ;  which  thing,  together  with  the  outcry  of  the  people,  made  all  j]j^p„_ 
men  so  afraid,  that,  leaving  the  sermon,  they  began  all  together  to  run  whereof 
away.     But  such  was  the  press  of  the  multitude,  running  in  heaps  died, 
together,  that  the  more  they  laboured,  the  less  they  could  get  out. 
For,  Avhile  they  ran  all  headlong  unto  the  doors,  every  man  striving 
to  get  out  first,  they  thrust  one  another  in  such  sort,  and  stuck  so 
fast,  that  neither  they  that  were  without  could  get  into  the  church 
again,  neither  they  that  were  within  could  get  out  by  any  means. 
So  then,  one  door  being  stopped,  they  ran  to  another  little  wicket  on 
the  north  side,  toward  the  college  called  Brasennose,  thinking  so  to 
pass  out.     But  there  again  was  the  like  or  greater  throng.     So  the 
people,  clustering  and  thronging  together,  it  put  many  in  danger, 
and  brought  many  unto  their  end,  by  bruising  of  their  bones  or  sides.* 
There  was  yet  another  door  towards  the  west,  which  albeit  it  was 
shut  and  seldom  opened,  yet  now  ran  they  to  it  with  such  sway,  that 
the  great  bar  of  iron  (which  is  incredible  to  be  spoken)  being  pulled 
out  and  broken  by  force  of  men's  hands,  the  door,  notwithstanding, 
could  not  be  opened  for  the  press  or  mvdtitude  of  people. 

At  last,  when  they  were  there  also  past  all  hope  to  get  out,  then 
they  were  all  exceedingly  amazed,  and  ran  up  and  down,  crying  out 
upon  the  heretics  who  had  conspired  their  death.  The  more  they 
ran  about  and  cried  out,  the  more  smoke  and  dust  rose  in  the  church, 
even  as  though  all  things  had  now  been  on  a  flaming  fire.  I  think 
there  was  never  such  a  tumultuous  hurly-burly  rising  so  of  nothing 
heard  of  before,  nor  so  great  a  fear  where  was  no  cause  to  fear,  nor 
peril  at  all :  so  that  if  Democritus,^  the  merry  philosopher,  sitting  in 
the  top  of  the  church,  and  seeing  all  things  in  such  safety  as  they 
were,  had  looked  down  upon  the  multitude,  and  beholden  so  great  a 
number,  some  howling  and  weeping,  running  up  and  down,  and  play- 
ing the  mad  men,  now  hither  now  thither,  as  being  tossed  to  and  fro 
with  waves  or  tempests ;  trembling  and  quaking,  raging  and  fuming, 

(I)  Some  yet  are  alive  whose  mothers'  arms  were  there  broken. 

Vi)  Democritus  was  a  philosopher  who  used  to  laugh  at  all  things,  as  Heraclitus  used  to  weep  at 
all  things. 


458  A    RIDICULOUS    PAGEAXT    IN    OXFORD. 

n,-r,ry    Avitliout  anj  manifest  cause ;  especially  if  he  had  seen  those  great 
rabbins,  the  doctors,  laden  with  so  many  badges  or  cognisances  of 


A.  D.  wisdom,  so  foolishly  and  ridiculously  seeking  holes  and  corners  to 
^^"^^^  hide  themselves  in ;  gasping,  breathing,  and  sweating,  and  for  very 
horror  being  almost  beside  themselves  :  1  think  lie  would  have  satisfied 
himself  with  this  one  laughter  for  all  his  life-time ;  or  else  rather 
would  have  laughed  his  lieart  out  of  his  belly,  whilst  one  said,  that 
he  plainly  heard  the  noise  of  the  fire,  another  affirmed,  that  he  saw 
it  with  his  eyes,  and  another  sware  that  he  felt  the  molten  lead 
dropping  doAvn  upon  his  head  and  shoulders.  Such  is  the  force  of 
imagination,  when  it  is  once  grafted  in  men's  hearts  through  fear. 
In  all  the  whole  company,  there  was  none  that  behaved  himself  more 
modestly  than  the  heretic  that  was  there  to  do  penance  ;  who,  casting 
his  faggot  off  from  his  shoulders  upon  a  monk's  head  that  stood  by,* 
kept  himself  quiet,  minding  to  take  such  part  as  the  others  did. 

All  the  others,  being  careful  for  themselves,  never  made  an  end  of 

running  up  and  down  and  crying  out.    None  cried  out  more  earnestly 

than  the  doctor  that  preached  (who  was,  as  I  said,  Dr.  Smith),  who, 

in  manner  first  of  all,   cried  out  in  the  pulpit,  saying,  "  These  are 

the  trains  and  subtleties  of  the  heretics  against  me  :  Lord  have  mercy 

upon  me  !   Lord  have  mercy  upon  me  !"     But  might  not  God,  as  it 

had  been  (to  speak  with  Job^)  out  of  a  whirlwind,  have  answered  again 

Piosopo-  ^ij^tQ  |-]^ig  preacher  thus,:  "■  Thou  dost  now  implore  my  mercy,  but 

thou  thyself  showest  no  mercy  unto  thy  felloAvs  and  brethren  !    How 

doth  thy  flesh  tremble  now  at  the  mention  of  fire  !    But  you  think  it 

a  sport  to  burn  other  simple  innocents,  neither  do  ye  any  thing  at  all 

A  just  ex-  regard  it.     If  burning  and  to  suffer  a  torment  of  fire  seem  so  griev- 

tion"  ^     oils  a  matter  unto  you,  then  you  should  also  have  the  like  consi- 

thesr'     deration  in  other  men's  perils  and  dangers,  when  you  do  burn  your 

burners    fellows  and  brethren  !      Or,  if  you  think  it  but  a  light  and  trifling 

peoi)ie.     matter  in  them,  go  to  now,  do  you  also,  with  like  courage,  contemn, 

and,  with  like  patience,  suffer  now,  the  same  torments  yourselves. 

And  if  so  be  I  should  now  suffer  you,  with  the  whole  church,  to  be 

burned  to  ashes,  what  other  thing  should  T  do  unto  you,  than  you 

do  daily  unto  your  fellows  and  brethren  ?     Wherefore,  since  you  so 

little  esteem  the  death  of  others,   be  now  content  that  other  men 

should  also  little  regard  the  death  of  you."     With  this,  I  say,  or 

with  some  other  like  answer,  if  that  either  God,  or  human  charity, 

on  the  common  sense  of  nature  would  expostulate  Avith  them,  yea 

if  there  had  been  a  fire  indeed  (as  they  were  more  feared  than  hurt), 

who  would  have  doubted,  but  that  it  had  happened  unto  them  ac- 

A  pood     cording  to  their  deserts  ?     But  now,  worthy  it  is  the  noting,  how  the 

Imihl^    vain  fear  and  folly  of  those  catholics  either  were  tlcluded,  or  how  their 

know*^'°  cruelty  was  reproved,  whereby  they,  being  better  taught  by  their  own 

what   ^    example,  might  hereafter  learn  what  it  is  to  put  other  poor  men  to 

nieaneth.  the  fire,  wliicli  they  themselves  here  so  much  abhon-cd. 

But,  to  return  again  to  the  description  of  this  pageant,  wherein 
(as  I  said  before)  there  was  no  danger  at  all,  yet  were  they  ail  in  such 
fear,  as  if  present  death  had  been  over  their  heads.  *For^  almost  all 
the  churches  in  England  are  covered  with  lead,  like  as  in  Germany 

(11  Some  sav  that  the  monk's  head  was  broken  witli  tlie  faggct.  (2)  Job  xl.  f, 

(.■?)  See  Kdition  15G3,  y>.  623.— Eb. 


A    RIDICULOUS    PAGEAMT    IN    OXFORD.  459 

they  are  for  the  most  part  tiled.*    In  all  this  great  maze  and  garboil,    Henrj, 

there  was  nothing  more  feared  than  the  melting  of  the  lead,  which 1_ 

many  affirmed  that  they  felt  dropping  upon  their  bodies.     Now  in    A-  la- 
this sudden  terror  and  fear,  which  took  from  them  all  reason  and  — t — L 
counsel  out  of  their  minds,  to  behold  what  practices  and  sundry  shifts 
every  man  made  for  himself,  it  would  make  not  only  Democritus  and 
Heraclitus  also  to  laugh,  but  rather  a  horse  well  near  to  break  his 
halter.     But  none  used  themselves  more  ridiculously,  than  such  as 
seemed  greatest  wise  men,  saving  that  in  one  or  two,  peradventure,  ciay- 
somewhat  more  quietness  of  mind  a])peared  ;  among  whom  Avas  one  "resident 
Claymund,  president  of  Corpus  Christi  College  (whom,  for  reverence,  ^^j*;''"^"^ 
and  learning's  sake,  I  do  here  name),  and  a  few  other  aged  persons 
with  him,  who,  for  their  age  and  weakness,  durst  not  thrust  them- 
selves into  the  throng  amongst  the  rest,  but  kneeled  down  quietly 
before  the  high  altar,  committing  themselves  and  their  lives  unto  the 
sacrament.     The  others,  who  were  younger  and  stronger,  ran  up  and 
down  through  the  press,  marvelling  at  the  incivility  of  men,  and 
waxed  angry  with  the  unmannerly  multitude  that  would  give  no  room 
unto  the  doctors,  bachelors,  masters,  and  other  graduates  and  regent- 
masters.     But,  as  the  terror  and  fear  was  common  unto  all  men,  so

Cut continues beyond the first 4,000 words shown here — about 3,877 more in the scan at the link above.

~4,521 words

Whereupon  they 
informed  Dr.  Sampson  (being  then  their  dean)  of  him.  But,  foras- 
much as  some  of  the  canons  had  at  that  time  heard  of  Testwood,  how 
that  he  smellcd  of  the  new  learning  (as  they  called  it),  it  would  not 
be  consented  unto  at  first.  Notwithstanding,  with  often  suit  of  the 
aforesaid  musicians,  made  to  one  Dr.  Tate  (who,  being  half  a  musician 
himself,  bare  a  great  stroke  in  such  matters),  a  room  being  void, 
Testwood  was  sent  for  to  be  heard.  And  being  there  four  or  five 
days  among  the  choir-men,  he  was  so  well  liked  both  for  his  voice 
and  cunning,  that  he  was  admitted,  and  after  settled  in  Windsor  Testwood 
with  his  household,  and  was  had  in  good  estimation  with  the  dean  [nto'^'^'^ 
and  ccnons  a  gTcat  while.  But  when  they  had  perceived  him,  by  his  ■Windsor. 
often  talk  at  their  tables  (for  he  could  not  well  dissemble  his  reli- 
gion), that  he  leaned  to  Luther's  sect,  they  began  to  mislike  him. 
And  so,  passing  forth  among  them,  it  was  his  chance,  one  day,  to 
be  at  dinner  with  one  of  the  canons,  named  Dr.  Rawson.  At  Mastor 
that  dinner,  among  others,  was  one  of  king  Edward's  four  chantry  futor!'^^" 
priests,  named  Master  Ely,  an  old  bachelor  of  divinity  ;  which  Ely, 
in  his  talk  at  the  board,  began  to  rail  against  laymen,  who  took 
upon  tliem  to  meddle  with  the  Scriptm-es,  and  to  be  better  learned 
(blowing  no  more  but  the  English  tongue)  than  they  that  had  been 
students  in  the  universities  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge  all  the  days  of 
their  lives. 

Then  Testwood,  perceiving  he  meant  that  against  him,  could  for- 
bear his  railing  no  longer,  but  said,  "  Master  Ely,  by  your  patience, 
I  think  it  be  no  hurt  for  laymen,  as  I  am,  to  read  and  to  know  the 
Scriptures."  "  Which  of  you,"  quoth  Ely,  "  that  be  unlearned, 
knoweth  them,  or  understandeth  them  ?  St.  Paul  saith,  '  If  thine 
enemy  hunger,  feed  him ;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  drink :  and,  in  so 
doing,  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  upon  his  head.'  Now,  sir,"  quoth 
Ely,  ''  what  meaneth  St.  Paul  by  these  coals  of  fire  .P"  "  Marry,  sir," 
quoth  Testwood,  "  he  meaneth  nothing  else  by  them  (as  I  have 
learned)  but  burning  charity,  that,  with  doing  good  to  our  enemies, 
we  should  thereby  win  them."  "  Ah,  sirra,"  quoth  he,  "  you  are  an 
old  scholar  indeed  !" 

After  this  they  fell  into  further  communication  of  the  pope,  whose 
supremacy  was  much  spoken  of  at  that  time,  but  not  known  to  be 

VOL.    v.  H  H 


46G  THE    PERSECUTION    INT    WIXDSOn. 

ff<-nrtj    so  far  in  question  in  the  parliament-house  as  it  was.     And  in  tlieir 

L_  talk   Ely  demanded  of  Testwood,  whether  the    pope    ought  to   be 

A.D.    head  of"  the  church  or  no?    against  which  Testwood  durst  not  say 

^•^'^^-    his  full  mind,  but  reasoned  within  his  bounds  a  great  while.     But, 

when  they  were  both  well  stricken   in  a  heat,  Testwood,  forgetting 

himself,  chanced  to  say,  that  every  king,  in  his  own  realm  and  domi- 

Ever       nion,  ought  to  be  the  head  of  the  church  under  Christ :  at  which 

kiiij,'  in     words  Ely  was  so  chafed,  that  he  rose  up  from  the  table  in  a  great 

reaim'a"na  fumc.  Calling  him  heretic,  and  all  that  nought  was ;    and  so  went 

head'^un'-*  brawling  and  chiding  away,  to  the  great  disquieting  of  all  the  com- 

derchrist.  pany  that  were  there. 

Then  Avas  Testwood  very  sorry  to  see  the  old  man  take  it  so 
grievously  :  whereupon,  after  dinner,  he  went  and  sought  Master 
Ely,  and  found  him  walking  in  the  body  of  the  church,  thinking  to 
have  talked  with  him  charitably,  and  so  to  have  been  at  one  again  ; 
but  ever  as  Testwood  pressed  towards  him,  the  other  shunned  him, 
and  would  not  come  nigh  him,  but  did  spit  at  him ;  saying  to  others 
that  walked  by,  "  Beware  of  this  fellow  !  for  he  is  the  greatest  heretic 
and  schismatic  that  ever  came  into  Windsor." 

Now*  began  the  matter  to  brew ;  for,  after  that  Ely  had  made  his 
complaint  to  the  dean''s  deputy,  and  other  of  the  canons,  they  Avere 
all  against  Testwood,  purposing  surely,  at  the  dean's  coming  home 
(if  all  things  had  chanced  even),  to  have  put  him  to  his  trump.     But 
see  the  fortune.     It  was  not  twelve  days  after,  ere  that  the  king's  su- 
premacy passed  in  the  parliament-house.     Whereupon  the  dean.  Dr. 
The  firit  Sampsou,  Came  home  suddenly  in  the  night,  late,  and  forthwith  sent 
t!,e king's  his  vcrgcr  about  to  all  the  canons  and  ministers  of  the  college,  from 
^^lly       the  highest  to  the  lowest,  commanding  them  to  be  in  the  chapter- 
brought    liouse  bv  ciffht  of  the  clock  in  the  mornino'.     Then  Ely  consulted 

to  Wind-  •/        o  kd  t/ 

sor.         with  the  canons  overnight  (as  late  as  it  was),  and  thought  on  the  next 

day  to  have  put  Testwood  to  a  great  plunge :   "  But  he  that  layeth  a 

snare  for  another  man,"  saith  Solomon,  "  shall  be  taken  in  it  himself." 

And  so  was  Ely ;  for  when  the  dean  and  every  man  were  come  and 

placed  in  the  chapter-house,  and  that  the  dean  had  commended  the 

ministers   of  the  church  for  their  diligence  in  tending  the    choir, 

exhorting  them  also  to  continue  in  the  same,  he  began,  contrary  to 

every  man's  expectation,  to  inveigh  against  the  bishop  of  Rome's  i 

supremacy  and  usurped  authority,  confounding  the  same,  by  manifest 

Scriptures  and  probable  reasons,  so  earnestly,  that  it  was  a  wonder  to 

hear;  and  at  length  declared  openly,  that  by  the  whole  consent  of  I 

the  parliament-house,  the  pope's  supremacy  was  utterly  abolished  out  i 

of  this  realm  of  England  for  ever ;  and  so  commanded  every  man 

there,  upon  his  allegiance,  to  call  him  pope  no  more,  but  bishop  of 

Rome,  and  whatsoever  he  were  that  would  not  so  do,  or  did  from 

that  day  forth  maintain  or  favour  his  cause  by  any  manner  of  means, 

he  should  not  only  lose  the  benefit  of  that  house,  but  be  reputed  as 

Mast       ^^  utter  enemy  to  God  and  to  the  king.     The  canons,  hearing  this, 

Ely         were  all  stricken  in  a  dump  :  yet  notwithstanding,  Ely's  heart  was  so 

to"com"°  great,  that  he  would  fain  have  uttered  his  cankered  stomach  against 

?tife"rs°^i8  'I'estwood  ;   but  the  dean  (breaking  his  tale)  called  him  old  fool,  and 

called  fool  took  him  up  so  sharply,  that  he  was  fain  to  hold  his  peace.     Then  the 

bour.'*  "  dean  commanded  all   the    pope's  pardons  which  hanged  about  the 


THK    TROUIJLK    OF    THOMAS    TF.STWOOD,    IMAUIYR.  46*7 

cliuvch,  to  be   brought  into  the  chapter-liousc,  and   cast    into    the    ^enry 
chimney,  and  burned  before  all  their  faces ;  and  so  departed. 


ANOTHER    CAUSE    OF    ROBERT    TESTWOOD  S    TROUBLE. 


A.  D. 

1543. 


As  it  chanced  Testwood  one  day  to  walk  in  the  church  at  after-  idolatry 
noon,  and  to  behold  the  pilgrims,  especially  of  Devonshire  and  Corn-  k'lifg"'^ 
wall,  how  they  came  in  by  plumps,  with  candles  and  images  of  wax  ^'jJJ^^"/ 
in  their  hands,  to  offer  to  good  king  Henry  of  Windsor,  as  they 
called  him,  it  pitied  his  heart  to  see  such  great  idolatry  committed, 
and  how  vainly  the  people  had  spent  their  goods  in  coming  so  far  to 
kiss  a  spur,  and  to  have  an  old  hat  set  upon  their  heads ;  insomuch 
that  he  could  not  refrain,  but,  seeing  a  certain  company  which  had  xestwood 
done  their  offering  and  were  standing  gazing  about  the  church,  he  fhepeopie 
went  unto  them,  and  with  all  gentleness  began   to  exhort  them  to  ["^"^ '''o- 
leave  such  false  worshipping  of  dumb  creatures,  and  to  learn  to  wor- 
ship the  true  living  God  aright ;  putting  them  in  remembrance  what 
those  things  were  which  they  worshipped,  and  how  God,  many  times, 
had  plagued  his  people,  for  running  a  whoring  to  such  stocks  and 
stones,  and  so  would  plague  them  and  their  posterity,  if  they  would 
not  leave  it.     After  this  sort  he  admonished  them  so  long,  till  at  last 
his  words,  as  God  would,  took  such  place  in  some  of  them,  that  they 
said,  they  never  would  go  a  pilgrimage  more. 

Then  he  went  further,  and  found  another  sort  licking  and  kissing  idolatry 
a  white  Lady  made  of  alabaster,  which  image  was  mortised  in  a  wall  Ij^^gg 
behind  the  high  altar,  and  bordered  about  with  a  pretty  border,  °^  ^}^^^^- 
which  was  made  like  branches  with  hanging  apples  and  flowers.     And  Windsor, 
when  he  saw  them  so  superstitiously  use  the  image,  as  to  wipe  their  Jg^f^ce",^'' 
hands  upon  it,  and  then  to  stroke  them  over  their  eyes  and  faces,  the 
as  though  there  had  been  great  virtue  in  touching  the  picture,  he  up  ""*°^" 
with  his  hand,  in  which  he  had  a  key,  and  smote  down  a  piece  of  the 
border  about  the  image,  and  with  the  glance  of  the  stroke  chanced  to 
break  off  the  image's  nose.     "  Lo  !  good  people,"  quoth  he,  "  you 
see  what  it  is ;   nothing  but  earth  and  dust,  and  cannot  help  itself ; 
and   how  then   will  you  have   it   to  help  you  ?     For  God's  sake, 
brethren,  be  no  more  deceived."     And  so  he  gat  him  home  to  his 
house,  for  the  rumour  was  so  great,   that  many  came  to  see  the 
image,  how  it  was  defaced.    And  among  all  others,  came  one  William 
Simons,  a  lawyer,  who,  seeing  the  image  so  bewrayed,  and  to  lack  her 
nose,  took  the  matter  grievously,  and  looking  down  upon  the  pave-  wiiiiam 
ment,  he  spied  the  image's  nose  where  it  lay,  which  he  took  up  and 
put  in  his  purse,  saying  it  should  be  a  dear  nose  to  Testwood  one  day.'  tor 

Now  were  many  offended  with  Testwood  ;    the  canons,  for  speak- 
ing against  their  profit ;  the  wax-sellers,  for  hindering  their  market ;  .  Magna 
and  Sim.ons,  for  the  image's  nose.     And  more  than  that,  there  were  5'^"*. 
of  the  canons'  men  that  threatened  to  kill  him.     Hereupon  Testwood  rum/Acts 
kept  his  house  and  durst  not  come  forth,  minding  to  send  the  whole  ^^^ 
matter  in  writing  by  his  wife  to  Master  Cromwell  the  king's  secre- 
tary, who  was  his  special  friend.     The  canons,  hearing  that  Testwood 
would  send  to  Cromwell,  sent  the  verger  unto  him,  to  will  him  to 
come  to  the  church  ;  who  sent  them  word  again,  that  he  was  in  fear 

(1)  O  blind  popery !  to  seek  the  death  of  a  living  man,  foi  the  nose  of  a  dead  stock. 
II    H    2 


Simons  a 
persecu- 


468  THE    PERSECUTION     IN    AVIXDSOU. 

ih'nry  ()f  liis  lifc,  aiul  tlicrefore  would  not  come.  Then  sent  tliey  two  of 
■_  the  eldest  petty  canons  to  entreat  him,  and  to  assm-e  him  that  no 

•'^•I^-    man  should  do  him  harm.     He  made  them  a  plain  answer,  that  he 

'^^'^-    had   no  such  trust  in  their  promises,    but  would  complain   to  his 

Tiie  pa-    friends.     Then  wist  they  not  Avhat  shift  to  make,  for  of  all  men  thev 

1)>81S  of  ^  ,  *' 

Windsor  feared  Cromwell ;  but  sent,  in  post  haste,  for  old  Master  Ward,  a 
crom"  justice  of  peace,  dwelling  three  or  four  miles  off,  who,  being  come, 
"lad'to'^^  and  hearing  the  matter,  was  very  loath  to  meddle  in  it.  But  notwith- 
taiiiii  standing,  through  their  entreaty,  he  went  to  Testwood,  and  had 
withTcst-  much  ado  to  persuade  him  ;  but,  at  last,  he  did  faithfully  promise 
wood.       jjjjj-^  i^y  |.]^g  y,^|.|^  ]j^  1^,^^^  made  to  God  and  the  king,  to  defend  him 

from  all  danger  and  harms,  so  that  Testwood  Avas  content  to  go 
with  him. 
Testwood  And  when  Master  Ward,  and  Testwood,  were  come  into  the 
ofhbifi"  church,  and  were  going  toward  the  chapter-house,  where  the  canons 
abode  their  coming,  one  of  the  canons'"  men  drew  his  dagger  at 
Testwood,  and  Avould  have  been  upon  him,  but  Master  Ward  with 
his  man  resisted,  and  got  Testwood  into  the  chapter-house,  causing 
the  serving-man  to  be  called  in,  and  sharply  rebuked  by  their 
masters,  who  straitly  commanded  him,  upon  pain  of  losing  their  ser- 
vice, and  further  displeasure,  not  to  touch  him,  nor  to  give  him  an 
evil  word.  Now  Testwood,  being  alone  in  the  chapter-house  with 
the  canons  and  Mr.  Ward,  was  gently  treated,  and  the  matter  so 
pacified,  that  Testwood  might  quietly  come  and  go  to  the  church, 
and  do  his  duty  as  he  had  done  before. 

THIRD    CAUSE    OF    ROBERT    TESTWOOd's    TROUBLE. 

Thomas         Upou  a  Rclic  Suuday  (as  they  named  it),  when   every  minister, 

njch'tt'^   after  their  old  custom,  should  have  borne  a  relic  in  his  hand  about  a 

™iTc'"'     procession,  one  was  brought  to  Testwood;  which  relic  (as  they  said) 

was  a  rochet  of  bishop  Becket's.    And  as  the  sexton  would  have  put 

the  rochet  in  Testwood's  hands,  he  pushed  it  from  him,  saying.  If  he 

f       did  give  it  to  him,  he  would  make  sport  withal ;  and  so  the  rochet 

Avas  given  to  another.     Then  came  the  verger  down  from  the  high 

St.  altar  Avith  St.  George's  dagger  in  his  hand,  demanding  Avho  lacked  a 

S^eT  ■'   relic.     "  Many,"  (]uoth  testwood,  "  give  it  to  Master  Hake,"  who 

made  a     stood  ucxt  him,  "  for  he  is  a  prcttv  man  of  his  hands :"  and  so  the 

dagger  Avas  given  unto  hmi.     JNow  lestAvood  perceiving  the  dagger 

in  Master  Hake's  hand,   and  being  merrily  disposed  (as  he  Avas  a 

merry-conceited  man),  stepped  forth  out  of  his  place  to  Dr.  Clifton, 

standing  directly  before  him  in  the  midst  of  the  choir,  Avith  a  glorious 

golden  cope  upon  his  back,  having  the  pix  in  his  hand,  and  said, 

"Sir!   Master  Hake  hath  St. George's  dagger.     Noav,  if  he  had  his 

horse,  and  St.  Martin's  cloak,  and  Master  John  Shorn's  boots,  with 

king  Harry's  spurs,  and  his  hat,  he  might  ride  Avhen  he  aa^ouUI  :"  and 

so  stepped'  into  his  place  again.     Whereat  the  other  changed  colour, 

and  wist  not  what  to  say. 

FOURTH  CAUSE  OF  ROBERT  TESTAVOOd's  TROUBLE. 

Master  In  tlic  days  of  Master  Franklin,  who  succeeded  Dr.  Sampson  in 
dp'an''of"  the  deanery  of  Windsor,  there  was,  on  a  time,  set  up  at  the  clioir 
Windsor.  jIq^j.^  ^  certain  foolish  printed  paper  in  metre,  all  to  the  praise  and 


relic. 


THE    TUOUBLK    OF    THOMAS    TEST  WOOD,    MAUTVIl.  469 

counnendation  ot  our  Lady,  ascribing  unto  her  our  justification,  our    ii<-i»>i 

salvation,  our  redemption,  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  &c.,  to  the  great _ 

derogation  of  Christ.     This  paper,  one  of  the  canons,  called  Master   A.  D. 
Magnus  (as  it  was  reported),  caused  to  be  set  up  in  despite  of  Test-         ^^v 
wood  and  his  sect.     When  Testwood  saw  this  paper,  he  plucked  it  p,Jg^'y 
down  secretly.     The  next  day  after  was  another  set  up  in  the  same  a"d  >tioi- 
place.     Then  Testwood,  coming  into  the  church,  and  seeing  another  our  Lady. 
paper  set  up,  and  also  the  dean  coming  a  little  way  off,  made  haste  to 
be  at  tlie  choir  door,  while  the  dean  staid  to  take  holy  water,  and 
reaching  up  his  hand  as  he  went,  plucked  away  the  paper  with  him.  Testwood 
The  dean,  being  come  to  his  stall,  called  Testwood  unto  him,  and  ^o'^^n'the 
said,  that  he  marvelled  greatly  how  he  durst  be  so  bold  to  take  down  hiasphe- 
thc  ])aper  in  his  presence.     Testwood  answered  again,  that  he  mar-  per. 
veiled  much   more,  that   his  mastership   would   suffer  such  a  blas- 
phemous ]:)apcr  to  be  set  u]) ;  beseeching  him  not  to  be  offended  with 
what  he  had  done,  for  he  would  stand  unto  it.     So  Master  Dean 
being  a  timorous  man,  made  no  more  ado  with  him.     After  this 
were  no  more  papers  set  up,  but  poor  Testwood  was  eaten  and 
drunken  amongst  them  at  every  meal ;   "  and  a  heretic  he  was,  and 
would  roast  a  faggot  for  this  gear  one  day." 

Now  Master  Magnus,'   being  sore  offended  with  Testwood  for  consf.i- 
plucking  down  his  papers,  to  be  revenged  on  him,  devised  with  the  \^^  "^ 
dean  and  the  rest  of  the  canons,  to  send  their  letters  to  Dr.  Chamber,  priests  of 
one  of  their  brethren,  and  the  king''s  physician,  who  lay,  for  the  most  against 
part,  at  the  court,  to  see  what  he  would  do  against  Testwood ;  which  ^^gj 
letters,  being  made,   Avere  sent  with  speed.     But,  whatsoever  the 
cause  was,  whether  he  durst  not  meddle  for  fear  of  Cromwell,  or 
what  else,   I  cannot  tell,  their  suit  came  to  none  effect.     Then  wist 
they  not  what  to  do,  but  determined  to  let  the  matter  sleep,  till  St. 
George's  feast,  which  was  not  far  off. 

Now,  in  the  mean  time,  there  chanced  a  pretty  story,  between 
one  Robert  Philips,  gentleman  of  the  king''s  chapel,  and  Testwood ; 
which  story,  though  it  was  but  a  merry  ])rank  of  a  singing  man,  yet 
it  grieved  his  adversary  wonderfully.  The  matter  was  this  :  Robert 
Philips  was  so  notable  a  singing  man  (wherein  he  gloried),  that 
wheresoever  he  came,  the  best  and  longest  song,  with  most  counter- 
verses  in  it,  should  be  set  up  at  his  coming.  And  so,  his  chance 
being  now  to  be  at  Windsor,  against  his  coming  to  the  anthem,  along 
song  was  set  up,  called  "  Laudate  vivi,"  in  which  song  there  was  one 
counter-verse  towards  the  end,  that  began  on  this  wise,  "O  redemp-  a  merry 
trix  et  salvatrix:"  which  verse,  of  all  others,  Robert  Philips  would  ti"on"i)"- 
sing,  because  he  knew  that  Testwood  could  not  abide  that  ditty,  ^"^f"    , 

O'  ^  J        x^llllips  of 

Now  Testwood,  knowing  his  mind  well  enough,  joined  with  him  at  the  king's 

the  other  })art ;   and  when  he  heard  Robert  Philips  begin   to  fetch  and'xest- 

his  flourish  with   "  O  redemptrix  et  salvatrix  !"  repeating  the  same,  J[j°°^j'.q 

one  in  another's  neck,  Testwood  was  as  quick,  on  the  other  side,  to  retiemp- 

1  •  •         ■\    LL  1         ,  •  1        -111         1  tf'-^  ^t 

answer  Inm  agam  with       non  redemptrix,  nee  salvatnx  !      and   so,  non  re- 

striving  therewith  "O"  and  "Non,"  who  should  have  the  mastery,  ^^^}>' 
they  made    an  end  of  the  verse  ;    wheieat  was  good    laughing   in 
sleeves  of  some,  but  Robert  Philips,  with  others  of  Tcstwood's  ene- 
mies, were  sore  offended. 

(U  IMiistsr  Sl.igims  i  lu.Tgnus  iJulul.itia. 


470  TllK    PKIISKCUTIOX    IN    WIXUSOK. 

Henry         Witliiii  fourteen  days  after  this,  the  lords  of  the  garter  (as  their 
-■-  custom  is  yearly  to  do)  came  to  Windsor  to  keep  St.  George's  feast, 


^•^-  at  which  feast  the  duke  of  Norfolk  was  president;  unto  whom  the 
dean  and  canons  made  a  grievous  complaint  on  Testwood :  -vvho, 
Testwood  being  called  before  the  duke,  he  shook  him  up,  and  all-to-reviled 
eiiofto  him,  as  though  he  would  have  sent  him  to  hanging  by  and  by.  Yet, 
duke'of  nevertheless,  Testwood  so  behaved  himself  to  the  duke,  that,  in  the 
Norfolk,  end,  he  let  him  go  without  any  fm-ther  molesting  of  him,  to  the 
great  discomfort  of  the  dean  and  canons. 

Here  you  have  heard  the  causes  which  moved  Testwood's  enemies 
to  seek  his  destruction,  and  could  not  attain  their  purpose,  till  that 
Avicked  Haman,  Dr.  London,  came,  as  shall  be  showed  in  the  process 
following. 

THE    ORIGINAL    OF    HENRY    FILMEr's    TROUBLE. 

FriarMci-  About  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1541,  after  all  the  orders  of  super- 
oMv^nd^-'^  stitious  and  begging  friars  were  suppressed  and  put  down,  there 
*"'■  chanced  one  sir  Thomas  Melster,  who  had  been  a  friar  before,  and 

had  changed  his  friar s  coat  (but  not  his  fiiars  heart),  to  be  vicar 
of  Windsor.     This  priest,  on  a  time,  made  a  sermon  to  his  pa- 
rishioners, in  which  he  declared  so  many  fond  and  friarish  tales,  as. 
Our  Lady  that  our  Lady  should  hold  out  her  breasts  to  St.  Bernard,  and  spout 
mijk  into  her  milk  into  his  eyes,  Avith  such  like  festival  tales,  that  many  honest 
nar^r     i^icn  w^rc   offcnded   therewith,   and  especially  this    Henry  Fjlmer, 
*>*■'•        then  one  of  the  churchwardens ;  who  was  so  zealous  to  God''s  word, 
that  he  could  not  abide  to  hear  the  glory  of  Christ  so  defaced  with 
superstitious  fables.     Whereupon    he  took  an  honest  man  or  two 
with  him,  and  went  to  the  priest,  with  whom  he  talked  so  honestly, 
and  so  charitably,  that  in  the  end  the  priest  gave  him  hearty  thanks, 
and  Avas  content,  at  his  gentle  admonition,  to  reform  himself  without 
any  more  ado,  and  so  departed  friendly  the  one  from  the  other. 

Now  there  Avas  one  in  the  toAvn,  called  William  Simons,  a  lawyer  (as 

is  aforesaid),  Avho,  hearing  that  Filmer  had  been  Avith  the  priest,  and 

had  reproved  him  for  his  sermon,  took  pepper  in  the  nose,  and  got 

him  to  the  vicar,  and  did  so  animate  him   in  his  doings,  that  he 

slipped  quite  aAvay  from  the  promise  he  had  made  to  Filmer,  and 

followed  the  mind  of  Simons  ;  Avho,  meeting  Avith  Filmer  afterAvards, 

Simons     all-to-rcviled  him,   saying,  he  Avould  bring  him  before  the  bishop, 

lawyer     *^  tcach  him  to  be  so  malapert.     Then  Filmer,  hearing  the  matter 

against     renewed,  Avhich  he  had  thought  had  been  suppressed,  stood  against 

Simons     Simons,  and  said,  that  the  vicar  had  preached  false  and  unsound  doc- 

compiain-  trine  ;  and  so  Avould  he  say  to  the  bishop,  Avhensoever  he  came  before 

Fiimerto  him.     Thcu  Simous  slipped  not  the  matter,  but  went  to  the  mayor, 

pj^.  ^'    and  procured  of  him  and  his  brethren  a  letter,   signed  with  their 

OAvn   hands,  in   the  priesfs  favour  as  much  as  could  be   devised : 

and  so  departed  himself,  with  other  his  friends,  to  go  to  the  bishop 

(whose  name  Avas  Dr.  Capon),   and  to  take  the  priest  Avith  them  ; 

Avhich  Avas  a  painful  journey  for  the  silly  poor  man,  by  reason  he  had 

a  sore  leg. 

Filmer         Now  Filmer,  hearing  hoAv  Simons  went  about  to  put  him  to  a  foil, 

complain  cousulted  Avith  his  friends  Avhat  Avas  best  to  do  ;  Avho  concluded  to 

also.        (ij-aw  out  certain  notes  of  the  vicar's  sermon,  and  to  prepare  themselves 


A.D. 

im;j. 


THK    TROUBLE    OF    HENUY    FILMER,    MARTYR.  471 

to  be  at  Salisbury  as  soon  as  Simons,  or  before  him,  if  it  might  be  lunry 
possible.  Thus,  both  the  parties  being  in  a  readiness,  it  chanced  them 
to  set  forth  from  Windsor  all  in  one  day :  but,  by  reason  the  priest, 
being  an  impotent  man,  could  not  endure  to  ride  very  fast,  Filmer  and 
his  company  got  to  the  town  an  hour  and  more  before  Simons,  went 
to  the  bishop,  and  delivered  up  their  bill  unto  him  ;  which  bill,  when 
the  bishop  had  seen  and  perused  Avell,  he  gave  them  great  thanks  for 
their  pains,  saying,  it  did  behove  him  to  look  upon  it ;  for  the 
priest  had  preached  heresy,  and  should  be  punished. 

Then  Filmer  declared  unto  the  bishop  the  form  of  his  talk  he  had  Simons 
with  the  priest,  and  the  end  thereof ;  and  how  the  matter,  being  re-  ^"car  '* 
newed  again  by  Simons,  forced  him  and  his  company  to  trouble  his  g!|™g*jj'° 
lordship  therewith.     "  Well,"  said  the  bishop,  "  ye  have  done  like 
honest  men  :  come  to  me  soon  again,  and  ye  shall  know  more.""   And 
so  they  departed  from  the  bishop  to  their  inn ;  and,  while  they  were 
there  reposing  themselves,  Simons,  with  his  company,  came  to  the 
town,  and  (not  knowing  the  other  to  be  come)  got  them  up  to  the 
bishop  in  all  post  haste,  taking  the  priest  Avith  them. 

The  bishop,  hearing  of  more  Windsor  men,  demanded  what  they  Tiie  vicar 
were,  and  being  informed  how  it  was  the  vicar  of  the  town,  with  onhe^ 
others  besides,  he  eaused  the  vicar  to  be  brought  in ;  to  whom  he  ^'shop. 
said,  "  Are  you  the  vicar  of  Windsor  V     "  Yea  forsooth,  my  lord," 
quoth  he.     "  How  chanceth  it,"  quoth  the  bisho]),  "  that  you  are 
complained  on  .^  for

Cut continues beyond the first 4,000 words shown here — about 521 more in the scan at the link above.

~369 words

of   Windsor,    who,    at   his   first    coming    to    Windsor, 
began  to  utter  his  stomach  and  to  show  his  affection.     For,  at  his 
first  residence-dinner  which  he  made  to  the  clerks  (which  company, 
for  the  most  part,  at  that  time  favoured  the  gospel),  all  his  Avliole  talk 
to  two  gentlemen,  strangers  at  his  board  (till  the  table  Avas  a  taking 
up),  Avas  nothing  else  but  of  heretics,  and  Avhat  a  desolation  tliev 
Br.  Lon-  Avould  bring  the  realm  unto,  if  they  might  be  so  suffered.     "  And 
w°"ds  to  t).V  ^*'-  Mary,  masters !"  quoth  he  to  the  clerks  at  last,   "  I  cannot 
'hccierks  tell,  but  there  goeth  a  shrcAvd  report  abroad  of  this  house."     Some 
sor.         made  ansAver,  it  Avas  undeserved.     "  I  pray  God  it  be,"  quoth  he : 
"  I  am  but  a  stranger,  and  have  but  small  experience  amongst  you ; 
but  I  have  heard  it  said  before  I  came  hither,  that  there  be  some  in 
this  house,  that  Avill  neither  have  prayer  nor  fasting."" 
Testwood      Then  spake  'JVstAvood,  "  By  my  troth,  sir  !"  quoth  he,  "  I  think 
ctTibr"    ^^^^  ^^'^^  s])oken  of  malice :  for  prayer,  as  your  mastership  knoAvcth 
tiie  better  than  I,  is  one  of  the  first  lessons  that  Christ  taught  us."  "Yea, 

marry,  sir,"  quoth  he,  "  but  the  heretics  Avill  have  no  invocation  to 
saints,  which  all  the  old  fiithers  do  alloAv."  "  What  the  old  fathers  do 
alloAV,"  quoth  'J'estAVOod,  "  I  cannot  tell  ;  but  Christ  doth  appoint  us 
to  go  to  his  Father,  and  to  ask  our  petitions  of  him  in  Christ's  name." 
tjospei-    *'  Tlien  you  Avill  have  no  mean  betAvecn  you  and  God,"  quoth  Dr. 
iy"um^-^"  I'ontloii-     "  ^cs,  sir,"  quoth  TestAvood,  "  our  mean  is  Christ,  as  St. 
dered       ]^aul  saitl),  '  Thcrc  is  one  Mediator  betAveen  God  and  man,  even  Jesus 

l>v  the  -        .  . 

p.-pists.  Christ.'"  "  Give  us  Avater,"  quoth  Dr.  London  :  Avhich  being  set  on  the 
board,  he  said  grace,  and  washed ;  and  so  falling  into  other  commu- 
nication Avith  the  strangers,  the  clerks  took  tlicii  leave  and  departed. 
When  Dr.  London  had  been  at  Windsor  awhile,  among  his  catholic 


THE    TROUBLE    OF    ANTHONY    PKEKSON,     MAllTYR.  473 

brethren,  and  learned  what  Testwood  was,  and  also  of  Simons  (who    nem,, 

showed  him  our  Lady''s  nose,  as  he  called  it),  what  a  sort  of

~150 words

heretics  that  were  in  Windsor,  declaring  unto  him  how  '''aint  t" 
the  town  was  sore  disquieted  through  their  doctrine  and  evil  example  : 
wherefore  they  besought  his  lordship's  help,  in  purging  the  town  and 
castle  of  such  wicked  persons.     The  bishop,  hearing  their  complaint, 
and  seeing  their  book,  praised  their  doings,  and  bade  them  make 
friends  and  go  forward,  and  they  should  not  lack  his  help.     Then 
they  applied  the  matter  with  tooth  and  nail,  sparing  for  no  money  or 
pains-taking,  as  Marbeck  saith  that  he  himself  heard  one  of  them  say, 
who  was  a  great  doer  herein,  and  afterwards  sorry  for  that  he  had 
done,  that  the  suit  thereof  cost  him  that  year,  for  his  part  only,  a 
hundred  marks,  besides  the  death  of  three  good  geldings.^ 

Now  bishop  Gardiner,  Avho  had  conceived  a  further  fetch  in  his  brain  com- 
than  Dr.  London  had,  made  Wriothesley  and  others  of  the  council  fo'^',"* 
on  his  side,  and

~159 words

in  the  town  of  Windsor, 

Windsor.   Ij^t  j^ot  j^  tllC  CaStlc. 

Haynes,  At  tliis  time  the  canons  of  Exeter  (specially  Southarne,  treasurer  ot 
Ex«er,  the  church,  and  Dr.  Bruerwood,  the  chancellor)  had  accused  Dr. 
to'thl^'^  Haynes,  their  dean,  to  the  council,  for  preaching  against  holy  bread 
council,  and  holy  water,  and  that  he  should  say  in  one  of  his  seriuons  (having 
Hobby  occasion  to  speak  of  matrimony)  that  marriage  and  hanging  were 
Hal-nes  dcstiuy  ;  upon  which  they  gathered  treason  against  him,  because  of 
theVi"  ^^^^  king's  marriage.  The  bishop  of  Winchester  (at  the  same  time) 
'  had  also  informed  the  council  of  Master  Hobby,  how  he  was  a  hearer 

of  Anthony  Peerson,  and  a  great  maintainer  of  heretics  :  whereupon 

both  he,  and  Dr.  Haynes,  Avere  apprehended  and  sent  to  the  Fleet. 

But  it  was  not  very  long  after,  ere  that  by  the  mediation  of  friends, 

they  were  both  delivered. 
The  Now,  as  touching  the  commission  for  searching  for  books,  Master 

search  be-  Ward  and  Master

~200 words

would  destroy  the  Latin  tongue.    And  king, 
so,  casting  down  the  quire  again,  he  reached  another  book,  which  was  tYr's^rla^-" 
the  Book  of  Isaiah  the  Prophet,  and  turning  to  the  last  chapter,  gave  ^o"-  f'^ 
the  book  to  Marbeck,  and  xisked  him  who  had  written  the  note  in  the  dance  m 
margin.     The  other,  looking  upon  it,  said,  "  Forsooth,  my  lord,  I  ^ouid de- 
wrote  it."     "  Read  it,"  quoth  the  bishop.     Then  he  read  it  thus :  !'^''°7  *''** 
*'  Heaven  is  my  seat,  and  the  earth  is  my  footstool."     "  Nay,"  quoth  tongue, 
the  bishop,  "  read  it  as  thou  hast  written  it."     "  Then  shall  I  read  it 
wrong,"  quoth  he,  "  for  I  had  written  it  false."     "  How  liadst  thou 
written  it,"  quoth  the  bishop.    "  I  had  written  it,"  quoth  he,  "  thus  : 
*  Heaven  is  my  seat,  and  the  earth  is  not  my  footstool.' "  "  Yea, 
marry,"  quoth  the  bishop,  "  that  Avas  thy  meaning."  "  No,  my  lord," 
quoth  he,  "  it  was  but  an  oversight  in  writing  ;  for,  as  your  lordship 
seeth,  this  word  '  not'  is  blotted   out."     At  this  time  came  other 
matters  into  the  council,  so  that  Marbeck  was  had  out  to  the  next 
chamber.     And  when  he  had  stood  there  awhile,  one  of  the  council, 
named  sir  Anthony  Wingfield,  captain  of  the  guard

~263 words

pity  to  do  thee  good.     When 

Marbeck.  ^ast  tliou  last  witli   Hayucs  ?"•     "  Forsooth,"  quoth    he,    "  about 

three  Aveeks  ago,  I  Avas  at   dinner  Avith  him."     "And  Avhat  talk," 

quoth  the  gentleman,  "  had  he  at  his  board  .''"     "  I  cannot  tell  noAv," 

quoth  he.     "  No  !"  quoth  the  gentleman ;   "  thou  art  not  so   dull 

Avitted,  to  forget  a  thing  in  so  short  a  space."     "  Yes,  sir,"  quoth 

ne,  "such  familiar  talk  as  men  do  use  at  their  boards,  is  most  commonly 

by  the   next  day  forgotten  ;   and  so  it  Avas  Avith  me."     "  Didst  thou 

never,"  quoth  the  gentleman,  "  talk   Avith  him,  or  with  any  of  thy 

\^\)  Uow  Winchester liuntcth  for  Dr.  Havnes. 


THE    TROUBLE    OF    JOHN    MARBF,(;K.  477 

fellows,  of  tlie  mass,  or  of  the  blessed  sacrament  ?'"'    "  No,  forsooth,"    Jif^'r-j 

quoth  he.     "  Now  forsooth,'"'  quoth  the  gentleman,  "  thou  liest ;  for ^- 

thou  hast  been  seen  to  talk   with  Testwood,  and  others  of  thy    '\-^_^- 
fellows,  an  hour  together  in  the  church,  when  honest   men  have  —  '^  '^J- 
walked  up  and  down  beside  you ;  and,  ever  as  they  have  drawn  near 
you,  ye  have  stayed  your  talk  till  they  have  been  past  you,  because 
they  should  not  hear  whereof  you  talked."  "  I  deny  not,"  quoth  he, 
"  but  I  have  talked  with  Testwood  and  others  of  my  fellows,   I 
cannot  tell  how  oft ;  Avhich  maketh  not  that  we  talked  either  of  the 
mass    or   of  the    sacrament:  for  men    may  commune  and  talk  of 
many  matters,  that  they  would  not  that  every  man  should  hear,  and 
yet  far  from  any  such  thing  ;  therefore  it  is  good  to  judge  the  best." 
"  Well !""  quoth  the  gentleman,  "  thou

~214 words

the  bishop,  "  I  do  not  dis- 
commend thy  diligence,  but  why  shouldst  thou  meddle  with  that 
thing  \vhich  pertained  not  to  thee  ?" 

And  in  speaking  of  these  words,  one  of  his  chaplains,  called 
Master  Meadow,  came  up,  and  stayed  himself  at  a  window,  to  whom 
the  bishop  said,  "  Here  is  a  marvellous  thing ;  this  fellow  hath  taken 
upon  him  to  set  out  the  Concordance  in  English,  v/hich  book,  when 
it  was  set  out  in  Latin,  was  not  done  Avithout  the  help  and  diligence 
of  a  dozen  learned  men  at  least,  and  yet  will  he  bear  me  in  hand, 
that  he  hath  done  it  alone.  But  say  what  thou  wilt,"  quoth  the 
bishop,  "  except  God  himself  would  come  down  from  heaven  and 
tell  me  so,  I  will  not  believe  it."  And  so,  going  forth  to  a  window 
where  two  great  Bibles  lay  upon  a  cushion,  the  one  in  Latin,  and  the 
other  in  English,  he  called  Marbeck  unto  him,  and  pointing  his 
finger  to  a  place  in  the  Latin  Bible,  said,  "  Canst  thou  English  this 
sentence?"  *' Nay,  my  lord,"  quoth  he,  "I  trow  I  be  not  so 
cunning  to  give  it  a  perfect  English,  but  I  can  fetch  out  the  English 
thereof  in  the  English  Bible."  "  Let's  see,"  quoth  the  bishop. 
Then  Marbeck,  turning  the  English  Bible,  found  out  the  place  by 
and  by,  and  read  it  to  the  bishop.  So  he  tried  him  three  or  four 
times,  till  one  of  his

~1,045 words

see  him,  or  minister  any 
A  cruel     tiling  uuto  him.     When  the  porter  (who  was  the  cruellest  man  that 
thrMa"-  might  be  to  all  such  as  were  laid  in  for  any  matter  of  religion,  and 
but'yet'    y^^'  ^^  ^^^  would,  favourable  to  this  poor  man)  had  received  this 
pood  to     commandment  fi'om  the  bishop,  he  clapped  irons  upon  him,  and  shut 
him  up,  giving  warning  to  all  the  house,  that  no  man  should  speak 
or  talk  to  Marbeck,  whensoever  he  was  brought  down  :    and  so  he 
continued  the  space  of  three  weeks  and  more,  till  his  wife  was  suffered 
to  come  unto  him. 


THE   SUIT  OF  MARBECK  S   W^FE   TO   THE   BISHOP   OF    WINCHESTER, 
FOR    HER    HUSBAND. 

Marbeck"'s  wife,  at  the  time  of  her  husband"'s  apprehension,  had  a 

young  child  of  a  quarter  old  sucking  upon  her  breast ;  and  when  her 

Imsband  was   taken  from  her,  and  had  away  to   the   council,  not 

knowing  what  should  become  of  him,  she  left  the  child  and  all,  and 

gat  her  up  to  London ;  and  hearing  her  husband  to  be  in  the  Mar- 

shalsea,  goeth  thither.     But  when  she  came  there,  she  could  in  no 

wise  be  suffered  to  see  him,  which  greatly  augmented  her  sorrow. 

Then,  by  counsel  of  friends,  she  gat  her  to  the  bishop  of  Winchester 

(for  other  help  was  there  none  to  be  had  at  that  time),  making  great 

suit  to  have  his  license  to  go  and  see  her  husband,  and  to  help  him 

with  such  things  as  he  lacked.     "  Nay,"  quoth  the  bishop,  "  thy 

husband  is  acquainted  with  all  the  heretics  that  be  in  the  realm,  both 

on  this  side  the  sea  and  beyond  ;  and  yet  will  he  utter  none  of 

them."'"'     "  Alas,  my  lord  !"'"'    quoth  she,  "  my  husband  Avas  never 

beyond  the  seas,  nor  any  great  traveller  in   the  realm,   to  be  so 

Marbeck's  acquainted ;  therefore,  my  good  lord,  let  me  go  see  him."'''  But  all  lier 

e/a  great"  earnest  suit  from  day  to  day  would  not  help,  but  still  he  put  her  off, 

^0*^10  her  ^^''^I'piiig  always  upon  this  string,  "  Thy  husband  will  utter  nothing."" 

husband.   At  last,  shc,  finding  him  in  the  court  at  St.  James,  going  towards  his 

chamber,  was  so  bold  as  to  take  him  by  the  rochet,  and  say,  "  Oh, 


THE    TROUBLE    OF    JOHN    MAllBECK.  481 

my  lord,  these  eighteen  days  I  have  troubled  your  lordship.     Now,    Henry 

for  the  love  of  God,  and  as  ever  yc  came  of  a  woman,  put  me  off  no 1_ 

longer,  but  let  me  go  to  mv  husband."     And  as  she  was  standing    A.  D. 
with  tlie  bishop  and  his  men,  in  a  blind  corner  going  to  his  chamber,    ^^'^'^' 
one  of  the  kin(i;"'s  servants,  called  Henry  Carrike,  and  her  next  neigh-  Henry 
bour,  chanced  to  be  by ;  and,  hearing  the  talk  between  the  bishop  piayeti) 
and  her,  desired  his  lordship  to  be  good  lord  unto  the  poor  woman,  ofl  go'od 
who  had  her  own  mother  lying  bedrid  upon  her  hands,  beside  five  or  jj^jsh- 
six  children.     "  I  promise  you,""  quoth  the  bishop,  "  her  husband  is  winches- 
a  great  heretic,  and  hath  read  more  Scripture  than  any  man  in  the  n^g^t^.''^'^' 
realm  hath  done."     "  I  cannot  tell,  my  lord,"  quoth  Carrike,  "  what  He  hatii 
he  is  inwardly,  but  outwardly,  he  is  as  honest  a  quiet  neighbour  as  much 
ever  I  dwelt  "by."     "  He  will  tell  nothing,"  quoth  the  bishop  :   "  he  |'gP*he^' 
knoweth  a  great  sort  of  false  harlots,   and  Avill  not  utter  them." '?ahere- 
"  Yes,  my  lord,"  quoth  Carrike,  "  he  will  tell,  I  dare  say,  for  he  is 
an  honest  man."     "  Well,"  quoth  the  bishop  (speaking  to  the  Avife),  MarbecU's 
"  thou  seemest  to  be  an  honest  woman,  and  if  thou  love  thy  husband  muted'^at 
well,  go  to  him,  and  give  him  good  covmsel,  to  utter  such  naughty  |^^^ '°  eo 
fellows  as  he  knoweth,  and  I  promise  thee  he  shall  have  what  I  can  husband. 
do  for  him  ;  for  I  do  fancy  him  well  for  his  art,  wherein  he  hath 
pleased  me  as  well  as  any  man  :"  and  so,  stepping  into  his  chamber, 
he  said  she  should  have  his  letter  to  the  keeper.     But  his  mind  being 
changed,  he  sent  out  his  ring  by  a  gentleman,   which  gentleman 
delivered  the  ring  to  his  man,  charging  him  with  the  bishop\s  message. 
And  so  his  man  went  with  the  woman  to  the  water  side,  and  took 
boat,  who  never  rested  railing  on  her  husband  all  the  way,  till  they 
came  to    the    prison  ;    which  was  no    small    cross  unto    the   poor 
woman. 

And  when  they  were   come   to  the   Marshalsea,  the  messenger 
showed  the  bishop''s  ring  to  the  porter,  saying,  "  Master  Stokes  !  my 
lord  willeth  you  by  this  token,  that  ye  suffer  this  woman  to  have 
recourse  to  her  husband  ;  but,  he  straitly  chargeth  you,  that  ye  search 
her  both  coming  and  going,  lest  she  bring  or  carry  any  letters  to  or 
fro,  and  that  she  bring  nobody  unto  him,  nor  any  Avord  from  any  man." 
"God's  blood!"  quoth  the  porter  (who  was  a  foul  swearer),  "  what  Like  mas- 
will  my  lord  have  me  to  do  ?  can  I  let  her  to  bring  word  from  any  man!*^^ 
man  ?    Either  let  her  go  to  her  husband,  or  let  her  not  go ;  for  I  see 
nothing  by  him  but  an  honest  man."     The  poor  woman,  fearing  to 
be  repulsed,  spake  the  porter  fair,  saying,  "  Good  master,  be  content, 
for  I  have  found  my  lord  very  good  lord  unto  me.      This  young 
man  is  but  the  gentleman's  servant  who  brought  the  ring  from  my 
lord,  and  I  think  doth  his  message  a  great  deal  more  straiter  than  my 
lord  commanded  the  gentleman,  or  tlian  the  gentleman  his  master 
commanded  him :   but,  nevertheless,  good  master,"  quoth  she,   "  I  The  part 
shall  be  contented  to  strip  myself  before  you  both  coming  and  going,  wifellld 
so  far  as  any  honest  woman  may  do  with  honesty  ;  for  I  intend  no  j^llifroiT' 
such  thing,  but  only  to  comfort  and  help  my  husband."     Then  the 
messenger  said  no  more,  but  Avent  his  way,  leaving  the  Avoman  there, 
Avho,  from  that  time   forth,  Avas  suffered  to  come  and  go  at  her 
pleasure. 


VOL.  V.  II 


482 


THF.    I'EK.SKCLITION'    IX    \VIKl)fion. 


vm.      THE    FOUUTII    EXAMINATION    OF    MARBECK,    BEFORE    THE   COMMIS- 


SIONERS   IN    THE

~1,426 words

no  more  of  his  book. 


THE     FIFTH     EXAMINATION     OF     MARBECK,     BEFORE     DR.     OKlNG, 

AND    MASTER    KNIGHT,    SECRETARY    TO    THE    BISHOP    OF 

WINCHESTER,    IN    ST.   MARV    OVERy's    CHURCH. 

Upon  Whitsunday  following  at  afternoon,  was  Marbeck  sent  for 
once  again  to  St.  Mary  Overy's,  where  he  found  Dr.  Oking,  with 
another  gentleman  in  a  gown  of  damask,  with  a  chain  of  gold  about 
his  neck  (no  more  in  all  the  church  but  they  two),  sitting  together  in 
one  of  the  stalls,  their  backs  towards  the  church  door,  looking  upon 
an  epistle  of  Master  .John  Calvin's,  which  INIarbeck  had  written  out ; 
and  when  they  saw  the  prisoner  come,  they  rose  and  had  him  up 
to  a  side  altar,  leaving  his  keeper  in  the  body  of  the  church  alone. 
Now,  as  soon  as  ^larbeck  saw  the  face  of  the  gentleman  (whom  before 
he  knew  not,  by  reason  of  his  apparel),  he  saw  it  was  the  same  per- 
son that  first  examined  him  in  the  Marshalsca,  and  did  also  cause  him 
to  write  in  the  bishop's  gallery,  but  never  knew  his  name  till  now  he 
heard  Dr.  Oking  call  him  JNIaster  Knight.  This  Master  Knight 
held  forth  the  paper  to  Marbeck,  and  said,  "  Look  upon  this,  and  tell 
me  whose  hand  it  is." 

When  Marbeck  had  taken  the  paper  and  seen  what  it  was,  he  con- 
fessed it  to  be  all  his  hand,  saving  the  first  leaf  and  the  notes  in  the 
margin.  "  Then  I  perceive,"  quoth  Knight,  "  thou  wilt  not  go  from 
thine  own  hand."     "  No,  sir,"  quoth  he,  "  I  will  deny  nothing  that  I 


THE    SUIT    OF    FlLMEll's    WIFE    TO    THE    BISHOPS.  485 

have  done."     "  Tliou  dost  well  in  that,"  quoth  Knight,  "for  if  thou    nenrg 
shouldst,  we  have  testimonies  enough  besides,  to  try  out  thy  hand  by. 


But  I  pray  thee  tell  me,  whose  hand  is  the  first  leaf?"     "That  I    ^•^" 

cannot  tell  you,"  quoth  Marbeck.     "  Then  how  camest  thou  by  it .''" L 

quoth  Knight.    "  Forsooth  I  will  tell  you,"  quoth  he.  "  There  was  a 
priest  dwelling  with  us  about  five  or  six  years  ago,  called  Marshal, 
who  sent  it  unto  me  with  the  first  leaf  written  ;  desiring  me  to  write 
it  out  with  speed,  because  the  copy  could  not  be  spared  past  an  hour  or 
twain  :  and  so  I  wrote  it  out,  and  sent  him  both  the  copy  and  it  again." 
"  And  how  came  this  hand  in  the  margin,"  quoth  he,  "  which  is  a 
contrary  hand  to  both  the  others  ?"     "  That  I  will  tell  you,"  quoth 
Marbeck  :   "  When  I  wrote  it  out  at  the  first,  I  made  so  much  haste  of 
it,  that  I  understood  not  the  matter,  wherefore  I  was  desirous  to  see 
it  again,  and  to  read  it  with  more  deliberation  ;  and  being  sent  to  me 
the  second  time,  it  was  thus  quoted  in  the  margin  as  ye  see.     And 
shortly  after  this,  it  was  his  chance  to  go  beyond  the  seas  (where  he 
lived  not  long),  by  reason  whereof  the  epistle  remaineth  with  me  ; 
but  whether  the  first  leaf,  or  the  notes  in  the  margin  were  his  hand, 
or  whose  hand  else,  that  I  cannot  tell."     "  Tush,"  quoth  Dr.  Oking  surmise 
to   Master  Knight,  "he    knoweth  well  enough   that  the  notes  be  ^fy*'"^' 
Haynes's  own  hand."  "  If  you  know  so  much,"  quoth  Marbeck,  "  ye  Haynes. 
know  more  than  I  do  ;  for  I  tell  you  truly,  I  know  it  not."     "  By 
my  faith,  Marbeck,"  quoth  Knight,  "  if  thou  wilt  not  tell  by  fair 
means,  those  fingers  of  thine  shall  be  made  to  tell."     "  By  my  troth, 
sir,"  quoth  Marbeck,  "  if  ye  do  tear  the  whole  body  in  pieces,  I  trust 
in  God,  ye  shall  never  make  me  accuse  any  man  wrongfully."     "  If 
thou  be  so  stubborn,"  quoth  Dr.  Oking,  "  thou  wilt  die  for  it."  "  Die,  incon- 
Master  Oking  !"  quoth  he,  "wherefore  should  I  die  .-^  You  told  nie  f^^^'^f^'jig 
the  last  day,  before  the  bishops,  that  as  soon  as  I  had  made  an  end  of  ^^^^y  in 
the  piece  of  Concordance  they  took  from  me,  I  should  be  delivered ; 
and  shall  I  now  die  ?  This  is  a  sudden  mutation.  You  seemed  then  to 
be  my  friend ;  but  I  know  the  cause :  ye  have  read  the  ballet  I  made 
of  Moses'  chair,  and  that  hath  set  you  against  me ;  but  whensoever 
ye  shall  put  me  to  death,  I  doubt  not  to  die  God's  true  man  and  the 
king's."     "  How  so  .P"  quoth  Knight.  "•  How  canst  thou  die  a  true 
man  unto  the  king,  when  thou  hast  offended  his  laws  ?  Is  not  this 
epistle,  and  are  not  most  of  the  notes  thou  hast  written,  directly 
against  the  six  articles  .'^"     "  No,  sir,"  quoth  Marbeck  ;   "   I  have 
not  offended  the  king's  laws  therein  ;  for  since  the  first  time  I  began 
with  the  Concordance  (which  is  almost  six  years  ago),  I  have  been  occu- 
pied in  nothing  else  :  so  that  both  this  epistle,  and  all  the  notes  I  have 
gathered,  were  written  a  great  Avhile  before  the  six  articles  came  forth, 
and  are  clearly  remitted  by  the  king's  general  pardon."  "  Trust  not  The 
to  that,"  quoth  Knight,  "  *for  it  will  not  help  thee."  "  No,  I  warrant  f^^i^^x 
him,"  quoth  Dr.  Oking.     And  so  going  down  to  the  body  of  the  paiion . 
church,  they  committed  him  to  his  keeper,  who  had  him   away  to 
prison  again. 

THE    SUIT    OF    FILMEr's    WIFE,     TO     THE     BISHOPS    WHO    SAT    IN 
COMMISSION,    FOR    HER    HUSBAND. 

In  like  manner  the  wife  of  Filmer,  knowing  her  husband's  trouble 
to  be  only  procured  of  malice  by  Simons,  his  old  enemy,  made  great 


486  THE    PKHSKCIJTION    IN    WINDSOR. 

Henry  suit  and  JabouT  unto  the  bishops  wlio  were  commissioners,  desiring 
no  more  of  them,  but  that  it  would  please  their  goodness  to  examine 


A.D.  her  husband  before  them,  and  to  hear  him  make  his  purgation.  This 
^^^^'  was  her  only  request  to  every  of  the  bishops  from  day  to  dav,  where- 
soever she  could  find  them  ;  insomuch  that  two  of  the  bishops  (Ely 
and  Hereford)  were  very  sorry  (considering  the  importunate  and 
reasonable  suit  of  the  woman)  that  it  lay  not  in  them  to  help  her. 
Thus,  travelling  long  up  and  down  from  one  to  another,  to  have  her 
husband  examined,  it  was  her  cliance  at  last  to  find  the  bishops  all 
three  together  in  the  bishop  of  Ely\s  palace ;  unto  whom  she  said, 
The  "  O  good  my  lords  !  for  the  love  of  God,  let  now  my  poor  husband 
Fiimer''J  ^6  brouglit  forth  before  you,  while  ye  be  here  all  together.  For 
wife  to  truly,  my  lords,  there  can  nothing  be  justly  laid  against  him,  but 
shops,  that  of  malicious  envy  and  spite  Simons  hath  wrought  him  this 
trouble.  And  you,  my  lord  of  Salisbury,"  quoth  the  poor  woman, 
"  can  testify  (if  it  will  please  your  lordship  to  say  the  truth),  what 
malice  Simons  bare  to  my  husband,  when  they  were  both  before  you 
at  Salisbury,  little  more  than  a  year  ago,  for  the  vicar  of  Windsor's 
matter.  For,  as  your  lordship  knoweth,  when  my  husband  had 
certified  you  of  the  priest''s  sermon,  which  you  said  was  plain  heresy, 
then  came  Simons  (after  the  priest  himself  had  confessed  it),  and 
would  have  defended  the  priest's  error  before  your  lordship,  and  have 
had  my  husband  punished.  At  that  time  it  pleased  your  lordship 
to  commend  and  praise  my  husband  for  his  honesty,  and  to  rebuke 
Simons  for  maintaining  the  priest  in  his  error ;  and  thereupon  you 
commanded  the  priest  to  recant  his  heresy,  at  his  coming  home  to 
Windsor.  This,  my  lord,  you  know  to  be  true.  And  now,  my 
lords,""  quoth  the  woman,  "  it  is  most  certain,  that  for  this  cause  only 
did  Simons  evermore  afterwards  threaten  my  husband  to  be  even 
with  him.  Therefore,  my  good  lords,  call  my  husband  before  you, 
and  hear  liim  speak  ;  and  if  ye  find  any  other  matter  against  him 
than  this  that  I  have  told  you,  let  me  suffer  death.'"  ""  Is  this  so, 
my  lord .'''"'  quoth  the  bishops  of  Ely  and  Hereford.  And  the  other 
could  not  deny  it.  Then  they  spake  Latin  to  the  bishop  of  Salisbury, 
and  he  to  them,  and  so  departed.  For  the  matter  was  so  wrought 
comejo  between  Dr.  London  and  Simons,  that  Filnier  could  never  be  suffered 
to  come  before  the  commissioners  to  be  examined. 


Filmer 
could  not 


his  an- 
swer. 


Clje  JBflrtprDom  of  pecc^on,  Cej^ttoooti,  and  ^ilmec ; 

WITH    THE     MANNEIt     OF      THEIR      CONDEMNATIONS,     AND     HOW 

THEY    DIED. ALSO    THE    SPARING     OF    MARBECK, 

AFTER    HE    WAS    SENTENCED    TO    DEATH. 

Stephen        Whcu

~199 words

two  years  before  in  a  place  called  Wingfield, 
and  there  should  say,  that  like  as  Christ  was  hanged  between  two  thieves,  even 
so,  when  the  priest  is  at  mass,  and  hath  consecrated  and  lifted  him  up  over  his 
head,  there  he  hangeth  between  two  thieves,  except  he  preach  the  woi'd  of  God 
truly,  as  he  hath  taken  upon  him  to  do. 

Also,  that  he  said  to  the  people  in  the  pulpit,  '  Ye  shall  not  eat  the  body  of 
Christ  as  it  did  hang  upon  the  cross,  gnawing  it  with  your  teeth,  that  the  blood 
run  about  your  lips ;  but  you  shall  eat  him  this  day  as  ye  eat  him  to-morrow, 
the  next  day,  and  every  day :  for  it  refresheth  not  the  body,  but  the  soul.' 

Also,  after  he  had  preached  and  commended  the  Scripture,  calling  it  the 
word  of  God,  he  said  as  followeth :  *  This  is  the  word ;  this  is  the  bread  ;  this 
is  the  body  of  Christ.' 

Also  he  said  that  Christ,  sitting  with  his  disciples,  took  bread,  and  blessed, 
and  brake  it,  and  gave  it  to  his  disciples,  saying.  Take  and  eat ;  this  is  my 
body.  '  What  is  this  to  us,  but  to  take  the  Scripture  of  God,  and  to  break  it 
to  the  people  ?' 

To  this  Anthony  answered  and  said

~834 words

called,  and  his  indictment  read  ;  that  he  should 
J^gJi'j'"      say  that  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  is  nothing  else  but  a  similitude 
and  a  ceremony ;  and  also,  if  God  be  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  I 
have  eaten  twenty  Gods  in  my  days. 

Here  you  must  understand,  that  these  words  were  gathered  of 
certain  communication  Avhich  should  be  between  Filmer  and  his 
brother.     The  tale  went  thus : 

This  Henry  Filmer,  coming  upon  a  Sunday  from  ClcAvcr,  his  parish 

church,  in  the  company  of  one  or  two  of  his  neighbours,  chanced,  in 

the  way,  to  meet  his  Ijrother  (who  was  a  very  poor  labouring  man), 

and  asked  him  whither  he  went.    "  To  the  church,"  said  he.     "  And 

what  to  do.^"  quoth  Filmer.     "  To  do,"  quoth  he,  "  as  other  men 

do."     "  Nay,"  quoth  Filmer,  "  you  go   to  hear  mass,  and  to  see 

your  God."     "  What  if  I  do  so?"  quoth  he.     "  If  that  be  God," 

should  Filmer  say,  "  I  have  eaten  twenty  Gods  in  my  days.     Turn 

again,  fool,  and  go  home  with  me,  and  I  will  read  thee  a  chapter  out 

of  the  Bible,  that  shall  be  better  than  all  that  thou  shalt  see  or  hear 

there." 

Dr.  Lon-        Tliis   talc  was  no  sooner  brought  to  Dr.  London  (by  William 

setteth     Simons,  Fiimer's  utter  enemy),  but  he  sent  for  the  poor  man  home 

al-ainlt     ^o  his  housc,  where  he  cherished  him  with  meat  and  money,  telling 

brother.    ],iiji  ]ic  should  uevcr  lack,  so  long  as  he  lived ;  that  the  silly  poor 


PEERSON,   TESTWOOD,   FILMER,   AND  MARBECK.  489 

man,  thinking  to  have  had  a  daily  friend  of  Dr.  London,  was  content    Henry 


nil. 


to  do  and  say  wliatsoever  he  and  Simons  Avould  have  him  say  or  do 
against  his  own  brother.     And  when  Dr.  London  had  thns  won  the    A.D. 
poor  man,  he  retained  him  as  one  of  his  househokl  men  until  the    ^^^^- 
court  day  was  come,  and  then  sent  him  up  to  witness  this  aforesaid  Fiimer's 
tale  against  his  brother.      This  tale   Filmer  denied  utterly,  saying,  ther  wu" 
that  Dr.  London,  for  a  little  meat  and  drink's  sake,  had  set  him  on,  "^^inst 
and  made  him  say  what  his  pleasure  was  :  "  Wherefore,  my  lord,"  him. 
quoth  Filmer  to  the  bishop,  "  I  beseech  your  lordship  weigh  the 
matter  indifferently,  forasmuch  as  there  is  no  man  in  all  this  town,  one  wit- 
that  can  or  will  testify  with  him,  that  ever  he  heard  any  such  talk  stmid"is 
between  him  and  me  ;  and  if  he  can  bring  forth  any  that  Avill  witness  If^^^^l^ 
the  same  with  him,  I  refuse  not  to  die."     But  say  what  he  could,  it 
would  not  prevail. 

Then  Filmer,  seeing  no  remedy  but  that  his  brother"'s  accusement  Fiimer 
should  take  place,  he  said,  "  Ah,  brother  !  what  cause  hast  thou  to  bj^uT^^^ 
show  me  this  unkindness  ?     I  have  always  been  a  natural  brother  "1^^"  '^'^°" 
unto  thee  and  thine,  and  helped  you  all,  to  my  power,  from  time  to 
time,  as  thou  thyself  knowest ;  and  is  this  a  brotherly  part,  thus  to 
reward  me  now  for  my  kindness  ?     God  forgive  it  thee,  my  brother, 
and  give  thee  grace  to  repent."     Then   Filmer,  looking  over  his 
shoulder,  desired  some  good  body  to  let  him  see  the  book  of  Statutes. 
His  wife,  being  at  the  end  of  the  hall,  and  hearing  her  husband  call 
for  the  book  of  Statutes,  ran  down  to  the  keeper,  and  brought  up  the 
book,  and  gat  it  conveyed  to  her  husband. 

The  bishop,  seeing  the  book  in  his  hand,  start  him  up  from  the 
bench  in  a  great  fume,  demanding  who  had  given  the  prisoner  that 
book,  commanded  it  to  be  taken  from  him,  and  to  make  search  who 
had  brought  it,  swearing  by  the  faith  of  his  body,  he  shoidd  go  to 
prison.  Some  said  it  -was  his  wife,  some  said  the  keeper.  "  Like 
enough,  my  lord,"  quoth  Simons,  "  for  he  is  one  of  the  same  sort ; 
and  as  worthy  to  be  here  as  the  best,  if  he  were  rightly  served."  But 
howsoever  it  was,  the  truth  would  not  be  known,  and  so  the  bishop 
sat  him  down  again. ^ 

Then  said  Filmer,  "  O  my  lord  !  I  am  this  day  judged  by  a  law, 
and  why  should  I  not  see  the  law  that  I  am  judged  by  ?'^  Tlie 
law  is,  I  should  have  two  lawful  witnesses,  and  here  is  but  one,  Avho 
would  not  do  as  he  doth,  but  that  he  is  forced  thereunto  by  the 
suggestion  of  mine  enemies."  "  Nay,"  quoth  Bucklayer,  the  king's 
attorney,  "  thine  heresy  is  so  heinous,  and  abhorreth  thine  own 
brother  so  much,  that  it  forceth  him  to  witness  against  thee,  which  is 
more  than  two  other  witnesses." 

Thus,  as  you  see,  Avas  Filmer  brought  unjustly  to  his  death  by  the  Example 
malice  of  Simons  and  Dr.  London,  who  had  enticed  that  wretched  Just  "pun- 
caitiff  his  brother,  to  be  their  minister  to  work  his  confusion.     But  upo™^^* 
God,  wJio  is  a  iust  revenger  of  all  falsehood  and  wrongs,  would  not  popish 

.  .  accuser 

suffer  that  wretch  long  to  live  upon  earth,  but  the  next  year  following,  accusing 
he,  being  taken  up  for  a  labourer  to  go  to  Boulogne,  had  not  been  broth^". 
there  three  days,  ere  that  (in  exonerating  of  nature)  a  gun  took  him 

(1)  The  bishops  condemn  men  not  only  without  all  law,  but  also  stop  the  law  that  it  should  not 
be  known. 

(2)  Thus  Filmer  was  condemned  by  one  witness,  against  tbe  law;  and  how  do  the  bishops  then 
say,  that  they  do  nothing  but  by  a  law  ? 


490 


A.D. 

1543. 


THE    PERSECUTION    IN    WINDSOR. 


iitnry    and  tore  him  all  to  pieces.     And  so  av 
^  fulfilled,  "  A  false  witness  shall  not  rem? 


ere  these  words  of  Solomon 
main  unpunished." 


JOHN    MAUBECK. 


The  in- 
dictment 
of  Mar- 
beck. 


Mar- 
beck's 
answer. 


Partial 
tiealing 
in  calling

~140 words

by  the  king"'s  general  pardon,  desiring  that  he  might  enjoy 
the  benefit  thereof. 

Then  were  the  jury  called,  which  Avere  all  farmers  belonging  to  the 
college  of  Windsor,  Avhcreof  few  or  none  had  ever  seen  those  men 
the  jury,  ^eforc,  upou  Avhosc  Hfc   and  death  they  Avent.     Wherefore  the  pri- 
soners (counting  the  farmers  as  partial)  desired  to  have  the  toAvnsmen, 
or  such  as  did  knoAV  them,  and  had  seen  tlieir  daily  conversations,  in 
the  place  of  the  farmers,  or  else  to  be  equally  joined  Avith  them  ;  but 
that  Avould  not  be,  for  the  matter  Avas  otherwise  foreseen  and  deter- 
mined. 
Bnckiay-       NoAv,  whcu  tlic  jury  had  taken  their  oath  and  all,  Bucklayer,  the 
knis'lfat-  king's  attoracy,  began  to  speak  ;  and  first  he  alleged  many  reasons 
torney,  a  agaiust  Authouy  Peerson,  to  prove  him  a  heretic  :  Avhicli  Avlien  An- 
tor.         thony  Avould  have  disproved,  the  bishop  said,  "  Let  him  alone,  sir ; 
he  speaketh  for  the  king.""     And  so  Avent  Bucklayer  forth  Avith  his 
matter,  making  every  man's  cause  as  heinous  to  the  hearers  as  he 
Sir  Hum-  could  dcvisc.     And  Avhcn  he   had  done,  and  said  Avhat  he  Avould, 
then  sir  Humfrey  Foster  spake  to  the  q\iest,  in  favour  of  JMarbcck, 
on  this  Avise :   "  IS'Iasters !"  quoth  he,  "  ye

~495 words

s  pardon  ;  whereat  many  rejoiced. 


492 


TJIK    PKRSECUTIOX    IN    WINDsOlt, 


Henry 
VIII. 

A.D. 
1543. 


Divers 
judg- 
ments 
■why  Mar- 
beck  was 
pardon- 
ed- 


Marbeck 
reserved 
to  utter 
others. 


Tlie  pes- 
tilent in 
tell'  of 
t!u-  bi- 
shops. 


The 

pope's 
law  is, 
tliat  they 
tliat  be 
con- 
demned 
of  heresy, 
must  not 
receive 
the  sacra- 
ment. 


Of  this  pardon  were  clivers  conjectures  made.  Some  said,  it  was 
by  the  suit  of  the  good  sheriff  sir  Wilham  Barrington,  and  sir 
Humfrey  Foster,  with  other  gentlemen  more  that  favoured  Marbeck, 
to  the  bishop  of  Sarum  and  the  other  commissioners,  that  the  letter 
was  sent. 

Some  said  again,  that  it  came  of  the  bishop  of  Sarum  and  FaclieFs 
first  motion,  being  pricked  in  conscience  for  that  they  had  so  slen- 
derly cast  him  away.  Others  again  thought  that  it  was  a  policy  pur- 
posed afore,  by  the  bishop  of  Winchester,  of  Sarum,  and  of  Dr. 
London,  because  they  should  seem  to  be  merciful.  This  conjecture 
rose  upon  this  occasion  :  There  was  one  Sadock,  dwelling  in  the 
town,  who  M'as  great  with  Dr.  London  and  Simons ;  and  he  should 
say,  four  days  before  the  sessions  began,  that  the  prisoners  should  be 
all  cast  and  condemned,  but  INLarbeck  should  have  his  pardon. 

Others  there  were,  that  thought  the  aforesaid  bishops,  with  Dr. 
London,  had  done  it  for  this  purpose ;  that  he  now,  having  his  life, 
would  rather  utter  such  men  as  they  would  have  him  to  do,  than 
to  come  in  like  danger  again  ;  which  conjecture  rose  upon  this : 
Simons,  meeting  with  ]Marbeck''s  wife,  said  thus  unto  her :  "  Your 
husband  may  thank  God  and  good  friends :  my  lord  of  Winchester 
is  good  lord  to  him,  who  hath  got  his  pardon.  But  shall  I  tell  you .''"'"' 
quoth  he  :  "  his  pardon  will  be  to  none  effect,  except  he  tell  the  truth 
of  things  to  my  lord,  and  other  of  the  comicil,  when  he  shall  be 
demanded  ;  for  unto  that  purpose  only  is  he  reserved.'"  "  Alas  sir," 
quoth  she,  "  what  can  he  tell  'f  "  Well,  woman,"  quoth  Simons, 
''  I  tell  thee  plain ;  if  he  do  not  so,  never  look  to  have  thy  husband 
out  of  prison ;"  and  so  departed  from  her. 

The  like  meaning  did  blaster  Arch  make  to  JNIarbeck  himself,  on 
the  Saturday  in  the  morning  that  the  men  should  be  burned,  when 
lie  came  to  confess  them.  "  I  have  nothing,"  quoth  he,  "  to  say 
unto  you,  Marbeck,  at  this  time ;  but  hereafter  you  must  be  content 
to  do  as  shall  be  enjoined  you :"  meaning,  he  should  be  forced  to  do 
some  unlawful  thing,  or  else  to  lie  in  perpetual  prison.  And  this 
was  most  likely  to  have  been  attempted,  if  they  had  proceeded  in 
their  purpose  ;  whose  intent  was  to  have  gone  through  the  whole 
realm,  in  like  sort  as  they  had  begun  at  Windsor,  as  the  bishop  of 
Sarum  confessed  openly,  and  said,  that  "  he  trusted,  ere  Christmas- 
day  following,  to  visit  and  cleanse  a  good  part  thereof."  But  most 
commonly  God  sendeth  a  shrewd  cow  short  horns,  or  else  many  a 
thousand  in  England  had  smarted

~210 words

On  Saturday  in  the  morning  that  the  prisoners  should  go  to  exe- 
cution, came  in  to  the  prison  two  of  the  canons  of  the  college,  tlie 
one  called  Dr.  Blithe,  and  the  other  Master  Arch,  which  two  were 
sent  to  be  their  confessors :  Master  Arch  asked  them,  if  they  would 
be  confessed  ;  and  they  said,  "■  Yea."  Then  he  demanded  if  they 
Avould  receive  the  sacrament :  "■  Yea,"  said  they,  "  with  all  our 
hearts."  "  I  am  glad,"  quoth  Arch,  "  to  hear  you  say  so ;  but  the 
law  is,"  quoth  he,  "  that  it  may  not  be  ministered  to  any  that  are 
condemned  of  heresy.  But  it  is  enough  for  you  that  ye  do  desire  it." 
And  so  he  had  them  up  to  the  hall  to  hear  their  confessions,  because 
the  prison  Mas  full  of  people.  Dr.  Blithe  took  Anthony  Peerson  to 
him  to   confess,  and  Master  Arch  the  other  two.     But  howsoever 


v.; 


PEERSON,    TESTWOOD,    FILMER,    AXD    MARBECK.  4.03 

the  matter  went  between  the  doctor  and  Anthonv,   he  tarried  not    Henry 


VIII. 


their 
death. 


long  witli  him,  but  came  down  again,  saying,   "  he  would  no  more 
of  his  doctrine.'''     "  Do  you  call  him  Dr.  Blithe  .''"  quoth  Anthony.    A.  D. 
"  He  may  be  called  Dr.  Blind  for  his  learning,  as  far  as  I  see."  And    ^^^'^- 
soon  after  the  other  two  came  down  also.     Then  Anthony,  seeing  Dr

~87 words

love  and  peace  of  God." 

And  being  all  three  bound  to  the  post,  a  certain  young  man  of  The 
Filmer's  acquaintance  brought  him  a  pot  of  drink,  asking  if  he  would  Fiimer? 
drink.  "  Yea,"  quoth  Filmer,  "  I  thank  you.  And  now  my 
brother,"  quoth  he,  "  I  shall  desire  you,  in  the  name  of  the  living 
Lord,  to  stand  fast  in  the  truth  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  which 
you  have  received."  And  so,  taking  the  pot  at  his  hand,  he  asked 
his  brother  Anthony,  if  he  would  drink.  "  Yea,  brother  Filmer," 
quoth  he,  "  I  pledge  you  in  the  Lord." 

And   when  he  had  drunk,   he  gave  the  pot    to   Anthony,    and  The  sian- 
Anthony  likewise   gave  it  to  Testwood.       Of  this  drinking,    their  nf,'uth  of 
adversaries  made  a  jesting-stock,  reporting  abroad  that  they  were  all  p-^t^'''''' 
drunk,  and  Avist  not  what  they  said ;  when  they  were  none  otherwise 
drunk  than  as  the  apostles  were,  when  the  people  said  they  were  full 
of  new  wine,  as  their  deeds  declared:  for,  when  Anthony  and  Test- 
wood  had  lioth  drunk,  and  given  the  pot  from  them,  Filmer  rejoicing  Fiimcr's

~10,994 words

of  his  dear  Son,  Jesus 

stanr°"  ^^'■i'^^'  '^^'^tli  s"c'^  humility  and  steadfastness,  that  many  who  saw  their 

death  of    patient  suffering,  confessed  that  they  could  have  found*  in  their  hearts 

niart}'rs.    (^t  that  present)  to  have  died  with  "them. 


HOW    ALL    THE    ADVERSAIUEs'    CONSPIRACIES    WERE    KNOWN. 

Bennet,  a  Yc  have  heard  before  of  one  Robert  Bennet,  how  he  was  at  the  first 
sickofthe  apprehended  with  the  other  four  persons  aforesaid,  and  committed  to 
lence.       ^^^  bishop  of  Loudou's  prison  ;  and  about  the  time  he  should  have 

gone  to  Windsor,  he  fell  sick  of  the  pestilence,  by  means  Avhereof 

he  remained  still  in  prison. 
Bennet  This  Beuuet  and  Simons  (ye  shall  understand)  were  the  greatest 
mmis'  familiars  and  company  keepers  that  were  in  all  Windsor,  and  nevei 
jointcom-  lightly  swcrved  the  one  from  the  other,  savinQ-in  matters  of  religion, 
but  con-  wherein  they  could  never  agree.  For  Bennet,  the  one  lawyer,  was 
re)[gion.    ^^    earnest   gospeller,   and  Simons,   the    other  lawyer,    a  cankered 

papist ;  but  in  all  other  Avorldly  matters  they  cleaved  together  like 

burrs. 
Robert         This  Bcnuct  had  spoken  certain  words  against  their  little  round 
^n'tupby  god,  for  Avhicli  he  was  as  far  in  as  the  best,  and  had  suffered  death 
thebi-      -^yjt]^  tJ^e  others  if  he  had  cone  to  Windsor  when  they  Avent.     And 

shop  01  c*  .  ,  *^  . 

Salisbury  now  that  the  matter  was  all  done  and  finished,  it  was  determined  by 
otiiers!  to  the  bishop  of  Salisbury,  that  Robert  Ockam,  on  the  INIonday  after 
wUhie^  ^^^^  Vixcw^  were  burned,  should  go  to  the  bishop  of  Winchester,  with 
ters.        the  whole  process  done  at  the  sessions  the  Thursday  before. 

Then  Simons,  at  Bennetts  wife's  request,  procured  the  bishop  of 

Salisbury's  favourable  letter  to  the  bishop  of  Winchester,  for  Bennet's 

deliverance,  which  letter  Bennet's  wife  (forasmuch  as  her  own  man 

was  not  at  home  who  should  have  gone  with  the  letter)   desired 

Robert  Ockam  to  deliver  to  the  bishop,  and  to  bring  her  word  again  ; 

who  said   he   would.     So  forth   went  Ockam  toward  the  bishop  of 

Winchester,  with  his  budget  full  of  writings,  to  declare  and  open 

all  things  unto  him,  that  were  done  at  Windsor  sessions.     But  all 

their  Avicked  intents,  as  God  would  have  it,  were  soon  cut  off,  and 

their  doings  disclosed.     For  one  of  the  queen's  men,  named  Fulk, 

Avho  had  lain  at  Windsor  all  the  time  of  the  business,  and  had  got 

Many       knowledge  what  a  number  Avere  privily  indicted,  and  of  Ockam's 

sdod  men  going  to  the  bishop  of  Winchester,  gat  to  the  court  before  Ockam, 

tahio"     and  told  sir  Thomas  Cardine  and  others  of  the  privy  chamber,  how 

chlniber  ^  ^^'^  matter  stood.     Whereupon  Ockam  Avas  laid  for,  and  had  by 

indi.nd    tlie  back  as  soon  as  he  came  to  the  court,  and  so  kept  fi-om  the 

by  the  . 

bishops,     bishop. 

On  the  next  moiTOAv,  very  eaily,  Bennet's  Avife  sent  her  man  to 
the  court  after  Ockam,  to  see  hoAv  he  sped  Avith  her  husband's  letter. 
And  when  he  came  there,  he  found  sir  Thomas  Cardine,  Avalking  Avith 
Ockam  up  and  doAvn  the  green,  before  the  court  gate ;  Avhereat  he 
marvelled,  to  see  Ockam  Avith  him  so  early,  mistrusting  the  matter : 


ARUEST    OF    OCKAJr.  495 

wliereupon  lie  kept  himself  out  of  sight  till  they  had  broken  off  their   ijenry 
communication.  _ 

And  as  soon  as  he  saw  Master  Cardine  gone  (leaving  Ockam  A-f)- 
behind),  he  went  to  Ockam  and  asked  him  if  he  had  delivered  his  _i£l::ii_ 
master's  letter  to  the  bishop.  "  No,"  said  Ockam,  "  the  king 
removeth  this  day  to  Guildford,  and  I  must  go  thither,  and  will 
deliver  it  there."  "  "  Marry,"  quoth  he,  "  and  I  will  go  with  you,  to 
see  what  answer  you  shall  have,  and  to  carry  word  to  my  mistress ;" 
and  so  they  rode  to  Guildford  together ;  where  Bennet's  man  (being 
better  acquainted  in  the  town  than  Ockam  was)  got  a  lodging  for 
them  botli  in  a  kinsman's  house  of  his. 

That  done,  he  asked  Ockam,  if  he  would  go  and  deliver  his  mis-  Bennet's 
tress's  letter  to  the  bishop.     "  Nay,"  said  Ockam,  "  you  shall  go  eth'wfth 
and  deliver  it  yourself:"  and  took  him  the  letter.    And  as  they  were  \^^^f' 
going  in  the  street  together,  and  coming  by  the  earl  of  Bedford's  {^"1^^°^ 
lodging  (then  lord  privy  seal)  Ockam  was  pulled  in  by  the  sleeve,  of  win- 
and  no  more  seen  of  Bennet's  man,  till  he  saw  him  in  the  Marshal-  •'^^^'^^ 
sea.    Then  went  Bennet's  man  to  the  bishop's  lodging  and  delivered 
his  letter :  and  when  the  bishop  had  read  the  contents  thereof,  he 
called  for  the  man  that  brought  it.     "  Come,  sirrah!"  quoth  he, 
*'  you  can  tell  me  more  by  mouth  than  the  letter  specifieth  ;"  and 
had  him  into  a  little  garden.    "  Now,"  quoth  the  bishop,  "  what  say 
you  to  me  .?"     "  Forsooth,  my  lord,"  quoth  he,  "  I  have  nothing  to 
say  unto  your  lordship  ;  for  I  did  not  bring  the  letter  to  the  town." 
"  No  !"  quoth  the  bishop,  "  where  is  he  that  brought  it.?"     "  For- 
sooth my  lord,"    quoth    he,    "  I  left   him   busy  at   his   lodging.'" 
"  Then   he  will  come,"  quoth  the  bishop,  "  bid  him  be  with  me 
betimes  in  tlie  morning."     "  I  will,"  quoth  he,  "  do  your  lordship's 
commandment :"  and  so  he  departed  home  to  his  lodging.     And 
when  his  kinsfolks  saw  him  come  in,  "  Alas,  cousin,"  quoth  they, 
"  we  are  all  undone  !"    "  Why  so  ?"  quoth  he,  "  what  is  the  matter  ?" 
"  Oh  !"  said  they,  "here  hath  been,  since  you  went,  Master  Paget  Bennet's 
the  king's  secretary,  with  sir  Thomas  Cardine  of  the  privy  chamber,  ™'™d,ed 
and  searched  all  our  house  for  the  one  that  should  come  to  the  town  ^J.^^*^ 
with  Ockam  ;  therefore  make  shift  for  yourself  as  soon  as  you  can." 
"  Is  that  all  the  matter .?"  quoth  he,  "  then  content  yourselves,  for  I 
will  never  flee  one  foot,  hap  what  hap  will."     As  they  were  thus  rea- 
soning together,  in  came  the  aforesaid  searchers  again ;   and  when 
Master  Cardine  saw  Bennet's  man,  he  knew  him  very  well,  and  said, 
"  Was  it  thou  that  came  to  the  town  with  Ockam  ?"     "  Yea,  sir;" 
quoth  he.     "  Now  who  the  devil,"  quoth  Master  Cardine,  "  brought  Bennet 
thee  in  company  with  that  ftilse  knave  ?''''     Then  he  told  them  his  ed  out'ff 
business,  and  the  cause  of  his  coming ;   which  being  known,  they  ^'"od  n,'^[, 
were  satisfied,  and  so  departed.     The  next  day  had  Bennet's  man  a  of.ti"^ 
discharge  for  his  master  (procured  by  certain  of  the  privy  chamber),  chamber. 
and  so  went  home. 

Now  was  Ockam  all  this  while  at  my  Lord  Privy  Seal's,  where  he  Certain  of 
was  kept  secret,  till  certain  of  the  privy  council  had  perused  all  his  chambe/ 
writings  ;  among  which    they  found  certain  of  the  privy  chamber  fo^'^lhe^fi^ 
indicted,  with  other  the  king's  officers,  with  their  wives  ;  that  is  to  articles, 
say,  sir  Thomas  Cardine,  sir  Philip  Hobby,  with  both  their  ladies, 
Master  Edmund  Harman,  Master  Thomas  Weldon,  with  Snov.-ball 


496  THE    PERSECUTION    IN    WINDSOR. 

Henry    aiitl  his  wifc.     All  tlicse  they  had  indicted  by  the  force  of  the  six 
articles,   as  aiders,   helpers,   and  niaintainers    of  Anthony  Pecrson. 


A.D.    And  besides  them,  they  had  indicted  of  heresy  (some  for  one  thin<i:, 

^^'^'^-    and  some  for  another)  a  great  number  more  of  the  king's  true  and 

faithful  subjects :    whereof  the  king's    majesty  being  certified,    his 

grace,  of  his  special  goodness  (without  the  suit  of  any  man),  gave  to 

The  king  the  aforesaid  gentlemen  of  his  privy  chamber,  and  other  his  servants, 

paidoneth  ,yj|-]j  tlicir  wivcs,  his  gracious  pardon.     And  as  God  would  have  the 

Is  cer'ti-    matter  further  known  unto  his  majesty,  as  he  rode  one  day  a  hunting 

puif?ii    *  in  Guildford-park,  and  saw  the  sheriff  with  sir  Humfrey  Foster  sitting 

these  "^    ^"  their  horsebacks  together,  he  called  them  unto  him,  and  asked  of 

godly       them,  how  his  laws  Avere  executed  at    Windsor.     Then  they,  be- 

at^wfnd-  seeching  his  grace  of  pardon,  told  him  plainly,  that  in  all  their  lives 

'^°^'         they  never  sat  on  matter  under  his  grace's  authority,  that  went  so 

much  against  their  consciences  as  the  death  of  these  men  did ;  and 

The         up  and  told  his  grace  so  pitiful  a  tale  of  the  casting  away  of  these 

^mon ''^of  P°°^'  ^''^en,  that  the  king,  turning  his  horse's  head  to  depart  from 

them.       them,  said,  "  Alas,  poor  innocents  !" 

Thebi-  After  this  the  king  withdrew  his  favour  from  the  bishop  of  ^Vin- 
wnches-  clicstcr,  and  being  more  and  more  informed  of  the  conspiracy  of  Dr. 
thekh'i °^  London  and  Simons,  he  commanded  certain  of  his  council  to  search 
favour."  out  the  grouud  thereof.  Whereupon  Dr.  London  and  Simons  were 
d^Jii^sT  apprehended  and  brought  before  the  council,  and  examined  upon 
moiis.and  their  Oath   of  allesfiance :    and  for  denyins:  their  mischievous  and 

Oc'kani  .  .  .  *^ 

appre-  traitorous  purpose,  which  was  manifestly  proved  to  their  faces,  they 
and^'con-  ^^'crc  both  pcrjurcd,  and  in  fine  adjudged,  as  perjured  persons,  to 
demned  yyear  papers  in  Windsor ;  and  Ockam  to  stand  upon  the  pillory,  in 
jury.        the  town  of  Newbury  where  he  was  born. 

Their pu-       Tlic  judgment  of  all  these  three  was  to  ride  about   Windsor, 

nishment.  fjeadiug,  and  Newbury,  with  papers  on  their  heads,  and  their  fjices 

turned  to  the  horse-tails,  and  so  to  stand  upon  the  ])illory  in  every 

of  these  towns,  for  false  accusation  of  the  aforenamed  martyrs,  and 

for  perjury. 

And  thus  much  touching  the  persecution  of  these  good  saints  of 
W^indsor,  according  to  the  co])y  of  their  own  acts,  received  and  writ- 
ten by  John  Marbeck,  Avho  is  yet  alive  both  a  present  witness,  and 
also  was  then  a  party  of  the  said  doings,  and  can  testify  the  truth 
thereof. 


AN    ANSWER    TO    THE    CAVILLING    ADVERSARIES,    TOUCHING 
JOHN    MARBECK. 

Hark  you       Wherefore  against  these  crooked  cavillers,  which  make  so  much 
Kier",  and  ado  agaiust  my  former  boi)k,  because  in  a  certain  place  I  chanced  to 
say^  that  Bennet  and  Filmcr  had  their  pardon  (when   indeed  it  was 


be  satis- 
fied. 


Bcnnct  and  Marbeck),  be  it  therefore  known,  protested,  denounced, 
and  notified,  to  all  and  singular  such  carpers,  wranglers,  exclaimers, 
depravers,  with  the  whole  brood  of  all  such  whisperers,  railers,  quarrel- 
pickers,  corner-creepers,  fault-finders,  and  spider-catchers,  or  by 
Avhat  name  else  soever  they  are  to  be  tituled,  that  here  I  openly  say 

(1)  The  storv  doth  purge  itself,  if  it  had  pleased  these  men  to  take  one  place  with  another.   [See 
the  Edition  ofl  OUa,    Compare  page  62C,  line  iG,  with  page  174!!,  middle  column.— Ed.] 


THE    rERSEClJTIOX    IX    CALAIS.  497 

and  affirm,  profess,  hold,  maintain,  and  write  the  same  as  I  said  and    n^e,n,i 

wrote  before,  in  the  latter  castigations  of  my  book  :  that  is,  that  John _ 

Marbeck  was,  with  the  others,  condemned,  but  not  burned ;  cast  by  A.  D. 
the  law,  but  by  pardon  saved  ;  appointed  with  the  rest  to  die,  and 
yet  not  dead  ;  but  liveth,  God  be  praised,  and  yet  to  this  present 
day  singeth  merrily,  and  playeth  on  the  organs,  not  as  a  dead  man 
amongst  "  Foxe's  Maxtyrs"  (as  it  hath  pleased  some  in  the  court  to 
encounter  against  me),  but  as  one  witnessed  and  testified  truly  in  the 
book  of  Foxe''s  Martyrs  to  be  alive.  And,  therefore,  such  manner  of 
persons,  if  the  disposition  of  their  nature  be  such  that  they  must 
needs  find  faults,  then  let  them  find  them  where  they  are,  and  where 
those  faults,  by  their  finding,  may  be  corrected.  But  whereas  they  be 
corrected  already,  and  found  to  their  hands,  and  also  amended  before, 
let  then  these  legend-liars  look  on  their  own  legends,  and  there  cry 
out  of  lies,  where  they  may  find  enough ;  and  cease  their  biting 
there,  where  they  have  no  just  cause  to  bark. 

And  admit  that  I  had  not  foreseen  and  corrected  this  escape 
before,  touching  the  matter  of  John  Marbeck,  but  that  the  place 
still  had  remained  in  the  book  as  it  was  that  is  (that  the  said  John 
Marbeck,  who  is  yet  alive,  had  then  died  and  suffered  with  the 
other  three,  the  same  time  at  Windsor),*  yet,  what  gentle  or  courteous 
reader  could  have  therein  any  just  matter  to  triumph  and  insult 
against  me,  seeing  the  judicial  acts,  the  records  and  registers,  yea  and 
the  bishop''s  certificate,  and  also  the  writ  of  execution  remaining  yet 
on  record,  sent  to  the  king,  did  lead  me  so  to  say  and  think  ?  For 
what  man,  writing  histories,  who  cannot  be  in  all  places  to  see  all 
things,  but  following  his  records  and  registers,  wherein  he  seeth  the 
said  Marbeck  to  be  judged  and  condemned  with  the  rest,  would 
otherwise  write  or  think,  but  that  he  also  was  executed  and  burned  in 
the  same  company. 

But   now   I  correct  and  reform  the  same  again,  and  first  of  all  The  death 
others,  I  find  the  fault,  and  yet  I  am  found  fault  withal.     I  correct  beck  In 
myself,  and  yet  I  am  corrected  of  others.     I  warn  the  reader  of  the  n^e/boo^ 
truth,  and  yet  am  a  liar.  The  book  itself  showeth  the  escape,^  and  amended. 
biddeth  instead  of  four,  to  read  three  burned  ;  and  yet  is  the  book 
made  a  legend  of  lies  ! 

Briefly,  whereas  I  prevent  all  occasion  ot  cavilling  to  the  uttermost 
of  my  diligence,  yet  cannot  I  have  that  law,  which  all  other  books 
have,  that  is,  to  recognise  and  reform  mine  own  "  errata." 

Wherefore,  to  conclude :  these  men,  whosoever  they  are,  if  they 
will  be  satisfied,  I  have  said  enough  ;  if  they  will  not,  whatsoever  1 
can  say,  it  will  not  serve;  and  so  I  leave  them.  I  would  I  coidd 
better  satisfy  them.     God  hiaiself  amend  them  ! 

€[)e  ^cc^ccution  in  CalaiiS,  toitfj  tlje  JEartprDom  of  cBeorgc  SBucftcr, 
otl)cctoi.b'e  calleD  ?llDam  5Bamlip,  anD  otfjcc^. 

At  what  time  John  Marbeck  was  in  the  IVIarshalsea,  which  was 
about  the  year  of  our  Lord  1543,  there  was  in  the  said  prison  with 

(1)  In  the  First  Edition  of  the  Acts  and  Monuments,  page  626,  the  story  is  tlius  briefly  related: 
'  These  five  men  were  condemned  to  death  by  the  statute  of  the  Six  Articles  (whereof  is  spoken 
before),  and  adjudged  to  be  burned,  saving  that  Bennet  and  Finmore  escaped  by  the  king's  pardon  : 
the  other  three,  Peerson,  Testwood,  and  Marbeck,  constantly  and  stoutly  suffered  martyrdom  in 
the  fire,  the  28th  day  of  July,  1543.'  See  also  the  Latin  edition,  1559,  pp.  182,  183,  of  which  the 
above  is  a  repetition.     Read  more  upon  this  subject  in  the  following  note.— Ed. 

(2)  '  The  book  itself  showeth  the  e.scape :'  this  error  of  our  author  respecting  Marbeck's  death  is 

VOL.   V.  K    K 


498  THE    I'EnSECUTION    IN    CALAIS. 

TTenry    him  onc  Gcorgc  Bucker,    named   otherwise  Adam    Damlip,    wlio, 
having  continued  in  the  said  prison  three  or  fom-  years,  at  last,  by 


A.  D.    the  commandment  of  Winchester,  was  had  to  Calais  by  John  Massy, 
^^^^    the  keeper  of  the  Marshalsea,  and  there  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered 


to 
1544 


for  treason  pretensed,  which  was  a  little  before  the  condemnation  of 
the  Windsor  men  aforesaid,  as  is,  by  the  letters  of  the  said  John 
Marbeck,  to  me  signified. 

Touching  which  story  of  Adam  Damlip,  forasmuch  as  it  includeth 
matter  of  much  trouble  and  persecution  that  happened  in  Calais,  to 
digest,  therefore,  and  comprise  the  whole  nan-ation  thereof  in  order, 
first  I  will  enter  (the  Lord  willing)  the  story  of  Damlip,  and  so  pro- 
ceed in  order  to  such  as,  by  the  said  occasion,  were  afBicted  and 
persecuted  in  the  town  of  Calais. 

Persons  persecuted  in  the  Town  of  Calais  : — George 
Bucker,  or  else  called  Adam  Damlip,  a  poor  labouring  man  ;  W. 
Stevens ;  Thomas  Lancaster ;  John  Butler,  commissary ;  William 
Smith,  priest ;  Thomas  Brook  ;  Ralph  Hare ;  Jacob,  a  surgeon ; 
a  Fleming  ;  Clement  Philpot,  servant ;  JefFery  Loveday  ;  Dodde  ; 
sir  Edmund,  priest ;  William  Touched,  postmaster ;  Peter  Becket ; 
Anthony  Pickering,  gentleman  ;  Henry  Tourney,  gentleman  ;  George 
Darby,  priest ;  John  Shepard ;  William  Pellam  ;  William  Kever- 
dal ;  John  Whitwood  ;  John  Boote  ;  Ro.  Cloddet ;  Coppen  de  Hane, 
alias  James  Cocke  ;  Matthew  Hound ;  William  Button,  crossbow- 
maker. 

Persecutors  : — John  Dove,  prior  of  the  Grey  Friars  in  Calais ; 
sir  Gregory  Buttoll,  priest ;  Stephen  Gardiner,  bishop  of  Winches- 
ter ;  Dr.  Sampson,  bishop  of  Chichester;  Dr.  Gierke,  bishop  of  Bath ; 
Dr.  Repse,  bishop  of  Norwich ;  Harvey,  commissary  in  Calais ; 
lady  Honor,  wife  to  lord  Lisle,  deputy  of  Calais ;  sir  Thomas 
Palmer,  knight ;  John  Rookwood,  esquire  ;  Richard  Long,  soldier 
of  Calais ;  Francis  Hastings,  a  soldier ;  Edmund  Payton,  Robert 
Poole,  and  Thomas  Boyse  ;  Hugh  Counsel,  a  servant ;  sir  Ralph 
EUerker,  knight ;  sir  John  Gage. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord  L539,  the  lord  Cromwell  being  yet  alive, 
there  came  to  Calais  one  George  Bucker,  alias  Adam  Damlip,  who 
had  been,  in  time  past,  a  great  papist  and  chaplain  to  Fisher  bishop 
of  Rochester ;  and,  after  the  death  of  the  bishop  his  master,  had 
travelled  through  France,  Dutchland,  and  Italy ;  and,  as  he  went, 
conferred  with  learned  men  concerning  matters  of  controversy  in 
religion,  and  so  proceeding  in  his  journey  to  Rome,  where  he  thought 
to  have  found  all  godliness  and  sincere  religion,  in  the  end  he  found 
there  (as  he  confessed)  such  blasphemy  of  God,  contempt  of  Christ's 
true  religion,  looseness  of  life,  and  abundance  of  all  abominations 
and  filthiness,  that  it  abhorred  his  heart  and  conscience  any  longer 

a  favourite  subject  of  his  '  cavilling  adversaries,'  the  papists.  It  is  true  that  the  extract  Riven  on  the 
last  page,  contains  the  words  upon  which  tlieir  accusations  are  founded ;  with  what  fairness,  how- 
ever, the  reader  may  best  judge,  when  he  reads  the  following  words  from  page  1742  of  the  First 
Edition  of  the  Acts  and  Monuments.  '  Faultes  and  oversightes  escaped,  and  to  be  restored  in  the 
reading  of  this  history,'  &c.  '  Page  626,  lin.  46.  a.  Finmore,  rede  Marbeck  ;  lin.  48.  Marliecke  rede 
Finniore  ;  lin.  43,  these  five,  rede  four  men  ;  lin.  46.  saving  that  Uenet,  rede,  for  Benet  was  not 
condemned.' — So  that,  in  fact,  the  passage  really  reads  thus  :  '  Upon  these  articles  these  four  men 
were  condemned  to  death  by  the  statute  of  the  six  articles  (whereof  is  spoken  before),  and  adjudged 
to  be  bi'.rned  ;  for  Bennet  was  not  condemned,  and  Marbecke  escaped  by  the  king's  pardon :  the 
other  three.  Peerson.  Testwood,  and  Finmore,  constantly  and  stoutly  sutfercd  martyrdom  in  the 
fire,'  &c.  The  politic  oversight  of  the  papists  is  here  remarkable,  who  could  so  acutely  observe  the 
error  on  page  626,  but  allow  the  contents  of  page  1742,  entirely  to  escape  their  notice. — Ed. 


ADAM    DAMLIP,    AND    OTHERS.  490 

there  to  remain ;  althongli  lie  "vvas  greatly  requested  by  cardinal  Pole,    jrenry 

there   to  continue,  and  to  read  three  lectures  in  the  week  in  his 

house,  for  which  he  offered  him  great  entertainment,  which  he  re-  A.  D. 
fused ;  and  so,  returning  homeward,  having  a  piece  of  money  given  ^^"-'^ 
him  of  the  cardinal  at  his  departure,  to  the  value  of  a  French  crown,    j ^^ , 

towards  his  charges,  he  came  to  Calais,  as  is  aforesaid.'     Who,  as  he -r- 

was  there  waiting,  without  the  gate,  for  passage  into  England,  and  requested 
being  there  perceived  by  certain  Calais  men,  namely  William  Stevens  n^i'^Po^e 
and  Thomas  Lancaster,  through  conference  of  talk,  to  be  a  learned  to  tarry 
man,  and  also  well  affected;  and  moreover  how  that  he,  being  of  late 
a  zealous  papist,  was  now  returned  to  a  more  perfect  knowledge  of 
true  religion,  was  by  them  heartily  entreated  to  stay  at  Calais  a  certain 
space,  and  to  read  and  preach  there  a  day  or  two,  *therewith^  to  do  the 
people  to  understand  what  he  had  found  by  his  painful  travelling  to 
Rome  ;  whereby  they,  who,  through  gross  ignorance  and  vain  super- 
stition, had  not  altogether  put  out  of  their  hearts  that  Antichrist  of 
Rome,  that  ancient  enemy  of  God  and  all  godly  religion,  the  pope, 
might  the  rather  detest  and  abhor  his  filthy  false  doctrine,  whereof 
this  godly  and  learned  man  was  a  seeing  witness.*     To  this  request 
Adam  gladly  consented,  so  as  he  might  be  licensed  by  such  as  were 
in  authority  so  to  do. 

Whereupon  the  said  Stevens,  at  the  opening  of  the  gates,  brought  '^^™y 
him  unto  the  lord  Lisle,  the  king's  deputy  of  the  town  and  marches  to  thS 
of  Calais,  unto  whom  he  declared  thoroughly  what  conference  and  talk  p°jfy^,f 
had  been  between  Adam  Damlip  and  him.     Which  known,  the  said  *^*'»'^- 
lord  deputy  instantly  desired  the  said  Damlip  to  stay  there,  and  to 
preach  three  or  four  days  or  more  at  his  pleasure,  saying,  that  he 
should  have  both  his  license  and  the  commissary "'s  also,  who  then  was 
sir  John  Butler,  so  to  do.     Where,  after  he  had  preached  three  or  Weii 
four  times,  he  was  so  well  liked,  both  for  his  learning,  his  utterance,  tiie'^tie" 
and  the  truth  of  his  doctrine,  that  not  only  the  soldiers  and  com-  council' of 
moners,  but  also  the  lord  deputy,  and  a  great  part  of  the  council,  caiais. 
gave  him  marvellous  great  praise  and  thanks  for  it ;  and  the  said  lord 
deputy  offered  unto  him  a  chamber  in  his  own  house,  to  dine  and 
sup  every  meal  at  his  own  mess,  to  have  a  man  or  two  of  his  to 
wait  upon  him,  and  to  have  whatsoever  it  were  that  he  lacked,  if  it 
were  to  be  had  for  money,  yea,  and  what  he  Avould  in  his  purse  to  buy 
books  or  otherwise,   so  as  he  would  tarry  there  among  them,  and 
preach  only  so  long  as  it  should  seem  good  to  himself.  Who,  refusing 
his  lordship''s  great  offer,  most  heartily  thanked  him  for  the  same,  and 
besought  him  to  be  only  so  good  unto  him  as  to  appoint  him  some  quiet 
and  honest  place  in  the  town,  where  he  might  not  be  disturbed  or 
molested,  but  have  opportunity  to  give  himself  to  his  book,  and  he 
would  daily,  once  in  the  forenoon,  and  again  by  one  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  by  the  grace  of  God,  preach  among  them,  according  unto 
the  talent  that  God  had  lent  him.     At  which  answer  the  lord  deputy  Damiip  • 
greatly  rejoiced,  and  thereupon  sent  for  the  aforesaid  William  Stevens,  ofsteVens 
whom  he  earnestly  required  to  receive  and  lodge  the  said  Damlip  in  \l^^^^l^_ 
his  house,  promising,  whatsoever  he  should  demand,  to  see  it  paid  P"ty's  re- 
with  the  most :  and,  moreover,  would  send  every  meal,  from  his  own 

(1)  This  French  crown  was  dearly  bought,  for  by  the  sair.e  he  was  impeached  of  treason. 

(2)  See  Edition  156.i,  page  656.— Ed. 

IC    IC    2 


500  THE    PEKSEriTTIOX    IX    CALAIS. 

ij,'nry  mess,  a  dish  of  the  best  unto  them  ;  and  indeed  so  did,  albeit  the  said 
Danilip  refused  that  oiFcr,  showing  his  lordship  that  thin  diet  was 


°  This  godly  man,  by  the  space  of  twenty  days  or  more,  once  every 


A.  D.    most  convenient  for  students.     Yet  could  not  that  restrain  him,  but 
15;59    i^^i^  every  meal  he  sent  it. 

to  ^  -  -       - 

1544 
• -r—  day,    at  seven  of  the   clock,  preached  very  godly,  learnedly,   and 

prtrcheth  plainly,  the  truth  of  the  blessed  sacrament  of  Christ's  body  and  blood, 
tmnsub-  i^^iglitily  iuvcighing  against  all  papistry,  and  confuting  the  same  ; 
stantia-    but  especially  those  two  most  pernicious  errors  or  heresies,  touching 
the         transubstantiation,    and   the   pestilent    propitiatory  sacrifice  of  the 
church!"    Romish  mass,  by  true  conference  of  the  Scriptures,  and  applying  of 
the  ancient  doctors  ;    earnestly  therewith  oftentimes   exhorting  the 
people  to  return  from  their  popery ;  declaring  how  popish  he  himself 
had  been,  and  how^,  by  the  detestable  wickedness  that  he  did  see 
universally  in  Rome,  he  Avas  returned  so  far  homeward,  and  now 
became  an  enemy,  through  God's  gi'ace,   to  all  papistry  :  showing 
therewith,  that  if

Cut continues beyond the first 4,000 words shown here — about 6,994 more in the scan at the link above.

~3,490 words

fire ;  and  so  was  dissolved.^ 

In  the  beginning  of  this  story  of  Kerby  and  Roger,  mention  was 
made  of  a  certain  bill  put  upon  the  Town-house  door,  and  brought 
the  next  day  to  the  lord  Wentworth,  the  words  of  which  bill  were 
these. 

The  Bill  set  upon  the  Town-house  Door  in  Ipswich,  the  Night  before 
Kerby  and  Roger  were  condemned. 

'  Justfe  judicata  filii  hominum :'  yet,  when  ye  shall  judge,  minister  your  jus- 
tice with  mercy. 

'  A  fearful  thing  it  is,  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God  :'  be  ye 
learned,  therefore,  in  true  knowledge,  ye  that  judge  the  earth ;  lest  the  Lord 
be  angry  with  you. 

'The  blood  of  the  righteous  shall  be  required  at  your  hands.'  What  though 
the  veil  hanged  before  Moses'  face ;  yet  at  Christ's  death  it  fell  down. 

'The  stones  will  speak,  if  these  should  hold  their  peace:'  therefore  harden  not 
your  hearts  against  the  verity. 

For  fearfully  shall  the  Lord  appear  in  the  day  of  vengeance  to  the  troubled 
in  conscience.  No  excuse  shall  there  be  of  ignorance,  but  every  vat  shall 
stand  on  his  own  bottom.  Therefore  have  remorse  in  your  conscience ;  fear 
him  that  may  kill  both  body  and  soul. 

Beware  of  innocent  blood-shedding ;  take  heed  of  justice  ignorantly  ministered; 
work  discreetly  as  the  Scripture  doth  command:  look  to  it,  that  ye  make  not 
the  truth  to  be  forsaken. 

We  beseech  God  to  save  our  king,  king  Henry  the  Eighth,  that  he  be  not 
led  into  temptation.     So  be  it. 

This  year  also  it  was  ordained  and  decreed,  and  solemnly  given 
out  in  proclamation,  by  the  king*'s  name  and  authority,  and  his  coun- 
cil, that  the  English  procession  should  be  used  throughout  all 
England,  according  as  it  was  set  forth  by  his  said  council,  and  none 
other  to  be  used  throughout  the  whole  realm. 

About  the  latter  end  of  this  year,  1545,  in  the  month  of  No-  The  Scots 
vember,  when  the  king  had  subdued  the  Scots,  and  afterwards,  joining 
together  with  the  emperor,  had  invaded  France,  and  had  got  from  Boulogne 
them  the  town  of  Boulogne,  he  summoned  his  high  court  of  par-  ^°"j^j.jjj, 
liament.      In  that  was  granted  unto  him,  besides  other  subsidies  of  mem. 
money,   all  colleges,    chantries,   free  chapels,  hospitals,  fraternities,  ™J^.fj^^^ 
brotherhoods,  guilds,  and  perpetuities  of  stipendiary  priests,  to  be  tries 
disposed  of  at  his  will  and  pleasure."'     Whereupon,  in  the  month  of  fh^king. 
December  following,  the  king  after  the  wonted  custom,  came  into 
the  parliament-house  to  give  his  royal  assent  to  such  acts  as  were 
there  passed ;  where,  after  an  eloquent  oration  made  to  him  by  the 

(1)  John  i. 

(2)  '  And  so  was  dissolved.'  '  Where  he  lived  long  in  great  and  ci-uel  torments  most  woeful  to 
behold,  and  so  ended  his  life.'     See  Edition  1563,  p.  (i55. —  En, 

(3)  Stat,  anno  37,  reg.  Hen.  VIIL  [cap.  iv.,— Ed  ] 


534  THE   king's   oratiox   in  the   PAKLIAMEXT-HOUSE. 

Henry  speaker,  he,  answering  again  nnto  the  same,  not  by  the  lord  chancellor 
—  (as  the  manner  was),  but  by  himself,  uttered  forth  this  oration,  word 

A.  D.    for  word,  as  it  is  reported  and  left  in  story. 

^^^^         In  the  contents  of  which  oration,  first,  eloquently  and  lovingly,  he 

IMG  tlcclarcd  his  grateful  heart  to  his  loving  subjects  for  their  grants  and 
— — ^  subventions,  offered  unto  him.  In  the  second  part,  Avith  no  less 
vehemency  he  exhorteth  them  to  concord,  peace  and  unity.  Where- 
nnto  if  he  had  also  joined  the  third  part,  that  is,  as  in  words  he 
exhorted  to  unity,  so  he  had  begun  indeed  first  himself  to  take  aAvay 
the  occasion  of  division,  disobedience,  and  disturbance  from  his  sub- 
jects ;  that  is,  had  removed  the  stumbling-block  of  the  Six  Articles 
out  of  the  people's  way,  which  set  brother  against  brother,  neighbour 
against  neighbour,  the  superior  against  the  subject,  and  the  wolves  to 
devour  the  poor  flock  of  Christ :  then,  had  he  not  only  spoken,  but 
also  done,  like  a  worthy  prince.  But  of  this,  more  shall  be  said  in 
the  sequel  hereof,  God  willing. 

The  King's  Oration  in  the  Parliament-House. 

Although  my  chancellor  for  the  time  being  hath,  before  this  time,  used  very 
eloquently  and  substantially  to  make  answer  to  such  orations  as  have  been  set 
forth  in  this  high  court  of  parliament,  yet  is  he  not  so  able  to  open  and  set  forth 
my  mind  and  meaning,  and  the  secrets  of  my  heart,  in  so  plain  and  ample  manner 
as  I  myself  am,  and  can  do.  Wherefore  I,  taking  upon  me  to  answer  your 
eloquent  oration.  Master  Speaker!  say,  that  whereas  you,  in  the  name  of  our 
well-beloved  Commons,  have  both  praised  and  extolled  me  for  the  notable 
qualities  that  you  have  conceived  to  be  in  me,  I  most  heartily  thank  you  all 
that  you  put  me  in  remembrance  of  my  duty,  which  is,  to  endeavour  myself  to 
obtain  and  get  such  excellent  qualities,  and  necessary  virtues,  as  a  prince  or 
governor  should  or  ought  to  have ;  of  which  gifts  1  recognise  myself  both  bare 
and  barren. 

But  for  such  small  qualities  as  God  hath  endued  me  withal,  I  render  to  his 

goodness  my  most  humble  thanks,  intending,  with  all  my  wit  and  diligence,  to 

get  and  acqiure  to  me  such  notable  virtues  and  pi'incely  qualities,  as  you  have 

alleged  to  be  incoi'porate  in  my  person. 

The  These  thanks  for  your  loving  admonition  and  good  counsel  fost  remembered, 

th"'^k        ^  eftsoons  thank  you  again,  because  that  you,  considering  our  great  charges 

his  com-    (not  for  our  pleasure,  but  for  your  defence ;  not  for  our  gain,  but  to  our  great 

nions.       cost),  which  we  have  lately  sustained,  as  well  in  defence  against  our  and  your 

enemies,  as  for  the  conquest  of  that  fortress,  which  was  to  this  realm   most 

displeasant  and  noisome,  and  shall  be,  by  God's  grace,  hereafter  to  our  nation 

most  profitable  and  pleasant,  have  freely,  of  your  own  mind,  granted  to  us  a 

certain  subsidy  here  in  an  act  specified ;  which,  verily,  we  take  in  good  part, 

regarding  more  your  kindness  than  the  profit  thereof,  as  he  that  setteth  more 

Promises  by  your  loving  hearts,  than  by  your  substance.     Besides  this  hearty  kindness, 

the  well     j[  cannot  a  little  rejoice,  when  I  consider  the  perfect  trust  and  sure  confidence 

in^'  of  '     which  you  have  put  in  me,  as  men  having  undoubted  hope,  and  unfeigned  behef, 

chantries  in  my  good  doings  and  just  proceedings ;  for  that  you,  without  my  desire  or 

l'"'es'^°'      request,  have  committed  to  mine  order  and  disposition  all  chantries,  colleges, 

hospitals,  and  other  places  specified  in  a  certain  act,  fimily  trusting  that  I  will 

order  them  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  profit  of  our  commonwealth.     Surely  if 

I,  contrary  to  your  expectation,  should  suffer  the  ministers  of  the  church  to 

decay;  or  learning,  which  is  so  great  a  jewel,  to  be  minished;  or  poor  and 

miserable  people  to  be  unrelieved ;    you  might  say  that  I,  being  put  in  so 

special  a  trust  as  I  am  in  this  case,  were  no  trusty  friend  to  you,  nor  charitable 

nian  to  mine  even  christened,  neither  a  lover  of  the  public  wealth,  nor  yet  one 

that  feared  God,  to  whom  account  nuist  be  rendered  of  all  our  doings.     Doubt 

not,  I  pray  you,  but  your  expectation  shall  be  served  more  godly  and  goodly 

than  you  will  wish  or  desire,  as  hereafter  you  shall  plainly  perceive. 


1 


THE    king's    OllATIOX   -IK    THl-:    rARLlAMKNT-HOUSK.  535 

Now,  since  I  find  such  kindness  on  your  part  towards  me,  I  cannot  choose    Henry 
but  love  and  favour  you,  affirming  that  no  prince  in  the  world  more  favoureth    ^  m- 
his  subjects  than  I  do  you,  nor  any  subjects  or  commons  more  love  and  obey    A.U^" 
their  sovereign  lord,  than  I  perceive  you  do  me,  for  whose  defence  my  treasure     1545 
shall  not  be  hidden,  nor,  if  necessity  require,  shall  my  person  be  unadventured.        to 
Yet,  although  I  with  you,  and  you  with  me,  be  in  this  perfect  love  and  concord,     1546. 

this  friendly  amity  cannot  continue,  except  you,  my  lords  temporal,  and  you,  my 

lords  spiritual,  and  you,  my  loving  subjects,  study  and  take  pains  to  amend  one 
thing,  which  is  surely  amiss  and  far  out  of  order,  to  the  which  I  most  heartily 
require  you  ;  which  is,  that  charity  and  concord  is  not  among  you,  but  discord 
and  dissension  beareth  rule  in  every  place.  St.  Paul  saith  to  the  Corinthians, 
in  the  thirteenth  chapter,  '  Charity  is  gentle,  charity  is  not  envious,  charity  is 
not  proud,'  and  so  forth,  in  the  said  chapter.  Behold  then  what  love  and 
chanty'  is  amongst  you,  when  the  one  calleth  the  other  heretic,  and  anabaptist ; 
and  he  calleth  him  again  papist,  hypocrite,  and  pharisee.  Be  these  tokens  of 
charity  amongst  you  ?  Are  these  the  signs  of  fraternal  love  between  you  ?  No,  no, 
I  assure  you  that  this  lack  of  charity  amongst  yourselves  will  be  the  hinderance 
and  assuaging  of  the  fervent  love  between  vis,  as  I  said  before,  except  this 
wound  be  salved  and  clearly  made  whole.  I  must  needs  judge  the  fault  and 
occasion  of  this  discord  to  be  partly  by  the  negligence  of  you,  the  fathers  and 
preachers  of  the  spiritualty.  For  if  I  know  a  man  which  liveth  in  adulteiy,  I 
must  judge  him  a  lecherous  and  carnal  person.  If  I  see  a  man  boast  and  bi-ag 
himself,  I  cannot  but  deem  him  a  proud  man.  I  see  and  hear  daily,  that  you  of 
the  clergy  preach  one  against  another,  teach  one  contrary  to  another,  inveigh 
one  against  another,  without  charity  or  discretion.  Some  be  too  stiff  in  their 
old  '  mumpsimus,'  others  be  too  busy  and  curious  in  their  new  '  sumpsimus.' 

Thus  all  men  almost  be  in  variety  and  discord,  and  few  or  none  do  preach 
ti-uly  and  sincerely  the  word  of  God,  according  as  they  ought  to  do.  Shall  I 
now  judge  you  charitable  persons  doing  this  ?  No,  no,  1  cannot  so  do.  Alas ! 
how  can  the  poor  souls  live  in  concord,  when  you  preachers  sow  amongst  them, 
in  your  sermons,  debate  and  discord?  Of  you  they  look  for  light,  and  you 
bring  them  to  darkness.  Amend  these  crimes,  I  exhort  you,  and  set  forth 
God's  word,^  both  by  true  preaching  and  good  example-giving;  or  else  I, 
whom  God  hath  appointed  his  vicar  and  high  minister  here,  will  see  these  divi- 
sions extinct,  and  these  enormities  corrected,  according  to  my  very  duty ;  or 
else  I  am  an  unprofitable  servant,  and  an  untrue  officer. 

Although  (as  I  say)  the  spiritual  men  be  in  some  fault,  that  charity  is  not 
kept  amongst  you,  yet  you  of  the  temporalty  be  not  clean  and  unspotted  of 
malice  and  envy;  for  you  rail  on  bishops,  speak  slanderously  of  priests,  and 
rebuke  and  taunt  preachers,  both,  contrary  to  good  order  and  christian  fratei*- 
nity.  If  you  know  surely  that  a  bishop  or  preacher  erreth,  or  teacheth  per- 
verse doctrine,  come  and  declare  it  to  some  of  our  council,  or  to  us,  to  whom  is 
committed  by  God,  the  authority  to  reform  and  order  such  causes  and  beha- 
viours; and  be  not  judges^  yourselves  of  your  own  fantastical  opinions  and 
vain  expositions,  for  in  such  high  causes  ye  may  lightly  err.  And  although  you 
be  permitted  to  read  holy  Scripture,*  and  to  have  the  Avord  of  God  in  your 
mother  tongue,  you  must  understand  that  it  is  licensed  you  so  to  do,  only  to 
inform  your  own  conscience,  and  to  instruct  your  children  and  family;  and  not 
to  dispute  and  make  Scripture  a  railing  and  a  taunting  stock  against  priests 
and  preachers,  as  many  light  persons  do.  I  am  very  sorry  to  know  and  hear 
how  imi-everently  that  most  precious  jewel,  the  word  of  God,  is  disputed, 
rhymed,  sung,*  and  jangled  in  every  alehouse  and  tavern,  contrary  to  the  true 
meaning  and  doctrine  of  the  same :  and  yet  I  am  even  as  much  sorry  that  the 
readers  of  the  same  follow  it,  in  doing,  so  faintly  and  coldly.     For  of  this  I  am 

(1)  Charity  and  concord,  in  commonwealths,  be  things  most  necessary  :  but,  in  matters  of  reli- 
gion, charity  and  concord  be  not  enough,  without  verity  and  true  worsliip  of  God.  If  true  religion 
had  been  maintained  and  error  reformed,  these  terms  of  variance  had  not  need  now  to  be 
reproved. 

(2)  And  wherein  else  consisteth  all  this  variance,  but  only  because  God's  word  hath  not  its  free 
course,  but  that  those  who  set  it  forth,  are  condemned  and  therefore  burned. 

(3)  This  can  touch  none  but  only  the  papists,  who  will  needs  be  both  accusers,  and  also  judges 
in  their  own  opinions  and  causes. 

(4)  How  are  they  permitted  to  hear  God's  word,  when  no  one  is  permitted  to  read  it  under  the 
degree  of  a  gentleman. 

(5  St.  Jerome  wishetli  the  Scriptures  not  only  to  be  read  of  all  men,  but  also  to  be  sung  cf 
woineii  at  their  rocks,  of  ploughmen  at  the  ploughs,  of  weavers  at  their  looms,  &'c. 


536  NOTES    UPON    THE    AFORESAID    EXHOKTATION. 

Iienrij  sure,  that  charity  was  never  so  fahit  amongst  you,  and  virtuous  and  godly  living' 
f'm-  was  never  less  used,  nor  was  God  himself  amongst  Christians  ever  less  reve- 
A.  D.  renced,  honoured,  or  served.  Therefore  (as  I  said  before)  he  in  charity  one 
1545  '^^ith  another  like  brother  and  brother  :  love,  dread,  and  fear  God  (to  the  which 
to  I,  as  your  supreme  head  and  sovereign  lord,  exhort  and  require  you)  :  and 
1546.     then,  I  doubt  not  but  that  that  love  and  league  which  I  spake  of  in  the  begin- 

ning,  shall  never  be  dissolved  or  broken  between  us.     And  as  touching  the 

laws  which  be  now  made  and  concluded,  I  exhort  you,  the  makers,  to  be  as 
diligent  in  putting  them  in  execution,  as  you  were  in  making  and  furthering 
the  same ;  or  else  your  labour  shall  be  in  vain,  and  your  commonwealth 
nothing  relieved. 

NOTES    UPON    THE    AFORESAID    EXHORTATION    OF    KING    HENRY. 

The  ora-       Princcs  wlio  cxliort  to  concord  and  charity  do  well :  but  princes 

tion  GX-  ■  •/  '  1 

pended  who  Seek  out  the  causes  of  discord,  and  reform  the  same,  do  much 
notes  better.  The  papist  and  protestant,  heretic  and  pharisee,  the  old 
upon  the  "  mumpsimus "  and  the  new  ''  sumpsimus,"  be  terms  of  variance 
and  dissension,  and  be,  I  grant,  "  symptomata ''''  of  a  sore  wound  in 
the  commonwealth.  But  he  that  will  amend  this  wound  must  first 
begin  to  search  out  the  causes,  and  to  purge  the  occasion  thereof: 
otherwise,  to  cure  the  sore  outwardly,  which  inwardly  doth  fester  and 
rankle  still,  it  is  but  vain. 

The  root  and  ground  of  all  this  grievance  riseth  hence  :  from  the  pre- 
lates and  clergy  of  Rome,  seeking,  as  it  seemeth,  altogether  after  riches, 
pomp,  and  honour  of  this  world ;  who,  to  maintain  the  same  under 
pretence  of  religion,  do  in  very  deed  subvert  religion.  Under  that 
title  of  the  church,  they  bring  into  the  church  manifest  errors  and 
absurdities  intolerable,  who,  pretending  to  be  fathers  of  the  church,  if 
they  transgressed  but  in  manners  and  lightness  of  life,  or  negligence 
of  government,  they  might  be  borne  withal,  for  peace  and  concord''s 
sake ;  and  here  modesty,  civility,  quietness,  unity,  and  charity, 
might  have  place  amongst  modest  natures.  But  now,  they  obscure  the 
glory  of  the  Son  of  God,  which  in  no  case  ought  to  be  suffered  ;  they 
extinguish  the  light  and  grace  of  the  gospel ;  they  clog  men's  con- 
sciences ;  they  set  up  idolatry,  and  maintain  idols ;  they  bring  in 
false  invocation,  and  restrain  lawful  matrimony,  whereby  groweth 
filthy  pollution,  adultery,  and  whoredom  in  the  church  unspeakable ; 
they  corrupt  the  sacraments;  they  Avrest  the  Scripture  to  worldly 
purposes  ;  they  kill  and  persecute  God"'s  people :  briefly  their  doc- 
trine is  damnable,  their  laws  be  impious,  their  doings  are  detestable. 
And  yet,  after  all  this,  they  creep  craftily  into  the  hearts  of  princes, 
under  the  title  of  the  church,  and  colour  of  concord  ;  making  kings 
and  princes  believe  that  all  be  heretics  and  schismatics,  who  will  not 
be  subject  to  their  ordinary  power.  Now  Almighty  God,  who  is  a 
jealous  God,  and  not  suffering  the  glory  of  his  Son  to  be  defaced,  nor 
his  truth  to  be  trodden  imdcr  foot,  stirreth  up  again  the  hearts  of  his 
people  to  understand  his  truth,  and  to  defend  his  cause.  Where- 
upon, of  these  two  parts,  as  two  mighty  flints  thus  smiting  together, 
cometh  out  the  sparkle  of  this  division,  which  can  in  no  wise  be 
quenched,  but  that  one  part  must  needs  yield  and  give  over.  There  is 
no  neutrality,  nor  mediation  of  peace,  nor  exhortation  to  agreement, 

(1)  Godlj'  living,  IhouBh  it  increase  not  with  the  gospel  so  much  as  we  wish,  yet  the  defect 
thereof  is  not  to  be  imputed  to  the  pospel :  and  if  we  well  compare  time  with  time,  we  shall  find, 
by  viewing  the  books  of  the  old  wardmote  quests  of  whoies  and  bawds,  and  wicked  livers,  ten  pre- 
sented to  one  now,  besides  priests  and  the  common  stews. 


d 


THE    TROUBLE    AND    PEUSECUTIOX    OF    ANNE    ASKEW.  537 

that  will  serve  between  these  two  contrary  doctrines,  but  either  the    irenry 


VIII. 


pope's  errors  must  give  place  to  God's  word,  or  else  the  verity  of. 
God  must  give  place  unto  them.  A.  D. 

Wherefore,  as  the  good  intent,  and  plausible  oration  of  the  king,     ^^^5 
in  this  behalf,  was  not  to  be  discommended,  in  exhorting  his  subjects    ,  ,?„ 

to  charity,  so  had  he  much  more  deserved  commendation,  if  he  had '- 

sought  the  right  way  to  work  charity,  and  to  help  innocency  amongst 
his  subjects,  by  taking  away  the  impious  law  of  the  Six  Articles,  the 
mother  of  all  division  and  manslaughter.  For  what  is  this  to  the 
purpose,  to  exhort  in  words  ever  so  much  to  charity,  and  indeed  to 
give  a  knife  to  the  murderer's  hand,  to  run  upon  his  naked  brother, 
who  never  in  conscience  can  leave  his  cause,  nor  yet  hath  power  to 
defend  himself?  as  by  experience  here  followeth  to  be  seen,  what 
charity  ensued  after  this  exhortation  of  the  king  to  charity,  by  the 
racking  and  burning  of  good  Anne  Askew,  with  three  other  poor 
subjects  of  the  king,  within  half  a  year  after ;  whereof  shortly  you 
shall  hear  more  declared. 

When  these  chantries  and  colleges  thus,  by  act  of  parliament,  were 
given  into  the  king's  hands  as  is  above  remembered  (which  was  about 
the  month  of  December,  a.d.  1545),  the  next  Lent  following.  Dr. 
Crome,  preaching  in  the  Mercer's  chapel,  among  other  reasons  and 
persuasions  to  rouse  the  people  from  the  vain  opinion  of  purgatory, 
inferred  this  (grounding  upon  the  said  act  of  parliament)  :  that  if 
trentals  and  chantry  masses  could  avail  the  souls  in  purgatory,  then 
did  the  parliament  not  well  in  giving  away  monasteries,  colleges,  and 
chantries,  which  served  principally  to  that  purpose.      But,  if  the 
parliament  did  well  (as  no  man  could  deny)  in  dissolving  them,  and 
bestowing  the  same  upon  the  king,  then  is  it  a  plain  case,  that  such 
chantries  and  private  masses  do  nothing  to  confer  and  relieve  them 
in  purgatory.  This  dilemma  of  Dr.  Crome,  no  doubt,  was  insoluble,  crome's 
But,  notwithstanding,  the  charitable  prelates,  for  all  the  king's  late  f^ai^™^ 
exhortation  unto  charity,  were  so  charitable  unto  him,  that  on  Easter  p"vate 
next  they  brought  him  "  coram  nobis,"  Avhere  they  so  handled  him,  driven  to 
that  they  made  him  to  recant.     And  if  he  had  not,  they  would  have  recant. 
dissolved  him  and  his  argument  in  burning  fire,  so  burning  hot  was  o/'t"e^ 
their  charity,  according  as  they  burned  Anne  Askew  and  her  fellows  bishops. 
in  the  month  of  July  the  year  following:'  whose  tragical  story  and 
cruel  handling  now,  consequently,  the  Lord  willing,  you  shall  hear. 

S'fje  €:iDO  ^raminationjS  of  t^e  toortljp  ^trbant  of  ^oD,  Mi^i'cti^ 

%mz  3I^feeto,  <B>au0l)t£r  of  ^ir  l©illiam  5Ii5fieiD,  fenia^t,  of 

HincolniSljice. 

MARTYRED    IN    SJIITHFIELD  FOR  THE    CONSTANT  AND  FAITHFUL 
TESTIMONY    OF    THE    TRUTH. 

*Here^  next  follow  the  true  examinations  of  Anne  Askew,  which 
here  thou  shalt  have,  gentle  reader,  according  as  she  wrote  them  with 
her  own  hand,  at  the  instant  desire  of  certain  faithful  men  and 
women  :  by  which,  if  thou  mark  diligently  the  communications,  both 
of  her,  and  of  her  examiners,  thou  mayest  easily  perceive  the  tree 
by  the  fruit,  and  the  man  by  his  work.* 

(11  Not  'the  year  following,'  but  the  same  year  to  which  Foxe  had  just  referred,  viz.  1546 
—Ed. 

(2)  See  Edition  15G3,  p.  669.— Ed. 


538 


THE    TllOUBLK    AND    I'KKSECUTION    OF    ANXE    ASKEW. 


Henry 

nil. 

A.D. 
1545 

to 
1546. 

Chris- 
topher 
Dare,  in- 
quisitor. 


Ill  condi- 
tions of 
the  mini- 
sters 
hurt  not 
the  faith 
of  the 
receivers, 


A  priest 
bronf.'ht 
to  exa- 
mine 
Anne 
Askew. 

Private 
masses 
idolatry. 


Anne 

Askew 

brought 

to  the 

lord 

mayor. 


Women 
forbidden 
to  speak 
in  the 
congrega- 
tion, and 
how. 


Anne 
Askew 
com- 
manded 
to  tlie 
compter. 


The  First  Examination  before  the  Inquisitors,  a.d.  1545. 

To  satisfy  your  expectation,  good  people  (said  site),  this  was  my  first  exami- 
nation, in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1545,  and  in  the  month  of  Marcli. 

First  Christopher  Dare  examined  me  at  Sadler's  Hall,  being  one  of  the 
quest,  and  asked,  if  I  did  not  believe  that  the  sacrament  hanging  over  the  altar 
was  the  very  body  of  Christ  really.  Then  I  demanded  this  question  of  him, 
Wherefore  was  St.  Stephen  stoned  to  death?  and

~335 words

London,  I  have  said.'     Then   Dr.  Standish  desired  my  lord  to  Dr.  Stan- 
bid  me  say  my  mind  concerning   the  same  text   of  St.  Paul's  [I   answered,  disli's  de- 
that  it  was  against  St.  Paul's] i  learning,  that  I,  being  a  woman,  should  interpret  ™*"  ' 
the  Scriptures  ;  especially  where  so  many  wise  learned  men  were. 

Then  my  lord  of  London  said,  he  was  informed  that  one  should  ask  of  me, 
if  I  would  receive  the  sacrament  at  Easter,  and  I  made  a  mock  of  it. 

Then  I  desired  that  mine  accuser  might  come  forth;  which  my  lord  would  AnneAs- 
not.     But  he  said  again  unto  me,  '  I  sent  one  to  give  you  good  counsel,  and  at  kew 
the  first  word  you  called  him  papist.'     That  I  denied  not,  for  I  perceived  he  ^^"^  ,j"°' 
was  no  less,  yet  made  I  him  none  answer  unto  it.  accuser. 

Then  he  rebuked  me,  and  said  that  I  should  report,  that  there  were  bent  The 
against  me  threescore  priests  at  Lincoln.     '  Indeed,'  quoth  I,  'I  said  so.     For  ^^^^f^°^ 
my  friends  told  me,  if  I  did  come  to  Lincoln,  the  priests  would  assault  me,  and  against 
put  me  to  great  trouble,  as  thereof  they  had  made  their  boast:  and  when  I  I'^^r- 
heard  it,  I  went  thither  indeed,  not  being  afraid,  because  I  knew  my  matter  to 
be  good.     Moreover  I  remained  there  nine  days,  to  see  what  would  be  said 
unto  me.     And  as  I  was  in  the  minster,  reading  upon  the  Bible,  they  resorted 
unto  me  by  two  and  two,  by  five  and  by  six,  minding  to  have  spoken  unto  me, 
yet  went  they  their  ways  again  without  words  speaking.' 

Then  my  lord  asked  if  there  were  not  one  that  did  speak  unto  me.     I  told 
him,  yes  ;  that  there  was  one  of  them  at  last,  who  did  speak  to  me  indeed.  And 
my  lord  then  asked  me  what  he  said?  And  I  told  him  his  words  were  of  small 
effect,  so  that  I  did  not  now  remember  them

~720 words

faith  of  the  catholic  church.' 

And  forasmuch  as  mention  here  is  made  of  the  writing  of  Bonner, 
"which  this  godly  Avoman  said  before  she  had  not  in  memory,  there- 
fore I  thought  in  this  place  to  infer  the  same,  both  with  the  whole 
circumstance  of  Bonner,  and  with  the  title  thereunto  prefixed  by  the 
registrar,  and  also  with  her  own  subscription  :  to  the  intent  the 
reader,  seeing  the  same  subscription  neither  to  agree  with  the  time  of 
the  title  above  prefixed,  nor  with  the  subscription  after  the  writing 
annexed,  might  the  better  understand  thereby  Avhat  credit  is  to  be 
given  hereafter  to  such  bishops,  and  to  such  registrars.  The  tenor  of 
Bonner''s  writing  proceedeth  thus  : 

"  The  true  Copy  of  the  Confession  and  Belief  of  Anne  Askew,  other- 
wise called  Anne  Kyme,  made  before  the  Bishop  of  London,  the 
twentieth  day  of  March,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  God,  after  the 
computation  of  the  Church  of  England,  1545  ;  and  subscribed 
with  her  own  hand  in  the  presence  of  the  said  bishop  and  others 
whose  names  hereafter  are  recited,  set  forth,  and  published  at  this 
present :  to  the  intent  the  world  may  see  what  credence  is  now  to 
be  given  unto  the  same  woman,  Avho,  in  so  short  a  time,  hath  so 
damnably  altered  and  changed  her  opinion  and  belief ;  and  there- 
fore was  rightly,  in  open  court,  arraigned  and  condemned." ' 

Be  it  known  to  all  faithful  people,  that,  as  touching  the  blessed  sacrament  of 
the  altar,  I  do  firmly  and  undoubtedly  believe,  that  after  the  words  of  consecra- 
tion be  spoken  by  the  priest,  according  to  the  common  usage  of  this  church  of 
England,  there  is  present  really  the  body  and  blood  of  oiu"  Savioiu-  Jesus 
Christ,  whether  the  minister  which  doth  consecrate  be  a  good  man  or  a  bad 
man  ;  and  that  also,  whensoever  the  said  sacrament  is  received,  whether 
the  receiver  be  a  good  man  or  a  bad  man,  he  doth  receive  it  really  and  cor- 
porally. And  moreover,  I  do  believe  that,  whether  the  said  sacrament  be  then 
received  of  the  minister,  or  else  reserved  to  be  put  into  the  pix,  or  to  be  brought 
to  any  person  that  is  impotent  or  sick,  yet  there  is  the  very  body  and  blood 
of  our  said  Saviour  ;  so  that  whether  the  minister,  or  the  receiver,  be  good  or 
bad,  yea,  whether  the  sacrament  be  received  or  reserved,  always  there  is  the 
blessed  body  of  Christ  really. 

And  this  thing,  with  all  other  things  touching  the  sacrament  and  other  sacra- 
ments of  the  church,  and  all  things  else  touching  the  christian  belief,  which  are 
taught  and  declared  in  the  king's  majesty's  book,  lately  set  forth  for  the  erudi- 
tion of  the  christian  people,  I,  Anne  Askew,  otherwise  called  Anne  Kyme,  do 
truly  and  ^Jerfectly  believe ;  and  so  here  presently  confess  and  acknowledge. 
And  here  I  do  promise,  that  henceforth  I  shall  never  say  or  do  any  thing 
against  the  premises,  or  against  any  of  them.  In  witness  whereof,  I,  the  said 
Anne,  have  subscribed  my  name  unto  these  presents. 

Written  the  20th  day  of  March,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  God  154.5.2  ^ 

By  me,  Anne  Askew,  otherwise  called  Anne  Kyme. 


(1)  Ex  repist.  Lond. 


(2)  Ibid. 


THE    TROUBLE    AND    rEIlSFXUTIOX    OF    ANNE    ASKEW.  543 

Witnesses:  Edmund,  bishop  of  London  ;  John,  bishop  of  Bath  ;  Owen  Ogle-  Henry 
thorp,  doctor  of  divinity ;  Richard  Smith,  doctor  of  divinity ;  John  Rudde,  ^lli- 
bachelor  of  divinity  ;  William  Pie,  bachelor  of  divinity ;  John  Wimsley,  arch-  b^  ]j_ 
deacon   of  London;  John    Cook;    Robert  John;  Francis  Spilman  ;    Edward    i54g_ 

Hall ;    Alexander  I3ret ;  Edmund  Buts,  with  divers  others  more  being  then 

present. 

Here  mayest  thou  note,  gentle  reader,  in  this  confession,  both  in  Bonner 
the  bishop  and  his  register,  a  double  sleight  of  flilse  conveyance.  For  agister 
although  the  confession  purporteth  the  words  of  the  bishop's  writing,  [,!i^™a^'' 
whereunto  she  did  set  her  hand,  yet  by  the  title  prefixed  before,  i:ntrutii. 
mayest  thou  see  that  both  she  was  arraigned  and  condemned  before 
this  was  registered  ;  and  also,  that  she  is  filsely  reported  to  have  put 
to  her  hand,  which  indeed,  by  this  her  own  book,  appeareth  not  so  to 
be,  but  after  this  manner  and  condition  :   "  I,  Anne  Askew,  do  be- 
lieve all  manner  of  things  contained  in  the

~428 words

took  a  bond  of  them  of  ado. 
recognisance  for  my  forth-coming :  and  thus  I  was  at  the  last  delivered. 

Written  by  me,  Anne  Askew. 

The  latter  Apprehension  and  Examination  of  the  worthy  Martyr  of 
God,  Mistress  Anne  Askew,  a.d.  1546. 

I  do  perceive,  dear  friend  in  the  Lord,  that  thou  art  not  yet  persuaded 
thoroughly  in  the  truth  concerning  the  Lord's  supper,  because  Christ  said  unto 
his  apostles,  '  Take,  eat,  this  is  my  body  which  is  given  for  you.' 

In  giving  forth  the  bread  as  an  outward  sign  or  token  to  be  received  with  the  Adeclara- 
mouth,  he  minded  them  in  perfect  belief  to  receive  that  body  of  his  which  should  ''°"  °^ 
die  for  the  people,  and  to  think  the  death  thereof  to  be  the  only  health  and  Askew  of 
salvation  of  their  souls.    The  bread  and  the  wine  were  left  us  for  a  sacramental  these 
communion,  or  a  mutual  participation  of  the  inestimable  benefits  of  his  most  o\°f  gl 
precious  death  and  blood-shedding,  and  that  we  should,  in  the  end  thereof,  be  viour, 
thankful  together  for  that  most  necessary  grace  of  our  redemption.    For,  in  the  '  This  is 
closing  up  thereof  he  said  thus,  'This  do  ye  in  remembrance  of  me:  yea,  so  oft  "^  ""^' 
as  ye  shall  eat  it  or  drink  it.''     Else  should  we  have  been  forgetful  of  that  we 
ought  to  have  in  daily  remembrance,  and  also  have  been  altogether  unthankful 
for  it.   Therefore  it  is  meet  that  in  our  prayei-s  we  call  mito  God  to  graft  in  our 
(1)  Luke  ixii.  19.     ICor.  xi.  25. 


544 


THE    TROUBLE    AND    PERSECUTION    OF    ANXE    ASKEW. 


A.D 

1546 


Henrfi    foreheads  the  true  meaning  of  the  Holy  Ghost  concerning  this  communion. 

VIII.  For  St.  Paul  saith,  '  The  letter  slayeth ;  the  Spirit  is  it  only  that  giveth  life.'* 
Mark  well  the  sixth  chapter  of  John,  where  all  is  applied  unto  faith :  note  also 
the  fourth  chapter  of  St.  Paul's  second  Epistle  to  the  Corinthians,  and  in  tlie  end 
thereof  ye  shall  find,  that '  the  things  which  are  seen  are  temporal,  hut  they  that 
are  not  seen  are  everlasting.'  Yea,  look  in  Hebrews  iii.,  and  ye  shall  find 
that  Christ  as  a  son  (and  no  servant)  ruleth  over  his  house,  '  whose  house  are 
we,'  and  not  the  dead  temple,  '  if  we  hold  fast  the  confidence  and  rejoicing  of 
that  hope  to  the  end.'^  'Wherefore,'  as  said  tlie  Holy  Gliost,  'To-day  if  ye 
shall  hear  liis  voice,  harden  not  your  hearts,'^  &c. 


Parables 
best  for 
Winches- 
ter: he 
begin- 
neth  to 
scold. 


Anne 
Askew 
brought 
again  be- 
fore the 
council. 


Winches- 
ter an- 
swered 
home. 


The  lord 
chan- 
cellor 
mute. 


The  sum  of  my

~121 words

of  his  death,  or  a  saci-ament  of  thanksgiving  for  it,  temple  in 

whereby  we  are  knit  unto  him  by  a  communion  of  christian  love :    althousfh  ^}^^  ^cnp- 
11  1  •         1  •  1  c      <>        1  •!     1°      ture,  so 

there  be  many  that  cannot  perceive  the  true  meanmg  thereoi :  for  the  veil  that  is  the 

Moses  put  over  his  face  before  the  children  of  Israel,  that  they  should  not  see  ^'■''^<* 

the  clearness   thereof,*  I  perceive  the  same  veil  remaineth  to  this  day.     But  Christ's 

when  God  shall  take  it  away,  then  shall  these  blind  men  see.     For  it  is  plainly  body. 

expressed   in  the  history  of  Bel   in  the  Bible,  that,  God  dwelleth   in  nothing 

material.  '  O  king,'  saith  Daniel,  'be  not  deceived;*  for  God  will  be  in  nothing 

that  is  made  with  hands   of  men.     '  Oh !  what  stiff-necked  people  are  these, 

that  will  always  resist  the  Holy  Ghost.     But,  as  their  fathers  have  done,  so  do 

they,  because  they  have  stony  hearts

~465 words

that  is  bound  towards  heaven. 

'Truth  is  laid  in  prison. '?  '  The  law  is  turned  to  wormwood.'*  '  And  there 
can  no  right  judgment  go  forth. '^ 

'  Oh  !  forgive  us  all  our  sins,  and  receive  us  graciously.'  '  As  for  the  woi-ks 
of  our  hands,  we  will  no  more  call  upon  them  ;  for  it  is  thou,  Lord,  that  art  our 
God.     Thou  showest  ever  mercy  unto  the  fatherless.' 

'  Oh!  if  they  would  do  this,'  saith  the  Lord,  '  I  should  heal  their  sores,  yea 
with  all  my  heart  would  I  love  them.' 

'  O  Ephraim,  what  have  I  to  do  with  idols  any  more  ?'  '  Whoso  is  wise, 
shall  understand  this ;  and  he  that  is  rightly  instructed  will  regard  it,  for  the 
ways  of  the  Lord  are  righteous.  Such  as  are  godly,  will  walk  in  them ;  and  as 
for  the  wicked,  they  will  stumble  at  them.''" 

'  Solomon,'  saith  St.  Stephen,  '  builded  a  house  for  the  God  of  Jacob.  How- 
beit,  the  Highest  of  all  dwelleth  not  in  temples  made  with  hands,  as  saith  the 
prophet,  Heaven  is  my  seat,  and  earth  is  my  footstool.  What  house  will  ye 
build  for  me,  saith  the  Lord  ?  or  what  place  is  it  that  I  shall  rest  in  ?  Hath 
not  my  hand  made  all  things?'*' 

'  Woman,  believe  me,'  saith  Christ  to  the  Samaritan,  '  the  time  is  at  hand, 
that  ye  shall  neither  in  this  mountain,  nor  yet  at  Jerusalem,  worship  the  Father. 
Ye  worship  ye  wot  not  what ;  but  we  know  what  we  worship :  for  salvation 
Cometh  of  the  Jews.  But  the  hour  cometh,  and  is  now,  when  the  true  wor- 
shippers shall  worship  the  Father  in  spirit  and  verity.'*- 

(1)  Psalm  ii.  7, 

2)  The  following  passage  is  omitted  by  Foxe.butis  given  by  John  Bale:— "Then  came  Master 
Paget  to  me  with  many  glorious  words,  and  desired  me  to  speali  my  mind  unto  him:  I  might,  he 
said,  deny  it  again  if  need  were.  I  said  that  I  would  not  deny  the  truth.  He  asked  me,  how  I 
could  avoid  the  very  words  of  Christ,  '  Take,  eat,  this  is  my  body  which  shall  he  broken  for  you  ?'  I 
answered  that  Christ's  meaning  was  there  as  in  these  other  places  of  the  Scripture.  '  I  am  the  door ;' 
'  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God  ;'  '  The  rock-stone  was  Christ ;'  as  well  as  others.  Ye  may  not  here,  said 
I,  take  Christ  for  the  material  thing  that  he  is  signified  by;  for  these  ye  will  make  him  a  very 
door,  a  vine,  a  lamb,  a  stone ;  clean  contrary  to  the  Holy  Ghost's  meaning.  All  these  do  signify 
Christ,  like  as  the  bread  doth  signify  his  body  in  that  place.  And  though  he  did  say  there,  '  Take, 
eat  this  in  remembrance  of  me ;  j'et  did  he  not  bid  them  hang  up  that  bread  in  a  box  and  make  it 
a  god,  or  bow  to  it."  The  song  which  Anne  Askew  sang  at  her  death,  is  given  by  Bale,  and  will  be 
found  in  the  appendix. — Ed. 

(3)    John  ii.  21.  (4)    Exod.  xxxiv.  35  ;  2  Cor.  iii.  13.  (5)    Bel  and  the  Dragon,  7. 

(6)    Actsvii.  51.  (7)    Luke  xxi.  7.  (8)  Amos  v.  7.         (9)    Isa.  lix..  14. 

(10)  Hosea  xiv.O.  (11)  Isa.  Ixvi.  1 ;  Acts  vii.  48.  (12)  John  iv.  21. 

VOL,  V.  N  N 


546  THE    XnOUBLE    AND    PERSKCUTIOX    OF    ANNE     ASKEW. 

Henry  '  Labour  not,'  saith  Christ,  '  for  the  meat  that  perisheth,  but  for  that  thiit 
f'llj-  endureth  unto  life  everlasting,  which  the  Son  of  man  shall  give  you :  for  him 
.    Tj     hath  God  the  Father  sealed.'' 

1546 
'—  The  sum  of  tlic  Condemnation  of  me  Anne  Askew  at  the  Guildhall

~262 words

s  majesty  should  have  information  tliereof ; 
wherefore  they  would  no  man  to  noise  it.  Well !  their  cruelty  God  forgive  tliem. 
Your  heart  in  Christ  Jesu.     Farewell  and  pray. 

The  Purgation  or  Answer  of  Anne  Askew,  against  the  false  Surmises 
of  her  Recantation. 

Anne  I  have  read  the  process  which  is  reported  of  them  that  know  not  the  tnuh, 

ns'"i^^      to  be  my  recantation.     But,  as  the  Lord  liveth,  I  never  meant  a  thing  less  than 

suspected  to  recant.     Notwithstanding  this  I  confess,  that  in  my  first  troubles  I  was  ex- 

to  recant,  amined  of  the  bishop  of  London  about  tlie  sacrament.     Yet  had  they  no  grant 

of  my  mouth  but  this  :  that  I  believed  therein  as  the  word  of  God  did  bind  me 

to  believe.    More  had  they  never  of  me.    Then  he  made  a  copy,  which  is  now 

in  print,  and  required  me  to  set  thereunto  my  hand  ;  but  I  reftised  it.     Then  my 

two  sureties  did  will  me  in  no  wise  to  stick  thereat,  for  it  was  no  great  matter, 

thev  said. 

then  with  much  ado,  at  the  last  I  wrote  thus :  '  I,  Anne  Askew,  do  believe 
this,  if  God's  word  do  agree  to  the  same,  and  the  true  catholic  church.'     Then 


HER    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  549 

the  bishop,  being  in  great  displeasure  with  me  because  I  made  doubts  in  my  Hotirij 
writing,  commanded  me  to  prison,  where  I  was  awhile  ;  but  afterwards,  by  J'lli. 
means  of  friends,  I  came  out  again.  Here  is  tlie  trutli  of  that  matter.  And  as  .  ,. 
concerning  the  thing  that  ye  covet  most  to  know,  resort  to  John  vi.,  and  be  i  £4^' 
nded  always  thereby.     Thus  fare  ye  well  quoth  Anne  Askew.  1. 


The  Confession  of  the