Abridgment of the Book of Acts and Monuments by Timothy Bright, Volume 2 · Book 8

Abridgment of the Book of Acts and Monuments by Timothy Bright · Volume 2 · Book 8

The Abridgement of the ſecond volume of the Eccleſiaſticall hiſtorie of the Actes and monuments of Martyrs from the time of King Henrie the eight, to Queene Elizabeth, our gracious Ladie now reigning.

ANno 1519. Miſtreſſe Smith widowe, Robert Harchets ſhoomaker, Archer Shoomaker, Thomas Bond Shoomaker, Wrigſham a Glouer, Lanſedall a hoſier, were on Aſhwedneſday taken and put in priſon, and the weeke nexte before Eaſter were condemned for relapſe, (becauſe moſt of them had borne fagottes in the ſame Citie before) to bee burned at Couentrie:Burned at Couentrie. the principall cauſe of their apprehenſion was, that they taught their familie the Lordes praier, and tenne commaundements in Engliſh; Miſtreſſe Smith onelyonly was diſmiſſed for that preſent, and ſent away, but as Mourton the Somner was leading her home, (becauſe it was ſomewhat darke in the euening) by the arme, hearing the ratling of a ſcrol within her ſléeue, yea ſaid he, what hauehave you here? and finding that it was the Lordes praier, the beléefe, and the tenne commaundements in Engliſh, Ah ſyrah (ſaid he) as good nowe,Miſtreſſe Smith. as another time, come, and ſo he brought her backe againe to the Biſhop, where ſhe was immediatly condemned, and ſo burned with the ſixe before mentioned, the fourth day of Aprill in p. 2a place thereby called the little Parke.

Anno 1521. Robert Sylkes 1521 Robert Sylkes.who was one of the former companie, and by flight eſcaped, was brought to Couentrie two yeeres after, and burned the morrow after he came thither, which was about the 13. day of Ianuary Theſe Martyrs being thus diſpatched, the Shiriffes took their goods and cattle to their owne vſe, their wiues and children being left deſtitute.

Anno 1527. Patricke Hamleton 1527 Patricke Hamleton.a Scotchman borne of a noble houſe, the firſt day of March was condemned for the teſtimonie of the trueth, and burned at Saint Andrews in Scotland, he (at the Vniuerſitie of Marpurge in Germanie, by conference with Franciſcus Lambertus) did ſo grow in knowledge and zeale, that hée firſt there ſet vp concluſions to be diſputed of concerning faith and workes,Patrickes articles. The articles wherefore hee was condemned, were theſe: 1. Man hath no frée will. 2. Man is iuſtified by faith in Chriſt. 3. A man ſo long as hée liueth is not without ſinne. 4. He is vnwoorthie to bée called a Chriſtian which beléeueth not that hee is in grace. 5. Good woorkes doe not make a good man, though a good man doth good workes. 6. An euill man bringeth foorth euill workes, which being repented of, doe not make an euill man. 7. Faith, hope and charitie cannot bée ſeuered in one man in this life. For the condemnation and burning of this man, the diuines of Louane, by letters gaue thankes vntounto the Archbiſhoppe of Saint Andrewes, and the Diuines of Scotland,

This Patricke Hamleton cited the blacke Frier called Cambell who accuſed him, to appeare before God, to aunſwere the innocencie of his death, and named a certayne daie when, before which time the Frier died without remorſe of conſcience. Patricke Hamelton wrote a Treatiſe of diuinitie called Patrickes places:Patrickes places. and they were tranſlated out of Latine (wherein he wrote them) into Engliſhe by Iohn Frith.

p. 3A few yéeres after, the Archbiſhoppe of S. Andrewes burned Henrie Forreſt Henry Foreſt.(who had taken orders of Bennet and Collet) for ſaying, Maiſter Patricke was a martyr, and his opinion good. He was betraied by Walter Long a Fryer: to whom he confeſſed himſelfe. He ſuffered death at the North Church ſtile of S. Andrewes.

Within a yéere after the martyrdome of Henry Foreſt, or there about, Iames Hamleton, Iames Hamleton.the brother of Patrick Hamleton the martyr, was called in queſtion for mainteining the opinions of his brother: but the king, Iames the 5. gaue him counſell to depart, and not appeare: which if hee did, he could not helpe him; for the Biſhops had perſwaded him, that the cauſe of hereſie did not appertaine vntounto the king. So he fled and was condemned as an heretike, and all his goods confiſcate.

Catherine Hamleton his ſiſter, and Aunt to the king,Recant. recanted her opinion touching iuſtification without reſpect of woorkes, béeing thereto perſwaded by the king: and ſo eſcaped.

At the ſame time alſo an honeſt woman of Lieth, for crying in her trauell; Chriſt helpe me, when the mydwife bad her ſay, Our Lady helpe me, was cauſed to recant.Recant.

About the ſame time Maiſter Norman Gurley, Norman Gurley.becauſe he denied purgatorie, and ſaid the Pope was Antichriſt, and would not recant, was condemned by Iames Hay Biſhop of Roſe, & commiſſioner of Iames Beton Archbiſhop of S. Andrewes, and burned vponupon the gréenes ſide betwixt Lieth and Edenburgh. With him was burned Dauid Straton, Dauid Stratonfor ſaying there was no purgatory, but the paſſion of Chriſt, and tribulations of this world he was alſo falſly accuſed to hauehave ſaid, no tithes were to be paid, for that he caſting his fiſhes to the Vicar of Egliſgrige, ſome fell into the Sea.

Anno 1532. Thomas Harding, Harding.who with his wife, before had abiured, after lōg penance was burned (as a relapſe, being condemned by Iohn Longland Biſhoppe of Lincolne) p. 4at the North ende of the towne of Cheſham in the Dell going to Botley; when they had ſet fire on him, there was one that daſhed out his brayns with a billet. It was ſuppoſed of them, that they might hauehave fourtie dayes of pardon that ſhoulde carrie wood to his burning, on hope whereof manie people cauſed their children to beare billets and fagottes to the burning of Martyrs. He was burned on the euen of Corpus Chriſti day, béeing of the age of threeſcore yeeres and aboue.

About the ſame time, diuerſe others ſuffered trouble for the doctrine of the trueth, as vnderunder Doctour London, Maiſtreſſe Alice Dolie béeing accuſed of her mayde Elizabeth Wighthill, for holding againſt Purgatorie, agaynſt Images, for the articles of the Créede in Engliſh: this was about 1520.

Anno 1525. 1525Frier Hackman for holding frée ſaluation by grace.

Anno 1525 Alſo Robert Weſt prieſt of S. Andrewe vnderunder ſhaft, for commending Martin Luther &c. for which he was abiured, ibid.

Father, wife and ſiſters againſt the Chriſtians.Anno 1530. Iohn Ribourne was accuſed by both his ſiſters, his owne wife, and of his owne father; (who were compelled by Iohn Longland Biſhop of Lincolne, to depoſe againſt him concerning meates, Purgatorie, pilgrimage, prayer in the Engliſh tongue, &c.

Iohn Eaton and Cecill his wife of the pariſh of Spure were detected by Richarde Ryburne, for holding downe their heades at the ſacring time, and when the belles did ring at the feaſt of exaltation of the holie croſſe, betweene Mattines and Euenſong, for ſaying What a clampering of belles is here?

Tho. LoundeThomas Lounde prieſt who had beene with Luther two yeeres, béeing afterwarde caſt in the Fleete at London was a great inſtructer of Iohn Ribourne afore mentioned.

p. 5At the ſame time vnderunder Iohn Longland Biſhoppe of Lincolne, Iohn Simonds, was moleſted for denying Purgatorie, for denying ſinglenes of prieſtes, it was alſo teſtified againſt him, that he conuerted eight prieſts, & had holpen two or thrée friers out of their orders.

VnderUnder the ſame Biſhop about that time,Abiured. were theſe perſons following examined, excommunicated, and abiured, for being together in Iohn Taylors houſe of Hichenden, and there hearing Nicholas Fielde of London, to reade a parcell of Scripture in Engliſhe to them, and expounde to them many thinges againſt images offerings, prayer in the Latine tongue, againſt the Sacraments of the Altar, purgatorie, &c. Their names were theſe: William Wingraue, Thomas Haukes of Hichenden, Robert Hawes of Weſt Wickam, Iohn Taylor, Iohn Hawkes, Thomas Herne of Colſhill, Nicholas Fielde, Richard Deane, Thomas Clarke the yonger, William Hawkes of Cheſham.

VnderUnder Iohn Longland Biſhop of Lincolne, Simon Wiſdome of Burford was moleſted for the Goſpell, the Pſalter, the ſumme of holie Scripture in Engliſh, ſo Iames Alger, or Aliger, becauſe he ſayde euerie Chriſtian man liuing after the lawes of God is a Prieſt, hee woulde no dole for his ſoule, and denyed Purgatorie &c. He had not of long time beene confeſſed, and for denying the Prieſtes power of abſolution, with the other before was compelled, to ſeeke reconcilement in the Church and to abiure the trueth.

Anno 1526. 1526Pope Clement the ſeuenth abſolueth the othe made of the French king to the Emperour, and ioyneth together a confederacie of the Venetians and other Princes againſt the Emperour, whereof the Duke of Burbone and other of the Emperours Captaynes hauing intelligence, gathered their armies together, and after muche fighting and bloudſhed about Millan, Hawde and Cremona p. 6at length they approched, and bent their ſiege againſt Rome, and after thrée ſharpe aſſaults obtained the Cittie with the whole ſpoyle thereof.Rome ſpoiled and the Pope taken priſoner. Where he beſieged the foreſaied Pope with his Cardinals in the mount of Adrian, and tooke him priſoner.

Anno 1527. 1527In the Caſtell of ſaint Angell, at which tyme Rome ſuffered more ſpoyle then of the Goathes and Vandalles, the Souldiours that dayly laie at the ſiege of the Caſtell made ieſtes of the Pope:Rimes made of the Pope. ſometime they had one riding like the Pope with a whore behinde him, ſometimes hée bleſſed, and ſometime he curſed, and ſometime they would with one voice call him Antechriſt, &c.

When the Cardinall Wolſey here in England heard how his father of Rome was taken pryſoner, he laboured to the Kinge to fight againſt the Emperour for the deliuerie of the Pope, whiche the Kinge refuſed by his owne perſon or his people to doe: but yéelded to the Cardinall of his treaſure, to take what himſelfe thought conuenient: who therevpon made out of the Kinges treaſure, twelue ſcore thouſand pounds,220000. li. out of y^e kings treſure to fight againſt the Emperour. and caried it ouer the ſea with him: whiche when he came to the kinges court at Amiens, he conuerted to the hiring of Souldiours, and furniſhing out the French kinges armie, appointing alſo certaine Engliſhe Captaines in the king of Englands name, to goe agaynſt the Emperour to reſtore the Pope: all whiche armie was paide with the kinge of Englandes mony. The cauſe why the Cardinall bare the Emperour this malice, after ſome wryters, appeareth to be this: At what tyme as Pope Clement was taken pryſoner, the Cardinall wrote vntounto the Emperour, that hée ſhoulde make him Pope, but when he had receiued an aunſwere that pleaſed him not, he waxed furious madde, and wrote manie menacing letters vntounto the Emperour, that if hee would not make him Pope, hee woulde make ſuche a ruffeling betweene Chriſtian princes as was not this hundred yéeres p. 7before,Proude Prelats. yea though it ſhould coſt the whole Realme of England. Whoſe ambitious endeuour the king himſelfe did alſo fauour, as it appeareth by inſtructions giuen of the King to his Ambaſſadours at Rome, to that effect that Wolſey might be placed in the papacie after the death of Pope Clement: to the ende, hée might compaſſe his cauſe of diuorce.To the end the king might compaſſe his cauſe of diuorce.

While the Ambaſſadours were trauelling at Rome for the aduauncement of the Cardinall to bee Pope, if Clement were dead; hee played héere the Perſecutour at home: Firſt, hée cauſed Fryer Barnes an Auguſtine Fryer, to beare a fagotte, for certaine pointes which hée called hereſie: hée cauſed two marchauntes of the Still yeard to beare fagottes, for eating fleſhe on Friday. This was about, Anno 1526.

Anno 1528. 1528The Cardinall cauſed Arthur Bilney, Geffery Lound, and Garret to be abiured for ſpeaking againſt the Popes authoritie and his pompous pride.

Anno 1529. The Cardinall was caſt in a Premunire1529 The proude Cardinal caſt in a Premunire. and execution performed vppon him, hee forfeited all his Landes, Tenementes, goodes and cattell, and ſhould hauehave beene put out of the Kinges protection:The K. gracious to the Cardinall. but the king ſent him a ſufficient protection, and of his gentleneſſe lefte to him the Biſhoprickes of Yorke and Wincheſter, and gaue vntounto him plate and ſtuffe conuenient for his degree.

Anno 1530. 1530. A Parliament.In the monethmonth of Nouember was ſummoned a generall parliament to be holden at Weſtminſter, in which, Syr Thomas Moore ſucceedeth in the Lorde Chauncelourſhip vntounto the Cardinal. The Commons in this Parliament propounded their griefes againſt the ſpiritualtie,Griefe of the communalty againſt the ſpiritualtie. which were eſpecially ſixe. Firſt, the exceſſiue fynes that the Ordinaries tooke for probate of Teſtaments: as, a thouſande markes paide for the will of Syr William Compton knight, as Syr Henrie Guilforde knight, one p. 8of the executors, declared in open Parliament. The ſecond 2cauſe, the great polling which the ſpirituall men vſed in taking of corpes, preſents or mortuaries. The thirde, that 3prieſtes being ſurueyors, ſtewards, and officers to Biſhops, Abbots &c. had and occupied farmes, graunges and graſing in eueryevery countrey. The fourth cauſe was, that Abbots, Priors, 4and ſpirituall men kept Tannehouſes, and bought and ſolde wooll, cloth, and all manner of marchandiſe, as other temporall marchants did. The fift cauſe was their non reſidencie 5from their flocks, and reſidencie in the court of Lords houſes. The ſixt was, that vnlearned prieſtes had tenne or 6twelue benefices, and learned ſcholers in the vniuerſities wanted both benefice and exhibition: all which grieuances were redreſſed the ſame parliament. During the ſame parliament, there was brought downe to the commons the booke of Articles, which the Lordes had put vp to the king againſt the Cardinall, the chiefe whereof were theſe: Firſt, that hée without the Kinges conſent had procured himſelfe to bée Legate.Articles againſt the Cardinall. 2. In all writinges that hee wrote to Rome, he wrote I and my King. 3. That hée ſlaundered the Church of Englande to the Court of Rome,I and my king. which hée ſaide was facta in reprobum ſenſum. 4. Hée without the Kinges aſſent, carried the great ſeale with him into Flaunders, when hee was ſent Embaſſadour to the Emperour. 5. Without the kinges conſent, hee ſent commiſſion to Iohn Gregorie de Caſſalis Knight, to conclude a league betweene the king and the Duke of Ferrarie. 6. That he hauing the Frenchpockes, preſumed to come and breath on the king.The Cardinall had the Frēchpocks. The Cardinal confeſſeth the Articles. 7. That hee cauſed the Cardinals hatte to bee put on the kinges coyne. 8. That hee had ſent innumerable ſubſtance to Rome for the obtayning of his dignities, to the impoueriſhing of the Realme. Theſe Articles were confeſſed all, of the Cardinall, and aſſigned with his hand.

Anno. 1531. 1531Notwithſtanding the kings goodneſſe towardes p. 9him, the Cardinall being in his Dioces,The Cardinal vnthankfull to the king. wrote to the Court of Rome, and to diuers other Princes, letters in reproche of the king, and endeuoured to winne fauour of the people with pompe, and great gifts to the Gentlemen; which the king (although he knew his doings) diſſembled all that yeare, till he ſaw his heart ſo lifte vp with pride, that hee thought it not conuenient to ſuffer him any longer; ſo he directed his letters to the Earle of Northumberland,The Cardinall arreſted and priſoned. willing him with all diligence to arreſt him, and to deliuer him to the Earle of Shrewſburie; which was accordingly done, and the vi. day of Nouember he was conueied from Cawood to Sheffielde Caſtle, and there deliuered to the Earle of Shreweſburies keeping.

When the Cardinall was thus arreſted, the king ſent Sir William Kingſtone, knight, Captaine of the Garde, and Conſtable of the Tower of London, to fetch the Cardinall to the Tower; when the Cardinall ſaw the Captain of the Garde, he was ſo ſore aſtoniſhed, that ſhortly after hee became ſicke; men ſaid he willingly tooke ſuch quantitie of a ſtrong purgation, that his nature was not able to beare it, and the matter that came from him was ſo blacke, that the ſtayning thereof could not be gotten out of the Blankettes by any meanes. By eaſie iourneies he was brought to the Abbey of Leiceſter, the xxvij. day of Nouember, where (for very feebleneſſe of nature,The Cardinall dieth. cauſed by purgations and vomits) he died, the ſecond night following, and there lyeth buried.

It is teſtified by one yet liuing, in whoſe armes the Cardinall died, that his bodie being dead, was blacke as pitche, and was ſo heauie that ſixe could ſcarce beare him: and furthermore, did ſo ſtincke aboue the ground,The Cardinals bodie did ſtinke aboue ground. that they were conſtrayned to haſten the buriall thereof in the night ſeaſon, before it was day. At the which buriall, ſuch a tempeſte, with ſuch a ſtinke there aroſe, that all the Torches went out, and ſo he was throwen into the Tombe.

p. 10This Cardinall founded a new Colledge in Oxford: for the furniture whereof he had gathered together all the beſt learned he could heare of: amongſt which number were theſe, Clarke, Tyndall, Sommer, Frith, and Tauerner, with other mo. Which holding aſſemblie together in the Colledge, were counted to be Heretikes, and thereupon were caſt into a priſon of the Colledge where was kept Saltfiſh, through the ſtinke whereof the moſt part of them were infected, and Clarke thereof died, being young and tender, and a man of ſingular learning among them all. And other in other places in the Towne alſo, of the ſame infection deceaſſed. In the time of the Cardinall, Maſter Humfrey, M. Humfrey.who was a right godly and ſincere Alderman of London, was troubled and put in the Tower for the Goſpel of Chriſt, and for the mainteyning of them that fauoured the ſame: but at length he was forced to abiure,Abiure. and after was made knight by the king, and Sheriffe of London.

Anno 1530. Thomas Hitten 1530. Tho. Hitten Martyr.a Preacher at Maidſtone, after long torments & ſundry impriſonments, by Wil. Warham Biſhop of Caunterburie, and Fiſher Biſhop of Rocheſter, was burned at Maidſton for the teſtimonie of y^e trueth.

Anno 1531. Thomas Bilney 1531. Tho. Bilney.of Cambridge, profeſſour of both Lawes, conuerted Thomas Arthur, and M. Hugh Latimer, then Croſſebearer at Cambridge on proceſſion daies, and preached againſt the intollerable pride of the Cleargie, and the authoritie of the Biſhop of Rome, being aſſociate with Arthur; whereof the Cardinall hearing, caſt him into priſon, and anno 1527. accompanied with a great number of Biſhops, as Caunterburie, Cutbert of London, Iohn of Rocheſter, &c. came into the chapterhouſe at Weſtminſter, where Bilney & Arthur were brought before them. Where the Cardinall demaunded, whether Bilney had preached any of the opinions of Luther, contrarie to the Catholike Church Whereto Bilney anſwered negatiuely, & being aſked againe of the Cardinall, whether he had not taken an p. 11oath not to preach, or defend any of the opinions of Luther, he graunted he had ſo ſworne, but not lawfully. Which Interrogatories ſo miniſtred, and anſwere made, the Cardinal cauſed him to ſweare to anſwere plainly to the Articles and errours, preached and ſet foorth by him. Who hauing béene thus ſworne and examined, the Cardinal procéeded to the examination of M. Arthur there preſent, cauſing him to take the like oath. Then the Cardinall and the Biſhops by their authoritie, ex officio, did call for witneſſes againſt M. Bilney, Iohn Huggen, chéefe Prouinciall of the Fryers Preachers throughout all England, Geffrey Iulles, and Richard Iugwoorth, Profeſſors of diuinitie of the ſame order. Alſo W. Ierkett Gentleman, William Nelſon, and Thomas Williās: and ſo the Cardinall (becauſe he was otherwiſe occupied in the affaires of the realm) committed the matter to the hearing of the Biſhop of London, and two other Biſhops there preſent, or to thrée of them.

The xxvij. of Nouember, in the yéere aforeſaide, the B. of Londō, with the B. of Ely & Rocheſter, came into the B. of Norwiches houſe, wheras likewiſe ex officio, they did ſwere certaine witneſſes againſt M T. Arthur, in like ſort as before againſt M. Bilney, & warned him on his oath, he ſhould not reueale his examinatiōs, nor anſweres, nor any part of thē.

The ſecond day of December, the B. of London with other Biſhops, aſſembling in the place aforeſaid, after that Bilney had denied vtterly to returne to the church of Rome, the B. of London did exhibite into the Notaries, in the preſence of M. Bilney, v. Epiſtles, w^t one ſchedule in one of the Epiſtles, conteining his articles & anſweres, folded therein, & another epiſtle folded in maner of a booke with vj. leaues, which al he cōmanded to be regiſtred, & the originals to bée deliuered vntounto him againe, & bound the Notaries w^t an oath for the ſafe kéeping of the copies. The Interrogatories were concerning Eccleſiaſticall conſtitutions; Luthers doctrine; the church Images; a thirde place; Images; faſting dayes; p. 12prayer to Saints, faith without woorks, prayer in an vnknowen tongue, &c. to the number of 34. Whereto Bilney 34. Articles againſt Bilney.made ſuch anſwere as the Prelates were nothing ſatiſfied,

The iiij. day of December, the Biſhop of London with other Biſhops his aſſiſtants, aſſembled againe at the Chapter houſe of Weſtminſter, whither Maſter Bilney was alſo brought, who being often, and earneſtly required to ſubmit himſelfe, anſwered diuers times, Fiat iuſtitia & iudicium in nomine Domini. Then the Biſhoppe after deliberation, putting off his cappe, ſaid: In nomine patris, &c. And making a croſſe on his forhead and on his breaſt, gaue ſentence againſt M. Bilney there preſent, in this manner.

I by the conſent and counſell of my brethren here preſent, doe pronounce thée Thomas Bilney, Sentence of condemnation againſt Bilney.who haſt béene accuſed of diuers articles, to be conuict of hereſie, and for the reſt of the ſentence, we take deliberation till to morrow.

The v. day of December, the Biſhoppes aſſembled there againe, and exhorted Bilney diuers times to returne to their Church, and permitted him to goe into ſome ſecrete place, there to conſult with his friends, till one of the clock at after noone of the ſame day. At after noone, the Biſhop of London againe aſked him whether he would returne, and acknowledge his hereſies. But Bilney required to bring in witneſſes to cléere him, which would not be graunted him. And when they vrged him againe, he ſaid he would geue no other anſwere than he had. If they ſhould prooue that he was ſufficiently conuict, he woulde ſubmitte himſelfe, and deſired againe to hauehave time and ſpace to bring in his refuſed witneſſes.

After great inſtancie on the Biſhops parte with Bilney to recant, or els the ſentence muſt be read, he required the Biſhoppe to geue him licence till the next morrow, to deliberate with himſelfe, whether he might abiure the hereſies, wherewith he was defamed, or no: Whereto the Biſhop at the laſt graunted, and gaue him two nightes reſpite to deliberate, p. 13that is, till Saterday at nine of the Clocke in the forenoone.

The vij. day of December, in the yeare and place aforeſaid, the Biſhop of London, with the other Biſhops, being aſſembled, Bilney alſo perſonally appeared, and being demaunded whether he would now recant,Bilney recanteth. he anſwered, he was perſwaded by Maſter Dankaſter & other of his friends ſo to doe, and ſo there openly read his abiuration, and ſubſcribed to it, and deliuered it to the Biſhoppe, who then did abſolue him, and enioyned him penance, that he ſhoulde abide in priſon appoynted by the Cardinall, till he were by him releaſed. And moreouer, the next day he ſhould goe before the Proceſſion in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul bare headed, with a fagotte on his ſhoulder, and ſhould ſtand before the Preacher at Paules Croſſe, all the ſermon time.

The ſpace of two yeres after his abiuration, that is, from the yere 1529. to the yere 1531. Bilney liued in great anguiſh of minde,Bilney in great anguiſh of mind for his recantation. and halfe in deſpaire for his gréeuous facte, and at length, by Gods grace, and good counſel, he came to ſome quiet of minde and conſcience, and fully reſolued to geue ouer his life for the confeſſion of that trueth which hee before had renounced And thus being fully determined, he tooke his leaue at tenne of the clocke at night, of certaine of his friends, and ſaid that he woulde go to Ieruſalem, alluding to the wordes of Chriſt, what time he was appoynted to ſuffer his paſſion. So from thence he departed into Norfolke, where he preached in priuate houſholdes, and confirmed an Anchres, whom he had conuerted to Chriſt. Then preached he openly in the fieldes, confeſſing his facte,Bilney repenteth. and preached publikely the doctrine which hee before abiured. And at Norwich he was apprehended, and carried to priſon, there to remaine, til blinde Biſhop Nixe ſent vp for a wryt to burne him. Who after his examination and condemnation before Doctor Pells, Doctor of law and Chauncellour, firſt was degraded by Suffragane Vnderwood, according p. 14to their popiſh manner, by the aſſiſtaunce of all the Friers and Doctors of the ſame ſuite. Which doone, hée was immediatly committed to the laie power, and to the two Shiriffes, of whome Thomas Necton was one, Bilneys eſpeciall good friend.

After this the Friday following at night, which was before the daie of execution, he bare himſelfe very chéerefully among his friendes, to their greate comfort. The Saterday next following, he was brought forth to execution without the cittie gate, called Biſhops gate, in a lowe valley, called the Lollards pit, vnderunder Saint Leonards hill, accompanied with Doctor Warner his old acquaintaunce, parſon of Winterton. Goyng to execution, he was comforted ſecréetly by one of his acquaintaunce, that willed him to ſtande ſure and conſtant: to whome he aunſwered, that whatſoeuer ſtormes he paſſed in this venture, yet ſhortly after ſaied he, my ſhip ſhall be in hauen: and deſired him to helpe him with his prayer. Before his going to the ſtake, he confeſſed his faith, and after that, went to it, and praied: which doone, he ſtoode vponupon the ledge of the ſtake made for him, to the end he might be the better ſéene, and the chaine was caſt aboute him: and ſtanding thereon, Doctor Warner came to him to bid him farewell: whiche ſpake but fewe woordes for wéeping: vponupon whom Thomas Bilney did gently ſmile,Bilney ſmileth at the ſtake. and inclined his bodie to ſpeake with him a fewe woordes of thankes, and the laſte were theſe: O Maiſter doctor féede your flocke, Féede your flocke: that when the Lord commeth, he may finde you ſo dooing: and farewell good maiſter Doctor, and pray for mée. While he ſtood thus vpō the ledge of the ſtake, certaine Friers, Doctors & Priors, being preſent at his examination & degradation, praied him to cleare them to the people, leaſt they ſhould withdraw their almes from them: which he did according to their requeſt. Then by reaſon of the great wind, the fire thriſe departed, and had recourſe before it coulde be ſharpe enough to conſume him. p. 15In the which (til he gaue vp the Ghoſt) he knocked his breſt, ſometime crying, Ieſus, ſometime Credo, and ſo gaue witnes to the truth, and ſlept in the Lord.

About Anno 1527. Simon Fiſh, who fled ouer the ſeas, as Tindall, for feare of the Cardinal, whom he had offended, in playing a parte againſt the Cardinal in a plaie, made the booke of the Supplication of the beggers:The Supplication of beggers. and the next yéere ſent it to the Lady Anne Bulleine, which booke her brother ſéeing in her hand, tooke and read it, and gaue it her againe, willing her to giuegive it to the King: which thing ſhe ſo did.

About Anno 1528. 1528The king vnderſtanding who made it, and how for feare of the Cardinall he had fled ouer ſeas, kept it in his boſome iij. or iiij. daies: which Fiſhes wife vnderſtanding, and hauing encouragement of certaine about the King, that ſignified tokens of the kings good liking, ſhée made ſuite to the king for the ſafe returne of her huſbande: whereto he moſt gratiouſly graunted. Whervpon after two yéeres and an halfe of abſence he returned, and was of his wife brought vntounto the king, about the yéere 1530. who embraced him with moſt louing countenaunce: and after iij. or iiij. howers talke, as they were riding on hunting, diſmiſſed him, and gaue him his protection.The king giueth Fiſh his protection.

About the ſame time alſo, M. Moddis the kings footman, being in talke with the king, of religion, and of new bookes that were come frō beyond ſeas, ſaid: if his grace would pardon him, & ſuch as he would bring to his grace, he ſhould ſée ſuch a book as was maruelous to heare of. The king demanded who they were: he ſaid ij. of your merchaunts, George Eliot, & George Robinſon. The king appointed a time to ſpeake with them, & ſo did: & cauſed one of them, G Eliot to read the book vntounto him. Which being read, the king made along pawſe, and then ſaid, if a man ſhould pull downe an old ſtone wall, & begin at the lower part, the vpper part therof might chance to fal on his head. And then he tooke the booke and put it into his deſke, and commanded them vponupon their p. 16allegiance, not to tell to any that he had ſéene the booke. Againſt the ſupplication of the beggers, ſir Thomas Moore wrote, vnderunder the title of poore ſéely ſoules pewling out of purgatorie,Poore ſeely ſoules pewling out of Purgatory. to whiche Iohn Fryth made a pithie and effectuall replie.

When the Cardinall and Prelates vnderſtood of the ſupplication of beggers, and other Engliſh bookes, they gaue out a commiſſion againſt reading of Engliſh bookes,A Commiſſion againſt Engliſh bookes. and namely the booke of Beggers, and the new Teſtament of Tindals tranſlation, which was done out of hand by Cutbert Tunſtall biſhop of London, and a ſhort time after, they had procured an inhibition by the kinges proclamation, Anno 1529. 1529both againſt Engliſh, & other in the Latine tongue, which contained ought againſt their ſuperſtition, whervpon enſued great perſecution and trouble, whereof firſt taſted Thomas Bilney aforeſaid.

Anno 1529. came foorth the New teſtament of Tindals tranſlation,The teſtament of Tindals tranſlation. which Tunſtall and Moore deuiſed to ſuppreſſe (through the counſell of Auguſtine Packington Auguſtine Packington.a Mercer and Tindals fréend) by buying all the copies, for which he gaue verie largely, and ſo furniſhed Tindall with monie, that he corrected them and ſet them foorth againe in greater plenty then before, being reléeued with the Biſhops mony, wherewith the biſhop being gréeued, declared vntounto Packington, how they ſwarmed more then before, to whom ſaid he: my Lord, you were beſt to buie the ſtampes too, and ſo ſhall you be ſure: at which anſwere the biſhop ſmiled, and ſo the matter ended.

The ſame yéere that Bilney ſuffered Anno 1531. the monethmonth of Nouember, Richard Bayfield Richard Bayfield.ſuffered for the teſtimonie of the truth, and was burned in Smithfield, he was ſometime a moonke of Surrie, and conuerted by Doctor Barnes, and two godly men of London brickmakers, Maiſter Maxwell and Maiſter Stacie Wardens of their companie. He ſo profited in the doctrine of Chriſte in twoo p. 17yéeres, that by the Moonkes of this houſe; he was caſte into priſon, and there endured ſore whipping with a gagge in his mouth, and then ſtocked, and ſo continued in the ſame torments thrée quarters of a yéere, before Doctor Barnes could get him out; which at length he did by the meanes of one doctor Ruffani of the ſame houſe. From thence Doctor Barnes carried him to Cambridge, where he greatly profited in good letters, and neuer returned to his Abbie, but went to London to Maxwell and Stacie, who kept him ſecréetly a while, and after caried him beyond the ſeas, (Doctor Barnes being then in the Fléete for Gods woorde) where he was beneficiall vntounto Tindall and Fryth, and at the laſt returning to London to Maiſters Smiths houſe in Bucklers burie, there was he bewrayed, & dogged to his bookebinders in Markelane, where he was taken and caried to Lollards tower, and from thence to the Colehouſe, by reaſon that one parſon Patmore parſon of much Haddaine in Eſſex, that lying in Lollards tower was confirmed by him in the doctrine of Chriſt, who after abiured, and was condemned to perpetual priſon, but deliuered againe by the kinges pardon. But Richard Bayfield continued conſtant, & in the Colehouſe was worſe handled then before in Lollardes tower: for there he was tied bothe by necke, middle and legges, and ſtanding vpright by the walles, diuerſe times manicled, to accuſe others that had bought his bookes. He was thriſe in the Conſiſtorie at Paules put to his triall whether he would abiure or no: but he ſtanding to his triall by diſputation, to the confounding of his aduerſaries,Bayfield condemned. by Stokeſly then his iudge, with the aſſiſtaunce of Wincheſter and other Biſhops, he continuing conſtant in the cauſe of Chriſt, was condemned the twentie daie of Nouember, Anno 1531 in the quéere of Paules and diſgraded. After which the Biſhop tooke his Croſier ſtaffe,Cruelty. and ſmoote him on the breſt that he threw him downe backwardes, and brake his head that he ſouned. When he came to himſelfe againe, he thanked p. 18God that he was deliuered from the malignant church of Antechriſt. Anon after he was ledde through the quire to Newgate, and there reſted aboute an hower in prayer; and ſo went to the fire in his apparell ioyfullie; and there for lacke of a ſpéedy fire, was half an hower aliue: and when the left arme was in the fire and burned, he rubbed it with his right hand, and it fell from his bodie, but he continuyng in prayer without moouing.

On Wedneſday the xxj. of Aprill the yéere 1529. Iohn Tewkſburie (who was conuerted by reading of Tindals teſtament, & the wicked Mammon, he had alſo the bible written) was brought into the cōſiſtorie at London, before Cutbert biſhop of London and his aſſiſtants, Henry biſhop of S. Aſſe, & Iohn abbot of Weſtminſter, & was examined of diuerſe errors (as they called them) in the booke of y^e wicked Mammon:The booke of the wicked Mammon. Which Iohn Teukſbury iuſtified for truth: thrée ſeſſions he appéered, & manfully ſtood to the truth: being examined of articles touching Antechriſt, iuſtificatiō by works, ſaints, almes, other mens praiers for vsus &c. The examination of which articles being doone, the B. of London did exhort him againe to recant, and appointed him to determine with himſelfe againſt the next ſeſſion: in whiche ſeſſion he ſubmitted himſelfe and abiured,Iohn Teukſbury recanteth. and was appointed penāce the eight of Maie, Anno 1529.

Two yéeres after, hauing receiued more grace and ſtrength at Gods hands, moued by the example of Bayfield that had before done the like, he returned to the cōſtant profeſſiō of the truth:Iohn Teukſbury repenteth. & being apprehended, was brought before ſir T. Moore and the B. of London, where certaine articles were obiected againſt him, touching faith, kéeping of forbidden bookes, purgatorie, ſacraments of the altar &c. & confeſſing his articles, the biſhop pronounced ſentence, and deliuered him to the Shiriffes of London, Richard Greſham, and Edward Altam, Teukſbury burnt.who burned him in Smithfield vponupon S. Thomas euen, the xx. of December.

p. 19This yéere Edward Freſe, Edward Freſe.firſt apprentice to a painter in the city of York, who for his pregnancie of wit, his yers were redéemed by the Abbot of Berſie Abbey, and became a nouice; but after long ſpace, not liking that trade, he ran away, and came to Colcheſter in Eſſex, where he followed his vocation, married a wife, and liued honeſtly. After he had béen there a good time, he was hyred to paint certaine clothes for the new Inne, which is in the middle of the market place: in the border of which cloathes, he wrote certaine ſentences of ſcripture: for which he was apprehēded in the ſame Inne, and brought to Fulham to the B. houſe where he was cruelly impriſoned, with one Iohnſon and his wife of Colcheſter, Wyly with his wife and ſonne,Bread made of ſawduſt. and father Bate of Rowſhedge: they were fed with manchet, made with the greater part of ſawduſt, and were ſo ſtraightly kept, that their wiues and friends might not come at them.

After the painter had béen there a long ſpace, by much ſuit he was remoued to Lollards towre: his wife in the meane time of his ſuit, whiles he was yet at Fulham, béeing deſirous to ſée her huſband, & preſſing to come in at the gate, then big with child, the porter lift vp his foote,Crueltie and ſtroke her on the belly, that at length ſhe died of the ſame, but the childe was deſtroyed immediatly.

After that they were al ſtocked for a long time, afterward they were let looſe in their priſons agayn. This paynter, becauſe he wold alwaies be writing on the walles with chalk to their diſcontentment, was manacled by the wriſts, til the fleſh of his armes was grown higher thē his yrons: wherby he could not keame his head, that his haire was folded together. After the death of his wife, by ſuit of his brethrē to the king, he was brought out into the conſiſtorie of Paules, and as his brethren reported, they kept him iij. daies without meate, before he came to his anſwere: ſo that with impriſonment and hunger, the man grew out of his wittes: which when they had procured by crueltie, they ſent him againe p. 20to Berſie Abbie, but he would not tarrie among them, and ſo continued out of his wits till his dying day. His brother Valentine Freeſe and his wife,Valentine Freeſe and his wife. gaue their liues at one ſtake in Yorke, for the teſtimonie of the truth.

Father Bate gate out of the pryſon in a darke night, and was caught no more, but died ſhortly after.

In this yéere Frier Roice Frier Roice.was burned in Portingall for the truth. In the beginning of this yéere, the Biſhops, who had burned Tindals teſtaments,The Biſhops commaunded to make a trā ſlation of the Bible. were inioyned by the King to cauſe a new Tranſlation to be made; notwithſtanding which commaundement they did nothing at all. But contrary in the monethmonth of Maie, the Biſhoppe of London cauſed all the tranſlations of Tindall, and many other Bookes whiche hée had bought, to bée burned in Paules Churchyarde.

Iames Baynam Iames Baynā.who married the wife of Simon Fiſh, a Gentleman of the middle Temple, was accuſed to ſir Thomas Moore lord Chancellour, and areſted of a ſergeant at armes, and carried to the Chancellours houſe at Chelſey, where he continued in frée priſon, vntill ſir Thomas Moore perceyued he could doo no good of him. Then he put him in priſon in his owne houſe, and whipped him at a trée in his garden, called the trée of Truth: and after ſent him to the Tower to bée racked, and ſo he was; Sir Thomas beyng preſent himſelfe, till in a manner he had lamed him, becauſe he would not accuſe the Gentlemen of the Temple of his acquaintaunce, nor ſhew where his bookes laie. And becauſe his wife denied them to be in his houſe, ſhe was ſent to the Fléete, & their goods confiſcate. After they had thus practiſed againſt him by torments, then was be brought before I. Stokeſley B. of London, the xv. of December. An. 1531. in the towne of Chelſey, & there examined touching purgatorie, Interceſſion of Saints, Confeſſion, vowes, concerning Luthers marriage, the Sacrament of anneyling, of Baptiſme, whether matrimonie were a Sacrament, for his bookes of p. 21Scripture, and what he iudged of Tindall &c. to which articles he ſubſcribed according to the truth.

The next day following, he appeared in the ſame place as before,Iames Baynam ſubmitteth. & after much perſuaſion he ſubmitted himſelf the B. notwithſtanding committed him to one of the Counters for further triall. And the yéere 1532. 1532In the monethmonth of Februarie he was called for againe, and although he was yet abiured, not yet ſéemed he to ſatiſfie the Chancellor: ſo he was for that preſent returned to his priſon againe: and the viij. day of February appeared as before, and made a full abiuration, and ſubſcribed it. Which doone the Chancellour put him to his fine, to pay twentie pound to the king: and inioyned him penance, to go before the Croſſe in Proceſſion at Paules, and to ſtand before the Preacher at Paules croſſe during the Sermon, with a fagot on his ſhoulder, and ſo to returne with the Summer againe to priſon, there to abide the Biſhops determination.Iames Baynā repenteth. And ſo the 17. of Februarie he was diſmiſſed home, where he had ſcarce abode a monethmonth, but he bewayled his fact, and was neuer quiet in conſcience, til he had aſked God and the world forgeueneſſe, before the congregation in thoſe dayes, in a warehouſe in Bowe lane. And immediatly the next Sunday after, he came to S. Auſtines, with the new Teſtament in his hand, in Engliſh, and the obedience of a Chriſtian man in his boſome, and ſtoode vp there before the people in his pewe, and there declared w^c wéeping teares, that he had denied God, and prayed the people to forgeue, and to beware of his weakenes. Beſides, hée wrote certaine letters to the Biſhop, to his brother, and to others: ſo that ſhortly after he was apprehended, and committed to the Tower of London, and after thrée appearanrances, the 19. of April, the 20. and the 26. of the ſame monethmonth, before Maſter Iohn Foxforde. Vicar generall of the Biſhoppe of London, in the preſence of Mathew Grifton, Regiſter, Nicholas Wilſon, and William Phillips, &c, hée was condemned to be burned, and ſo was hée deliuered p. 22to ſir R. Greſham ſhiriffe then being preſent, who cauſed him by his officers to be carried to Newgate,Iames Baynā burned. & was burned in Smithfield the laſt day of Aprill at iij. of the clocke in the afternoone. After he had indured great torments, ſtockes and irons in priſon before, as he was in the middeſt of the flaming fire, and his armes and legges halfe conſumed therewith,The courage of a worthy martyr. he ſpake theſe wordes: Oh, ye papiſts behold, ye looke for myracles, here now may yée ſée a myracle, for in this fire, I féele no more paine, then if I were in a bed of downe, but it is as ſwéete to mée as a bedde of roſes. About this preſent time or not long before, Iohn Benet Iohn Benet.a tailor, dwelling in a village called Vrchuant, was burned in the towne of Deuies, within the Countie of Wiltſhire, for the denying of the Sacrament of the Altar. And much about the ſame time was one Traxnell burned, in a towne called Brodford within the ſame County.

The ſame yéere 1532. 1532Robert King, Nicholas Marſh, and Robert Garner men of Dedham, Robert Debnam of Eſtbergholt, had ouerthrowne and burned the roode of Douercourt,The Idoll of Douercourt. ten miles of Dedhā, of which Idoll a brute was blowne that no man had power to ſhut the doore where hée ſtood, wherefore the doore was alwaies kept open: for which fact halfe a yéere after they were hanged in chaines, Kinge in Dedham at Burchet, Debnam at Cattawaie Cawſie, Marſhe at Douercourt: Gardiner eſcaped and fledde.

The ſame yéere, and yéere before, many Images were caſte downe and deſtroyed in many places,Many images caſt downe. as the Crucifixe by Cogſhall in the highwaie: Saint Petronell in the Church of great Horkſleigh: S. Chriſtopher by Sudbury, S. Petronell in a Chappell by Ipſwich: alſo Iohn Seward of Dedham, ouerthrew a croſſe in Stoke parke, and tooke two Images out of a chappell in the ſame parke, and caſt them into the water.

An. 1533. 1533Iohn Frith was firſt a ſtudent in Cambridge p. 23and after, one of thoſe whome Cardinall Wolſey gathered together, of the choiſe learned men, to furniſh his Colledge, which he gaue the name of Saint Frideſwide, nowe called Chriſtes Colledge. He that yere, the xx. day of Iune,Chriſtes Colledge in Oxford. was condemned by the Biſhop of London, to be burned, and the ſentence read, he was deliuered to Sir Steeuen Peacock, Mayor of London, and the Sheriffes of the ſame Citie, and the fourth day of Iulie was burned in Smithfield: who at the ſtake, chearefully embraced the Fagottes, and fire which was put vntounto him, and ſeemed to reioyce for his fellowe, that was burned with him,Iohn Frith burned. rather than to bee carefull for himſelfe, though (by reaſon the winde bare awaye the flame from him) hee was ſomewhat long in burning.

After the death of certaine whom the Cardinall had before impriſoned in the caue of his Colledge, where Saltfiſh was vſed to be layde, Frith, with other, were diſmiſſed, vppon condition, not to paſſe aboue tenne miles out of Oxforde. But Frith, after the hearing of the examination of Dalaber, and Garret, which bare the fagottes, went ouer Sea, and after two yeres came againe for exhibition of the Prior of Reading, as is thought, and had the Prior ouer with him.

Being at Reading, he was there taken for a vagabonde, and was ſet in the ſtockes, and through the meanes of one Leonarde Coxe, Scholemaſter of the Towne, who woondered at his excellent learning, was againe ſet at libertie: but his ſafetie continued not long. Sir Thomas Moore Sir T. Moore purſueth Frith.then Lorde Chauncellour, did ſo deadly purſue him, both by Lande and Sea: And at laſt, being traiterouſlie taken, he was ſent to the Tower of London. Where he had many conflictes with the Biſhops, but eſpecially in writing with Sir T. Moore. The occaſion wherof, was a Treatiſe which he made, and communicated it with W. Holte, a Taylor of Londō, that caried it to Moore y^e chācellor, who endeuoured p. 24to confute it: The pointes of Frithes treatiſeFrithes treatiſe. were, Firſt, that the controuerſie of the Sacrament is no neceſſarie Article of fayth vnderunder paine of damnation. 2. That Chriſt is not in two places at once. 3. that Chriſtes woordes in the inſtitution of the Sacrament, are to bee vnderſtoode according to the phraſe of ſpeech, comparing phraſe with phraſe, according to the analogie of Scripture. 4. That the order and inſtitution of Chriſt is to be reteined, although the order of the prieſtes doe neuer ſo much differ from it.The copie of which anſwere Frith got by meanes of friends, and anſwered. A treatiſe of theſe poyntes Frith did write, and it was carried by Holt vntounto Moore, which hee anſwered him againe out of priſon: omitting nothing, belonging to the perfect handling of the matter. Hée wrote alſo a Treatiſe of Purgatorie, in which quarrell hee withſtood the violence of the moſte obſtinate enemies, Rocheſter, Moore, and Raſtall: and conuerted Raſtall to his part, who was Moores ſonne in lawe.

After he had ſufficiently contended in writing with thoſe men, he was at laſt carried to Lambith, firſt before the Biſhop of Canterburie, and after vntounto Croydon before Wincheſter, and laſt of all, before a common aſſembly of Byſhoppes at London, where continuing conſtant in his righteous cauſe, was condemned.

With Frith Frith condemned.was Andrewe Hewet Andrew Hewet.burned, hee was borne at Feuerſham, in the Countie of Kent, of the age of foure and twentie yeeres, and was apprentice with one Maiſter Warren, Taylor in Watlingſtréet: he was betraied by the falſe Iudas William Holt, and caſt into priſon in the Biſhoppes houſe: from whence hauing fyled off his yrons, hée eſcaped; but was bewrayed againe by one Withers, a falſe hypocrite as Holt was: and with him were taken Iohn Tibauld, who was baniſhed from his owne houſe by an iniunction, and had béene foure times in priſon for Chriſtes ſake, and Iohn Chapman in whoſe houſe they were, who al were carried to the Biſhops houſe: but Hewet p. 25they ſent to Lollardes Towre, and kepte Chapman and Tibauld aſunder, watched with two prieſtes ſeruauntes.

The next day Biſhoppe Stokeſley came from Fulham, and committed Chapman to the ſtockes, and ſhutte vp Tibauld in a cloſe chamber, but by Gods prouidence hee was deliuered out of priſon, albeit hée coulde not enioy houſe nor lande, becauſe of the Biſhoppes iniunction, but was fayne to ſell all that hee had in Eſſex. Chapman after fiue wéekes impriſonment, whereof three hée ſate in the ſtockes, by much ſuite made to the L. Audley, who was then Chancellour, was deliuered: but Andrew Hewet after long and cruell impriſonment was condemned to the fire with Frith, after that he had giuen teſtimony to the trueth.

Anno 1531. 1531The fiftéenth of Ianuarie, Thomas Benet a Schoolemaiſter of fiftie yéeres of age, borne in Cambridge, was deliuered vntounto Sir Thomas Dennis knight, to be burned in Exceter. He hid himſelfe ſixe yeres in Deuonſhire: but kindeled with zeale, he reſolued to aduenture his life for the teſtimonie of Ieſus: and in the monethmonth of October, he did ſet vppon the Cathedrall church doore of Exceter ſcrolles, in which were written: The Pope is Antichriſt, and wée ought to worſhippe God onelie and no Sayntes: the Authour of which billes coulde not bée founde. At the laſt, the prieſtes fell to curſe with booke, bell and candle, the Authour of the ſame, Bennet béeing by: who fell into a laughter within himſelfe for a great ſpace, and coulde not forbeare: Whereby ſome ſaie hee was bewrayed and taken: other, that his enemies beeing vncertaine whether it were he or not, ſuffered him to depart home. And, not beeing able to digeſt the lyes which were preached, ſent his boye with other ſcrolles, as before hee had done, who béeyng examined, confeſſed whoſe boye hee was, and ſo Bennet was knowen, and taken, and committed to warde, and béeing called to examination before the heads and cannons of the Citie, confeſſed the fact, and after muche p. 26diſputing with the Friers, eſpecially, one Gregorie Baſſet, who had lien in priſon at Briſtow for the trueth, and reuolted (béeyng threatened, hée ſhoulde hauehave his handes burned off with a panne of coales, which was brought readie at his examination,Thomas Bennet martyr.) hée was condemned to death, and burned. At whoſe burning, Iohn Barnehouſe Eſquier béeing preſent, tooke a fyrre buſh vponupon a pyke beyng ſette on fire, and thruſt it vntounto his face, becauſe hée woulde not ſaie: Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis. But he anſwered, Pater ignoſce eis: and ſo fire being put to him, patiently he ended his life.

By reaſon of the rigorous proclamation aboue ſpecified, procured by the Biſhops, great perſecution enſued, ſo that a great number were troubled, and either burned, or conſtrained to abiure.

Thomas Cornwell or Auſty, Anno 1530. for not kéeping his fagot vponupon his ſhoulder after his abiuration, was condemned to perpetual priſon in the houſe of S. Bartholomew: from whence he afterward fled and eſcaped.

Anno 1530. Thomas Philips made his appeale from the B. to the king, and would no otherwiſe abiure, then generally all hereſies: for which the B. did excommunicate him, and denounced him contumax: and what after became of him, it is vncertaine.

A litle before this time, William Tracie William Tracie.a woorſhipfull Gentleman of Gloceſterſhyre, and then dwelling at Toddington; made in his will, that hée would hauehave no funerall pompe at his buriall, neyther paſſed hée vppon Maſſe: and ſaide hée truſted in GOD onelie, and hoped by him to bée ſaued, and not by anie Saynt. This Gentleman dyed, and his ſonne his executour brought the Will to the Biſhoppe of Canterburie to prooue, which, hée ſhewed to the Conuocation, and then moſt cruelly they iudged that he ſhoulde bée taken out of the ground, and bée burnt as an heretike. Anno 1532. 1532Wherof the King hearing, the Chancelour p. 27was fayne to fine thrée hundreth pounds to hauehave his pardon of the king.

Anno 1531. Henry Tomſon taylor, notwithſtanding he ſubmitted himſelfe to the Biſhop, yet therewith ſentence condemned him to perpetuall priſon. His cauſe was the denying of the hoſt to be God.

The ſame yéere was Thomas Patmore parſon of Hadham in Hartfordſhire, a godly man and painefull teacher, perſecuted by Richard FitzIames biſhop of London, who was deſirous to preferre another to the good mans benefice: and ſo hardly was he dealt withall, that in the end he ſubmitted himſelfe and abiured, and was notwithſtanding committed to perpetuall priſon. Howbeit, one of his brethren made ſuch ſuite vntounto the king (by the meanes of the Quéene) that after thrée yéeres impriſonment, hée was both releaſed out of priſon, and alſo of the King obteyned a Commiſſion vntounto the Lord Audley, then Lord Chancellour, and to Cranmer Archbiſhoppe of Canterbury, and to Cromwel then Secretarie, with others, to enquire of the vniuſt dealinges of the Biſhoppe and his Chauncellour agaynſt Patmore: but what was the ende thereof, it is vncertaine.

Anno 1531. Chriſtopher a Dutch man of Antwerp was put in priſon at Weſtminſter, for ſelling new Teſtaments in Engliſh, and there died.

The ſame yer, a boy of Colcheſter, or of Norfolk, for deliuering a buget of bookes to Richard Bayfield, was layed in the priſon of Maſter Moore, Chauncellour, and there dyed.

From the yere 1533. during the time of Quéene Anne, During the time of Queen Anne, no great perſecution.no great perſecution, nor abiuration was in the Church of England: ſauing that x. Anabaptiſtes were put to death in ſundrie places of the Realme. And anno 1535. tenne other repented, and were ſaued: whereof two were pardoned after ſentence geuen, which was contrary to the popes law.

p. 28After the Cleargie had with great crueltie vexed Chriſts flock, anno. 1534. 1534. Commons againſt the Cleargie.a parlament was called by the king, about the 15. daye of Ianuarie, in which the Commons renued their old gréefes, complaining againſt the Prelates, and Ordinaries, for calling men before them ex officio. Anſwere to which requeſtes the king at that preſent did delay.

After the Cardinal had béene caſt into a premunire, anno 1530, about the yéere 1532 the king made a reſtraint, that nothing ſhould be purchaſed from Rome;Nothing to be purchaſed from Rome, and procéeded further againſt all the Prelates, for ſupporting the Cardinall: by reaſon whereof, they alſo were entangled with premunire. For the releaſement whereof, they offered the king 118840. poundes, which was accepted with much adoe. In this ſubmiſſion the king was called of the Cleargie,Supreame head. Supreme head.

The motion of the Commons to the king, touching their gréeuances from the Cleargy, in the prorogation of the parlament tooke good ſucceſſe. Wherein the king prouided remedies, and enacted in the ſame Parlament, that no man ſhould be troubled for ſpeaking any thing againſt the vſurped power of the Biſhop of Rome, or his lawes, not grounded on the law of God.The vſurped power of the Pope put downe in England. In this Parlament alſo, the decrées and prouinciall conſtitutions were committed to be examined of 32. perſons, choſen by the king out of the higher and lower houſe, and at their diſcretions to be abrogated, or to ſtande in ſtrength.

Alſo it was decréed, that the Cleargie of this Realme, ſubmitting themſelues to the king, ſhould and did promiſe, in verbo Sacerdotij, neuer to aſſemble their Conuocations without the kings writte,No Conuocations without the kings writ nor to enact, or to execute ſuch conſtitutions without his Royall aſſent.

Moreouer, that no perſon ſhould appeale, prouoke, or ſue to the Court of Rome, vnderunder paine of prouiſures, prouiſure, or premunire. Item that no Annuales, and firſt fruites of Biſhops, and Archbiſhops, ſhould be paid to Rome, for any p. 29Bulles, Bréeues, Palles, &c. Item that the king ſhould nominate the perſon to be elected into any Eccleſiaſticall dignitie, and ſo the Prior and Couent, Deanrie, Chapter of thoſe Cathedrall Churches, where the Seate was vacant, by the vertue of the kings letters miſſiues, ſhoulde within 12. dayes, chooſe that perſon nominated by the king, &c.

Moreouer, it was decréed againſt all intollerable exactions of the Biſhop of Rome, in penſions, Peterpence, procurations, fruites, &c. And finally, in this Parlament it was conſulted, concerning the lawfull ſucceſſion of the Crowne, in ratifying it to the heires of the kings body and Q. Anne. In which Parlament alſo, the degrées of marriage were plainly ſet out, according to the word of God. Not long after, the king required an oath of the Spiritualty, to be made vntounto him, & aboliſhed that which they were woont to make to the Pope: In which only they acknowledged the king to be Supreme head. Which oath Sir Thomas Moore miſliking, was enforced to reſigne vp his Chauncellorſhip,The oath of the Cleargie to y^e Pope aboliſhed. Moore reſignth the Chauncellourſhip. and to deliuer vp the great Seale of England, into the K. hands. After whom ſuccéeded Sir Th. Awdley knight, who fauourably inclined to the doctrine of the Goſpell.

Not long after, the king procéeded to marrie the Ladie Anne Bulleine, who was a ſpeciall fauourer of the goſpell,The K. renoū ceth the Pope. and ſo was diuorced both from the Lady Dowager, and the Pope together. The Princeſſe Dowager, after the diuorce, procured from the Pope an interdictment of the king, and the whole Realme.

Anno 1533. 1533. Lady Elizabeth borne.Quéene Anne was crowned: and not long after her coronation, the 7 of September ſhe was brought a bed, and deliuered of a faire Ladie, named at the Font Elizabeth; the Archbiſhop of Caunterburie being Godfather, and the olde Dutches of Norfolke, and the olde Marchioneſſe of Dorcet, widowes, Godmothers.

After this, the Monkes and Friers, and other euill diſpoſed perſons, feigned that God had reueyled to a Nunne, p. 30Elizabeth Barton, whom they called the holy maid of Kent:The holy maid of Kent. that if the king procéeded in that diuorce, he ſhould not be K. of this Realme one monethmonth after: and in the reputation of God, not one day, nor houre. This diſſimulation was found out by the diligence of the Archbiſhoppe of Caunterburie, the Lord Cromwell, and Maſter Hugh Latimer: and ſhe condemned, and put to death, with certaine of her counſell, in the monethmonth of Aprill, anno 1533. as, Henrie Golde, Bacheler of diuinitie; Richard Maſter, Parſon of Aldington; Edwarde Bocking, Monke of Caunterburie; Iohn Dearing, Monke of Caunterburie; Hugh Ritch, Frier, Warden of the Graye friers of Caunterburie; Richarde Risbie, attaint of treaſon by acte of Parlament, and ſo put to death. Others of the ſame conſpiracie, as, Fiſher, biſhop of Rocheſter; Thomas Golde, Thomas Laurence, Edward Thwates, Iohn Adeſon, and Thomas Abell, being conuicte and attainted of meſpriſion, were condemned to priſon, and forfeyted their goods and poſſeſſions to the king.

This yere, 1533. 1533one Pauier, or Pauie, Towneclarke of the Citie of London, a notorious enemy of Gods trueth, and a verie buſie fellow about the burning of Rich. Bayneham, hanged himſelfe:Gods iudgement. he ſaide, rather than he woulde ſée y^e ſcripture in Engliſh, to be read of the people, he would cutte his owne throate; but hee made his choiſe rather of an halter.

About this time alſo died Doctor Foxforde, Chauncellour to the B. of London, a common butcher of Gods ſaints, who was the condemner of all thoſe, which were put to death, troubled, or abiured, vnderunder Stokeſley, throughout all the Dioces of London. He died ſitting in his chaire, ſodainlie, his belly being burſt, & his guttes falling out before him.

About the ſame time alſo died Wil. Warham, Archbiſhop of Canterburie, whom ſucceeded Th. Cranmer.Tho. Cranmer Archbiſhop of Canterburie.

This yere, at Dunkirke in Flaunders, a writte of Excommunication was ſet vp againſt the king, for the diuorce: which beeing knowen vntounto the king, hee cauſed p. 31to be diſcharged a great ſort of the princeſſe Dowagers ſeruaunts, and they that remained ſtill were ſworne to ſerue her as a Princeſſe onelyonly, and not as Quéene: and becauſe ſhe refuſed to be ſerued of ſuch, ſhe remained with a very few, liuing after this ſort the ſpace of two yéeres.

An. 1534. 1534VponUpon the iij. of February the parliament was aſſembled againe, wherein was made an act of ſucceſſion, whereto eueryevery perſon ſhould be ſworne.Preaching againſt y^e popes ſupremacie. During this parlament time, eueryevery Sunday preached at Paules croſſe a biſhop, which declared the pope not to be head of the Church.

Iohn Fiſher biſhop of Rocheſter, ſir Thomas Moore, and Doctor Nicholas Wilſon parſon of S. Thomas Apoſtles in London, refuſed the oath to the Act of ſucceſſion made then: wherfore they were ſent to the Tower. In the end, the Doctor was content to diſſemble the matter, and ſo eſcaped: but the other two remained obſtinate.

The third of Nouember, this parliament was again aſſembled, in which the Pope and Cardinals, with his pardons and indulgences were wholly aboliſhed:The Popes pardons wholly aboliſhed. to the aboliſhing whereof, and to the ratifying of the kings title of ſupreme head, Stephen Gardiner gaue his othe, ſo did Iohn Stokeſley, B. of London, likewiſe Edward Lee Archbiſhop of Yorke, Cuthbert, B. of Dureſme, and all the reſt of the Biſhops in like ſort, to this title agréed alſo the ſentence of the Vniuerſitie of Cambridge.

Alſo, Ed. Bonner then Archdeacon of Leiceſter,Gardiners booke de obedientia, with Bonners notes. was of the ſame iudgemēt, and prefixed his preface to Steuen Wincheſters booke, de obedientia, of the ſame argument. To this alſo agreed the whole Cleargie of the Church of England, and ſubſcribed with the handes of the Biſhoppes, and other learned men, to the number of 46. doctors of diuinitie, and of both lawes.

Anno 1535. Fiſher the Biſhop of Rocheſter, 1533and Sir Thomas Moore, were executed, for refuſing the oath of ſupremacie, which all the other Biſhoppes and Cleargie p. 32yéelded vntounto: one was executed the xxij. of Iune, the other the vj. of Iulie.

The ruine of Religious houſes.Shortly after the ouerthrowe of the Pope, by little and little began the ruine of the Abbeys and Religious houſes: and the ſame yéere in the monethmonth of October, the king hauing then Thomas Cromwell of his counſell, ſent Doctor Lee to viſit the Abbeies, Priories and Nunneries in all England, and to ſet at libertie all ſuch religious perſons as deſired to be frée, and all other that were vnderunder the age of xxiiij. yéeres: prouiding withall that ſuch Moonkes, Chanons and Friers as were diſmiſſed, ſhoulde hauehave giuen them by the Abbot or Prior in ſtéede of their habite, a ſecular prieſtes gowne, and xl ſhillings of money, and likewiſe the Nunnes to hauehave ſuch apparell as ſecular women did then commonly vſe, and ſuffered to goe where they woulde. At which time alſo, from the ſaide Abbeies and monaſteries were taken the chiefe Iewels and and reliques.Chiefe iewels and reliques taken from the Abeies.

After theſe things done of the king againſt the Pope, hée endeuoured by al meanes to entertaine the fauour & friendſhip of other princes, as the Emperour, the king of France, the king of Scottes, to whom hee purgeth himſelfe concerning his diuorce and lawfulneſſe of his marriage with the Ladie Anne, and declareth the manifolde iniuries which the Pope had done vntounto him, and how hée deferred the cauſe of his diuorce and ſecond marriage: which he did, fearing the malice of the Pope and prelates, leaſt they ſhoulde ſtirre them vp to warre againſt him, which they laboured by all meanes to bring to paſſe, eſpecially Cardinall Poole plaied his part therein.

Anno 1536. Wil. Tindall, 1536 Wil. Tindall burned.who tranſlated the new Teſtament in Engliſh, and the fiue bookes of Moſes, with many other godlie woorkes, was burned at the towne of Filforde in Flaunders, by vertue of the Emperors decrée, made in the aſſembly at Auſpurgh. He was firſt ſtrangled, and after conſumed with fire. At the ſtake he cried with a feruent p. 33zeale and lowde voice: Lord open the king of Englands eies.

Tindall was borne aboute the borders of Wales, and brought vp from a child in the Vniuerſitie of Oxford, where he increaſed in knowledge of artes and tongues. From thence he went to the Vniuerſitie of Cambridge, where hauing abode a while, hée departed, and reſorted to one Maiſter Welch a knight of Gloceſterſhire, and was there Schoolemaiſter to his children, where he ſo behaued himſelfe boldly in diſputing with Abbots, Deanes & Archdeacons, &c. that he was faine to depart that coūtrie. Such was the grudge of the prieſts againſt him, eſpecially after they perceiued, by his means, that they were not ſo welcome to M. Welches houſe as in times paſt. From maſter Welche, Tindall commeth vp to London, & ſought to ſerue Tunſtall B. of London, but being refuſed of him, he aboad notwithſtanding in London the ſpace almoſt of a yéere: & finding no place in England to tranſlate the New teſtament, hauing ſome aid & prouiſion miniſtred vntounto him of Humfrey Monmouth, & certaine other godly men,Tindall takes in hand the tranſlation of the New teſtament. he departed into Germanie, and there tooke in hand the tranſlation of the New teſtament, which he finiſhed firſt Anno 1527.

After he had continued a while in Germanie, as in Saxonie, where he had conference with Luther and other learned men, he came downe into the Low countries, and had his moſte abiding in the towne of Antwerpe, vntill the time of his apprehenſion: whiche was about one whole yéere; in the houſe of Thomas Poynes an Engliſhman, who kepte an houſe of Engliſh merchants. Aboute which time came thither one out of England, whoſe name was Henry Phillips, his Father beyng cuſtomer of Poole. This Phillips grewe into acquaintance with Tindall, and pretended much fauour vntounto him. After this, Phillips goeth from Antwerpe to the court of Bruxels: which is from thence xxiiij. Engliſh miles (the King hauing then no Ambaſſadour there), and p. 34procured to bring from thence with him to Antwerpe, that procurour generall, which is the Emperours atturney, with other certaine officers. Within a while after (Poynes ſiting at his doore) Phillips man came vntounto him, and aſked whether M. Tindall were there, and ſaid his maiſter would come to him, and ſo departed: Poines within iij. or iiij. daies being departed out of the towne to Barrow xviij. miles from Antwerp, Phillips cōmeth again to Poines wife, & aſketh for M. Tindall, and what good chéere there was in the houſe, & whether he would dine with him: that doone, he goeth out to prouide and ſet the officers which he had brought from Bruxels in the ſtréete, and about the doore. Then about noone he came againe, & went to M. Tindall, and ſaid, he had loſt his purſe; and praied him to lend him xl. s̄, which M. Tindall did. Then ſaied Phillips to M. Tindall, you ſhall be my gueſt here this day. No ſaied M. Tindall; I go foorth this day: you ſhall go with me and be my gueſt, where you ſhall be welcome. So when it was dinner time, M. Tindall went out with Phillips, and at the going foorth of Poines houſe, Maiſter Tindall would hauehave put Phillips before him, but Phillips would in no wiſe, pretending a ſhewe of great humanitie: ſo M. Tindall went before him. He had ſet officers on either ſide the doore vponupon ſeates, to whome Phillips pointed, with his finger ouer M. Tindals head that the officers might ſée it was he, & ſo ſhould apprehend him. Who there tooke him, & brought him to the Emperors atturney, the procuror generall; where he dined: Frō whence he was had to the caſtle of Filford, xviij, miles from Antwerpe, where he remained til he was put to death; Poines labouring for the releaſe of M. Tindall, with letters directed out of England by the Lord Cromwell & other, to the court of Bruxels. Then the Lord of Barowe was alſo clapt in priſon, & after long impriſonment, was faine to eſcape by flight. But good Maiſter Tindall could not eſcape, but was put to death for the teſtimonie of the trueth. Of whome the Emperours p. 35Atturney left this teſtimonie, that he was a learned, good,Tindals proteſtation touching his trā ſlation. and godly man. Concerning his tranſlation of the new teſtament, thus himſelfe proteſted: I call God to record, againſt the day in which I ſhal appeare before y^e Lord Ieſus, to giuegive a reckoning of my doings, that I neuer altered one ſyllable of Gods word againſt my conſcience, nor would do this day, if all that is in earth, whether it be honour, riches, or pleaſure, might be giuen me.

The ſame yéere that Tindall was burned, Anno 1536. In the beginning of the yéere, firſt, died Ladie Katherine, Princeſſe dowager, in the monethmonth of Ianuarie, after whom the ſame yéere, in the monethmonth of May next following, Quéen Anne, who had nowe béene married to the king, the ſpace of thrée yéeres, was put to death;Queene Anne put to death. very likely by the practiſes of the prelates againſt her, who was an earneſt fauourer of Gods people: and incontinent after the ſuffering of Quéene Anne: the king within iij. daies after, married Ladie Iane Seimer. About this time, Paule iij. Biſhop of Rome appoynted a generall counſell at Mantua in Italie, requiring all kinges and princes to be there preſent in perſon, or to ſende their Ambaſſadours: pretending to ſuppreſſe hereſies, to reforme the Church, and to warre againſt the Turke. To this Councell the king refuſed either to come,The king refuſeth the general counſel at Mantua. or to ſend Ambaſſadour: and made his proteſtation againſt the ſea of Rome.

A litle before the death of Quéen Anne, there was a parlament at Weſtminſter, wherein was giuen to the king, by generall conſent of the Abbots, all ſuch houſes of religion, as were vnderunder iij. hundred marks:Certaine houſes of religion giuen to the king. which did prognoſticate what would befall the reſt.

Shortly after the marriage of the king, with the Ladie Iane Seimer, in the monethmonth of Iune, during the continuance of the Parlament, by the conſent of the Cleargie in the Conuocation houſe in Paules Church, a booke was ſet out, containing certain Articles of religion neceſſarie to p. 36be taught to the people:Articles of religion to be taught the people. wherein they treated ſpecially, but of thrée ſacraments, baptiſme, penance, and the Lordes ſupper: where (alſo diuers things were publiſhed, concerning alteration of certaine points of religion; and certaine holie daies forbidden: & many Abbeies agréed on to be ſuppreſſed. For the which cauſe a Monke, named Doct. Mackrell, naming himſelf Captain Cobler, ſtirred vp to rebell the number of xxvi. thouſand in Lincolne ſhire:Rebellion ſuppreſſed. which was quietly ſuppreſſed. Alſo, he rayſed an other of xl. thouſand Yorkſhire men, by ſtirring vp of Monkes and prieſtes. They called their rebellion, an holy pilgrimage: which was alſo by the great prouidence of God quieted without bloodſhed. At that time, diuers prieſts, which were ſtirrers vp of the people, were executed.

Anno 1537. 1537 Prince Edward borne. Queene Iane dieth.The monethmonth of October, was borne Prince Edward, ſhortly after whoſe birth, Quéene Iane his mother, the ſecond day after, died in childbed, and left the king a widower: who ſo continued the ſpace of two yéeres together.

By reaſon of the kings departure from the pope, the Emperour, the French king, and Scottes beganne to ruffle againſt him: but hearing of the byrth of Prince Edwarde, and vnderſtanding of the death of Quéene Iane, whereby the king was a widower:Ruffelings againſt the K. eaſily calmed. and the bruite béeing that hée would matche with the Germanes, they began to be calme againe.

Anno 1536 The king began with a little booke of articles,The K. articles for the inſtruction of the people, bearing this title: Articles deuiſed by the kings highnes to ſtabliſh chriſtian quietneſſe & vnitie among the people. It contained the Créede, iij. ſacraments, how images might ſafely be worſhipped, and how ſaints departed ought to be reuerēced: that the parſons ſhould teach their people, that Chriſt is their only mediator, & how the ceremonies of holy water, holy bread, candles, &c. ſhoulde without ſuperſtition bée vſed. It tooke away alſo p. 37the abuſes which roſe vponupon the imagination of Purgatory, as, Maſſes for ſoules departed, pardons, &c. Not long after theſe Articles, certaine other Iniunctions were alſo geuen out, about the ſame yere. Whereby a number of holidayes were abrogated,A number of Holidaies abrogated. and eſpecially ſuch as fel in harueſt time.

After theſe Iniunctions, other mo followed afterward, geuen out by the king, concerning Images, Reliques, and blinde miracles. For, abrogating of Pilgrimages, deuiſed by ſuperſtition, and mainteined for lucres ſake.Scripture in Engliſh. Alſo for the Lords prayer, beléefe, and tenne commaundements, and the Bible to be had in Engliſh.

Anno 1538. 1538yet againe other Articles were ſet out, whereby both the Parſons of Churches, and the Pariſhes together, were bound to prouide in eueryevery Church, to buye a Bible in Engliſh. Alſo, for eueryevery Pariſhioner to be taught by the Miniſter, to vnderſtand, & ſay the Lordes prayer, and Créede, in their owne vulgar tongue, with other neceſſarie and moſt fruitfull Iniunctions. As, for the frée preaching of the word of God; againſt Images; pilgrimages; for a Regiſter booke in eueryevery Church;A Regiſter booke in euerie Church. againſt Beckets day; knelling, Auies; Suffrages of Saints, &c.

This yere was Frier Forreſt burned quicke, hanging in chaines, in Smithfield. He denied the kinges ſupremacie, and was conuict of diuers other damnable articles. He was an obſeruant Frier. With this Forreſt, was Daruell Gatheren, an abhominable Idoll of wales, burned: and it fulfilled a blinde propheſie, that it ſhould ſet a Forreſt on fire. He tooke his death very vnpatiently.

In the moneths of October, & Nouember, the ſame yere, the religious houſes, by the ſpeciall motion of the L. Cromwell, were from the very foundations rooted vp.Religious houſes from the foundation rooted vp.

Immediatly after the ruine and deſtruction of Monaſteries, the ſame yere in the monethmonth of Nouember, followed the condemnation of Iohn Lambert, the faithfull ſeruant of Ieſus Chriſt.

p. 38This Lambert Ioh. Lambert.being borne and brought vp in Norfolke, was firſt conuerted by Bilney, and ſtudied in the Vniuerſitie of Cambridge, from whence, through the violence of the time, he departed to the partes beyonde the Seas, to Tindall, and Frith, and there remayned the ſpace of a yere and more, being Preacher to the Engliſh houſe at Antwerpe, till he was diſturbed by Sir Thomas Moore, and through the examination of one Barlowe, was carried from Antwerpe to London, where he was brought to bee examined. Firſt at Lambeth, then at the Biſhops houſe at Oxforde, before Warham, Archbiſhop of Caunterbury, and other aduerſaries, hauing 45. Articles layde againſt him,45. Articles againſt Lābert. concerning the Sacraments, of orders; of penance; of confeſſion; cō cerning vnwritten verities; purgatorie; prayer to Saintes; pilgrimage, lent faſt; Images; praying for ſoules departed; preaching without licence of Biſhops; the Popes excommunication; Scripture in the mother tongue; iuſtification by faith onelyonly; concerning the Councell of Conſtance; the number of Sacraments; the power of Peter; the power of y^e pope, &c.

Whereto Iohn Lambert made a large and learned anſwere, and conſtantly teſtified the trueth of the ſame points agréeable to the Scriptures. He was moreouer required to bewray his fellowes, which hee refuſed to doe with great boldneſſe. Theſe anſweres of Lambert were deliuered to Doctor Warham, Archbiſhop of Canterburie, about the yere 1532. at what time he was in cuſtodie, in the Biſhops houſe at Oxford: from whence the next yere, through the death of the Archbiſhoppe, he was deliuered. After Warhā, ſuccéeded D. Crāmer, Lambert in the meane time being deliuered, returned to Lond. & taught childrē about y^e Stocks.

Anno. 1538. 1538It happened that Lambert was preſent at a Sermon in Saint Peters Church in London, preached by Doctor Taylor, who after was a Cōfeſſour of Ieſus Chriſt: with whom (after the Sermon) Lambert went and talked, p. 39and vttered his diuerſe argumentes, where hée deſired to be ſatiſfied. The matter was concerning the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Chriſt. Tailor deſired him to deferre the matter till another tyme, and to wryte his minde: whiche hée did, and at laſt it brake out to bée a publicke matter; ſo that he was ſent for by the Archbiſhop of Canturbury, and was forced to defend his cauſe openly. In that diſputation it is ſaid, that Lambert did appeale from the Biſhops to the king: and the rumour of the diſputation was ſpred to the court. Now at this time Stephen Gardiner then biſhop of Wincheſter,A wicked perſuaſion. was in authoritie among the kinges Counſellours, and perſwaded the kinge by the burning of Lambert to quiet the people, who grudged at diuerſe of his dooinges, bothe touchyng his diuorce, and pullinge downe the Popes pride, and thereby to declare how ſtoutly he would reſiſt Heretikes, whereby the people might take ſome contentment. So by theſe perſwaſions a day was ſet & Lambert brought forth, where beſides he had y^e kings fierce countenance againſt him,Lambert diſputeth. he had x. diſputers againſt him frō xij of the clocke, till v. at night, among which were, the archbiſhop, Stephen Gardiner, Tunſtall B. of Durham, & Stokeſley biſhop of London. In fine, through Wincheſters perſwaſion, to gratifie the people, the king himſelfe condemned Lambert, and commanded Cromwell the chiefe friend of the goſpellers to read the ſentēce.The king condemneth Lambert. Cromwell readeth the ſentence againſt Lambert. Cromwell craueth pardon of Lambert. VponUpon y^e day that was appointed for this holy martyr to ſuffer, he was brought out of the priſon, at viij. of the clocke in the morning vntounto the houſe of the L. Cromwell, & ſo caried into his inner chamber, where as it is reported of many, Cromwell deſired him of forgiuenes for that he had doone: from thence he was brought into the hall, and ſo into Smithfield, where he ſuffered moſt terrible torments: for after his legges were burned vp to the ſtumps, & that the wretched tormentors had withdrawē the fire from him, ſo that but a ſmall fire was left vnderunder him, two that ſtood on each ſide of him, with their halbards p. 40pitched him vponupon their pikes, as farre as the chaine would reach, then he lifting vp ſuch handes as he had, and his fingers euer flaming with fier, cried vntounto the people in theſe wordes:Lambert a worthy martyr. None but Chriſt, none but Chriſt, and ſo beyng let downe againe from their Halbards, he fell into the fire, & yéelded vp the ghoſt.

Lamberts treatice of the Sacrament.During the time that he was in the Archbiſhops houſe, he wrote a treatiſe to the king touching the Sacrament, wherein he prooued that the bodie could be but in one place, and that the Sacrament was a myſticall matter.

The ſame yéere 1538. Robert Packington Mercer, brother of Auſten aboue mentioned, becauſe he little fauoured the clergie, being a man of courage, and a burges of the parliament houſe for the Cittie, and was thought to hauehave had ſome conference with the king, to the diſaduauntage of the clergie, at fiue of the clocke in the morning as he was woont, going from his houſe in Cheapſide, to prayers at a church called S. Thomas of Acres, but nowe Mercers chappell, he was ſlaine with a gun by an Italian,Robert Packington ſlaine going to prayers. whome D. Incent Deane of Paules had hired for lx. crownes to doo that feat, as he himſelfe afterward on his death bed confeſſed.

The ſame yéere was Collins a mad man and his dogge burned,Collins & his dogge burned together. becauſe as the prieſt lifted his God, ſo Collins in the Church at the ſame time, lifted his dogge ouer his head: his dogge was burnt alſo with him.

Likewiſe another mad man called Cowbridge Cowbridge.was burned at Oxford the ſame yéere: who, what euer his madneſſe was before, yet in the middes of the flame, he lifting vp his hand to heauen, ſoberly and diſcréetly called vponupon the name of the Lord Ieſus, and ſo departed.

About the ſame time and yéere Putdewe Putdewe.was put to death for ſaying merily to a prieſt; after he had drunke the wine, he bleſſed the hungrie people with the emptie Chalice.

At the ſame time alſo was condēned W. Letton Williā Letton.a moonke of Aye in the Countie of Suffolke, & was burned at Norwich: p. 41for ſpeaking againſt an idoll, that was vſed to be carried in proceſſion at Aye; and for holding that the Sacrament ought to bée miniſtred in both kindes.

Somewhat before the burning of theſe men, Nich. Peke Nicholas Peke.was burned at Ipſwich: and when (the firres were ſet on fire) he was ſo ſcorched, that he was as blacke as pitch, Doctor Reading ſtanding there before him, with Doctor Heirre and Doctor Springwell, hauing a long white wande in his hand, did knocke him vponupon the right ſhoulder, and ſayde, Peke, recant, and beléeue in the Sacrament:The notable courage of the martyr. to whom Peke anſweared: I defie thée and it alſo, and with greate violence, hee ſpatte from him blood: which came by reaſon the veynes brake in his bodie for extreme anguiſh. Which when hée ſaide, Doctor Reading graunted, by the authoritie of the Biſhoppe of Norwich fourtie dayes of pardon, to ſo many as ſhould caſt a ſticke to burne the heretike: wherevpon Baron Curſon, Sir Iohn Audley knight, and others were moued ſo to do; and cutte downe boughes, and threw them into the fire.

This yéere the king was againe required by the Emperour, and other States to be a ſender to the generall Counſell at Vincence. For the Duke of Mantua woulde ſuffer none there,The king againe refuſeth the Counſell. except the pope would with a ſufficient armie gard this city. The king again refuſed, and ſendeth his proteſtation in way of defence for himſelfe to the Emperour, and other Chriſtian princes: which he concludeth with this farewell. Thus mighty Emperour, fare yée moſt heartely wel, and you Chriſtian princes,The kings farewell to the princes. Anno Reg. the pillers and ſtay of Chriſtendome, fare ye heartily wel: alſo you, what people ſoeuer you are, which doe deſire, that the Goſpel and glory of God may flouriſh, fare ye heartily well.

As Thomas Cromwell fauoured the Goſpel, ſo Stephan Gardiner, B. of Wincheſter, practiſed all he coulde againſt the ſame, and wrought ſo with the king, that the yéere 1539. 1539ſeuere Iniunctions were ſet out by the kinges authoritie, p. 42againſt Engliſh ſcripture bookes, without examination: againſt tranſlations,Search iniunctions. without the authors name were put to it: againſt ſacramentaries, that no man ſhould diſpute of the ſacrament, & with the reſt the canon of Becket raſed &c. and in fine, ſo was he nuſled by Wincheſter, that Anno 1540. 1540. The king nuſled by Wincheſter. The whippe with vi. ſtrings The vi. Articles.He ſummoned a parlament to be holden at Weſtminſter the xxviij. of Aprill: alſo a ſynode of prelates, in which the ſixe articles were concluded, touching matters of religion: which were commonly called the whippe with ſixe ſtrings.

The firſt article was concerning tranſubſtantiation. 2, Againſt the communicating in both kindes. 3. That prieſtes might not marry, after y^e order of prieſthood receiued. 4. that the vowes of chaſtity made aboue 21. yéeres of age, & of widowhood, aduiſedly made, ſhould be obſerued. 5. The eſtabliſhing of priuate maſſes. 6. Auricular confeſſion to be expedient. The puniſhment for breach of the firſt article, was burning without any abiuration, with loſſe of all goods & lands, as in caſe of treaſon:Treaſon. Felonie. the default againſt the other fiue articles was fellony, without any benefit of cleargy, &c.

Againſt theſe articles, only D. Cranmer Cranmer diſputeth againſt the vi. articles.Archbiſhop of Canterbury, ſtood vp, and thrée daies diſputed againſt them, with ſuch ſtrength of reaſon, that the king (who euer bare eſpecall fauour vntounto him) well liking his zelous defence, onlie willed him to depart out of the parlament houſe, vntounto the Counſell chamber for a time, (for ſafegarde of his conſcience) till the Act ſhoulde paſſe, and bée graunted: which hée notwithſtanding with humble proteſtation, refuſed to doe.

After the parlament was finiſhed, the king ſent the Lord Cromwell, (who in few dayes after was apprehended) the twoo Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke, and all the Lordes of the parlament houſe to dyne with the Archbiſhoppe at Lambith, and to comfort him: and within few daies alſo vponupon the ſame, required, that hee woulde giuegive a note of all p. 43his doings and reaſons in the ſaid parliament, which Cranmer eftſoones accompliſhed accordingly, and ſent the copie thereof to the king.

Beſides theſe ſixe Articles, in the ſame parliament was ordained, that if Prieſtes were taken in Adultery or Fornication, and duely conuict, for their not Caſte nor Caute, at firſt tyme they ſhoulde forfaite their goods,Againſt adultery and fornication of prieſts. and for the ſecond faulte, be taken and executed as fellons: this was brought in by the Lord Cromwels aduiſe: Who if he might hauehave had his will, the firſte crime of theſe concubinarie Prieſtes, aſwell as the ſecond, no doubt had béene puniſhed with death: but ſo Gardiner did barre that article with his ſhifts, that the firſt was loſſe of goodes, and the ſecond death: and the next yéere he ſo prouided, that the paine of death, by Act of parlament was cleane repealed: So that by this ſtatute it was prouided,Death for adulterie repeated. for all ſuch votaries as liued in whordome and adultery: For the firſt offence, to loſe his goodes, and all his ſpiritual promotions, except one. For the ſecond, to forfeite all that he had to the king. For the third conuiction, to ſuſtaine continual impriſonment.

Anno 1541. The eight and twentith day of Iuly, the noble lord Cromwell, the maule of the Pope and Papiſts in this land, and the great fauourer of the goſpell was put to death at Tower hill.1541. Cromwell the maule of the P. put to death. The crimes obiected againſt him, were, firſt hereſie, and that he was a ſupporter of Barnes, Clarke, and many other, whom by his authoritie and letters, written to Sheriffes and Iuſtices, in diuers Shires, he had diſcharged out of priſon. Alſo, that hee did diſperſe bookes of hereſies among the kinges Subiects. Item, that he cauſed to be tranſlated into Engliſh diuers bookes, that conteined matter againſt the Sacrament, &c. Beſides all this, there were brought in certaine witneſſes, which charged him with wordes that he ſhould ſpeake againſt the king in the Church of S. Peter the poore in the xxx. yere of the kings reigne.

p. 44In the monethmonth of Iuly during the Parliament being in the Counſell chamber, he was ſodainly attainted, and carried to the Tower, the xix. of the monethmonth of Iulie, & the xxviij. day put to death. He was borne of a ſimple parentage, at Putney or there abouts, being a Smiths ſonne, his mother married after to a Sherman. Cromwell The life of L. Cromwell.being ripe of yéeres was at Antwerp retained to be ſecretarie to the merchants there: From whence being procured by Geffery Chambers with another companion, (whom the men of Boſton ſent to Rome for the renewing of their priuiledges,) to go to Rome and aid them in their ſuite, he departed and accompanied the Boſton mens Ambaſſadours to Rome: where he aduiſed with himſelfe, how he might hauehave beſt acceſſe vntounto the pope, and beſt diſpatch of his buſines: and hauing knowledge how that the popes holy tooth greatly delighted in new fangled ſtrange delicates, it came into his mind to prepare certaine fine diſhes of gelly made after our countrey maner here in England, which to them of Rome was not knowen, nor ſéene before. This done, Cromwell obſeruing his time, as the pope was newly come from hunting into his pauiliō, hée with his companions approched with his Engliſh preſents, brought in with a thréemans ſong (as we call it) in the Engliſh tongue, and all after the Engliſh faſhion.

The pope ſodainly marueiling at the ſtrangenes of the ſong, and vnderſtanding that they were Engliſhmen, and that they came not emptie handed: willed them to be called in. Cromwel there ſhewing his obedience, and offring this iolie Iunkets: ſuch as kings & Princes onelyonly vſed (ſaid he) in the Realm of Englande to féede on: deſired that to be accepted in good part, which he & his companions, as poore Suters vntounto his Holineſſe, had there brought, and preſented, as Nouelties méete for his recreation. Pope Iulius ſo liked their Iunkets, that he deſired to know the making of their daynties: And vnderſtanding their ſuites, without any more adoe, ſtamped both their pardons, both the greater and the page missing p. 47England: the king alſo wrote in like manner to Boner his Ambaſſadour, to aſſiſt the doers thereof in all their reaſonable ſuites: whereto the king of Fraunce gaue licence, & Boner ſhewed himſelfe very diligent about the worke.The Bible in Engliſh printed at Paris. So the booke was printed euen to the laſt part, & then was quarrels picked to the printer, who was ſent for to the inquiſitors of the faith, & there charged with certaine articles of hereſie. Then were ſent for the Engliſhmen that were at the coſt & charge therof, Richard Grafton and Whitchurch, & the corrector Miles Couerdale, but hauing warning what would follow, the Engliſhmen poſted away, leauing behind them their Bibles to the number of 2500. called the Bibles of the great volume, and neuer recouered any of them, ſauing the Lieuetenant criminal ſold foure great dryfats of them to an Haberdaſher, to lap in caps, and thoſe were brought again: but the reſt were burnt at the place called Maulbert in Paris. But notwithſtanding the loſſe, after they had recouered ſome part of the foreſaid books, and were comforted, and incouraged by the L. Cromwell, the ſame men went agayne to Paris, and there got the preſſes, letters, and ſeruants of the foreſaid printer, and brought them to London, and there they became printers themſelues, (which before they neuer intended) and imprinted out the ſaid Bible in London, and after that printed ſundry impreſſions of them, but yet not without great trouble and loſſe, through the hatred of Steeuen Gardiner, and his fellowes.Steeuen Gardiner alwaies an enemie to the Goſpel.

In thoſe dayes there were two ſundrie Bibles in Engliſh, printed and ſet foorth, bearing diuers titles, and printed in diuers places.

The firſt was called Thomas Mathewes Bible,Th. Mathewes bible. printed at Hamborough, about the yere 1532. The Corrector of which Printe was Iohn Rogers, the Printers were Richard Grafton and Whitchurch. In the tranſlation of this Bible, the greateſt doer, was William Tindall, who with the helpe of Miles Couerdale, had tranſlated all p. 48the bookes thereof, except onelyonly the Apocrypha and certaine notes in the Margent, which were added after. But becauſe William Tindall in the meane time was apprehended before his booke was fullie perfected, it was thought good to them that had the dooing thereof to chaunge the name of William Tindall, becauſe that name was then odious, and to further it by a ſtraunge name of Thomas Matthew (Iohn Rogers being the ſame time corrector to the print): who had then tranſlated the reſidue of the Apocrypha, and added alſo certaine notes thereto in the Margent: and thereof came it to be called Thomas Matthewes bible. Which bible of Thomas Matthewes, after it was imprinted and preſented to the Lord Cromwell, and the Lord Cranmer Archbiſhop of Canterbury, who liked very well of it, Cromwell preſented it to the king,The Bible in Engliſh preſented to the king. and obtained, that it might fréely paſſe to be read of ſubiects, with his graces licēce: So that there was printed on the ſame booke, one line in red letters, with theſe wordes: Set forth with the Kinges moſt gracious licence. This book did greatly offend the Biſhops, both for the prologues, and eſpecially, for a table, called, of the common places of the Bible, and the ſcriptures, for the approbation of the ſame, and chiefly, about the ſupper of the Lord, and prieſts marriages, and the maſſe, which there was ſaid not to bée found in the Scripture.

After the reſtraint of this bible of Mathew, another came to be printed at Paris, anno 1540. which was called the bible of the large volume.The Bible of the large volume. The Printed that printed it, was the former, & the ouerſeer was Miles Couerdale, who conferred Tindalles Tranſlation with the Hebrewe, and mended diuers places there.

In this Bible, although the former notes of Thomas Mathew were omitted, yet ſundrie marks, and hands were annexed in the margent; which meant that in thoſe places ſhould be made certaine notes; wherewith alſo the Clergie was offfended: and Cromwel being dead, complaintes were p. 49made to the king, of the tranſlation of the Bible, and of the Preface of the ſame, and then was the ſale of the Bible cō manded to be ſtaied, the B. promiſing to amend and correct it, but neuer performed it.The Biſhops promiſſe to amend the Bible, but performed it not. Then Grafton was called for, and troubled & caſt in the Fléete, where hée remained ſixe wéekes, and before he came out was bound in 300.l, neither to print, to ſell, nor cauſe to be printed any mo bookes till the king and the clergie ſhould agrée on the tranſlation; and thus was the Bible ſtaied from that time, during the reigne of king Henry the eight.

Anno 1541. D. Cutbert Barnes, Doctor BarnesThomas Garret, and William Hierome were burned in Smithfield for the teſtimonie of Ieſus Chriſt, after the death of the lord Cromwell, who whiles he liued was a great defence vntounto diuerſe that profeſſed the truth, but he being taken away, many godly chriſtians in diuerſe places went to wracke.

Doctor Barnes after that he came from the vniuerſitie of Louaine, went to Cambridge, where hée was made Prior and Maiſter of the houſe of Auguſtines, at which time the knowledge of good letters was very ſcant in the Vniuerſitie: which Barnes thinking to redreſſe, read in his houſe Terence, Plautus, and Cicero, ſo that what with his labour and helpe of Thomas Parnell his ſcholer whom he brought from Louaine with him, reading Copia verborum & rerum, he cauſed the houſe ſhortly to floriſh with good letters, and made a great part of his houſe learned: as M. Cambridge, M. Field, M. Coleman, M. Burley, M. Couerdall, &c. After theſe foundations laid, he did openly read in the houſe, S. Paules Epiſtles, and put by Duns & Dorbell, Duns & Dorbell put out of Cambridge.and (yet though he were a queſtionarie himſelfe) in ſhort ſpace made he diuerſe good diuines, obſeruing diſputations of neceſſarie points of faith in his houſe,Diſputations of points of faith, rare in Cābridge in thoſe daies. & alſo in the ſchooles when he ſhould diſpute with any man. The firſt man, that anſwered Doctor Barnes in the Scriptures was M. Stafford, for his forme to be batchellour of diuinitie; Which diſputation was marueilous in the p. 50ſight of the great blind Doctors: notwithſtanding all this, till he was conuerted by Bylney; D. Barnes conuerted by Bylney.he remained in his ſuperſtition ſtill. The firſt Sermon that euer he preached according to the truth of the Goſpell, was the Sunday before Chriſtmas day at S. Edwards church belonging to Trinitrie hall in Cambridge, by the peaſe market: whoſe theame was the Epiſtle of the ſame Sunday, Gaudete in Domino &c. For which Sermon he was immediatly accuſed of hereſie by two fellows of kings hall. Then the godly mē flocked, and conferred together: the houſe that they moſt commonly reſorted vntounto, was the white horſe, which for diſpite of them, to bring Gods word into contempt was called Germany.The Whitehorſe in Cambridge called Germany. This houſe was eſpecially choſen, becauſe they of S. Iohns, Kings and Quéenes Colledges might come on the backeſide thether.

Doctor Barnes was accuſed in the regent houſe, and conſtantly continued, with much preaching of diuerſe parties one againſt another, in trying out Gods truth, till within ſixe dayes before Shrouetide, then was there ſent downe a Sergeant at armes called maiſter Gibſon, dwelling in Saint Thomas Apoſtle in London, who ſuddainly arreſted Doctor Barnes D. Barnes arreſted.in the Regent houſe: and priuely they had determined to make ſearche for Luthers bookes, and all the Germanes workes ſuddainly: but by Doctor Farmans warning of Quéenes Colledge the bookes were conueyed away: thirtie perſons they had in ſpeciall ſuſpition. Doctor Barnes was carried to Cardinall Wolſey, and after hée had a while ſtood conſtant (by the perſwaſion of Doctor Gardiner his ſecretarie, and Foxe) he relented and ſubmitted himſelfe:Barnes ſubmitteth himſelfe, and with fiue Stylliard men he bare his faggot at Paules: the biſhop of Rocheſter there preaching againſt Luther, & Doctor Barnes. Notwithſtanding his ſubmiſſion the Biſhop commaunded hée ſhoulde be had to the Fléete againe, and bée permitted to hauehave ſuch libertie as other pryſoners had: where Doctor Barnes p. 51continued halfe a yéere: at length was deliuered, and committed to be frée priſoner at the Auſten friers in London. Where being vndermined and complained of: it was determined he ſhoulde be remoued to the Auſtine friers in Northampton, there to be burned, he himſelfe knowing nothing thereof: but by the aduiſe of Maiſter Horne, who brought him vp, he made eſcape, came to London, and by long Seas went to Antwerpe, and ſo to Luther, D. Barnes eſcapeth out of priſon.and there fell to ſtudie till hée had made anſwere to all the byſhoppes of the Realme, and had made a Booke entituled, Acta Romanorum Pontificum, Acta Romanorum pontificum.and another Booke, with a ſupplication to King Henrie. And ſuch fauour God gaue him in fight of the Duke of Saxonie, and the King of Demarke, that the king of Denmarke ſent him with the Lubeckes as Ambaſſadour to King Henrie the eyght, and was lodged with the Lubeckes Chancellour at the Stillyarde.

Syr Thomas Moore the Chauncellour would faine hauehave entrapped him, but the king woulde not ſuffer him: For Cromwell was his great friend, and ere he went, the Lubeckes and he diſputed with the Biſhoppes of this Realme in defence of the trueth, and ſo departed with them agayne without reſiſtaunce: and afterwarde hauing ſet forward in Germanie his woorkes in print that hée had begunne: hée returned againe in the beginning of the reigne of Quéene Anne: and after that was ſent Ambaſſadour by king Henrie the eight to the Duke of Cleue, for the marriage of the Ladie Anne of Cleue, betwéene the King and her: and was well accepted therefore, vntill the time that Stephen Gardiner came out of Fraunce: after which time, neyther religion proſpered, nor the Queene, nor Cromwell, nor the Preachers: for not long after, Doctour Barnes with his brethren were apprehended, and carryed before the Kinges maieſtie at Hampton Court, and there was examined. Where, the Kinges maieſtye p. 52ſéeking the meanes of his ſafetie: and deſirous that Wincheſter and he might agrée, graunted him leaue to go home to conferre with the Biſhop: but they not agréeing, through certaine complaints, Barnes and his fellowes were inioined to make thrée ſermons the next Eaſter following, at the ſpittle. In which, not ſatiſfying the Prelates, they were ſent for to Hampton Court again,D. Barnes ſent to the tower. and from thence to the Tower by Sir Iohn Goſtwicke, from whence they came not out til they came to their death. And thus much concerning Doctor Barnes.

About the yéere 1526. Maiſter Garret Curate of Honie lane in London came to Oxforde, and diſperſed there certaine Bookes in Latine, not agréeable to the Romiſh ſuperſtition, with Tindalles Teſtament: and had not long béene there, but hée was ſearched for in London to bée apprehended for an Heretike: and afterwarde a priuie ſearche was made in Oxforde: whereof Garret béeyng warned by Maiſter Cole of Magdalene Colledge, who after was croſſe bearer to Cardinall Wolſey: he departed out of Oxforde in the morning before Shrouetide, towards Dorcetſhyre, where hee woulde hauehave for a time hidde himſelfe. But altering his mynde, on the Friday night next, hée returned to Oxforde, and laye in Radlies houſe, where, by the priuie ſearche the ſame night hee was taken, and kept priſoner in Doctour Cotfords chamber, maiſter of Lincolne Colledge, then being Commiſſary of the Vniuerſitie: from whence, (when the Commiſſary and his company was at Euenſong,) Garret putting backe the locke of his doore with his finger, eſcaped againe, and (chaunging his apparrell by the helpe of Anthonie Delaber ſcholer of Alborne hall) departed: but afterward was againe taken by maiſter: Cole or his men, going Weſtward, at a place called Hinckſey, a little beyonde Oxeford, and ſo being brought back agayn, was committed to ward: that done, hee was conuented before the Commiſſarie, p. 53Doctor London, and doctor Higden Deane of Friſewides, now called Chriſtes Colledge, into Saint Maries Church, where they compelled him to carrie a Fagot in open Proceſſion, and Delaber with him, and after were ſent to Oſney, there to be kept in priſon, till further order was taken. Yet againe after this, M. Garret flying from place to place,Barnes, Garret and Hierom, burned together. eſcaped till the time he was apprehended, and burned with Doctor Barnes: with whom alſo W. Hierome, ſometime Vicar of Stepney, was likewiſe drawne into Smithfield, and together with them endured conſtantly martyrdome in the fire.

This Hierome, for preaching at Paules the 4. Sundays in Lent, and ſaying that all that were of the Fréewoman Sara, were freely iuſtified; for preaching that wee are not bound to princes lawes, further than according to the word of God; and that workes are no part of our ſaluation; was committed to the Tower, and the xxx. of Iulie, two daies after the death of the Lorde Cromwell, An vniuſt proceeding.not comming to any anſwere, nor yet knowing any cauſe of their condemnation without any publike hearing, (proceſſe being made out againſt them by the kings Counſel, in the Parlament time) Barnes, Hierome, and Garret were brought together from the Tower into Smithfield, and by conſtant ſuffering the rage of the fire, they gaue teſtimonie to the trueth. After they had made confeſſion of their faith, and prayed, there was one aſked Doctor Barnes if the Saintes prayed for vsus, he ſaid he would referre that vntounto God: and if they did, then I truſt (ſaid he) to pray for you within this halfe houre, M. Sheriffe: and aſked the Sheriffe if he had any Articles againſt him, for which he was condemned. The Sheriffe anſwered, no: Then (ſaid he) is there any man els that knoweth wherefore I die, or y^t by my preaching hath taken any errour, let them now ſpeake, and I will make them aunſwere. And no man anſwered: So praying earneſtly for his perſecutors, hee gaue himſelfe to ſuffer, and required p. 54maſter Sheriffe to hauehave him commended vntounto the king, and to ſhew him that he required of his grace foure requeſtes. Firſt,Doctor Barnes his 4. requeſtes to the king. that he would beſtowe parte of the Abbey poſſeſſions on the reliefe of the poore. Secondly, that he woulde ſée matrimone to be had in more reuerence. Thirdly, that ſwearers might be puniſhed. Fourthly, that he woulde ſet vp Chriſtes true religion.

The ſame yere and day, and in the ſame place, were foure Papiſtes executed for denying the kings Supremacie,Foure papiſts executed for denying the knigs ſupremacie. which brought the people to a marueylous admiration. Their names were Powell, Fetherſtone, and Abel. All 3. drawen, hanged, and quartered. It fell out thus, by reaſon the kings Counſell was deuided in Religion: the one ſide haſtening the execution of the Papiſtes, and the other of the Proteſtants.

The fauourers of the trueth in king Henries dayes. The patrones of poperie in thoſe dayes.The fauourers of the trueth were theſe, Caunterburie, Suffolke, Vicount Beauchampe, Vicount Liſle, Ruſſell Treaſourer, Paget, Sadler, Awdeley. The fauourers of the Papiſtes, Wincheſter, Dureſme, Norfolke, Southhampton, Anthonie Browne, William Paulet, Iohn Baker, Rich, Chauncellour of the Augmentation, Winckfielde Vice-chauncellour.

There ſuffered beſides thoſe traytors, in the time of king Henrie, for the cauſe of Supremacie, to the number of foure and twentie in all.

Such was the furious proſecuting of the commiſſion for the vi. Articles, that in London a great number came into queſtion, and great trouble, to the number almoſt of two hundreth perſons: and out of other quarters, ſuch a number were apprehended through this Inquiſition, that al the priſons in London were too little to holde them:All priſons in London too litle to hold the perſecuted. in ſo much that they were fayne to lay them in Halles. At the laſt, through the meanes of the Lord Awdeley, ſuch pardon was obteyned of the king, that the Lord Awdeley, then Lorde Chauncellour, being content that one ſhould be bound for p. 55another, they were all diſcharged.

Edmund Boner Boner turneth his opinion, and becōmeth a perſecutor.who had before béen aduanced by Cromwell, and preferred before another way, being now B. of London, ſhewed himſelfe a moſt cruell executor of the commiſſion, in ſuch ſort that he burned Richard Mekins being but of xv. yéeres of age, for chauncing to ſpeake againſt the Sacrament of the Altar, as he had heard other ſay; and other were cauſed to recant, as Towling parſon of S. Anthonies, and Alexander Seaton a Scotiſh man, and a worthy preacher: this was Anno 1541.

An. 1541. 1541Iohn Porter a yoong man, was by Boner caſt into priſon in Newgate, for reading the Bible in Paules: yet the king had commaunded it ſhould be read: and Boner himſelfe in the daies of Cromwell appointed that vj. bibles of the great volume ſhould be ſet vp in the church of Saint Paules in London for the people to read.Six Bibles ſet vp in Paules to be read of the people. Wherevpon great multitudes would reſort thither to heare this Porter read. Hereat Boner beyng grieued, cauſed him to be put in the dungeon of Newgate: where he was fettered in irons both legges and armes, with a coller of iron aboute his necke, faſtened to the wall in the dungeon. From this torment, by ſuite of his brother and many other hée was releaſed, to be among the other pryſoners, fellons and murtherers: whoſe blaſphemie and wickedneſſe hée beyng not able to beare, and therewith finding fault, and giuing them inſtructions, he was complained of and carried downe againe, and layd in the lower dungeon of all, and oppreſſed with boltes and irons. It is thought that he was fettered with one Ingine in the pryſon, called, The Deuill in the necke, The diuell in the necke.whiche is ſo deuiſed that within thrée or foure houres, it breaketh and cruſheth a mans backe or body in péeces,Iohn Porter killed in pryſon. ſo that within ſix or eight dayes after, being heard pitifully crying and groning he was found dead.

In the time of the Cardinall, Thomas Somers an honeſt Merchant was in pryſon in the Tower for hauing of p. 56Luthers bookes, and penaunce beyng inioyned, that hée ſhould with thrée other Merchaunts, ride with bookes into Cheapeſide hanged about their neckes, with a baſon tinged on before them, and there caſt their Teſtamentes in the fire. Now becauſe he caſt his booke ouer or through the fire, and woulde not caſt it into it,Thomas Somers dieth in the Tower. hée was complained of and caſt againe into the Tower by the Cardinall, where hée died.

In the dioceſſe of Lincolne, vnderunder Iohn Longland, and Doctor Dracot his Chancellour, great perſecution was about Buckingham, and Amerſham for the ſixe Articles, and the ſame time the Biſhop burned two in one day: the one named Thomas Barnarde, Thomas Barnard, Iames Morton martyrs.and the other Iames Morton, the one for teaching the Lordes prayer in Engliſh, and the other for kéeping the Epiſtle of ſaint Iames tranſlated into Engliſh.

In Oxford alſo the ſame time or much there about, recanted one maiſter Barber, a maſter of arts of that Vniuerſitie, a man excellently learned. His cauſe was the matter of the Sacrament.

Not long before his recantation there was one maiſter Malarie, maiſter of arts of Cambridge of Chriſts Colledge, who for like opinions contrary to the Romiſh faith, was conuented before the Biſhoppes, and in the end ſent to Oxford there openly to recant, and to beare his faggot, to the terrour of the ſtudentes of that Vniuerſitie, at whoſe recantation while Doctor Smith preached, and treated of the Sacrament, there roſe a falſe imagination of firs that ſhoulde bée ouer their heades; and ſuche impreſſion it tooke in Doctor Smith, that in manner hée firſt of all cried out in the pulpet:A popiſh feare. theſe are the traynes and ſubtilties of Heretikes agaynſt mée. Lorde hauehave merciemercy vppon mée, Lorde hauehave merciemercy vppon mée, &c. Claymunde with other of the aged ſorte, that coulde not runne and make ſhift for themſelues, knéeled downe before the highe Altar, p. 57committing themſelues and their liues vntounto the ſacrament, all ful of terror. While the reſt thronged & thruſt to get out of the Church; among them there was a boy, that ſéeing the dores ſo ſtopped with preſſe, that he could not get out, climed vp vponupon the dore, & among them gate out ouer mens heads: being vponupon the doore, he ſaw a Monke comming towardes him, which had a great wide cowle hanging at his backe: which the boy perceiuing, leapes downe into the Monkes cowle: the Monke at the firſt perceiuing nothing, but after a while, féeling his cowle heauie, and hearing the voyce of the boy; thought it had béene a diuell: and began to coniure him, in the name of God and all ſaints; I commaund thée to declare what thou art, that art behind my backe? to whom the boy anſwered: I am Bartrams boy.Bartrams boy. The diuell in the Monkes cowle. But I (ſaide the Monke) adiure thée in the name of the vnſeparable trinitie, that thou wicked ſpirite, doe tell mée who thou art, from whence thou cameſt, and that thou gette thée hence: I am Bartrams boy, ſayde hée, good maiſter let mée go: and with that, his cowle beganne to cracke vponupon his ſhoulders: the monke, when he perceiued the matter, tooke the boy out and diſcharged his cowle, the boy tooke his legges and ran away as faſt as he could, and this was the perplexitie of the good Catholikes in that aſſemblie: which roſe vponupon the crying of fire in the ſtréetes, by one Hewſter, who ſawe a chimney on fire: and according to the cuſtome, cried: Fire, fire, as hée paſſed by Saint Maries Church. Nowe as touching the Heretike, becauſe hée had not done his ſufficient penaunce there, by occaſion of this hurliburly: therefore the next day hée was reclaymed into the Church of Saint Friſewide, where hée ſupplied the reſt of his penance that lacked.

An. 1541. By the ſentence of y^e cōuocation houſe, the Lady Anne of Cleue was diuorced,Lady Anne of Cleue diuorced. & the king permitted to mary with y^e L. Katherine Hawarde, and within a while, ſhe alſo was put to death for incontinency with Tho. Culpeper.

p. 58The ſame yéere, in the monethmonth of Auguſt 1541 ſixe were executed at Tiborne for the matter of ſupremacie:Sixe put to death for the ſupremacie. The Prior of Dancaſter, Giles Horne a monke of the Charterhouſe of London, Thomas Epſame a monke of Weſtminſter, who was the laſt in king Henries daies that ware a monks wéede: the fourth, one Philpot, the fift, one Carew, the ſixt was a Frier.

The king after the death of his firſt wife, now more and more he miſſed his olde Counſellour Cromwell, The king miſſeth Cromwell.and partly ſmelling the waies of Wincheſter, beganne a little to ſet his foote in the cauſe of religion: and now the want of Cromwell, did more mightely knit his affection to Cranmer, whō he alwaies before loued wel. And in the ſame yéere, the monethmonth of October, after the execution of this Quéene: the king vnderſtanding ſome abuſes, yet to remaine vnreformed, namely, about pilgrimages and idolatrie, &c. directed his letters to the Archb. of Canterburie for ſpéedy redreſſe of the ſame: this was Anno 1542.

The yeere 1543. 1543. Whitemeates permitted in Lent.in the monethmonth of Februarie, followed another Proclamation giuen out by the Kinges authoritie, whereby whitemeates were permitted to be eaten in Lent.

Anno 1544. 1544Anthony Parſon prieſt, Henrie Filmer. Iohn Marbeck, were ſent from London to Windſor by the Sheriffes men, the Saterday before S. Iames day: and laid faſt in the towne gaole, Robert Teſtwood, (who had kept his bed) was brought out of his houſe vponupon crowches and laide with them. Robert Bennet was the fourth apprehended with them, and being ſicke of the peſtilence, and a great ſore running vponupon him, he was left behind in the Biſhop of Londons gaole, whereby he eſcaped the fire.

Now theſe being brought to Windſor, there was a ſeſſion ſpecially procured to be holden the Thurſday after, which was S. Agnes day. Againſt which ſeſſions by the counſell of Doctour London and Simons a cruell Perſecutour, p. 59were all the Farmers belonging to the Colledge of Windſor warned to appeare to be the iurers. The Iudges were theſe: Doctor Capon biſhop of Saliſbury, ſir William Eſſex knight, ſir Thomas Bridges knight, ſir Humfrey Foſter knight, Franckelen Deane of Windſore, and Fachell of Readyng: Robert Ockam occupied the clarke of peaces roume: who called Anthony Parſon and read his indictement: whiche was, preachyng agaynſt the reall preſence: Thomas Teſtwood, whom they alleadged againſt, that hée mocked the Prieſt at the lifting &c. Next, Filmer, whome his owne brother accuſed, for the matter of the reall preſence: there being none but his owne brother to witnes againſt him, whom Doctor London flattered and entertayned in his owne houſe to that ende. Laſtly, Iohn Marbecke béeyng called, was charged to hauehave reſembled the lifting vp of the Sacrament, to the ſetting vp of Ieroboams calues, and for ſpeaking agaynſt the Maſſe: In which Articles they were founde guiltye by the Queſt: one Hyde, dwelling beſide Abington in a Lordeſhippe belonging to the Colledge of Windſor, ſpake in the mouth of the reſt. Then the Iudges beholding the priſoners a good while, (ſome with waterie eyes) made curteſie who ſhoulde giuegive iudgement: which when Fachell that was the loweſt in the benche perceyued: if no man will doe it, then will I (ſaid Fachell) and ſo gaue iudgement. So were they had away, who with comforting one another, prepared themſelues to die the next day. All the night, till dead ſléepe tooke them, they continued ſtill calling on the name of the Lord, and praying for their perſecutors.

On the next morowe, which was Friday, as the priſoners were all preparing themſelues to ſuffer, the Biſhop of Sarum and others, had ſent a letter by one of the Sherifes Gentlemen, called maſter Froſt, to the biſhop of Wincheſter, (the Court being then at Oking) in the fauour p. 60of Marbecke, Marbecke pardoned.at the ſight of which letter the Biſhop ſtraight way went to the king and obtained his pardon: which was to the end he might betray others. On the Saturday morning the other thrée were had to ſuffer, and all thrée beyng bound to the poſt, a certaine yong man of Filmers acquaintance brought him a pot of drinke: aſking him if he would drinke? Yea quoth Filmer I thanke you, and ſo they encouraging themſelues, drancke one to another. Filmer reioycing in the Lord, ſaid: be merie my brethren and lift vp your hearts to God: for after this ſharpe breakefaſt I truſt we ſhall hauehave a good dinner in the kingdome of Chriſt our Lord and redéemer:Filmer, Teſtwood, & Porſon burned. at which wordes Teſtwood lifting vp his hands and eies to heauen, deſired the Lord aboue to receiue his ſpirite. And Anthonie Parſon pulling the ſtrawe vntounto him, laide a good deale thereof vponupon the toppe of his head, ſaying: This is Gods hatte: nowe am I dreſſed like a true ſouldier of Chriſt, by whoſe merites only I truſt this day to enter into his ioy:Notable martyrs. and ſo they yéelded vp their ſoules vntounto the Lord with ſuch patience, as it was marueilous to the beholders.

The meaning of Gardiner was after this to hauehave dealt with great perſonages, had not the Lord preuented his cruell practiſes.

On the Munday after the men were burnt: it was determined by the Biſhoppe of Saliſburie, that Robert Ockam ſhould go to the Biſhop of Wincheſter with the whole proceſſe done at the Seſſions the thurſday before. And alſo, had writings of thoſe that were priuilie endicted: whereof one of the Quéenes men (named Fulke) hauing knowledge, gat to the Court before, and tolde Sir Thomas Cardine, and other of the priuie Chamber, how all the matter ſtoode. Whereupon, Ockam was laide for, & paſſing the ſtréetes by the Earle of Bedfordes lodging, was pulled in by y^e ſleeue, and kept ſecrete at my Lorde priuie Seales, till certaine of the priuie Counſel had peruſed all his writings: Among p. 61which, they found certaine of the priuie Chamber endicted, with other the kings Officers, and their wiues. That is to ſay, Sir Thomas Cardine, Sir Philip Hobbie, with both their Ladies. Maſter Edmund Harmon, Maſter Th. Weldowe, with Snowball and his wife. All theſe they had endicted by the force of the vi. articles, as ayders, helpers, and mainteyners of Anthonie Parſon. And beſides them, they had endicted of hereſie, a great number mo of the kings true and faithfull Subiectes. Whereof the kings Maieſtie being certified, gaue vntounto them his gratious pardon.The king pardoneth. And ſo had Benet a diſcharge withall: and being certified of the ſheriffe and Sir Humfrey Foſter, of the death of the poore men at Windſor, the king turning from them, to depart, ſayde, Alas poore Innocents. And after this withdrew his fauour from Wincheſter, cauſed Doctor London,Wincheſter caſt out of fauour. and Simons the Lawier, and a fierce perſecutor of them, to be apprehended, and brought before the Counſell: and examined vponupon their oath, of alleigeance, who for denying their wicked fact, were found periured, and were iudged as periured perſons, to weare papers in Windſor, and Ockam to ſtande vponupon the Pillorie at Newberie, where he was borne.Falſe Iudges and accuſers puniſhed. The iudgement of the thrée was, to ride about Windſor, Reading, and Newberie, with papers on their heads, and their faces turned to the horſetailes, and ſo to ſtande vponupon the Pillorie in euerie of thoſe Townes, for falſe accuſation of the forenamed Martyrs, and for periurie.

Anno 1539. 1539There was commiſſion ſent to Calice, to enquire of hereſie, through a complaint made of the entertainement and accepting of Adam Damlip, alias George Bucker, who there for xx. dayes or more, preached eueryevery day at vii. of the clocke. He preached very godly ſermōs againſt Tranſubſtantiation, and adoration of the ſacrament. Damlip by this Commiſſion was cited, and appeared before the Archb. of Canterbury, Wincheſter, Chicheſter, and diuers others: before whom conſtantly he mainteined the trueth of p. 62the ſacrament, and being diſmiſſed for that time, & enioyned to appeare the next day,Adam Damlip. by the ſecret warning of the archb. of Cant. he ſtept aſide into the Weſt countrey, while great trouble was kindled againſt Gods people in Calice, namely, againſt ſir W. Smith, curate, & a zelous preacher, T. Brook R. Hare, ſir I. Butler, then Commiſſarie, Iames Cocke, alias Coppē, Perſecution in Calice.D. Lane, I, Barber, and others. Of the which perſons T. Brooke, R. Hare, Coppen, D. Lane, & I. Barber, were apprehended, and ſent ouer, and committed to priſon in Weſtminſter gate: and then commaunded to appeare before the Archb. Wincheſter, Chicheſter, and ten other, appointed by the kings maieſtie. Sir W. Smith preacher, and I. Butler, by commandement were apprehended in Calice, and boūd by ſuretie, not to paſſe the boundes of Calice.

Sir William Smith was accuſed to preach againſt our ladie, and praying to ſaints, good works, &c. Brooke, for ſpeaking againſt the ſacrament, Rafe, Hare for ſpeaking againſt holy bread & holy water, Butler was charged to hauehave mainteined Adam Damlippe: for which he was diſmiſſed of his Commiſſariſhip. And it was determined, that ſir W. Smith, Rafe Hare, Iames Cock, and Iames Barber, ſhould be ſent to Calice, and there to abiure, and do penance: where ſir Williā Smith was enioyned to make the ſermon, R. Hare, I. Cock, and Iames Barber, there ſtanding with fagots vponupon their ſhoulders: ſauing becauſe he dwelled there, Barber was enioyned to beare his fagot iiij. miles of Calice, on the market day: where ſir. W. Smith preached alſo, as before, and ſo ordered the matter in his ſermon, that in effect he denied nothing he had taught before. His accuſer was one R. Long, a man at armes in Calice, who falſly ſwore that he had eaten fleſh in Lent, at Brookes houſe: after which oath, he hauing taken diſpleaſure ſome way, ran out of his houſe, and in the eyes of a number of people, went & drowned himſelfe.

After this commiſſion, which was executed by M. Greenfield, ſir I. Butler, the K. maſon, & others (through the rage of p. 63the enimy, and complaint to the king, that the commons were in perill through diſſention of opinions,) there were ſent ouer new commiſſioners, the earle of Suſſex, lord great Chamberlaine, the lord S. Iohn, ſir Iohn Gage knight, ſir Iohn Baker knight, M. Layton clerke of the cloſet, and D. Currin with ſpeciall inſtructions, beſides ſigned with the kings owne hand: ſo that if God had not taken compaſſion, there had an hundreth béene burnt or hanged ſhortly after: but it hapned far otherwiſe: for of the number of thoſe accuſors, iiij. were by the cōmiſſioners ſent ouer into England: to wit, Clement Philpot ſeruant to the L. Liſle, ſir Edmund curate of our Ladies church, Thomas Towchet a poſtmaiſter, Peter Requet: Gods iudgement and deliuerance of his people.of the which Philpot and the Curat were drawne, hanged and quartered at London: and contrarily, of them that were accuſed, not one loſt an haire of his head. Inquiſition being made, Thomas Brooke aforementioned, was committed to ward: and ſo were Anthony Pickering Gent. Henry Turney gentleman, Sir George Darby prieſt, Iohn Shepheard, William Pellam, William Reuerdall, Iohn Whitewood, Iohn Boote, Robert Clodder, Copen de Lane, & Mathew de Lound, ſent to cloſe priſon: William Stephens likewiſe, who was Adam Damlips hoſt,The L. Liſle dieth in the Tower. was ſent into England and clapt in the Tower: and after him the L. Liſle deputie, who died in the Tower.

The ſeconde day after Eaſter, Thomas Brooke was ſent for, and committed to cloſe priſon in the maiors gaole: and George Brodway was ſuborned by the Counſel of Calice: who threatened him greatly, if he woulde not burthen Brooke with ſome concealementes (which he at length by ſtraite impriſonment & threats, did, and ſet to his hand, that Brooke had for a long time concealed foure groates eueryevery day, for his Clarkes wages:) for which after a while Brodway being gréeued in his conſcience, with a knife wēt about to cut his owne throte, had not the gaoler preuēted him; who heard him grone w^t the pain he felt of y^e woūd: after, through p. 64guilt of conſcience and ſhame he fell out of his wittes.Gods iudgement vponupon a falſe accuſer. Of this dealing with Brooke, his wife gaue intelligence to the lord Cromwell; wherein ſhée deſired the lord Cromwell to be a meanes to the king that the afflicted, and their cauſes might be heard in England, which he with ſpéed did accompliſh, and wrote to the Commiſſioners in the kings name, that Brooke, and xij. or xx. of his complices ſhould be ſent ouer into England with their accuſers.

Now by the time that the Commiſſioners had receiued theſe letters, they had made out precepts for viij. or ix. ſcore honeſt men more to be caſt in priſon; but theſe Letters appalled and ſtaied them: notwithſtanding they baniſhed the men before named, out of the towne for an hundreth yeres: and ſent them back to priſon, ſtaying them there vponupon hope, that the Lord Cromwell ſhould ſooner come into captiuitie then he did: but at laſt they ſent xiij. priſoners with Brook, who within xxiiij. houres, were at anker before the Tower wharfe: whom when the Lord Cromwell vnderſtood to be come, he commanded their yrons to be ſmote off at the tower wharfe, and the priſoners to be brought vntounto him, whom hee greatly comforted. After that, they were ſent to the Fleete, and whiles they were in the Fleete, and William Steuens in the tower, the xix. day of Iuly Anno 1541, the Lorde Cromwell their great fauourer was beheaded at Tower hill, ſo that all hope ſeemed to them to hauehave beene vtterly loſt of any deliuerance: but the Lord had them in remembrance, and ſtirred vp the Lord Awdley, L. Awdley a friend to the afflicted.Lord Chauncellour of England, without further examination, to deliuer them. And at length, two yeres after, he deliuered William Steeuens alſo, by the kings owne motion. The vniuſt Coū ſellers, who charged the Towne with ſedition and hereſie, fell afterward into the kings diſpleaſure, and the L. Graie, Sir George Carew, and Sir Richard Greenfield, who purged the town of the ſlander, although for a time they were in diſpleaſure, yet w^tin a while after, they came into greater p. 65fauor then before; and were rewarded with xx. l. a yéere a péece at the leaſt: Rockwood one of the fearceſt perſecutors fell into diſpaire:Rockwood a perſecutor deſpaireth. Gods iudgements. and at the laſt breath cried, he was vtterly damned, for that he ſaid, malitiouſly he ſought the death of ſuch good men. The Vndermarſhall alſo (another perſecutor) ſuddenly fell downe in the counſell chamber and neuer ſpake worde: and the reſt of the perſecutors had the reuenging hand of God following after them.

Adam Damlip Adam Damlip taken againe.who before eſcaped & lay hid in the Weſtcountry, teaching a ſchoole about a yéere or two: by the miſerable inquiſition of the ſix articles, was againe taken and brought vp to London, where he was by St. Gardiner commanded to the Marſhalſea, & there lay the ſpace of other two yéeres, where thinking he had béene forgotten; he in the Latine tongue wrote an epiſtle to the B. of Wincheſter, wherin he ſaid he would write his obedience & ſubmiſſion: for ſaid he, I had rather die then here to remaine, and not to be ſuffered to vſe my talent to Gods glorie: This he ſaid to M. Marbecke then priſoner in the Marſhalſea. This epiſtle he deliuered to his kéeper about Saturday in y^e morning, which was about the ij. wéeke before Whitſontide, deſiring him to deliuer it at the court to the B. of Wincheſter, which he did. The B. made ſuch quicke diſpatch, that y^e kéeper came home at night very late, & brought with him a precept for the executiō of Adam Damlip. So vponupon munday early in the morning, the kéeper & other of the knight Marſhals men, cōueied Adam vntounto Calice vponupon the Aſcenſion euen, & there cōmitted him to the Maiors priſon: & becauſe they could not burthen him with any thing, within a ſufficient cōpaſſe of time, to condemne him: they laid to his charge he had receiued a French crowne of cardinall Poole at Rome; where before his firſt comming to Calice, he was requeſted to read thrée lectures a wéeke in Cardinall Pooles houſe: & therefore they condemned him and executed him for treaſon:Adam Damlip put to death. which death he moſt méekely and hartely tooke: Iohn Butler and ſir Daniell p. 66the curate before mentioned, after ix. moneths impriſonment were with much labour permitted to returne to Calice againe: William Steuens aboue mentioned, who had remained all this time in the Tower, was condemned alſo of treaſon with his gueſt Adam Damlip, & pardoned by the king. Adam Damlip had ſometimes béene a great papiſt & chaplaine to Fiſher B. of Rocheſter: & after the death of his maiſter, trauelled France, Dutchland, and Italie, and came to Rome: where he would not for the wickednes of the place abide to remaine, though cardinall Poole offered him maintenance to read iij. lectures a wéeke in his houſe; which he refuſed: & for receiuing onelyonly a French crowne, he was condemned and executed for treaſon: he receiued it at the Cardinals hand to drinke, and beare ſome charge of expence.

By the preaching of Adam Damlip in Calice, among others, there was a poore mā whoſe name is not yet certainly knowne: who was conuerted to the truth & therfore condemned by one Haruey there, being cōmiſſarie: whom this Haruey in time of his iudgement called Hereticke, and ſaid he ſhould die a vile death: the poore man aunſwered againe, and ſaid that he was no hereticke, but was in the faith of Chriſt: and whereas thou ſaideſt, ſaid he, that I ſhall die a vile death, thou thy ſelf ſhalt die a viler death, and that ſhortly. And ſo it came to paſſe, for within half a yéere after Haruey was hanged,Gods iudgement. drawne and quartered for treaſon in the ſame towne of Calice.

After the burning of this poore man, there was alſo a certaine other ſchooler coūted to be a dutchman named Dodde, who comming out of Germany, was there taken with certaine Germane bookes about him: & being examined & ſtanding ſtoutly to the doctrine of the goſpell, he was burned.

A little before this time, Will. Bolton, alias Croſbowmaker, for ſaying the Pope wanted Charitie: if he could, and would not releaſe ſoules out of Purgatorye, by Doctor Darlie parſon of our Ladies Church in Calice, then Commiſſarie p. 67for Archbiſhoppe Warham, was made to beare a fagotte, and loſt his wages, which was vi, pence a day: who complaining thereof to the king, and declaring vntounto his maieſtie the cauſe, ſent him to Calice againe: and after that gaue him viij. pence a day.

As for the vi. articles, many good men were put to death, ſo for the Popes ſupremacie diuerſe ſuffered. And about this time, Larke a prieſt of Chelſey for the ſupremacie, and Germine Gardiner, néere kinſeman to Stephen Gardiner, and his ſecretarie, for practiſing for the Pope againſt the King, were put to death.

By an act of parlament holden An. 1544. 1544. The rigour of vi. articles mitigated.the rigour of the vi. articles was aſſwaged a little: & at the firſt time it was permitted, that they which offended againſt them might recant: which if they refuſed to doe, and offended againe, they ſhould beare a fagot, and ſhould be admitted to abiure: if the third time they offended, then they ſhould ſuſtaine puniſhment according to law. Notwithſtanding this Parlament had thus mittigated the rigor, yet remained the poiſon: and all manner of bookes bearing the name of Williām Tindall, or what other booke ſoeuer contained any thing againſt the vi. articles, were debarred. In this Parlament alſo, it was permitted onelyonly to noblemen and gentlemen,Noblemen and Gentlemē permitted to reade the ſcripture. to reade the ſcriptures to their edifying: ſo they did it without diſcuſſing or vrging therevpon.

In this Parlament alſo it was permitted to the party detected, to trye his cauſe by witneſſes: as many (or more) in number as the other which depoſed againſt him,

Anno 1545. 1545. Sixe articles more qualified.the vi. articles were yet much more qualified by Act of Parlament: whereby it was alſo decréed, that the king ſhould hauehave full power to appoint 32. perſons: to wit, ſixetéene of the Cleargie, and ſixetéene of the temporaltie, to peruſe and ouerſée, & examine the Canons, conſtitutions and ordinances of the canon law, aſwell prouinciall, as ſynodall: and ſo according to their diſcretions to eſtabliſh p. 68an order of eccleſiaſtical lawes, ſuch as ſhould be thought by the king moſt conuenient.

This yeere 1544. Iohn Heywood recanted the Popes ſupremacie, and Iohn Ath the trueth of the ſacrament.

About the yeere 1546. 1546 Saxy hanged.one Saixe a prieſt, was hanged in the porters lodge of Stephen Gardiner, not without the conſent of the Biſhop, as it is ſuppoſed: there was alſo a ſeruant in Colcheſter, named, Henrie, burned for the teſtimony of the trueth.Henry burned.

This yeere 1546. One Kerby Kerby.was burned in Ipſwich for the teſtimony of the truth: and the matter of the real preſence: at whoſe death, the Lord Wentworth (who gaue ſentēce againſt him) with others, wept bitterly: He was burnt the Saterday before Gang munday, and at the ſame barre alſo was condemned one Roper, Roper.Clearke of Mendeſham: & was burned at S. Edmundſbury, the Gang munday after. He ſuffred great pains & tormēts in his burning, for y^e wood was gréen, ſo that he was choked with ſmoke: and moreouer being ſet in a pitch barrell, was therewith ſore payned at length one ſtanding by, took a fagot ſtick, and ſtriking at the ring about his neck, ſtroke him belike vponupon the head, & ſo he ſunke down and was diſſolued. The other, Kerby, being diſſwaded by maiſter Robert Wingfield, A notable ſpeech of the conſtant ſeruant of Chriſt.that declared vntounto him the painfulnes of the death, ſaid vntounto him. Ah Maiſter Wingfield, be at my death, and you ſhal ſay: there ſtandeth a Chriſtian ſouldier in the fire.

At the later end of this yéere 1545. in the monethmonth of Nouember, was granted vntounto the king (beſides other ſubſidies of money,) al Colledges, Chauntries, Frée chappels, hoſpitals, Fraternities, brotherhoods, guildes, & perpetuities of ſtipendarie prieſts, to be diſpoſed at his pleaſure.

The next Lent following, D. Crome D. Crome recanteth.made a dilemma againſt priuate maſſes: but the Prelates did ſo handle the matter that on Eaſter next, they made him to recant.

Anno 1546. About the monethmonth of Iune, Anne Askewe, p. 69Iohn Lacels, gentleman, of the Court, Iohn Adams a Tailor, Nicholas Belleman a prieſt of Shropſhire, were burned at one fire in Smithfield. Anne Aſkew 1545. Anne Aſkewe.in the monethmonth of March, was firſt examined by C. Dare, Inquiſitor, at ſadlers hall, touching the Sacrament of the Altar, Maſſes, confeſſion, the kings booke: and afterward committed by him to be examined of a Prieſt, who propounded alſo concerning the ſacrament: to whom ſhe would make no anſwere, neither vntounto the Inquiſitor, touching that matter.

He enquired alſo concerning priuate Maſſes, which ſhee ſaid was idolatrous. From thence they had her to my Lord Mayor, who examined her as they had done before: to whom ſhe made ſuch anſwere as ſhe did to the queſt before, which was in ſome things directly, in other ſome, by queſtion. Againe, becauſe ſhe ſaid ſhe would not caſt Pearles among ſwine. From thence the L. Mayor commanded her to ward without baile: ſo ſhe remained in the Counter xi. daies, and no friend admitted to ſpeak w^t her, ſauing a prieſt was ſent vntounto her by y^e B. to examin her of his points of ſuperſtition.

The xxiii. of March, her Coſen maſter Britaine, went to my Lord Mayor, deſiring of him ſhee might be bayled: who ſaid he would not do it without the conſent of the Spiritual Officer. Whereupon he went to the Chauncellour: but the matter was ſo haynous, that he durſt not do it without the B. of London were made priuie to it. So from him he went to Bonner, who ſaid to maſter Britaine, that hee was well contented that ſhe ſhould come foorth to a communication: and appointed her to appeare the next day at iij. of the clocke at after noone: but ſent for her at one of the clock, and by flattering wordes endeuoured to perſwade her to declare her whole minde without feare: and promiſed her that no vauntage ſhould be taken of any worde ſhe ſhould there ſpeake: but ſhe would declare nothing. Wherwith the biſhop being offended, charged her with words ſhe ſhould be reported to ſpeake againſt the ſacrament of the altar, againſt the maſſe, p. 70with other ſuch like queſtions, ſome true, ſome falſe: wherto ſhe made ſuch anſwere as was not to the B. contentmēt: yet ſubtilly he drew out a circumſtance, as it were a recantation, & required her to ſubſcribe to it: which ſhe ſaide ſhée would do ſo far foorth as the holy ſcripture doth agrée vntounto. Frō thence ſhe was caried againe to priſon, vntil y^e next morow, at which time ſhe was cōmanded to appeare at y^e guild hal: from whēce againe ſhe was commited to priſon: neither could ſhe yet be bayled. Thē were her ſureties cōmanded to come before thē the next morow in Paules church: where w^t much a do they took a bond of them of recogniſaunce for her foorth comming, and ſo ſhe was deliuered.

Anno. 1546. ſhe was examined againe before the kings counſel at Gréen wich: to whō ſhe anſwered in many things parabolically:Anne Aſkew anſwereth parabolically. & when the B. of Wincheſter bad her make a direct anſwere, ſhe ſaid ſhe would not ſing a new ſong of y^e Lord in a ſtrāge land. The next day ſhe was again brought before the Counſel, and (as before) was queſtioned w^t touching the Sacrament of the altar: to whom ſhe boldly and roundly (with ſome checke vntounto the aduerſaries) made aunſwere in ſuch ſort,A. Aſkew anſwereth boldly and roundly. as they could take no direct vauntage againſt her. On the ſunday after ſhe fel ſore ſick, & deſired to ſpeake with M. Latimer, which might not be permitted. After that ſhe was ſent to Newgate, in her extremitie of ſicknes,Anne Aſkew condemned. & from thence they brought her to the guild hall: where ſhe was condēned for y^e article of y^e real preſēce in y^e ſacramēt.

After her condemnation, on Tueſday, ſhe was ſent from Newgate to the ſigne of the Crowne, where M. Riche, the Biſhop of London, and N. Shaxton, laboured to perſwade her to recant by faire words, but it would not preuaile: then M. Rich ſent her to the tower, where ſhe remained till 3. of the clock: then came M. Rich & one of the counſel, & charged her vponupon her obedience, to ſhew vntounto them, if ſhe knew any man or woman of her Sect, and aſked of the Lady of Suffolke, of Suſſex, of Hertforde, my Lady Dennie, and my p. 71Lady Fitzwilliams: which ſhe would not diſcloſe, nor any other. Then they put her on the racke,Anne Aſkew racked till ſhe was nigh dead becauſe ſhe cōfeſſed no Ladies nor Gentlewomen to be of her opinion, and thereon they kept her a long time: and becauſe ſhée lay ſtill and did not crie, my Lord Chancellour and Maiſter Rich tooke paines to racke hir with their owne handes, till ſhe was nigh dead, then the Liefetenant cauſed her to be looſed from the racke: which doone, incontinently ſhe ſouned. Then they recouered her againe: and after that, ſhe ſat two long houres reaſoning with the lord Chancellour vponupon the bare floore: who with flattering woordes perſwaded her to leaue her opinion. Then was ſhe brought to an houſe, and layd vponupon a bed with painefull bones: after which the lord Chancellour ſent her word, that if ſhe would leaue her opinion, ſhe ſhould want nothing: if ſhe would not, ſhe ſhould to Newgate, and thence to the fire. To whom ſhe ſent word againe, that ſhe would rather die, then breake her faith. The king vnderſtanding by the Liefetenaunt of her cruell racking,The king diſpleaſed with the racking of Anne Aſkew. was greatly diſpleaſed therewith.

The day of her executiō being appointed, ſhe was brought into Smithfield in a chaire, becauſe ſhe could not go on her féete, by reaſon of her racking, and was girded by the middle with a chaine that might hold vp her bodie, and ſo was ſhée with her fellowes a witneſſe of the truth, and ſealer of the ſame with her bloud. Anne Aſkew hauing letters of pardon offered her at the ſtake by Wriſley lord Chancellour, if ſhée would recant, ſhe refuſed ſo much as to looke on them. They were there alſo offered to the reſt,The martyrs had pardon at the ſtake. but they by her example were confirmed, and likewiſe refuſed the ſame.

About the ſame time and yéere, Doctor Ripſe biſhop of Norwich did incite the old duke of Northfolke againſt Rogers in the countie of Northfolke: who was condemned, and ſuffered for the cauſe of the ſixe Articles.

An. 1546. Wincheſter practized againſt Q. Catherine Parre the laſt wife to king Henry, who was very zealous p. 72towardes the Goſpell,Wincheſter practiſeth againſt the life of the Queene. and had perſwaded with the king to make a perfect reformation, and ſo farre he preuailed with the king, perſuading him of the factious diſpoſition of the goſpellers, and of the daungerous example of the Quéene his wife; that, before that he and the L. Chancellor, and others (who conſpired together againſt her) departed, the king had giuen out cōmandement, with warrant to certaine of them made for that purpoſe, to conſult together about drawing of certaine articles againſt the Quéene, wherein her life might be touched: which y^e king by their perſuaſions pretended not to ſpare, hauing any rigor or colour of law to coūtenance the matter. With which cōmiſſion they departed that time from the king; reſolued to put their pernitious practiſe in executiō: & firſt determined to deale with thoſe whō they knew were great about her, as the Lady Harbert, afterward the Counteſſe of Penbrooke, and ſiſter to the Quéene, and chiefe of her priuie chamber: the lady Lane being of her priuie chamber, and alſo her coſin Germane; the lady Terwit beyng of her priuie chamber. It was deuiſed that theſe thrée ſhould firſt of all hauehave béene accuſed, & brought to anſwere to the ſix articles: and vponupon their apprehenſion in the court, their cloſets and coffers ſhould hauehave béen ſearched, that ſomewhat might hauehave béene found whereby the Quéene might be charged, which being found, ſhe her ſelfe preſently ſhould hauehave béene taken, & likewiſe caried by barge in the night to the Tower. To all this the king ſéemed to giuegive his aſſent, and afterward opened all the matter to D. Wendy his Phyſicion, charging him withall vponupon perill of his life, not to vtter it to any perſon. Now the time drawing nigh when they minded to put their miſchéefes in practiſe, the bill of articles drawne out againſt the Quéene, and ſubſcribed with the Kinges owne hand, falling from the boſome of one of thoſe wicked counſellours, was found, and taken vp of ſome godly perſon, and brought immediatly to the Quéene: who ſéeing the ſame fell into a marueilous perplexitie, almoſt to the perill and p. 73daunger of her life: whereof the king hearing, he ſent his Phiſition Wendie, and came alſo himſelfe to comfort her: to whom ſhe delared her griefe; but the king gaue her moſt comfortable wordes: and ſo when he had tarried an houre with her, he departed. Shée afterwardes being recouered, came to the King, and founde ſuche fauour with him, and had ſo ſatiſfied him in thoſe thinges,The king much altered concerning their practiſes againſt the Queene. for which the Prelates conſpired againſt her, that his minde was fully altered, and deteſted in his heart the bloudie conſpiracie of thoſe Traytours: who yet notwithſtanding the next day determined to hauehave carried the Quéene to the Tower: and at the houre appointed, the Lord Chauncellour, with fourtie of the garde at his héeles, commeth into the garden where the Quéene was with the King, and thoſe thrée Ladies, in pleaſaunt communication, fully determining from thence to hauehave taken the Quéene and thoſe thrée Ladies, and to hauehave carried them to the Tower: whom the King ſtearnely beholding, and breaking of his myrth with the Quéene, ſtepped aſide and called him knaue, arrant knaue, beaſt and foole,The Queene deliuered from her daunger. and commaunded him preſently to auoide out of his preſence. So departed the Chauncellour with his train, and all his deuiſes brought to naught, and the ſubtletie of Gardiner diſcouered, who was alwayes a cruell enimie againſt the Goſpell, and profeſſors of the ſame. Gardiner not onelyonly practiſed in England againſt reformation, but alſo when the King was minded to reforme in England, he being Ambaſſadour beyond the ſeas, for the agréement of a league betwéene England, Fraunce, and the Emperour: he wrote vntounto the king, and perſwaded him, that if he procéeded to alter any whit in England in matters of religion, the league would not go forwarde: whereby the Kinges determinate purpoſe for that time was altered, although before he had commanded the Archb. Cranmer to cauſe two letters in his name to be drawne for the aboliſhing of Roodlofts, and ringing on allhallow night.

p. 74After this, Anno 1546. The matter of reformation beganne to be reuiued: and the French king, and the king of England did agrée to make a perfect reformation:The kings of England, and France, agree to make a perfect reformatiō of religion. and were ſo fully reſolued therein, that they meant alſo to exhort the Emperour to doe the ſame in Flaunders, and other his countries, or elſe to breake off from him. And herein the king commaunded the Archbiſhop Cranmer to penne a forme thereof, to bée ſent to the French king to conſider of: but by the death of theſe Princes, that purpoſe was cut off.

About this time, Sir Hugh Cauerley knight, & maiſter Litleton, falſly accuſed Sir George Blage, one of the kings priuie chamber, the ſunday before Anne Askew ſuffered, before Wriſeley Lord Chauncellour:Sir George Blage condemned to be burned. the next day he was carried to Newgate, & from thence to the guild hall: where he was condemned the ſame day, and appointed to be burned the wedneſday after. They laid to him, that he ſhold ſay, that if a mouſe did eate the bread, they ſhould by his conſent hang vp the mouſe: with other ſuch light matters. When the King vnderſtood hereof, hée was ſore offended with their doinges, and ſent him his pardon: and ſo was he ſet at liberberty. Who comming after to the kings preſence, ah my pig ſaid the king to him, (for ſo he was wont to call him.) Yea (ſaid he) if your maieſtie had not béene befter vntounto me, then your Biſhoppes were, your pigge had béene roſted ere this time.

After the death of Anne Askew, the Prelates made out ſtraight proclamation againſt Engliſh bookes of ſcripture, and whatſoeuer might giuegive any light to the word: and drew out a number of hereſies (as they call them) out of thoſe bookes, and condemned them.

Within foure moneths after, this proclamation comming out in Auguſt, the king deceaſſed in the beginning of Ianuarie, in the 38. yéere of his reigne, Anno 1547. 1547 The king dieth.leauing behinde him, king Edwarde, Queene Marie, and p. 75Quéene Elizabeth. Perſecution in Scotland.Not onelyonly in England but alſo in Scotland there was great perſecution for the trueth: And anno 1540. was Sir Iohn Brothwicke knight, called captaine Brothwicke cited for hereſie: & not appearing, but eſcaping out of their hands, was condemned for the ſame (though hée were abſent) by the ſentence of Dauid Beaton Archbiſhop of S. Andrewes and other prelates of Scotland:Ten articles againſt Sir Iohn Brothwicke. They obiected, againſt him x. Articles, 1. That the Pope hath no more authoritie then another Biſhop. 2. That the Popes indulgences and pardons are of no force. 3. That the Pope is an open vſer of Symonie, ſellyng the giftes of ſpiritualtie. 4. That he perſwaded many to imbrace hereſies in England. 5. That hee ſaide, that the Cleargy of Scotland was blinde. 6. Hée condemned the counſell of Conſtance. 7. Hée perſwaded the king to appropriate vntounto himſelfe the goodes of the Church. 8. Hée deſired that the Churche of Scotland were in the ſame eſtate, that the Churche of England. 9. That the canons were of no force. 10. He perſwaded againſt the religion of Scotland, &c. To all which articles, he made a learned and large anſwere: the Papiſtes condemned him being abſent, and openly burned his picture in token of his condemnation, without all hope of pardon.

Not long after the burning of Dauid Stratton, and maiſter Gurley: in the dayes of Dauid Beaton, B. and Cardinal of Saint Andrewes: and George Treighton Biſhoppe of Dunkelden, a Chanon of Saint Colines, and Vicar of Dolone, called Deane Thomas Ferret Tho. Ferretwas condemned to death, without any place of recantation, for preaching eueryevery Sundaye to his Pariſhioners, and with him two blacke Friers, one called Iohn Relowe, the other called Beuerage, a prieſt of Striueling, called Duncan Simons, and one Gentleman called Robert Foſter, in Striueling, with other thrée or foure of the ſame Towne of Striueling, becauſe they were chiefe Heretickes: and eſpeciallye, p. 76bycauſe many of them were at the Bridall and mariage of a prieſt, who was vicar of Twilodie beſide Striueling, and did eate fleſh in the Lent at the ſame brydall. And ſo they were altogether burnt vponupon the Caſtle hill of Edenburgh, where conſtantly they endured to the end, one comforting another.

Anno 1543. Robert Lamb, William Anderſon, Iames Hunter, Iames Raueleſon, Iames Founteſon, and Helen Stirke his wife, were put to death for the teſtimonie of the truth againſt the romiſh church. William Anderſon, & Robert with Iames Raueleſon were accuſed for hanging vp the Image of S. Frauncis in a corde,S. Francis homely vſed. nayling of rammes hornes to his head, and a Cowes rumpe to his taile, and for eating of a gooſe on alhallow eue. Iames Hunter becauſe he vſed the ſuſpect company of the reſt: the woman for that in her childebed ſhée was not accuſtomed to call on the Virgin Marie, and that ſhée ſaide no merite of the Virgin, but Gods frée merciemercy, procured her the honour to be made the mother of Chriſt. Iames Raueleſon for building an houſe, and ſetting vppon the rounde of his fourth ſtaire, the thrée crowned diademe of Peter with the Cardinalles booke, as done in mockage of his Cardinals hat. Theſe perſons on the morow after Saint Paules day were condemned, vponupon the Act againſt conferring, and reaſoning of the Scriptures.

The woman aforeſaid, Helen Stirke Helen Stirke a notable martirdeſired to die with her huſbād, and greatly encouraged him, & parting with him at the ſtake with a kiſſe, ſaide, this was the ioyfulleſt day that euer ſhe had; and ſaid ſhe would not bid him good night: for (ſaid ſhe) we ſhall ſodeinly méet with ioy in the kingdom of heauen: and ſo ſhe was taken away, & drowned, although ſhe had a childe ſucking on her. Dauid Beaton Biſhop, and Cardinal of S. Andrewes, was the chiefe doer in this perſecution.

In this yeare 1543. Iohn Chartnons, being Prouoſt of S. Iohnſton, alias Pereth, was depoſed for fauouring of the p. 77trueth.

Anno 1546. The firſt of March, maſter George Wiſeheart 1533. George Wiſeheart.ſuffered martirdome for the faith of Ieſus Chriſt, at Saint Andrewes in Scotland, anno 1543. He was a Student in Cambridge in Bennet Colledge, where he was a ſpeciall patterne of godlines and learning. Afterwarde in Scotland he was apprehended, and charged to hauehave preached, notwithſtanding he were forbidden: and to hauehave ſpokē againſt the maſſe, and the fiue odde Sacraments, againſt auricular confeſſion, againſt the ſacrament of the altar, againſt vnction, holiwater, againſt the power of the Pope, frée will, diſtinction of meates, againſt prayer to Saintes, purgatory, againſt vowes, and the vſe of popiſh ſuperſtitions: to which, (as they would for furie geue him leaue) George Wiſehart The meeke death of George Wiſeheart.made a ſufficient and Chriſtian anſwere. When he came to the place of execution, and the Executioner prayed him of pardon, he ſaid, come hether, and kiſſed him: and ſaide, lo here a token that I forgeue thée: My heart, do thine office: and ſo méekely he ended, and conſtantly gaue teſtimony to y^e trueth of Ieſus: the people piteouſly mourning for his death.

It was not long after, but the Cardinall was ſlaine by the handes of one Lech, and other Gentlemen, who ſodeinly brake in vponupon him, and ſlewe him:Gods iudgement. after which he lay ſeuen moneths vnburied at the leaſt: and at laſt, like carrion, was buried in a dunghill,

After Beaton, ſuccéeded Iohn Hambleton, Archbiſhop of ſaint Andrewes, 1549. who the next yere folowing, burned Adam Wallace, for the matter of the Sacrament. He was burned on the Caſtle hil of Edenburgh. Before his execution they had taken frō him all his bookes, which might ſerue for his comfort; but that he had learned by heart all Dauids Pſalter,Adam Wallace had learned all Dauids pſalter by heart. and ſupplyed comfort that way. When the fire was prepared, he himſelf aſked one of the Officers that ſtoode by, if the fire were making redy: who told him it was He anſwered, as it pleaſeth God, I am ready, ſoone or late, p. 78as it pleaſeth him: & ſo brought to the ſtake, he ended with conſtancie and patience, and gaue teſtimonie to the trueth: firſt exhorting the people not to be offended at his ſuffering for the trueths ſake.

Anno 1551. After that Richard Marſhall doctor of Diuinitie, and prior of the black Friers at Newcaſtle in England, had declared in his preachings at Saint Andrewes in Scotland, that the Lords prayer, commonly called the Pater noſter, ſhould be ſaid onelyonly to God, and not to Saints, neither to any other creature. The Doctors of diuinitie of S. Andrewes, together with the black Friers, who had long ago taught the people to ſay the Pater noſter to Saints, had great indignation that their olde doctrine ſhould be impugned: and ſtirred vp a Gray fryer, called Frier Toyttes, to teach the people to pray yet to Saints.A controuerſie in Scotland whether the Lords prayer ſhould be ſaid to Saints, or not. Whereupon fel ſuch a ſchiſme, that not only the Cleargie, but alſo the people were deuided among themſelues for the matter: in ſo much y^t there roſe a prouerbe: to whom ſay you your Pater noſter? And the cleargie for to decide the ſame controuerſie, & to put y^e people out of doubt, aſſembled thēſelues: yet notwithſtanding it ſo depended, y^t it was thought good to call a principal coūſel to decide y^e matter: which being aſſēbled at Edēburgh, the papiſts wāting reaſon, braſt out into vnſéemly ſpéech: as frier Toyt being aſked to whom he ſhould ſay his pater noſter, The Fryer biddeth ſay the pater noſter to the deuil.anſwered: ſay it to the deuil, knaue. In y^e end, they that were called churchmē, were deuided: for ſome of y^e biſhops and diuines conſented y^t it ſhould be ſaid to ſaints: but y^e B. of S. Andrewes, Caitenes and Athenies, refuſed vtterly to ſubſcribe to the ſame. Finally, it was declared vntounto the people, that it ſhould be ſaid vntounto God, with certeine reſtrictions: and ſo by little and little the bruite ceaſſed.

Anno 1558. W, Mill 1539. Walter Mill.was the laſt y^t was burned in Scotland for the doctrine of the goſpel, the xx. day of April, before the B. of S. Andrewes, Murray, Brechin, & a number of other prelates. He was brought to the metropolitane church, p. 79where he was put in a pulpet before y^e biſhops to be accuſed: his weakenes partly of age & ill vſage being ſuch, as it was thought, he ſhould not be able to be heard ſpeake. But when he began to ſpeake, he made the church ring & ſound againe, to the confuſion of the aduerſaries and comfort of the godly. And being long in his praiers ſir Andrew Oliphant one of the Biſhops prieſts called him: ſir Walter Mill ariſe, and anſweare to the Articles, for you hold my Lord here ouer long: In déede (ſaid he) I hauehave béene ouer long one of the Popes knights: (for he had béene before a Papiſt) but I am called Walter and not Sir. When neither threates nor allurements could preuaile, they condemned him, for the article of Prieſtes marriages, the ſeuen Sacraments, the ſacrament of the Altar, pilgrimage. Before ſentence was pronounced, Oliphant aſked him: wilt thou not recant thine erroneous opinions: and if thou wilt not, I will pronounce ſentence againſt thée. I am accuſed of my life (ſaide hée) againe I knowe I muſt die once, friend therfore, (as Chriſt ſaid to Iudas) doe it quickly: yée ſhall knowe that I will not recant the truth: for I am corne: I am no chaffe. I wil not be blown away with the wind, nor burſt with the flaile, but I wil abide both.A notable ſpeech of the martyr. Such was his maruellous boldneſſe & conſtancie, which did ſo moue the hearts of many, that the B. ſteward of his regaltie, prouoſt of the towne, called Patrike Learmend, refuſed to be his temporal Iudge: to whom it appertained. Alſo the Biſhoppes Chamberlaine being therewith charged, would in no wiſe take vponupon him ſo vngodly an office. Yea, the whole town was ſo offended with his vniuſt condemnation, that the biſhops ſeruāts could not get for their money, ſo much as one corde to tie him to the ſtake, or Tarre barrell to burne him, but were conſtrayned to cut y^e cords of their maſters owne Pauilion, to ſerue their turne. So being tied to the ſtake, & hauing exhorted y^e people, and praied, fire being put vntounto him, he ended in the Lord, w^t ſuch chéerfulnes and conſtancie enduring his martyrdome, p. 80that he was the laſt martyr in Scotland: this was in the time of Mary Longawale Quéene regent of Scotland, and Iohn Hamelton biſhop of Saint Andrewes and primate of Scotland.

Anno 1511. VnderUnder William Warrham Archb. of Canturburie, certaine martyrs that were omitted whiche ſuffered at that time with him, becauſe they are not to be forgotten, are to be referred to that yéere. They ſuffered for deniyng the Sacrament of the Altar, &c for auricular confeſſion, the extréeme vnction, images, pilgrimages, prayer to ſaints, holy bread, holy water, &c. They denie all that they had vttered any thing againſt thoſe popiſhe pointes: yet witneſſes, who had partly abiured before, and others againſt nature, as the huſband againſt the wife, and children againſt the mother: being brought forth, they were condemned, and put to death. Their names were: William Carder of Tenderden, Weauer, Agnes Grebill of the ſame towne of thréeſcore yéere old, Robert Lawſon of Halden, of the age 60. Iohn Browne of Aſhford, Edward Walker of Maidſton, Cutler: who all notwithſtanding they promiſed to ſubmitte themſelues, yet were they condemned. The cauſe why the good woman ſo ſtood (as ſhe did) to the deniall of thoſe articles, obiected againſt her was, for that ſhe neuer thought that her huſband and her owne children, (who only were priuie of her religion) would hauehave teſtified againſt her: which when ſhe perceiued, ſhe repented the time that euer ſhe bare thoſe children of her bodie. So, notwithſtanding that ſhe offered conformitie, ſhe was condemned and put to death. Her huſbandes name was Iohn Grebill: her ſonnes, Chriſtopher and Iohn. Beſides theſe, which were put to death, a number vnderunder Warren were forced to abiure the trueth againſt the reall preſence, confeſſion, ſacrament of matrimony, vnction, pilgrimages, Images, Saintes, holie water, holie bread, &c.

Alſo omitted before, anno 1539. Iohn a Painter, and p. 81Giles Germaine, who were accuſed and condemned for hereſie at London before the Biſhop and other Iudges, where, by chaunce comming in one of the kings ſeruaunts named Lancelot, a very tall man, and ſéeming by his countenance and geſture to fauour the cauſe of the poore men, was alſo examined and condemned with them and the next day at fiue a clocke in the morning, was carried with them into Saint Giles fieldes, and there burned.

Alſo about the latter end of Tonſtals time biſhop of London, one Stile was burned in Smithfield with the Apocalips (whereon he vſed to read,) about his necke.Stile burned with the Apocalips about his necke. Which booke when he ſaw faſtened to the ſtake with him: hée lifted vp his voice, and ſaid: O bleſſed Apocalips, how happie am I, that I ſhall be burned with thée: and ſo with the booke was he conſumed with fire.

Alſo ouerpaſſed before, about the ſecond yéere of the raigne of king Henry the eight, Iohn Browne of Aſhford after xl. daies impriſonment, when the Archbiſhop and Doctor Fiſher had burned his féete with hote coles to the ſtumps to make him recant. On Friday before Whitſunday he was ſent to Aſhford where he dwelt, the next day to be burned: and a yoong maide of his houſe eſpying him in the ſtockes, told hir miſtreſſe, who ranne and ſat by him alſo all night: to whome hée gaue exhortation, and declared how hée had béene toſſed to make him denie his Maſter, which he would not doo for all their tormentes. The cauſe of his death, was becauſe he ſaid to a Prieſt, bragging hée was a ſoule Prieſt: where finde you the ſoule when you go to Maſſe, and where doo you leaue it when you go from Maſſe? when the Prieſt ſaid, he could not tell, how can you then ſaue the ſoule ſaid he. For this hée was complayned of to William Warham Archbiſhop of Canturburie, and ſuddainely was taken in his owne houſe the ſame day when his wife was churched, as he was bringing in a meſſe of pottage to the borde, ſeruing p. 82in his gueſtes: and his féete bound vnderunder his owne horſes belly was caried away to Canterbury, neither hée nor any of his friends knowing whether he went: where after he had continued in priſon fortie daies, from Low-ſunday till Friday before Whitſontide he was ſent to Aſhford, and there put to death (as hath béene declared) comfortably and chéerefully giuing teſtimonie to the truth.

The end of the eight Booke.