The Tragical Death of David Beaton, Indictment
¶ The accusation of maister George wysehart gentlemā, who suffered martyrdome for the faith of Christ Jesu, at S. Andrewes in Scotlād the first day of March. In the yere of our Lorde. M D. xlvi. wyth the articles, which he was accused of, and his s…ete answeres to the same, whereunto are ioyned his godly oratiōs & praiers.
WYth most tendre affection and vnfeyned herte, considre (gentle reader) the vncharitable maner of accu…ation of maister George Wyseharte made by the bloudie enemies of Christes sayeth. Note also the articles wherof he was accused, by ordre digested, and his meke answeres so farre as he had leaue and leasure to speake.
Finally ponder wyth no dissembling spirite the tyrānicall fury, & infernall crudelitie of the malingnant churche, in aponing the saied The louelove of God taketh a way al humane dreade.articles, and of the contrary the humble, pacient, & moste pleasaunt answeres of maister George, made to them sodenly wythout all feare, not hauyng respecte to their glorious manassinges & bostious threates: but cheritably and wythout stoppe of tonge answered, not mouyng his countenaūce, nor chaunginge his visage, as in his accusation hereafter folowinge manifestly shall appeare: to the sayed maister George beinge in captiuitie in the castle of saincte Andrewes, the Deane of the same towne was sēt by the cōmaundement of the Cardinal, & his wicked counsayle. And The deane of saincte Andrewes was summonetthere summoned the sayed maister George, that he shoulde vponupon the morne folowing appeare before the Iudge, then and there to geue accompte of his seditious & hereticall doctrine. To whō maister George A pritie tauntanswered, what needeth (sayed he) my lorde Cardinal to sūmon me to answer for my doctrine openly before hym, vnderunder whose power and dominion, I am thus strayghlie bounde in Irons? Maye not my lorde cōpell me to answer of his extort power? Or beleueth he that I am vnprouided to render accompt of my doctrine? To manifest your selues, what men ye are, it is well done that ye keepe your olde ceremonies and constitutions made by menne. Upon the nexte morne my Lorde Cardinall caused his ser uauntes to adresse them selues in theyr moste warlyke arraye, wyth Iacke, Knapskall. Splente, Speare & Are, more seming for the war, then for the preachyng of the true worde of God. And whē these armed chāpiōs marchyng in warlike order had cōueyed the bishops into the abbaye churche: Incontinētly thei sent for Maister George who was conueyed into the sayed churche, by the captayne of the castle, and the numbre of an hūdreth men adressed in maner aforesayed. Lyke a lambe ledde they hym to Maister George his aliues.sacrifice. As he entred in at the abbaye churche dore, there was a pore man liynge vexed wyth great infirmities, askinge of his almesse, to whom he slange his pursse. And when he came before the Cardinal, by and by the suppriour of the abbaye, called Dane Iohn Wyntime stode vp in the pulpet & made Iohn Wintyme preached.a sermon to all the congregation there then assembled, takynge his matter out of the. xiii. Chapter of Mathew. Whose sermon was diuided into foure principall partes. The fyrste parte was a shorte and briefe declaration of the Euangel.
The seconde parte, of the interpretation of the good sede. And because he called the worde of god the good side, and heresie the euyl sede, he declared what heresie was, and howe it shoulde be knowen, which he defined on thys maner. Heresie is a false opinion defended wyth Heresie.partinacie, clearely repugning the worde of god. The thirde parte of his sermon was the cause of heresy wythin that realme, and all other realmes. The cause of heresie (quod he) is the ignoraūce of them, which hauehave the cure of mennes soules, to The cause of heresiewhom it necessarily belongeth to hauehave the true vnderstādinge of the worde of god, that they may be able to wynne agayne the false doctours of heresies with the sword of the spirite, whiche is the worde of god. And not only to winne agayn but also to ouercome, as sayeth l. ad TitūPaule. A bishop must be faultles, as becometh the minister of god, not stubburne, not angrie, no drū kard, no fighter, not geuē to filthy lucre, but herberous, one yt loueth goodnes, sobre minded, rightuous, holy, temperate, & such as cleaueth vntounto ye true word of doctrine, that he may be able to exhorte wt wholsome learninge, & to improue that which they saye against hym. The fourth part of his sermō was how heresies should be knowē. Heresies (quod he) be knowē on this maner. As the goldsmith knoweth the fine golde frō the vnperfit, by ye touchstone. So likewise may we knowe The maner to know … hereticksheresy by ye vndoubted touchstone that is the true sincere, & vndefiled word of god. At the last he added, yt heretickes should be put downe in this presēt life. To whiche proposion the gospell apeared to repugne. whiche he entreated of. Let them not growe vntounto the harueste, the harueste is the ende of the worlde. Mat. xiii.Neuertheles he affirmed that thei should be put downe by the ciuile and maiestrate lawe. And when he ended his sermon: incontinentlie they caused maister George to ascend into the pulpet, there to heare his accusation and articles. For ryghte againste hym stode vp one Iohn Lander accusarof the fedde flocke a monster, Iohn Lander, laden full of curssynges wrytten in paper. Of the whiche he toke out a rolle, voeth longe and also full of curssynges, threates, maledictions, and wordes of dyuylyshe spytte and malice: saiynge to the Innocēt maister George, so The way to feare the ignorant.many cruel & abhominable wordes and hit hym so spitefully wyth the Popes thunder, that the ignorant people dreaded, leste the earth then woulde hauehave swallowed hym vp quicke. Notwythstanding he stode styll wyth great patience, hearyng their saiynges, not once mouynge or chaungyng his countenaunce. When that thys fed sowe, had red thorowout al his liyng manassynges, his face runnyng downe with swette, and frothing at his mouth The fruites of that charitie.like a beare, spit at maister George his face, saiynge: what answereste thou to these saiynges, thou runna gate traytoute, thiefe, whithe we hauehave duely proued by sufficient wytnesse against the? Maister George hearynge thys, sate downe vponupon his knees in the pulpet, makynge his prayer to God. Whē he had ended his prayer, swetely and christianlike he answered to them all in thys maner.
¶ Maister George his oration.
MAnie & horrible saiynges vntounto me, one christian mā, manie wordes ahhominable for to heare, ye hauehave spokē here this day. Which not only to teach, but also once to thinke, I thought The causes why master George deserued to be heardeeuer great abhomination. Wherfore I pray your discretions quietly to heare me, that ye may knowe what were my saiynges, & the maner of my doctrine. Thys my petitiō (my lordes) I desire to be heard for three causes. The fyrste is, because thorowe preachynge of the worde of god, his glory is made manifest. It is reasonable therfore, for the auauncynge of the glorie of god, that ye heare me teachynge truly the pure worde of god without any dissimulation. The secōd reason is, because that your health springeth of the word of god (for he worketh all thing by his worde) It were therefore an vnryghtuous thinge, if ye should stoppe your eares frō me, teaching truly the word of god. The third reason is, because your doctrine speaketh furth many pestilētious, blasphemous & abhominable wordes, not comyng by the inspiration of God, but of the deuyll, on no lesse peril thē my life. It is Iust therfore and reasonable your discretiōs to know, what my wordes & doctrine are, and what I hauehave euer taughte in my tyme in this realme, yt I perish not vniustly to the great peril of your soules. Wherfore both for the glory & honor of god, your owne health, and sauegard of my life, I beseche your discretions, to heare me, and in the meane tyme I shall recite my doctrine wythout any colour. First & chiefly, sence the tyme I came into this reame, I taught nothing, but Maister George his doctrine.their cōmaundementes of god, the xii. articles of the fayeth, and the prayer of the Lorde in the mother tonge. Moreouer in Dundie, I taughte the Epistles of Saincte Paule to the Romaynes. And I shal shewe your discretions faithfully what fashion and maner I vsed when I taughte, wythout any humane dreade. So that your discretions, giuegive me your eares beneuolente and attente. Sodenlie then wyth an high voice cryed, the accusar the fedde sowe) thou hereticke, runnagate, traytoure and thiefe. It was not lawefull for the to preache. Thou haste taken the power at thyne owne hande, without any authoritie of the churche, we forthynke that thou haste bene a preacher so longe. Then all the whole cōgregation of the prelates wyth their complices, sayed these The crye of the scribes and phariseiswordes. And if we giuegive him licence to preache, he is so craftie, and in the holy scripture so exercised, that he wyll persuade the people to his opinion, and rayse them agaynste vsus. Maister George seinge their malicious and wycked intent, appealed to an indifferent and equal Iudge. To whō the accusar Iohn Master George apprateth to the Gouerner.Lander aforesayed with hoggishe voice answered. Is not my Lorde Cardinal the second person wythin thys Realme? Chaunceler of Scotland? Archbishoppe of sainct The style of an unworthye prelate.Andrewes? byshop of Meropois: Commendator of Aberbrothoke? Legatus natus? Legatus a latere? And so recitynge, as many titles of his vnworthy honours, as would hauehave loden a shippe, muche soner an asse. Is not he (quod Iohn Lander) an equall Iudge apparantly vntounto the? Whō other desirest thou to be thy Iudge? To whome thys humble man answered, saying. I refuse not my Lorde Cardinall, but I desire the worde of god to be my iudge, and the temporal estate wt some of pour Lordeshippes Beholde their traiterous hertes?myne auditours, because I am here my Lorde Gouernours prisoner. Wherupon the prydefull & skornful people yt stode bi, mocked hym, saiynge. Suche man, suche Iudge. Speakinge seditious & reprochefull wordes agaynst the Gouernour & other the nobles, meanynge them also to be heretickes.
And incontinente wythout all delaye they woulde hauehave geuen sentence vponupon maister George, & that wythout farther processe, had not certerne men there councelled my lorde Cardinal to read againe the articles, and to heare his answeres therupon, yt the people myght not cōplaine of his wrongfull cōdempnation. And shortly for to declare, these were the articles folowinge wyth his answeres, as far as they woulde geue hym leaue, to speake. For whē he entended to mittigate their leasynges, & shewe the maner of his doctrine, by & by thei stopped his mouth with an other article.
¶ The fyrst article.
☞ Thou false hereticke, rūnagate These be their accustomed termes Curssingestraitoure, & thiefe, disceiuer of the people, despiseste the holy churche curssinges, & in like case cōtēpneste my lorde Gouernours authoritie. And this we know for suertie that when thou preached est in Dūdy, & wast charged by my lord gouerner his authoritie to desist: neuertheles yu wouldest not obei, but perseus redst in the same. And therfore the bishop of Brothē curssed the, & dell uered the into the deuils hādes, & gaue the in cōmaundemet yt thou shouldest preache no more. That not wt stāding yu diddest cōtinue obstinately.
¶ The answer.
❧ My Lordes I hauehave red in the actes of the apostles, that it is not lawefull for the threates and manassinges of men to desist from the preachynge of the Gospell. Therfore it is wrytten, we shall rather obey God then men. I hauehave also redde in the prophete Malachie. I shall cursse your blessynges, and Mala. ii.blesse your curssynges. If my consciēce had iudged me to hauehave done euyll, I shoulde hauehave desisted for your curssynges, or elles for your brotherlyke warnynges, but because I vsed no vngodly deede, I suffered paciently your curssinges beleuynge firmely, that the Lorde woulde turne your curssynges into blessynges.
¶ The seconde article.
☞ Thou false hereticke didest say that a priest standynge at the aultare The pri…st at massesaiyng Masse, was lyke a foxe waggyng his tayle in Iuly.
¶ The answer.
❧ True worshippynge of God.My Lordes I said not so, these were my saiynges. The mouynge of the bodie outwarde, wythout the inward mouing of the hert, is noughte els, but the plaiyng of an ape, & not the true seruyng of god. For God is a secrete sercher of mēs hertes. Therefore who wyll trulie adorne and honoure god, he muste in spirite and veritie honour him.….
Then the accusar stopped his mouth wyth another article.
¶ The thirde article.
☞ Thou false hereticke preachedst Sacramentes.agaynst the sacramentes, saiynge: that there were not seuen Sacramentes.
The answer.
❧ My lordes and it be your pleasures, Howe many sacramē tes be allowed.I taughte neuer of the nū ber of the Sacramentes, whether they were seuen or an eleuen. So many as are instituted by Christe, and are showen to vsus by the Euā gell, I professe openly. Excepte it be the worde of god I dare affirme nothynge.
¶ The iiii. article.
☞ Thou false hereticke hast openly taught, that auricular confession Auricular confessionis not a sacramente. And thou sayest, that we shoulde onelyonly confesse vsus to god and to no priest.
¶ The answer.
❧ My Lordes, I say that auricular cōfession, seinge that it hath no promesse of the Euangell, therfore it cannot be a sacramēt Of the cō fession Ps. xxxiito be made to god, there are many testimonies in scripture, as when Dauid sayeth. I thoughte that I woulde knoweledge myne iniquitie against my selfe vntounto the Lorde, and he forgaue the trespase of my synnes. Here confession signifieth the secrete knoweledge of oure synnes before God. When I exhorted the people in thys maner, I reproued no maner of confession And farther sainct Iames sayeth. Knowledge your sinnes one to Iac. van other, and so let you hauehave peace amonge your selues. When that he had sayed these wordes, the bishoppes and their complices cryed and girned wyth their teeth, saiynge: Se ye not what colours he hath in his speakyng, that he may begile vsus and seduce vsus to his opinion.
¶ The fifte article.
☞ Thou hereticke dyddest say opēly, that it was necessary to eueryevery Baptismeman, to knowe and vnderstand his baptisme, and what it was. Cōtrary or generall councels and the states of holy churche.
¶ The answer.
❧ My Lordes, I beleue there be none so vnwyse here, yt wyll make Baptisme necessarily to be knowen of all men.marchaūdice wt a frēch mā, or any other vnknowen straūger, excepte he knewe and vnderstode fyrst the Confirmationcondition or promesse made by the frenche man or straunger. So like I would that we vnderstode what thynge we promesse in the name of the Infant vntounto god in baptisme. For thys cause I beleue ye hauehave confirmation.
Then saied maister Bleiter chaplaine, that he had the Deuyl within hym and the spirite of erroure.
Maister Bleiter Answerth by a chylde.Then answered hym a chylde saiyng the Deuil cannot speake such wordes, as yonder mā doth speake.
¶ The. vi. article.
☞ Thou hereticke traytoure, and thiefe, thou saydest that the sacramēt The sacramente of the aultareof the aultare was but a piece of breade bakē vponupon the ashes, and no other thynge elles, and all that is there done is but a superstitious rite agaynst the commaundement of God.
¶ The answer.
❧ Oh Lorde God so manifest lies & blasphemies the scripture doeth not teache you. As concerning the sacrament of the aultare (my Lordes) I neuer taught any thinge agaynst the scripture, the whiche I shall (by Goddes grace) make manifeste thys daye, I beinge readye therfore to suffre death.
The lawefull vse of thys sacrament The laweful vse of the sacrament of the aultareis most acceptable vntounto god, but the greate abuse of it, is verie detestable vntounto him. But what occasion they hauehave to saye such wordes of me, I shall shortly shewe your Lordshippes. I once chaūced to mete with a Iewe when I was saylyng vponupon the water of Rene.
I dyd enquire of hym what was The tale of a Iewethe cause of his pertinacie, that he dyd not beleue that the true Meslias was come, considerynge that they had seene all the Prophesies (whiche were spoken of hym) to be fulfilled. Moreouer the prophesies taken away and the ceptre of …uda, by many other testimonies of the scripture, I vanquest him that Messias was come the whiche thei called Iesus of Nazareth. Thys Iewe answered agayne vntounto me. When Messias cometh, he shal restore all thynges. And he shall not abrogate the lawe, whiche was geuen to oure forefathers as ye do.
For why? we see the pore almoste perishe thorowe hungar amonge The poreyou: yet ye are not moued wyth pietie towardes them. But amonge vsus Iues (though we be pore) there are no beggers founde.
Secōdarely, it is forbyddē by the lawe, to fame any kinde of Imagery, of thynges in heauen aboue, or in the earth beneth, or in the sea vnderunder the earth: but one God onelyonly to honoure. But your sanctuaries and churches are ful of Idols.Images.
Thyrdly a piece of breade baken The sacrament of tpage missing aultare.vpō the ashes, ye adorne & worship & say, that it is your God. I hauehave rehearsed here: but the saiynges of the Iewe, which I neuer affirmed to be true. Thē the bishops shoke their heades and spitted into the erth. And what he mēt in this mat ter farther, thei would not heare.
¶ The. vii. article.
Thou false heretike diddest say yt extreme Extreme vnctionvnctiō was not a sacramēt.
The answer.
❧ My Lordes, forsoth I neuer taught any thyng of extreme vnction in my doctrine, whether it were a sacrament or no.
The. viii. article.
☞ Thou false hereticke, saydest that holy water is not so good as Holy waterwashe, & suche lyke. Thou contemnest coniuryng and sayest that holy churches curssynges auaile not
The answer.
¶ My Lordes as for holy water, what strength it is of, I taughte neuer in my doctrine. Cōiuringes & exorzismies, if ther were cōforma ble to the worde of god, I woulde commende them, but in so farre as they are not conformable to the cō maundement and worde of God, I reproue them.
¶ The. ix. article.
☞ Thou false hereticke and runnagate, haste sayed that eueryevery ley ley man a priest The Popes authoritiemā is a priest, and suche like. Thou sayest that the Pope hath no more power, then any other man.
¶ The answer.
¶ My Lordes, I taught nothing but the worde of god. I remembre that I hauehave reade in some places …po. …. …. v …. Pet. iiin saincte Iohn and sainct Peter, of the whiche one sayeth, he hath made vsus kynges and priestes. The other sayeth, he hath made vsus the kingli priesthod. Wherfore I hauehave affirmed any man beinge cunning in the worde of God and the true fayth of Iesu Christe, to hauehave his power geuen hym frō god, & not by the power or violence of men but by the vertue of the worde of god, the whiche worde is called the po wer of god, as witnesseth S. Paul Ro. i.euidently inough. And agayne I saye any vnlearned man, and not exercised in the worde of god, nor yet constant in his fayth, what soeuer estate or ordre he be of, I say he hath no power to bynde or lose, seinge he wanteth the instrumente, The instrumente to bynde and loseby the whiche he bindeth or loseth, that is to saye, the worde of God.
After that he had sayed these wordes, all the bishoppes laughed and mocked hym. Whē that he behelde their laughinge. Laugh ye (sayeth he) my lordes. Though that these saiynges appeare scorneful & worthy of derision to your Lordships. Neuerthels they are very weightie to me, & of a greate valewe, because that they stande not onelyonly vponupon my lyfe, but also the honour and glorie of God. In the meane tyme many godly men beholdynge the wodnes, and greate crudelitie of the bishoppes and the inuincible paciencie of maister George did greatly morne and lament.
The. x. article.
☞ Thou false hereticke saydest that a man hath no free wyll. But Free wilis like to the Stoykes, whiche say, that it is not in mans wyl to do any thynge, but that all concupiscence and desire cometh of God of what soeuer kynde it be of.
The answer.
❧ My Lordes I sayed not so truly. I saye that as many as beleue in Christe firmly vntounto them is geuen libertie, cōformable to the sayinge Iohn. viiiof saincte Iohn. If the sonne make you free, then shall ye verily be free. Of the contrary as many as beleue not in Christe Iesu, they are bonde seruauntes of synne. He that syndeth is bonde to synne.
¶ The. xi. article.
☞ Thou false hereticke saiest, it is as lawefull to eate fleshe vponupon the Eating of meatesfriday as on sundaye.
The answer.
❧ Pleaseth it your Lordships, I hauehave reade in the epistles of sainct Titū. i.Paule, yt who is cleane, vntounto thē al thinges are cleane, of the contrary to the filthy mē all thinges are vncleane. A faithful mā, cleane, & holy sāctifieth by the word the creature of God. But the creature maketh no man acceptable vntounto God. So that a creature may not sāctify any impure & vnfaithful man. But The creature doeth not …anctifie wtout the word.to the faithful man, all thinges are sanctified, by the praier of the word of God. After these saiynges of maister George, then sayed all the bishoppes wyth their complices: what needeth vsus any wytnesse against hym: hath he not opēly here spoken blasphemie?
The. xi. article.
☞ Thou false hereticke doste saye that we shoulde not praye to sanctes, Praying to sāctesbut to God onelyonly. Saye whether thou haste sayed this or no, say shortly.
¶ The answer.
❧ For the weaknes and the infirmitie To honor one God is certeyneof the hearers, he sayd wythout doubte playnely that sainctes shoulde not be honoured. My lordes (sayed he) there are two thynges worthy of note. The one is certeyne, the other vncerteyne. It is founde playnly & certeyne in scripture, that we shoulde worship and honour one God, accordyng to the saiyng of the fyrst cōmaundement. Thou shalte onelyonly worshippe and Mat. iiii.honoure thy Lorde God, wyth all thy herte. But as for prayinge to and honourynge of sainctes, there To pray to sainctesis great doubt among many whether they heare, or no, inuocation made vntounto thē. Therefore I exhorted al men equally in my doctrine, that they should leaue the vnsure waye, and folowe that waye, which was taughte vsus by oure maister Christ. He is our only Mediatour and maketh intercession for vsus to God his father. He is the dore by the whiche we muste entre in. He that entreth not in by thys dors, The surest way is to be folowedbut clymeth an other waye, is a thiefe & murtherar. He is the veritie & life. He that goeth out of this way, there is no doubt but he shal fall into the myre: yea verily he is fallen into it already. Thys is the fashion of my doctrine, the whiche I hauehave euer folowed. Uerily that which I hauehave hearde and reade in the worde of god I taughte openly, and in no corners. And nowe ye shall witnes the same, if your lordships wil heare me, but it be by the worde of god I dare not be so bold to affirme any thynge. These saiynges he rehearsed diuerse tymes.
The xiii. article.
☞ Thou false hereticke haste preached Purgatorieplainly, satynge that there is no purgatorie. And that it is a fatned thynge, any man after thys lyfe, to be punished in purgatorie.
The answer.
My lordes as I hauehave often tymes sayed heretofore, wythout expresse witnes and testimonie of the scripture Purgatori… …ot once named in scriptureI dare affirme nothynge. I hauehave ofte, and diuerse tymes reade ouer the Bible, & yet suche a terme founde I neuer, nor yet any place of scripture applicable thereunto. Therfore I was ashamed euer to teach of that thing, which I could not fynde in the scripture. Then sayed he to maister Iohn Lauder his accusar. If you hauehave any testimony of the scripture, by the which ye may proue any such place, shewe it nowe before this auditorie. But thys dolte had not a worde to saye for hym selfe, but was as domme as a bitle in that matter.
The. xiiii. article.
☞ Thou false hereticke haste taught plainely against the vowes Uowesof monkes, friers, nones & priestes, saiyng: that who soeuer was boūde to suche lyke vowes, they vowed them selues to the estate of dampnation. Moreouer that it was lawful for priestes to mary wyues and not to lyue sole.
¶ The answer.
¶ Of soth (my Lordes) I hauehave reade in the Euangell, that there are three kyndes of chaste menne. Some are gelded from their mothers wombe. Some are gelded by Three kyndes of chast men Mat. xix.men. And some hauehave gelded them selues, for the kyngdome of heauen sake. Uerily, I saye, these men are blessed by ye scripture of God. But as many as hauehave not the gyfte of chastitie, nor yet for the Euangell, The d…unger of vnchastitiehauehave not ouercome the concupiscence of the sleshe, and hauehave vowed chastitie, ye hauehave experience, although I shoulde holde my peace, to what inconuenience they hauehave vowed them selues.
Whē he had sayed these wordes, they were al domme, thinking better to hauehave tenne concubines, them one maryed wyfe.
¶ The. xv. article.
☞ Thou false hereticke and runnagate, sayest that thou wylte not obey oure generall nor prouinciall General councelscouncelles.
¶ The answer.
¶ My lordes, what your generall councelles are, I know not, I was neuer exercised in them: but to the pure worde of God I gaue my labours. Reade here your generall councelles, or elles geue me a boke wherein they are conteyned, that I maye reade them. If that they agree wyth the worde of God, I wyll not disagree.
Then the rauenyng wolues turned into woodnes & sayed, wherun Thei rūne a pase to shed bloudto let we hym speake any farther? Reade furth the rest of the articles and staye not vponupon them. Amonge these cruell tygres, there was one false hypocrite, a seducer of the people called Iohn Grayfynde Scot, standyng behinde Iohn Lauders Iohn Grayfynd Scotte an hastie buccher to his slaughterbacke, hasting him to reade the rest of the articles, and not to tary vponupon his wittie & godly answeres. For we may not abyde them, quod be, no more then the Deuyl maye abide the signe of the crosse, when it is named.
The. xvi. article.
☞ Thou hereticke sayest, that it is vayne to buylde to the honoure Building of churchesof god costly churches. Seing that God remayneth not in the churches made by mennes handes, nor yet, god cā be in so litle space as betwixt the priestes handes.
¶ The answer.
¶ My Lordes, Salomon sayeth. If that the heauē of heauēs cā not ii. Re. viiicomprehende the, howe muche lesse thys house, that I hauehave buylded? And Iob consenteth to the same sentence. Seing that he is higher then the heauens, therefore what Iob. xican thou buylde vntounto hym. He is deepar then hell, then howe shalte thou knowe him? He is lōgar then the earth, & broder thē the sea. So that god can not be comprehended into one place, because that he is infinite. These saiynges notwithstādyng, I sayed neuer that churches Whereunto churches shuld serueshoulde be destroyed. But of the contrary I affirmed euer, that churches should be susteyned and vpholden, that the people should be cōgregated into thē, there to heare of god And moreouer, wher soeuer is the true preachynge of the word of God, and the lawefull vse of the sacramētes, vndoubtedly there is God presente hym selfe. So that boeth these saiynges are true together. Mat. xviiiGod cā not be comprehended into anie place. And where so euer there are two or three gathered in his name, there is he present in the middest of them. Then saied he to his accusar. If thou thynkest any other wise, then I saye, shewe forth thi reasōs before this auditory. Then he without al reasō was dom, & could not answer one word.
The. xvii article.
☞ Thou false hereticke, contemnest Fastyngfasting, and sayest thou shouldest not fast.
The answer.
¶ My Lordes, I fynde that fasting is cōmended in the scripture: The true fastyng he alloweththerefore I were a sclaunderer of the gospell, if I cōtemned fastyng. And not so onelyonly, but I hauehave learned by experience, that fastynge is good for the health of the bodie. But god knoweth who fasteth the true fast.
The. xviii. article.
☞ Thou false heresicke hast preached openly, saiynge that the soule Of the reseruing of the soule.of man shall sleepe to the later daye of iudgement, and shal not obteine lyfe immortall vntyl that daye.
The answer.
❧ God ful of merciemercy and goodnes: forgeue them that sayth such thinges of me: I wotte and know surely by the word of god: that he which hath begonne to hauehave the fayth of Iesu Christ and beleueth firmly in hym. I knowe suerly that the soule of that man shall neuer The faithful soule shall neuer sleepe.sleepe but euer shall lyue an immortal lyfe. The whiche lyfe from daye to daye is renewed in grace and augmēted: Nor yet shall euer perishe, or hauehave ane nde: but euer immortall shall lyue with Christ. To the whiche lyfe all that beleue in hym shall come and rest in eternall glorie. Amen.
¶ When that the Bishoppes Maister George condemnedwyth theyr complices had accused thys innocente man in maner and forme afore said, incontinently they condempned hym to be burnte as an hereticke, not hauynge respecte to his Godly answeres and trewe reasons whiche he alledged: nor yet to theyr owne cōsciences. Thynkyng verily that they shoulde do to God good sacrifice, cōformable to the sayinges of sainct Iohn. They shall excommunicate you: yea, and the tyme shall come that he whiche kylleth Iohn. xvi.you shal thinke that he hath done to God good seruice.
¶ The prayer of maister George.
O Immortal god howe long shalt thou suffre the wodnesse Maister George his prayer for the tō gregation of. God.and greate crudelitie of the vngodlie, to exercise their fury vponupon thy seruauntes whiche do farther thy word in this world seeynge they desyre to be contrarie, that is to choke and destroye thy trewe doctrine and veritie, by the whiche thou haste shewed the vntounto the worlde whiche was all drowned in blyndnesse and misknowledge of thy name. O Lorde we knowe suerly that thy trewe seruauntes must needes suffre for thy names sake persecution, afliction and troubles in thys present lyfe whiche is but a shadowe, as thou haste shewed to vsus by thy Prophetes and Apostles. But yet we desyre the hertely, that thou conserue, defende, and healpe thy congregation, whiche thou haste chosen before the beginning of the worlde. And geue them thy grace to heare thy worde, and to be thy trewe seruauntes in thys present lyfe.
☞ Then by and by, they caused the commune people to remoue, whose desire was alwaies to heare that innocente speake. And the sonnes of darckenesse pronounced theyr sentence definitiue, not hauynge respecte to the iudgemente of God. When all thys was done and sayed, my Lorde Cardinall caused his tormentours to passe agayne wyth the meeke lambe into the Castle, vntyll suche tyme the fyer was made readye. When he was come into the Castle, then there came two gray findes, Fryar Scotte and his mate, saiynge: Sir ye muste make your confession vntounto vsus. He answered and sayed. I wyll make no confession vntounto you. Go fetch me younder man Maister George confessed.that preached thys daye, and I wil make my confession vntounto him. Then they sente for the Supprior of the Abbaye, who came to him with all diligence. But what he sayed in his confession I can not shewe. When the fyre was made readye, and the gallouse at the weste parte of the Castle nere the Priorie, my Lorde Cardinall dreadynge that maister George shoulde hauehave bene taken awaye by his friendes, therefore he commaunded to bende all the ordinaunce of the Castle forryghte agaynste that parte. And commaūded all his gūners to be ready and stande besyde theyr gunnes vntounto suche tyme he were burned. All thys beinge done, they bounde maister Georges handes behynde his backe, and ledde hym furth wyth theyr souldiars from the Castle to the place of theyr wycked execution. As he came furth of the Castle gate, there mette hym certeyne beggars askynge of his almesse for God his sake. To whom Maister George prayeth for the reliefe of the porehe answered, I wante my handes▪ wherewyth I shoulde geue you almesse. But the mercifull Lorde of his benignitie and aboundaūce of grace, that feedeth all menne, vouchsafe to geue you necessaries boeth vntounto your bodies and soules. Then afterwarde mette hym two false findes, I shoulde saye fryars, saiynge. Maister George Maister George answereth the fryers temptynge hym.praye to our Ladie, that she may be mediatrix for you to hir sonne. To whom he answered meekelie. Cease tempt me not my brethren. After thys he was ledde to the fyre wyth a Rope about his necke and a cheyne of Iron aboute his middle. When that he came to the fyre he sate downe thryse vponupon His praierhis kneees, and rose agayne, And thryse he sayed these wordes. O thou Sauiour of the worlde hauehave merciemercy on me. Father of heauen I commende my spirite into thy holie handes. When he had made thys prayer, he turned hym to the people and sayed these wordes.
❧ I beseche you christian brethren and sisters, that ye be not offended in the worde of God, His sermō to the people.for the aflictions and tormentes, whiche ye see alreadye prepared for me. But I exhorte you that ye louelove the worde of God and suffre patientlie and wyth a comfortable herte for the wordes sake, whiche is youre vndoubted saluation and euerlastynge comfort.
❧ Moreouer I praye you shewe my brethren and sisters, whyche hauehave hearde me ofte before, that they cease not, nor leaue of the worde of God, whyche I taughte vntounto them after the grace gyuen vntounto me, for no persecutions, or troubles in thys worlde, whyche lasteth not. And shewe vntounto them that my doctrine was no wyues favies after the cōstitutiōs made by men. And if I had taughte mennes doctrine, I had gotten greate thankes by menne. But for the wordes sake and trewe Euangell, whiche was geuen to me, by the grace of God, I suffre His vpryght conscience felt no deaththys daye by menne, not sorowfullie, but wyth a gladde herte and mynde. For thys cause I was sente, that I shoulde suffre thys fyer for Christes sake. Consider and beholde my visage, ys shall not see me chaunge my coloure. Thys grimme fyer I feare not. And so I praye you for to doe, if that anie persecution come vntounto you: for the wordes sake. And not to feare them that slaye the bodye, and afterwarde hauehave no power to slaye the soule.
Some hauehave sayed of me that I taughte, that the soule of man shoulde sleepe vntyl the laste day. But I knowe suerlye and my fayeth is suche, that my soule shal suppe wyth my Sauioure Christ thys nyghte or it be sixte houres, for whome I suffre thys. Then he prayed for them whyche accused His prayer for his accusarshym, saiynge: I beseche the (father of heauē) to forgeue them, that hauehave of anie ignoraunce, or elles of anye euyll mynde, forged anie lyes vponupon me. I forgeue them wyth all my herte, I beseche Christ to forgeue them that hauehave cōdempned me to death thys daye ignorauntly.
❧ And laste of all, he sayed to the people on thys maner. I beseche you brethren and sisters to exhorte youre Prelates to the learnynge of the worde of God, His exhortation for the clergie to learne Goddes wordethat they at the laste maye be ashamed to do euyll and learne to do good. And if they wyll not conuerte them selues from theyr wycked erroure, there shall hastelye come vponupon them, the wrath of god whyche they shall not eschewe.
Many faythfull wordes sayed he in the meane tyme, takynge no hede or care of the cruell tormentes whyche were then prepared for hym.
And laste of all the hange man, that was his tormētor sate downe vponupon his knees, and sayed. Sir I praye you forgeue me, for I am not giltie of your death. To whō he answered. Come hither to me. When that he was come to hym, he kissed his cheke, and sayed. Lo here is a token that I forgeue the, and I beseche Christe to forgeue the. My herte do thine office. And then by and by, he was put vponupon His wordes to the hangman.the gibbet and hanged, and there burnt to pouder. When that the people behelde the greate tormentynge, they myghte not wythholde from pitiouse mournynge, and cōplayning of thys innocente lābes slaughter.
¶ Imprinted at London, by Iohn Day, and William Seres, dwellynge in Sepulchres parish, at the signe of the Resurrection, a litle aboue Holbourne conduite.
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❧ Cum gratia & priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.
End of the text · David Lindsay, The Tragical Death of David Beaton (1548)