Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 11 · Part 12 – Part 14
The historie of Iudge Hales.
SIr Iames Hales as before, tooke Queene Maries part, and would not subscribe to hauehave any other Quéene, though all the rest had subscribed to Edward the sixts Will. He was an vpright and conscionable Iudge. To these his gifts and qualities were linked sincere affection to the Gospell of Christ, shewing himselfe a true Gospeller by word and deed.
At the beginning of Queene Maries raigne, the masse not being restored by law, diuers Priests presumed to say masse, and they were indited at the a…ises before Iudge Hales, and he gaue order therein as the law required: wherefore when the terme came, he comming to doe his office, was sent for by Gardner Lord Chancellor, to whom he iustified that he did it both by the iustice of the law, and of his conscience, wherein he was fully bent to stand in triall to the vtmost that can be obiected: and it therein I hauehave done any iniury, let me be iudged by the law; for I will séeke or desire no better defence for my selfe, considering chiefly that it is my profession.
Ah Sir, said the Chancellor, you be very quicke and stoute in your answers, it seemeth that which you did was more of will, fauouring your opinion of Religion against the seruice now vsed, then for any occasion of zeale of iustice, seeing her Highnesse doth set it forth as yet, but withing all her subiects to imbrace it accordingly.
My Lord, quoth Hales, I doe but shew my selfe as I am bound in louelove to God and obedience to the Quéenes Maiestie, in whose cause willingly for iustice sake, I did of late, as your Lordship knoweth, aduenture as much as I had: and as for my religion, I trust it is such as pleaseth God, wherein I am ready to aduenture both my life and substance, if I be called thereto; and for lack of mine owne power and will, the Lords will be fulfilled.
Shortly after he was committed vntounto the Kings Bench, then he was committed to the Counter in Breadstréete, and from thence he was conuayed to the Fléet, where he endured most constantly for the space of three weeks: and when thus in diuers prisons being tossed and wearied, he could in no wise be subdued, there was in the prison where he was a Gentleman of Hampshire called Foster, who, …ing suborned by the Bishops, vsed all kinde of perswasions whereby hee might draw him from the truth, which at length he brought to passe; then next morning early the Bishop of Chichester came to him into the prison, to comfort him therein, and after Iudge Portman came to him: but as soone as he had yeelded to them he …rew into such an extreame desperation by the worme of his conscience, that hee eat little meat that night. When supper was done he gate him straight to bedde, where he passed the night with much anxietie of mind: about six of the clocke in the morning he sent his man for a cup of béere; his man was no sooner gone but with a pen-knife he wounded himselfe in diuers places, and would hauehave killed himselfe, but that his man méeting the Butler at the chamber doore, returned presently into the chamber, and let his Master from destroying himselfe.
Upon this Cranmer straight-way took occasion to call the doctrine of the Gospell openly in the Star-chamber the doctrine of desperation. M. Hales being within a while after deliuered, getteth himselfe home to his house, whether it was for feare that if he should againe professe the Gospell he should be imprisoned againe and burned, and begger all his posterity, or if he should go to hearing of masses he should doe worse: hauing all things set in order a good while before that pertained vntounto his Testament, desperatly he cast himselfe into a shallow Riuer, and was drowned in the yeare 1555.
IOHN AWCOCKE.
THis yeare the second of Aprill, one Iohn Awcocke died in prison, who was buried in the fields, as the manner of the Papists was, for they de…ied them Christian buriall to such as died out of their Antichristian Church.
Pope IVLIVS the third.
THis yeare, about the end of March died Pope Iulius the third, whose deeds to declare it were not so much tedious to the Reader, as horrible to good eares.
Iohannes de Casa was Deane of this Popes chamber, Archbishop of Beneuentanus and chiefe Legat to the Uenetians, who well declaring the fruit of that filthy Sea, did not only play the filthy Sodomite himselfe, but in Italian meetre set forth the praise of that beastly iniquitie, and yet his booke▪ was printed at Uenice by one Troyanus Nauus, and the Pope suffered this beastlines vnderunder his nose in his chamber, which could not abide the doctrine of Christ.
This Pope delighted greatly in Porke flesh and Peacocks: by the aduice of his Physitians, his Steward ordered that he should set no Porke flesh before him; missing it▪ where, said he, is my Porke? the Steward answered, his Physitian had forbidden any Porke to be serued, the Pope in a great rage, said, Bring mee my Porke in despite of God.
Another time he commaunded a Peacocke at the Table to be kept colde for his Supper: when Supper came, amongst hote Peacocks he saw not his colde Peacocke, the Pope after his wonted manner, began horribly to blaspheme God: one of his Cardinals said, Let not your Holinesse, I pray you, be moued in so small a matter. Then said he, if God were so angry for one apple that he cast our parents out of Paradice, why may not I, being his Uicar, he angry for a Peacocke, which is a greater matter?
This was he vnderunder whom Popery was restored in England in Quéene Maries time; and the affection that was borne vntounto him heere may be séene by the Dirgs, Hearses, and Funerals commaunded to bee had and celebrated in all Churches by the Quéene and her Councell. At his death a woman séeing a Herse and other preparation in Saint Magnus Church at the Bridge foot in London, asked what it meant: it was told her it was for the Pope, and that she must pray for him; nay, quoth she that I will not, for he needeth not my prayers, seeing hee could forgiue vsus all our sinnes, I am sure he is cleane himselfe: by and by she was carried vntounto the Cage at London Bridge, and bade to coole her selfe there.