Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 11 · Part 15 – Part 18
GEORGE MARSH.
THis Marsh was an earnest letter forth of true Religion, to the defacement of Antichrists doctrine,1555. in the parish of Deane, and elswhere in Lancas…ire, and he most faithfully acknowledged the same in Quéene Maries time, whereupon he was apprehended and kept in straight prison within the Bishoppe of Chesters house foure moneths, not permitting him to hauehave comfort of his frinds, but the Porter was charged to marke them that asked for him, and to take their names and deliuer them to the Bishop: shortly after he came thither, the Bishop sent for him, and communed with him a long time in his Hall alone, and could find no fault with him, but that he allowed not transubstantiation, nor the abuse of the Masse, nor that the Lay people should receiue vnderunder one kinde: with which points the Byshop went about to perswade him, but all was in vaine, then hee sent him to Prison againe. Afterward diuers were sent vntounto him, to perswade him to submit himselfe vntounto the Church of Rome, and to acknowledge the Pope to be the ha…d thereof, and to interpret the Scriptures no otherwise then that Church doth.
George answered, hee doth acknowledge one holy Catholike and Apostolike Church, without which is no saluation: and this Church is but one, because it hath and beléeueth in but one God, and him only worshippeth, and one Christ, and in him only trusteth for saluation; and it is ruled onelyonly by one Spirit, one Word, and one Faith: and that it is vniuersall, because it hath béene from the beginning of the world, and shall be vntounto the end of the world; hauing in it some of al Nations, kindreds and languages, degrees, …ates, and conditions of men. This Church is builded only vponupon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Iesus Christ being the Head-corner-stone, and not on the Romish Lawes and Decrees, the Pope being not the supreame head, and that it was before any succession of Bishops, general Councels, or Romish Decrees, neither was bound to any time or place, ordinary succession, generall Councels, or Tradition of Fathers; neither had any supremacie ouer Empires and Kingdomes.
But that it was a little … flocke dispersed abroad as sheepe without a Shepheard in the middest of Wolues: or as a flocke of fatherlesse Children, assisted, succoured, and defended onelyonly by Christ Iesus their supreme head; from all assaults, errours, troubles and persecutions, wherewith shee is euer compassed about.
He proued by the floud of Noah, the destruction of Sodome: The Israelites departing out of Egypt by the parables of the sower: by the Kings sons marriage: of the great Supper: and by other sentences of the Scriptures, that this Church was of no estimation, and little in comparison of the Church of hypocrites and wicked worldlings.
After the Bishop caused him to bee brought to the Chappell of the Cathedrall Church of Chester, where the Bishop with diuers others were set: After he had taken his oath for a true answering, the Chancelor charged him that he had preached heretically, and blasphemously in diuers places against the Popes authority and Catholick Church of Rome: the blessed Masse, the Sacrament of the Altar, and many other Articles.
Hee answered, that …e neither heretically nor blasphemonsly spake against any of the said Articles, but simply and …uely as occasion serued according to his conscience, maintaining the truth touching the said Articles, as it was taught in King Edward the sixth his time, whereupon they condemned him at the next appearance. And when he would hauehave perswaded them otherwise by the word of God, the Bishop told him he ought not to dispute with hereticks. Then he prayed the people to beare him witnesse, he held no other opinions then were by Law most godly established, and publikely taught in King Edwards time, wherein he would liue and die.
As he came on the way towards the place of execution, some folke proffered him mo…ey and looked that he should hauehave had a little purse in his hand, as the manner of … ▪ was at their going to execution, to gather money to giuegive to a Priest to say trentalls of Masses for them after their death▪ whereby they might be saued: but Marsh said he would not be troubled with money, and hade them giuegive it to the prisoners and poore people.
When he came to the …re his pardon was offered him: he answered, being it tended to plucke him from God, he could not receiue it vponupon that condition. They would not suffer him to speake to the people. He was somewhat long a dying by reason of the …lacknes of the …re, which hee bare wondrous patiently, in so much as the people said he was a Martyr, which caused the Bishop shortly after to make a Sermon in the Cathedrall Church, wherein he affirmed that George Marsh was an hereticks, burned like an hereticke, and a fire-brand in hell: in short time after the iust iudgement of God appeared vponupon the said Bishop, through his adulterous behauiour he was burned with a harlot, and died thereof.
William Flower, alias Branch.
THis William was borne at Snow-hill in the County of Cambridge: after he owelt at Lambeth, and comming ouer the water to Saint Margarets Church at Westminster, where he seeing a Priest at masse, being greatly offended in his conscience, hee wounded him on the head. whereupon hee was apprehended and layde in the Gate-house at Westminster …and from thence beeing brought vntounto Bonner, and being examined, he said he came of purpose to doe it, and when hee saw the people to kneele downe and giuegive the honour of GOD vntounto a piece of Bread, hee could not possibly forbeare any longer, but drew forth his Hanger and smote the Priest: the Witnesses proued, that he smote him on the head, arme, and hand, and that he bled aboundantly, and that hauing a Calice full of consecrated Hosts, the Hosts were besprinkled with the bloud: The Bishop offered that he should be pardoned, if he would recant his opinion of the Sacrament, and returne to the holy Church: He answered, Doe what you will, I am at a point, for the heauens shall assoone fall, as I will forsake mine opinion. He was often called before the Bishop, but when neither by flatteries nor threatning he would not … ▪ he was condemned.
At his burning he was most cruelly handled, his right hand was hold against …he stake and strucken off, at which striking hee in no part of his body did once shrinke: to his burning little wood was brought, not sufficient to burne him, but they were faine to strike him downe into the fire.
Iohn Cardmaker, alias Taylour, and Iohn Warne Vpholster of Saint Iohns in Walbroke in London.
THese two were condemned by Boner, for holding that there was no transubstantiation in the Sacrament, and denying the carnall▪ reall, and corporall presence of Christ in the Sacrament.
This Cardmaker was one of the Prebendaries of the Cathedrall Church of Welles: Hee was apprehended and …aken by the Bishop of Bathe, and committed prisoner vntounto the Fleete in London, the lawes of King Edward being yet in force: but afterward when they had restored their old popish lawes by Act of Parliament, these two, namely, Cardmaker and Warne were brought to … Lord Chancellor, who offered them the Queenes pardon, if they would recant: Wherevpon they made such an answere as the Lord Chancellor and his fellowes allowed them for Catholicke, but it was but for a further aduantage, and that they might hauehave some forged example of a shrinking brother to lay in the … of the rest which were to bee examined: and to all that after were examined: they commended Cardmaker, and one Barlow for sobernesse, discretion, and learning; which Barlow was, for all his good answers, led to the Fleete, from whence being deliuered, did by exile constantly bear witnes to the truth of the Gospell.
Cardmaker was conuayed to the Counter in Breadstreet: the Papists hauing a certaine hope that Cardmaker was become theirs, diuers of them conf…rred with him; in the end he required them to put their reasons in writing, and then hee would answere them in writing, which was done, but they neuer came vntounto our handes.
When Warne and he were brought together to Smithfield to be burned, the Sherife called Cardmaker aside, and talked with him secretly so long, that Warne had made his prayers, and was chained to the stake, and wood and …eeds set to him. The people thought sure Cardmaker would hauehave recanted: but when they saw him put off his clothes, and go boldly to the stake and kisse it, and shake Warn by the hand, and did him be of good comfort, they cried out for ioy, with so great a shoute as a greater hath not beene heard, saying, God be praised, the Lord strengthen thée Cardmaker, the Lord receiue thy spirit; thus they both through the fire passed into the ioyes of heauen.
William Tooly Poulterer of London.
HEe was hanged for robbing a Spaniard at S. Iames, and in his prayer at the Gallowes, which was neere Charing-crosse, hee prayed God to deliuer vsus from the tyrannie of Rome and all the Popes detestable enormities: to which all the people said Amen. And being hanged and buried, the Mitred Priests tooke this grieuously: and after consultations what was best to be done, there was a Mandate of Bonner set vp at Charing-crosse, on Paules Church doore, and at Saint Martins in the Fieldes, for the citing of Tooly, hanged a little before, to appear before the said Bishop for heresie; where, after many witnesses examined, he was suspended, excommunicated, condemned, and committed to the secular power, to wit, the Sherifes of London, who digged him vp, layde his dead body on the fire and burned it.