Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 11 · Part 19 – Part 23
THOMAS HAVKES.
HEe was sent to London to Bonner for not suffering of his childe to be christened in three weekes: he tolde the Bishop the reason was because their baptizing was against the word of God,1555. there being in it so many things which hauehave … inuented by men, as Oyle, Creame, Salt, Spittle, Candle, and coniuring of water, &c.
Bonner.
The Catholike Church hath taught it, and your fathers and the whole world hauehave béene conte…ted therewith: he answered, I hauehave nothing to doe what they hauehave done, what God commandeth me, to that stand I.
One said I was too curious, for ye will hauehave nothing, said he, but your little pretty▪ Gods booke. I asked if it were not sufficient for our saluation. Yes, said hee, but not for our instruction. I said GOD send me the saluation and you the instruction.
Bonner.
Would you be content to hauehave your childe christened after the Order set forth in K. Edwards time?
Haukes.
Yes said I, that is my desire: then he said, you are a stubborn young man, I must take another course with you. I told him he was in the handes of God, and so am I. Then the Bishop would hauehave had me to Euen…song with him. I tolde him I would not pray in that place nor in none such. One of his Chaplaines said, let him goe, my Lord, and he shall be no pertaker with vsus in our prayers. I told them, I thought my selfe best when I was farthest from them.
The Bishop sent for me, and Harpsfield was with him; then the Bishop said, this is the man I told you of, that would not hauehave his childe christened, nor will hauehave no ceremonies.
Harps.
Christ vsed ceremonies when he tooke clay and spittle and made the blinde man sée.
Haukes.
Christ vsed it not in Baptisme: if you will needs hauehave it, put it to the vse that Christ did.
Harps.
Admit your childe die vnchristned, you are in a heauie case, your childe being damned and you also, séeing you would not christen him when you might; for he is borne in originall sinne.
Haukes.
The deliuerance of sinne standeth in the faith of the parents: he asked me how I proued it; Paule in 1. Cor. 7. saith, The vnbeleeuing man is sanctified by the beleeuing woman, and the vnbeleeuing woman by the beleeuing man, els were your children vncleane.
Harps.
Your great learned men at Oxford, in whom you put your trust, will be against you. I said if they doe it by the Scriptures I would beléeue them.
Bonner.
Recant, recant; for Christ saith, Except you bee baptized you cannot be saued.
Haukes.
I a…ked him whether Christianity did stand in outward ceremonie? He said, partly it doth. I said, S. Pet saith, Not the washing of water that purgeth the filth of the flesh, but a good conscience consenting vntounto God, is acceptable to him.
Bonner.
How say you to the masse sirra?
Haukes.
It is detestable, ab…minable, and profitable for nothing. Then he said, what say you to the Epistle and Gospell? I said it was good if it were well and rightly vsed.
Bonner.
What say you to the Consite…r?
Haukes.
It is abominable and detestable, and a blasphemie against God and his sonne, to call vponupon any, to trust in any, or to pray to any, saue onelyonly to Christ Iesus.
Bonner.
To trust to any we bid you not, to pray to them wee bid you; for you pray to God by them, as you cannot speake to the King and Quéene but by the meanes of one of the priui… chamber.
Haukes.
You say we must not trust in them; and S. Paule saith, How should I call on them in whom I trust not?
Bonner.
Would you hauehave no body pray for you when you are dead? I said, so long as we are aliue the prayers of the righteous are a…ailable; but when we are dead they profit not▪ for Dauid faith, No man can deliuer his brother from death: and Ezechiel …aith, Though Noe, Daniel, and Iob dwelt amongst them, yet can they exceed no further then them selues. Then he said to Harpsfield, you sée this man hath no need of our Lady, nor of any blessed Saints.
An old Bishop that lost his liuing for …arrying a wi…e, came to Bonner with a gift, and he sent for me, and tolde him how that I had a childe and would not ha…e it christned. I said I de…ie not baptisme. Then he said angerly, Thou …oole, thou cann…st not tell what thou wouldst hauehave. I said a Bishop must be … not giuen to anger. Thou iudgest me angrie, … by my faith I am not. Then said the old Bishop, Alas y…ng man, you must be taught by the Church, and by your ancients, and doe as your fathers hauehave done.
Bonner.
No, no, he will hauehave nothing but Scripture, he will hauehave no ceremonies in the Church. But what say you to holy water?
Haukes.
I say to it as to the rest, No, said he, that is proued by the Scripture, in the booke of Kings, when Elizeus threw salt into the water. I said the waters were corrupt, and by this he made them sweete and good; so when our waters be corrupt, if you by putting in salt can make them sweet, cleere, and wholsom we wil the better beleeue your ceremonies.
Bonner.
How say you to holy bread? I asked, what scripture hauehave you for it? he said Christ sed fiue thousand men with fiue loa…es and three fishes.
Haukes.
Will you make that holy bread? there Christ dealt fish with his holy bread: then he said, looke how captions he is: and I said, Christ did not this miracle because you should do the like, but to cause vsus to credit and beléeue his word and doctrine.
Bonner.
You will beleeue no doctrine but that which is wrought by miracles. I said no: for Christ saith these tokens shall follow them that beleeue me, they shall speake new tongues and cast out diuels, and if they drinke poyson it shall not hurt them. Then he asked with what new tongues we speake.
Haukes.
When I knew not Gods word I was a blasphemer and filth…e talker, but since I knew Gods word, I hauehave giuen laude, praise, and thankes to God with the same tongue. Then he said, how cast ye out Diuels? I said, whosoeuer doth credite and beleeue Gods word shall cast out Diuels. Then he asked me if euer I dranke any deadly poyson. I said yea forsooth, I hauehave drunken of the pestilent traditions, and ceremonies of the Bishop of Rome.
Bonner.
Thou art an Hereticks, and thou shalt be burned if thou continuest this opinion: you thinke we are affraid to put you to death, there is a brother-head of you, but I will breake it I warrant you.
Haukes.
Christ nor his Apostles neuer killed any for their Faith: he said, Paule did excommunicate, I said, There is difference betwixt excommunicating and burning: he said, Peter destroyed the Man and his Wife in the Acts. I said, They lied against the Holy Ghost, which serued nothing for his purpose: Then he saide, well, you graunt one. I said, If you will hauehave vsus grant you to be of God, then shew mercy, for he requireth mercy: so he went to dinner. The next day Fecknam talked with me.
Feck.
Are you hee that will not hauehave your child christned, but in English, and will hauehave no Ceremonies. I said, I refuse not that which the Scripture commandeth: he said, Cer…monies are to be vsed by the Scriptures, how say you to Paules breaches.
Hauks.
I hauehave read, that there went Partlets and Napkins from Pauls body, is it that you meane? he said, yes, what say you to those Ceremonies: I say nothing to the Ceremonies; for the Text saith, It was God that wrought, and not the Ceremonies.
Feck.
How say you to the woman that touched the hem of Christ vesture, did not her disease depart by that ceremonie: I said there went vertue from Christ as himselfe said: whether was it his vertue, or his besture that healed the woman: He said both, I said then is not Christ true: For hee said, Thy Faith hath made thee whole.
Feck.
How say you Sirrha, Christ tooke bread and brake it, and said, Take, eate, this is my body: is it not so: I said I doe not vnderstand it so: Then hee said Christ is a lyer: I said, I thinke you will prooue him so: for eueryevery word that Christ spoke is not to bee vnderstood as hee spoke it: For hee said, I am a Doore, a Vine, a King, a Way, &c. Hee said hee spake this in parables.
Haukes.
No forsooth, then Christ would hauehave said, I am like vntounto a Doore, to a Uine, to a King, to a Way: He said these pla…es make nothing for you: but I perceiue you build vponupon Latimer, Cranmer, and Ridley: I said they be godly learned men.
Feck.
Wilt thou trust to such dolts, one of them hath written in his booke that the reall presence is in the Sacrament▪ Ridley preached at Paules Crosse that the Diuell beleeued better then you, for he beleeued Christ is able to make of stones bread, and you will not beleeue Christs body is in the sacrament, yet thou buildest thy faith vponupon them.
Haukes.
What they hauehave done I know not, but what they do I know: I build my faith vponupon no man. If these and many more should recant, yet will I stand to that which I hauehave said, and then they departed. The next day Doctor Chadsey comming to the Bishop, I was sent for into the Garden.
Bonner.
He thinketh there is no Church but in England and Germany. I said, and you thinke, there is no Church but at Rome.
Chad.
How say you to the Church of Rome? I said it is a Church of a sort of vicious Cardinals, Priests▪ Monks, and Friers, which I will neuer credit nor beleeue: then he said▪ what say you to the Pope?
Haukes.
From him and all his detestable enormities good Lord deliuer vsus: he said so we may say, from King Henry the eighth and all his detestable enormities, good Lord deliuer vsus.
Bonner.
He will not come into the Chappell, he cannot abide the masse, nor the sacrament, nor any seruice but in English: then Chadsey said, Christ neuer spake English.
Haukes.
Neither spake he in Lattine, but alwaies in such a tongue as they vnderstood. And Saint Paule saith, Tongues profit nothing, if a Pipe or a Harpe make no certaine sound, who can prepare himselfe to battaile: So if wee heare a tongue that we vnderstand not, we receiue no profit.
Bonner.
The Catholike Church ordred, that the Latine seruice should serue thorow the whole world, that they might pray in one tongue, that there be no strife. I say, this did your Councels of Rome.
Chad.
You are to blame to reprooue the Councells through the whole World.
Haukes.
Saint Paule reproueth them, saying; If any preach any other Doctrine then that which I hauehave taught, doe you hold him accursed: Then he said, hath any preached to you any other Doctrine. I said yes, since I came into this house, I hauehave beene taught praying to Saints, and to our Lady, and to trust in the Masse, holy Bread, and holy water, and in Idols: he said they taught him not amisse in that: I said, cursed bee he that teacheth me so, and I will not credit him nor beléeue him.
Chad.
What be those Idols you are offended with; I said the Crosse of wood, Siluer, Copper, or Gold, &c.
Boner.
I say eueryevery Idoll is an Image, but not eueryevery Image an Idoll: if it be an Image of a false God it is an Idoll: but if an Image be made of God himselfe it is no Idoll but an Image.
Haukes.
Lay your Images of your true God, and of your false God together, and both your Image and Idoll hauehave hands and feele not, eyes and see not, feete and goe not, mouthes and speake not; so there is no difference.
Chad.
God forbid I should reioice in any thing but in the crosse of Christ: I asked him whether he vnderstood Paul: so he answered me not.
Boner.
When can we hauehave a godlier remembrance when wee ride by the way then to see the Crosse: I said if it were such profit, why did not Christs Disciples take it vp, and set it on a pole, and carry it in procession, with Salua festa dies. Chadsey said it was taken vp.
Haukes.
You say Elenor tooke it vp, and she sent a peece of it to a place of Religion, where I was with the visiters at the dissolution, and we called for the peece of the crosse, which was so esteemed, and had robbed so many, and made them commit Idolatry; and it was but a peece of a Lath couered ouer with Copper, and double gilded, as it had béen cleane gold: Then the Bishop cryed fye on him, and hey left me: And Chadsey said, it was pitty I should liue, and I said I had rather die, then liue in this case.
The Bishop after writ somewhat that hee should set his hand too, and there was in it, that I Thomas Lankes had talked with mine Ordinarie, and with certaine good, godly and learned men: Hee answered, hee would not grant them to bee good, godly, and learned men: After also hee told the Bishop, as for your cursings, raylings, and blasphemings, I care not for them: for I know the mothes and wormes shall eate you, as they eate Wooll or Cloth, and at length with diuers others in the month of Iune hee was condemned, and beeing carried into Essex, at Cophall, by martyrdome, he changed his life: His friends priuily desired him, that in the middest or the flame, he would shew some token that they might bee certaine whether the paine were so great that one cannot keepe his minde constant therein, which hee promised to doe, and if it were tolerable to hold vp his hands ouer his head, and when his breath was taken away, his skin drawne together, his fingers consumed in the fire, and all men looked that hee would giuegive vp the Ghost, Hee mindfull of his promise… made did lift vp his hands halfe burned, and burning with heate aboue his head to the liuing God, euen on a sodaine, and with great reioicing, striketh them three times together: by which thing, contrarie to all mens expectation béeing seene, there followed so great reioycing, and cry of the multitude, as though heauen and earth would hauehave come together, and presently he sunke downe, and gaue vp the Ghost.
THOMAS WATS.
HE was of Billerica in Essex, beeing brought to the Bishop of London▪ hee put certaine Articles to him: The effect of the answere whereof followeth.
That he hath and doth beleeue that Christs body is in heauen, and no where else: and that hee will neuer beleeue that Christs body is in the Sacrament, and that the Masse is full of Idolatry and abhomination, neuer instituted by Christ, and that he neuer did nor doth beleeue that a Priest can absolue him of his sinnes: but he beleeueth it is good to aske councell at the Priests mouth: and he confessed that he said openly in the sessions, that all that is now vsed and done in the church is abhominable, hereticall, and scismaticall, and altogether naught.
And he doth beleeue, that the Pope is a mortall enemy to Christ, & his Church: and that hee prayeth as Tooly did, that we may be deliuered from the tyrannie of the Pope and all his enormities.
And after he had been many times brought before Boner, and his company, and the Bishop perceiuing, neither his threatnings, nor flattering promises, nothing to preuaile: he condemned him, and after he was carried to Chemes-ford, & there most patiently and constantly sealed his faith with his bloud, by most cruell fire.
The morning before hee died, hee said words to this effect to his Wife and Children. Wife and good Children, I must now depart from you; henceforth I know you no more, but as the Lord hath giuen you to mee, so I giuegive you againe vntounto the LORD, whom I charge you to obay and feare, and beware that you turne not to this abhominable papistry, against the which I shalll ano…e by Gods grace giuegive my bloud. Let not the murthering of Gods Saints be any cause for you to relent: but take occasion thereby to be stronger in the Lords quarrell, and I doubt not but hee will bee a mercifull father vntounto you, and then I kissed them all, and was carried vntounto the fire.
When he came to the stake hee kissed it, and then hee said so my Lord Rich, beware, beware, for you doe against your conscience herein, and without you repent, the Lord will reuenge it, for you are the cause of my death.
Thomas Osmond, Fuller, William Bamford, alias Butler, Nicholas Chamberlain, Iohn Ardley, and Iohn Simpson.
THese were sent out of Essex vntounto Boner, to be examined, they had the same Articles ministred vntounto them, and agreed all in the same answeres in substance, that Thomas Wats next aforesaid made, and when by no meanes they could be perswaded from their constancie, being many times sent for, they were at last condemned, and burned in seuerall places in Essex, Chamberlain at Colchester, Thomas Osmond at Maning-tree, William Bramford at Harwidge.
Iohn Ardley told Boner, my Lord neither you nor any of your Religion is of the Catholick Church, for you are of a false Faith, and shall bee deceiued at length, beare as good a face as you can, you will kill the innocent bloud, and you hauehave killed many, and▪ o… gee about to kill more, if eueryevery hayre of my head were a man, I would suffer death in the Faith that I am in.
At …he Examination of Simpson and Ardley, there were a great multit…de of people assembled in the Church of Paules round about the Consistory: The Bishop being angry with their bold answeres, cryed alowd, hauehave him away, hauehave him away: Wh…n the people in the Church heard these words, thinking the prisoners had their iudgements, they seuered themselues to make way, which caused such a noise in the Church, that they in the Consistory were amazed: The Bishop asked what was the matter: The standers by said there was like to be some tumul…, for they were together by the eares: The Bishop with the rest of the Court ranne away to the doore that goeth into the Bishops house, but the rest being lighter footed then the Bishop, recouered the doore first, and thro…ging hastily to get in, kept the Bishop out: and cried saue my Lord, saue my Lord: whereby they gaue the standers by good matter to laugh at, whereby th…se were a little while stopped of … Iudgement: but not long after they were called to the fire: Iohn Simpson suffered at Rochford, and Iohn Ardley at Rayby.
IOHN BRADFORD.
HE was borne at Manchester in Lan…aster:1555. On the 13. day of August, in the first yeare of Qu…ene Mary: Master Bourne, Bishop of Bathe, made a beastly Sermon at Paules Crosse to set vp popery, as before is said: Boner being present, the people were ready to pull him out of the Pulpit, and a Dagger was hurled at him, and being put from ending his Sermon, he intreated Bradford being with him, to speake and appease the people, when hee came into the place of the Preacher, all the people cryed Bradford, Bradford, God saue thee Bradford: And after they heard his godly exhortation they left off their raging. Bourne thought himselfe not yet sure of his life, vntill hee was safely housed, th…ugh the Sheriffe and Mayor were ready to help him. Wherefore hee desired Bradford not to depart from him vntill hee was in safety, and …radford went at his backe shaddowing him with his Gowne: Amongst whom one G…ntleman said: Ah Bradford, Bradford, thou sauest him that will helpe to burne thee: I giuegive thee his life for if it were not for thee, I would runne him through with my sword, within three dares after Bradford was sent for to the Tower, and there the Councell charged him with sedition for this matter, and committed him to the Tower, and from the Tower to the Kings Bench in Southwarke, and after his condemnation vntounto the Counter in the Poultry, whilst hee remained in these two prisons he preached twice a day continually almost two yeares.
After he was brought with Bishop Farrax as a…oresaid, before the Lord Chancellor, and the Queenes Commissioners: after the Lord Chancellor had laid vntounto his charge the aforesaid sedition at Paules, and Boner had bore witnes against him, and Bradford had shewed his innocency, and affirmed that notwithstanding Boners seeing and saying, yet the truth I hauehave told, as at the day of Iudgement wi…l appeare, in the meane time because I cannot be beleeued, I am ready to suffer what God will licence you to doe to me.
Chan.
To leaue this matter, wilt thou returne againe, and doe as wee hauehave done, and thou shalt receiue the Queenes mercy and pardon.
Brad.
My Lord, I desire mercy with Gods mercy, but mercy with Gods wrath God keepe me from: Well said he, if thou wilt not receiue mercy offred vntounto thée, know for a truth, that the Queene is minded to make a purgation of all such as thou art. Bradford answered, I would be glad of the Queenes mercy, to liue as a subiect without a clogge of Conscience, otherwise the Lords mercy is better to me then life, and I commit my life into his hands that will keep it, that none can take it away without his pleasure: There are twelue houres in the day as long as they last no man shall hauehave power thereon; therefore his good will be done: Life in his displeasure is worse then death, and death in his true fauour is true life.
And after he had béen thrée times called before the Lord Chancellor, at all which times there was no arguments of diuinitie but about transubstantiation: For denying whereof, and affirming that the wicked doe not receiue Christ, though they receiue the Sacrament he was condemned: after this the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Chichester came to him, and argued this point▪ and after them two Spanish Friers, and diuers others at other times: The summe of his Doctrine herein followeth.
Reasons against Transubstantiation, gathered by IOHN BRADFORD.
1 TErtullian saith that which is former is true, that which is later is false. Transubstantiation is a late Doctrine; for it was not generally defin…d vntill the Councell of Laterane, about the yeare one thousand two hundred and fifteene, vnderunder Innocent 3. before it was free to beleeue it, or not beleeue it: Ergo, the Doctrine of Transubstantiation is false.
2 That the words of Christs Supper be figuratiue: the Circumstances of the Scripture: the proportion of the Sacraments: the sentences of all holy Fathers: For a thousand yeares after Christ doe all teach: It followeth there is no Transubstantiation,
3 The Scriptures doe witnes that the Lord gaue bread to his Disciples, and called it his body: He took bread in his hands: hee gaue thankes ouer bread, he brake bread, and gaue bread to his Disciples: As Ireneus, Tertullian, Origene, Cyprian, Epiphanius, Augustine, and all the Fathers of antiquitie doe affirme: but in asmuch as the substance of bread and wine is another manner of thing: then the substance of the body and bloud of Christ, it is plaine there is no Transubstantiation.
4 The bread is no more transubstantiated then the wine: CHRIST calleth that the fruit of the Uine, saying, I will drinke no more of the fruit of the Vine: Therefore by Christes wordes it was not Bloud but Wine: therefore it followeth there is no Transubstantiation: Chrysostom vponupon Mathew and Cyprian, doe confirme this reason.
5 The bread is called as well Christs mysticall body, as his naturall body: for the same spirit that saith the bread is my body; saith also, wee being many are one body, but it is not the mysticall body by transubstantiation, no more is it his naturall body by transubstantiation.
6 The words ouer the Cup are not so effectuall as to transubstantiate it int… the New Testament: Therfore the words spoken ouer the bread, are not so mighty to make Transubstantiation.
7 The Doctrine of Transubstantiation doth not agree with the Apostolick and mother Churches, which receiued there Doctrine of the Apostles, who receiued it of Christ, and Christ of God: as of Gréece, of Corinthus, of Philippos, Collosia, Thessalonica, Ephesus, which neuer taught Transubstantiation: yea, it agreeth not with the Doctrine of the Church of Rome, taught in times past, for Gelasius the Pope doth manifestly confute the errour of transubstantiation, and reproueth them of sacriledge, which diuide the mysterie, and keep the Cup from the lay people: Therefore the Doctrine of transubstantiation agreeth not with the truth.