Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 11 · Part 38
Elizabeth Warne, George Tankerfield, Robert Smith, Steuen Harwood, Thomas Fust, William Hall, Thomas Leyes, George King, Iohn Wade, Ioane Leyshford.
THe Prisons of London being replenished with Gods Saints, and still moe and moe comming in, wherefore these ten were sent for of Bonner to be examined, and rid out of the way. The chéefe point he examined them of, was touching the corporall presence of Christs body and blood in the Sacrament, as the profitablest foundation for their Catholike dignity. Many other thinges were obiected against them, as not comming to Church, for speaking against the Masse, and for dispising their Ceremonies and Sacraments. Elizabeth Warne answered vntounto them, I deny them all, and if Christ was in an error, then am I in an errour, wherefore she was condemned. Doctor Story was of some alliance vntounto her, who deliuered her once by his earnest sute, before hee was Commissioner, but after he was Commissioner, he caused her, Iohn Warne her Husband, and her Daughter, to be apprehended, neuer leauing them, vntill hee had brought them all to Ashes.
George Tankerfield of London, Cooke, borne in the Cittie of Yorke, he vtterly denied aur…culer Confession, and Transubstantiation, and affirmed that the Masse was naught, and full of Idolatry and abhomination: and affirmed that there were but two Sacraments. He told the Bishop he cared not for his Diuinity, for you condemne all men, and proue nothing against them, and he said the church whereof the Pope is supreme head, is not Christs Church; and pointing to the Bishop he said to the people beware of him, and such as he is, these be they which deceiue you: Wherevpon he was condemned.
ROBERT SMITH beeing asked by Boner when hee was Confessed: Hee answered, not since the time he had discretion: I am not commaunded of God to shew my sinnes to any of that sinfull number whom yee call Priests: He was a Painter, and hee told the Bishop hee had vsed his vocation better then hee had vsed his Bishoprick: Hee said hee neuer vsed the Sacrament, nor neuer would, because it hath not Gods ordinance, but rather it is directed to mocke GOD: I count it a detestable Idoll, and not GOD, but contrarie to GOD and truth: Then the Bishop said, hee should be burned: He answered, hee must not thinke thereby to quench the Spirit of GOD, nor make your matter good for your sore is too well seene to bee healed so priuily with bloud, euen the Children hauehave all your deeds in derision: so that though you patch vp one place with authoritie, yet it shall breake out in fortie to your shame: Then the Bishop said by my truth if thou wilt be shrieuen, I will tare this paper of thy examination: I answered, it would be too much to his shame, to shew it vntounto men of discretion.
Boner.
Doe you not confesse there is a Catholick Church on earth.
Smith.
Yes verily: and it is builded vponupon the Prophets a…d Apostles Christ Iesus being the head Corner stone, which Church maintaineth the word, and bringeth the same for her authoritie, and without it doth nothing nor ought to doe, and I am fully assured I am a member of the same Church.
Boner.
If my brother doe offend, and will not be reconciled, I must bring him before the congregation, where may a man finde your Church to bring his brother before the same.
Smith.
In the Acts of the Apostles, when the tyranny of the Bishops was so great against the Church of Iewry, they were faine to congregate in priuy places as they now doe: yet they were the Church of God.
Boner.
There Church was knowne full well, for Paul writ to the Corinthians to hauehave the man excommunicated that had lien with his Fathers wife.
Smith.
As the Church of Corinth was manifest to God and Paule, so is this Church in England, else you could not persecute it as you do.
I being conuayed into the Garden, Doctor Dee, being one of the Bishops Chaplaines, came to me, and after much adoe about his God, I compelled him to say that it must needs enter into the belly and so fall out …nto the draught: then hee said, What derogation was it to Christ, when the Iewes spit in his face? and I answered, If the Iewes his enemies did but spit in his face, and wee being his friends throw him in the draught, which of vsus hauehave deserued the greater damnation?
Doctor.
Then he would hauehave Christs humanitie incomprehensible, bringing to serue his turne which way Christ came amongst his Disciples the doores being close shut.
Smith.
I hauehave as much to proue that the doores opened at his comming as you hauehave to proue that he came thorow the doores: for God that opened the prison doores for his Disciples, was able to doe the like for Christ; but that maketh not for your purpose, for they saw, heard, and felt him, and so cannot you do in your sacrament. Then I was called for before Bonner, and my Lord Mayor was with him, and my articles were read, then said Bonner:
Bonner.
My Lord, they call me bloudie Bonner, where I neuer sought any mans blood, I hauehave stayed him from the Consistory this day, whither I might hauehave brought him iustlie: and heere before you I desire him to turne, and I will with all spéed dispatch him out of trouble.
Smith.
Why do you put on this visard before my Lord Mayor, to make him beléeue you séeke not my blood? HaueHave not you burned my Brother Tomkins hand most cruelly, and after burned his body, and the bodies of a number more of Christs faithfull members. Then he questioned with me about the Sacrament, and I said, as the body is dead if the blood be gone, so their Sacrament is a dead God, because they take away the blood of Christ from his body, being the Cup is taken from the Layty: for if the Br…ad be his body, the Cup must bee his blood. Then Bonner rose, and my Lord Mayor desired me to saue my soule: I said, mine was saued by Christ, desiring him to pittie his owne soule, and remember whose sword hee carried: so with many foule farewels, we were sent to New-gate againe, and Boner gaue the Keeper charge to lay me in Limbo.