Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 11 · Part 48 – Part 51
Robert Glouer, and Iohn Glouer his Brother, and William Glouer another Brother.
IOhn was the eldest brother,1555 a Gentleman of the Towne of Mancetor, he was endued with faire possessions and worldly goods, but much more enriched with heauenly grace: He with his two brethren not only embraced the light of the Gospell, but most zealously professed the same.
In King Henries daies, this Iohn fell into a dispaire of himselfe, vponupon the occasion of these words in the 7. to the Hebrewes, For it cannot be, that they which were once illuminated and hauehave tasted the heauenly gift &c.
The Bishop sending a warrant for this Iohn, the Mayor of Couentry sent him a priuy watch-word, who with his Brother William conuayed himselfe away, but the Sheriffe found Robert lying sicke in bed, and although the Sheriffe would faine hauehave dismissed him, saying; Hee was not the man for whom they were sent, yet fearing the stout words of the Officer, he put him in Prison vntill the Bishops comming.
Robert.
Being brought before the Bishop of Couentry, he asked me wherefore I wou…d not come to Church, I said I would not come thither as long as Masse was vsed in their Churches, though I had 500. liues and might saue them all by going: and I asked if they could finde any thing in the Scriptures, whereby they could defend the Masse.
Bish.
He asked who should be iudge of the holy word, I said Christ.
Robert.
He refused not to giuegive his doctri…e to be examined of the people, by searching of the Scriptures, and so did Paule, and if that would not suffice, I said I would stand to the iudgement of the Primitiue Church, which was next after the Apostles time, and that should be iudge betwixt them▪ He answered he was mine Ordinary, and therefore it was my part to beléeue as hee did. I said, what if hée should sa… black is white, or darknesse light.
Bish.
Thou art gone from the Catholick Church, where was thy Church before King Edwards daies? I asked, where was the Church in Elias his time, and in Christs time? He said, Elias only complained of the ten Tribes. I said there was no Prophet at that time in the other two Tribes, then the Bishop commanded me to be caried vntounto a more strait Prison, declaring that he would finde a meanes at his returne, to wéede such wolues out of the way.
After the Chancelor, a Prebendary called Tensea came to him, and exhorted him by all meanes possible to submit himselfe vntounto the Church.
Robert.
I would gladly submit my selfe vntounto the Church, which submitteth it selfe to Gods word: but how (quoth he) can you come to the knowledge of the word of God, but as you be led by the Church. I answered, the Church is not aboue the word of God, because it declareth it, no more then Iohn Baptist is aboue Christ, by shewing Christs comming vntounto the people, or if you should tell one this is the King, and therefore you should say, you were aboue the King.
Bish.
after he was sent for againe before the Bishop, he perswaded him to bee a member of his Church.
Robert.
I told him I was a member of the true Church that was founded vponupon the Apostles and Prophets, the chéefe and principall piller beeing Christ Iesus. This Church was from the beginning, and no maruell though according vntounto the course of this world, it doth not shew forth the externall light, for it is afflicted with continuall crosses, that it hath no respite from feare and tirannicall vsage: the Bishop contended that he was of the Church; so said I, the whole congregation once cryed against the Prophets, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord; but when I said any thing for my selfe, the Bishop commaunded me vponupon my alleagiance to hold my tongue, calling me proud and arrogant Hypocrite.
After for denying that there were any more then two Sacraments, and that the Masse was neither Sacrament nor Sacrifice, because it differeth from the true institution of Christ, and taketh it cleane away, and that he denied Confession to a Priest: he was condemned and burned at Couentree.
Cornelius Bungey.
IN the same fire which the said Robert Glouer was burned, Cornelius Bungey a Capper of Couentry▪ who was condemned by the said Bishop: First, for that he did maintaine that the Priest had no power to absolue a sinner from his sinnes, and that there be but two Sacraments: Baptisme, and the Lords Supper: And that there was not the Lords body and bloud of Christ in the Sacrament of their popish Altar: And that the Pope is not head of the Church.
WILLIAM WOLSEY, and ROBERT PYGOT Painter.
THese were condemned and burned by the Bishop and Chancellor of Ely, and both in one fire at Ely were burned.
NICHOLAS RIDLEY, Bishop of London, and HVGH LATIMER Bishop of Worcester.
NIcholas Ridley came of a gentle stock, borne in Northumberland; he was first Bishop of Rochester, and after Bishop of London, in which offices he so occupied himselfe in preaching the holsome Doctrine of Christ, that neuer child was so dearely beloued of his parents, as he was of his flocke: he preached eueryevery Holiday or Sunday in some one place or other, to whom the people swarmed like Bées.
He did carefully instruct his Family: hee gaue them eueryevery one a New Testament, and would giuegive them money to learne certaine principall Chapters by hart, being maruellous carefull ouer them, that they might be a spectacle of vertue and honesty to others.
He called Mistris Boner Bishop Boners Mother, his mother, and when he was at his house at Fulham, the dwelling there, he euer sent for her to meales, and placed her in a Cha…e at the Tables end, and shee was neuer displaced of her seate, though the Kings Councell were there, but hee would tell them that this place of right and custome is for my mother Boner: but he was well recompenced therfore by Boner, who was the destruction of him and his.
He was immediately after the comming of Queene Mary committed vntounto prison and carried to Oxford like a most heynous traytor and heretick with Cranmer, and Latimer, accompanied with a band of Souldiers, as is before mentioned.