The Marrow of Ecclesiastical History, Rowland Tailor
The life of Rowland Tailor, who died Ano. Christi 1555.
ROwland Taylor was Doctor of both Laws, and Rector of Hadley in Suffolk, where Master Thomas Bilney had formerly been a Preacher of the Word,His imployment. and in which place there were few, either men or women, that were not well learned in the holy Scriptures, many having read over the whole Bible,Scriptures well studied. and could say a great part of Paul's Epistles by heart. Here this D. Taylor preached constantly on Sabbaths, Holy-days, and at other times when he could get the people together.Preachers pattern. So soon as he was called to this place, he left the family of Doct. Cranmer A. B. of Canterbury, with whom he had formerly lived, & like a good shepherd, constantly abode with his flock, and gave himself wholly to the study of the Sacred Scriptures, most faithfully endeavouring to fulfill the precept of Christ to Peter; Lovest thou me? feed my sheep. His life also, and conversation was very exemplary, and full of holiness: He was meek, and humble, yet would stoutly rebuke sinne in the greatest: He was very mild, void of all rancor and malice, ready to do good to all mer, forgiving his enemies, and far from doing the least wrong. To the poor,His character. blinde, lame, sick, bed-rid, or that had many children, he was a father,His charity. causing the Parishioners to make good provision for them, besides what of his own bounty he gave them. He brought up his own children in the fear of God, & good learning: And thus he continued as a good Sheepherd amongst his flock, feeding, governing, and leading them through the wilderness of this wicked world,The Ma'ss brought into his Church. all the days of holy King Edward the sixth: But in the beginning of Queen Marie's Reigne, two Popish persons suborned a Priest to come and say Mass in his Church; Hee being at his study, and hearing the Bell to toll, went to Church, and finding this Priest, guarded with drawn swords, in his Popish Robes ready to begin the Mass,His zeal. he said unto him, Thou Divel, who made thee so bold to enter into this Church, to profane and defile it with this abominable Idolatry, I command thee thou Popish-Wolfe, in the name of God to avoid hence, and not to presume thus to poyson Christ's flock. Then said one Foster (the ringleader in this business) to Doctor Tailor, Popish malice.Thou Traitor, what dost thou here, to let and disturbe the Queens proceedings? Doctor Tailor answered, I am no Traitor, but the Shepherd which God, and my Lord Christ hath appointed to feed this his flock; and therefore I have good authority to be here. Then said Foster, Wilt thou Traiterous Heretick make a commotion, and resist violently the Queens proceedings? Doctor Tailor answered, I make no commotion; its you Papists that make commotions and tumults; I resist onelyonly with Gods word against your Popish Idolatries, which are contrary to the same, and tend to the dishonour of the Queen, and the utter subversion of this Realme; Then did Foster with his armed men carry Doctor Tailor out of the Church, and so the Priest went on with his Mass. Doctor Tailors wife, who had followed her Husband to the Church, when she saw their violent proceedings, kneeled down, and holding up her hands, with a loud voice, said, I beseech God, the righteous Judge to avenge this injury, which this Popish Idolater doth this day to the blood of Christ; Then did they thrust her out of the Church also: and presently after Foster wrote a complaint against Doct.He is accused, and sent for. Tailor to Steven Gardiner, who sent his Letters Missive for Doctor Tailor: whereupon his friends earnestly entreated him to fly, telling him that he could neither expect justice, nor favor,He is perswaded to fly. but imprisonment, and cruel death: To whom he answered,Flight refused. I know my cause to be so good, and righteous, and the truth so strong upon my side, His courage.that I will by Gods grace appear before them, and to their beards resist their false doings, for I beleeve that I shal never be able to doe God so good service as now, and that I shal never have so glorious a calling, nor so great mercy of God profferd me as I have now; wherefore pray for mee, and I doubt not but God will give mee strength, and his holy spirit, that all my adversaries shal be asham'd of their doings. Then said his friends, Master Dr. we think it not best so to do; you have sufficiently done your duty, and borne witness to the truth, both in your Sermons, and in resisting this Popish Priest, and therfore seeing our Savior Christ bids us when we are persecuted in one City to flee to another; we think that by flying at this time you should doe best, reserving your selfe for better times. O (said D. Tailor) I am now old, and have already lived too long to see these terrible and wicked dayes. You may doe as your consciences serve you, but I am resolved not to fly:A Prediction. God shall hereafter raise up Teachers, which shall with much more diligence and fruit teach then I have done; for God will not forsake his Church, though for a time he tryeth and correcteth us, and that not without just cause. His friends seeing his constancy and resolution, with weeping eyes commended him to God; and so preparing himself,He goes to S. Gardiner. he went to London, and presented himself to Steven Gardiner, Lord Chancellor of England; who railed upon him, calling him Knave, Traitor, Heretick, asking him if he knew him not? &c. To whom he answered, Yea, I know you, His stout answer.and all your greatness, yet… you are but a mortall man: and if I should be affraid of your Lordly looks, why fear you not God the Lord of us all? His conference with Gardiner.How dare you for shame look any Christian in the face, seeing you have forsaken the truth, denyed our Saviour Christ, and his word, & done contrary to your own oath, and writing? with what countenance can you appear before the judgement seat of Christ, and answer for your oath, first made to King Henry the eighth, and afterwards to King Edward the sixth?
Gardiner.
Tush, tush, that was Herods oath, unlawfull, and therefore fit to be broken; I did well in breaking it, and thanke God that I am come home to our Mother the Church of Rome, and so I would thou shouldest doe.
Tailor.
Should I forsake the Church of Christ, which is founded upon the true foundation of the Prophets and Apostles? to approve those lyes, errors, superstitions and idolatries that are approved of most blasphemously by you? God forbid. Remember that you wrote truly against the Pope, and were sworne against him:
Gardin.
I tell thee that was Herods oath, and our holy Father the Pope hath discharged me of it.
Tailor.
But you shall not be so discharged before Christ, who doubtlesse will require it at your hands as a lawful oath made to your King, from which no man can assoile you.
Gardiner.
I see that thou art an arrogant Knave, and a very fool.
Tailor.
My Lord leave your railing, which is unseemly in one that is in your place. I am a Christian man, and you know that he that call's his brother Fool, is in danger of Hell fire.
Gardiner.
Yee are false, and liers all the sort of you.
Tailor.
We are true men, and know that God will destroy all them that speak lies, and therefore we abide by the truth of Gods word, which ye, contrary to your own consciences, deny, and forsake.
Gardiner.
Thou art a married man.
Tailor.
Yea, and I thanke God that I am, and have had nine children and all in lawfu… matrimony, and blessed be God that ordained matrimo…y, and commanded that all that had not the gift of continency should marry, and not live in whoredom and a dultery. After some other discourse the Bishop called hi men, commanding them to carry him to the Kings Bench, requiring his Keeper to keep him strictly: Then Docto… Tailor kneeling down, and holding up his hands, said, Good Lord I thanke thee, and from the Tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable errors and abominations, His imprisonment.good Lord deliver us. So they carried him away to prison, where he lay almost two years. In Prison he spent his time in praier, reading the Scriptures, preaching to the prisoners,His holy employments in prison. and to other that resorted to him: And it pleased God that he found in that prison holy Master Bradford, He meeres with Mr. Bradford in prison.whom he began to exhort to Faith, strength, and patience, and to persevere constantly unto the end. Master Bradford hearing this, thanked God who had provided him so comfortable a prison-fellow, and so they both together praised God, and continued in praier, reading and exhorting one another: Insomuch as Doctor Tailor told his friends that God had provided graciously for him to send him to that prison where he found such an Angell of God to be in his company to comfort him. He was diverse times examined of his faith, and witnessed a good Confession before his adversaries,His examinations: for which at last he was condemned to die.His condemnation. When his sentence was read, he told them that God, the righteous Judge, would require his blood at their hands,His courage. and that the proudest of them all should repent their receiving againe of Antichrist, and their Tyranny against the flock of Christ. He also thus wrote to his friends. God be praised, since my condemnation I was never affraid to die▪ Death not feared.Gods will be done. If I shrinke from Gods truth, I am sure of an other manner of death then had Judge Hales. But God be praised even from the bottome of my heart, I am unmovably setled upon the Rock, nothing doubting but that my dear God will performe and finish the work that he hath begun in me, and others. To him be all honor both now, and ever through Christ our onelyonly Saviour, Amen.
After his condemnation,His conference with Bishop Bonner. Bishop Bonner came to the prison to degrade him, bringing all the Massing Garments with him, which he commanded him to put on. No, quoth Doctor Tailor, I will not.
Bonner.
Wilt thou not? I shall make thee ere I go.
Tailor.
You shall not, by the grace of God.
Bonner.
I charge thee on thy obedience to do it.
Tailor.
I will not.
Then the Bishop bad his owne man to put them on his back, which when it was done, setting his hands by his side, he walked up and down, and said, How say you my Lord, am I not a goodly fool? If I were in Cheap-side, would not all the boies laugh at these apishtoies? The Bishop having dispoiled him of all, would have given him a stroke on his breast with his Crosier: But his Chaplain said, My Lord strike him not, for he will sure strike again. Yea by Saint Peter will I, quoth Doctor Tailor: The cause is Christs, and I were no good Christian if I would not fight in my masters quarrell. Then the Bishop cursed him, but durst not strike him. To whom Doctor Tailor answered, Though you curse, yet God doth blesse me.
The next night his Wife, Son, and Servant came to him, where before supper they kneeled down, and praied, saying the Letany.He is sent to Hadley.
He was sent down to Hadley to be burn'd,Benefit of a good conscience. and all the way as he went, he was very merry as one that went to a banquet, or Bridal. In his journey the Sheriffe of Essex perswaded him much to returne to the Popish Religion, &c. to whom at last he answered,His courage and constancy. I well perceive now that I have been deceived my self, and shall deceive many in Hadley of their exspectation: When the Sheriffe desired him to explain his meaning, hoping that he would recant, he said, I am a man of a very great carkass, which I had hoped should have been buried in Hadley-Churchyard, but I see I am deceived, and there are a great number of wormes there, which should have had …olly feeding upon this carrion, but now both I, and they shall be deceived of our expectation. When he came within two miles of Hadley, he desired to alight, and being down he leap't, and fet a frisk, or two, saying,His comfort in affliction. God be praised I am now almost at home, and have not past two stiles to go over, and I am even at my father's house. At Hadley Towns-end, a poore man with his five children met him crying, O dear father, and good shepherd, God helpe and succour thee, as thou hast many a time succour'd me, and my poor children: The streetes were ful of people weeping and bewailing their losse,His death bewailed. saying, Ah good God there goes our good Shepherd from us that hath so faithfull… taught, so fatherly cared for us, and so godly governed us: … mercifull▪ od, what shall we poor scatt…red lambs doe? What sh…ll b…come of this most wicked World? Good Lord strengthen hi…, and comfort him. To whom he said, I have preached to …u God's Word, and Truth, and am come now to seal it with …y blood.
He gave all his money to the poor,His charity. for whem he w…s wont thus to provide formerly: Once a fortnight at least … used to call upon Sir Henrie Doile, and other rich Clo…l… ers to go with him to the Alms-houses to see what the poor lacked in meat, drink, apparel, bedding, and other nece… ries: Withall exhorting, comforting, and rebuking as …ee saw occasion.
Comming to the place of execution, he was not suffered to speak to the people, who much lamented his death, yet he was very cheerfull, saying, Thanks be to God, I am even at home, Popish crueltyand when he had praied, and made himself ready, he went to the stake and kissed it. He would seigne have spoken to the people, but one thrust in a tipstaffe into his mouth, another stroke him on the head, and an other threw a fagot at him, which broke his face that the blood ranne down: To whom Doctor Tailor said, O friend, I have harme enough, what need that? When he was saying the Miserere in English, Sir John Shelton stroke him on the lips, saying, you knave, I will make thee speak Latin. The fire being kindled, he held up his hands,His Martyrdome. calling upon God, and saying, Merciful father of Heaven, for Jesus Christ my Saviour's sake receive my soul into thy hands, and so stood still without moving, till one with an halberd strook out his brains. Anno Christi 1555▪