Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Account 11
¶The persecution and story of M. Robert Glouer Gentleman, and of Iohn Glouer his brother, in the Dioces of Lichfield.
The story of M. Robert Glouer Martyr, and of M. Iohn Glouer his brotherVNtoUnto this present tyme and monethmonth of September, pertaineth also the memorable Martyrdome, of M. Rob. Glouer Gentleman, in the Diocesse of Lichfield and Couentry. Of whose apprehensiō and troubles, because I cannot well entreate, but I must also intermixt some mention of his brother Iohn Glouer, for so much as this priuy Commission was chiefly sent downe for the said Iohn, and not for Rob. Glouer, (albeit it pleased almighty God, that Iohn escaped, and Rob. in his stead was apprehended) I thought therefore in one story to comprehēd them both, in describing some part of their vertuous institution and order of lyfe, and first to begin with Iohn the eldest brother. Who beyng a Gentleman, and heyre to his father, dwellyng in the towne of Mancetor, was endued with fayre possessiōs of worldly goods, but yet much more plentifully enriched with Gods heauenly grace and inward vertues. Which grace of God so working in him, he with hys two other brethren, Rob. and Wil. not onelyonly receyued and embraced the happy light of Christes holy Gospell,Iohn Glouer, Robert Glouer, William Glouer, 2. godly brethren and zealous professors of the Gospell. but also most zealously professed, and no lesse diligētly in their liuyng & conuersation followed the same: much vnlike vntounto our tablegospellers now adaies, Virtutem qui verba putant, vt lucum ligna, as Horace sayth.
And as touchyng this foresayde Iohn Glouer (who through his manifold afflictions, seemed to hauehave a deeper taste and contemplation of spirituall thyngs, ioyned with mortification from all worldly eares more then the other had) although sufficient relatiō be made before in our first edition to be seene, yet as concernyng his spirituall conflicts, and the Lordes gracious workyng in hym, because the consideration thereof,Touching further mention of … Iohn Glo…, … in the first edition. is both worthy of memory, and the example may worke experience peraduenture to the comfort of the godly, it shal not be hurtful to reherse some part of the same. So it pleased God to lay his heauy hand of inward afflictions and greuous passions vponupon this mā that though he suffred not the paynes of the outward fire, as his brother and other Martyrs did: yet if we consider what inwardly in spirit and mynd this man felt & suffred,The inward conflictes and exercises of M. Iohn Glouer. and that of so long tyme, he may well be counted with his brother Rob. for a Martyr, beyng no lesse desirous wt hym of the same Martyrdome: yea, & in comparison may seme to be chronicled for a double Martyr.
For as the sayd Rob. was spedily dispatched with the sharpe and extreme torments of the fire in a short tyme,Iohn Glouer a double Martyr. so this no lesse blessed Saint of God, what and how muche more greuous pangs, what sorrowfull tormentes, what boyling heates of the fire of hell in hys spirit inwardly he felt and sustayned, no speech outwardly is able to expresse. Being yong,A heauy Crosse of inward tormentes layd vpō Iohn Glouer, I remember I was once or twise with him, who partly by hys talke I perceiued, and partly by myne owne eyes saw to be so worne and consumed by the space of fiue yeares, that neither almost any brookyng of meate, quietnes of sleepe, pleasure of lyfe, yea and almost no kynd of senses was left in hym. And doubtlesse I hauehave greatly wondered oftentymes at the meruailous workes and operation of Christ shewed vponupon hym, who vnlesse he had relieued betymes his poore wretched seruant so far worne, with some opportune consolation, now and then betwixt, it could not possible bee, that he should hauehave susteined so vntollerable paynes and tormentes.… And yet the occasion thereof was not of so great moment and weight. But this we see common among holy & blessed men, how the more deuout and godly they are, hauing the feare of God before their eyes, the more suspition and mistrust they hauehave of thē selues: whereby it commeth to passe, that often they are so terrified & perplexed with small matters, as though they were huge mountains: where as contrary others there be, whom most hainous & very sore crimes in deed do nothyng touch or stirre at all.
The first occasiō of Iohn Glouers inward afflictiō.The occasion of this was, that he beyng first called by the light of the holy spirit to the knowledge of the gospell, and hauyng receiued a wonderous sweet feeling of Christes heauenly kyngdom, his mynd after that fallyng a little to some cogitation of his former affayres belongyng to hys vocation, began by & by to misdoubt hymselfe vpō the occasion of these words written in the 7. to the Hebrues: For it cannot be that they which were once illumined, Heb. 7.and hauehave tasted the heauenly gift, &c. Upon the consideration of which words he fully perswaded himselfe, that he had sinned verely against the holy Ghost: euen so much, that if hee had bene in the deepest pit of hell, he could almost hauehave dispaired no more of hys saluation. Here redily eueryevery good man may iudge of hymselfe, what terrors, boylings, & conuulsions turmoiled in the meane tyme in his wofull brest: although it be hard for any mā to iudge the greuousnes therof, vnlesse he which hath experience of the lyke.
In comparing now the torments of all Martyrs with his paynes, I pray you what paynes, punishment,No griefe lyke to the griefe of conscience. and flames would not he willingly hauehave suffered, to hauehave had some refocillation and tyme of refreshyng? Who in suche intollerable griefes of mynd, although he neyther had nor could hauehave any ioy of hys meate, yet was he compelled to eate against hys appetite, to the end to differre the tyme of his damnation, so long as he might, thinking with hymself no lesse, but that he must needs be thrown into hell, the breth beyng once out of the body. Albeit Christ he thought did pity hys case, and was sory for hym: yet he could not (as he imagined) helpe, because of the veritie of the word, which sayd: It cannot be, &c.Heb. 7.
And this I rehearse of hym not so much to open hys wounds and sorrowes,Christ a mercifull helper in temptation and hard distresses. as for that by his example all wee with hym may glorifie the sonne of God, who suffereth none to be tempted aboue hys strength, but so tempereth and seasoneth the asperitie of euyls, that what seemeth to vsus intollerable, not onelyonly he doth alleuate the same, that we may beare it, but also turneth it to our further commoditie then we can thinke. Which well appered in this good seruaunt of God, in no man more. Who albeit (as we hauehave sayd) suffred many yeres so sharpe temptations & strong buffetyngs of Sathan: yet the Lord,Iohn Glouer by the grace of Christ re…stored agayne to perfect tranquilitye. who graciously preserued hym all the whyle, not onelyonly at last did rid him out of all discomfort, but also framed hym thereby to such mortification of lyfe, as the lyke lightly hath not bene seene, in such sort as he beyng lyke one placed in heauen alredy and dead in this world, both in word and meditation led a life altogether celestiall, abhorryng in hys mynd all prophane doyngs. Neither was his talke any thyng discrepant frō the fruits of his lyfe, throwyng out neuer any idle, vyle, or vayne language. The most part of hys landes he distributed to the vse of hys brethren, and committed the rest to the guidyng of hys seruauntes and officers, whereby the more quietly he myght geue hymselfe to hys godly study, as to a continuall Saboth rest. This was about the latter end of K. Henries raigne, and continued a great part of the tyme of K. Edward 6.
After this in the persecuting dayes of Queene Mary, as soone as the B. of Couentry heard ye fame of this Iohn aforesayde beyng so ardent and zealous in the Gospell of Christ, eftsoones he wrote his letter to the Maior and Officers of Couentry to apprehend hym as soone as myght be. But it chaunced otherwyse by Gods holy prouidence, disposing all thyngs after hys owne secret pleasure, who seyng his old and trusty seruaunt so many yeares with so extreme and many torments broken and dried vp, would in no wyse heape too many sorrowes vponupon one poore sillie wretch: neyther would commit hym to the flames of fire, who had bene already baked and scorched with the sharpe fires of inward affliction, and had sustained so many burnyng dartes and conflictes of Sathan so many yeares. God therefore of hys diuine prouidence thinkyng it too much that one man should be so much ouercharged wyth so many plagues and tormentes, did graciously prouide, that Robert his brother beyng both stronger of body, and also better furnished with helpes of learnyng to aunswer the aduersaries (beyng a Maister of Arte in Cambridge) should sustaine that conflict, and euen so it came to passe, as ye shall heare.
For as soone as the Maior of Cauentry had receyued the Byshops letters for the apprehendyng of M. Iohn Glouer, he sent forthwith a priuy watchword to the sayde Iohn to conuey away hymselfe. Who with hys brother William, was not so soone departed out of hys house:The Mayor of Couentry sendeth a priuy watchword to Iohn Glouer. but that yet in sight of the shiriffe and other, the serchers came and rushed in to take hym, accordyng to the bishops commandement.
But when the sayde Iohn could in no place be found, one of the Officers goyng into an vpper chamber, founde there Robert the other brother lying on hys bed: & sicke of a long disease, who was by hym incontinent brought before the Shiriffe. Which Shiriffe notwithstandyng fauouryng Robert and hys cause,M. Robert Glouer apprehended lying sicke in his chamber. would in deed fayne hauehave dismissed hym, and wrought what meanes he could, saying, that he was not the man for whome they were sent: Yet neuerthelesse beyng feared wich the stoute wordes of the officer contendyng with hym to hauehave hym stayed tyll the bishops commyng, he was constrained to cary him away agaynst his will, and so layed hym fast while the Bishop came. And thus much by the way of preamble first concernyng the woorthy remembraunce of maister Iohn Glouer.
Now to enter the matter which principally we hauehave in hand, that is, to consider the story and Martyrdome of M. Robert Glouer, forsomuch as the whole narration of the same by his owne record and testimony in a writyng was sent vntounto his wife concerning the maner of his ordering & handling, it shall therfore seeme best for the more credite of the matter, to exhibite the sayd his owne letter, the wordes and contents whereof here ensue, as followeth.
¶A Letter of M. Robert Glouer to his wyfe, conteinyng the whole discourse and description of hys troubles susteined in prison, and of his sundry conflicts betweene the Bishop and him about Religion.
¶To my entirely beloued wyfe Mary Glouer.
A letter of M. Robert Glouer to h…s wyfe, certif…ing h…s troubles … his … apprehen…ion.THe peace of conscience which passeth all vnderstāding, the sweete consolation, comfort, strength, and boldnes of the holy Ghost be continually encreased in your heart, thorough a feruent, earnest, and stedfast fayth in our most deare and onelyonly Sauiour Iesus Christ, Amen.
I thanke you hartily most louing wyfe, for your letters sent vntounto me in my imprisonment. I red them with teares more then once or twise, with teares (I say) for ioy & gladnes, that God had wrought in you so mercifull a worke: first an vnfained repentance: secondly, an humble & hartie reconciliation: thirdly, a willing submission & obedience to the will of God in all thyngs. Which whē I red in your letters, & iudged them to proceed from the bottom of your hart: I could not but be thankfull to God, reioysing with teares for you & these his great mercies poured vponupon you.
These your letters, and the hearing of your most godly procedings and constant doyngs from tyme to time, hauehave much relieued and comforted me at all tymes, & shall be a goodly testimony with you at the great day, against many worldly and dainty dames, which set more by theyr owne pleasure and pelfe in this world, then by Gods glory, litle regarding (as it appeareth) the euerlasting health of their owne soules or others.The worldly wanton… commō ly of English women …. My prayer shalbe whilest I am in this world, that god which of his great mercy hath begun hys good worke in you, will finishe it to the glory of his name, and by the mighty power & inspiration of his holy spirit so strengthen, stablish, and confirme you in all hys wayes to the ende, that we may together shew foorth hys prayses in the world to come, to our vnspeakable consolation euerlastingly. Amen.
So long as God shall lend you continuaunce in this miserable world, aboue all things geue your self continually to prayer,1. Tim. …. Ghos…ly … and … of …ristian …. lifting vp as S. Paule saith, cleane or pure hands without anger, wrath, or doubtyng, forgeuing (as he sayth also) if you hauehave any thyng agaynst any man, as Christ forgeueth vsus. And that we may bee the better willyng to geue, it is good often to call to remembraunce the multitude & greatnesse of our owne sinnes, which Christ daily and hourely pardoneth and forgeueth vsus, and then we shall, as S. Peter affirmeth, be ready to couer and hide the offences of our brethren, bee they neuer so many. And because Gods word teacheth vsus,1. Peter. 4. not only the true maner of praying, but also what we ought to do or not do in the whole discourse and practise of this lyfe, what pleaseth or displeaseth God, and that, as Christ sayth, The worde of God that hee hath spoken shall iudge in the last day: Iohn. 12.let your prayer bee to this ende specially, that God of hys great mercy would open and reueale more and more dailye to your hart, the true sense, knowledge and vnderstandyng of his most holy word, and geue you grace in your liuyng, to expresse the fruits thereof.
And for as much as it is, as the holy Ghost calleth it, the word of affliction, that is, it is seldom without hatred, persecution,1. Cor. 1. peril, danger of losse of lyfe and goods, & what so euer semeth pleasaunt in this world, as experience teacheth you in this tyme: call vponupon God continually for his assistaunce alwayes, as Christ teacheth, castyng your accompts what it is like to cost you, endeuoring your selfe, thorough the helpe of the holy Ghost, by continuaunce of prayer, to lay your foundation so sure, that no storme or tempest shalbe able to ouerthrow or cast it down: remembring always (as Christ saith) Lothes wyfe,Luke 17. Example of Lots wyfe. that is, to beware of looking backe to that thyng that displeaseth God. And because nothing displeaseth God so much as Idolatry, that is, false worshipping of God, otherwise then hys word commandeth: looke not backe (I say) nor turne not your face to their Idolatrous and blasphemous massing, manifestly against the word,Nothing vse… in Q. Ma…y…s …. practise & example of Christ: as it is most manifest to all that hauehave any taste of the true vnderstandyng of Gods word, that there remayneth nothing in the church of England at this present, profitable or edifieng to the church and congregation of the Lord, all things beyng done in an vnknowen tong, contrary to the expresse commandement of the holy Ghost.
They obiect that they be the church,The first note prouing the Church of the Papistes not to be the true Church. and therefore they must be beleued. My aunswer was, the Church of GOD knoweth and reknowledgeth no other head but Iesus Christ the sonne of God, whome ye hauehave refused & chosen the man of sinne, the sonne of perdition, enemy to Christ, the deuils deputy and lieuetenant, the Pope.
Christes church heareth, teacheth, and is ruled by hys word, as he sayth:2. Note. Iohn. 10. My sheepe heare my voyce If you abyde in me, and my word in you, you be my Disciples. Their Church repelleth Gods word, and forceth all men to followe their traditions.
Christes Churche dare not adde or diminish, alter or change his blessed Testament: but they bee not afrayd to take away all that Christ instituted, and go a whoryng (as the Scripture saith) with their owne inuentions,3. Note. Actes 7. Et laetari super operibus manuum suarum. i. To glory and reioyce in the workes of their owne hands.
The Church of Christ is, hath bene,4. Note to know the Church. and shall be in all ages vnderunder the Crosse, persecuted, molested and afflicted, the world euer hating thē, because they be not o… ye worlde. But these persecute, murther, slay and kil such as professe the true doctrine of Christ, be they in learning, liuing, conuersation and other vertues neuer so excellent.
Christ & his church reserued the triall of their doctrine to the worde of God,5. Note. Iohn. 5▪ and gaue the people leaue to iudge therof by the same worde, Search the Scriptures: But thys church taketh away the word from the people, & suffereth neither learned nor vnlearned, to examine or prooue their doctrine by the word of God.
The true church of God laboureth by all means to resist & withstand the lusts, desires, & motions of the world,6. Note to know the Church. the flesh, and the deuil. These for the most part geue themselues to all voluptuousnes, & secretly commit such things which (as S. Paul sayth) it is shame to speake of.
By these and such like manifest probations they do declare themselues to be none of the church of Christ,Ephes. 5. Compare the proceedinges & doinges of the Popes Church, with the true members of Christs Church, and you shall see what they are. The Church of the valiant Papistes compared to Nemrod, and why? The Popes Church standeth all in lying and murdering. but rather of the sinagoge of Sathan. It shal be good for you oftentymes to conferre & compare their procedings and doings, with the practise of those whō the word of God doth reach to hauehave bene true members of the church of God, & it shal worke in you both knowledge, erudition, & boldnes to withstand with suffering, their doyngs. I likened them therfore to Nemrod, whom the scripture calleth a mighty hunter, or a stout champion, telling them that that which they could not hauehave by the worde, they would hauehave by the sword, & be the church whether men will or no, and called them with good conscience, as Christ called their forefathers, the children of the deuill: and as their father the deuill is a lyer and murtherer, so their kingdom and church (as they call it) standeth by lying and murtheryng.
HaueHave no fellowship with them therfore my dere wife, nor with their doctrine and traditions, lest you be partaker of their sinnes, for whom is reserued a heauy damnation, without speedy repentaunce. Beware of such as shal aduertise you somethyng to beare with the world as they do, for a season. There is no dallying with gods matters: It is a fearefull thing (as S. Paule sayth) to fall into the handes of God. Remember the prophet Helias,3. Reg. 18. Why halt you on both sides? Remember what Christ sayth: Hee that putteth hys handes to the plough, and looketh backe, is not worthy of mee. Luke 9.And seyng God hath hetherto allowed you as a good souldior in the forward, play not the coward,The Popes Church vnderunder payne of damnation is to be auoyded. Apoc. 2. neither drawe backe to the rereward. S. Iohn numbreth among them yt shall dwell in the fiery lake, such as be fearefull in Gods cause. Set before your eyes alwayes the examples of such as hauehave behaued themselues boldly in gods cause, as Steuen, Peter, Paul, Daniel, the three children, the widowes sonnes, and in your days, Anne Askew, Laurence Saunders, Iohn Bradford, with many other faythfull witnesses of Christ. Be not afrayd in nothyng (sayth Saint Paule) of the aduersaries of Christes doctrine, Phil. 1. He exhorteth to be bolde in Christ.the which is to them the cause of perdition, but to you of euerlasting saluation. Christ commandeth the same, saying: Feare them not. Let vsus not follow the example of him which asked tyme first to take leaue of hys friends. If we so doe, we shall finde fewe of them that wil encourage vsus to go forward in our busines, please it God neuer so much. We read not that Iames and Iohn, Andrew and Symon, when they were called, put of the tyme till they had knowen their fathers and friends pleasure. But the Scripture sayth, They forsooke all, Math. 13.and by and by followed Christ. Christ likened the kingdom of God to a precious perle, the which whosoeuer findeth, selleth al that he hath for to buy it. Yea, whosoeuer hath but a little taste or glimmering how precious a treasure the kingdom of heauen is, will gladly forgo both life & goods for the obtainyng of it. But the most part now a dayes bee lyke to Esopes cocke, which when he had found a precious stone, wished rather to hauehave found a barley corne. So ignorant be they how precious a iewell ye word of God is, that they choose rather the thyngs of this world, which beyng compared to it,Worldly Christians resembled to Aesops Cocke. Worldly allurements & motions of drawing backe by Gods grace with standed. be lesse in value then a barley corne.
If I would hauehave geuen place to worldly reasons, these might hauehave moued me: First, the forgoyng of you and my children: the consideration of the state of my children, being yet tender of age and yong, apt and inclinable to vertue & learnyng, and so hauyng the more neede of my assistance, beyng not altogether destitute of gifts to helpe thē withall: possessions aboue the common sort of men: because I was neuer called to be a preacher or minister: & (because of my sickenes) feare of death in imprisonment before I should come to my aunswer, and so my death to be vnprofitable.
But these and such lyke, I thanke my heauenly father (which of his infinite mercy inspired me with hys holye Ghost,Experience of the Lordes assistance in confirming his seruantes. for his sonnes sake my onelyonly Sauiour and redeemer) preuailed not in me: but when I had by the wonderfull permission of God, fallen into their handes, at the first sight of the Shiriffe, nature a little abashed: yet ere euer I came to the prison, by the workyng of God & thorough his goodnes feare departed. I sayd to the Shiriffe at his comming vntounto me: What matter hauehave you maister Sheriffe to charge me withall? He aunsweared: you shall knowe when you come before the maisters: and so taking me with him, I looked to hauehave bene broughte before the maisters,M. Glouer cō mitted to the Iayle before any cause was declared. and to hauehave heard what they could hauehave burdened me withall: but contrary to my expectation, I was committed foorthwith to the Iaile, not being called to my aunswere, little iustice being shewed therein. But the lesse iustice a man finedeth at their hands, the more consolation in conscience shall he finde from God: for whosoeuer is of the world, the world will louelove hym.
After I came into prisone, & had reposed my selfe there a while,Gods mighty consolation. vponupon Rob. Glouer in prison. I wept for ioy and gladnes my belly full, musing muche of the great mercies of God, and (as it were) saying to my selfe after this sort: O Lorde who am I, on whome thou shouldest bestowe thus thy great mercye, to be numbred among the Saintes that suffer for thy Gospels sake? And so beholding and considering on the one side my imperfection,M. Glouer weepeth for ioy in prison. vnablenesse, sinnefull misery, and vnwoorthinesse, and on the other side the greatnesse of Gods mercye, to be called to so high promotion, I was, as it were amazed and ouercome for a while with ioy and gladnesse, concluding thus with my selfe in my heart: O Lord thou shewest power in weakenesse, wisedome in foolishnesse, mercy in sinfulnes: who shall let thee to choose where & whom thou wilt. As I hauehave zealously loued the confession of thy woord, so euer thought I my selfe to be most vnworthy to be partaker of the affliction for the same.
M. Glouer coū selled to put in bondes. Rober Glouer refuseth to enter into bondes.Not long after, came vntounto me M.W. Brasbrige, M.C. Phinees, M.N. Hopkins, traueling with me to be dismissed vponupon bondes. To whome my answere was (to my remembraunce) after this sorte: For as much as the Maisters hauehave imprisoned me, hauing nothing to burden mee with all, if I should enter into bondes, I should in so doing accuse my selfe: and seeing they hauehave no matter to laye to my charge, they may as well let me passe wtout bondes, as wyth bondes.
Secondarily, if I shall enter bondes, couenaunt, and promise to appeare, I shall do nothing but excuse, colour, and cloke their wickednesse, and endanger my selfe neuerthelesse,Worldly persuasions not receiued. being bound by my promise to appeare. They alleaged many worldly perswasions vntounto me to auoide the present perill, & also how to auoid the forfeiture, if I brake promise. I sayde vntounto them I had cast my penywoorth by Gods help. They vndertooke also to make the bond easie.
And when they were somewhat importune, I sayd to maister Hopkins, that libertie of conscience was a precious thing, and toke as it were a pause, lifting vp my heart to God earnestly for hys aide and helpe, that I might doe the thing that might please him.M. Glouer ag…yne visited with Gods holy comfort. And so, when they had let their sute fal, my hart, me thought, was wonderfully comforted. Maister Dudly commoned with me in like maner: whom I answered in effect as I did before.
Afterwarde debatin… the matter wyth my selfe, these considerations came to my head: I hauehave from time to time wyth good conscience (God I take to recorde) mooued all such as I had conference withal, to be no daliers in Gods matters, but to shew themselues after so great a light and knowledge, hearty, earnest, constante, and stable in so manifest a truthe, and not to geue place one ioate contrarye to the same. Nowe thought I, if I shall withdrawe my selfe, and make any shifts to pull my owne necke out of the collor,M▪ Glouer reasoning with himselfe. I shall geue greate offence to my weake brethren in Christe, and aduantage to the enemies to sclaunder Gods word. It wil be sayd, he hath ben a great boldner of others to be earnest and feruent, to feare no worldly pearils or daungers, but he him selfe will geue no such example.
Wherefore I thought it my boūden duety both to God and man, being (as it were) by the great goodnes of God,M. Glouer taketh courage, al … and daunger… set aside. maruelously called and appoynted hereunto, to set aside all feare, pearils, and daungers, al worldly respects and considerations, and like as I had heereto…ore, according to the measure of my small gift, within the compasse of my vacation and calling, from the bottome of my heart vnfainedly mooued, exhorted, and perswaded all that professe Gods woorde, manfully to persist in the defence of the same, not wyth sworde and violence, but wyth suffering and losse of life, rather then to defile themselues againe with the whorish abhomination of the Romish Antichrist: so the houre being come, with my fact and example to ratifie, confirme, and protest the same to the hearts of all true beleeuers: and to thys end (by the mighty assistance of Gods holy spirit:M. Glouer resolued in himselfe to abyde the vttermost for the Gospells cause. The Papist… proceede with M. Glouer agaynst the lawes of the realme. Commaundement geuen to the Sumner agaynst Iohn Glouer, and not agaynst Robert Glouer. This Byshops name was Doct. Banes. M. Warren of Couentry persecutor of Rob. Glouer. A lesson for all persecutors.) I resolued my selfe wyth muche peace of conscience, willingly to sustaine what soeuer the Romish antichrist shuld doe against mee, and the rather because I vnderstoode the Bishops comming to be at hand, and considered that pore mens consciences shoulde be then sharpely assaulted. So remained I prisoner in Couentrie by the space of 10. or 11. dayes, being neuer called to my answere of the Maisters, contrary to the lawes of the Realme, they hauing neyther statute, lawe, proclamation, letter, warrant, nor commandement for my apprehension. They woulde hauehave laide all the matter vponupon the Sumner. Who being examined, denied it before their faces (as one of my frendes tolde me) saying that he had no commandement concerning me, but for my elder brother. God laye not their extreeme doings against me, to their charge at the great day.
The seconde day after the bishoppes comming to Couentrie, M. Warren came to the Yeldhall, and willed the chiefe Iayler to carye me to the Bishop. I laide to maister Warrens charge the cruell seeking of my death: and when he would hauehave excused himselfe, I tolde him he coulde not wipe hys handes so: hee was as guiltie of my bloude before God, as though he had murthered me with his owne handes.
And so he parted frō me, saying, I needed not to feare if I would be of his beliefe, God open his eyes if it be hys will, and geue him grace to beleue this, which he and all of his inclination, shall finde (I feare) to true for their parts: that is, that all they whiche cruelly, maliciously, and spitefully persecute, molest and afflicte the members of Christe for their cōscience sake, and for the true testimonie of Christes worde, and cause them moste vniustly to be slayne and murthered: without spedy repentance, shall dwel with the deuil and his angels in the fiery lake euerlastingly, where they shall wish and desire, crie and call, but in vayne (as their right companion Epulo did) to be refreshed of them,Luke. 16. whome in this world they contemned, despised, disdained, as slaues, misers, and wretches.
When I came before ye bishop in one Dentons house, he began wyth this protestation, that he was my Byshop for lacke of a better, and willed me to submit my selfe.
I sayd to him, I am not come to accuse my selfe: what hauehave you to lay to my charge?R· Glouer brought before Banes B. of Lichfield and Couentrye. M. Robert Glouer M. of Art in Cambridge. R. Glouer charged for not comming to the Church.
He asked me whether I was learned? I aunsweared, smally learned.
Maister Chauncellor standing by, sayde I was a maister of Arte.
Then my Lord laid to my charge, my not comming to the Church.
Heere I might hauehave dalied wyth him, and put hym to his proofes, for asmuch as I had not bene for a long season in his Diocesse, neither was any of the Citizens able to proue any suche matters against me. Notwythstanding I answered him through Gods mercifull helpe, that I neyther had nor woulde come at their church as long as theyr masse was vsed there, to saue (if I had them) fiue hundreth liues. I willed him to shew me one iote or title in ye scripture for the proofe and defence of the Masse.
He aunswered, he came to teache and not to be taught.
I was content (I tolde him) to learne of him, so farre as he was able to teach me by the word of God.
Bishop.
Who shall iudge the worde?
Glouer.
Christ was content that the people shoulde iudge hys doctrine by searching the Scriptures, and so was Paule: me thinketh ye should claime no further priuiledge or preeminence then they had.
Thus spake Robert Glouer offering him further,The Bishop refuseth to be iudged by the primatiue Church. that he was content the primitiue Church next to the Apostles time, should iudge betwixt the bishop and him. But he refused also to be iudged by that. Then he sayde hee was hys Bishop, and therefore he must beleeue him.
Glouer.
If you say blacke is white my L. (quoth Glouer) must I also say as you say, and beleeue the same because you say it is so? M. Chancellor here noted me to be arrogant, because I would not geue place to my Bishop.
Glouer.
If you will be beleued because you be a Bish. why find you fault with the people that beleeued M. Latimer, M. Ridley, M. Hooper, and the residue of them that were bishops?
Bish.
Because they were heretikes.
Glouer.
…And may not you erre (quoth I) as well as they? I looked for learning at my Lords hand to perswade me, and he oppressed me onelyonly with hys authoritie. He said I dissented from the church, and asked me where my church was before king Edwards tyme.
I desired hym to shew me where their church was in Helias tyme,… and what outward shew it had in Christes tyme.
Bish.
Helias complaint was onelyonly of the x. tribes that fell from Dauids house, whom he called heretikes.
Glo.
You be not able to shew any Prophets that the other two tribes had at the same tyme.
My L. makyng no answer to that, M. Rogers one of the maisters of the citie commeth in the meane season, taking vponupon hym as though he would aunswer to the text. But my L. forthwith commanded me to be committed to some Tower if they had any besides the common Gaole, saying he would at the end of his visitation of his dioces, weede out such wolues. M. Rogers willed him to contēt himselfe for that night, till they had taken further order for me. Euen where it pleaseth you, said I to my Lord, I am content: and so I was returned at that tyme to the common Gaole agayne from whence I came.
On the Friday mornyng beyng the next day after, I had warnyng by one of the prisoners to prepare my selfe to ride with my fellow prisoners the same day to Lichfield there to be bestowed at the Bish. pleasure.… Which tidyngs at the first something discouraged me, searyng lest I shold by the meanes of my great sicknesse, through extreme hādlyng (which I looked for) hauehave dyed in the prison before I should come to my aunswer. But I rebuked immediately with Gods word this infidelitie in my selfe, and by ye same corrected myne owne mistrust and fantasie after this maner. What make I of God? Is not hys power as great in Lichfield as in Couentry? Doth not his promise extend as well to Lichfield,… as to Couentry? Was hee not wyth Abacuck, Daniell, Misaach, and Ieremy, in theyr most dangerous imprisonments? He knoweth what thyngs we hauehave neede of. He hath numbred all the haires of our head. The Sparowe falleth not on the ground, without our heauenly fathers will: much more will he care for vsus if we be not faythlesse, whom he hath made worthy to bee witnesses of his truth. So long as we put our trust in him we shall neuer be destitute of his helpe, neither in prison, neither in sickenes nor in helth, neither in life nor in death, neither before kyngs nor before Bishops: not the Deuill himselfe,… much lesse one of hys ministers shall bee able to preuaile agaynst vsus. With such like meditations I waxed cherefull of good consolation and comfort: so that hearing one say that they could not prouide horses enough for vsus, I sayd, let them cary vsus in a dung cart for lacke of horses, if they list: I am well content for my part.
Notwithstanding at the request of my friends, I wrote to M. Maior and his brethren, briefly requiring thē that I myght make aunswer here to such thyngs as should be layed to my charge: The contentes of which letter were these.
*A Letter of M. Robert Glouer, to the Maior of Couentry and his brethren.
I Beseech you to vnderstand, that it is not vnknowen as well to the Keeper of the Gaole,… as to the inhabitants about me where I dwell, that I am a man subiect to very great sicknesse, and hauehave bene by the space of seuen yeares and more, so that it is not like that I shall be remooued without perill and danger of lyfe. And because I was here committed to Warde by your appoyntment, I would gladly here aunswer to such thyngs as should bee layed to my charge. If I may obtayne this of you, I hauehave cause thankfully to reknowledge your indifferencie: if otherwyse, I praye God it be not layd to your charge at the great day, where eueryevery man shall hauehave iust iudgement without respect of person.
Your prisoner in the Lord, alwayes myndefull of you in my poore prayer. Rob. Glouer.
But I receiued no answer of my letters to nor fro, I coniectured, that when the B. and the Chancellor had seen thē, it mooued thē the rather to hauehave me away, beyng more desirous (as I suppose) to hauehave had me dispatched priuily in prison, then to come openly to my answer. The maner of entreating and vsing me at my first commyng to prison, did partly declare the same.
Certayne Sergeaunts and Constables of Couentry,Robert Glouer and his fellow prisoners remoued from Couentry to Lichfield in the face of the open market. beyng appointed to hauehave the conueying of vsus to Lichfield to be deliuered there to one Iephcot the Chancellors man sent from Couētry with vsus for the same purpose, we were commaunded to horsebacke about xj. or xij. of the clocke on Friday, beyng market day, that we might be the more gased and wondered at: and to kindle the peoples heartes more agaynst vsus, they did proclayme a letter cōcernyng a proclamation made for calling in & disanullyng of all such bookes as truely expound and interprete the Scriptures. We came to Lichfield about 4. of the clocke at night, & had leaue to repose our selues for our Supper tyme. We inned at the signe of the Swanne, where wee were entertayned friendly and gently.
After supper Iephcot repaired to vsus,Iephcot, the Chauncellours seruaunt. whome we intreated that vponupon sureties we myght rest our selues that nyght, beyng vnprouided of any thyng to help our selues withall in the prison at that present. He was content at the first (as he semed) but afterwards, whether it was by perswasion, or rather (as it seemed to me) he did but of pollicie put of the tyme till he had gathered a multitude to stare and wonder vpō vsus, and also that we should prouide nothyng to ease our selues withall: he reuoked his promise,Papistes keepe no promise. and so by consent we were had to the prison, the multitude wonderyng at vsus. I willed Iephcot before, to execute his office with mercy, tellyng him that they should hauehave iudgemēt without mercy, that shewed no mercy. And this mercy I found at his hand.
He put me into a prison the same night, where I continued vntill I was condemned, a place next to the dungeon, narow of rowmes, strong of building, and very cold with small light, and there allowed he me a būdle of straw in stead of my bed, wtout chaire, forme, or any other thyng els to ease my self withal. God of his mercy gaue me great patience through praier that night, so that if it had ben his pleasure, I could hauehave bene contented to hauehave ended my lyfe. But Iephcot & one Persey the bishops man,Iephcot & Persey cruell and straite agaynst M. Glouer. which afterwardes was my continuall keeper for the most part, came to me in the morning, to whō I said, this is a great extremitie, God send vsus patience, and no more.
Then they were content that I should hauehave a bed of myne owne procurement. But I was allowed no helpe, neither night nor day, nor company of any man, notwithstandyng my great sickenesse, nor yet paper, pen, nor inke, or bookes, sauyng my new Testament in Latine, & a praier booke which I priuily stole in.
Within two days after,Talke betweene M. Glouer, and the Chancellor in prison. M. Chancellor and one Temsey a Prebendary there, came to me into my prison. Maister Chauncellour exhorted me to conforme my self to my Lord and to the Church. He wished to my soule no more hurt then to hys owne: belyke because I had layd to hys charge at Couentry, the seekyng of my bloud vniustly and wrongfully.
Now thus the second tyme I answered M. Chancellor to his exhortatiō, that I refused not to be ruled by that church that was content to bee ordered and gouerned by the word of God.
Chaun.
He asked me how I knew the worde of God, but by the Church?
Glouer.
*The Church geueth witnes which be the true bookes and writings of the Apostles: as also the olde Sinagogue of the Iewes doth witnes which be the true bookes of the holy Prophetes: yet it followeth not thereby that the Iewes hauehave authority ouer the Scripture.The church sheweth which is the word of God, therefore the Church is aboue the word of God. This is no good reason in learnyng, sayd I to M. Chauncellour. For it is lyke vntounto this: Iohn shewed the people who was Christ: Ergo, Iohn was aboue Christ. Or els, I hauehave a man that knoweth not the kyng, and I tell hym who is the kyng: am I therfore aboue the kyng?
M. Chauncellour sayd, he came not to reason with me and so departed. So remayned I without any further cō ference of any man by the space of viij. dayes, and till the Bishops commyng: In the which tyme I gaue my selfe continually to prayer, and meditation of the merciful promises of God, made vntounto all without exception of person, that call vponupon the name of his deare sonne Iesus Christ. I found in my selfe daily amendment of health of body, increase of peace in conscience,The comforts & sweete feelinges of M. Glouer in prison. and many consolations from God by the helpe of his holy spirit, and sometymes, as it were a taste and glimmeryng of the lyfe to come: all for his onelyonly sonne Iesus Christes sake: to hym be all praise for euer and euer.
The enemy ceased not many tymes, sundry wayes to assault me, oftentymes obiectyng to my conscience myne owne vnworthines, through the greatnesse of the benefite to be counted among the number of them that should suffer for Christ, for his Gospels sake. Against him I replied with the worde of God in this sorte. What were all those whom GOD had chosen from the beginnyng, to be his witnesses, and cary his name before the world? were they not men as Paule and Barnabas sayd,M. Glouer assaulted by the enemy in prison concerning vnworthynes. Actes. 24. Rom. 11. Rom. 4. Iohn. 2. Gods election bound to no worthines or person. Rom. 10. Similiter obnoxij peccato, as well subiect to wickednes, sinne, imperfectiōs, as other men be? Euen such were Noe, Abraham, Dauid and all the rest. Quis prior dedit illi, as Paul saith, Who gaue first vntounto him? And also speakyng to eueryevery man: What hast thou that thou receiuedst not? Likewise Iohn: All hauehave receiued of his fulnesse: they were no bringers of any goodnes to God, but altogether receyuers. They choose not GOD first, but he choose them. They loued not God first, but hee loued them first. Yea, hee both loued and chose them when they were his enemies, full of sinne and corruption, and voyd of all goodnes. Est Dominus omnium, diues in omnes & super omnes inuocantes eum. He is and wil be still the same God, as rich in mercy, as mighty, as able, as ready, as willyng to forgeue sinnes without respect of person,Psalme. 145. to the worlds end, of all them that call vponupon hym. Propè est Dominus omnibus inuocantibus eum: God is nere, he is at hand, he is with all, with all (I say) and refuseth none,It is no arrogā cye to presume vponupon Gods promise. excepteth none that faithfully in true repentance call vponupon hym, in what houre, what place, or what tyme so euer it bee. It is no arrogancy nor presumption in any man, to burthen God (as it were) with hys promise, and of duetie to clayme and chalenge hys ayde, helpe, and assistaunce in all our perils, daungers, and distresse, callyng vponupon hym, not in the confidence of our owne godlynesse, but in the trust of his promises made in Christ, in whom, and by whome, and for whose sake, whosoeuer boldly approcheth to the mercy seate of the Father, is sure to receiue whatsoeuer is expedient or necessary eyther for bodye or soule,Psalm. 50. in more ample wyse and large manner, then hee can well wish, or dare desire. His worde can not lye: Call vppon me in the day of trouble, and I will heare thee, & thou shalt prayse me.Robert Glouer replyeth against the tentation of the enemy in that he is a sinner.
I aunswered the enemy also on this maner: I am a sinner, and therefore not woorthy to bee a witnesse of this truth. What then? Must I deny his worde because I am not woorthy to professe it? What bring I to passe in so doyng, but adde sinne to sinne? What is greater sinne then to deny the truth of Christes Gospell? as Christ himself beareth witnesse: Hee that is ashamed of me or of my wordes, of hym I will be also ashamed before my father and all his aungels. I might also by like reason forbeare to do any of gods cō mandements.
When I am prouoked to pray, the enemy may say vntounto me, I am not worthy to pray, therfore I shall not pray: & so in lyke maner of all the commandements: I shall not forbeare swearing, stealing, murthering, because I am not worthy to do any commaundement of God. These be the delusions of the Deuill, and Sathans suggestions, which must be ouercome by continuance of prayer, and with the word of God applied accordyng to the measure of eueryevery mans gift,M. Glouer brought agayne before the Bishop. Reasoning betwene M. Glouer and the Byshop. agaynst all assaults of the Deuill.
At the bishops first comming to Lichfield after myne imprisonment, I was called into a by chamber next to my prison, to my Lord. Before whom when I came and saw none but his officers, chaplains & seruants, except it were an old priest, I was partly amazed and lifted vp my heart to God for his mercifull helpe and assistance.
My Lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment. I gaue hym no aunswer touchyng that question. He proceded to perswade me to be a member of hys Church, which had continued so many yeares. As for our church (as hee called it) it was not knowen, he sayd, but lately in kyng Edwards tyme.
I professe my selfe to be a member of that *The true Church is alwayes builded vp on the doctrine of the Apostles: which though it appeare not alwaies alyke in outward …ght, the faulte is in the tyme, not in the Church. Tymes do alter, and with the tymes the outward face of the Church may alter sometymes appearing more, sometymes lesse, sometymes very little, sometymes nothing at all, according as the persecution is. Neuertheles, the truth of the church abydeth alwayes one. Neyther doth it goe by number of mē but by soundnes of truth. Many agreeing in one may make an vnitye: but the veritye of the word maketh the Church whether it be in few or in many.church (said I) that is builded vponupon the foundation of the Apostles & Prophets, Iesus Christ beyng the head corner stone: and so alledged the place of S. Paule to the Ephes. And this Church hath bene from the beginnyng (said I) though it beare no glorious shew before the world, beyng euer, for the most part vnderunder the Crosse and affliction, contemned, despised, and persecuted. My Lord on the other side, contended that they were the Church.
Glouer.
So cryed all the Clergy agaynst the Prophets of Ierusalem, saying: Templum Domini, templum Domini, The Church, the Church, &c.
Bish.
And always when I was about to speake any thing my Lord cried, hold thy peace: I commaund thee by the vertue of obedience, to hold thy peace, callyng me a proud arrogant heretike.
Glouer.
I willed my Lord to burthen me with some specialties, & then to conuince me with some Scriptures and good learnyng.
Then my L. began to mooue certaine questions. I refused to aunswer him in corners, requiryng that I myght make my answer openly. He sayd I should aunswer hym there. I stood with hym vponupon that poynt vntill he said I should to prison agayne, and there hauehave neither meate nor drinke till I had answered hym.
Then I lifted vp my hart to God, that I might stand and agree with the doctrine of his most holy word.
Bish.
The first question was this:The first question. how many sacraments Christ instituted to be vsed in the church?
Glo.
The Sacrament of Baptisme sayd I, and the Sacrament that he instituted at his last Supper.
Bish.
No more sayd he?
Glo.
To all those that declare a true and vnfayned repentaunce, a sure hope, trust, and confidence in the death of Christ, to such ministers (I grant) that they hauehave authoritie to pronounce by the power of Gods word, the remission of sinnes.Power by Gods word in the ministery to remit sinnes. 2. questio… ▪
Here interruptyng me, he would needes beare me in hand that I called this a sacrament. I would not greatly contend with hym in that poynt, because that matter was of no great waight or importāce: although he in so doing, did me wrong, for I called it not a Sacrament.
Hee asked me further whether I allowed theyr confession.
I sayd no.
Bish.
Then he would know my mynd what I thought of the presence of Christes body in the Sacrament.3. question.
Glouer.
I aunswered that their Masse was neither sacrifice nor Sacrament, because (sayd I) you hauehave takē away the true institution, which when you restore agayne, I will tell you my iudgement concernyng Christes body in the Sacrament.
And thus much did this worthy Martyr of God leaue behynd hym by his owne hand in writyng concerning the maner of hys vsing and entreatyng in pryson, and also of hys conflictes had with the Bishop and hys Chauncellor. Moe examinations he had (no doubt) with the Byshop in the publike Consistory, when he was brought forth to be condemned, which also he would hauehave left vntounto vsus, if either length of lyfe, or laysure of tyme, or haste of execution had permitted hym to finish that he intended: but by reason of the writ of his burnyng beyng come down from London, lacke of tyme neither did serue hym so to do, neither yet could I get the Records of hys last examinations wheresoeuer they are become.
OnelyOnly this which I could learne by relation of one Austen Bernher a Minister, and a familiar friend of hys, concernyng the goyng to his death, I can report, that the sayd blessed seruant of the Lord, M. Rob. Glouer, after he was condemned by the Bishop, and was now at a poynt to be deliuered out of this world, it so happened, that two or three dayes before, his hart beyng lumpish and desolate of all spirituall consolation, felt in hymselfe no aptnes nor willingnes, but rather a heauines and dulnesse of spirite,Robert Glouer destitute fo… tyme of the Lords comfort. full of much discomfort to beare that bitter crosse of Martyrdome ready now to be layd vponupon hym.
Wherupon he fearing in himself, lest the Lord had vtterly withdrawne his woonted fauor from him, made hys mone to this Austen his frend aboue remembred, signifieng vntounto hym, how earnestly he had prayed day and night vntounto the Lord, and yet could receiue no motion nor sense of any comfort from hym.
Unto whom the sayd Austen answering agayne, willed and desired him paciently to waite the Lords pleasure and how so euer his present feling was, yet seing his cause was iust and true, he exhorted hym constantly to sticke to the same, & to play the man,The Lord for a tyme may withdraw his comfortes, but at lēgth he visiteth his seruant…. nothyng misdoubting but the Lord in his good time would visit him, and satisfie his desire with plenty of consolation, whereof (he sayd) he was right certayne and sure, & therfore desired hym when so euer any such feeling of Gods heauenly mercies should begin to touch his hart, that then he would shew some signification thereof, wherby he might witnesse with hym the same, and so departed from hym.
The next day when the tyme came of his martyrdome, as hee was goyng to the place, and was now come to the sight of the stake, although all the night before praying for strength and courage he could feele none, sodainly he was so mightily replenished with Gods holy comfort and heauenly ioyes, yt he cryed out clapping his hands to Austen, & saying in these words, Austen, he is come, he is come, R. Glouer receaueth agayne cō fort of the Lord.&c. & that with such ioy and alacritie, as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly daunger, to libertie of life, then as one passing out of the world by any paines of death. Such was the change of the meruailous workyng of the Lordes hand vponupon that good man.
¶Cornelius Bongey felow Martyr with Mayster Robert Glouer.
IN the same fire with him was burned also Cornelius Bongey a Capper of Couentrey,Cornelius Bongey, Martyr. and condemned by the sayd Radulph Byshoppe of Couentry and Liechfield. As concerning the Articles which were to him obiected, the effect therof was this.
Articles obiected to Cornelius Bongey.Firste it was articulate agaynste him, that these three yeres last, in the City of Couentry and Liechfield, & other places about, he did hold, mainteyne, argue and teach, that the Prieste hath no power here to absolue any sinner from his sinnes.
Secondly, that by Baptisme sinnes be not washed away, because he sayd that the washing of the flesh purgeth the flesh outwardly▪ and not the soule.
Thirdly, that there be in the Church onelyonly two sacramentes, that is, Baptisme, and the Lordes Supper.
Fourthly, that in the sacrament of theyr popish aulter, was not the reall body & bloud of Christ, but the substance of bread & wine there remayning stil, because S. Paul calleth it bread and wine. &c.
Fiftly, that he within the compasse of the sayd yeares & time, did hold, maintayne and defend, that the Pope is not the head of the visible church here in earth. &c.
Sixtly, that he was of the dioces and iurisdiction of the Bishop of Couentry and Liechfield. &c.
Seuēthly, that the premises are true, manifest and notorious, and that vpō the same there hath bene & is a publick voice and fame, as well in the places aboue rehearsed, as in other quarters also about. &c.
¶His aunsweres.
H…s Aunsweres to the articles.Unto the which articles he aunswering agayne, to the first he graunted, and to eueryevery part therof, meaning after ye Popish maner of absolution.
The second he graunted first, after reuoked the same.
To the thyrd also he graunted, adding withall, that in scripture there be no more conteined.
To the fourth, touching the sacrament, he graunted & to eueryevery part therof.
To the fift concerning the Pope likewise.
Also to the sixt he graūted and likewise to the seuenth.
Upon these articles and his answeres to the same, the sayd Radulph the Bishop read the sentence, and so cōmitted him also after the condemnation of Mayster Roberte Glouer, to the seculer power.
Thus this foresayd Cornelius falsely condēned by the Bishop before mentioned, suffered at the same stake wyth the Christian Martyr Mayster Robert Glouer at Couentry, about the xx. day of September.
¶The burning of Mayster Robert Glouer, and Cornelius Bongey at Couentry.
The Martyrdome of Robert Glouer and Cornelius Bongey at Couentry. Anno. 1555. September …0.¶Here foloweth the story of Iohn Glouer and William Glouer, how they were excommunicate and cast out after theyr death, and buried in the fieldes.
NOwe that wee hauehave discoursed the storye of Mayster Robert Glouer,Iohn Glouer & William Glouer after their dea…h condemned▪ and cast out for heretickes. something also woulde bee touched of his other two brethrē Iohn and William Glouer. Who albeit they were not called to finishe theyr course by lyke kinde of Martyrdome in the fire, as the other did: yet because for theyr constaunt profession of Gods Gospell vntounto the latter ende, they were exempted after theyr death, & cast out of the same Church, as the other was, I thought them not vnworthy therefore in the story to be ioyned together, which in one cause and the same profession were not sūdered one from the other.
And first concerning Mayster Iohn Glouer the eldest brother, what inward stormes and agonies he susteined by the ghostly enemy, partly ye heard before described: nowe what his bodily enemies wrought against him, remaineth to be declared. Whose rage and malice, although god so restrained, that they coulde litle preuayle agaynst him so long as his life endured, yet after his decease, hauing power vponupon him, what they did ye shall now vnderstand.
After the Martyrdome of mayster Robert Glouer, although Iohn Glouer seing his brother to be apprehended for him, had small ioy of his life for the great sorow of his hart, wherewith he was sore oppressed, and would gladly hauehave put himselfe in his Brothers stead, if frendes had not otherwise perswaded with him, shewing that in so doyng he might intangle himselfe, but should doe his brother no good. He thus in great care and vexation endured: yet notwithstanding, rubbing out as well as he could, til at lēgth about ye latter end of queene Mary there was a new search made for the sayd Iohn Glouer.A new search made for Iohn Glouer.
Whereupon the Sheriffes with theyr vnderunder Officers and seruauntes being sent to seek him, came into his house where he and his wife were. It chaūced as he was in his chamber by himselfe, the Officers brusting into the house, and searching other roomes, came to the Chamber doore where this Iohn Glouer was. Who being within, and holding the latch softly with his hand, perceiued and heard the Officers buskeling about the doore, amongest whome one of the sayd officers hauing the string in his hand, was ready to draw and plucke at the same.
In the meane time an other comming by (whose voice he heard and knew) bad them come away,The prouidence of God agayne in sauing Iohn Glouer. Agnes Glouer wyfe to Iohn Glouer apprehended. saying they had bene there before. Whereupon they departing thence, wēt to search other corners of the house, where they found Agnes Glouer his wife, who being had to Liechfilde, & there examined before the bishop, at length after much ado was constrayned to geue place to their tyranny, Ioh Glouer in the meane time, partly for care of his wife, partly through cold taken in the woodes where he did lye, tooke an Agew, whereupon not long after he left this life, which the cruell Papistes so long had sought for.
Thus by the mighty protectiō of ye almighty Lord, how Iohn Glouer was deliuered and defended frō the handes of the persecuting enemies during all the time of hys life, ye hauehave hearde, Nowe what befell after his death both to him & to William his brother it is not vnworthy to be remēbred. Who after that he was dead, & buried in ye churchyard without Priest or Clerke, D. Dracot then Chauncellour,D. Dracot not suffering Iohn Glouer to be buryed in the Churchyearde. sixe weekes after sent for the parson of the Towne & demaunded howe it chaunced that hee was there buryed. The parson aunswered that he was then sicke, and knewe not of it. Then the Chauncellour commaunded the parson to go home and to cause the body of the said Iohn Glouer to be taken vp, & to be cast ouer the wall into the hie way: The Parson agayne answered that he had bene 6. weekes in the earth & so smelled that none was able to abide the sauor of him. Well quoth D. Dracot, then take this byll and pronounce him in the pulpit a damned soule, and a twelue monethmonth after take vp his bones (for then the fleshe will be consumed) and cast thē ouer the wall,Iohn Glouer after his death iudged of Doct. Dracot to be a damned soule. Testimony of this story. that cartes and horses may tread vponupon them, and then will I come & hallow againe that place in the churchyard where he was buried. Recorded by the Parson of the towne who tolde the same to Hugh Burrowes dwelling at Fynden in Darbyshyre, and to M. Rob. Glouers wife, by whose credible information we receiued the same.
Not much vnlike vsage was practised also by these catholicke children of the mother Churche vponupon the body of Will. the third brother. Whō, after it had pleased almighty god about ye same seasō to cal out of this vale of misery,The maner of handling the body of Williā Glouer after his death. the good disposed people of the Towne of Weme in Shropshyre, where he dyed, brought the bodye vntounto the Parishe Church, entending there to hauehave it buried. But one Bernerd, being then Curate of the sayd Church (and is yet as I heare say to this day) to stoppe the buriall therof, rode to the bishop named Raufe Bayne, to certify him of the matter, and to hauehave his aduise therein. In the meane time, the body lying there a whole daye,Bernard a Popish Curate of Weme. Iohn Thorlyne agaynst the burying of W. Glouers brother. in the night time one Rich. Morice a Taylour woulde hauehave enterred him. But then came Iohn Thorlyne of Weme with other moe, & woulde not suffer the body to be buryed: expressing to vsus ye contrary examples of good Toby, for as he was religious in buriyng the dead so this man putteth religiō in not burying the dead: so that after he had layne there two dayes & one night, commeth the foresayd Bernerd the Curate with the Bishops letter, the contentes of which letter beyng copied out word for word here foloweth.
*A copy of the Byshops Letter written to the Parish of Weme.
The letter of Raufe Bayne B. of Chester, for the not burying of W. Glouers body.VNderstanding that one Glouer an heretick is dead in the parish of Weme, whiche Glouer hath for all the time of my being in this country bene knowne for a rebellion agaynst our holy fath and Religion, a Contemner of the holy Sacramentes and ceremonies vsed in holy Churche, and hath separate himselfe frō the holy Communion of all good Christian men, nor neuer required to be reconciled to our mother holy Church, nor in hys last dayes did not call for his ghostly father, but dyed without all rites belonging to a Christian man: I thought it good not only to commaund the Curate of Weme that he shoulde not be buried in Christian mans buriall, but also will and commaunde all the parish of Weme that no manne procure, helpe, nor speake to hauehave him buried in holy ground: but I do charge and commaund the Church Wardens of Weme in speciall, and all the parishe of the same that they assist the sayd Curate in defending and letting, and procuring that he bee not buried neither in the Churche nor within the wanybles of the Churchyarde, and likewise I charge those that brought the body to the place, to cary it away agayne, and that at theyr charge: as they will aunswere at theyr perill. At Ecclesch this 6. of September. an. 1558.
By your Ordinary Radulph Couentry and Liechfield.
The dead corpe… of W. Glouer dragged with horse into the field.By ye vertue of this foresaid letter so it fel out, that they which brought the corps thither, were fayne at their owne charges to carye it backe agayne. But for so muche as the body was corrupted, and smelt so strongly that vnneth any man might come nere it, they were forced to draw it wt horses vntounto a bromefield, and there was he buried.
Witnesses of the godly end of the sayde William Glouer dying in the true fayth and confession of Christe, Mayster Nowell Deane of Liechfielde, George Wilestone and hys wife, Tho Cōstantine, Roger Wydouse, Iohn Prynne, George Torpelley. &c.
The like example of charitable affection in these catholicke churchmen is also to be sene and noted in the burying of one mayster Edward Bourton Esquire,M. Edward Burton not suffered to be buryed in Christian buriall, the same day when Q. Elizabeth was crowned. who in ye same Diocesse of Chester departing out of this worlde the verye day before Queene Elizabeth was crowned, required of his frendes, as they would aunswere for it, that his bodye should be buryed in his Parishe Churche (which was S. Chaddes in Shrousbury) so that no Massemonger should be present therat. Which thing being declared to the Curat of that Parish named sir Iohn Marshal, & the body being withall brought to the buriall, vponupon the same day whē the Queene was crowned, the Curate being therwith offended, sayd playnely that he should not be buried in ye church there. Whereunto one of his frendes, named George Torpelley answering againe said, that God would iudge him in the last day. &c. Then the priest, Iudge God (saith he) or Deuill, the body shall not come there. And so they buryed him in his owne garden. Where he is no doubt as neare ye kingdome of heauen, as if he had bene buried the middest of the Church.
Oliuer Richardine in Hartford West. Martyr.Moreouer, in the sayd County of Salop, I finde that one Olyuer Richardyne of the Parish of Whitchurch was burned in Hartford Weste, Syr Iohn Ygone being Sheriffe the same time. Whiche seemeth to be about the latter yeare of king Henry viij. Whose name because it was not mentioned before, I thought here to geue some litle touch of him, hauing now in hande to speake of the persecution within the Diocesse of Couentry and Liechfield.