Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Account 14
The order and maner of the examination of Doctour Ridley, and mayster Latimer, had the xxx. day of September. 1555.
FIrst, after the appearyng of Thomas Cranmer Archbyshop of Caunterbury, before the Popes Delegate, and the Queenes Commissioners in S. Maryes Church at Oxford,The last examination of M. Ridley and M. Latimer. about the xii. day of September, whereof more shalbe sayde (by the Lordes grace) when wee come to the death of the sayd Archbyshoppe: shortly after vponupon the 28. day of the sayd month of September, was sent downe to Oxforde an other Commission from Cardinall Poole Legate a latere, to Iohn White, Byshoppe of Lincolne, to Doctour Brokes Byshop of Glocester, and to Doctour Holiman, Byshoppe of Bristowe. The contentes and vertue of which Commission was, that the sayd Iohn of Lincoln, Iames of Glocester, and Iohn of Bristow, they or two of them,The effect of the Cardinalls Commission sent downe to Oxford. shoulde hauehave full power and authoritye, to ascite, examine, and iudge mayster Hugh Latimer and M. Doctour Ridley, pretensed Byshoppes of Worcester, and London, for dyuers and sundrye erroneous opinyons, whiche the sayde Hugh Latymer, and Nicholas Ridley, dyd holde and mayntayne in open disputations had in Oxford, in the Monethes of Maye, Iune, and Iuly, in the yeare of our Lorde 1554. as longe before in the tyme of perdition and sithen. The whyche opynions if the named persons woulde now recant, geuynge and yealdyng themselues to the determination of the vnyuersall and Catholicke Churche, planted by Peter in the blessed Sea of Rome, that then the deputed Iudges, by the sayd authority of theyr Commission, should hauehave power to receaue the sayde penitente persons, and forthwith minister to them, the reconciliation of the holye Father the Pope, but if the sayd Hugh Latimer, and Nicholas Ridley woulde stoughtly and stubburnely defend, and mayntaine these theyr erroneous and assertions, that then the sayd Lordes by theyr Commission, should proceede in forme of Iudgement, accordyng to the lawe of Hereticks that is degradyng them from theyr promotion, and dignitie of byshops, priests, & al other Ecclesiastical orders, shoulde pronounce them as Heretickes, and therefore cleane to cut them off from the Churche, and so to yealde them to receaue punishementes, due to all such heresy and schisme.
Wherefore, the last of September, the sayde two persones Nicholas Ridley,D. Ridley and M. Latimer ascited to appeare the last of September. and Hugh Latimer, were ascited to appeare before the sayd Lordes, in the diuinitie schoole at Oxforde, at viij. of the clocke. At what time thether repayred the Lords, placyng themselues in high seat, made for publicke lectures and disputations, accordynge to the vsage of that schoole, beyng then fayre set, and trymmed with clothe of Tissue, and cushynges of Ueluet: and after the sayde Lordes were placed and set, the sayd Latymer & Ridley were sent for, and first appeared mayster Doctour Ridley, and anone mayster Latymer. But because it seemed good seuerally to examine them, M. Latymer was kept backe, vntill Doctour Ridley was throughly examined. Therefore soone after the comming of Doctour Ridley into the schoole: the Commission was published by an appoynted Notary, and openly read. But Doctour Ridley standing bare headed, humblye expectinge the cause of that hys appearaunce, eftsoones as he had heard the Cardinall named, and the Popes holines, put on hys cappe. Wherefore after the commission was published, in forme and sense aboue specified, the Bishop of Lincolne spake in sense followyng.
Lincolne.
M. Ridley, although neyther I, neyther my Lordes here,B. Ridley putteth on his cap, at hearing of the Popes name. The wordes of the Bishop of Lincolne to D. Ridley, for not putting of his cappe. in respecte of our owne persones, doe looke for cappe or knee, yet because we beare & represent, such persones as we doe, that is my Lorde Cardinalles grace, Legate a latere to the popes holinesse, as well in that he is of a noble parentage, and therwith mayster Ridley mooued hys cappe with lowly obeysaunce descendyng from ye regall bloud, as in that he is a man worthy to be reuerenced with all humility, for hys great knowledge and learning, noble vertues, and godly lyfe, and especially in that he is here in Englande deputye to the popes holynesse, it should hauehave becommed you at his name, to hauehave discouered your head. Wherefore excepte you will of youre owne selfe, take the paynes to put your hand to your heade, and at the nomination, as well of the sayde Cardinall, as of ye Popes holines vncouer the same, least that this your contumacy exhibited how before vsus, should be preiudiciall to the sayd mo…e reuerende persones (whiche thing we may in no case suffer) you shall cause vsus to take the payne, to cause some manne to plucke off youre cappe from you. To whome mayster Ridley makinge his petition for lycence, aunswered.
Ridley.
As touching that you sayd (my Lord) that you of your owne persones desire no cappe nor knee,Answere of D Ridley, to the B of Lincolne. but only require the same, in consideration that you represent the Cardinalles graces persone, I doe you to wit, and thervpon make my protestation, that I did put on my cappe at the naming of the Cardinalles grace, neither for anye contumacye that I beare towardes your own persones, neither for any derogation of honour towarde the Lorde Cardinalles grace. For I know him to be a man worthy of all humilitie, reuerence, and honour, in that he came of the most regall bloud,D. Ridley reuerenceth the person of the Cardinall, but not his Legacye. & in that he is a man indued wyth manifolde graces of learning and vertue, and as touching these vertues and poynts, I with all humilitie (therwith he put of his cap, and bowed his knee) and obeysance that I may, will reuerence, and honour his grace: but in that he is Legate to the Byshop of Rome (and therewith put on his cap) whose vsurped supremacy, and abused authoritie, I vtterly refuse and renoūce, I may in no wise geue any obeysaunce, or honour vntounto him, least that my so doing and behauiour, might be preiudiciall to mine othe, & derogation to the veritie of Gods word, and therfore that I might not onelyonly by confession, professe the veritye in not reuerencing the renounced authoritie, contrarye to Gods worde, but also in gesture, in behauioure,D. Ridley o…eth no reuerence to the pope. and all my doinges expresse the same, I hauehave put on my cappe, and for this consideration onelyonly, and not for anye contumacye to your Lorshipp, neither contempt of this worshipfull audience, neither derogation of any honour due to the Cardinall his grace, both for his noble parentage, and also his excellent quallities, I hauehave kept on my cappe.
Lincolne.
M. Ridley, you excuse your selfe of that,D. White Bishop of Lincolne, replyeth agayne. with the whiche we pressed you not, in that you proteste you keepe on your cappe, neither for anye contumacie towardes vsus (which looke for no such honour of you) neyther for anye contempt of this audiēce: which although iustly they may (yet as I suppose) in this case do not require any suche obeysaunce of you: neither in derogation of any honor but to my Lord Cardinalles grace, for his regall discent (at which worde M. Ridley moued his cap) & excellent quallities: for although in all the premisses honour be due, yet in these respects, we require none of you, but onelyonly in that my Lorde Cardinals grace is here in England, deputy of the Popes holinesse (at whiche worde the Lordes and others put of their caps,Putting of caps at the naming of the Pope, and mayster Ridley put on hys) and therefore we say vntounto you the second time, that except you take the paynes your selfe, to put your hande to your head, and put of your cap, you shall put vsus to the payne, to cause some man to take it from you, except you alledge some infirmitie and sickenes, or other more reasonable cause, vponupon the consideration whereof, we may doe as … thinke good.
Ridley.
The premisses I sayd onelyonly for this end, that it might as wel appeare to your Lordships,D. Ridley answereth. as to this worshipfull audience, why and for what consideration, I vsed such kinde of behauiour, in not humbling my selfe to youre Lordships with cap and knee: and as for my sickenes, I thanke my Lord GOD, that I am as well at …ase, as I was this long season:The vsurped supremacye of Rome defied. D. Ridleys cap pluck… of perforce. and therfore I doe not pretend that which is not, but onelyonly this, that it might appeare by this my behauiour, that I acknowledge in no poynt that vsurped supremacy of Rome and therefore contemne and vtterly despise, al authoritie comming from him. In taking of my cap, do as it shal please your Lordships, and I shal be content.
Then the Bishop of Lincolne, after the thyrd admonion, commaunded one of the Bedles (that is an officer of ye vniuersitie) to plucke his cappe from his head. M. Ridley bowing his head to the Officer, gently permitted him to take away his cap.
After this, the Bishop of Lincolne in a long Oration exhorted M. Ridley, to recant and submitte himselfe to the vniuersall fayth of Christ, in this maner.
Lincol.
M. Ridley, I am sure you hauehave sufficiently …ō dered with your selfe, the effecte of this our commission with good aduisement, considering both poyntes thereof, how that authoritie is geuen to vsus, if you shall receaue the true doctrine of the Church, which first was founded by *…Peter at Rome immediately after the deathe of Christe, and from him by lineall succession hathe bene broughte to this our time, if you will be content to renounce your former erroures, recant your hereticall and seditious opinions, content to yelde your selfe to the vndoubted fayth, & truthe of the Gospell, receaued and alwayes taught of the catholicke, and Apostolicke Churche, the which the king and Queene, all the Nobles of this Realme, and commons of ye same, al Christen people hauehave & do confesse, you onelyonly standing alone by your selfe. You vnderstande and perceaue, I am sure, that authoritie is geuen vsus to receiue you, to reconcile you, and vponupon due penaunce to adioyne and associate you agayne into the number of the Catholickes and Christes Church, from the whiche you hauehave so long straied, without the which no man can be saued, the which thing I and my Lords here, yea and al, as wel Nobles and commons of this realme most hartily desire, and I for my part (wherwith he put of his cap) most earnestly exhort you to doe.
Though the … of …: yet the doctrine … Rome is straunge.Remember mayster Ridley, it is no straunge country whether I exhorte you to retourne. You were once one of vsus you hauehave taken degrees in the schoole. You were made Prieste, and became a Preacher, settyng foorthe the same doctryne, which we doe nowe. You were made Byshoppe accordinge to our lawes: and to be short, it is not so longe agone, sithe you seperated your selfe from vsus, and in the time of Heresye, became a setter foorthe of that Deuillishe and seditious doctrine, whiche in these la…ter dayes was preached amongest vsus. For at what tyme the newe doctrine of *…onelyonly faythe began to spryng the counsayle willyng to winne my Lord Chauncellour sent you to him▪ (I then being in my Lordes house vnknowne as I suppose to you) and after you had talked wt my Lorde secretly, and were departed immediately my Lord declared certayne poyntes of your talke, & meanes of your perswasion, and amōgst other this was one, that you should say, *The words of D. Ridley falsly repo…ted.tush my Lorde this matter of iustification is but a trifle, let vsus not sticke to condescende herein to them: but for Gods louelove my Lord, stand stoutly in the veritie of the Sacrament: for I see they will assault that also. If this be true (as my Lorde is a man credible enough in suche a matter) hereby it is declared of what minde you were then, as touching the trueth of the moste blessed sacrament.
Also in a sermon of youres at Paules Crosse, you as effectually and as Catholickely spake of that blessed sacramēt, as any mā mighte hauehave done, wherby it appeareth that it is no straunge thing, nor vnknowne place wherevnto I exhort you. I wishe you to retourne thether from whence you came:The Bishop of Lincolne perswadeth D. Ridley … t… the Popes Church. That is, together with vsus to acknowledge the truth, to acknowledge ye church of God, wherin no man may erre, to acknowledge the supremacye, of our moste reuerende father in God the Popes holynesse (whiche as I sayde) lineally taketh his dissent from Peter, vppon whome Christ promised before his deathe to builde his churche the whiche supremacy or prerogatiue, the moste auncient fathers in all ages, in all tymes dyd acknowledge: and here hee broughte a place or two out of the Doctours, but especially stayed vppon a saying of Sainct Augustine, whiche wryteth in this manner: Totus orbis christianus intransmarinis, …& longe remotis terris Romanae Ecclesiae subiectus est. That is: All the christian countryes beyonde the sea, are subiecte to the Churche of Rome. Here you see M. Ridley, that all Christendome is subiect to the church of Rome. What should stay you therfore to confesse the same with saynt Austen, and the other Fathers.
Then M. Ridley desired his pacience, to suffer him to speake somewhat of the premisses, least the multitude of thinges might confound his memory, and hauing graunt thereunto, sayd in this maner:
Ridley.
Answere … D. …idley to the B. of Linco…e. …. Pointes … in the B. of Lincolnes Oration.My Lord, I most hartily thanke your Lordshyp, as well for your gentlenes, as also for youre sobrietye in talke, and for your good and fauourable zeale in this learned exhortation, in the whiche I hauehave marked especiallye three poyntes, whiche you vsed to perswade mee to leaue my doctrine, and Religiō which, which I perfectly know & am throughly perswaded to be groūded not vponupon mans imagination and decrees, but vponupon the infallible truth of Christes Gospell, and not to looke backe, and to returne to the Romish sea, contrary to mine othe, contrarye to the prerogatiue and crowne of this Realme, and especiallye whiche moueth me most) contrary to the expressed worde of God.
…The first poynt is this, that the sea of Rome takynge hys begynninge from Peter, vponupon whom you say Chryst hath builded hys Churche, hath in all ages lineally from Bishop to Bishop bene brought to this time.
Secondly,2 The sea of Rome con… med by old Doctours. that euen the holye Fathers from time to time, hauehave in their writinges confessed the same.
Thirdly, that in that I was once of the same opinion and together with you I did acknowledge the same.
First, as touching the saying of Christ, from whence your Lordship gathereth the foundation of the Churche vponupon Peter,3. D. Ridley once of the same sea. truely the place is not so to bee vnderstande as you take it, as the circumstance of the place wil declare. For after that Christe had asked his Discyples whome men iudged him to be, and they had aunswered, that some had sayd he was a Prophet, some Helias, some one thing, some an other, then he said, whome say ye that I am? Thē Peter said: I say that thou art Christ the sonne of God. To whome Christ answered: I saye Tu es Petrus, & super hanc Petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam. i. Thou art Peter,The church not builded vponupon Peter. and vponupon this stone I wil builde my Churche: that is to say, vponupon this stone not meaning Peter himselfe, as thoughe hee would hauehave constitute a mortall man, so frayle and brickle a foundation of his stable and vnfallible Churche: But vppon thys Rock stone, that is this confession of thine,The church builded vponupon faith… not vponupon any person. that I am the sonne of GOD, I wil build my Church. For this is the foundation and beginning of all Christianitie, with worde, heart and minde, to confesse that Christ is the sonne of God. Whosoeuer beleueth not this, Chryst is not in hym: and hee cannot hauehave the marke of Chryste printed in his forehead,The wordes of Christ to Peter… Math· 16. expounded. whiche confesseth not that Chryst is the sonne of God.
Therefore Christ sayd vntounto Peter, that vponupon this rock that is vponupon this his confession, that he was Christe the sonne of God, he woulde builde hys Churche, to declare that without this fayth, no man can come to Christe:Fayth is the foundation of the Church. so that this beliefe, that Christ is the sonne of God, is ye foundation of our christianitie, and the foundation of ye church. Here you see vponupon what foundation Christes Churche is built, not vponupon the frailtie of man, but vppon the stable and infallible word of God.
Now as touching the lineall discent of the Bishoppes in the Sea of Rome true it is that ye Patriarkes of Rome in the Apostles time,Lineall discent of the Bishop of Rome. and long after was a great maintayner, and a setter forth of Christes glory, in the which aboue all other countryes and regyons there especiallye was preached the true Gospell, the sacraments wer most duely ministred, and as before Christes comming, it was a Cittye so valiaunt in prowesse, and marshall affayres, that all the worlde was in a manner subiect to it, and after Christes passion, and diuers of the Apostles there suffered persecution for the Gospelles sake: so after that the Emperours, theyr hartes being illuminated, receiued the gospell, and became Christians, the Gospell there, as wel for the great power and dominion, as for the fame of ye place flourished most,Why the Bishops of R…me hauehave bene more esteemed then the Bishops of other cities. whereby the Byshops of ye place wer had in more reuerence and honour, most esteemed in all counsayles and assemblies, not because they acknowledged them to be their head, but because the place was moste reuerenced and spoken of, for the great power and strength of the same. As now here in England, the Bishop of Lincolne in Sessions and sittinges, hath the preheminence of the other Byshoppes, not that he is the head and ruler of them: but for the dignitie of the Byshoppricke (and therwith the people smiled.) Wherefore the Doctours in theyr writinges, hauehave spoken moste reuerently of this Sea of Rome and in their writinges preferred it: and this is the prerogatiue, which your Lordshippe did rehearse, the ancient Doctours to geue to the sea of Rome.
Semblably, I cannot nor dare not but commend, reuerence, and honour the sea of Rome,The prerogatiue that the Doctours geue to the sea of Rome, and for what cause. as longe as it continued in the promotion, and setting forth of Gods glory and in due preaching of the Gospell, as it did many yeres after Christ. But after that the Byshoppes of that Sea, seeking their owne pride, and not Gods honour, began to set them selues aboue kings and Emperours, challenging to them the title of Goddes Uicares,The sea of Rome so long as it continued in sound doctrine, was worthy to be reuerenced. the Domynion and Supremacye ouer all the worlde, I cannot but with saynct Gregory a Byshoppe of Rome also, confesse that the Byshoppe of that place is the very true Antichrist, whereof saynct Iohn speaketh by the name of the whore of Babilon, and say with the sayd sainct Gregory: he that maketh himselfe a Byshop ouer all the worlde, is worse then Antichrist.The Bishop of Rome proued to be Antichrist. The place of S. Austen aunswered.
Now, where as you say that saynct Augustine should seeme, not onelyonly to geue such a prerogatiue, but also a supremacye to the sea of Rome, in that he sayth, all ye chrystian world is subiect to the Churche of Rome, and there, fore shoulde geue to that Sea a certayne kinde of subiection: I am sure that your Lordship knoweth that in saynt Austines time, there were foure Patriarckes, of Alexandria, Constantinople, Antioche and Rome, whiche Patriarckes had vnderunder them certayn Countryes, as in England the Archbyshop of Caunterbury hath vnderunder him diuers Byshoprickes in Englande and Wales, to whome he may be sayde to be theyr Patriarcke.4. Patriarches in the Church in Austines tyme. Also youre Lordship knoweth right well, that at what time sainct Austine wrote this booke, he was then Bishop in Africa. Farther you are not ignoraunt, that betweene Europe and Africa lyeth the sea called Mare mediterraneum, so that al the countryes in Europe to him which is in Africa, may be called transmarine, countryes beyond the sea. Here of S. Austen sayth: Totus orbis Christianus in transmarinis & longe remotis terris ecclesiae Romanae subiectus est. That is all the Chrystian Countryes beyonde the seas and farre Regions, are subiect to the sea of Rome. If I shoulde saye all Countryes beyonde the sea, I doe except Englande, whiche to me nowe beyng in Englande, is not beyonde the sea. In this sense saynct Austine sayth,Countreys beyond the sea subiect to Rome how and in what respect. all the Countryes beyond the sea are subiecte to the sea of Rome, declarynge thereby that Rome was one of the seas of the foure Patriarckes, and vnderunder it Europe, by what subiection I praye you? onelyonly for a preeminence, as we here in England say, that all the Byshoprickes in England, are subiect to the archbishopricke of Caunterbury and Yorke.Rome may be mother of churches, and yet no supreme head of Churches.
For this preeminence also the other Doctours (as you recited) saye, that Rome is the mother of Churches, as the Bishopricke of Lincolne, is mother to the Bishoprick of Oxforde, because the Bishopricke of Oxford came from the Byshopricke of Lincolne, and they were bothe once one, and so is the Archbyshopricke of Canterbury, mother to the other Byshopricks, which are in her prouince. In like sorte the Archbishopricke of Yorke, is mother to the Northbishoprickes: and yet no mā will say, that Lincolne, Caunterburye, or Yorke, is supreme head to other Byshoprickes: neyther then ought wee to confesse the sea of Rome to be supreme head, because ye Doctours in their writinges, confesse the sea of Rome to be mother of Churches.
Nowe where you say, I was once of the same Religion, whiche you are of, the trueth is, I cannot but confesse the same. Yet so was saynct Paule a persecutoure of Christe. But in that you saye, that I was one of you not long agone, in that I doyng my message to my Lorde of Winchester, shoulde desire him to stande stoughte▪ in that grosse opinion of the Supper of the Lorde, in very deed I was sent (as your Lordship sayd) from the Counsayle, to my Lord of Winchester, to exhort hym to receyue also the true confession of Iustification, and because hee was very refractorious, I sayde to hym, why my Lord, what make you so great a matter herein? You see many Anabaptists rise agaynst the sacrament of the aultar: I praye you my Lorde be dilligent in confounding them, for at that tyme my Lord of Winchester and I had to do, wyth two Anabaptistes of Kente. In this sense I willed my Lorde to be stiffe in the defence of the sacrament, agaynst the detestable erroures of Anabaptistes, and not in the confirmation of that grosse and carnall opinion nowe mayntayned.
D. Ridley falsly charged to preach transubstantiation at Paules Crosse.In like sorte, as touching the sermon, whiche I made at Paules Crosse, you shall vnderstande that there were at Paules, and dyuers other places, fixed rayling billes agaynst the sacramente, termynge it Iacke of the boxe, the sacramente of the halter, round Robin, with like vnseemely termes: for the whiche causes I to rebuke the vnreuerent behauiour of certayne euill disposed persones, preached as reuerently of that matter as I mighte, declaring what estimation and reuerence, ought to be geuen to it, what daunger ensued the mishandling therof, affirming in that sacramente to be truely and verely the bodye and bloude of Christe, effectuously by grace and spirite: whiche wordes the vnlearned vnderstanding not, supposed that I had ment of the grosse and carnall being, which the Romishe decrees set forth,D. Ridley mistaken in his Sermon. that a body hauing lyfe and motion, shoulde be in deede vnderunder the shapes of breade and wyne.
With that the Bishoppe of Lincolne, somewhat interrupting him, sayde.
Lincol.
Well M. Ridley, thus you wrest places to your owne pleasure: for where as saynct Austen saythe that the whole Christian worlde,Lincolne againe replyeth. is subiecte to the sea of Rome without any limittation, and vseth these wordes: In transmarinis, & longè remotis terris, onelyonly to expresse the latytude of the dominion of the Sea of Rome, willyng therby to declare that all the world, yea countryes farre distaunt from Rome, yet neuertheles are subiecte to that Sea, yet you woulde wrast it, and leaue it onelyonly to Europe. I am sure ye will▪ not deny, but that totus mundus is more then Europe.
Ridley.
In deede my Lorde, if saynct Austen had sayde simpliciter totus mundus, & not added in transmarinis it had bene without limitation:D. Ridley agayn… …swereth … the word… ▪ of Austen. but in that he sayd totus mundus in transmarinis partibus, all the Countryes beyond the seas he himselfe doth limitte the vniuersall proposition, declaring how farre he ment by totus mundus.
The Byshop not staying for this aunswere, dyd proceede, saying.
Lincolne.
Well, if I woulde staye vppon this place, I coulde brynge many moe places of the Fathers, for the confirmation thereof, but we hauehave certayne instructions, accordinge to the whiche we muste proceede, and came not hyther to dispute the mater with you, but onelyonly to take youre aunsweres to certayne Artycles, and vsed this in the waye of exhortation: in the whiche you interrupted mee, wherefore I wyll retourne thither againe.
Ye must consider that the Churche of Chryste lyeth not hidden, but is a Citty in the mountayn,Lincolne returneth agayne to his oration. and a candle on the Candlesticke. Ponder with your selfe, that the Churche of Christ is catholica, catholicke whiche is deducted of foreign, that is, per omnia: so that Christes Church is vniuersallye spreadde throughout the world not contayned in the *And why then do you alligate it to the city of Rom… ▪allegation of places, not comprehended in the circuite of Englande, not contayned in the compasse of Germany and Saxonie, as youre Churche is.
Wherefore maister Ridley, for Gods louelove be ye not singular: acknowledge with all the realme the truth, it shall not bee (as you alledge preiudiciall to the crowne, for the king and Queene their maiesties hauehave renounced that vsurped power taken of their predecessours, and iustly hauehave renounced it.2. Powers, of the keyes and of the sword. For I am sure you know that there are two powers, the one declared by the sword, the other by the Keyes. The sword is geuen to kings, and rulers of coū tryes: the Keyes were deliuered by Christe to Peter, and of him lefte to all the successoures. As touchynge oure goodes, possessions, and lyues, wee wyth you acknowledge vsus Subiectes, to the king and Queene, who hath the temporall sworde:England how subiect to the King, and how to the Pope. but as concerning matters of Religion, as touching Gods quarrell and his word, we acknowledge an other head: and as the king and ye Queene their highnes do in all worldly affayres, iustly challenge the prerogatiue and primacie, so in spirituall and Ecclesiasticall matters they acknowledge themselues not to bee heades and rulers, but members of Christes bodye. Why therefore shoulde ye sticke at that matter, the whiche theyr maiesties hauehave forsaken and yelded?
Wherefore mayster Ridley,B. Ridley exhorted to submitte himselfe to the Pope. you shall not onelyonly not doe iniurye to the Crowne, and bee preiudiciall to theyr maiesties honour, in acknowledgyng with all Christendome the Popes holynesse to be supreme head of Chrystes Churche here militaunt in earthe, but doe a thynge most delectable in theyr sight, and most desired of theyr highnesse. Thus if you will doe, reuoking together all youre erroures, acknowledging with the residue of the realme, the common and the publicke faulte, you shal doe that all men most hartily desire: you shall bryng quyetnesse to your conscience, and health to your soule: then shall we with great ioy, by the authoritie committed to vsus from the Cardinalles grace, receyue you into ye church agayne, acknowledgyng you to be no longer a rotten, but a liuely member of the same, but if you shall still bee singular, if you shall stil and obstinately perseuer in your erroures, stubbernely mayntayning your former heresies, then we must agaynst our will, according to our commission, separate you from vsus, and cut you of from the church least the rottennesse of one part in processe of tyme, putrify and corrupte the whole bodye,Feare of punishment set before him. then must wee confesse and publish you to be none of ours: thē must we yeald you vp to the temporall iudges, of whome excepte it otherwise please the kinge and Queenes highnesse, you muste receaue punishment by the lawes of this Realme, due for heretickes.
Wherfore mayster Ridley, consider your state, remember your former degrees, spare your body, especially consider your soule, which Christ so dearely bought with hys precious bloud, doe not you rashly cast away that which was precious in Gods sight, enforce not vsus to doe al that we may doe, which is onelyonly to publish you to be none of vsus, to cut you of from the Churche for we doe not, nor can not condemne you to dye (as most vntruely hath bene reported of vsus) but that is the temporall Iudges *But that office you your selues hauehave assigned vntounto them.office, we onelyonly declare you to be none of the Churche, and then must you, according to the tenour of them, and pleasure of the Rulers, abide theyr determination, so that wee, after that we hauehave geuen you vpp to the temporall Rulers, hauehave no further to do with you. But I trust Mayster Ridley, wee shall not hauehave occasion to doe that wee may.A…were to D. Ridley to Lincolne. I trust you will suffer vsus to reste in that poynte of our commission, whiche we most hartilye desire, that is, vppon recantation and repentaunce to receaue you, to reconcile you, and agayne to adioyne you to the vnitie of the Churche.
Then M. Ridley with often interruption, at lengthe spake.
Ridley.
My Lord I acknowledge an vnspotted church of christ, in the which *He meaneth, in which no generall errour can be …nally. The church … to no …. … doe … the Church to …certayne place, and that onelyonly … Rome The … bind the Church to no one … what Church to … infected with the Church of … and ….no man can erre, without the whiche no man can be saued, the whiche is spread throughout all the worlde, that is the congregation of the faythfull: neyther doe I alligate or binde the same to any one place, as you sayd, but confesse the same to be spreadde throughout all the worlde: and whereas Christes Sacramentes are duely ministred, his Gospell truely preached and followed, there doth Christes Churche shyne as a Cittye vppon an hill, and as a Candle in the Candlesticke: but rather it is such as you, that woulde hauehave the Churche of Christ bound to a place, which appoint the same to Rome that there and no where els is the foundation of Christes churche. But I am fully perswaded that Christes church is eueryevery where founded, in eueryevery place where his Gospell is truly receaued, effectually followed. And in that ye churche of God is in doubte, I vse here in the wise counsayle of Vyncentinus Lyranensis, whō I am sure you will allow, who geuing preceptes howe the catholicke churche maye be in all schismes and heresies knowne, writeth in thys maner? When (sayth he) one parte is corrupted with heresyes, then preferre the whole worlde before that one part: but if the greatest parte bee infected, then preferre antyquitie.
In like sort now, when I perceaue the greatest parte of Christianitie to be infected with the poyson of the sea of Rome, I repayre to ye vsage of the primitiue church, which I finde cleane contrary to the Popes decrees, as in that the Priest receaueth alone, that it is made vnlawfull to to the Laitye to receaue in both kindes, and such lyke: Wherefore it requireth, that I preferre the antiquitie of the primatiue church, before the nouelty of the Romysh church.
Lincol.
Mayster Ridley these faults which you charge the Sea of Rome withall, are in deede no faultes. For first it was neuer forbid the Laitie, but that they myghte if *…they demaunded, receaue vnderunder bothe kyndes. You know also, that Chryst after hys resurrection, at what tyme he went wyth hys Apostles to Galile opened hym selfe by breaking of bread. You know that saynct Paule after hys longe sayling towardes Rome brake breade, and that the Apostles came together in breakyng of bread whiche declareth that it is not vnlawfull to minister the Sacrament vnderunder the forme of breade onelyonly: and yet the churche hadde iust occasion to decree, that the laytye shoulde receaue in one kinde onelyonly, thereby to take away an opinion of the vnlearned, that Chryst was not wholy both flesh and bloud vnderunder the forme of bread. Therfore to take away theyr opinion, and to establishe better the peoples faythe, the holy Ghost in the churche thoughte good to decree, that the Laitie woulde receaue onelye in one kynde: and it is no newes for the Church vppon iust consideration, to alter rites and ceremonies. For you read in the Actes of the Apostles, that saynct Paule writyng to certayne of the Gentiles, whiche had receaued the Gospel biddeth them to abstayne a suffogato & sanguine, from thynges stifled, and from bloud, so that this seemeth to bee an expresse commaundement: yet who will saye but that it is lawfull to eate bloudings? how is it lawfull but by theyr permission of the Church?
Ridly.
My Lord, such thinges as saynct Paule enioyned to the Gentiles for a sufferaunce, by a little and little to win the Iewes to Christ, were onelyonly commandementes of tyme, and respected not the successours: but Chrystes commaundement: do this (that is, that which he dyd in remembraunce, which was not to minister in one kind onelyonly) was not a commaundement for a tyme, but to perseuer to the worldes end.
But the Bishop of Lincolne not attending to this answere, without any stay proceeded in his Oration.
So that the Churche seemeth to hauehave authoritie by the holy Ghost, whome Christ sayd he woulde send after hys ascension, whiche should teache the Apostles all truthe, to hauehave power and iurisdiction to alter suche poyntes of the Scripture, euer reseruing the foundation: but wee came not, as I sayd before, in this sort to reason the matter wyth you, but hauehave certayne instructions ministred vntounto vsus, according to the tenour of the whiche wee must proceede, proposing certayne articles, vntounto the which we require your aunswere directly, eyther affirmatiuely, eyther negatiuely to eueryevery of them, eyther denying them, either graunting them without farther disputations or reasoning,: for we hauehave already stretched our instructions, in that wee suffered you to debate and reason the matter, in such sort as wee hauehave done: the whiche articles you shall heare now, and to morrow at eyght of the clocke in saynct Maryes Churche we will require and take youre aunsweres: and then according to the same proceede: & if you require a copy of them, you shall hauehave it, pen, inke and paper, also all such bookes as you shall demaunde, if they be to be gotten in the Uniuersitie.