Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Account 18 · Examination 2
¶The second examination of Iohn Philpot before the Queenes Commissioners, M. Cholmley, Roper, D. Story, D. Cooke, and the Scribe, the 24▪ day of Octo. 1555. at Newgate Sessions Hall.
The 2. examination of Iohn Philpot before th… Commissioners.AT my comming, a man of Algate of myne acquaintāce said vntounto me, God hauehave mercy on you, for you are alredy condemned in this world: for D. Story said, that my L. Chancellor hath commaunded to do you away. After a little consultation had betwene them, M. Cholmley called me vntounto him, saying.
Cholm.
M. Philpot, shew your selfe a wise man, & be not stubburne in your owne opinion, but bee conformable to the Queenes proceedyngs, and lyue, and you shall be wel assured of great fauour and reputation.
Phil.
I shall do as it becommeth a Christian man to do.
Story.
This man is the rankest heretike that hath bene in all my L. Chancellors Dioces, and hath done more hurt then any man els there: therfore hys pleasure is, that hee should hauehave the law to proceede against him, and I hauehave spoken with my L. herein, and he willeth him to be committed to the B. of London, & there to recant, or els burne. He houled and wept in the Conuocation house, and made such adoe as neuer man did, as all the heretikes doe when they lacke learnyng to aunswer. He shall go after hys fellowes. How sayst thou, wilt thou recant?
Phil.
I know nothyng I hauehave done, yt I ought to recant.
Story.
Well, then I pray you let vsus commit him to ye Lollards Tower, there to remaine vntil he be further examined before the B. of London, for he is to fine fedde in the kings Bench, and he hath too much fauour there. For hys keper said at the doore yesterday, that he was the finest fellow, and one of the best lerned in England: and with this he rose vp and went his way.
Cooke.
This man hath most stoutely mainteined heresies since the Queenes comming in, as any that I hauehave heard of: therfore it is most meete he should be adiudged by the B. of London, for the heresies he hath mainteyned.
Phil.
I hauehave mainteined no heresies.
Cooke.
No hauehave? Did ye not openly speake against the sacrament of the aultar in the Conuocation house? Call you that no heresie? Wilt thou recant that, or not?
Phil.
It was the Quenes Maiesties pleasure yt we should reason thereof, not by my seeking, but by other mens procuring, in the hearyng of the Counsaile.
Cooke.
Did the Queene geue you leaue to be an heretike? You may be sure her grace wyl not so do. Wel, we wil not dispute the matter with you, my L. of London shall proceed by inquisition vponupon thee, and if thou wilt not recant, thou shalt be burned.
Phil.
My L. of London is not myne Ordinary in this behalfe, and I hauehave already answered vntounto myne Ordinary in this matter: and therefore (as I hauehave sayd before) you shall do me great wrong, to vexe me twise for one matter, since I hauehave sustained this long imprisonment, besides the losse of my liuyng.
Roper.
You were a very vnmeet man to be an Archdeacō.
Phil.
I know I was as meet a mā as he that hath it now.
Cooke.
A meete man quoth he? He troubled M. Roper and the whole countrey.
Phil.
There was neuer poore Archdeacon so handled at your handes as I am, and that without any iust cause ye be able to lay vntounto me.
Cooke.
Thou art no Archdeacon.
Phil.
I am Archdeacon still,Iohn Philpot depriued of his Archdeacon…y without any lawe. although another be in possession of my liuyng: for I was neuer depriued by any law.
Cooke.
No sir, that needeth not: for a notorious heretike should hauehave no Ordinary proceeding about his depriuation: but the B. may vponupon knowledge thereof proceed to depriuation.
Phil.
M. Doctor, you know that the common law is other wise: and besides this,Whether an heretick suspected may without ordinary processe be depriued of his liuing by his ordinary before his death, & by what lawe. the statutes of this Realme be otherwyse, which geueth this benefit to eueryevery person, thogh he be an heretike, to enioy his liuyng vntill he bee put to death for the same.
Cholm.
No, there thou art deceyued.
Phil.
Upon the liuyng I passe not. But the vniust dealing grieueth me, that I should bee thus troubled for my conscience, contrary to all law.
Cholm.
Why, wyll you not agree that the Queenes Maiestie may cause you to be examined of your fayth?
Phil.
Aske you M. Doctor Cooke, and he will tell you that the temporall magistrates hauehave nothing to doe with matters of fayth for determination thereof. And S. Ambrose sayeth: Diuina Imperatoriae maiestati non sunt subiecta, that the thyngs of God are not subiect to the power and authoritie of Princes.
Cooke.
No? may not the temporall power commit you to be examined of your fayth to the bishop?
Phil.
Yea sir, I deny not that: but you will not grant that the same may examine any of their owne authoritie.Iohn Philpot agayne requireth to see their Commission, and yet it could not be seene: and that also agaynst the lawe.
Cooke.
Let hym be had away.
Phil.
Your maistership promised mee the last tyme I was before you, I should see your commission by what authoritie you do call me, and whether I by the same be bound to answer to so much as you demaund.
❧ Maister Philpots beyng in the Colehouse, where he found Thomas Whittle Priest, sittyng in the Stockes.
Roper.
Anno 1555. Decemb.Let him see the Commission.
The Scribe.
Then he exhibited it to M. Roper, and was about to open the same.
Cooke.
No, what will you do? he shall not see it.
Phil.
Then do you me wrong, to call me and vexe me, not shewing your authority in this behalfe.
Cooke.
If we do you wrong, complayne on vsus: and in the meane while thou shalt lye in the Lollardes tower.
Phil.
Syr, I am a poore Gentleman: therefore I trust of your gentlenes you wil not commit me to so vile & strait a place, being found no haynous trespasser.
Cooke.
Thou art no Gentleman.
Phil.
Yes that I am.
Cooke.
An hereticke is no Gentleman: for he is a Gentleman that hath gentle conditions.
Phil.
The offence can not take away the state of a Gentleman as long as he liueth, although he were a traytor: but I meane not to boast of my gentlemanship, but will put it vnderunder my f…ot, since you do no more esteme it.
Story.
What wil you suffer this heretick to prate with you all this day?
Cooke.
He sayth he is a Gentleman.
Story
A gentleman quoth he? he is a vile hereticke knaue: for an hereticke is no Gentleman. Let the Keeper of Lollardes Tower come in, and hauehave him away.
The keeper.
…Here Sir.
Story.
Take this man with you to the Lollardes Tower, or els to the Bishops Colehouse.
Phil.
Syr, if I were a dogge, you coulde not appoynt me a worse and more vile place: but I must bee content wyth whatsoeuer iniury you do offer me. God geue you a more mercifull hart: you are very cruell vponupon one that hath neuer offended you. I pray you M. Cholmly, shew me some frēdship, that I be not caryed to so vile a place. And he called me aside, and sayd:
Cholm.
I am not skilfull of theyr doinges, neither of their lawes: I cannot tell what they meane. I woulde I coulde do you good.…
Phil.
I am content to goe whyther you wyll hauehave mee. There was neuer man more cruelly handled, thē I am at your handes, that without any iust cause knowne, should thus be entreated.
Story.
Shall we suffer this hereticke thus to reproue vsus? hauehave him hence.
Phil.
God forgeue you, & geue you more mercifull harts, & shew you more mercy in the time of neede: Et quod facis, fac citius: Do quickely that you hauehave in hand.
Story.
Do you not heare how he maketh vsus Iud…sses?
Phil.
That is after your owne vnderstanding.
After this, I with foure other mo were brought to the Keepers house in Pater noster Row, where we Supped, and after supper I was called vp to a chamber by the archdeacon of Londons seruant, & that in his maysters name? who offred me a bed for that night. To whō I gaue thankes, saying: that it shoulde be a griefe to me to lie well one night, and the next worse: wherfore I will begin (sayde I) as I am like to continue, to take such part as my felowes do.… And with that we were brought through Pater noster row, to my Lord of Londons Colehouse: vntounto the whiche is ioyned a litle blinde house, with a great payre of stockes appoynted both for hand & foot, but thankes be to God we hauehave not playd of those organes yet,… although some before vsus had tried thē) & there we founde a Minister of Essex a maried priest, a man of godly zeale, wt one other poore mā. And this minister (at my cōming) desired to speake wt me, & did greatly lament his owne infirmity, for that through extremity of imprisonmēt, he was constrayned by writing to yelde to the bishop of London: whereupon he was once set at li…erty,… and afterwarde felt suche a hell in his conscience, that he could scarse refrayne from destroying himself, and neuer could be at quiet vntill he had gone vntounto the bishops Register, desiring to see his bill again, the which as soone as he had receiued, he tare it in pieces: & after he was as ioyfull as any man might bee. Of the whiche when my Lord of London had vnderstanding, he sent for him, and fell vponupon him like a Lion, and like a manly Bishop buffetted him well, so that he made his face blacke and blew, & pluckt away a great piece of his beard: but now thanks be to God, he is as ioyfull vnderunder the crosse, as any of vsus, and very sorye of his former infirmity, I write this because I would all men to take heed how they do contrary to theyr conscience: which is to fal into the paynes of hell. And here an end.