Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Account 25 · Account 7
*The Story of William Tyms Deacon, and Curate of Hockeley, with the maner of his taking.
THere was at Hocley in Queene Maries dayes two Sermons preached in the Woodes,The first occasion of taking W. Tyme. the which woodes weare appertayning to Maister Tyrrell, and the name of the one wood was called Plumbrow wood, and the other Becheswood, and there was at the same Sermons an honest man and his wife with him, whose name was Iohn Gye, the which Gye was Maister Tyrrels seruaunt, and did dwell vnderunder him, being his Herd at a farm of his called Plomborow.M. Tyrrell offended with Sermons preached in his woodes. Shortly after it was knowē to Maister Tyrrell, how that his woods were poluted with Sermons, the which he did take very euill, and much matter did rise about it, as an vnlawfull assembly: the which was layd to Iohn Gyes charge, because he did not disclose that vnlawfull acte to his Maister, being then in the cō mission of the peace, appointed at that tyme to keep down the Gospell, yt which he did to the vttermost, as it may appeare in many of his actes. Good God geue him repētance, if it be thy will.
Shortlye after it pleased Mayster Tyrrell to come to Hockley, to sift out this matter, and to know who was at these preachings. Well, there were found many faultes: for it is supposed there were a hundred persons at ye least. So it pleased Mayster Tyrrell to begin first with Iohn Gye, and asked him where that noughty felow was that serued theyr parish one Tyms:… Gye … Tyrrell… … an … man. for it is tolde me (sayde he) that he is the causer to bring these noughty felowes into the coū try. Therfore I charge thee Gye to fet me this noughty felow Tyms for thou knowest where he is. No said Gye, I doe not knowe. So in no wise he could not make him fette him.
Then stepped forth an other of M. Tyrrels men, willing to shew his Mayster pleasure, whose name was Richard Shereffe, & sayd to his mayster: Syr I know where he is. Well said mayster Tyrrell, go to the Constables and charge them to bring him to me.
…So this Shereffe being diligent, made sure work, and had him brought before his Maister with the Constables, whose names be these, Edward Hedge, and Ioh. Iames.
So when he came before Maister Tyrrell, then Mayster Tyrrell commaūded all men to depart: & it was wisely done, for hee was not able to open his mouth agaynste Tyms without reproch, and there he kept him about three houres. But there were some that listened at the walles, and heard M. Tyrrell say thus to Tyms.
…Me thinketh (sayd he) that whē I see the blessed Rood, it maketh me thinke of God?
Why Syr, sayde Tyms, if an Idoll that is made with mans handes doth make you remember God: how much more ought the creatures of God, as man being his workmāship, or the grasse, or the trees that bringeth forth fruit, make you remember God.
So Mayster Tyrrell ended his talke with Tyms, it should seme in an heat, for he brast out and called him traytorly knaue.
Why Syr, sayd Tyms, in king Edwardes dayes you did affirme the truth that I do now.
Affirme, quoth Tyrrell? nay by Gods body, I neuer thought it with my hart.
Well sayd Tyms, then I pray you M. Tyrrell beare with me, for I hauehave bene a Traytor but a while, but you hauehave bene a Traytor 6. yeares.
…After this Tyms was sent to Londō to the byshop, & from him to the Bishop of Winchester, and so from him to the Kynges Bench, & then was Mayster Tyrrels rage seased with thē that were in the woods at the sermons. So M. Tyrrel took away Gyes coate, & gaue it to Ioh. Traiford, and sent him to S. Tosies to see good rule kept there.
…Whē Tyms came before the Bishop of London, there was at that time the Bishop of Bathe, & there was William Tyms examined of his fayth before them bothe. So mightely god wrought with this true harted man, that he had wherwith to aunswere them both, for the Constables did say that brought him before the byshop, that they neuer heard the like. Then the bishop (as though he would hauehave had Tyms to turne frō the truth) sayd to the Constables: I pray you (sayd he) geue him good counsell that he may turne from his errour. My Lord, sayd the Constables, he is at a poynt, for he will not turne.
Thē both the Byshops waxed wery of him, for he had troubled them about a sixe or seuen houres. Then the Byshops began to pity Tyms case, & to flatter him, saying: Ah good felow (sayd they) thou art bold, & thou hast a good fresh spirit, we would thou hadest learning to thy spirit. I thanke you my Lordes sayd Tyms, and both you be learned, & I would you had a good spirit to your learning. So thus they broke vp, & sent Tyms to the Bishop of Winchester, and there were Edward Hedge and Iohn Iames the Cōstables aforenamed discharged, & Tyms was commaunded to the Kinges Bench, whereas he was mightely strengthened with the good men that he found there.
And thus hitherto ye hauehave heard, first vponupon what occasion this William Tyms was apprehended, how he was entreated of M. Tyrrell the Iustice, & by him sēt vp to the Ordinary of the Dioces, which was Rishop Boner: who after certein talke & debating he had with the sayd Tyms,… at length directed him to the Bishop of Winchester, beyng then Lord Chauncellour, and yet liuing, and so was commaunded by him vponupon the same to the Kinges Bench.
Here by the way is to be vnderstanded, that Tyms as he was but a Deacon, so was he but simply or at least not priestly apparelled, forasmuch as he went not in a gown, but in a coat: and his hosen were of two colours, the vpper part white, & the neather stockes of sheepes russet. Whervpō the proud prelate sending for him to come before him, and seeing his simple attyre, began to mocke him saying:Talke betweene the Bishop of Winchester, and W. Tyms. Ah syra, are you a Deacon? Yea my Lord that I am, quoth Tyms. So me thinketh said the Bishop, ye are decked like a Deacon. My Lord sayde Tyms, my vesture doth not so much vary from a Deacon, but me thinketh your apparell doth as much vary from an Apostle.
So then there spake one of the Bishops Gentlemen: My Lord (sayd he in mockadge) geue him a chaire, a toste, and drinke, and he wilbe lusty. But the Byshop bad, hauehave him away, and cōmaunded him to come before him agayn the next day at an houre appoynted.
But winchester for lacke of leasure, or because of sickenes growing vponupon him, or for what cause els I know not either would not, or could not attend vntounto him, but returned him agayne to his Ordinary Bishop from whence he came.These 5. Martyrs were R. Drakes, Tho. Spurge, Richard Spurge, Cauell, Ambrose. Their examinations before the B. of London▪ Sacrament of the Aultar. So william Tyms being put of agayne to Bishop Boner, was placed together and coupled with the other fiue Martyrs aboue named, and with them brought together to publicke examination before the Bishop, the 21. day of March, first in the Bishops Palace of London: where the sayd Bishop after his accustomed maner proceeding agaynst them, enquyred of them theyr fayth vponupon the Sacrament of the aultar. To whom they aunswered, that the body of Christ was not in the sacrament of the aultar really and corporally after the wordes of consecration spoken by the Prieste, of the whiche opinion they had bene of long time, some later, some sooner, euē as God of his mercy dyd call them vntounto the knowledge of his Gospell.
Then the Bishops Chapleines began to reason with thē, but with no great authorities either of the scriptures, or of the auncient fathers (ye may be sure) as other theyr large conferences with the learned do already declare.