Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Account 18 · Letter 1 – Letter 4
*Bishop Boners exhortation.
MAyster Philpot, this is to be told you, that if you, not being yet reconciled to the vnity of the catholicke churche,An exhortation of …. Bone… to Iohn Philpot. December 16. from whence ye did fall in the time of the late schisme here in this realme of England, agaynst the sea Apostolick of Rome, will now hartely & obediently be reconciled to the vnity of the same catholicke church, professing and promising to obserue & keep to the best of your power the faith and christian Religion obserued and kept of all faythfull people of the same: & moreouer if ye whiche heretofore, especially in the yere of our Lord. 1553. 1554. 1555. or in one of them, hauehave offended and trespassed grieuously agaynst the sacrifice of the masse, calling it idolatry and abominable, and likewise hauehave offended & trespassed agaynst the sacrament of the aulter, denying the real presence of Christes body & bloud to be there in the sacramēt of the aulter, affirming also withal material bread and materiall wine to be in the sacrament of the aulter, & not the substaunce of the body and bloud of Christ: if yee, I say, wil be reconciled as is afore, and wil forsake your heresies and erroures before touched, being heretical and damnable, and will allowe also the sacrament of the Masse, yee shalbe mercifully receiued and charitable vsed, with as muche fauoure as may be: if not, ye shalbe reputed, taken and iudged for an hereticke (as yee be in deede:) Now do you chuse what ye wil doe: you are counselled herein friendly and fauourable.
Ita est quod Ed. Boner. Epis. Lond.
The Bishoppes exhortation thus ended. M. Philpot turned himselfe vntounto the Lord Maior and sayd:… Philpot answe…eth to the B…hops exhortation before the Lord Maior.
Phil.
To you my Lorde Mayor bearing the sworde, I am glad that it is my chance now to stand before that authoritie that hath defended the Gospell, and the truth of gods word: but I am sory to see that that authoritie whiche representeth the king and Queenes persons, should now be chaunged, and be at the commaundement of Antichrist. And ye (speaking to the Bishoppes) pretend to be the fellowes of the Apostles of Christ, & yet be very Antichristes and deceauers of the people: and I am glad that GOD hath geuen me power to stand here this daye, and to declare and defend my faith, which is founded on Christ.
Therefore as touching your first obiection, I say that I am of the Cotholicke church,To the first a…ticle. Iohn Philpot is of the Catholicke Church, but not of the …a…ilonical Church. To the 2. Article. Iohn Philpot speaketh not agaynst the … sacrifice … agaynst … sacrifice … …pon the …, vsed … pr…uate mas…es. To the 3. article. P…pot denyeth not … Sacrament of the … of the …, but the Sacrament of the Altar of … he de…eth. Philpot chargeth the clergy of Q Mar· time▪ to be idolaters to …, and … church where their … church … England … K. Edwarde… …me. wherof I was neuer out, and that your church (whiche ye pretend to be the Catholicke churche) is the churche of Rome, and so the Babilonicall and not the catholicke church: of that Church I am not.
As touching youre second obiection, whiche is, that I should speake agaynst the sacrifice of the Masse, I doe say, that I hauehave not spoken agaynst the true sacrifice, but I hauehave spoken agaynst your priuate Masses that you vse in corners, whiche is blasphemy to the true sacrifice, for your sacrifice dayly reitered, is a blasphemye agaynst Chrystes death, and it is a lye of your own inuention. And that abhominable sacrifice which ye set vppon the aulter, and vse in your priuate Masses in steade of the liuing sacrifice, is Idolatry, and ye shal neuer proue it by Gods word: therfore ye hauehave deceiued the people with that your sacrifice of the Masse, which ye make a masking.
Thirdly, where you lay to my charge that I deny the body and bloud of Christ to be in the sacrament of the aultar I cannot tell what aultar yee meane, whether it be the aultar of the Crosse, or the aultar of stone. And if yee call it the Sacrament of the aultar in respect of the aultar of the stone, then I defie your Christ: for it is a rotten Christ.
And as touching your transubstantiatiō, I vtterly deny it: for it was brought vp first by a Pope. Now as concerning your offer made from the Synode, whiche is gathered together in Antichristes name: proue me that to be of the catholicke Church (which ye shall neuer do) & I will follow you, and do as you would hauehave me to do. But yee are Idolaters, and dayly do commit Idolatry. Ye be also traytors: for in your Pulpits you rayle vponupon good kings as king Henry, and king Edward his sonne, which hauehave stand agaynst the vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome: agaynst whome also I hauehave taken an othe, which if ye can shew me by Gods law that I hauehave taken vniustly, I will then yeld vntounto you. But I pray God turne the King and Queenes hartes from your Sinagogue and churche, for you do abuse that good Queene.
Here the Bishop of Couentry and Lichfield began to shew where the true church was, saying.
Couen.
The true catholicke church is set vponupon an high hil.
Phil.
Yea, at Rome, which is the Babylonicall church.
Couen.
No: in our true Catholicke church are ye Apostles, Euangelistes, and martyrs: but before Martine Luther, ther was no Apostle, Euāgelist, or martyr of your church.
Phil.
Will ye know the cause why? Christ did prophesie, yt in the latter dayes there should come false Prophetes and hipocrites, as you be?
Couen.
Your Church of Geneua, which ye call the Catholicke Church, is that which Christ prophesied of.
Phil.
I allow the church of Geneua, and the doctrine of ye same: for it is, vna Catholica, & Apostolica, and doth follow the doctrine that the Apostles did preach: and the doctrine taught and preached in king Edwardes dayes, was also according to the same. And are yee not ashamed to persecute me and others for your Churches sake, which is Babilonicall and contrary to the true Catholicke Church?
And after this they had great conference togethers, aswell out of the Scriptures, as also out of the Doctours. But whē Boner saw that by learning they were not able to conuince M. Phil. he thought then by his diffamations to bryng him out of credite: and therefore turning himselfe vntounto the Lord Mayor of London, brought forth a knyfe, and a bladder full of pouder, and sayd.
London.
My Lorde, this man had a rosted pigge brought vntounto him,B. Boner chargeth him with false surmises; for want of true matter. and this knife was put secretly betweene the skin & the flesh therof, and so was it sent him, being in prison. And also this pouder was sent vntounto him, vnderunder pretence that it was good and comfortable for him to eate or drinke: whiche pouder was onelyonly to make inke to wryte withall. For when his keeper did perceaue it, he tooke it & brought it vntounto me. Whiche when I did see, I thought it had bene gunpouder, and thereupon I put fire to it, but it would not burne. Then I tooke it for poyson, and so gaue it to a dogge, but it was not so. Thou I tooke a little water, and it made as fayre inke, as euer I did write withall. Therefore my Lord, you may vnderstand what a naughty fellowe this is.Philpot had a knife brought him vnderunder a pig: Ergo the Church of Rome is a Catholicke church. Articles concluded in Cambridge, and Oxford. The catechisms set forth in K. Edwards dayes. The booke of report of the disputation in in the Conuocation house.
Phil.
Ah my Lord, hauehave ye nothing els to charge me withall but these trifles, seeing I stande vppon lyfe and death? Doth the knife in the pigge proue the churche of Rome to be a catholicke church. &c.
Then the bishop brought forth a certayne instrument conteyning Articles and Questions, agreed vponupon both in Oxford and Cambridge, whereof yee hauehave mention before pag. 1428. Also he did exhibite two Bookes in Print: the one was ye Catechisme made in king Edwards dayes. An. 1552. the other concerning the true report of the disputation in the Conuocation house, mention wherof is aboue expressed.
Moreouer hee did bring foorth and layde to Mayster Philpots charge two letters: the one touching Barthelet Greene, the other contayning godly exhortations & comfortes: which both were written vntounto him by some of his godly friendes: the tenour whereof wee thought here also to exhibite.
A letter exhibited by Boner, written by some frend of M. Philpot, and sent to him concerning the handling of Mayster Greene in Boners house at London.
YOu shal vnderstand that M. Greene came vntounto the Bishop of London on Sonday last, where he was curteously receaued:A letter written to M. Philpot touching the handling of M. Grene. exhibited by B. Boner. Boner breaketh promise. for what policie the sequele declareth. His entertaynment for one day or two, was to dyne at my Lordes owne table, or els to hauehave his meate from thence. During those dayes hee lay in Doctor Chadseys chamber, and was examined. Albeit in very deede the Bishop earnestly and faythfully promised manye right worshipful men (who were suters for him, but to him vnknown) that he in no case shoulde bee examined: before which M. Fecknam would hauehave had him in his frendly custody, if he would hauehave desired to hauehave conferred with him, whiche he vtterly refused. And in that the bish. obiected agaynst him singularitie and obstinacie, his answere thereunto was thus: To auoyd al suspicion therof, although I my self am yong & vtterly vnlearned in respect of the learned (and yet I vnderstand, I thanke my Lord) yet let me hauehave such books as I shal require: and if I, by Gods spirite, do not therby answere all your books and obiections contrary therto, I wil assent to you. Wherunto the Bishop and his assented, permitting him at the first to hauehave suche bookes. Who at sondrye times hauehave reasoned with him,M. Grene strong in sriptures & Doctors. and hauehave found him so stronge and rise in the scriptures and godly fathers, that sithens they hauehave not onelyonly taken from him such libertie of bookes, but all other bookes, not leauing him so much as the new Testament. Since they hauehave bayted and vsed him most cruelly. This mayster Fecknam reported:Fecknams report of Bart. Grene. saying farther, that he neuer heard the like young man, & so perfect. What shall become farther of him God knoweth, but death I thinke for he remayneth more and more willing to dye, as I vnderstand. Concerning your bill I shal conferre with others therin, knowyng that the same Courte is able to redresse the same.This bill was a supplication to be offred vp in the Parlament. And yet I thinke it will not be reformed, for that I know fewe or none that dare or wil speake therein, or preferre the same, because it concerneth spirituall thinges. Notwithstanding, I will assertain you therof: committing you to the holy Ghost, who keepe you & vsus all as his.
Your owne. &c.
The copy of an other letter written by the faythful and Christen harted Lady▪ the Lady Vane, to Mayster Philpot, exhibited lykewise by Byshop Boner.
HArty thankes rendered vntounto you my welbeloued in Christ, for the booke ye sent me,A letter written to M. Philpot by the faythfull Christen Lady, the Lady Vane. wherein I finde great consolations, and according to the doctrine therof, do prepare my cheekes to the strikers, and my womanish backe to theyr burthens of reproofe, and so in the strength of my God I truste to leape ouer the wall: for his sweetenesse ouercommeth me dayly, & maketh al these poticary druggs of ye world, euen medicinelike in my mouth. For the continuance wherof, I beseech thee (my deare fellow souldior) make thy faythful prayer for me, that I may with a strong and gladsome conscience finish my course, and obtayne the reward, though it be no whit due to my worke, I am not content yt you so often gratifie me with thankes for that which is none worthy, but duty on my part & small reliefe to you. But if you would louelove me so much, yt I might supply your lackes, then would I think ye beleued my offers to be such, as agreed with my hart. And for the short charges ye speake of, ye meanes are not so pleasant, if god (who my trust is in) will otherwise prepare: but Salomō saith: Al things hauehave here their time: You to day, & I to morow, & so ye ende of Adams line is soone ronne out: The mightye God geue vsus his grace, that during this time his glory be not defaced through our weakenes. Because you desire to shew your selfe a worthy souldiour, if neede so require. I will supply your request for the Scarfe yee wrote of, that ye may present my handy worke before your Captayne, that I be not forgotten in the odours of incense which our beloued Christ offereth for his owne: to whom I bequeth both our bodies and soules.
Your owne in the Lord. F.E.
Ouer and besides these letters, the Bishops did also bring forth a supplication made by mayster Philpot vntounto the high Court of Parliament, whereof mention is made in the first of the two letters last mentioned: ye copy wherof doth here ensue, as followeth.
To the King and Queenes Maiesties highnesse the Lordes spiritual and temporall, and the commons of this present Parliament assembled.
IN most humble wise complayneth vntounto this honorable Courte of Parliament Iohn Philpot Clarke,A supplication of Iohn Philpot to the King and Queene. that where there was by the Queenes highnesse a parliament called in the first yeare of her gracious raygne, and after the olde custome a Couocation of the Clergy, your suppliant then being one of the sayd Conuocation house, and matters there rising vppon the vsing of the Sacramentes, did dispute in the same, knowing that there all men had and hath had free speach, and ought not to be after troubled for any thinge there spoken, and yet, that notwithstanding, not long after the sayd Parliament, your sayd suppliant (without any acte or matter) was commaunded to prison to the kings Benche by the late Lord Chauncellour, where he hath remayned euer sithens, vntil now of late that my Lord the B. of London, hath sent for your sayd suppliant to examine him, (being none of his Dioces) vponupon certayn matters, wherein they would hauehave your Oratour to declare his conscience▪ whiche the sayd bishop sayth hee hath authoritie to do, by reason of an Acte of Parliament made in the first and second yeares of the king and queeenes Maiesties raignes, for the reuiuing of three Satutes made agaynst thē that hold any opinion agaynst the Catholicke fayth: whereby he affirmeth that eueryevery Ordinary may Ex Officio examine eueryevery mans conscience:The strayte handling of Iohn Philpot in the Bishops Colehouse. and for that your sayde Oratour hath and doth refuse, that the sayd Bish. of London hath any authoritie ouer your sayd Oratour, for that he is neyther Diocesane, nor hath publyshed, preached▪ nor held any opinion against the Catholicke faith (notwithstanding the said Bishop of London deteineth him in the Colehouse in the stockes, without eyther bed, or any other thing to lye vponupon, but straw) and for that your sayde Oratour cannot appeale for his reliefe from the sayd Bishop, to anye other Iudge, but the same bishop may refuse the same by theyr law, and therefore hath no succour and helpe, but by this high Courte of Parliament, for the explanatiō of the sayd Acte: therefore it may please you, that it may be enacted by the kinge and Queenes Maiesties the Lordes spirituall and temporall, and the Commons of this present Parliament assembled, and by the authoritie of the same, that no Byshop nor Ordinary shall committe nor detayne in prison, any suspect person or persones for the Catholicke fayth, except he or they hauehave spoken, written, or done some manifest Act against the Catholicke fayth, and the same to be lawfully proued agaynst eueryevery such person and persons, by the testimony of two lawfull witnesses, to be brought afore the sayd person or persons so accused before he or they shal eyther be committed to prison or conuict for any such offence or offences: the sayd former statute, made in the sayd first & second yeare of our said soueraigne Lord and Lady notwithstanding. Whereby your sayde Oratour shal not only bee set at libertie, & diuers other mo remayning in prison: but also the bloude of diuers of the Quueenes Maiesties true and faythfull subiectes preserued.