Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 12 · Account 2
Maister Stokes Oration to Queene Maryes Visitors at Cambridge, An. 1557. Ian. 11.
The Oration of Maister Stokes publike Orator of the Vniuersitye.ACademia, Reuerendi Patres, in expectatione aduentus vestri sollicita aliquandiu fuit, nunc praesentia dominationum vestrarum valde recreata libentissime vultus vestros intuetur, & ad apertam voluntatis suae testificationem, ecce vniuersa se suasque opes effudit. Conuenit in hunc locum tota Cantabrigiae frequentia, adsunt omnes ordines, de quorum certa mihi & explorata ad hanc rem voluntate, illud publica fide apud dominationes vestras affirmo, eos & separatim singulos, & coniunctim omnes optatissimum hunc aduentum mirificis studijs, & consentientibus animis gratulari. Illud enim omnium animis habemus persuasum, & negotium hoc quod hodierno die, fauente Deo, excellentia vestra auspicatur, ad academiae rationes fore accommodum, neque in re, ad communem salutem tam necessaria, operam aliquando vestram nobis defuturam. Permulta sunt ad hanc opinionem confirmandam, sed caetera non persequor: ea tantum oratione attingam, quae ita intimè cum praesenti negotio cohaerent, vt diuelli ab eo disiungique nulla ratione possint. Atque sunt illa quidem numero certa & finita: verum re & virtute, ita immensa, vt nulla dicendi facultate mea plene comprehendi possent: uoniam tamen & antea sum professus summam esse academiae laetitiam, eamque iustis de causis in aduentu vestro susceptam, quaeso à vobis, vt dum eas breuiter recenseo faciles mihi aures praebeatis.
Reuerendiss. in Christo Pater Cardinalis Polus, Legatus, qui religionem oppressam restituit, Cardinal Polus.patriae ruinas suffulsit, leges & decreta quasi postliminio reduxit, iste inquàm, iste Polus Anglus, & verè noster Moyses, legationis vestrae autor est, à cuius excellenti virtute in omnes suae patriae partes plurima commoda dimanarunt. Quo vinculo necessitudinis, & si omnibus temporibus optima ab illo sperare liceret, quòd ex corpore simus ipsius reipublicae, arctior est tamen & interior causa, quae nobis cum dominatione illius separatim intercedit. Superiore anno academiae procurationem in se humanissimè recepit, quam liberari custodia ita coeptam tenere se velle, literis significauit, vt non solum incommoda dimoueret, quibus studia nostra affligerentur, sed vt ornamenta adijceret ea, quorum splendore augeri dignitas academiae aut maximè illustra…i posset. Quae res & spem antea nostram confirmauit, & nunc in eam cogitationem nos adducit, vt omnem illius humanitatem in hanc vnam visitationem esse collectam putemus, in qua quidem ea a vobis expectamus omnia, quae summi cancellarij nostri insignis amor praeter communem charitatem academiae, quasi pupillae suae propriae pollicetur. Atque vtinam quidem ipse sine reipublicae detrimē to, hoc tempore adesse posset, & academiam suam è tenebris & profunda nocte emersam, ipse suis radijs verae religionis splendore illustraret, verum optioni nostrae publica vtilitas repugnat, qua valde impeditus sanctissimae sedis Apostolicae legatus, vos Vicarios substituit: quorum naturas propter prouidentiam, personas propter dignitatem, voluntates propter educationem aptissimas ad hanc rem esse iudicauit. Ita que illud verè & ex animis istorum omnium affirmare possum, vos eos esse viros quorum religionem amamus, virtutem colimus, voluntatem, fidem, & consilium ad publicam salutem impendimus. Post quam enim singulari & praestantissima virtute Cardinalis Poli, legati è superiorum temporum caligine, & tenebris, lucem in republica respicere coepimus, vna certè grauissima etiam superioris aetatis mala sensimus, quibus profecto infinitis & miserrimis etsi antea premeremur, tamen ad calamitatis nostrae magnitudinem accessit eiusdem ignoratio, vt (mea quidem opinione) eo simus magis miserabiles iudicandi, quòd tam turbulenta tempestate iactati ne moueri quidem nos, tam graui & periculoso haeresis morbo oppressi, aut aegrotare mentes nostras, non intelleximus. Valde enim periculosa est aegrotatio illa, quaecunque sine doloris sensu naturam conficit, & affectos saepe priùs extinguit, quam aegrotare se fateantur. Eiusmodi morbo Academia laborabat, quae ad alias fortasse res satis ingeniosa & solers, in hac Religionis causa, propter caput Ecclesiae laesum, vnde omnis sentiendi vis est, omnino hebes, stupida, & sine mente fuit, quoad tertio ante hunc anno diuina sanctissimi patris Iulij Clementia Angliae ferè emortuae miserata, iterum nos Ecclesiae inserit, corpus sensusque recreat, cuius ope conualescens Britannia, quam certa gehennae pericula effugerit, quiuis facile intelligit. Idem Academia cernit acutius, ne que quicquàm mali vspiam accidisse putat, quo nostra Regio in hac religionis vastitate & schismate miserius fuerit afflicta. Non est opus recensere in hoc loco euersa Monasteria, spoliata Templa, strages sacerdotum, caedes nobilium, motus & tumultus populi, totius Regni egestatem, quae & si aliunde accidere possunt, tamen cum tam grauia sint vt opprimant, vltionis & vindictae potius quam probandi causa in malos & nocentes infligi putamus. Sed sunt ista fortunae ludibria, grauiora sumus passi religionis & conscientiae detrimenta: pietas in Deum omnis euanuerat, virginalis sacerdotum professio ad libidinem soluta est, animus quasi consopitus iacebat, quem nullae Ceremoniae excitabant, ipsa mens opinionum varietate ita distracta, ita sibi ipsi dissentiens, vt infinitis erroribus implicaretur. In his erant duo praecipue fontes, ex quorum riuulis & hausisse Academiam paulo liberalius, & illa potione ferme inebriatam confi…emur.
Prior ortum habebat ex illa nostri violenta diuulsione, à catholicae Ecclesiae vnitate, re non dissimili illius pugnae, quam olim Menenius Agrippa in intestina ciuium discordia, de corpore humano memorabat. Posterior ex immensa palude & coeno Wicleuiano emanauit: quem celebris apud nos imo miserabilis de Sacramento altaris patefecit. De cuius rei veritate plerique suo sensu abundantes, pro arbitrio quisque suo statuerat. Nos Philosophos, nec illos quidem optimos, imitati ex Epicureorū schola ad scripturae lumen aliquid attulimus, quòd enim Christus omnino, praecise, & sine exceptione, de vera & perpetua sui corporis praesentia affirmarat (in cuius verbi veritate fundamentum fidei nostrae collocatur) id nos ita sumus interpretati, vt mā cam & alienam Christi vocem iudicaremus, nisi illa Epicuri propria particula (quasi) adderetur, & quod Christiani corpus & sanguinem, id nos quasi corpus & sanguinem diceremus. Sed non est istius temporis praeterita nimium meminisse, quae vtinam eterna obliuione obrui possent, neque vlla tantae labis memoria ad posteros nostros propagetur, tamen fuerunt attingenda generatim quidem, quòd erranti confessio salutaris sit, membratim verò, quod Academia his vulneribus á Censoria potestate confecta, à Censoria medicina ad salutem reduci postulat. Ipsa vero pro se & suis spondet omnes in authoritate vestra futuros, quos assiduis concionibus adeo ad poenitentiam edocuit, vt & eos ad sanam religionem fidissime transijsse, & in eadem diligenti praesentis vitae vsu superioris aetatis damna sarcituros putetis. Nam qui primi in hoc cursu sunt acerrime contendunt in eo, quod tam voluntarie susceperunt & qui pigrius egressi, quasi pomeridianis horis ad hoc certamen accesserunt, ea certè praebent iam immutatae voluntatis indicia, vt quomodo temerè & iuueniliter à sana religione defecerunt, ita non nisi maturi & cum iudicio ab haeresi desciuisse videantur. Vniuersis vero simul restituta & desiderata religio magis placere videtur, quia si assiduè praecepta, neque ad tempus obscurata fuisset.
Quapropter Academia supplex & prostrata primùm à Deo immortali pacem & veniam petit precaturque ab eo, vt hodiernum diem ad suorum salutem conseruandam, & rempublicam hanc constituendam illuxisse patiatur. Deinde pro se, pro suis, pro vniuersis, pro singulis, hanc petitionem ad celsitudines vestras affert, vt superiorum temporum offensas ex errore & iustitia profectas praesenti hominum industriae condonetis. De reliquis vero pro summa prudentia vestra, & singulari in nos amore eam sentētiam feratis, vt su…rum causas vel iustitia vestra bonas inue…at, vel clementia bonas esse faciat. In vtroque parerit beneficium, si…e Academiam pro causarum aequitate iudicaueritis, si…e pro amoris vestri abundantia innocentem eam esse volueritis Nos pro referenda gratia, summam in sacris modestiam, assiduam in literis operam, perpetuum verae religionis amorem, sempiternam vestri beneficij memoriam repromittimus.
The aunswere of M. Scotte Bishop of Che…ter, to … Oration … Iohn ….When he had made an ende of speaking, the Byshop of Chester answeared thereunto, that they tooke in ryghte good part, that the mother the Uniuersitie had made so open a declaration of her good will towardes them: for the whych he gaue most hearty thanckes, desiring her to perfourme in deede and in her woorkes, the thyngs that shee had so largely promised of her selfe in woordes and communication.
AS concerning their good willes, there was no cause to mistrust. For theyr comming thether was not to deale any thyng roughly wyth such as fell to the amendement: but both the Cardinall hymselfe, and they also, were fully minded to shew fauour, deuising howe to bring al thyngs to peace and tranquillitie, desiring nothing more earnestly, then that they which hauehave erred & gone astray, shoulde retourne in the right pathe againe. The right reuerende father the Lord Cardinall (whom he wished to hauehave bene present) wished the self same thing also, desiring nothyng so much as he with hys owne hands to sustaine and hold vp nowe ready to fall, or rather to raise vp already fallen to the ground, the Uniuersitie hys ward: for he gladly taketh vponupon him the name and duety of her Garden, whom it greatly grieued that the infections of the times past had spreade abroade so grieuous diseases, that euen the Uniuersitie it self was touched with the contagious aire therof. For he woulde gladlier hauehave come thither to visite and salute it, then to correcte it, if the waightye affayres of the realme would hauehave permitted it. But now seing he could not so do,The Commi…ion assigned by t…e Cardinall, and …ay. he had appoynted thys Commission, in ye which he had assigned them to be his deputies, which (for because they knew him to set much store by the vniuersity) should extend the more fauor to it, and (for because they thēselues had bene there brought vppe) woulde the more earnestly embrace it. The chiefe matter that they came for, tended to this ende yt such as had erred should confesse their faults,The causes …ecl…red. and retourne into the right way againe. For they were in good forwardnesse of healing, that acknowledged themselues to hauehave offended. And therefore it was wisely propounded on hys part that he would not altogether excuse the faultes of the Uniuersitie, nor of other men, but confesse and acknowledge the crime, as that there were many thyngs had neede to be corrected and amended.
The cause why they were sent thither was to raise vp them that were fallen, and to receiue into fauour suche as were sory and would amend, wherin if (contrary to theyr expectation) they shoulde not be able to do so much wyth some men as they would: yet notwithstanding according to their duety, they wold shew themselues so dilygent for theyr parte, as that no lacke myghte be founde in them. For it was more openlye knowne than that it coulde be denied, that manye men did diuers thyngs of a frowarde wilfulnesse, and take stoutlye vppon them, wherewith as they were greatly mooued and agrieued (as reason was) so they coueted to remedy the mischiefe. Against whom, if any thing shuld seeme hereafter to be straitly determined, it was to be imputed to theyr own deserts, and not to the willes of them. Neither ought such as are whole & sound to be mooued at the chastisement of others, forasmuch as it pertained not onelyonly to the wiping out of the foule blotte, which now sticked in the vniuersitie, but also to the health of many others whych had taken much hurt by the infection of them.… more commended …. For their owne partes, they more enclyned vntounto mercy then to rigour. Howbeit considering that so greate diseases coulde not by gentle medicines be healed, they were driuen of necessitie to vse stronger. And yet if they would be contented to bee broughte againe to theyr ryght mindes, whych thing they chiefly coueted (for they wished that all shoulde amende and be led by wholesome counsel) & would yet at length waxe wery of their errors, and in stead of them frequent againe the ancient customes of themselues, & of theyr forefathers, they myghte boldlye looke for all kinde of humanitie and gentlenesse at theyr hands, in al this theyr busines of reformation, which they had now entred and begon, requesting no more of the Uniuersity but to doe as became them: which being performed, he promised that theyr beneuolence, neyther in anye publike nor in any priuate personnes case shoulde in any wise be behinde hand.
These things being finished,A Masse at the Kinges Colledge. Ormanet Datarye. they were broughte processionaliter to the kinge colledge, by all the Graduates of the vniuersity, wheras was song a masse of ye holy ghoste with great solemnitie, nothing wanting in that behalfe yt might make to the setting forthe of the same. In this place it was marked that Nich. Ormanet, commōly surnamed Datary (who albeit he wer inferior in estate vntounto Chester being a Bish. yet was superior to them all in authoritye) while the Masse was a celebrating, eft standing, eft sitting and sometime kneling on his knees, obserued certaine ceremonies, which afterward were required of al others to be obserued, as in processe hereof was to be seene.
From thence they attended all vponupon the Legates to s. Maries church, which we declared before to hauehave ben interdited. In the which place,Pecocke preacheth at Saint Maryes. for as much as it was suspē ded, although no masse might be song, yet ther was a sermon made in open audience by M. Pecocke in the Latine tounge, preaching against heresies and hereticks, as Bilney, Cranmer, Latimer, Ridley. &c. The which being ended, they proceeded eftsoones to the visitation. Where first D. Haruye did in the Cardinals name exhibite the cōmission to the bishop of Chester with a few words in Latin. Which being accepted, and by M. Clarke openly redde to the end, then the Uicechancellor wyth an Oration did exhibite the certificate vnderunder his seal of office,The citation of the Maisters of the Colledges. with the Cardinals citation annexed, conteining eueryevery mans name in the Uniuersitie and Colledges, with the Officers and all the maisters of houses. Among whom was also Roberte Brassey maister of the kings colledge, a woorthy old man, both for his wisedom and his hoare haires. Who hearing hys owne name recited next after the Uicechauncellours, sayd: he was there present as all the other were: neuerthelesse, for as much as ye reformation of his house was wholy reserued to the discretion of the byshop of Lincolne, not only by the kings letters Patents,Robert Brasse…s exception. but also by graunte of confirmation from the bishop of Rome him selfe, vnderunder a penaltie if he should suffer any strangers to entermeddle, he openly protested in discharge of hys duety, that vnlesse theyr Commission gaue them authoritye and iurisdiction vppon that Colledge, either by expresse woordes or manifest sense, he vtterly exempted himselfe from being present. This his exception they tooke all in great displeasure: alleaging that they were fullye authorysed for the order of that matter by the Cardinall, out of whose iurisdiction no place nor persons was exempted: wherefore he had done euil to call into question theyr authoritie,Alter…ation betweene D. Brassie and D. Scot B. of Chester. so well knowen to all men. Chester seemed to be more mooued at the matter then all the other: and that was because Brassey had a litle before obtained the woorship of that roume, eue… vtterly against his wil, and maugre his head, doing ye worst he coulde against him.
After the formal solemnity of these things thus accomplished, the commission being red, and the citation exhibited, al the masters of houses being openly cited, eueryevery mā for a while departed home to his owne house, wyth commandement to be at the common schooles of the sayd vniuersity at one of the clock the same day.Inquisition at the common schooles. When the degrees of the vniuersitye, commonly called Regents & non Regents, were assembled thither, they spent the rest of ye daye in reading ouer of Charters, graunted to the Uniuersity by kings and princes, in searching out of bulles & pardons from the pope, & in perusing of other Monuments pertaining to the Uniuersitie.
The next day folowing, being the 12. of Ianu. they resorted to the kings Colledge to make Inquisition,Ianuary. 12. Inquisition at the Kynges Colledge. eyther because the same for the woorthines therof was chiefe and soueraigne of all the residue, or els because that that house especially before all others, had beene counted, time out of minde, neuer to be without an hereticke (as they tearme them) or twaine. And at that present time, alb…it that many nowe alate had withdrawne themselues from thence, yet they iudged there were some remaining still. The order and maner how they woulde be intertained of euerye Colledge, when they shoulde come to make Inquisition,The maner of receiuing the Inquisitors whē they went to make Inquisition. they themselues appoynted, which was in this sort.
They commaunded the master of eueryevery house together with the residue, as well fellowes as scholers, apparelled in priestlike garmēts (which they cal habits) to mete them at the vttermoste gate of theyr house towarde the towne. The maister him selfe to be dressed in like apparell as the Priest when hee rauisheth himselfe to Masse, sauing that he should putte on vppermoste his habite, as the rest dyd. The order of theyr goynge they appoynted to be in thys wise.Note the ambitious p…mpe of these Papistes. The Maister of the House to goe formost. Next vntounto him eueryevery man in hys order as he was of degree, seigniority, or of yeres. Before the M. should be caried a crosse & holy water to sprinckle the Commissioners withal, and then after that the sayd Commissioners to be sensed. And so after this meeting, and mumbling of a few deuotions, they determined with this pompe and solempnitie to bee brought to the Chappell.
Many thought they tooke more honor vponupon them than belonged to the state of man. Other some (forasmuche as at that time they not only pretended the iurisdiction of the Cardinall,The Commissioners represent the Pope. but also represented the power and authoritye of the Bishop of Rome himselfe, who was accoumpted to be more than a mortall man) sayde it was farre lesse then of duety appertained to hys holinesse, in that the honoure that was done to his Legates, was not done to them but to his holinesse. Now was the houre come, at which they appoynted to meete:Here was a foule fault commi…ted, that these men came in without Procession. and being entred the kings colledge gate, where they looked for the maister and fellowes of the house, seeing no man came to meete them, they proceeded foorth to the Church doore, where they staied. There perceiuing how the maister and the rest of ye house were dressing themselues as fast as they coulde, as in such order as was appoynted before, they came in sodenly vppon them, before they had set out any foote out of theyr places.
Then the maister first excused himselfe, that hee was ready no sooner,D. Brassey excuseth himselfe for the …lacknes of his Processiō. acknowledging that it had bene his duety to hauehave bene in a readinesse. Secondly, he saide he was very glad of their comming, promising firste in hys owne name, and after in the name of all the rest, as muche reuerence, as mighte be, in all matters concerning theyr common veilitie, the which he doubted not, but should be performed at their hands, according to his expectation. But like as he had don the other day in S. Maries church,M. Brassey maketh exception agayne. the same exception he made to them nowe also: the whych his doing he besoughte them not to be offended withall. For seeing he did it onelyonly for the discharge of his duetie, he had iuster cause to be helde excused.
Hee had scarsly yet finished his tale, but the Bishop of Chester with a frowning looke and an angry countenāce, interrupting him of his talke,Doctour Scots aunswere to M. Brassey. said: he needed not to repeat the things hee had protested before, nor they to make aunswer any more to those things wherin they had sufficiently enformed him before. He rather feared that their quarel was not good, that they made such a doe about it, & sought such starting holes. For so were diseased persones oftentimes woont to do, when for the paine and griefe they are not able to abide a strong medicine. As thoughe that anye man were able to graunte so strong a priuiledge, as to wt stand the Popes authoritye. As for the bishops letters, he sayd must nedes make on his side,The Popes authoritye swalloweth vp al other priuileges. and with such as were with him, & could not in any wise be alleged against him. Therefore he admonished him to desist from his vnprofitable altercation, and to conforme himselfe and his to such things as then were in doing.
After thys they went to Masse. Whych finished, wyth great solemnitie, first they went to the high aultare of the churche,The Legates saluting first their God. & hauing there saluted theyr God, and searching whether all were well about him or no, they walked thorow all the inner chappels of the Churche. The Church goodes, the crosses, the chalices, the masse bookes, the vestments, and whatsoeuer ornamentes were besides, were commaunded to be brought out vntounto them. Whē they had sufficiently viewed all things, & had called foorth by name eueryevery fellow and scholler of the house, they went to ye masters lodging, where first and formost swearing them vponupon a booke to answer to all such interrogatories as should be propounded vntounto them (as farre as they knewe) they examined first the master himself, and afterward al the residue,The othe refuse… of some in the kinges Colledge, and why▪ eueryevery man in his tourne. But there were some that refused to take this oth, because they had geuen their faith to the Colledge before, and also because they thought it against all righte and reason to sweare against themselues: for it was contrary to all law that a man should be compelled to bewraye himselfe, and not to be suffred to keepe his conscience free, when there is no manifest proofe to be laid to his charge: but muche more vniust is it, that a man shoulde be constrained perforce to accuse himselfe. Neuertheles these persons also, after much altercation, at length (conditionally, that their faithe geuen before to the Colledge, wer not impeched therby) wer cōtēted to be sworn.
Three daies long lasted the Inquisition there. Thys was nowe the 3. day of their comming, & it was thought that the case of Bucer and Phagius was delayed longer then neded.The consultation of the Maister▪ vponupon … my vp of M. Bucer. For they looked to hauehave had much altercation and businesse about the matter. Nowe, forasmuche as the present state of the case required good deliberation and aduisement, the Uicechauncelor and the maisters of the colledges assembled at the common schooles, wher eueryevery mā gaue his verdit what he thought meete to be done in this matter of Bucer. After muche debating, they agreed altogether in this determination: that for asmuch as Martin Bucer whiles he liued, had not onelyonly sowed pernicious & erroneous doctrine among …hem, but also hadde hym selfe bene a sectarie and famous hereticke, erring from the Catholicke churche, and geuing others occasion to fall from the same likewise: a supplication should be made to ye lord Commissioners, in the name of the whole vniuersity, that his deade carkas might foorthwith be digged vp (for so it was needefull to be done) to the intente that Inquisition might be made as touching his doctrine,Inquisition to be made of M. Bucers doctrine.. the which beyng brought in examination, if it were not foūd to be good and wholesome, ye law might proceede against him: for it was against the rule of the holy Canons,Martin Bucers bu…iall agaynst the holy Canon lawes. that his body should be buried in christen buriall. Yea, and besides that it was to the open derogation of Gods honor, and the violating of his holy lawes, with the great pearill of many mennes soules, and the offence of the faithfull, especially in so difficulte and contagions a time as that was.Causes why Mart. Bucer and Paulus Phagius bodyes ought to be taken vp. Wherefore it was not to be suffered, that they, which vtterlye dissented from all other men in the trade of their liuing, lawes, and customes, should hauehave any parte with them in honoure of buriall. And therefore the glory of God first and before all things ought to be defended, the infamye (which through this thing riseth on them) with all speede putte awaye, no roume at all left vntounto those persones to rest in, who euen in the same places where they lay, were iniurious & noysome to the very elements, but the place ought to be purged, and all things so ordered as might be to the satisfying of the consciences of the weake. In executing whereof, so notable an example ought to be geuen to all men, that no man heereafter should be so bolde to attempt the like.
They gaue the same verdicte by common assent vponupon Phagius also.Andrew Perne Vice chauncellour, made factor for the Vniuersitye in the case of M. Bucer & Phagius M. Christophersons testimony of Perne. A Supplication putte vp to the Inquisitors by the Vniuersitye. Note this …ate of cō ueyance. Unto thys wryting they annexed an other by the which they lawfullye authorised Andrewe Perne the Uicechauncellour, to be the common factoure for the Uniuersitie. He was a man meerest for the purpose, bothe for the office that he bare, and also because that by the testimony of Chrystopherson hee was deemed to be the moste Catholicke of all others. This supplication confirmed by the consent of all the Degrees of the Uniuersitie, and signed with theyr common seale, the nexte daye, whiche was the 13. of Ianuarie, the Uicechauncelour putte vppe to the Commissioners. Note here good reader, what a feat conueiance this was, to suborne the Uniuersitie vnderunder a colourable pretence to desire this thinge of them by waye of peticion. As who should say, if they had not done so, the other would neuer hauehave gone about it of themselues.
But thys glose was soone found out. For the Cōmissioners had geuē the Uicechancellor instructions in wryting before. But peraduēture they thought by this means to remooue the enuie of this acte from themselues.
Thus the Uicechauncelour came vntounto the Commissioners according to appoyntment made the daye before, about seuen of the clocke in the morning. Hee hadde scarse declared the cause of his comming, but that he hadde not only obtained his sute,The Sentence of condemnation agaynst Martin Bucer▪ and Paulus Phagius, copied out by the Datarye. Grace asked in the congregatiō for the taking vp of Martin Bucer. but also euen at the very same time receiued the sentence of condemnation, for taking vppe Bucer and Phagius, faire copied out by Ormanet Datarie himselfe. This was to be confirmed by the consente of the degrees of the Uniuersitie. Whereuppon a solempne Conuocation called congregatio regentium & non regentium for the same purpose was appoynted to be at ix. of the clocke: where the graduates being assembled together, the demaunde was propounded concerning the condemnation of Bucer and Phagius, and the grace asked, whyche was thys: Pleaseth it you that M. Bucer for the heresyes nowe recited, and many other by hym wrytten, preached, and taughte, wherein he dyed without repentaunce, and was buried in Christen buriall, may be exhumate and taken vp againe. &c. After this grace eftsoones being graunted, then was the Sentence of condemnation drawen by the Datarie, openlye redde, and immediatelye an other grace asked, that the same myghte bee Signed wyth the Common Seale. The whyche request was verye lightlye and easilye obtayned. And it was no meruaile.
For nowe after the deathe of Kinge Edwarde, since the time that the gouernement of the Realme came to the hande of Queene Marye, all suche personnes being dryuen awaye as hadde reiected the Romishe Religion (in whom wel nie alone rested whatsoeuer wit and learning was in the whole Uniuersitie besides) such a sort of Raskals were put in their roumes, that all places now swarmed with vnlerned and vnnurtured chaplains. To whō nothyng was greater pleasure, then to cause all men to speake slander and reproch of Bucer. There were dyuers yet left among them, that spake agaynst their demaunds. But they (because, as it commonly commeth to passe, that might ouercommeth right) could nothing auaile. For this is a common custome in all such matters & ordināces, that looke what the greater number decreeth, is published in ye name of all: and that which the better part disallowed, semeth as though no man at all disallowed it.
…. 14.The next day beyng the 14. of Ianuary, all the Uisitors (onelyonly Christopherson elect of Chichester excepted) came to the Kings Colledge. Where first goyng into the Church, and there makyng their prayers at the gresings, they so proceeded into the stalles, there sitting all the masse tyme, the company standyng in their copes, and singing a solemne Respond in honour of the Uisitors. After the respond done, the Prouost in the best Cope made to them his protestation, vntounto whom the B. of Chester made aunswer also in Latine, declaryng that he could not perceyue to what purpose his protestation was, notwithstandyng they would accept it and beare with him. Then went they to Masse, which ended, the Catholike Uisitors approched vp to the aulter, & tooke downe the Sacrament, & searched the pixe, but first the two Bishops sensed the Sacrament.
Then they went to the reuestry, and opened the Chalices, corporas cases, and crismatory, and viewed all those thyngs. And so re…urnyng into the Prouosts chamber, deuided themselues in examination of the Prouost, Uiceprouost, and the rest of the company. The same day D. Bacon M. of Gonwell hall, bad the Uicechauncellor, D. Young, D. Haruy, Swineborne, Maptide with others home to dinner.… These men immediately after diner, caused the cō mon seale of the Uniuersitie to bee put to the foresayd instrument of condemnation, accordyng as was determined the day before by the generall consent of the Graduates of the Uniuersitie. And by and by after, they caried the same to the Commissioners to their lodgyng. The which when they had receiued,… forasmuch as after more diligent perusing thereof, it liked them not in all points, some thynges they rased out, some they enterlined, other some they changed: so that in fine, they were faine to take the payne to engrosse it new agayne.
To the signing wherof, a congregation was eftsoones called of all the Graduates of the Uniuersitie agaynst the next day,Ianuary. 15. which there beyng red ouer, a new grace againe was asked and granted for settyng to the seale. Thē were the Graduates dismissed, with commaundement to resort forthwith to S. Mary Church,… whether the Commissioners also repayred. When they had taken their places, D. Harny presented to them before all the company, a newe commission to make enquest vponupon heresie then newly sent from the Cardinall, which was red immediately by Uincent of Noally, Ormanets Clarke. This done, D. Perne (who as ye heard, was factor for the Uniuersitie, exhibited to the cōmissioners in the name of ye Uniuersitie ye sentence of the foresayd condemnation.… The copy and tenour whereof, hereafter (God willyng) shall follow. This cō demnation beyng openly red, then D. Perne aforesaid desired to send out processe to cite Bucer and Phagius to appeare, or any other that would take vponupon them to pleade their cause, & to stand to the order of the court agaynst the next Monday: to the intent that when they had exhibited themselues, the Courte might the better determine what ought to be done to them by order of law.
The commissioners condescended to hys request, and the next day processe went out to cite the offenders.… This citation Uincent of Noally their common Notarie, hauyng first red it ouer before certayne witnesses appointed for the same purpose, caused to bee fixed vp in places conuenient, to witte, vponupon S. Mary church doore, the doore of the common Schooles, and the crosse in the market steade of the same towne. In this was specified, that whosoeuer woulde maintayne Bucer and Phagius, or stande in defence of their doctrine, should at the xviij. day of the same monethmonth, stand foorth before the L. Commissioners, in S. Mary Church, which was appoynted the place of iudgement, and there eueryevery man should be sufficientlye heard what he could say. This Commaundement was set out with many wordes.
…. 17.Shortly after, the matter drewe toward Iudgement. Therefore the next day before the day limited, which was the xvij. of Ianuary,Witnesses sworne agaynst M. Bucer. the Uicechauncellor called to hym to Peterhouse (whereof he was M.) D. Young, D. Segiswike, & with them Bullocke, Taylor, Parker, and Redman, Whitlocke, Mitch, & certaine others. These men cast their heds togither how they might beare witnes against Bucer & Phagius, to conuince them of heresie. For seyng the matter was brought in face of open court, & because it might so come to passe, that some Patrones of their cause would come out, they thought it needfull to hauehave witnesses to depose of their doctrine. What came of this their cō sultation, it is not perfectly knowen.
The xviij. day the Uicechauncellor goyng to the Inquisitors sittyng at the Kyngs Colledge,Ianuary. 18. did put them in remembrance, that the same was the day in which by their processe sent forth the xvj. day before, they had commanded to appeare in S. Mary Church, such as would take vponupon them to defend Bucer and Phagius by the law. He desired therefore that they would vouchsafe to sitte there, if perchaunce any man would try the aduenture of the law. They lightly condescended thereunto. When the Uicechauncellor had brought them thether, hee exhibited vntounto them the processe of the Citation which he had receyued of them to publish a little before, saying, that he had diligently executed whatsoeuer the contents of the same required. After that they had taken their places, and that no mā put forth hymself to answer for the offenders, the Iudges called aside D. Yong, D. Segiswike, Bullock, Tailor, Maptide, Hunter, Parker, Redman, aboue mentioned.Other witnesses sworne agaynst Maister Bucer. Also Browne, Gogman, Rud, Iohnson, Mitch, Rauen and Carre, who had before written out the buriall of Bucer, with a singular commendation of hym, and sent it to Sir Iohn Cheeke Knight. These men takyng first their othe vponupon a booke, were commanded to beare witnes agaynst the heresies and doctrine of Bucer and Phagius. The 22. day of the same month was limited to this Iurie to bryng in their verdict.
In the meane while, Ormanet and Doctor Watson abode at home in their lodgyng to take the depositions of them whom we shewed you before to hauehave bene called to Peterhouse, & to hauehave communicated with the Uicechancellor as concernyng that matter, whose depositions (as I told you) neuer came to light. The B. of Chester and D. Cole this day visited them of Katherine Hall, where, as farre as could bee learned, nothyng was done worthy of rehersall.
As Ormanet the Popes Datary was sittyng at Trinitie Colledge,A Relicke giuen by Ormanet to Trinity Colledge. Iohn Dale one of the Queenes Colledge came to hym, whom he had commanded before to bryng with hym the pixe, wherein the Bish. of Romes God of bread is woont to be enclosed. For Ormanet told them he had a precious iewell: the same was a linnen cloute that the Pope had consecrated with his owne hands, which he promised to bestow vponupon them for a gift. But Dale misvnderstandyng Ormanet, in steade of the pixe brought a chalice and a singyng cake called the hoste, the whiche hee had wrapped vp and put in hys bosome. When hee was come, Ormanet demanded if he had brought him ye thyng he sent hym for. To whom he aunswered, he had brought it. Then geue it me (quoth he.) Dale pulled out the chalice and the singyng cake. When Ormanet sawe that,Ormanet in a pelting chafe with M. Dale. hee stepped somewhat backe as it had bene in a wonder, callyng hym blockhed, and little better then a mad man, demaundyng what he ment by those thyngs, saying: he willed hym to bryng none of that geare, and that he was vnworthy to enioy so high a benefite: yet notwithstandyng, forasmuch as hee had promised before to geue it them, hee would performe his promise. Whereupon with great reuerence & ceremony, he pulled out the linnen cloth & layd it in the chalice, and the bread with it, commandyng them both for the holynes of the thyng, & also for the author of it, to keepe it among them with such due reuerence as belonged to so holy a relique.
About the same tyme the Commissioners had geuen commandement to the maisters of the Colledges,A commaundement for bringing in of hereticall bookes. that eueryevery man should put in writyng what books he had, with the authors names. And to the intent that eueryevery mā shuld execute it without deceit, they tooke a corporal oth of them. This commandemēt some executed exactly and diligently other some, for as much as they deemed it wrongfull, executed it slacke enough.
We declared before that the xviij. day was limited for the day of iudgement. Whē the day came▪ and that neither Bucer nor Phagius would appeare at their call in ye court nor that any put forth hymself to defend them: yet the curteous Commissioner would not proceede to iudgement, which neuerthelesse,Graciously considered. for their con…umacy in absenting thē selues, they might hauehave done, consideryng how that daye was peremptory. But these men beyng bent altogether to equity and mercy, had rather shew some fauour, then to do the vttermost they might by the law. Whereupon Uincent published the second processe, and set it vp in the same places, as in maner before. The meanyng thereof varied not much from the first, but that it put of the iudgement day vntounto the 26. of the same month. Uppon the which day the Uicechauncellor was sent for to their lodgyng, with whome they agreed concernyng the order of publishing the sentence. And because there should want no solemnitie in the matter, they commaunded him further to warne the Maior of the Towne to be there at the day appointed with all hys Burgesses, which the Uicechauncellour dyd speed with all readinesse.
This day (as I sayd) was the 26. of Ianuary, which beyng now come,Ianuary. 26. first all degrees of the mother Uniuersitie were assembled. And to fil vp this Pageant, thither came also the Maior and hys townesmen, and all met together in S. Mary Church to behold what there shoulde be determined vponupon these men. After long attendaunce, at length the Commissioners came forth and went vppe to a scaffold that was somewhat higher then the residue, prepared for the same purpose.An high matter in a low house When they had takē their places, D. Perne the Uicechauncellor, the player of this Enterlude, fashionyng hys countenance with great grauitie, reached to them the processe that was lastly published, to cite thē, saying these wordes: I bring forth againe (quoth he) to you right reuerend father and Commissioners, of the most reuerend my L. Cardinall Poole (payntyng out the rest of his stile) this Citation executed according to the purport and effect of the same: omittyng nothyng for his part that might make to the commendation of this matter. When he had thus finished his tale, by and by the B. of Chester after he had a little viewed the people, beganne in maner as followeth.