Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 12 · Examination 5
¶The examination of Thomas Spurdance one of Queene Maries seruaunts, before the Chauncellour of Norwich.
THe Bishops Chauncellour did aske me if I had bene with the priest,The examination of Thomas Spurdance. and confessed my sinnes vntounto him. And I sayd no, I had confessed my sinnes to God, and God sayeth: In what hower so euer a sinner doth repent and be sory for his sinnes, and aske hym forgeuenes, willyng no more so to doe, he will no more recken his sinne vntounto him, and that is sufficient for me.
Then sayd the Chancellor: Thou deniest the Sacrament of penance.
I said, I deny not penance, but I deny that I shoulde shew my sinnes vntounto the priest.
Then sayd the Chancellor, that is a deniyng of the sacrament of penance.
Write this Article.
HaueHave you receiued the blessed sacrament of the aulter (sayd he) at this tyme of Easter?
And I sayd, no.
And why hauehave ye not, sayth he?
I said, I dare not meddle with you in it, as you vse it.
Why? do not we vse it truly, sayd he.
I sayde, no, for the holy supper of the Lord serueth for the Christen congregation, and you are none of Christes members, & therfore I dare not meddle with you, least I be like vntounto you.
Why, are wee none of Christes members sayde the Chancellor?
I sayd: because you teache lawes contrary to Gods lawe.
What lawes are those, sayd he?
I sayd, these 3. articles that you sweare the people vntounto here, be false and vntrue, and you do euill to sweare the people vntounto them.
Then sayd hee: Good people take no heede vntounto hys words: for he is an heretike & teacheth you disobedience: and so he would no more speake of that matter.
Then said he, how beleuest thou in the blessed Sacrament of the aultar? doest thou not beleeue that after it is consecrated, it is the very same body that was borne of the virgin Mary?
I sayd: no, not the same body in substance: for ye same body hath a substance in flesh, bloud and bones, and was a bloudy sacrifice, and this is a dry sacrifice.
And I sayd, is the Masse a sacrifice?
Unto which a D. answered that sate by him, it is a sacrifice both for the quicke and the dead.
Then sayd I, no, it is no sacrifice: for s. Paul saith, that Christ made one sacrifice once for all, and I doe beleeue in none other sacrifice, but only in that one sacrifice that our Lord Iesus Christ made once for all.
Then sayd the D. that sacrifice that Christ made, was a wet sacrifice, and the Masse is a dry sacrifice.
Then sayde I:Spurdance examined vponupon the Sacrament of the Aultar. that same drye sacrifice is a sacrifice of your own making, & it is your sacrifice, it is none of mine
Then sayd the Chancellor, he is an heretike, he denieth the sacrament of the aulter.
Then sayd I: will ye know how I beleeue in the holy supper of our Lord?
And he sayd, yea.
Then sayd I: I beleue that if I come rightly & worthily as God hath commaunded me, to the holy supper of the Lorde, I receiue him by fayth, by beleeuyng in hym. But the bread beyng receiued, is not God, nor the bread yt is yonder in the pixe is not God. God dwelleth not in tē ples made with hands, neither will be worshipped wyth the works of mens hands. And therfore you do very euill to cause the people to kneele down and worship the bread: for God did neuer bid you hold it vp aboue your heades, neither had the Apostles such vse.
Then sayd the Chauncellour: he denyeth the presence in the sacrament. Write this Article also. He is a very heretike.
Then sayd I: the seruant is not greater then his maister. For your predecessors killed my maister Christ, the Prophets and Apostles, and holy vertuous men, & nowe you also kil the seruants of Christ, so that al the righteous bloud that hat hath bene shed, euen from righteous Abell, vntill this day, shall be required at your hands.
Well, said the Chancellor, hauehave him away.