Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 12 · Account 52
¶The story and Martyrdome of three constant witnesses of Christ.
NOt long after the Martyrdome of the two good women at Colchester, aboue named,Nouember. 18. The story & Martyrdome of Iohn Hallingdale, William Sparrow, Richard Gibson. were three faythfull witnesses of the Lordes Testament, tormented and put to death in Smithfield at London, the 18. of Nouemb. in the yeare aforesayd, whose names hereafter follow.
Iohn Hallyngdale.
William Sparow.
Richard Gybson.
Which three were produced before Boner B. of London, the v. day of Nouem. 1557. and had by hym and his Officers certaine Articles ministred, the summe whereof hereafter followeth.
*Articles ministred by Boner vntounto Iohn Hallingdale.
FIrst, that the sayd Iohn Hallyngdale is of the Diocesse of London, and so subiect to the iurisdiction of the Bishop of London.Articles agaynst Iohn Hallingdale,
Secondly, that the sayd Iohn before the tyme of the raigne of K. Edward the 6 late K. of England, was of the same fayth and religion that was then obserued, beleeued, taught, & set forth in the realme of England.
Thirdly, that duryng the raigne of the sayd K. Edward the 6. the said Iohn Hallingdale, vppon occasion of the preachyng of certaine ministers in that tyme, did not abide in his former fayth and religion, but did depart from it, and so did and doth continue till this present day, and so determineth to do (as he sayeth) tyll his lyues ende.
Fourthly, that the sayd Iohn Hallyngdale hath thought, beleeued and spoken diuers tymes, that the sayth, religion, and ecclesiasticall seruice receiued, obserued & vsed now in this realme of England, is not good and laudable, but agaynst Gods commā dement and word, especially concernyng the Masse and the seuē Sacraments: and that he the sayd Iohn, wil not in any wyse conforme hymselfe to the same, but speake and thinke agaynst it duryng his naturall lyfe.
Fiftly, that the sayd Iohn absenteth himselfe continually frō his owne Parish church of S. Leonards, neyther hearing Mattins, Masse, nor Euensong, nor yet confessing his sinnes to the Priest, or receiuyng the Sacrament of the aultar at his hands, or in vsing other Ceremonies as they are nowe vsed in this Churche and realme of England: and as he remembreth, he neuer came but once in the parish church of S. Leonard, and careth not (as hee sayth) if he neuer come there any more, the seruice beyng as it is there, and so many abuses being there, as he saith there are, especially the Masse, Anno 1558. Nouem.the Sacraments, and the ceremonies and seruice set forth in Latine.
6. Sixtly, that the sayd Iohn, when his wife, called Alyce, was brought in bed of a man child, caused the said child to be christened in English, after the same maner and forme in all poyntes, as it was vsed in the time of the reigne of king Edward the 6. aforesayd, and caused it to be called Iosue, & would not hauehave the sayd child christened in Latin after the forme and maner as it is nowe vsed in the Church and Realme of Englande, nor will hauehave it by his will (as he sayth) to be confirmed by the Byshop.
Unto all whiche Articles the sayde Iohn Hallingdale made aunswere,His aunsweres to the articles. confessing them all, and eueryevery part of thē to be true, and saying that he would not reuoke hys sayde aunsweres, but stand vntounto them according as it was in eueryevery Article aboue written.
Furthermore, the sayde Iohn Hallingdale, being demaunded by the sayde Boner, whether he did firmely beleue that in the sacrament commonly called the sacrament of the aultar,The Reall presence denyed. there is really and truely the very body and bloud of our Sauiour Christ, or nor made answere that he neither in the time of the sayd king Edward 6. nor at that present did beleue, that in the sayd Sacrament there is really the very body and bloud of Christ. For he sayd that if he had so beleued, he would (as other had done) hauehave receiued the same, which he did not because he had and then did beleue that the very body of Christ is onelyonly in heauen, and no where els. And furthermore the sayd Ioh. Hallingdale sayd that Crāmer, Latimer, Ridley, Hooper, and generally all that of late hauehave bene burned for heretickes, were no heretickes at all, because they did preach truely the Gospell: vponupon whose preaching, he grounded his fayth & conscience, as he sayde, according to the saying of S. Iohn in the xviij. chap. of his Reuelation, where he sayth, that the bloud of the Prophets and of the Sayntes, and of all that were slayne vppon earth, was founde in the Babilonicall church by the which he said is vnderstād the church where the Pope is the head.
After which examination, the sayd Iohn was sent vntounto prison agayne.Iohn Hallingdale agayne brought before the Bishop. And the next day, being the vi. daye of the sayd monethmonth, he was called before the Bishop agayne, who perswading him with some wrested sentences of the Scripture, the sayd Iohn Hallingdale aunswered: Because I will not (sayth he) come to your Babilonical churche, therefore (speaking vntounto Boner) you goe about to condemne me. And being of Boner further demaunded, whether he woulde perseuer and stand in his opinions or no, he made aunswere that he would continue and persist in them vntounto the death.Sentence read against Iohn Hallingdale by Bishop Boner. Then Boner read the bloudy sentence of condemnation. At which time the sayd Iohn affirmed openly that (thanking God) he neuer came into the church since the abhomination came into it: and so he was sent to prison agayne.
Upon the same 6. day also, in the fornoone, was produced before the Byshop, the forenamed William Sparrow, and had layed vntounto him certayne Articles, which hereafter foloweth.
*Articles ministred by Boner vntounto William Sparrow.
Articles agaynst William Sparrow.FIrst, that thou William Sparrow wast in times past detected & presented lawfully vntounto thy Ordinary the Byshop of London, called Edmund, who also is now thine Ordinary of the sayd dioces: and thou wast presented and detected vntounto him for heresye, errors, and vnlawfull opinions, whiche thou diddest beleue, set forth, and holde.
2. Secondly, that thou before the sayd Ordinary didst openly & iudicially confesse the sayde heresies, errours, and vnlawfull opinions, as appeareth playnly in the actes of the court, had & made before thy sayd Ordinary.
3. Thirdly, that thou after the premises, didst make thy submission in writing, and diddest exhibite and deliuer the same as thy deed, to thy sayd Ordinarye: openly confessing and recognising thy heresies, errours, vnlawfull opinions, and thine offences & transgressions in that behalfe.
4. Fourthly, that thou after the premisses, diddest promise vntounto thy sayde Ordinary voluntarily and of thine owne minde, that alwayes after the sayd submission, thou wouldest in all poyntes conforme thy selfe vntounto the common order of the Catholicke Church obserued and kept here in this Realme of Englande, and in no wise fall agayne to heresies, errours, or vnlawfull opinions.
5. Fiftly, that thou since thy sayd submission, hast willingly fallen into certayne heresies and errours, and hast holden and sette forth diuers vnlawfull opinions, to the right great hurt of thyne owne soule, and also to the great hinderaunce and losse of diuers others, especially agaynst the Sacrament of the Aultar, agaynste confession auricular, with other the Sacramentes of the Catholicke Church.
6. Sixtly, that thou since the sayd submissiō, hast willingly gone about diuers places within the dioces of London, and soulde diuers hereticall, erroneous, and blasphemous ballets about, and wast apprehended and taken with the sayd ballets about thee, & commited to prison.
Unto all which Articles the sayd William Sparrowe aunswered in effect as hereafter foloweth.
TO the first, second, third, and fourth articles he answered affirmatiuely, as thus:His aunswere… to the articles. that he was presented & detected to Boner, vntounto whō he made his submission. &c. as in the articles.
To the fifth article, he aunswered, that if he had spoken agaynst thē, he had spokē but the truth: for they be nought, meaning the contentes of the sayd article.
To the sixte, he graunted to the article, adding that he did sell the sayd ballets then shewed and read before him, & that the same did conteine Gods word.
After which aunsweres the sayde William Sparrowe was sent vntounto prison. And the same day in the afternoone, being produced before the Bishop agayne, and there charged with his said Submission, made the yeare before vntounto the Byshop, he aunswered thus: I am sory (sayd he) that euer I made it, and it was the worst deed that euer I did, adding further vntounto them: Holde vp your abhomination so long as you can. Also being layd vntounto him, and charged by the Byshoppe that he went to Churche, and there was confessed and heard Masse, the sayde William Sparrow made answere and confessed, that he did so, but with a troubled conscience he sayde, God knoweth. And speaking further to the Byshoppe, he sayde: that which you call trueth, I doe beleue (sayd he) to be heresy. And also the Byshoppe charging him agayne with the contentes of the fifth article aboue named, he aunswered that he had so done, as is conteyned in the same article, and so will do agayne if he were at liberty. And being further demaunded of Boner, whether he woulde persist and continue in the same, or no: he made aunswere that he would not go from his opinions: and adding thereunto, he sayd: that which you call heresy (speaking to the Byshoppe) is good and Godly, and if eueryevery hayre of my head were a manne (sayd he) I would burne them all, rathe then to goe from the truth.
Then being demaunded what ground of learning hee had to cleaue to his opinions, he made aunswere and sayd, that all the lawes now vsed (meaning the Ecclesiasticall lawes) are nought and abhominable. And further, therevnto he sayd: that the Masse is nought and abhominable. &c. Which wordes being spoken,Sentence read agaynst William Sparrow. the Byshop immediately read the sentence of condemnation vponupon him, and so deliuered him to the secular power, by whome he was sent to prison agayne.
Richard Gibson Martyr.
WIth the other two aboue named, suffered also in the same fire, Richard Gibson,Richard Gibson, Martyr. who first was cast into the Counter in the Poultry (where he had bene prisoner by the space of two yeares for suretishippe in a matter of debt, & then stood vponupon his deliuerance) then vponupon suspition and euill will was accused to Boner, for that in the prison he was neuer confessed nor receiued at the Popishe aultar: by reason whereof he was called for, and susteined diuers & sundry conflictes and examinations in the cause of his fayth and religion. But first he semed to make a certeine submission which also he exhibited with the other 28. mentioned aboue pag. 1865. but because it seemed something to differ in wordes from the other, it appeareth not to be receiued: or whether it was receiued or no, it is not fully certayne. This is certayne, that although his submission was in the bishops Register recorded, yet he was not deliuered out from imprisonment till the daye of his burning. The Articles first obiected and ministred vntounto hym by the Bishop, were these.
Articles obiected and ministred to Richard Gibson by Boner Bishop of London.
FIrst, that the sayd Richard Gibson prisoner in the Counter in the Pultry in the dioces of Lōdō, Articles agaynst Richard Gibson.hath otherwise thē became a faythfull Christian man and a good subiecte of this Realme of England, behaued himselfe in wordes and deedes in diuers conditions and poyntes, contrarye to the order, Religion, and fayth of Christes Catholicke church, and contrary to the order of this Realme, to the pernicious and euill example of the inhabitauntes of the City of London, and the prisoners of the prison of the sayd Counter in the Poultry, and greatly to the hurt & dammage of his owne soule, offending especially in the Artiles followyng. By reason whereof the sayde Richard Gibson was, and is of the iurisdiction of the sayde Byshoppe of London, and subiect to the sayd iurisdiction, to make aunsweare to his offences and transgression vnderunder written, according to the order of the law.
2. Secondly, that the sayd Richard Gibson hath vnreuerentlye spoken agaynste the Pope, and Sea and Churche of Rome, and likewise agaynst the whole Church of this Realme of Englande, and agaynst the seuen Sacramentes of the Catholicke and whole Churche of Christendome and agaynst the Articles of the Christian fayth here obserued in this Realme of England, and agaynst the commendable and laudable Ceremonies of the Catholicke Church.
3. Thirdly, that the sayd Richard Gibson hath commended, allowed, defended, and liked, both Cranmer, Latimer, Ridley, and also all other heretickes here in this Realme of Englande, according to the Ecclesiasticall lawes condemned for heretickes, and also liked all their hereticall and erroneous, damnable, and wicked opinions, especially agaynst the Sacrament of the aultar, and the authority of the Pope and Sea of Rome, with the whole Religion therof.
4 Fourthly, that the sayd Richard Gibson hath cōforted, ayded, assisted and mainteined both by words and otherwise, hereticks and erroneous persons, or at the least suspected and infamed of heresies and errors condemned by the Catholicke Churche, to continue in their hereticall and erroneous opinions aforesayde, fauouring and counselling the same vntounto his power.
5. Fifthly, that the sayd Gibson hath affirmed and sayde that the Religion and Fayth commonly obserued, kepte, and vsed now here in this Realme of Englande, Queene Maries Religion disproued.is not good and laudable nor in any wise agreable vntounto Gods word and commaundement.
6. Sixtly, that the sayd Gibson hath affirmed that the English seruice, and the bookes commonly called the bookes of communion, or common prayer, here set forth in this Realme of Englande in the time of K Edwarde the sixt, The booke of English Seruice.were in all partes and poyntes good and godlye, and that the same onelyonly and no other ought to be obserued and kept in this Realme of England.
7. Seuenthly that the sayd Gibson hath affirmed, that if he may once be out of prison and at liberty, he will not come to any parish church, Mattens, Masse, Euensong refused.or ecclesiasticall place to heare Mattins Masse▪ Euē song, or any diuine seruice now vsed in this Realme of Englande, nor come to procession vponupon times and dayes accustomed, nor beare at any time any Taper or Candle, nor receiue at any tyme Ashes, nor beare at anye time Palme, nor receiue Pax at Masse time, nor receiue holy water, nor holy bread, nor obserue the ceremonies or vsages of the Catholicke Church, here obserued or kept commonly in this realme of England.
8. Eightly, that the said Gibson hath affirmed that he is not boūd at any time, though he hauehave liberty, and the presence of a Priest conuenient and meete, Auricular confession.to confesse his sinnes to the sayd Prieste, nor to receiue absolution of his sinnes, at his handes, nor to receiue of him the sacrament commonly called the Sacramente of the aultar, after such fo…me as is now vsed within this Realme of England.
9. Ninthly, that the sayd Gibson hath affirmed, that prayer vntounto Sayntes, Popishe fast and prayer.or prayers for the dead, are not laudable, auayleable, or profitable: and that no man is bound at any time, or in any place, to fast or pray, but onelyonly at his owne will and pleasure, and that it is not lawful to reserue or keepe the sayd sacrament of the aultar, nor in any wise to adore and worship it.
The greatest matter whiche hee was charged withall, was for not comming to Confession, being thereunto required, for not receiuing of the sacramentes of the Popysh making, and for that he would not sweare to answere vntounto theyr interrogatoryes layd agaynst him.
Notwithstanding after these his first examinations, he continued in the aforesayde Prison of the Counter a good space, from the monethmonth of May, vntounto Nouember: at what time he was agayne produced vntounto the finall examinatiō iudiciary.Richard Gibson a tall and bigge man. Where is to bee noted, that M. Gibson being a very big and talle man, of a personable and heroycall stature, was sent for of Boner by a little and short person, a promoter, like Robin Papiste, called Robin Caley, if it were not he himselfe.
This Robin Caley hauing the conducting of the sayde Gentleman from the Pultry, would needes hale him thorow Chepeside, the gentleman desiring him to turne some other waye.Intolerable bragging of a vile Promotour. But the more the Gentleman entreated, the more fierce was the sely iack vponupon him: and drawing and holding him by the arme, woold needes hale him through the high street, that the all world might see what he coulde do in his office. M. Gibsō desirous to be led without holding, willed and entreated him to let his arme loose: he would go quietly of his accord wt him whether he would, onelyonly crauing that he might go by him freely without noting of the people.
The saucy and impotent miser the Promoter hearing this, who was scarse able to reach vntounto his shoulders: nay (sayth he) thou shalt not escape me so, come on thy wayes. Thou shalt not choose but come: & so reaching at his arme, would needes drag him vntounto the Byshop. The Gentleman content to goe, yet loth to be notified in the streetes, gently requested agayne and agayne, that re…rayning hys hold, he would suffer him to goe of his owne free and volūtary will: he should not neede to feare him, for he would not start frō him. To whom the Caytiff, looking vp to his face: Come on thy way, sayth he, I wil hold thee fast, spite thy beard, and whether thou wilt or no.
Mayster Gibson seing and beholding the intollerable bragging of the wretched miser, and moued therwith not a little, could beare no longer, but sayd: Wilt thou sayd he? and addeth moreouer, bitterlye looking downe towardes hym, that if he dyd not incontinentlye plucke awaye hys hand (and so stayed withall) he would immediatly wring his necke from his body. Whereupon Robin Papist the Promoter, was fayne to plucke awaye his holde, and so proceeded they vntounto the Bishop, there to bee examined agayne before him.
After this,An other appearing of Richard Gibson. an other day being assigned him to appeare agayne, muche talke past betweene him and Darbyshyre, then Chauncellour. But in fine, being required to sweare that he should aunswere vntounto all they would demaund, he denyed to aunswere vntounto all thinges the Bishops should commaund hym as Ordinary: for he is not (sayeth he) mine Ordinary, and so bidde him goe tell the Byshoppe. Before the which Byshoppe he being then commaunded to appeare the Friday next following, was brought vntounto the Iustice Hall without Newgate, where he had the like conflictes with the foresayde Bishoppe and diuers other Iustices. At length he was assigned the Saterdaye folowing, to be present in the Bishops consistory Court, to heare his finall sentence. At whiche day and place, the sayd Examinate appearyng as he was commaunded, the Byshop after other matter of communication, asked hym if he knew any cause why the sentence should not be read agaynst hym. To whom the sayd Mayster Gibson aunswered, that the Bishoppe had nothing wherefor iustly to condemne him. The Bishops reason was agayne obiected to him, that men sayd he was an euil man. To whom Gibson replying agayne: yea, sayth he, and so may I saye of you also. To be short, after this and such other talke, the Bishop hasted vntounto the sentence. Which being read, Gibson yet agayne admonished to remember himselfe and to saue his soule, sayd,Sentence read agaynst Richard Gibson. that he would not heare the Byshops babling, and sayde moreouer, boldly protesting and affirming that he was contrarye and an enemye to them all in his mind and opinion, although he had afore time kepte it secret in minde for feare of the law. And speaking to the bishop: blessed, sayd he, am I that am cursed at your handes. We hauehave no…hing now, but thus will I. For as the bishop sayth, so must it be. And now heresy is to turne the trueth of Gods word into lyes, and that do you, meaning the bishop and his felowes.
Thus this valiaunt souldiour fighting for the Gospel and sincere doctrine of Gods trueth and religion, agaynst falsehood and errour, was committed with his felowes to the secular power.
And so these three godly men, Iohn Hallingdale, William Sparrow, and Maister Gibson,The Martyrdome of Iohn Hallingdale, William Sparrow, Richard Gibson. Anno. 1557. Nouember 18. being thus appointed to the slaughter, were the xij. day after theyr condemnation (which was the xviij. day of the sayde MonethMonth of Nouember) burnt in Smithfielde in London. And beyng brought thyther to the stake, after theyr prayer made, they were bound thereunto with cheines, and wood sette vntounto them, and after wood, fire, in the which being compassed about, and the fierye flames consuming theyr fleshe, at ye last they yelded gloriously and ioyfully theyr soules and lyues into the holy bandes of the Lord, to whose tuition and gouernement, I commend thee good Reader. Amen.
¶It is a litle aboue declared in this story of Richarde Gibson, how Boner ministred vntounto the layd Gibson certeyne Articles, to the nūber of nine. Now let vsus see lykewise the Articles which the sayde Gibson ministred agayne to Boner, according to the same number of nine for him to aunswere vntounto, as by the same here vnderunder written may appeare.
Anno 1558. March.¶Articles proponed by Richard Gibson vntounto Edmund Boner, Byshop of London, by him to be aunswered, be yea, or nay, or els to say he cannot tell
1. WHether the Scriptures of God, written by Moyses, & other holy Prophetes of God, through fayth that is in Christ Iesus,Gibsons questions or demaundes put to B. Boner. is auayleable doctrine to make all men in all thinges vntounto saluation learned without the helpe of anye other doctrine, or no.
2. What is authority and from whence it commeth, to whom it apperteineth, and to what end it tendeth.
3. Whether the holy word of God, as it is written, doth sufficiently teach all men, of what dignity, estate, or calling by office so euer he or they be, theyr full, true, and lawfull duety in theyr office: and whether eueryevery man of what dignity, estate, or calling by office so euer he or they be, are bound vponupon the payne of eternall damnation in all thinges to do as they are hereby taught & commaunded, and in no wise to leaue vndone any thing that is to be done, being taught and commaunded by the same.
4 Whether any man, the Lorde Iesu Christ God and man onelyonly except, by the holye ordinaunce of God euer was, is, or shall be Lord ouer fayth, and by what lawfull authority any man, of what dignity, estate, or calling by office soeuer he or they be, may vse Lordship or power ouer any man for fayth sake or for the secrecy of his conscience.
5. By what lawfull authority or power any man, of what dignity, estate, or calling so euer he or they be, may be so bolde as to alter or chaunge the holy ordinaunces of God, or any of them, or any part of them.
6. By what euident tokens Antichrist in his Ministers may bee knowne, seing it is written that Sathan can chaunge himselfe in to the similitude of an Aungell of light, and his ministers fashion themselues as though they were the Ministers of righteousnesse, and how it may be knowne to him that is desirous thereof, when he is one of that number or in the daunger thereof, or when he is otherwise.
7. What the beast is, the which maketh warre with the Sayntes of God, and doth not onelyonly kill them, but also will suffer none to buy nor sell, but such as worship his Image, or receiue his marke in theyr right handes, or in theyr foreheades, his name or the number of his name, or do worship his Image, which hy the iuste and terrible sentence of God already decreed, shalbe punished in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the lambe: and they shall hauehave no rest day nor night, but the smoake of their torment shall ascend vp for euermore: Also what the gorgious & glittering whore is, the which sitteth vponupon the beast with a Cup of gold in her hand, full of abhominations, with whom the kings of the earth hauehave committed fornication, and the inhabitours of the earth and she her selfe also is dronken with the bloud of Sainctes, which is the wine of her fornication, whose flesh the hornes of the beast shall teare in pieces, and burne her with fire. For god hath put in their hartes to do his will.
8. Whether a king ouer all those people whiche are borne and inhabite within his owne dominions, regions, and countryes, or any part of them, of what dignity, estate, or calling by office soeuer they be, here vponupon this earth immediately vnderunder Christ, by the holy ordinaunce of God, is lawfull, supreame, and chiefe Gouernor or no: And whether a king ouer all those people within his dominions, regions and countryes, and eueryevery part of them, by holy ordinaunce of God, lawfully may, and ought not otherwise to doe, nor suffer otherwise to be done, then in his owne name, power, and authority (the name of God onelyonly except) as lawfull, supreame and chiefe heade in all thinges that belongeth to rule (without exception) to gouerne and rule: And whether all those people of what dignity, estate, or calling soeuer they be, are boūd by the holy ordinaunce of God, to owe theyr whole obedience and seruice in all thinges without exception (theyr duety to god onelyonly excepted) to their king onelyonly, as to theyr supreame and chiefe Gouernour vponupon earth immediately vnderunder Christ: And whether a king without offence agaynst GOD and his people, maye geue away, and not himselfe vse that his authoritye and power geuen him of God, or lawfully may without offence to God and his people (after knowledge thereof hadde) suffer himselfe by fraud or guile, or by any other vnlawfull meane, to be beguiled, defrauded, and spoyled thereof, and whether any subiect, of what dignity, estate, or calling soeuer he or they be, without offence to God and to his kinge, to the minishing or derogating of the supreme prerogatiue roial of his king or of any part therof, may do ought, or after knowledge therof, had without offence to God & to his king, may conceale the same.
9. Whether the holy written law of God be geuen of God vntounto all men, of what dignity, estate, or calling by office soeuer they be,He meaneth the Canon law. aswell thereby to gouerne all theyr Dominions, Regions, and Countryes, and theyr people therin inhabiting, as themselues: and whether any law or lawes (the holy law of God onelyonly excepted) not being made within any Dominion, Region, or Country whereas it or they be vsed, may be lawfully vsed before it or they be, as the lawfull law or lawes of the same Dominion, Region o… Countrey, by publicke and common order of the same Dominion, Region, or Countrey lawfully allowed: and whether any subiect without offence agaynst God and his king, within the Dominion of his king, may lawfully vse any such lawe or lawes not so allowed.
Emanuell,
¶Ascribe vntounto the Lord, O ye mighty, ascribe vntounto the Lord, worship and strength: geue the Lord the honor of his name,Psal. 39. and bow your selues to the holy maiesty of the Lord.
I will harken what the Lord God will say:Psalme. 8…. for he shall speake peace vntounto his people, that they turne not themselues vntounto foolishnes. This 6. of Aprill. 1557.
By me Richard Gibson.