Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 12 · Account 85

Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2 · Book 12 · Account 85

p. 2058¶A chapter or treatise concerning such as were scourged and whipped by the Papistes in the true cause of Christes Gospel

…ANd thus through the mercifull assistaunce and fauourable ayd of Christ our Sauiour, thou hast as in a generall Register (good Reader) the story collected, if not of all, yet of the most part, or at least, not many I trust omitted of such good Sayntes and Martyrs as hauehave lost theyr lyues, and geuen theyr bloud, or dyed in prison for the testimony of Christes true doctrine and sacramentes,… from the time of the cruell Statute first geuen out by king Hē ry the 4. Ex officio, pag. 523. vntounto this present tyme, & especially vnderunder the raygne of Queene Mary.

Now after this bloudy slaughter of GODS good sayntes and seruau…tes thus ended and discoursed, let vsus proceede (by the good pleasure of the Lord) somewhat like wise to entreate of such as for the same cause of Religyon hauehave bene, although not put to death, yet whipped and scourged by the aduersaryes of Gods worde, first begynning with Richard Wilmot and Thomas Farefaxe, who about the tyme of Anne Aschue, wer pittifully rent & tormented with scourges and stripes for theyr faythfull standing to christ, and to hys truth, as by the story and examination both of the sayde Rich. Wilmot, and of Thomas Farefaxe nowe following, may appeare.

The scourging of Richard Wilmot, and Thomas Fayrefaxe.

AFter the first recantation of Doct. Crome for his Sermon which he made the fift Sonday in Lent at Saint Thomas Acons, being the mercers Chappell,The scourging of Richard Wilmot and Tho. Fayrefaxe. his Sermon was on the Epistle of the same day, written in the x. chap. to y^e Hebrues, wherein he proued very learnedly by the same place of Scripture and others, that Christ was y^e onelyonly and sufficient Sacrifice vntounto God the Father,D. Crome… Sermon. for the sinnes of the whole world, and that there was no more sacrifice to be offered for sinne by the Priestes, for as muche as Christ had offered his body on the Crosse, and shed his bloud for the sinnes of the people, & that once for all. For y^e which Sermon he was apprehended of Boner & brought before Stephen Gardyner & other of the Counsell, where he promised to recant his Doctrine at Paules Crosse, y^e second Sonday after Easter. And accordingly, he was there & Preached, Boner w^t all his Doctours sitting before him but he so Preached and handled his matter,D Cromes recantation. that he rather verified his former saying, then denyed any parte of that which he before had Preached. For the whiche the Protestantes praysed God, and hartely reioysed.

But Byshop Boner with his Champions, were not therewith pleased, but yet notwithstanding they had hym home w^t them, & so handled him amongest the woluish generation. that they made him come to the Crosse agayne y^e next Sonday.

And because the Magistrates shoulde now heare him, & be witnesses of this recantation which was moste blasphemous,D. Crome caused to recant the second tyme. to deny Christes sacrifice to be sufficient for penitent sinners, & to say that the sacrifice of the Masse was good godly, and a holy sacrifice, propitiatorye and auayleable both for the quicke and the deade: Because (I saye) that they would hauehave y^e nobles to heare this blasphemous doctrine, the viperous generation procured all the chiefe of the Counsell to be there present.

Nowe to come to our matter at this tyme, the same weeke, betweene his first Sermon and the last,Richard Wilmot Prentise in Bow lane. and while Doct. Crome was in duraunce, one Rich. Wilmot being Prentise in Bow lane, being of y^e age of eighteene yeares, and sytting at his worke in his Maysters shop the Tuesday, in y^e monethmonth of Iuly, One Lewes a Welchmā, being one of the Garde, came into the shoppe, hauing things to doe for himselfe.

One asked him what newes at the Court, and he answered that the old hereticke D. Crome had recanted now in deede, before the Counsell,Lewes one of the Garde, a Welchman a Popishe persecutour. and that he should on Sonday nexte bee at Paules Crosse agayne and there declare it.

Then Wilmot sitting at his Maysters worke, & hearing hym speake these wordes and reioysing in the same began to speake vntounto hym,Wilmot defendeth D. Crome… Sermon. saying y^t he was sory to heare these newes. For (sayd he) if Crome should say otherwise then he hath sayd, then is it contrary to the truth of Gods worde, and contrary to his owne conscience, which shall before God accuse hym.

Lewes

aunswered and sayd that he had Preached & taught heresy, and therefore it was meete that he should in such a place reuoke it.

Wilmot

tolde him that he would not so say, neyther did he heare hym Preach any doctrine contrary to Gods worde written, but that he proued his doctrine, and that sufficiently by the Scriptures.

Lewes

then asked him how he knew that.

Wilmot

Aunswered by the Scripture of God, wherein he shall find GODS will and pleasure, what he willeth all men to do and what not to do: and also by them he should prooue and trye all doctrines, and the false doctrine from the true.

Lewes

sayde: it was neuer mery since the Bible was in Englishe: and that he was doth an hereticke and a traitour that caused it to be translated into Englishe (meaning Cromwell) and therefore was rewarded according to his desertes.The Lord Cromwell wrongfully accused.

Wilmot

aunswered agayne: what his desertes and offences were to his Prince, a great many do not knowe, neyneyther doth it force whether they do or no: once he was sure that he lost his lyfe for offending his Prince, and the law did put it in execution: Adding moreouer concerning that man, that he thought it pleased GOD to rayse hym vp from a low estate, and to place him in hyghe authority, partly vntounto this, that he should do that as all the Bishops in the Realme yet neuer dyd, in restoring agayne Gods holy worde, which being hyd long before from the people in a straunge tongue, & now comming abroad amongest vsus, will bring our Byshops & Priestes, sayde he,The doinges of the Lord Cromwell defended. in lesse p. 2059estimation among the people.

Lewes

asked why so?

Wilmot

sayde: because their doctrine and liuing was not according to his word.

The common reason of the Papistes, why the Scriptures s…ould not be in Englishe.Then sayde Lewes: I neuer heard but that all men shoulde learne of the Byshops and Priests, because they are learned men, and hauehave bene brought vp in learning all the dayes of their liues. Wherefore they must needes know the truth, and our fathers did beleue their doctrine and learning, and I thinke they did well: for the worlde was farre better then, then it is now.

Wilmot aunswered: I will not say so: For wee muste not beleue them beause they are Bishops, neyther because they are learned, neither because our forefathers did follow theyr doctrine. For I hauehave read in Gods booke how that Byshoqpes and learned men hauehave taught the people false doctrine, and likewise the Priestes from time to time and in deede those people our forefathers beleued as they taught: and as they did thinke, so did the people thinke. But for al this,Gods truth goeth not alwayes by tytle & fame of great learning. Christ calleth thē false Prophetes, theeues and murtherers, blinde leaders of the blinde, willing the people to take heede of them, least they should both fal into the ditche.

Moreouer, we read that the Byshoppes, Priests, and learned men hauehave bene commonly resisters of the trueth, from time to time, and hauehave alwayes persecuted the Prophetes in the old lawe, as theyr successours did persecute our Sauiour Christ and hys Disciples in the newe lawe.Learned men how farre they are to be credited. We must take heed therefore, that we credite them no further then God will hauehave vsus, neyther to followe them nor our forefathers, otherwise then he commaundeth vsus. For almighty God hath geuen to all people, as well to kings and Princes, as Byshoppes, Priests, learned and vnlearned men, a commaundement and law, vntounto the which he willeth all men to be obedient. Therfore if any Bishop or Prieste, preache or teache, or Prince or Magistrate commaunde any thing contrary to his commaundement, we must take heede how we obey them. For it is better for vsus to obey God then man.

Mary sir, quoth Lewes, you are a holy Doctoure in deede. By Gods bloud if you were my man, I woulde set you about your busines a little better, and not to look vponupon bookes: and so woulde your Mayster if hee were wise. And with that in came his mayster and young man wyth hym, which was seruaunt with M. Daubny in Watling streete.

His mayster asked what the matter was.

Lewes sayd that he had a knauish boy here to his seruaunt,Wilmot complayned of to his Mayster. and how that if he were his, he would rather hang him, then keepe him in his house.

Then his Mayster, being somewhat moued, asked his fellowes what the matter was.

They sayde: they began to talke about Doct. Crome.

Then hys Mayster asked hym what hee hadde sayde, swearyng a great othe, that he would make hym to tell hym.

He sayd that he trusted he had sayd nothing, whereby either he or M. Lewes may iustly be offended. I pray you (quoth Wilmot) aske him what I sayd.

Mary sir (sayd Lewes) thys he sayd, that Doct. Crome did preach and teach nothing but the truth, and howe that if he recant on Sonday next, he would be sory to heare it, & that if he do, he is made to doe it agaynst his conscience. And more he sayth, that we must not follow our Bishops doctrine and preaching: For sayth he, they be hinderers of Gods word, and persecutors of that: and how Cromwell dyd more good (that traytour) in setting foorth the Bible, then all our Byshops hauehave done these hundreth yeares: thus reporting the matter worse then he had sayd.

Then sayde Wilmot, that in many thinges hee made his tale worse then it was. His Maister hearyng of thys was in a great fury, and rated him, saying: that eyther he would be hanged or burned, swearing that he would take away all his bookes and burne them.

M. Daubnies seruaunt, called Thomas Fayrefaxe, taketh Wilmots part. Wilmot and Thomas Fayrefaxe sent for to the Lord Mayor.The younge man (Mayster Dawbnies seruant) standing by, hearing this, beganne to speake on his part vntounto Lewes: and his talke confirmed all the sayinges of other to be true.

This young man was learned: his name was Tho. Fayrefaxe. Lewes hearing this young mans talk, as wel as the others, went his way in a rage vntounto the Court.

On the morowe they heard newes, so that the sayde Wilmot and Tho. Fayrefaxe were sent for, to come to the Lord Maior. The messenger was M. Smart, Swordbearer of London. They came before dinner to y^e Mayors house, and were commaunded to sit downe at dinner in y^e Hall, and when the dinner was done they were both called into a Parlour, where the Mayor and Syr Roger Cholmley was, who examined them seuerally,Rich. Wilmot and Thomas Fayrefaxe examined before the Lord Mayor and M. Cholmley. y^t one not hearing the other.

The effect of their talke with them was this, Syr Roger Cholmley sayd vntounto the foresayd Wilmot, y^t my Lorde Mayor and hee had receiued a commaundement from the Counsell, to send for hym and his companion, and to examine them of certayne thinges, which were layde vntounto theyr charge.

Then sayd Mayster Cholmley to hym: Syrra, what Countreyman art thou? He aunswered that he was born in Cambridgeshyre, and in such a towne. Then he asked him how long he had bene in the City. He told him.

Then he asked what learning he had. He sayde: little learning, and small knowledge. Then (deridingly) he asked how long he had knowne Doct. Crome, he sayd: but a while about two yeares. He sayd that he was a lying boy, and said that he the sayd Wilmot was his sonne.

The other sayd vntounto hym, that was vnlike, for that he neuer see his mother nor she him, Cholmley sayd he lyed, Wilmot sayd hee coulde prooue it to be true. Then hee asked him how he liked his sermon that he made at S. Thomas of Acres Chappel in Lent. He sayde that in deede hee heard him not. He sayd yes, and the other nay. Then says he, what say you to his sermon made at the Crosse the …ast day, heard you not that?

Wilmot.

Yes, and in that sermon he deceaued a great nū ber of people.

Cholmley.

How so?

Wilmot.

For that they looked that he shoulde hauehave recanted his doctrine that he taught before, and did not, but rather confirmed it.

Cholmley.

Yea Syr, but how say you now to him? for hee hath recanted before the counsell: and hathe promised on Sonday next to be at the crosse agayne, how thinke ye in that?

Wilmot.

If hee so did, I am the more sory for to heare it: and sayd he thought he did it for feare and safegard of hys lyfe.

Cholmley.

But what say you? was hys first sermon heresie or not?

Wilmot.

No, I suppose it was no heresie. For if it were S. Paules Epistle to the Hebrewes was heresie,S. Paules doctrine made heresie with the Papistes. & Paule an hereticke that preached such doctrine, but God forbyd that any Christian man should so thinke of the holy Apostle: neyther do I so thinke.

Cholmley.

Why how knowest thou that saynct Paul wrot those thinges that are in English now, to be true, wheras Paule neuer wrot english nor latine?

Wilmot.

I am certified that learned men of God, that dyd seeke to aduaunce hys word, did translate the same out of the Grecke and Hebrue, into Latine and english, and that they durst not to presume to altar the sense of the scripture of God, and last will and testament of Christ Iesus.

Then the Lorde Mayor being in a great furye, asked hym what he had to do to read such bookes, and sayd that it was pitty that his mayster did suffer him so to doe, and that he was not set better to worke: and in fyne sayd vntounto him: that he had spoken euill of my Lord of Winchester & Boner, those reuerend & learned fathers & coūcellours of this Realme, for the which his fact he saw no other but he must suffer, as due to the same. And M. Cholmley sayd: yea my Lord, there are such a sort of heretickes & trayterly knaues taken now in Essex by my Lord Rich, that it is to wonderfull to heare. They shall be sent to the Byshoppe shortly, and shall be hanged and burned all.

Wilmot.

I am sory to heare that of my Lord Rich, for that he was my godfather, and gaue me my name at my Baptisme.

Cholmley

asked him when he spake with him.

He sayd not these xii. yeares.

Cholmley.

If he knew that he were such a one, he woulde do y^e like by him, and in so doyng he should do God great seruice.

Wilmot.

I hauehave read the same saying in the Gospell, that Christ sayd to his Disciples: The tyme shal come (sayth he) that whosoeuer killeth you, shall think that he shal do God hygh seruice.

Well sir, sayd Cholmley, because yee are so full of youre Scripture, and so well learned, wee consider you lacke a quyet place to study in. Therefore you shall go to a place where you shall be most quiet, and I would wish you to study how you will answere to the Counsell of those thinges which they hauehave to charge you w^t, for els it is like to cost you your best ioynt. I know my lord of Win. wil hā dle you wel enough whē he heareth thus much. Thē was the Officer called in, to hauehave him to the Counter in the Poultrye, and the other to the other Counter,Wilmot & Fayrefaxe committed to prison not one of them to see an other: and thus remayned they viii. dayes p. 2060In the which time their Maisters made a great labor vntounto the Lord Mayor, and to sir Roger Cholmley, to know their offences, and that they might be deliuered.

Sute made b… the company of Drapers for Richard Wilmot and Thomas Fayrefaxe.At length they procured the Wardens of the company of Drapers to labour with them in theyr sute to the Mayor. The Mayor went with them to the Counsell: but at that time they could finde no grace at Winchesters hand & Sir Anthonie Brownes, but that they had deserued death and that they should hauehave the law.

At length through entreataunce, he graunted thē thus much fauour, that they should not dye as they had deserued, but should be tyed to a cartes tayle, and be whipped three market dayes through the Cittye. Thus they came home that day, and went an other day, and the Mayor & the Wardens of the company kneeled before them to hauehave this open punishment released, for asmuche as they were seruauntes of so worshipfull a companye, and that they might be punished in theyr own hall before the Wardens and certayne of the companye. At length it was graunted with condition, as some said as shalbe hereafter declared.

Then were they sent before the Maysters the next day to the hall, both theyr maysters being also present, & there were layd to theyr charges, the heynous offences by them committed,M. Brooke Ma…ster of t…e compa… of Drapers. how they were both heretickes and traytors, and hauehave deserued death for the same, and this was declared w^t a long processe by the Mayster of y^e company, whose name was M. Brooke, declaring what great labour and sute y^e Mayor & the Wardens had made for thē, to saue thē frō death, which they (as he said) had deserued, & from opē shame, which they shoulde hauehave had, being iudged by the Counsell to hauehave bene whipped iii. dayes through the city at a cartes tayle, and from these two daungers had they laboured to deliuer them, but not without great sute and also charge. For, saith he, the company hath promised vntounto the Counsaile for this their mercy and fauour shewed towardes them, being of such a worshipfull company, a C. poundes, notwithstanding we must see them punished in our Hall within our selues for those theyr offences. After these and many other wordes, hee commaunded them to addresse themselues to receiue their punishment.

Then were they put asunder, and stripped from the wast vpward one after an other,…ch. Wil…t and …mas …refaxe …urged in Drapers …. and had into the hal, and in the middest of the hall, where they vse to make theyr fire there was a great ring of Iron, to the whiche there was a rope tyed fast, and one of theyr feete thereto fast tyed.

Then came two men down, disguised in Mommers apparell, with visors on theyr faces, and they beate them with great rods vntill y^e bloud did follow in their bodies. As concerning this Wilmot, he could not lye in his bead 6. nightes after, for Brooke played the tyraunt with them. So it was, that with the beating and the flight, and feare they were neuer in health since,… as the sayd Wilmot with hys owne mouth hath credibly ascertayned vsus, and we cā no lesse but testifie the same.

Thus hauehave we briefly rehearsed this little tragedye, wherein ye may note the malice of the enemies at al times to those which professe Christ, and take hys parte, of what estate or degree so euer they bee, according to the Apostles saying, It is geuen vntounto you not onelyonly to beleue, but also to suffer with him. To whome be honor and glory. Amen.

Next after these two aboue specified, followeth y^e beating of one Thomas Greene, who in the time of Queene Mary, was caused likewise to be scourged and beaten by Doctor Story. What the cause was, here followeth in story and examination to be seene, whiche hee penned wyth his owne hand, as the thing it selfe will declare to the reader. The copy and wordes of the same as he wrote them, here follow. Wherein as thou mayst note (gentle reader) the simplicitie of the one, so I pray thee, marke the cruelty of the other part.

The scourging of Thomas Greene.

IN the reygne of Queene Mary, I Thomas Greene being brought before D. Story,The scour… of …mas Gr…ene. The Master promoteth the ser…nt. by my M. whose name is Iohn Wayland a Printer, for a booke called Antichrist, the whiche had bene distributed to certayne honest menne he asked me where I had the booke, and sayde I was a traytour. I told him I had y^e booke of a Frenchman. Thē he asked me more questions, but I told him I would tell hym no more, nor could not. Then he sayd: it was no heresie but treason, and that I should be hanged, drawne, & quartered, and so he called for Cluny the keeper of y^e Lollardes tower, and bad him set me fast in the stockes.

Thomas Greene put in the stockes.I was not in the Lollardes tower two houres, but Clauy came and tooke me out, and caryed me to y^e Colehouse, and there I found a frenchman lying in the stocks, and he tooke him out, and put on my right legge a bolte & a fetter, & on my left hand an other, and so hee set me crosse fettered in the stockes, and tooke the Frenchman away w^t him, and there I lay a day and a night. On the morow after, he came and sayd: let vsus shift your hand and legge, because you shall not be lame: and he made as though he pitied me, and sayde, tell me the trueth, and I will be youre frend.

And I sayd, I had tolde the truth and would tell no other. Then he put no more but my legge in the stockes, & so went his way, and there I remayned 6. dayes, & could come to no answere.

Then Doctor Story sent for me, and asked whether I would tel him I truth, where I had the booke.Thomas Greene examined before Doctour Story. I sayd I had told him, of a frenchmā, he asked me wher I came acquainted w^t the Frenchman, & where he dwelt &, where he deliuered me the booke. I sayde, I came acquaynted w^t him in Newgate, I comming to my friendes which wer put in for Gods worde and truthes sake, and the Frenchman comming to his friendes also: there we did talke together and became acquaynted one with an other, and dyd eate and drinke together there with our friends in y^e feare of God.

Then Story scoffed at me and sayde: then there was brother in Christ, and brother in Christ,D. Story scoffe… at Christes seruauntes. and reuiled me & called me an hereticke, and asked me if I had the booke of him in Newgate. I sayd no, and I tolde him, as I went on my businesse in the streete I met him, and he asked me how I did, and I him also: so falling in communicatiō he shewed me that booke, and I desired him that hee woulde let me hauehave it.

In this examination Story sayd, it was a great booke and asked me whether I bought it, or had it geuen me. I tolde him I bought it. Then sayd he, I was a theefe, and had stollen my maysters money. And I sayd, a little mony serued, for I gaue hym but foure pence, but I promised him at our nexte meeting, I woulde geue twelue pence more. And he sayd: that was boldly done, for such a booke as spake both treason and heresie.

Then Story required me to bring him two sureties, & watche for him that I had the booke of, and I shuld hauehave no harme. I made him aunswere, I would bring no sureties, nor I could not tell where to finde them. Then said he: this is but a lye, and so called for Cluny, and bad hym lay me fast in the Colehouse, saying, he would make me tel an other tale at my next cōming: and so I lay in y^e stockes day and night, but onelyonly when I eate my meate, & there remayned x. dayes before I was called for agayne.

Then Doctor Story sent for me agayne, and asked if I would yet tell him the truth. I sayd,An other examination of Tho. Greene before D. Story. I could tell him no other truth then I had, nor would. And while I was ther standing, there were two brought, whiche I tooke to bee prisoners.

Then mistres Story fell in a rage, and sware a great othe,Mistres Story sheweth her charitable hart. that it were a good deede to put a hundred or two of these hereticke knaues in a house, & I my selfe (sayth she) would set it on fire. So I was cōmitted to prison agayn, where I remayned 14. dayes and came to no aunswere.

Then Story sent for me againe, and called me into the gardē, and there I found with him my Lord of Windsors Chaplayne, and two Gentlemen more,Greene agayne examined before Doctour Story. and he told them all what they had sayd and done. They sayd, the book was a wonderous euill booke, and had both treason and heresie in it. Then they asked me what I said by the book. And I sayd: I know no euill by it.

At which wordes Story chafed, and sayd hee woulde hang me vp by the hands w^t a rope, and said also he would cut out my tonge, & mine eares also frō mine head. After this they alledged two or three thinges vntounto me out of the book. And I aunswered, I had not read the book through out, and therfore I could geue no iudgement of the book.

Then my Lord of Windsores chaplayne and the other two Gentlemen tooke me aside, and entreated me verye gently, saying: tell vsus where you had the booke, and of whō: wde will saue you harmelesse. I made them aunswere, I had told all that I could to Doct. Story, & began to tell it thē agayn: but they sayd, they knew y^t already: so they left that talke and went agayne to Story with me.

Then Story burdened me with my fayth▪ and sayd I was an hereticke.Greene xamined of his belief. Whereupon the Chaplayne asked me how I did beleue. Then I began to rehearse the articles of my beliefe, but he bad me let that alone. Then hee asked me how I beleued in Christe. I made him aunswere that I beleued in Christ which dyed and rose agayne the thyrd day, and sitteth on the right hand of God the father.

Whereupon Story asked me mockingly, what is the right hand of God? I made him aunswere,D. Stories blasphemous scoffing in matter… of our fayth. I thought it was his glory. Then sayd he, so they say all. And he asked me whē he would …e wery of sitting there. Then inferred p. 2061my Lord of Windsors Chaplayne, asking me what I said by the masse. I sayd: I neuer knew what it was, nor what it ment, for I vnderstoode it not, because I neuer learned any Latin, and since the time that I had any knowledge, I had bene brought vp in nothing but in reading of English, and with such men as hauehave taught y^e same: with many moe questions, which I cannot rehearse.

Moreouer, he asked me if there were not the very body of Christ,The Masse. flesh, bloud and bone in the Masse, after the Priest had consecrated it. And I made him aunswere: as for the Masse I cannot vnderstand it, but in the new Testament I read, that as the Apostles stoode looking after the Lord when he ascended vp into heauen, an Angel sayd to them: Euen as you see him ascend vp, so shal he come agayne. And I told them an other sentēce: where Christ saith: The poore shall you hauehave alwayes with you, but me shall you not hauehave alwayes.

Then M. Chaplaine put to me many questions more to the which I could make hym no aunswere. Among all other, he brought Chrisostome and S. Hierome for hys purpose. To whome I aunswered, that I neyther mynded nor was able to answere their Doctors, neither knew whether they alledged them right, or no: but to that whiche is written in the new Testament I would aunswere. Here they laughed me to scorne and called me foole, & sayd they would reason no more with me.

Then Doctor Storye called for Cluny, and bad hym take me away,Greene sent agayne to the Colehouse. and set me fast, and let no man speak with me. So was I sent to the Colehouse: where I hadde not ben a week, but there came in xiiii. prisoners: but I was kept still alone without company, in a prison called the Salthouse, hauing vponupon my legge a bolt and a fetter, and my handes manacled together with yrons,The strayte handling of Greene in prison. and there continued x. dayes, hauing nothing to lye on, but bare stones or a boorde.

On a time whiles I lay there in prison, the Byshop of London comming downe a payre of stayres on the backside vntrust, in his hose and doublet, looked in at y^e grate, and asked wherfore I was put in, and who put me in.

I made him aunswere, y^t I was put in for a booke called Antichrist,Talke betweene Thomas Greene and B. Boner. by Doctor Story And he sayde: you are not ashamed to declare wherefore you were put in, and said it was a very wicked booke, and bad me confesse the truth to Story. I sayd, I had told the truth to him already, & desired him to be good vntounto me, and helpe me out of prison, for they had kept me there long. And he sayd, he could not medle with it: Story hath begon it: and he must end it.

Two prisoners brought to B. Boners Salthouse.Then I was remoued out of the Salthouse to geue place to two women, and caryed to the Lollardes Tower and put in the stockes: and there I founde two prisoners, one called Lyon, a Frenchman, and an other with hym: and so I was kept in the stockes more then a month both day and night, and no man to come to me, or to speake w^t me, but onelyonly my keeper which brought me meate.

Thus we three being together, Lyon the Frenchman song a Psalme in the Frenche tongue, and wee sang with him, so y^t we were heard down into the street, and the keeper comming vp in a greate rage,Cruelty shewed vponupon prisoners for singing Psalmes. sware that he would put vsus all in the stockes, and so tooke the Frenchman and commaunded him to kneel downe vppon his knees, and put both his handes in the flockes, where hee remayned all that night till the next day

After this I beyng in the Lollardes Tower 7. dayes, at my last being with Story hee sware a great othe that he would racke me,Thomas Greene brought before D. Storye and the Commissioners. and make me tell the truth. Thē Story sending for me, commaunded me for to bee brought to Walbroke, wher he & the Cōmissioners dyned: and by the way my keeper told me y^t I should go to the Tower & be racked. So when they had dyned, Story called for me in, and so there I stoode before thē, & some sayd I was worthy to be hanged for hauing such hereticall books. After I had stayde a little while before them, Story called for the keeper, and commaunded him to cary me to the Lollards Tower agayne, and sayde: I hauehave other matters of the Queenes to do with the Commissioners:This woman was one Youngs wyfe. but I will finde an other time for him. Whilest I lay yet in the Lollardes Tower, the womā which brought the bookes ouer, being taken, and her bookes, was put in the Clinke in Southwarke by Hussy, one of the Arches: and I Tho. Greene testifie before God, now that I neyther descryed the man nor the woman, the whiche I had the bookes of.

Then I lying in the Lollardes Tower, being sent for before M. Hussy,Thomas Greene examined before M. Hussey. he required of me, wherefore I was put into the Lollardes Tower, and by whome. To whome I made aunswere, that I was put there by Doctor Story for a booke called Antichrist. Then he made as though hee would be my friend, and sayd he knewe my friendes, and my father and mother, and bad me tel him of whom I had the booke, and sayd: come on, tell me the truth, I told hym as I had told Doctor Story before.

Then he was very angry and sayd: I louelove thee well & therfore I sent for thee, and looked for a further truth: but I would tell him no other: whereupon he sent me agayne to the Lollardes Tower. At my going away he called me backe agayn, and sayd that Dixon gaue me the books being an old man, dwelling in Birchin lane: and I sayde he knew the matter better then I. So he sēt me away to the Lollardes Tower, where I remayned vij. dayes & more.

Then M. Hussy sent for me agayne and required of me to tell him the truth. I told him I could tell him no other truth then I had told Doctor Story before.

Then hee began to tell me of Dixon of whome I had the bookes, the which had made the matter manifest afore:Dixon in B…chin Lane. and he told me of all thinges touching Dixon and y^e books more then I could my selfe, in so much y^t he told me howe many I had, and that he had a sacke full of the books in his house, and knew where the woman lay, better then I my selfe. Then I sawe the matter so open and manifest before my face, that it profited not me to stand in the matter. Hee asked me where I had done the books, and I told hym I had but one, & that Doct. Story had. He sayd I lyed, for I had three at one time, & hee required we to tell him of one.

Then I tolde hym of one that Iohn Beane had of me being prentise with Mayster Tottle.Iohn Bean… Prentise with M. Tottle. So he promised me before and after, and as he shuld be saued before God, that he should hauehave no harme. And I kneeling downe vppon my knees, desired him to take my bloud, and not to hurt the young man. Then sayd he: because you hauehave bene so stubburne, the matter being made manifest by other and not by you, being so long in prison, tell me if you wil stād to my iudgement. I sayd yea, take my bloud, and hurt not the young man.

Then he made me answere, I should be whipped like a theefe and a vacabond: and so I thanked him,Thomas Greene adiudged to be whipped. Thomas Greene brought to the Gray Fryers. and went my way with my keeper to the Lollardes tower: where I remayned two or three dayes, and so was brought by the keeper Cluny, by the commaundement of the Commissioners, to Christes hospitall, sometime the Gray Friers: and accordingly had there for the time the correction of theeues and vacabondes, and so was deliuered to Trinian the Porter, and put into a stincking dungeon.

Then after a fewe dayes I finding frendship▪ was let out of the dungeon, and lay in a bed in the night, & walked in a yarde by the dungeon in the day time, and so remayned prisoner a month and more.

Where at length Doctour Story came and two Gentlemē with hym, and called for me,Thomas Greene agayne appeareth before D. Story and two gentlem…n. and so I was brought into a counting house before thē. Then he sayd to y^e gentlemen: here commeth this hereticke, of whom I had y^e book called Antichrist, and began to tell them how many times I had bene before him, and sayde: I hauehave intreated hym very gently, and he would neuer tell me the truth till y^t it was found out by other. Then sayd he: it wer a good deed to cut out thy tongue and thy eares of thy head, to make thee an example to all other hereticke knaues. And y^e gentlemen said: nay y^t were pitty. Then he asked if y^t I would not become an honest mā: & I sayd yes, for I hauehave offēded God many wayes. Whereupon he burdened me with my fayth. I told him I had made hym aunswere of my fayth before my Lord Windsors chaplaine, as much as I could.

So in the end he commaunded me to be stripped he stā ding by me, and called for two of the Beadels and the whippes to whippe me:The scourging of Tho. Greene before Doct. Story. and the two Beadels came wyth a cord, and bound my handes together, and the one end of the corde to a stone piller. Then one of my friendes, called Nicholas Priestman, hearing them call for whips, hurled in a bundell of rods, whiche seemed something to pacifie y^e minde of his crueltie: and so they scourged me with rods. But as they were whipping of me, Story asked me if I would go vntounto my Mayster agayne, and I sayd nay. And he sayd: I perceiue now he wil be worse then euer he was before: but let me alone (quoth he): I will finde him out if he be in England. And so with many other things which I cannot rehearse, when they had done whipping of me, they bad me pay my fees and go my wayes.

¶Doctor Story commaunded that he should hauehave an hundred stripes, but the Gentlemen so intreated: that hee had not so many, Story saying: if I might hauehave my will, I would surely cut out his tongue.

Of the scourging of M. Bartlet Greene, also of Iohn Milles, & of Thomas Hinshaw, ye heard before. In like maner was ordered Ste. Cotton, burned before at Bramford, who testifieth himselfe to be twise beaten by Boner, in a letter of hys written to his brother, as by the same here following for the more euidence may appeare.

p. 2062The Copie of Steuen Cottons letter, wrytten to his brother, declaring howe he was beaten of Bishop Boner.… his brother.

BRother, in the name of the Lord Iesus I cōmend me vntounto you, and I doe heartely thancke you for your godly exhortation and counsell in your last letter declared to me. And albeit I doe perceiue by your letter, you are informed, that as we are diuers persons in number, so we are of contrary sectes, conditions, and opinions, contrary to that good opinion you had of vsus at your last being with vsus in Newgate: be you most assured good brother in the Lorde Iesus, we are all of one minde, one faith, one assured hope in the Lord Iesus, whome I trust we altogether with one spirite, one brotherly louelove, doe daily call vponupon for mercy & forgeuenesse of our sinnes, with earnest repentaunce of our former liues, and by whose precious bloudshedding wee trust to be saued onelyonly, and by no other meanes. Wherefore good brother, in the name of the Lorde, seeing these impudente people, whose mindes are altogether bent to wickednesse, enuie, vncharitablenesse, euill speaking, doe goe about to slaunder vsus with vntruth, beleeue them not, neither let their wicked sayings once enter into your mind. And I trust one day to see you againe, although now I am in Gods prison, which is a ioyfull schoole to them that louelove theyr Lord God, and to me being a simple scholer most ioyfull of all.

Good brother, once againe I doe in the name of oure Lorde Iesus, exhort you to pray for me, that I may fight stronglye in the Lordes battaile, to bee a good souldioure to my Captaine Iesus Christ our Lord, and desire my sister also to do the same: and doe not ye mourn or lament for me, but be ye glad and ioyful of this my trouble: For I trust to be loosed out of this dongeon shortly, and to go to euerlasting ioy, which neuer shal hauehave end. I heard how ye were with the Commissioners. I pray you sue no more for me, good brother. But one thing I shal desire you, to be at my departing out of this life, that you may bear witnes with me that I shal die, I trust in God, a true Christian, and (I hope) all my cō panions in the Lord our God: and therfore beleue not these euil disposed people, who are the authors of all vntruthes.

I pray you prouide me a long shirt against the day of our deliuerance: for the shirt you gaue me last, I hauehave geuen to one of my companions who had more neede then I: And as for the money and meat you sent vsus, the Bishops seruaunts deliuered none to vsus, neither he whome you had so great trust in. Brother, there is none of them to trust to: for qualis Magister talis Seruus. I hauehave beene twise beaten and threatned to be beaten againe by the bishop himselfe.Stephen Cotton twise beat…n by Byshop Boner. I suppose we shall go into the Countrey to Fulham, to the bishops house, and there be arraigned. I woulde hauehave you to harken as much as you can. For when we shall goe, it shall be sodenly done. Thus fare ye well, from the Colehouse, this present Fridaye.

Your brother, Steuen Cotton.

The scourging of Iames Harris.

IN this societie of the scourged professors of Christ, was also one Iames Harris of Billerica in Essex, a stripling of the age of 17. yeares: who being apprehended and sent vp to Boner in the company of Margaret Ellis,Iames Har… scourged. by Syr Iohn Mordant Knight, and Edmund Tyrel Iustices of peace (as appeareth by their owne letters before mentioned, pag. 2020.) was by Boner diuers times straitly examined. In the which examinatiōs he was charged not to hauehave come to his parish church by the space of one yeare or more.…eade before pag. 1804. Wherunto he graunted, confessing therwithal, that once for feare he had bene at the Church, and there had receiued the Popish sacrament of the aultare, for the whych he was hartely sorie, detesting the same with all his hart.

After this and such like answeares. Boner (the better to try him,) perswaded him to goe to shrift. The lad somwhat to fulfil his request,Iames Harris repenteth his comming to the Popish Church. The cause of Iames Harris …courging. consented to go, & did. But whē he came to the Priest, he stoode stil and saide nothing. Why quoth the Priest, sayest thou nothing? what should I say, sayd Harris? Thou must confesse thy sins, sayd the priest. My sinnes (saith he) be so many, that they cānot be numbred. With that the Priest told Boner what he had sayde, and he of his accustomed deuotion, tooke the pore lad into his garden, and there with a rod gathered out of a Cherie tree, did most cruelly whip him.

The scourging of Rob. Williams a Smith.

OUer and besides these aboue mētioned, was one Roberte Williams, who being apprehended in the same cōpany, was so tormented after the like maner wyth rods in his arbour: who there subscribing and yelding himselfe by promise to obey the lawes,The scourging of Robert Williams. after being let go, refused so to doe: whereupon he was earnestly sought for, but could not be found, for that he kept himselfe close, and went not abroad but by stelth: & now in the meane time of this persecution, this Robert Williams departed thys life, and so escaped the handes of his enemies. The Lord therfore be honoured for euer. Amen.

¶And for asmuch as I hauehave begon to wryte of Boners scourging, by the occasion therof commeth to minde to inferre by the way, his beating of other boyes and children, and drawing them naked through the nettels, in his iourney rowing toward Fulham. The storie although it touch no matter of Religion, yet because it toucheth some thyng the nature and disposition of that man, and maye refreshe the Reader, wearied percase with other dolefull stories, I thought not to omitte.

Boner causeth certaine Boyes to be beaten.

BOner passing from London to Fulham by Barge,B. Boner causeth certayne boyes to be beaten. hauing Iohn Milles and Thomas Hinshaw aboue mē tioned with him, both prisoners for Religion, by the way as he went by water, was saying Euensong with Harpsfield his chaplaine in the barge, and being about the middle of their deuout orisons, they espied a sort of yōg boyes swimming and washing themselues in the Thames ouer against Lambeth, or a little aboue: vntounto whome hee went and gaue very gentle language, and faire speach,Boners pityfull hart. vntill he had let his man a lande. That done, his men ran after the boyes to get them, as the Bishop commaunded them before, beating some with nettles, drawinge some throughe bushes of nettles naked, and some they made leape into the Thames to saue them selues, that it was maruell they were not drowned.

Now as the children for feare did crie, and as this skirmishing was betweene them, immediatly came a greater lad thither, to know what the matter ment that the boyes made suche a noise. Whome when the bishop espied, he asked him whether he wold maintain them in their doings or no. Unto whom the yong fellow made answer stoutly, yea. Then the B. commanded him to be taken also: but be ran away with spede, and there auoided the bishops blessing. Now when the B. sawe him to flee away, & an other man sitting vponupon a rail in the way where he ran, he willed him likewise to stop the boy: and because he wold not, he commaunded his men to fet that man to him also: but he hearing that, ran away as fast as he coulde, and by leaping ouer the ditch, escaped the bishop in like maner.

Then the Bishop seeing the successe of his battaile to prooue no better, cried to a couple of fery boies to run and holde him that last ran away. And for that they sayde they could not (as in deede it was true) therefore he caused his men by and by to take and beat them. The boyes hearing that, lept into the water to saue themselues: notwithstanding they were caught, and in the water by the Byshops men were holden and beaten.

Now, after the ende of this great skirmish, the bishops men returned to their maister againe into the barge,Boners▪ deuoute Or…ons. and he and Harpsfielde his chaplaine went to their Euensong a fresh where they lefte, and so forsooth the rest of their seruice, as cleane without malice, as an egge wythout meat. The Lorde geue him repentaunce (if it bee his will) and grace to become a new man. Amen.

The whipping of a begger at Salisburie,

VNtoUnto these aboue specified, is also to be added the miserable whipping of a certain pore starued seely begger, who because he would not receiue the sacramēt at Easter in the towne of Colingborow,A poore begger whipt at Salisbury, for not receiuing with the Papistes at Easter. was brought to Salisbury with billes and gleiues to the Chancellor doctor Geffrey who cast him into the Dongeon, and after caused him miserably to be whipped of two catchpoles. The sight wherof made all godly hearts to rew it, to see such tyrannye to be shewed vppon such a simple and seely wretche: for they which saw him hauehave reported, that they neuer saw a more simple creature: But what pitie can mooue the heartes of mercilesse Papists?

Besides these aboue named, diuers other also suffered the like scourgings and whippings in their bodies for the faithfull standing in the truth. Of whom it may be sayde, as it is wrytten of the holy Apostles in the Actes. Which departed from the counsel,Actes. 5.Acts 5 reioysing that they were counted woorthy to suffer for the name of Iesus.