Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 12 · Account 86 – Account 87
¶An other treatise of suche as being pursued in Queene Maries time, were in great daunger, & yet through the good prouidence of God, mercifully were preserued.
ALthough the secreat purpose of almighty God, which disposeth all thinges, suffered a greate number of hys faithfull seruauntes both men and women, and that of all ages and degrees, to fall into the enemies handes, and to abide the brunt of this persecution, to be tried with rods, with whippes, with rackes, with fetters and famin, with burning of handes,A treatise of Gods mercy and prouidence in preseruing good men & women, in the tyme of this persecution. with plucking of beardes, wyth burning also both hand, beard, and body. &c.
Yet notwithstāding some there were againe, and that a great number, who myraculously by the mercifull prouidence of God, against all mannes expectation, in safetie were deliuered out of the fiery rage of this persecution, either by voydinge the Realme, or shiftinge of place, or the Lord so blinding the eyes of the persecutors, or disposing the oportunitie of time, or woorking some suche meanes or other for hys seruauntes, as not onelyonly ought to stir them vp to perpetuall thanckes, but also may mooue all menne both to beholde and magnifie the wonderous woorkes of the almightie.
About what time it began to be knowen that Queene Mary was sicke, diuers good men were in hold in diuers quarters of the realme, some at Burie, some at Salisb. as Iohn Hunt and Richard White, of whome we hauehave storied before, and some at London, amongest whome was Wil. Liuing with hys wife, and Iohn Lithall, of whome something remaineth now compendiously to be touched.
The trouble and deliueraunce of William Liuing with his wife, and of Iohn Lithall, Ministers.
ABout the time of the latter end of Queene Marie, she then beinge sicke,The deliuerance of W. Liuing, his wyfe and of Iohn Lithall. came one Coxe a Promoter, to the house of William Liuing, about 6. of the clocke, accompanied with one Iohn Launce of the Graihound. They being not ready, they demaunded for buttons, sayinge they shoulde be as well payed for them, as euer was any: and he would come about 3. houres after againe for them.
Deane Constable, George Hancocke Beadle, persecutors.In the meane while he had gotten the Constable called maister Deane, and George Hancocke the Beadle of that Ward, and searching his bookes, founde a booke of Astronomie, called the worke of Ioannes de sacro busto de sphaera, with figures, some round, some triangle, some quadrate: which booke because it was gilted, seemed to him the chiefest booke there, and that he caried open in the streate, saying: I hauehave founde him at length. It is no maruaile the Queene be sicke, seeing there be suche coniurers in priuie corners: but now I trust he shall coniure no more, and so brought him and his wife from Shoe lane through Fleet streete into Paules Churchyarde, with the Constable, the Beadle, and 2. other following them, til they were entred into Darbishires house, who was bishop Boners Chancellour: And after the Constable and they had talked wyth Darbishire, he came foorth and walked in his yard, saying these woordes.
Darbishire.
What is your name?
Liuing.
William Liuing.
Darb.
Talke betweene Darbyshire and W Liuing, Priest.What are you? a Priest?
Liuing.
Yea.
Darb.
Is this your wife that is come with you?
Liuing.
That shee is.
Darb.
Where were you made Priest?
Liuing.
At Obourne.
Darb.
In what Bishops daies?
Liuing.
By the Bishop of Lincolne, that was king Henries ghostly father in Cardinall Wolsies time.
Darb.
You are a schismaticke and a traytor.
Liuing.
I would be sorie that were true. I am certaine I neuer was traitor, but alwais hauehave taught obedience, according to the tenour of Gods woord: and when tumults and Schismes hauehave beene stirred, I hauehave preached Gods word, and swaged them, as in the time of king Edwarde.
Darb.
What? you are a Schismaticke. You be not in the vnitie of the catholike church: for you pray not as ye church of Rome doth: You pray in English.
Liuing.
We are certaine we be in the true church.
Darb.
There be that doubteth therof, for so much as there is but one true Church.
Well, you will learne against I talke with you againe, to know the church of Rome, and to be a member thereof.
Liuing
If the church of Rome be of that Churche whereof Christ is the head, then am I a member thereof: for I know no other Church but that.
Darb.
Wel Cluny, take him with thee to the Colehouse.
Then called he Cluny again, and spake secretly to him, what I know not.Cluny playeth the theefe.
Then sayde Cluny: wilt thou not come: and so pluckt me away violently, and brought me to his owne house in Pater noster Rowe, where hee robbed mee of my pursse, my girdle, and my Psalter, and a new Testamēt of Geneua, and then broughte me to the Colehouse to put mee in the stockes, saying: put in both your legges and your handes also: and except you fine wt me, I will put a collor about your necke. What is the fine, quoth I? Fortie shillinges quoth he, I am neuer able to pay it, sayd I.
Then said he: you hauehave friendes that be able.Note the couetous dealing of these Papistes. I denyed it: and so he put both my legges into the stockes til supper time, whyche was 6. of the clocke, and then a cosine of my wiues brought me meat, who seeing me so sit there, sayd: I will geue you 40. pence and let him goe at libertie: and he tooke her mony, and presently let me forth in her sighte, to eate my supper. And at 7. of the clocke he put mee into the stockes againe, and so I remained till 2. of the clocke the next day, and so he let mee foorth till nighte. This woman aboue mentioned, was Griffins first wife, a brother dwelling then in Aldermanberie, and yet aliue in Chepeside.
The thursday following at afternoone was I called to the Lollardes tower, and there put in the stockes,W. Liuing layd in the Lollardes tower. hauing the fauour to put my legge in that hole that Master Iohn Philpots legge was in, and so lay all that night, no body comming to me, either with meat or drinke.
At 11. of the clocke on the Fridaye, Clunie came to mee with meat, and let me forth, and about one of the clocke he brought me to Darbishires house, who drew forth a scroll of names, and asked me if I knew none of them, I said I know none of them, but Foster. And so I kneeled downe vponupon my knees, and praied him that he wold not enquire thereof any farther.William Liuing deliuered. And with that came foorth two godly women, which sayd: Master Darbishire, it is inough, and so became sureties for mee, and paied to Clunie xv. s. for my fees, and bad me goe with them.
And thus muche concerning William Liuing. After this came his wife to examination, whose answeares to Darbishire the Chancellor, here likewise follow.
The examination of Iulian Liuing, wife to William Liuing.
DArbishire.
Ah syrha: I see by your gowne you be one of the Sisters.Talke betweene Darbyshire & Liuinge… wyfe.
Iulian.
I weare not my gowne for Sisterhood, neither for nunnerie, but to keepe me warme.
Darb
Nunne? No I dare say you be none, Is that man your husband?
Iulian.
Yea.
Darb.
He is a Priest.
Iulian.
No, he sayeth no Masse.
Darb.
What then? He is a priest. How darest thou marry him.
Then he shewed me a rolle of certaine names of Citizens. To whom I answeared, I knew none of them.
Then sayd he: you shall be made to know them.
Then said I: do no other but Iustice and right, for the day will come that you shall answere for it.
Iulian.
Why womā, thinkest thou not that I hauehave a soul.
Iulian.
Yes, I knowe you hauehave a soule: but whether it be to saluation or damnation, I can not tell.
Darb.
Ho Cluny hauehave her to the Lollardes tower.Liuinges wyfe commaunded to the Lollardes Tower. And so he tooke me, and caryed me to his house, where was one Dale a Promoter, which sayde to me: Alas good woman, wherefore be you heere.
What is that to you sayd I?
You be not ashamed, quoth Dale, to tel wherfore you came hither.Dale a Promotor.
No quoth I, that I am not: for it is for Christes Testament.
Christes Testament, quoth hee? it is the Deuils Testament.
Oh Lorde, quoth I, God forbid that any man shoulde speake any such woorde.
Well, well quoth he, you shall be ordered wel enough. You care not for burning quoth he. By Gods bloud, there must be some other meanes founde for you.
What quoth I, will you find any worse then you hauehave founde?
Wel quoth he, you hope and you hope: but your hope shalbe a slope. For though the Queene faile, shee that you hope for, shall neuer come at it: For there is my lord Cardinals grace, and many more betweene her and it.
Then quoth I: my hope is in none but God.
Then saide Clunye: Come with me: and so went I to the Lollardes Tower.Marke the hope of the Papistes. On the next daye Darbishire sent for me againe, and enquired againe of those Citizens that he enquired of before.
I answeared I knewe them not.
Where were you, quoth he, at the communion on sonday was fortnight?
And I sayd, in no place.
Then the Constable of S. Brides, beinge there, made sute for me.
And Darbishyre demaunded of him if hee woulde be bounde for me.
The Constable of S. Brides surety for Iulian Liuing.He answeared, yea. And so he was bounde for my appearance betwixt that and Christmasse.
Then Darbishire sayd: you be Constable, and should geue her good counsell.
So do I quoth he. For I bid her goe to Masse, and to say as you say. For by the Masse, if you say the Crowe is white, I will say so too.
And thus much concerning the examination of William Liuing and his wife, whom although thou seest heere deliuered through the request of women,Liuing and his wyfe deliuered … the death of Q. Mary. hys sureties, yet it was no doubt, but that the deadly sicknesse of Queene Marie abated and brideled then the crueltie of those Papists, which otherwise would neuer hauehave let them goe.