Whole Works, Biography 3
¶ A briefe diſcourſe of the lyfe and doinges of Robert Barnes Doctour in Diuinitie, a bleſſed ſeruaunt and Martyr of Chriſt, ſummarely extracted out of the booke of Monumentes.
THe firſt bringing vp of the ſayd Rob. Barnes from a childe, was in the vniuerſitie of Cambridge, and was made a Nouice in ye houſe of ye Fryer Auguſtines there. And beyng very apt vntounto learning, did ſo profite, that by the helpe of his frendes, he was remoued from thēce to the vniuerſitie of Louayne in Brabant, where he remained certayne yeares, and greatly profited in the ſtudy of the tongues, and there procéeded Doctour of Diuinitie. And then from thence returned agayne into England, and ſo to the vniuerſitie of Cābridge, where he was made Prior and Maiſter of the houſe of Auguſtines, wherein he was firſt brought vp. And at that tyme the knowledge of good letters was ſcarcely entred into the vniuerſitie, all thynges being full of rudenes & barbarietie, ſauing in very fewe, which were priuye and ſecrete: whereupon Barnes hauing ſome féeling of better learning, and had red better actours, begā in his houſe to reade Terence, Cicero, and Plautus, ſo that what with his induſtry, paynes and labours, and with the helpe of Thomas Parnell his ſcholer, whom he brought from Louayne with him, reading Copia verborum et rorum, he cauſed the houſe ſhortly to floriſhe Doct. Barnes a boliſher of barbariſme, a founder of learning, and a light of the trueth.with good letters, & made a great parte of ye houſe learned, which before were drowned in barbarous rudenes, as M. Cambridge. M. Felde, M. Colman, M. Burley, M. Couerdale, with diuers other of the vniuerſitie, that ſoiourned there for learnings ſake.
After theſe foundations layde, then did he read openly Paules Epiſtles, and put by D…ns and Dorbell, and yet he was a queſtionary himſelf: and onelyonly becauſe he would hauehave Chriſt there taught and his holy word, he turned their vnſauery problemes, and fruitles diſputations, to other better matter of the holy Scripture, and thereby in ſhort ſpace he made diuers good deuynes. The ſame order of diſputation which he kept in his houſe, he obſerued likewiſe in the vniuerſitie abroad, when he ſhould diſpute with any man in the common ſchooles. And the firſt man that aunſwered M. Barnes in the Scriptures was M. Stafford for his forme to be Bacheler of Diuinitie, which diſputation was merueilous in the ſight of the great blynde Doctours, and very ioyfull to the godly ſpirited.
Thus Barnes, what with his reading, diſputation, and preachyng, became famous and mightie in the Scriptures, preaching euer agaynſt Byſhops and hipocrites, and yet did not ſée his inward and outwarde Idolatry, which he both taught and maintayned, vntill that good Maiſter Bilney with other conuerted him vntounto Chriſt.
The firſt Sermō that euer he preached of this trueth, was yt Sonday before Chriſtmas day at S. Edwardes Church longyng to Trinitie halle in Cambridge by ye Peaſe market: whoſe theame was the Epiſtle of the ſame Sonday, Gaudete in domino ſemper. &c. And ſo poſtilled the whole Epiſtle, folowing the Scripture and Luthers poſtill. And for that Sermō, he was immediately accuſed of hereſie by ij. Felowes of yt Kinges hall. Then the godly learned in Chriſt, both of Pembrooke hall, S. Iohns, Peter houſe, Quéenes colledge, yt kings colledge, Gunwell hall, & Benet colledge, ſhewed thēſelues, and flocked togither in open ſight, both in ye Schooles, & at open Sermōs, at S. Maries, at S. Auſtens, and at other diſputations: and then they conferred continually togither.
The houſe that they reſorted moſt commonly vntounto, was the white Horſe, which for deſpite of them, to bring Gods worde into cōtempt, was named Germany. This houſe ſpecially was choſen, becauſe of them of S. Iohns. The Kings colledge, and yt Quéenes colledge, came in on the backſide. At this tyme much trouble began to enſue.
And firſt the aduerſaries of D. Barnes accuſed him in the Regents houſe before the Ʋicechauncelour, where as his Articles were preſented with hym and receaued, hée promiſing to make aunſwere at the next conuocation, and ſo it was done. Then Doctour Notoris, a ranke enemy to Chriſt, moued D. Barnes to recant, but he refuſed ſo to doe, as appeareth in his booke made to K. Henry the viij. And this tragedy continued in Cambridge, in preaching one agaynſt an other in trying out of Gods trueth, vntill within vj. dayes of Shroftyde. Then was ſent downe a Sergeaunt at Armes called Gibſon, who ſodainely areſted Doctour Barnes openly in the conuocation houſe, to make all other afrayde: and priuely they had determined to make ſearch for Luthers bookes, and all the Germaynes workes ſodainely. But good Doctour Forman of the Quéenes colledge, ſent worde incontinently therof to the chambers of thoſe that were ſuſpected, which were in number xxx. perſons. But God be prayſed, they were conueyed by that tyme that the Sergeaunt of Armes, the Ʋichchauncelour and the proctours were at eueryevery mans chamber, goyng directly to the place where yt bookes lay, whereby it was perceaued that there were ſome priuy ſpyes amōg that ſmall company. The next day in the morning the Sergeaunt of Armes caried Barnes with him, and brought him to London before Cardinall Wolſey, where after long waiting, he by the reaſon of Doctour Gardiner Secretary to yt Cardinal (of whoſe familiar acquaintaunce, Doctour Barnes had béene before) and M. Foxe maiſter of the wardes, at the laſt he ſpake with the Cardinall in his chamber of eſtate, and there before him knéeled on his knées. Then ſayd the Cardinall vntounto them, is this Doct. Barnes your man that is accuſed of hereſie? They aunſwered, yea and it pleaſe your grace, and we truſt you ſhall finde him reformable, for he is both wiſe and well learned.
Then ſayd the Cardinall, what maiſter Doctour, had you not a ſufficient ſcope in the Scriptures to teach the people, but that my golden ſhooes, my pillers, my Polleares, my golden cuſheons, and my croſſes did ſo ſore offende you, that you muſt make vsus Ridiculum Caput amongeſt the people? Wée were that day iolily laughed to ſckorne. Ʋerely it was a Sermon more fitter to be preached on a ſtage, then in a pulpit: For at the laſt you ſayd I did weare a payre of red gloues (I ſhoulde ſay bloudy gloues quoth you) that I ſhould not be colde in the middeſt of my Ceremonies. Then Barnes aunſwered, I ſpake nothing but the trueth out of the ſcriptures, according to my cōſcience, and according to the olde Doctours: and then he deliuered him vj. ſhéetes of paper written, to confirme and corroborate his ſayinges.
The Cardinall receaued them, ſmilyng on him, and ſaying: wée perceaue that you intend to ſtand to your Articles, and to ſhew your learning: yea ſayd Barnes that I doe intende by Gods grace and your Lordſhips fauour. Then ſayde the Cardinall vntounto Barnes, ſuch as you are beare vsus little fauour and the Catholique Church. I will aſke you a queſtion: whether doe you thinke it more neceſſary that I ſhoulde hauehave all thys royaltie, becauſe I repreſent the kynges maieſties perſon in all the high courtes of this Realme, to the terrour and kéeping downe of all rebellions, treaſons, traytours, and all the wicked and corrupt members of the common wealth, or to be as ſimple as you woulde hauehave vsus, and to ſell all theſe aforeſayde thinges, and to géeue it to the poore, which ſhortly would piſſe it againſt the walles, & to pull away this maieſtie of a princely dignitie, which is a terrour to all the wicked, and to follow your counſaile in this behalfe? Barnes aunſwered, I thinke it neceſſary to be ſolde and géeuen to the poore, for this is not comely for your caulyng, nor the kinges maieſtie is not maintained by your pompe and pollares, but by God, who ſayth, per…me Reges regnant. Kynges and theyr maieſties raigne and ſtand by mée.
Then ſayd the Cardinall, loe maiſter Doctours, here is the learned and wiſe man that you tolde mée of. Then they knéeled downe and ſayd: we deſire your grace to bée good vntounto hym, for hée will be reformable. Then ſayd he, ſtand you vp, for your ſakes and the vniuerſitie, we will be good vntounto hym. And then ſayd the Cardinall to Barnes, how ſay you M. Doctour, doe you not know that I am Legatus de latere, and that I am hable to diſpēce in all matters concerning religion within this Realme, as much as the Pope may? He ſayd, I know it to be ſo. Will you then be ruled by vsus, and we will doe all thinges for your honeſtie, and for the honeſtie of the vniuerſitie. He aunſwered. I thāke your grace for your good will, I will ſticke to ye holy Scripture, & to Gods booke according to the ſimple talent that God hath lent me. Then ſayd the Cardinall, aunſwere well I woulde aduiſe thée, for thou ſhalt hauehave thy learning tried to the vttermoſt, and thou ſhalt hauehave the lawe.
Then D. Barnes requyred hym that he might hauehave iuſtice with equitie, but foorthwyth he ſhould hauehave gone to the tower, but that Gardiner and Foxe became his ſuertyes for that night. And in the morning he came agayne to Yorke place to Gardiner & Foxe, and forthwith he was cōmitted to ye Sergeaunt at Armes, to bryng him into the Chapter houſe at Weſtminſter, before the Byſhoppes and the Abbot of Weſtminſter cauled Iſlip.
So ſoone as the Sergeaunt had preſented Barnes, the ſayd Byſhoppes and Abbot▪ did firſt ſweare him, and layd Articles vntounto hym, who aunſwered in like maner as hefore he had aunſwered to the Cardinall, and he offred vntounto them his booke of probations: who aſked him, whether he had an other for him ſelfe, and he ſayd yea, & ſhewe… it vntounto them, and they tooke them both from him, ſaying that they ſhould hauehave no la… ſure at that preſent to diſpute with hym: But demaunded of him, whether he wou… ſubſcribe to his Articles or not? And he ſubſcribed willingly. Then was he committe… to the Fléete, and the Warden of the Fléete commaunded that no man ſhoulde ſpeak… with hym.
On the Saterday folowing, he was agayne brought before them into the Chapt… houſe at Weſtminſter, where he remayned almoſt the whole day, and late in the eu… ning they cauled him before them, and demaunded of him, whether he woulde abi… or burne? He was then in a great agonye, and thought rather to burne then abiur… But then was he ſent agayne to hauehave the counſaile of Gardiner and Foxe, and they perſwaded him rather to abiure then to burne, becauſe they ſayde he ſhould doe more good in tyme to come, & with diuers other perſwaſions that were mightie in the ſight of reaſon and fleſhe. Ʋpon that knéelyng vponupon his knées, he conſented to abiure, and the abiuration put into his hand, he abiured as it was there written, and then he ſubſcribed it with his owne hand, and yet they would ſcarcely receiue him into the boſome of the Church, as they termed it. Then they put him to an othe, and charged him to execute doe and fulfill all that they commaunded him, and he promiſed ſo to doe.
Then they commaunded the warden of the fléete to carye him with v. other of the ſtiliard that then were in like trouble with him vntounto the fleete from whence they came, and to kéepe them cloſe priſoners, and in the morning to prouide v. Faggots for Doctour Barnes and iiij. ſtilliard men, the which was readely done the next day by viij. of the clocke in the morning. At which tyme the knight Marſhall with all his Billes, and gleues, & all the Tipſtaues he could make was cōmaunded to bring them frō the Fléete vntounto Paules Church, and in like maner to bring them from thence to the fléete againe. And in the morning they were all ready by their houre appointed in Paules Church aforeſayd, the which Church was then ſo full that no man might get in. The Cardinall had a ſkaffolde made for him in the toppe of the ſteyers before the Quyer dore, where he him ſelfe with xxxvj. Abbottes, mitred Priors and Biſhoppes, and he in his whole Pompe mitred (which Barnes had ſpoken againſt) ſat there inthronized, his Chapleynes and ſpirituall Doctours in gownes of Dammaſke and Satten, and he himſelfe in Purple, euen like a bloudy Antechriſt. And on the top of the ſtayers alſo, there was erected a new pulpit for the Biſhop of Rocheſter, whoſe name was fiſher to preach againſt Luther and Barnes, and great baſketes full of Bookes ſtanding before thē with in the rayles, which after the ende of the Sermon, a great fyer being firſt made before the Roode of Northen, were commaunded to be there brent, and the aforeſayd heretikes after the ſermon to goe thriſe about the fyer, and to caſt in their fagottes.
Now while the Sermond was a doing, Doctour Barnes and the Stilliard men were commaunded to kneele downe, and to aſke God forgeuenes, yt Catholike Church and the Cardinalles grace. And after that he was commaunded at the ende of the Sermon to declare, that he was more charitabler handled then he deſerued, or was worthy (his hereſies were ſo horrible and ſo deteſtable) and once againe knéeled downe on his knees, deſiring the people of forgeuenes, and to pray for him. And the Cardinall departed vnderunder a canapye with all his mitred men with him vntill he came to the Weſt dore of Paules, and there he tooke his Mule, and the mitred men came backe againe.
Then Barnes and the other ſayd poore men, being commaunded to come downe frō …he ſtage (whereon the ſwéepers vſe to ſtand whē they ſwéepe the Church) the Biſhops …at them downe againe, and commannded the knight Marſhall and the warden of the fleete with their cōpany to cary them about the fyer, and ſo were they brought to the Byſhops, and there for abſolution knéeled downe. At which tyme Rocheſter declared to the people, how many dayes of pardon and forgeuenes of ſynnes they had for being … that Sermond, and there did aſſoyle Doctour Barnes with the other, and ſhewed yt people that they were receaued into the Church againe.
Theſe thinges being done, the warden of the Fleete, and the knight Marſhall were commaunded to cary them againe vntounto the Fleete, and charged yt they ſhould hauehave the …tie of the fleete as other priſoners had, and that their frendes might reſort vntounto …hem, and there to remayne vntill the Lord Cardinalles pleaſure were knowen.
After that Barnes had contynued in y• Fleete by the ſpace of halfe a yeare, at lēgth …ng deliuered he was committed to be free priſoner at the Auguſtine friers in Lon…. Whē thoſe Caterpillers and blouddy beaſtes had vndermined him, they complay… agayne to their Lord Cardinall. Whereupō he was remoued to the Auſten fryers … North hampton, there to be burned. Yet he him ſelfe vnderſtanding nothing there…, but ſuppoſing ſtill that he ſhould there remayne and contynue in free priſon. At the … one M. Horne who had brought him vp, and was his ſpeciall frende, hauing intel…nce of the writt that ſhould ſhortly be ſent downe to burne him, gaue him coūſell to fayne him ſelfe deſperate, and that he ſhould write a letter to the Cardinall, & leaue it on his table where he lay, and a paper by, to declare whether he was gone to drowne A wittie and pleaſaunt deuiſe to eſcape the crueltie of tyrantes.him ſelfe, and to leaue his clothes in the ſame place: & there an other letter to be left to the Maior of the towne to ſearch for him in the water, becauſe he had a letter written in parchment about his necke cloſed in waxe for the Cardinall, which would teach all men to beware by him. Ʋpon this they were vij. dayes in ſearching for him, but he was conueied to London in a poore mans apparell, and taried not there, but tooke ſhipping and went to Antwarp, and ſo into Germany to Luther, and there fell to ſtudy vntill he had made aunſwere to all the Byſhops of the Realme, and had made a booke intituled Acta Romanorum Pontificum, and an other booke with a ſupplication to King Henry the viij.
Imediately it was tolde the Cardinall that he was drowned, and he ſayd, Perijt memoria eius cum ſonitu. But this did light vponupon him ſelfe ſhortly after, which wretchedly dyed at Leceſter.
In the meane tyme D. Barnes was made ſtrong in Chriſt, and got fauour both of the learned in Chriſt, and of forreine Princes in Germany, and was great with Luther, Melanction, Pomeran, Iuſtus Ionas, Hegendorphinus and Aepimus, and with the Duke of Saxon, and king of Denmarke: which king of Denmarke in yt time of More and Stokeſley ſent him with the Lubeckes, as an Embaſſadour to King Hēry the eight. And during the time he remayned here, he lay with the Lubeckes Chauncelour at the Stiliard.
Syr Thomas More being then Chauncelour would fayne hauehave entrapped him, but the king would not let him, for Cromwell was his great and deare frende. And ere he went the Lubeckes and he diſputed with the Biſhops of this Realme in defence of the trueth. And ſo he departed agayne without reſtreynt with the Lubeckes.
After this he went agayne to Whittembergh to the Duke of Saxſon and to Luther and there remayned to ſet forth his workes in Print that he had begonne. And from thence ſhortly after he returned agayne into England in the tyme of Quéene Anne Boleyn and continued a faythfull preacher in this Citie of London all the time that ſhée remained Quéene. And was well enterteyned and promoted.
After this by the meane of the Lord Cromwell he was ſent Ambaſſadour from K. Hēry the viij. to the Duke of Cleue, for the mariage of yt Lady Anne of Cleue betwéene the king and her, and was well excepted in that Ambaſſade, and in all his doinges, vntill the tyme that Stephen Gardiner came out of Fraunce: But after he came, neither Stephen Gardyner the author of miſchiefe and decay of religion in England.Religion proſpered, nor the Quéenes maieſtie, nor Cromwell, nor the preachers, who after the mariage of the Lady. Anne of Cleue, neuer ceaſed vntill he had graffed the mariage in an other ſtocke, by the occaſion whereof he began his bloudy broyle.
For not long after the diſſolution of yt ſayd mariage betwéene king Hēry yt viij. and yt Lady Anne of Cleue, yt ſayd Doctour Barnes with two of his brethrē felow preachers, named Iherome and Garret, were apprehended and caried before the kynges maieſtie to Hampton court, and there were examined: where the kynges maieſtie ſéeking the meanes of Barnes ſafetie to bring Wincheſter and him agréed, at Wincheſters requeſt graunted him leaue to goe home with the Byſhop to conferre with hym, and ſo he did. But as it happened, they not agréeing, Gardiner & his comparteners ſought by all ſubtile meanes how to entangle and intrappe them into farther daunger, which not long after was brought to paſſe. For by certayne complayntes made to the king of them, they were enioyned to preach iij. Sermōs the next Eaſter folowing at the Spittle beſide London. At the which Sermons beſides other reporters which were thither ſent. Stephen Gardiner Byſhop of Wincheſter was there preſent, ſitting wyth the Maior, either to beare recorde of their recantation, or els as the Phariſeys came to Chriſt, to trippe them in their talke, if they had ſpoken any thing awry.
When the aforeſayd thrée had preached their Sermons, among whom Barnes preaching the firſt Sermō, and hée ſéeing Stephen Gardiner there preſent, humbly deſired him in the face of all the audience to forgéeue him, and that if he forgaue hym to hold… vp his hand, and the ſayd Gardiner thereupō helde vp his finger. Yet notwithſtāding, by the meanes of yt ſaid reporters, they all iij. immediatly after they had preached, were ſent for to Hampton court, and from thence caryed to the Tower by Syr Iohn Goſtwyke, and there they remayned vntill the xxx. day of Iuly next folowing. Thē enſued proceſſe againſt them by the kynges counſaile in the Parliament, to the which Gardiner confeſſed himſelfe to be priuy among the reſt. Whereupon all the aforeſayd thrée Saintes and true Martyrs, the xxx. day of Iuly (not comming to any aūſwere, nor yet knowing any cauſe of their cōdemnation, without any publique hearing) were drawen on herdelles from the Tower to Smithfield, where they preparing them ſelues to the fier, had there at the ſtake diuerſe & ſondry exhortations, amongeſt whome Doctour Barnes firſt beganne with this proteſtation folowing.
I am come hither to be burned as an heretike, and you ſhall heare my beliefe wereby you ſhall perceaue what erronious opinions▪ I holde. God I take to record I neuer (to my knowledge) taught any erronious doctrine, but onelyonly thoſe thinges which the Scripture leade me vntounto, and that in my ſermons I neuer mainteyned any errour, neither moued, nor gaue occaſiō of any inſurrection. Although I hauehave béene ſlaundered to preache that our lady was but a Saffron bagge, which I vtterly proteſt before God that I neuer ment it nor preached it: But all my ſtudy and diligence hath beene vtterly to confound and confute all men of that doctrine: as are the Anabaptiſtes, which denie that our Sauiour Chriſt tooke any fleſhe of the bleſſed virgine Mary, which ſectes I deteſt and abhorre. And in deede in this place there hath beene burned ſome of them, whom I neuer fauoured nor mainteyned, but with all diligence I did ſtudie euermore to ſet forth the glory of God, the obedience to our ſoueraigne Lord the King, and the true and ſincere religion of Chriſt. And now harken to my fayth.
I beléeue in the holy and bleſſed Trinitie three perſons and one God, that created and made all the world. And that this bleſſed Trinitie ſent downe the ſecond perſon Ieſu Chriſt into the wombe of the moſt bleſſed & pureſt virgin Mary. And heare beare me recorde that I doe vtterlye condemne that abhominable and deteſtable opinion of ye Anabaptiſtes, which ſay that Chriſt tooke no fleſhe of the bleſſed virgine. For I beléeue that without the conſent of mans will or power, he was conceaued by the holy ghoſt, and tooke fleſhe of her, and that he ſuffered hunger, thirſt, colde, and other paſſions of our body (ſinne except) according to the ſaying of S. Peter, he was made in all things like to his bretheren (except ſinne)
And I doe beléeue that he liued here among vsus: and after he had preached and taught his fathers will, he ſuffered the moſt cruell and bitter death for me and all mankinde.
And I doe beléeue that this his death, and paſſion was the ſufficient price and ranſōe for the ſinne of all the world. And I beléeue that through his death he ouercame the deuill, ſinne, death, and hell, and that there is none other ſatiſfaction vntounto the father, but this his death and paſſion onelyonly: and that no worke of man did deſerue any thing of God, but onelyonly his paſſion as touching our iuſtification. For I knowledge the beſt worke that euer I did is vnpure and vnperfect. And here withall he caſt abroad his handes and deſired God to forgeue him his treſpaſces. For although perchaūce (ſaid he) you know nothing by me, yet I doe confeſſe that my thoughtes and cogitations be innumerable. Wherefore (ſaid he) I beſéech the o Lorde, not to enter into iudgmēt with me. According to the ſaying of the Prophet Dauid. Non intres in iuditium cum ſeruo tuo domine. And in an other place. Si iniquitates obſeruaueris domine quis ſuſtinebit. Lord if thou ſtraightly marke our inniquitie who is able to abide thy iudgment. Wherefore I truſt in no good worke that euer I did, but onelyonly in ye death of Chriſt, & I doe not doubt but through him to inherite ye kingdome of heauen. Take me not here that I ſpeake againſt good workes, for they are to bée done, and verely they that doe them not, ſhall neuer come to the kingdome of God. We muſt doe them becauſe they are commaūded vsus of God to ſhewe and ſet forth our profeſſion, not to deſerue or merite, for that is onelyonly the death of Chriſt.
I beléeue that there is a holy Church & a cōpany of all them that doe profeſſe Chriſt: & that all that hauehave ſuffered and confeſſed his name, be Sayntes, and that all they doe la…de and prayſe God in heauen, more then I or any mannes tongue can expreſſe, and that alwayes I hauehave ſpoken reuerently of Saintes, and prayſed them aſmuch as ſcripture willed me to doe: And that our Lady (I ſay) ſhée was a vergyn immaculate and vndefiled: and that ſhée is the moſt pureſt virgin that euer God created, and a veſſell of God elected, of whome Ieſus Chriſt ſhould be borne. Then the ſhriefe ſomwhat ſtayeing him and haſtening him to make an ende, he turned him to the people and deſired all men to forgeue him: and if he had ſaid any euell at any tyme vnaduiſedly, wherby he had offended any man, or geuen any occaſion of euell that they would forgeue it him, and amende that euell they tooke of him: and to beare witnes that he deteſted and abhorred all euill opinions and doctrines againſt the word of God: and that he dyed in the fayth of Ieſus Chriſt, by whom he doubted not but to be ſaued. And with thoſe wordes he deſired them all to pray for him, and then turned him about, and put of his clothes, and made him ready to the fyre, where patientlye he ſuffered the bitter and cruell Martirdome and death. And the lyke dyd the other his companiōs that ſuffered with him. Which was in the yeare of our Lorde. 1541.