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tihvary of t:he Checlo0ical ^eminarjo
PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY
PURCHASED BY THE
MRS. ROBERT LENOX KENNEDY
CHURCH HISTORY FUND
BR 756 .G58 v. 7:2
The church historians of England
THE CHUECH HISTOETANS OF ENGLAND.
K. CLAY. Sii.V. ANIJ TAVI.i
V
VJ-
FEB 10 1915
A
'^t.
y/
'/^."•rlij ?c\'A
,*v:
THE CHUKCH HISTORIANS OF ENGLAND.
REFORMATION PERIOD.
THE ACTS AND MONUMENTS OF JOHN FOXE.
CAREFULLY REVISED, WITH NOTES AND APPENDICES.
VOL. VIL— PART II.
HANOVER STREET, HANOVER SQUARE. MDCCCLXI.
CONTENTS.
VOL. VII.
CONTINUATION OF BOOK XI.
WHEREIN IS DISCOURSED THE BLOODY MURDERINGS OF GODS SAINTS, WITH THE PARTICULAR PROCESSES AND NAMES OF SUCH GODLY MARTYRS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, AS, IN THIS TIME OF QUEEN MARY, WERE PUT TO DEATH.
A.D. PAGE
1555, The reign of Queen Mary continued.
The History of Dr. Robert Ferrar, Bishop of St. David's, in Wales. 3
The principal Articles exhibited by Hugh Rawlins and Thomas Lee against Master Ferrar 4
The ansv/er of Robert, Bishop of St. David's, to the Articles . 9
Exceptions General, laid and preferred against the pretensed Witnesses 16
Certain Articles ministered by Ferrar, against the surmised Information of Thomas Lee, etc 18
Ferrar 's Answer, before Winchester and others ; other Articles,etc. 22
Sundry Examinations of the Bishop, with Articles ministered against him ; his Sentence, etc 25
The Copy of certain Letters of the Bishop of St. David's, written, belike, to the Lord Chancellor, Dr. Goodrick 26
The History of one Pawlins White, bui-ned at Cardiff ... 28
The Words spoken by Queen Mary to certain of her Council- lors, touching the Restitution of the Abbey-Lands ... 34
A Letter from the Bishop of Winchester to Bonner, of the cele- brating the Pope's Funeral : also Prayers to be used in the Masses ; and the Story of a Woman imprisoned for not praying for the Pope 37
A Spectacle to behold, and a Warning of the Pope's blas- phemous Doctrine ; John Awcock, Martyr 38
A Declaration of the Life, Examination, and Burning of George Marsh 39
Communication between George Marsh and the Earl of Derby ; with his Address to the Reader 45
How Dr. Cotes, Bishop of Chester, came to Lancaster, and of his Doings there, in setting up Idolatry 47
The Troubles and Examinations of George Marsh before
Dr. Cotes 48
VOL. VH. h
U CONTEXTS,
A.D. . 'AG* 1555. A Letter of George Marsh to the Reader touching his Exami- nation ^^
A Letter to the faithful Professors of Laughton 55
Another Letter to some dearly heloved Friends at Manchester. 60
A Letter to Jenken Crampton and others 63
Another, to certain faithful Brethren in the Congregation . . 64 Anotlier, to Robert Langley and others ........ 66
A Letter of George Marsh to a certain godly Friend; also a Letter of a godly Brother, one James Bradshaw, to George
Marsh in Prison 67
The Life and Story of William Flower, who, for striking a Priest, was apprehended ; first, having his Hand cut off, and,
after, martyred, etc 68
A Debate between Robert Smith, Prisoner in Newgate, and
William Flower, concerning striking the Priest 70
Articles objected by Bonner against William Flower ; with his
Answers to them '1
His last Appearance before Bonner ; with the Depositions pro- duced upon his Answers 74
The Burning and Martyrdom of John Cardmaker, and John
Warne, Upholsterer 77
Articles objected against Cardmaker; with his Answers . . 78 Articles ministered against John Warne; with his Answers . 80 The Confession of his Faith, written the day before he was
burned 82
A Letter of John Cardmaker to a Friend of his 84
The Story of John Ardeley and John Simson, Martyrs ... 80
A Letter of the King and Queen to Bonner ibid.
Articles objected against John Simson and John Ardeley ; with
their Answers 87
The ridiculous Handling and Proceeding of Bishop Bonner and his Mates against J ohn Tooley ; digged out of his Grave and
burned for a Heretic 90
A Letter from the Council to Bonner ; also the Writ or Man- date of Bonner to inquire into the Case of John Tooley . . 92 The Depositions or Attestations, concerning the Words of John Tooley, at the time of his Death at Chiiring Cross. ... 94
The Examination of Robert Bromley, etc 96
The History and Martyrdom of the worthy Servant of Christ,
Thomas Haukes, Gentleman 97
A Letter of the Earl of Oxford to Bonner ; followed by a pri- vate Talk between Haukes and Bonner 99
Talk between Harpsfield and Haukes 102
Talk ])etween Fecknam and Haukes 105
The Public Examination of Thomas Haukes, at the Bishop's
Consistory 113
An Epistle to the Congi-egation, by Thomas Haukes . . .115
A Letter of his to his Wife 116
A Letter of his to Master Throgmorton 118
The History of Thomas Wats, examined, tried, and burnt . ihid. A Letter sent by certain Justices in Essex to Bonner . . .119 Th.e First Appearance of Wuts in the (Consistory ; his Articles
and Answers 120
Concerning the Childbed of Queen Mary, as it was nmionred
among the People 123
The Pater-noster to God's Glory, etc. ; also tlie Te Deum, con- taining Prayers for Queen Mary 124
A Proclamation of the King and Queen, for the Restraining of all Books and Writings tending against the Doctrine of the
Pope and his Church 127
Parts of the Primer after the Use of Salisbury, called " Our Lady's Matins" 129
CONTENTS, iii
A.D. PAGE
1555. The Lady's Psalter J32
Notes : the Church of Rome examined i;57
The Story of Thomas Osmond, William Bamford, Thomas Osborne, and Others, Martyrs : a Letter to the Earl of Oxford to Bonner ; also the articles objected against Osmond, Bam- ford, and Chamberlain ];j<)
Their Answers to the Articles 141
The History of the worthy Martyr and Servant of God, Master
John Bradford 113
The Communication between Bradford, the Lord Chancellor,
and other Commissioners 149
The Last Examination of Bradford in St. Mary Overy's . . 159 Private Conferences with such as the Prelates sent unto him, after the Time of his Condemnation ; by his own Hand . . 105
Talk between Dr. Hai'psfield and Bradford 168
Talk of Dr. Heath, Archbishop of York, and Day, Bishop of
Chichester, with Bradford 1 74
Talk between Master Bradford and the Spanish Friars . . .179
Talk between Bradford, Weston, and Others 182
Disputation with Dr. Pendleton 184
Certain Reasons against Transubstantiation, by Bradford . .186
Another Talk between Bradford and Dr. Weston 189
A Colloquy between Bradford and a Gentlewoman's Servant,
sent to visit him in Prison 190
John Leaf, burnt with Bradford .192
The Behaviour of Master Bradford, and the Young Man that
suiFered with him in Smithfield ; with Verses to their Memory. 194 A comfortable Letter of John Bradford to his Mother, a godly Matron dwelling at Manchester, and Others there . . . . 196
A fruitful Letter to the City of London 19s
A Letter to the University and Town of Cambridge . . . .201 A Letter to Lancashire and Cheshire, and specially to Man- chester 204
To the Town of Walden 208
To my loving Brethren, B. C. etc., their Wives, and whole
Families 210
To his dearly beloved in Christ, a godly Couple, Erkinalde
Rawlins and his Wife 212
To Mistress A. Warcup 214
Two Letters to Laurence Saunders, Prisoner in the Marshalsea. 21.5
To Drs. Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer 217
To the Right Honourable Lord Paissel, now Earl of Bedford .218 To Master Warcup and his Wife, Mrs. Wilkinson, and others. 219 To Sir James Hales, Knight, Prisoner in the Compter in
Bread-street 222
To his Friend in the Lord, Dr. Hill, Physician 225
To Mistress M. H. a godly Gentlewoman ; also another to the
997
same ■'-'
To his well-beloved in the Lord, W. P. ; also a Letter to a faithful Woman in her Heaviness and Trouble, etc. . . . 230
To Ladv Vane 234
Another Letter to Lady Vane ; also to his dear Friends, Hoy- den and Esing, etc 235
To Mrs. Wilkinson _ 237
A Letter to certain godly Persons, encouraging them, etc. _ . 238 An Admonition to certain Professors of the Gospel, against
the Romish Religion, etc 239
To John Careless, Prisoner in the King's Bench 241
To Master John Hall and liis AVifc, Prisoners in Newgate. . 242 To Mistress Hall, etc. ; also a Letter to a Woman that dosired to know his Mind, whether she, refraining from the Mass, might be present at Matins or Evensong 244
IV CONTENTS.
A.D. PAGE
1555. To the Worshipful Lady Vane 246
To Master Richard Hopkins, Sheriff of Coventry, and Prisoner
in the Fleet 249
To Mistress Elizaheth Brown 250
To a Friend of his, instructing him, etc 251
To certain godly Men 252
A Letter to Master George Eaton 254
Another to Mistress Ann Warcup 255
To a certain godly Gentlewoman, troubled by her Friends, etc. 256 To one by whom he had received much Comfort and Relief in
his Trouble and Imprisonment 257
To a faithful Friend of his, and his Wife, touching Auricular
Confession 258
To a dear Friend N. and his Wife 260
To Augustine Bernher ; also a Letter on the Old Man and the
New 262
A Letter to his Mother as a Farewell, when he thought he
should have suffered shortly 264
Another Letter to the same ; also a Letter sent with a Suppli- cation to the Queen, her Council, and the Parliament . . 266
To certain Friends of his, N. S. and R. C 267
Notes upon the same Epistle, and to the Matter of Election
appertaining 268
John Bradford to Father Traves 274
To Sir Thomas Hall 276
Eight Letters to Father Traves 277
A Declaration made at Paul's Cross by Master Chedsey, at the
Commandment of Bonner 286
William Minge ; James Trevisham buried in tha Fields, and
summoned after his Death ibid.
The History of Master John Bland, Preacher and Martyr;
with the Process of his Doings, written by Himself . . . 287 The Behaviour of John Bland, of Adisham, on Dec. 3d, 1553. 289
Another Matter of Trouble wrought against him 290
Examination of Master John Bland 292
The Copy of a Popish Letter to the Bishop of Dover, by
Thomas Goldwell, a Priest 297
The Answer of Master Bland before the Commissary and others. 298 A Confutation of Master Bland against false and manifest Ab- surdities granted by Mills, of Christ's Church in Canterbury 301 Other Appearances of John Bland, with the Articles ministered unto him, followed by his Answers, and his Prayer before
his Death 304
The History of Nicholas Sheterden, John Frankish, and Hum- phry Middleton : also Sheterden's Examination .... 306 Sheterden 's Answering; also his Notes against the false
Worship and Oblation of the Sacrament 308
The last Examination and Condemnation of the four godly Martyrs, Bland, Frankish, Sheterden, and Middleton . .312
A Letter of Nicholas Sheterden to his Mother 313
Two Letters to his Brother Walter 314
A Letter to his Mother, written the day before his death . . 316
A Letter written to his Wife 317
Nicholas Hale and Christopher Wade, Martyrs; with their
Articles and Answers 318
The Examination and Martyrdom of Margery PoUey, Widow
and Martyr 319
The Execution and Martyrdom of Christopher Wade . . . ibid. The Apprehension, Examination, Condemnation, and Burning of Dirick Carver and John Launder ; followed by their Con- fessions before Bishop Bonner 321
Articles objected against them 324
CONTENTS.
AD.
PAGE
1555. Thomas Iveson, or Everson, who suffered at Chichester • with
his Answers to Bonner 097
John Aleworth ; also James Ahbes, a Martyr of blessed Memory. 328 The Apprehension, Examination, and Condemnation of John
Denley, John Newman, and Patrick Packingham , . . ibid. Edmund Tyrrel's Letter to one of the Queen's Commissioners 329 Notes collected and gathered out of the Scriptures by John
Denley, on the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood . . ibid. A Letter sent by Denley, Simson, Ardeley, and others, from
Prison 33O
Articles objected against Denley, Newman, and Packingham,
by Bishop Bonner ; with their Answers 33 1
The Story of John Newman, Martyr ; with his Examination,
Answers, Arguments, and Faith 335
Richard Hook ; also the Examinations, Answers, and Con- demnation of Six Martyrs in Kent, namely, Coker, Hopper,
Laurence, Colliar, R. Wright, and Stere 339
The Persecution of Ten Martyrs, sent by certain of the Council to Bonner to be examined; with the Letter of the Com- missioners 341
The History of Elizabeth Warne, Widow ; burnt at Stratford . 342
George Tankerfield, a faithful Martyr ibid.
Certain Notes of his after he came to suffer at St. Alban's . . 345 The History and Examination of Robert Smith ; followed by
his several Examinations 347
His last Examination and Condemnation 3,54
His Letters in Metre 356
A Letter to all which love God unfeignedly, etc 3G2
A Letter to his Wife ; followed by three others to the same . 366 A Letter to a Friend, and another to all faithful Servants of
Christ 369
The Martyrdom of Stephen Harwood and Thomas Fust ; also
of William Hale, at Barnet 370
George King, Thomas Leyes, John Wade, and William Andrew, who sickened in Prison and were buried in the
Fields ibid.
A Letter to Bishop Bonner, fi-om Sir Richard Southwell ; also
the Martyrdom of Robert Samuel, Preacher 371
A Letter of Exhortation of Robert Samuel, for patient suffer- ing for Christ's Cause 374
A Letter to the Christian Congregation, from the same . . 378 The Martyrdoms of William Allen and of Roger Coo . . .381
Thomas Cob, Butcher, of Haverhill, Martyr 382
The Martyrdom of George Catmer, Robert Streater, Anthony Burward, George Brodbridge, and James Tutty .... 383
Thomas Hayward and John Goreway, Martyrs iljid.
The Persecution and Trouble of Master Robert Glovei", Gentle- man, and of John Glover, his Brother 384
A Letter of Master Robert Glover to his Wife, containing the
Description of his Troubles, etc 387
A Letter from the same to the Mayor of Coventry .... 395 Cornelius Bungay, Fellow-Martyr with Robert Glover; with his
Articles and Answers 399
The Story how John and William Glover were excommuni- cated, and cast out after their Death, and buried in the
Fields if'id.
Bishop Bayne's Letter to the Parish of Wem 401
The Martyrdom of William Wolsey and Robert Pygot . . . 402
Another Account of them 405
The Story of Nicholas Ridley and Master Hugh Latimer • . 406
A Conference had betwixt them in Prison 410
A Letter from Bishop Ritlley to his Prison-fellows .... 424
VI CONTENTS.
A. I). PAGE
155."). A Letter to his Cousin ; also Three Letters to Master Bradford 425 To the Brethren remaining in Captivity of the Flesh, and dis- persed ahroad in sundry Prisons, etc 428
A Letter of Bishop Ridley to confirm the Brethren, etc. . . 430 A Letter of his, to Master V/est, sometime his Chaplain . . . 43 1 The Answer of Bishop Ridley to Master Grindal's Letter . . 434
To Augustine Bernher 436
The Life, Acts, and Doings of Master Latimer, the famous
Preacher and Martyr, etc 437
The Tenor and Effect of certain Sermons of his at Cambridge,
A.D. 1529 439
The Epistle of Master Redman to Master Latimer, with Lati- mer's Answer 453
A Citation to Master Latimer by the Chancellor of Sarum, at
the Intercession of the Bishop of London 455
Tlie Epistle of Latimer to the Archbishop of Canterbury . . 456 Articles devised by the Bishops for Latimer to subscribe unto. 458 An Inhibition made to Latimer not to preach in the Diocese of
London 459
Words spoken to the People in giving them Holy Bread and
Water 461
Articles untruly, unjustly, falsely, and uncharitably imputed to
Hugh Latimer 466
A Letter of Master Latimer to Master Morice, concerning the
Articles falsely laid against him 473
A brief Digression touching the railing of Hubberdin against
Latimer 477
An Expostulatory Epistle of William Sherwood against Lati- mer; with Latimer's Answers 478
A Letter of Latimer to Sir Edward Baynton, Knight . . . 484
The Answer of Sir Edward Baynton 490
Master Latimer's Answer 491
A Writing of the Bishops against English Books ; namely, out of " The Book of Beggars," " The Primer," also against " An Exposition upon the Seventh Chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians;" with a " Bill or Declaration,"
in English, to be published by the Preacher 499
A Letter of Latimer to Henry the Eighth, for restoring the
Reading of the Scriptures 506
A fruitful Letter to a certain Gentleman 512
A Letter to Mrs. Wilkinson, out of Bocardo 517
The Order and Manner of the Examination of Ridley and Lati- mer, the 30th of September, 1555 518
Articles jointly and severally ministered to them by the Pope's Deputy ; also Ridley's Examination upon them .... 525
Master Latimer before the Commissioners 529
The Second Day's Session 534
The last Appearance of Latimer before the Commissioners. . 540 A Communication between Dr. Brooks and Dr. Ridley, in the
House of Master Irish ; also his Degradation 542
A Supplication of Ridley to Queen Mary in behalf of certain
Poor Men's Leases 545
The Beha^•iour of Dr. Ridley at his Supper, the Night before his Suffering; also the Behaviour of Master Latimer and
Dr. Ridley at the Time of their Death 547
A Treatise of Dr. Ridley, instead of his last Farewell to his faith- ful Friends in (iod ; with a sharp Admonition to the Papists. 552 Another Farewell to the Prisoners in Clirist's Gospel's Cause . 563 A Treatise containing a Lamentation for the State of England. 569 A Description of the Profession of the Christian Faith, agreed upon at Peternot or Petricow, in the Kingdom of Poland ; May, A.D. 1555 584
CONTENTS. Vli
AD- PAOS
! .J55. The Death and End of Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winches- ter, the Enemy of God's Word 535
The Pope's Supremacy impugned by Stephen Gardiner, in his
Books and Sermons. ' 595
Certain Matters wherein Stephen Gardiner varied from other
Papists, touching the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper . . 597 Matters wherein Bishop Gardiner varied from himself; witli
certain Things that he granted unto 600
Twelve New-found Articles, from "The Examination of tlie
Hunter " 602
The Burningof John Webbe,George Roper, and Gregory Parke. G04 The Death of William Wiseman, in Lollards' Tower ; and of
James Gore, in Colchester Prison , 605
The Process and History of John Philpot, examined, con- demned, and martyred in Defence of the Gospel .... ibid.
The First Examination of Master John Philpot 606"
The Second Examination 609
The Manner of his Calling before the Bishop of London . .Gil
The Fourth Examination - C13
The Fifth Examination 620
The Sixth Examination 628
The Seventh Examination 638
Two Private Conferences with Bishop Bonner, etc 645
Another Private Conference in the Coal-house 647
The Eighth Examination of John Philpot 648
The Ninth Examination -. 649
The Tenth Examination 654
The Eleventh Examination 656
The Twelfth Examination ; with another Talk the same Day . 667 The Thirteenth Examination ; with another Talk the same Day. 671 The Examinations of Master Philpot in open Judgment, by Bishop Bonner, in the Consistory at Paul's, on the 13th and
14th of December 677
Bishop Bonner's Exhortation to John Philpot 679
Philpofs Letter concerning the Handling of Master Green in Bishop Bonner's House ; also another Letter to Lady Vane,
followed by Philpot's Supplication, etc 681
The Condemnation of the worthy Martyr of God, John Philpot. 683
A Prayer to be said at the Stake, etc 68p
A Letter of Master Philpot to the Christian Congregation . ibid. The Letter to John Careless in the King's Bench ; also another. 691 Another Letter to certain godly Women, who forsook their
Country for the Gospel 693
An Exhortation to Philpot's own Sister 69 1
A Letter to certain godly Brethren G9G
A Letter to Master Robert Harrington 699
Extract of a Letter to the Lady "Vane ; followed by four other
Letters to the same Lady 700
A Letter to a Friend, Prisoner in Newgate 700
1556. A godly Letter of Reproof of a certain Gospeller, to Bonner . 712
The Story of Seven Martyrs suffering together in London ;
with their Articles and Answers 715
Tlie Story of all these Martyrs; and first, of Thomas Whittle. 718
The Bill of Submission offered to him 719
The Letter of John Harpsfield to Bonner, declaring how
Thomas Whittle rent his Subscription out of the Register . 720 A Letter of Robert Johnson the Registrar to Bonner . . .721 A Letter of Thomas Whittle to John Careless .... .723 A Letter to John Went, and other Prisoners, in the Lollards'
Tower 724
To all true Professors in the City of London 72.5
To John Careless in the King's Bench 728
Vm * CONTENTS.
A.D. PAGE
1556. A Letter to the Brethren Filles and Cutbert 729
A Letter to a godly Woman 730
The Story of Master Bartlet Green, Gentleman and Lawyer . 731 His Writing in Master Bartram Calthorp's Book .... ibid.
A Letter to Bonner by the Queen's Council 733
A Letter of Bartlet Green to John Philpot 734
The last Examination and Condemnation of Master Green ;
with his Confession 737
A Letter of Bartlet Green to certain loving Friends and others,
Masters of the Temple 743
A Letter to Mistress Clark 744
Another Writing of Bartlet Green 745
Thomas Brown,"Martyr 746
John Tudson, Martyr 747
John Went ; also Isabel Foster, Martyrs 748
Joan Lashford, alias Joan Warne, Martyr 749
Five other Martyrs in Canterbury, John Lomas, Agnes Snoth,
Anne Albright, Joan Sole, and Joan Catmer 750
Appendix to Vol. VII 753
ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOL. VIL
PAOE
The Burning of Master Bradford and John Leaf 194
Prisoners in Bonds conferring together 356
Master Latimer preaching before King Edward 463
The Burning of Bishop Ridley and Father Latimer 550
The Martyrdom of Master John Philpot 685
Seven Godly Martyrs suffering at one Fire in Smithfield . . . 715
CATHOLIC HANDLIXG OF WILLIAM GLOVKR. 4()|
the earth, and so smellcd, that none was able to abide the savour of Mary. him. " Well," quoth Dr. Dracot, " then take this bill, and pro- ^"77" nounce him in the pulpit a damned soul, and a twelvemonth after 1555 take up his bones (for then the flesh will be consumed), and cast ~ — ~ them over the wall, that carts and horses may tread upon them ; and afu-rtiis then will I come and hallow again that place in the churchyard where jT-igea he was bimed." This was recorded by the parson of the town, who damned told, the same to Hugh Burrows, dwelling at Findern in Derbyshire, and to Mr. Robert Glover's wife, by whose credible information we received the same.
Not much unlike usage was practised also by these catholic children Mannerof of the mother church, upon the body of William the third brother ; uf^boiy whom after it had pleased Almighty God about the same season to aa^^ mi' call out of this vale of misery, the good disposed people of the town '^'^ath. " of Wem, in Shropshire, where he died, brought the body unto the parish church, intending there to have it buried. But one Bernard, Bernard a being then curate of the said church (and yet is, as I hear say, to cu?ateof this day), to stop the burial thereof, rode to the bishop named ^^''""• Radulph Banes, to certify him of the matter, and to have his advice therein. In the mean time the body lying there a whole day, in the night time one Richard Morice, a tailor, would have interred him. But then came John Thorlyne, of Wem, with others more, and Thnriyne would not suffer the body to be buried ; expressing to us the con- the'buV trary example of good Tobit, for as he was religious in burying the j^JJ.''' "[ dead, so this man putteth religion in not burying the dead : so that veV. after he had lain there two days and one night, cometh the foresaid Bernard the curate with the bishop''s letter, the contents of which letter, being copied out word for word, here follow.
A Copy of the Bishop's Letter, ^vritten to the Parish of Wem.
Understanding that one Glover, a heretic, is dead in the parish of Wem, which Glover hath for all the time of my being in this country been known for a rebel against our holy faith and religion, a contemner of the holy sacraments and ceremonies used in the holy church, and hath separated himself from the holy communion of all good christian men, and never required to be reconciled to our mother holy church, nor in his last days did call for his ghostly father, but died without all rites belonging to a christian man ; I thought it good not only to command the curate of Wem, that he should not be buried in Clmstian-man's burial, but also will and command all the parish of Wem, that no man procure, help, nor speak, to have him buried in holy gi-ound : but I do charge and com- mand the churchwardens of Wem, in special, and all the parish of the same, that they assist the said curate in defending, and letting, and procuring, that he be not buried either in the church, or within the wainables of the church-yard : and likewise I charge those that brought the body to the place, to carry it away again, and that at their charge, as they will answer at their peril.
At Eccleshall, this 6th of September, Anno 1558.
By your ordinary, Radulph Coventry and Lichfield.
By the virtue of this foresaid letter, so it fell out, that they which brought the corpse thither, were fain at their own charges to carry it J^J^ den,i back again. But for so much as the body was corrupted, and smelt w^uTov'-r so strongly that scarcely any man might come near it, they were ^^f-^^ forced to draw it with horses into a broom-field, and there was he fields, buried.
VOL. VII. D D
402 THE STORY OF WOLSEY AND PYGOT.
Mary. TliG witnesscs of tlic gocUy end of the said William Glover, dying A 13 in the true faith and confession of Christ, were master Nowell dean 1555. of Lichfield, George Wilcstone and his wife, Thomas Constantine, Roger Wydhouse, John Prynne, George Torpelley, etc. Burton 'i'he like example of charitable affection in these catholic church- fered to ""'^"' ^^ ^^'^^'> ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^"^^ notcd In the burying of one master be buried Edward Ijurton, esq., who, in the same diocese of Chester, departing Wan bu- out of tliis world the very day before queen Elizabeth was crowned, da*y\vhen required of his friends, as they would answer for it, that his body i."?'^" should be buried in his parish church (which was St. Chad's in Shrews- was' bury), so that no mass-monger should be present thereat ; which crowned, ^.j^jj^g, \^q[^^„ declared to the curate of that parish, named sir John aJZhx. Marshall, and the body being withal brought to the burial, upon the same day when the queen was crowned, the curate, being therewith offended, said plainly, that he should not be buried in the church there. Whereunto one of his friends, named George Torpelley, answering again, said, that God would judge him in the last day, etc. Then the priest : " J'udge God," saith he, " or devil ; the body shall not come there." And so they buried him in his own garden, where he is no doubt as near the kingdom of heaven, as if he had been buried in the midst of the church.
Oliver Moreover, in the said county of Salop, I find that one Oliver
dine,"" Richardine of the parish of Whitchurch, was burned in Haverford- mar'yr- -^yggt^ gjj. John Ygone being sheriff the same time, which seemeth to be about the latter year of king Henry the Eighth : whose name, because it was not mentioned before, I thought here to give some little touch of him, having now in hand to speak of the persecution within the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield.
€\iz ilartpcDom of JBaimm IDoI^ep, anD llobcct J^pgot ipaintcr.
After the suffering of master Robert Glover and Cornelius Bungey, at Coventry, followeth next the condemnation of other two blessed martyrs, which were judged and condemned at Ely, by John Fuller the bishop"'s chancellor of Ely, Dr. Shaxton his suffragan, Robert Steward, dean of Ely, John Christopherson, dean of Norwich, Octo- ber 9th, A.D. L555 ; the names of which martyrs were William Wolsey and Robert Pygot, dwelling both in the town of Wisbeach, which William Wolsey being a constable, dwelling and inhabiting in the town of Wells, was there brought to death by the means and Everard procurement of one Richard Everard, gentleman, a iustice appointed against for those days, who extremely handled the same William Wolsey, and bound him to the good abearing, causing him to put in sureties tipon his good behaviour, until the next general sessions holden within the isle of Ely : and so the said Wolsey, being dispatched of his office, and brought in trouble, removed his house and dwelling place, Wolsey coming to dv/ell in the town of Wisbeach. Then beincr called again
Wolsey.
com
nianded at the ucxt scssious, he was still constrained to put in new sureties, jau. which at the length he refused to do, and so was commanded to the jail at the assizes holden at Ely in Lent.
In the Easter M'cek following, there repaired to confer with him.
THE STORY OF W0L6EY AND PYGOT. 403
Dr. Fuller the chancellor, with Christopherson, and one Dr. Younf Mary. who laid earnestly to his charge that he was out of the catholic faith, a t) willing him to meddle no further with the Scriptures, than it did be- 155-/
come such a layman as he Avas to do. The said William Wolsey 7:
standing still a great while, suffering them to say their pleasures, at ciuisto- the last answered in this wise : " Good master doctor, what did our an"^""' Saviour Christ mean, when he spake these words, written in the 23d J°Xf chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, ' Wo be unto you scribes and Phari- ^""' '"">• sees, ye hypocrites, for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven before men : "tVa'" ye yourselves go not in, neither suffer ye them that come to enter in.' " qut-stion
" Yea," saith Dr. Fuller, " you must understand, that Christ spake to the scribes and Pharisees.'"
" Nay, master doctor," saith Wolsey, " Christ spake even to you, and your fellows here present, and to all other such like as you be."
" Away, master doctor," said Christopherson, " for you can do no good with this man." " Yet," saith Dr. Fuller, " I will leave thee a book to read,^ I promise thee, of a learned man's doing ;" that is to Aj«Utx. say, of Dr. Watson's doing, who was then bishop of Lincoln.
Wolsey, receiving the same book, did diligently read it over, which Fuller in many places did manifestly appear contrary to the known truth of sortetMo God's word. At the length, a fortnight or three weeks following, the ^oi^ey. said Dr. Fuller, resorting again to the prison-house to confer with the said Wolsey, did ask him how he did like the said book (thinking that he had won him by the reading of the same) : Avho answered him and said, " Sir, I like the book no otherwise than I thought be- fore I should find it." Whereupon the chancellor taking his book, departed home.
At night, when Dr. Fuller came to his chamber to look on it, he
■ did find in many places, contrary to his mind, the book rased with a
pen by the said Wolsey. The which he seeing, and being vexed
therewith, said, " Oh ! this is an obstinate heretic, and hath quite
marred my book."
Then the assizes holden at Wisbeach drawing nigh, Dr. Fuller Thechan- cometh again to the said Wolsey, and speaketh unto him on this giveth manner : " Thou dost much trouble my conscience ; wherefore I JlJ'Jepa^j'Jf pray thee depart, and rule thy tongue, so that I hear no more com- plaint of thee ; and come to the church when thou Avilt, and if thou be complained upon, so far as I may, I promise thee I will not hear of it."
" Master doctor," quoth Wolsey, " I was brought hither by a law; and by a law I will be delivered."
Then, being brought to the sessions before named, Wolsey was woisey laid in the castle at Wisbeach, thinking to him and all his friends, J.asUe"of ^ that he should have suffered there at that present time; but it ^;=;,, proved nothing so.
Then Robert Pygot the painter, being at liberty, was there pre- Pypotpre-
./ o ,. ^ , 7 ■! 11 1 sentcd for
sented by some evil-disposed persons (sworn men, as they called pot com- them), for not coming to the church. church.
The said Pygot being called in the sessions, would not absent him- sir cie- self, but there did plainly appear before sir Clement Higham being S-gham. judge, who said unto him ; " Ah ! are you the holy father the painter ?
(]) Dr. Watson's Book of Sermons or Homilies. D D 2
404 THE STORY OF WOLSEY AND PYGOT.
Mary. How cliancc je came not to the cluirch ?" " Sir,"" quoth the painter, ^ Q " I am not out of the church, I trust in God,"
1555" "^ No, sir," said the judge : " this is no church ; this is a hall." ~ " Yea, sir," said Pygot, " I know very well it is a hall : but he that is in the true faith of Jesus Christ, is never absent, but present in the church of God."
"Ah, sirrah !" said the judge," " you are too high learned for me
to talk withal ; -wherefore. I will send you to them that be better
learned than I ;*" straightways commanding him to the jail where
Pygot Wolscy lay. So the sessions being broken up and ended, the said
the'jaii!*" Wolsey and Pygot were carried again to Ely into prison, where they
both did remain till the day of their death.
In the mean time certain of their neighbours of Wisbeach aforesaid, The being at Ely, came to see how they did. There came thither also a chaplain, chaplaiu of bishop Goodrike's, a Frenchman bom, one Peter Valen- a^French- tJ^g^ -^yl^Q gai(J unto the Said Wolsey and Pygot, " My brethren, firraeth accordiug to mine office, I am come to talk with you, for I have been sone^rs'i'n aluiouer here these twenty years and above. Wherefore I must the truth, (^ggij-g yo^^ ^-^y brethren, to take it in good part that I am come to talk with you. I promise you, not to pull you from your faith ; but I both require and desire in the name of Jesus Christ, that you stand to the truth of the gospel and word ; and I beseech the Almighty God, for his son Jesus Christ''s sake, to preserve both you and me in the same unto the end. For I know not myself, my brethren, how soon I shall be at the same point that you now are." Thus, with many other like words, he made an end, causing all that were tliere present to water their cheeks, contrary to all the hope they had in him ; God be praised therefore. Pygotand Then withiu short time after, Pygot and Wolsey were called to caued^o judguieut about the 9th day of October, before Dr. Fuller then in'th™*^"' chancellor, with old Dr. Shaxton, Christopherson, and others in com- coiisis- mission, who laid earnestly to their charge for their belief in divers articles, but especially of the sacrament of the altar. Whereunto their answer was, that the sacrament of the altar was an idol, and that the natural body and blood of Christ were not present really in the said sacrament ; and to this opinion they said they would stick, be- lieving perfectly the same to be no heresy that they had affirmed, but the very truth, whereupon they would stand. Then said the doctors, that they were out of the catholic faith. The Then Dr. Shaxton said unto them, " Good brethren, remember
Shaxton yourselves, and become new men, for I myself was in this fond to the opinion that \o\\ are now in, but I am now become a new man." woisey's " All," said Wolsey, " are you become a new man ? Wo be to answer, thcc, thou wickcd new man, for God shall justly judge thee."
Dr. Fuller then spake, saying, " This Wolsey is an obstinate fellow, and one that I could never do good upon. But as for the painter, he is a man quiet and indifferent (as far as I perceive), and is soon reformed, and may very well be delivered for any evil opinion I find in him."
Then Christopherson called for pen and ink, and wrote these words following : " I, Robert Pygot, do believe, that after the words of consecration spoken by the priest, there remaineth no more bread
THE STORY OF WOLSEY AND PYGOT. 40.-,
and ■wine, but the very body and blood of Christ really and substan- Mary. tially, the selfsame that was born of the Virgin Mary ;"" and reading ~. ..' it to the painter he said thus, " Dost thou believe all this according 15^5' as it written?'"
" No, sir," said the painter, " that is your faith, and not mine.'"' Christopherson : — " Lo, master Dr. Fuller, you would have let Pygotre- this fellow go ; he is as much a heretic as the other." And so im- luwribe mediately judgment was given upon them to die : which done, after '"''• the sentence read, they were sent again to the prison, where they did lie till the day of their death. At which day, one Peacock, bachelor Peacock of divinity, being appointed to preach, took his text out of the First fo preadf Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, chapter v., of one that had f "'?
■.. , . ,. ,, ,. i-oi! 1 burning
lived mordmately, by abusmg his lathers wife; hkening the said ofwouey Pygot and Wolsey to the same man, oftentimes saying, tliat such pygot. members must be cut off from the congregation ; most maliciously reporting the said Wolsey to be clean out of the faith, and in many places quite denying the Scripture.
So, his sermon being ended, the forenamed Pygot and Wolsey being brought to the place of execution, and so bound to the stake with a chain, thither cometh one sir Richard Collinson a priest, at that time destitute of any biding-place or stay of benefice, who said unto Wolsey, " Brother Wolsey, the preacher hath openly reported in his sermon this day, that you are quite out of the catholic faith, and deny baptism, and that you do err in the holy Scripture : where- fore I beseech you, for the certifying of my conscience, with others here present, that you declare in what place of the Scripture you do err or find fault."
Wolsey : — " I take the eternal and everlasting God to witness, wnisey that I do err in no part or point of God's book, the holy Bible, but au'poinl's hold and believe in the same to be most firm and sound doctrine in fj'"^'^^^ all points most worthy for my salvation, and for all other Christians, longingto to the end of the world. Whatsoever mine adversaries report by tion. me, God forgive them there-for." With that cometh one to the fire with a great sheet knit full of books to burn, like as they had been Books New Testaments. " Oh," said Wolsey, " give me one of them ;" with woi- and Pygot desired another ; both of them clapping them close to ^^^.^^^ their breasts, saying Psalm cvi., desiring all the people to say amen ; and so received the fire most thankfully. The witnesses and in- formers hereof, were;, Robert Scortred, Robert Crane, Edward Story, Robert Kendall, Richard Best, etc.
Concerning the story of William Wolsey, I received moreover, from the University of Cambridge, by a credible person and my faithful friend, William Fulke, this relation which I thought in this place not unmeet to be notified unto the reader, in order and form as followeth.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF W0I,SEY AND PYGOT.
There were burned at Ely two godly martyrs, the one called Wolsey, the Wolscy other Pygot. In these two appeared divers opinions of one spirit. l'yg<>t was ^^^jj^^a mild, humble, and modest, promising that he would be conformable to his per- secutors, if they could persuade him by the Scripture. The other (Wolsey) was stout, strong, and vehement, as one having ir\vpo<popiau of the SjjU-it, and detested all their doings, as of whom he was sure to receive nothing but cruelty
406 THE STORY OF BISHOP RIDLEY, MARTYR.
Mary, and tyranny. He was wonderful jealous over his companion, fearing lest his
gentle nature would have been overcome by the flattering enticements of the
A. D. world ; and therefore the same day that they were burned, when they would
1555. have talked with him alone, he pulled him away from them almost by force.
•^Voisey, He was so desirous to glorify God with his suffering, that being wonderful sore
desirous tormented in the prison with the toothache, he feared nothing more than that
of mar- j^g should depart before the day of execution (which he called his glad day)
were come. Denton This Wolsey being in prison at Ely, was visited by Thomas Hodilo, beer- "^f w*^!'^"^ brewer in Ely. To him he delivered certain money to be distributed, as he sey. " appointed, part to his wife, and part to his kinsfolks and friends, and especially six shillings eight pence to be delivered to one Richard Denton, smith, dwelling yr at Wellney in Cambridgeshire, within the jurisdiction of the isle of Ely, with his
exhorteth commendation, that he marvelled that he tarried so long behind him, seeing liira to that he was the first that delivered him [Wolsey] the book of Scripture into ?hrtruth his hand, and told him that it was the truth ; desiring him to make haste after, as fast as he could.
This Thomas Hodilo, both to avoid the danger of the time, and to have a witness of his doings herein, delivered the said sum of money to one master Laurence, preacher in Essex (who then resorted often to his house), to be dis- tributed as Wolsey had appointed ; which thing he performed, riding from place Denton, to place. And when this six shillings eight pence was delivered to Richard afraid of Denton with the commendation aforesaid, his answer was this: " I confess it iTburned is true, but alas I cannot burn." This was almost one whole year after Wolsey in his was burned. But he that could not burn in the cause of Christ, was afterward ?"" burned against his will, when Christ had given peace to his church. For in the
He would year of our Lord 1564, on Tuesday being the 18th of April, his house was set not burn ojj flj-g, and while he went in to save his goods, he lost his life, with two others '^ ■ that were in the same house.
Witnessed by Thomas Hodilo and William Fulke.
Not much unlike to tins, was also the example of master West, chaplain to bishop Ridley, who, refusing to die in Christ's cause with his master, said mass against his conscience, and soon after died.
BOTH BISHOPS, PREACHERS, AND MARTYRS OF CHRIST; WITH THEIR DOINGS, CONFERENCES, AND SUFFERINGS DESCRIBED.
The same year, month, and day, which the foresaid two martyrs, William Wolsey and Thomas Pygot, suffered at Ely, wdiich was A.D. 1555, October 16, followed also at Oxford the slaughter of two other special and singular captains and principal pillars of Christ's church, master Ridley, bishop of London, and master Hugh Latimer, bishop sometime of Worcester, of whose famous doings and memo- rable learning, and incomparable ornaments and gifts of grace, joined with no less commendable sincerity of life, as all the realm can wit- ness sufficiently ; so it needeth not greatly that we should stand exactly at this time in setting forth a full description of the same, but only to comprehend briefly, in a few words, touching the order of their lives, so much as necessarily serveth to the due instruction of the reader, and maketh to the use of this present history, in declaring first their beginning and bringing up ; then their studies and acts in the university ; their preferments also by their studies to higher dignity ; at last their trouble and travail in setting forth religion, and in maintaining the same to the shedding of their blood. And first to begin with the life of master Ridley, whose story here ensueth
THE STORY OF BISHOP RIDLEY, MARTVR. 407
Among many other worthy and sundry histories and notable acts Mary. of such as of late days have been turmoiled, murdered, and martyred, & ly for the true gospel of Christ in queen Mary's reign, the tragical story io5'j!
and life of Dr. Ridley, I thought good to commend to chronicle, and
leave to perpetual memory ; beseeching thee (gentle reader) with care and study well to peruse, diligently to consider, and deeply to ])rint the same in thy breast, seeing him to be a man beautified with such excellent qualities, so ghostly inspired and godly learned, and now written doubtless in the book of life, with the blessed saints of the Almighty, crowned and throned amongst the glorious company of martyrs. First, descending of a stock right worshipful, he was ^''"ly born in Northumberlandshire, who, being a child, learned his gi-am- Nortil" mar with great dexterity in Newcastle, and was removed from thence "and."' to the university of Cambridge, where he in short time became so famous, that for his singular aptness, he was called to higher func- tions and offices of the university, by degree attaining thereunto, and was called to be head of Pembroke-hall, and there made doctor of divinity. After this, departing from thence, he travelled to Paris, who, at his return, was made chaplain to king Henry the Eighth, and promoted aftarwards by him to the bishopric of Rochester ; and so from thence translated to the see and bishopric of London, in king Edward's days.
In which callinof and offices he so travailed and occupied himself The n-uit- by preaching and teaching the true and wholesome doctrine of Christ, gence of that never good child was more singularly loved of his dear parents, JVcSng than he of his flock and diocese. Every holiday and Sunday he ^^o'l.s lightly preached in some one place or other, except he were other- wise letted by weighty afEiirs and business, to whose sermons the people resorted, swarming about him like bees, and coveting the sweet flowers and wholesome juice of the fruitful doctrine, which he did not only preach, but showed the same by his life, as a glittering lanthorn to the eyes and senses of the blind, in such pure order and chastity of life (declining from all evil desires and concupiscences), that even his very enemies could not reprove him in any one jot thereof.
Besides this, he was passingly Avell learned, his memory was great, Ridley of and he of such reading withal, that of right he deserved to be com- f^,';^^^ "^Ij parable to the best of this our age, as can testify as well divers his ''•'^"^"'s- notable works, pithy sermons, and sundry his disputations in both the universities, as also his very adversaries, all which will say no less themselves.
Besides all this, wise he was of counsel, deep of wit, and very politic in all his doings. How merciful and careful he was to reduce the obstinate papists from their erroneous opinions, and by gentleness to win them to the truth, his gentle ordering and courteous handling of Dr. Heath, late archbishop" of York, being prisoner with him in king Edward's time in his house one year, sufficiently declareth. In fine, he was such a prelate, and in all points so good, godly, and ghostly a man, that England may justly rue the loss of so worthy a treasure. And thus hitherto concerning these public matters.
Now will I speak something further, particularly of his person comoiy of and conditions. He was a man right comely and well proportioned tio... in all points, both in complexion and lineaments of the body. He
408 THE STORY OF BISHOP RIDLEY, MARTYR.
Mary, took all things in good part, bearing no malice nor rancour in his ' ^ heart, but straightways forgetting all injuries and offences done against 1555. liii^i- He was very kind and natural to his kinsfolk, and yet not
bearing with them any thing otherwise than right would require,
his^fn- " giving them always for a general rule, yea to his own brother and '''""'■ sister, that they, doing evil, should seek or look for nothing at his hand, but should be as strangers and aliens unto him; and they to be his brother and sister, which used honesty, and a godly trade of life. A great He, usiug all kinds of ways to mortify himself, was given to much of him" prayer and contemplation ; for duly every morning, so soon as his ^^'^- apparel was done upon him, he went forthwith to his bed-chamber, and there, upon his knees, prayed the space of half an hour; which being done, immediately he went to his study, if there came no other business to interrupt him, where he continued till ten of the clock, and then came to the common prayer, daily used in his house. The prayers being done, he went to dinner, where he used little talk, except otherwise occasion by some had been ministered, and then was it sober, discreet, and wise, and sometimes merry, as cause required. The dinner done, which was not very long, he used to sit an hour or thereabouts, talking, or playing at the chess : that done, he re- turned to his study, and there would continue, except suitors or busi- ness abroad were occasion of the contrary, until five of the clock at night, and then would come to common prayer, as in the forenoon : which being finished, he went to supper, behaving himself there as His order at liis dinner before. After supper recreating himself in playing at suilp'er. chess the space of an hour, he would then return again to his study ; continuing there till eleven of the clock at night, which was his com- mon hour to go to bed, then saying his prayers upon his knees, as in His care- the niomiug Avhen he rose. Being at his manor of Fulham, as divers g'e'nce of tiuics he uscd to be, he read daily a lecture to his family at the com- iiistruct- 1-non prayer, beginning at the Acts of the Apostles, and so going famUy. tlirough all the Epistles of St. Paul, giving, to every man that could read, a New Testament, hiring them besides with money to learn by heart certain principal chapters, but especially Acts xiii., reading also unto his household oftentimes Psalm ci., being marvellous careful over his family, that they might be a spectacle of all virtue and honesty to others. To be short, as he was godly and virtuous him- self, so nothing but virtue and godliness reigned in his house, feeding them with the food of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Beha- Now rcmaineth a word or two to be declared of his gentle nature
Ridily'to and kindly pity in the usage of an old woman called Mrs. Bonner, Bon"^"^* mother to Dr. Bonner, sometime bishop of London, which I thought good to touch, as well for the rare clemency of Dr. Ridley, as the unworthy inhumanity and ungrateful disposition again of Dr. Bonner. Bishop Ridley, being at his manor of Fulham, always sent for this said Mrs. Bonner, dwelling in a house adjoining to his house, to dinner and supper, with one Mrs. Mungey, Bonner''s sister, saying, "Go for my mother Bonner;" who, coming, Avas ever placed in the chair at the table''s end, being so gently entreated, welcomed, and taken, as though he had been born of her own body, being never dis- placed of her scat, although the king''s council had been present ; saying, when any of them were there, as divers times they Avcrc, " By
THE STORY OF BISHOP RIDLEY, MARTYR. 409
your lordship's favour, this place of right and custom is for my mother Mary. Bonner.'''' But how well lie was recompensed for this his singular . gentleness and pitiful piety after, at the hands of the said Dr. Bonner, 1555" almost the least child that goeth by the ground can declare. For wlio ,7
afterward was more enemy to Ridley than Bonner and his ? Who more tesy aild" went about to seek his destruction than he ? recompensing this his ilhne"^of gentleness with extreme cruelty ; as well appeared by the strait descrTbed handling of Ridley's own natural sister, and George Shipside her husband, from time to time : whereas the gentleness of the other did Bonner suffer Bonner's mother, sister, and other of his kindred, not only "ndcimr- quietly to enjoy all that which they had of Bonner, but also enter- i^'' '», tained them in his house, showing much courtesy and friendship daily sis'ter?'ana unto them : whereas on the other side, bishop Bonner, being restored the'deatu again, would not suffer the brother and natural sister of bishop o^h'sbro- Ridley, and other his friends, not only not to enjoy that which they law. had by the said their brother bishop Ridley, but also currishly, without all order of law or honesty, by extort power wrested from them all the livings they had.
And yet, being not therewith satisfied, he sought all the means he could to work the death of the foresaid Shipside, saying, that he would make twelve godfathers to go upon him ; which had been brought to pass indeed, at what time he was prisoner at Oxford, had not God otherwise wrought his deliverance by means of Dr. Heath, then the bishop of Worcester.^
Hereby all good indifferent readers notoriously have to under- stand, what great diversity was in the disposition of these two natures; whereof as the one excelled in mercy and pity, so the other again as much or more excelled in churlish ingratitude, and despiteful dis- dain. But of this matter enough.
Now concerning God''s vocation, how Dr. Ridley was first called Ridley to the savouring and favouring of Christ and his gospel, partly by his vene^d'iVy disputation before, and other his treatises, it may appear that the first boJk"^^"''^ occasion of his conversion was by reading of Bertram ""s Book of the Sacrament, whom also the conference with bishop Cranmer, and with Peter Martyr, did not a little confirm in that behalf : who now, by the gi'ace of God being thoroughly won and brought to the true way, as he was before blind and zealous in his old ignorance, so was he con- stant and faithful in the right knowledge which the Lord had opened unto him (as well appeared by his preachings and doings durinj^ all the time of king Edward), and so long did much good, while autho- rity of extern power might defend and hold up the peace of the church, and proceedings of the gospel. But after that it so pleased Ridley the heavenly will of the Lord our God, to bereave us of that stay, and "ue nrst call from us king Edward, that precious prince, as the whole state of ^"f,^;",';I;l" the Church of England was left desolate and open to the enemies"' ^eaiiyf hand : so this bishop Ridley, after the coming in of queen Mary, ward, eftsoon, and with the first, was laid hands upon, and conunittcd to ^.^^^^^ .^ prison, as before hath sufficiently been expressed : first in the Tower, the *" then after, translated from thence with the archbishop of Canterbury 'l°ZZiT and master Latimer to Oxford, was with them enclosed in the com- ^i*;, f,;'^j;;: mon gaol and prison of Bocardo, while at length, being dissevered ford.
(I) Teste Georgio Shipsidio.
410
THE STORY OF BISHOP RIDLEY, MARTYR.
Mary.
A.D. 1555.
fiom tlicm, he was committed to custody in the house of one Irish, where he remained till the last day of his death and martyrdom, which was from the year of our Lord 1554, till the year 1555, and 16th day of October.
Furthermore, as touching his disputations and conflicts had at Oxford, and also of his determination had at Cambridge, also his travails in persuading and instructing the lady Mary before she was queen, his reasons and conference likewise had in the Tower at the lieutenant's board, enough hath been said already. Beside this, other conferences he had in prison both with Dr. Cranmer, and master Latimer, as here followeth to be read.
A Conference^ had betwixt Master Ridley, and Master Latimer in Prison, upon the Objections of Antonian ; meaning, by that name, some popish persecutor — as Winchester ; alluding thereby to the History of Victor, lib. iii., De persecutionibus Afficanis.
Ridley : — " In writing again ye have done me an unspeakable pleasure, and I prajf that the Lord may requite it you in that day ; for I have received great comfort at your words : but yet I am not so filled withal, but that I thirst nmch more now than before, to drink more of that cup of yours, wherein ye mingle unto me profitable with pleasant. I pra}^ you, good father, let me have one draught more to comfort my stomach ; for surely, except the Lord assist me with his gracious aid, in the time of his service, I know I shall play but the part of a white-livered knight. But truly my tiiist is in him, that in mine infirmity he should try himself strong, and that he can make the coward in his cause to fight like a man. — Sir, now I daily look when Diotrephes with his warriors shall assault me ; wherefore I pray you good father, for that you are an old soldier, and an expert warrior, and God knoweth I am but a yoxmg soldier, and as yet of small experience in these feats, help me, I pray you, to buckle my harness. And now I would have you to think, that these darts are cast at my head of some one of Diotrephes', or Antonius' soldiers."
Antonian : — " All men marvel greatly, why you, after the liberty you have granted unto you, more than the rest, do not go to mass, which is a thing (as you know) now much esteemed of all men, yea of the queen herself."
Ridley : — " Because no man that layetli hand on the plough, and looketh back, is fit for the kingdom of God,' and also for the selfsame cause why St. Paul would not suffer Titus to be circumcised, ^ which is, that the truth of the gospel might remain with us uncorrupt. And again, ' If I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a trespasser.' This is also another cause : lest I should seem by outward fact to allow the thing, which I am persuaded is contrary to sound doctrine, and so should be a stumbling-stock unto the weak. But woe be unto him by whom offence cometh : it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the midst of the sea." *
Latimer : — " ' Except the Lord help me,' ye say. Truth it is : ' for without me,' saith he, 'ye can do nothing;' much less suffer death of our adversaries, through the bloody law now prepared against us. But it followeth, ' If you abide in me, and my word abide in you, ask what you will, and it shall be done for you.' 5 What can be more comfortable? Sir, you make answer yourself so well, that I cannot better it. Sir, I begin now to smell what you mean by tra- vailing thus with me : you use me as Bilney did once, when he converted me, pretending as though he would be taught of me, he sought ways and means to teach me, and so do you. I thank you therefore most heartily. For indeed you minister armour unto me, whereas I was unarmed before and unprovided, saving that I give myself to prayer for my refuge." Second Antonian : — " What is it then that offendeth you so greatly in the mass that
objection, y^j ^,jj] j^^j, vouchsafe once either to hear it or see it? and from whence cometh
(1) " A conference," etc. There were two conferences, of which Foxe gives only the second. They were published by John Olde, and entitled " Certein godly, learned, and comfortable confer- ences between N. Rydeley bishoppe of London, and Hughe Latymer ; " l(5mo. Lifie. This work of Victor, bishop of Utica, is printed in " Autores Historiae EL-clesiasticre,"p. 616, Basileae, Xaia. — Ed.
(2) Luke ix. (3) Gal. i. (1) Matt, xviii. Mark ix. (5) John iv.
First ob- jection.
Answer.
HIS GODLY TALK WITH LATIMER IN PRISON. 411
thi3 new religion upon you? Have not you used in times past to say mass Mary. yourself?"
Ridley: — " I confess unto you my fault and ignorance ; but know you that ^- ^- for these matters I have done penance long ago,' both at Paul's Cross, and ^^55. also openly in the pulpit at Cambridge, and I trust God hath forgiven me this Answer. mine offence : for I did it upon ignorance.^ But if you be desirous to know, and will vouchsafe to hear, what things do offend me in the mass, I will rehearse unto you those things which be most clear, and seem to repugn most manifestly against God's word, and they be these : the strange tongue ; the want of the showing of the Lord's death ; the breaking of the Lord's com- mandment of having a communion ; the sacrament is not communicated to all under both kinds, according to the word of the Lord ; the sign is servilely -worshipped for the thing signified; Christ's passion is injured, forasmuch as this mass-sacrifice is affirmed to remain for the purging of sins : to be short, the manifold superstitions, and trifling fondness which are in the mass, and about the same."
Latimer : — " Better a few things well pondered, than to trouble the memory with too much ; you shall prevail more with praying, than with studying, though mixture be best, for so one shall alleviate the tediousness of the other. I intend not to contend much with them in words, after a reasonable account of my faith given : for it shall be but in vain. They will say, as their fathers said, when they have no more to say : ' We have a law, and by our law he ought to die.'* * Be ye stedfast and unmoveable,' saith St. Paul :* and again, ' Persistito,' ' Stand fast:'* and how oft is this repeated, * If ye abide,' 'if ye abide,'" etc. But we shall be called obstinate, sturdy, ignorant, heady, and what not? so that a man hath need of much patience, having to do v/ith such men."
yifitoniau : — " But you know how great a crime it is to separate yourself Third ob- from the communion or fellowship of the church, and to make a schism or divi- J<^ctioii. sion. You have been reported to have hated the sect of the Anabaptists, and always to have impugned the same. Moreover, this was the pernicious error of Novatian, and of the heretics called Catharists, that they would not communicate with the church."
Ridley : — " I know that the unity of the church is to be retained by all Answer, means, and the same to be necessary to salvation. But I do not take the mass, as it is at this day, for the communion of the church, but a popish device, whereby both the commandment and institution of our Saviour Christ, for the oft-frequenting of the remembrance of his death, is eluded, and the people of God are miserably deluded. The sect of the Anabaptists, and the heresy of the Novatians, ought of right to be condemned, forasmuch as without any just or necessary cause they wickedly separated themselves from the communion of the congregation, for they did not allege that the sacraments were unduly ministered, but, turning away their eyes from themselves, wherewith according to St. Paul's rule they ought to examine themselves, and casting their eyes ever upon others, either ministers, or communicants with them, they always reproved something for the which they abstained from the communion, as from an unholy tiling."^
Latimer : — " I remember that Calvin beginneth to confute the Interim after AppZdix. this sort, with this saying of Hilary ;* ' The name of peace is beautiful, and the opinion of unity is fair ; but who doubtetli that to be the true and only peace of the church, which is Christ's? ' 1 would you had that little book ; there siiould you see how much is to be given to unity. St. Paul, when he requireth unity, joineth strait withal, 'according to Jesus Christ' ^ — no further. Uiotrephes now of late did ever harp upon unity, unity. ' Yea, sir,' quoth I, ' but in verity, not in popery. Better is diversity, than a unity in popery.' I had nothing again but scornful taunts, with commandment to the Tower."
(1) He raeaneth his own confession openly in preaching. Matt. xxvi. (2) I Tim. i.
(3) John xix. (4) 1 Cor. xv. (5) 2 Tim. iii. John xv. Col. ii. (6) Jolin xv.
(8) Hiiarius contra Auxeht [§ 1. Compare this with a kindred paragraph in the second sermon of Latimer's on the Beatitudes, vol. ii. p. 154. Edit. Lond. ln24. The Interim was a rule of faith, extremely favourable to the church of Rome, drawn up at the command of Charles V., whojudged it necessary, for the maintenance of religious peace, during the inlerml between the dissolution of the Council of Trent in 1547, and its expected reassembling and consequent decisions. See Mosheim, cent. 16, book iv. chap. 4, § 3 ; and Mendham's Memoirs of the Council of Trent, pp. 134, .5.— Ed.]
(9) " Secundum Jesum Christum," Rom. xv.
412 THE STORY OF BISHOP RIDLEY, MARTYR.
Mary. Antoniaii : — " But admit there be in the mass, t'nat pcradventure might be
amended, or at least made better ; yea, seeing you will have it so, admit there
AAi. jjg a, fault : if you do not consent thereto, why do you trouble yourself in vain ? ^'^^'^' do you not know, both by Cyprian and Augustine, that communion of sacra- Fourth ments doth not defile a man, but consent of deeds ?"i
cbjection. RhUey : — " If it were any one trifling ceremony, or if it were some one thing Answtr. ^f itself indifferent (although I would wish nothing should be done in the church, which doth not edify the same), yet, for the continuance of the common quietness I could be content to bear it. But, forasmuch as things done in the mass tend openly to the overthrow of Christ's institution, I judge that by no means, either in woi-d or deed, I ought to consent unto it. As for that which is objected out of the fathers, I acknowledge it to be well spoken, if it be well understood. But it is meant of them which suppose they are defiled if any secret vice be either in the ministers, or in them that communicate with them ; and is not meant of them which do abhor superstition, and wicked traditions of men, and will not suffer the same to be thrust upon themselves or upon the church instead of God's word and the truth of the gospel."
Latimer: — " The very marrow-bones of the mass are altogether detestable, and therefore by no means to be borne withal : so that of necessity the mending of it is to abolish it for ever. For, if you take away oblation and adoration, v/hich do hang upon consecration and transubstantiation, the most papists of them all will not set a button by the mass, as a thing which they esteem not, but for the gain that followeth thereon. For, if the English communion, which of late was used, were as gainful to them, as the mass hath been heretofore, they would strive no more for their mass : from thence groweth the grief." Fifth oh- Anlonian : — " Consider into what dangers you cast yourself, if you forsake the jection. church ; and you cannot but forsake it, if you refuse to go to mass. For the mass is the sacrament of unity: without the ark there is no salvation. The church is the ark, and Peter's ship. Ye know this saying well enough, ' He shall not have God to be his Father, which acknowledgeth not the church to be his mother.' Moreover, 'Without the church,' saith St. Augustine, ' be the life never so well spent, it shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven.' "* Answer. Ridley : — " The holy catholic or universal church, which is the communion of saints, the house of God, the city of God, the spouse of Christ, the body of Christ, the pillar and stay of the truth ; this church I believe, according to the Creed ; this church I do reverence, and honour in the Lord.^ But the rule of this church is the word of God, according to which rule we go forward unto life. And as many as walk according to this rule, I say with St. Paul, ' Peace be upon them, and upon Israel which pertaineth unto God.' * The guide of this church is the Holy Ghost. The marks whereby this church is known unto me in this dark woi-ld, and in the midst of this crooked and froward generation, are tliese : the sincere preaching of God's holy word, the due administration of the sacraments, charity, and faithful observing of ecclesiastical discipline, ac- cording to the word of God. And that the church or congregation which is garnished with these marks, is in very deed that heavenly Jerusalem, which consisteth of those that be born from above. This is the mother of us all, and by God's grace I will live and die the child of this church.' Forth of this (I grant) there is no salvation; and I suppose the residue of the places objected are rightly to be understood of this church only. ' In times past,' saith Chry- sostome, ' there were many ways to know the church of Christ ; that is to say, by good life, by miracles, by chastity, by doctrine, by ministering the sacra- ments. But from that time that heresies did take hold of the church, it is only known by the Scriptures, which is the true church. They have all things in outward show, which the true church hath in truth. They have temples like unto ours.'^ And in the end concluded, ' Wherefore only by the Scriptures do we know which is the true church.' To that which they say, that the mass is the sacrament of unity, I answer. The bread which we break, according to the institution of the Lord, is the sacrament of the unity of Christ's mystical body. For we, being many, are one bread and one body, forasmuch as we all are partakersof one bread.' But in the mass the Lord's institution is not obsei'ved;
(1) Cypr. lib. i. ep. 2. ; Aug. ep. 152. [nunc HJ. § 5.]
'2) Aug. lib. iv. (le Synib. § 13. ; In Ep. post. col. coirtm Donat.
(.;) 1 Tim. iii. lii-v. xxi. Eph. i. (11 (1al.vi.Pliil.ii.
(j) Ucv. .\xi. John iii. Gal. iv. (C) In Op. Iiuperf., Hoiu. -I'J. in Matt. (7) 1 Cor, x.
HIS GODLY TALK WITH LATIMER. IN PRISON. 413
for wo be not all partakers of one bread, but one devoureth all, etc. So that M„r„
(as it is used) it may seem a sacrament of singularity, and of a certain special —
privilege for one sect of people, whereby they may be discerned from the rest, ^- ^^• rather than a sacrament of unity, wherein our knitting together in one is ^^^o. represented."
Latimer : — " Yea, what fellowship hath Christ with Antichrist ? Therefore is it not lawful to bear the yoke with papists. ' Come forth from among them, and separate yourselves from them, saith the Lord.'' It is one thing to be the church indeed, another thing to counterfeit the church. Would God it were well known what is the forsaking of the church ! In the king's days that dead is, who was the church of England ? The king and his fautors, or mass- mongers in corners ? If the king and the fautors of his proceedings, why be not we now the church, abiding in the same proceedings? If clanculary'^ mass-mongers might be of the church, and yet contrary to the king's proceed- ings, why may not we as well be of the church, contrarying the queen's pro- ceedings ? Not all that be covered with the title of the church, are the church indeed. ' Separate thyself fi-om them that are such,' saith St. Paul.^ From whom ? The text hath before, ' If any man follow other docti-ine, etc., he is puffed up, and knoweth nothing,' etc. Weigh the whole text, that ye may perceive what is the fruit of contentious disputations : but wherefore are such men said to know nothing, when they know so many things ? You know the old verses :
* Hoc est nescire, sine Christo plurima scire : Si Christum bene scis, satis est, si Ccetera nescis :'
that is, * This is to be ignorant, to know many things without Christ. If thou knowest Christ well, thou knowest enough, though thou know no more.' There- fore would St. Paul know nothing but Jesus Christ crucified,* etc. As many as are papists and mass-mongers, they may well be said to know nothing ; for they know not Christ, forasmuch as in their massing they take much away from the benefit and merit of Christ."
Antonian : — " That church which you have described unto me is invisible, sixth ob- but Christ's church is visible and known. For else why would Christ have jection. said, ' Die ecclesiae,' i. e. ' Tell it unto the church.' For he had commanded in vain to go unto the church, if a man cannot tell which it is."
Ridley: — "The church which I have described is visible, it hath members Answer, which may be seen ; and also I have afore declared, by what marks and tokens it may be known. But if either our eyes are so dazzled, that we cannot seeit, or that Satan hath brought such darkness into the world, that it is hard to discern the true church ; that is not the fault of the church, but either of our blindness, or of Satan's darkness. But yet, in this most deep darkness, there is one most clear candle, which of itself alone is able to put away all darkness : ' Thy word is a candle unto my feet, and a light unto my steps.' "
Antonian : — " The church of Christ is a catholic or universal church, dis- Seventh persed throughout the whole world ; this church is the great house of God ; in objection, this are good men and evil mingled together, goats and sheep, corn and chaff; "t is the net which gathereth all kind of fishes: this church cannot err, because Christ hath promised it his Spirit, which shall lead it into all truth, and that the^ gates of hell shall not prevail against it ; that he will be with it unto the end of the world ; whatsoever it shall loose or bind upon earth, shall be ratified in hea- ven, etc. This church is the pillar and stay of the truth ; this is it for the whicli St Augustine saith, he believeth the gospel. But this luiiversal church alloweth the mass, because the more part of the same alloweth it. Therefore, etc."
Ridley : — " I grant that the name of the church is taken after three divers Answer. manners in the Scriptures. Sometimes for the whole multitude of them whicli profess the name of Christ, of the which they are also named Christians. But, as St. Paul saith of the Jew, " Not every one is a Jew, that is a Jew outwardly," etc., neither yet all that be of Israel, are counted the seed ; even so not every one which is a Christian outwardly, is a Christian indeed. For if any man hiivc not the Spirit of Christ, the same is none of his. Therefore that chm-ch which is his body, and of which Christ is the head, standeth or.ly of living stones, and true Christians, not only outwardly in name and title, but inwardly in heart and in truth. But, forasmuch as this chiu-ch (which is tlie second taking of the (1) 2 Cor. vi. (2) " Clanculary," secret or privy.— Ed. (3) 1 Tim. vi. (I) 1 Cor. ii.
4U
THE STOUy OF BISHOP RIDLEY, MARTYR.
Mary.
A.U. 1555.
4ppe7uiu
church) as touching the outward fellowship, is contained within that great house, and hatli with the same, outward society of the sacraments and ministry of the word, many things are spoken of that universal church (which St. Augustine ' calleth the mingled church), which cannot truly be understood, but only of that purer part of the church : so that the rule of Tichonius^ concerning the mingled church, may here well take place ; where there is attributed unto the whole church that which cannot agree unto the same, but by reason of the one part thereof; that is, either for the multitude of good men, which is the very true church indeed ; or for the multitude of evil men, which is the malignant church and synagogue of Satan. And there is also a third taking of the church ; of the which, although there be seldomer mention in the Scriptures in that signi- fication, yet in the world, even in the most famous assemblies of Christendom, this church hath borne the greatest swinge. This distinction presupposed of the three sorts of churches, it is an easy matter, by a figure called synechdoche, to give to the mingled and universal church, that which cannot truly be under- stood but only of the one part thereof But if any man will stiffly affirm that imiversality doth so pertain unto the church, that whatsoever Christ hath pro- mised to the church, it must needs be understood of that, I would gladly know of the same man, where that universal church was in the times of the patriarchs and prophets, of Noah, Abraham, and Moses (at such time as the people would have stoned him); of Elias, of Jeremy;^ in the times of Christ, and the disper- sion of the apostles ; in the time of Arius, when Constantius was emperor, and Felix bishop of Rome succeeded Liberius.* It is worthy to be noted, that Lyra^ writeth upon Matthew ; ' The church, ' saith he, ' doth not stand in men by reason of their power or dignity, whether it be ecclesiastical or secular. For many princes and popes, and other inferiors, have been found to have fallen away from God.' Therefore the church consisteth in those persons, in whom is true knowledge and confession of the faith, and of the truth. ' Evil men' (as it is in a gloss of the Decrees^) ' are in the church in name, and not in deed.' And St. Augustine, contra Cresconium Grammaticum,' saith, ' Whosoever is afraid to be deceived by the darkness of this question, let him ask counsel at the same church of it : which church the Scripture doth point out without any doubtful- ness.' All my notes which I have written and gathered out of such authors as I have read in this matter, and such like, are come into the hands of such, as will not let me have the least of all my written books ; wherein I am enforced to complain of them unto God : for they spoil me of all my labours, which I have taken in my study these many years. My memory was never good, for help whereof I have used for the most part to gather out notes of my reading, and so to place them, that thereby I might have had the use of them when the time required. But wlio knoweth whether this be God's will, that I should be thus ordered, and spoiled of the poor learning I had (as methought) in store, to the intent that I now, destitute of tliat, should from henceforth learn only to know with Paul, Chi'ist and him crucified.' The Lord grant me herein to be a good young scholar, and to learn this lesson so well, that neither death nor life, wealth nor woe, etc., make me ever to forget that. Amen, amen."
Lafimer : — " I have no more to say in this matter ; for 3'ou yourself have said all that is to be said. That same vehement saying of St. Augustine,* ' I
(1) August, de. Doet. Christiana, lib. iii. c. 32. — Ed.
(2) Tiehonius was a Donatist, " qui libro peculiar! septem communes regulas tradiderat. quarum ope existimabat omnia, quae in sacris literis involuta videntur, explicari posse. Cum has regu- las commendaret, tantum eis tribuit, quasi omnia qure in lege, id est, in divinis libris obscure posita invenerimus, his bene cognitis atque adhibitis intelligere valeamus. His non tantum quidem tribuit Augustinus, vocat tamen elaboratuvi opus, et regulas in illo opera laudat, noij quibus singula qu^que patefierent, quod praesumserat Tiehonius, sed clausa multa." Rivet. Isagoge ad Scripturam Sac. cap. 18. § 11. — Ed.
(3) Exod. xvii. 1 Kings xix. Jerem. vi. (4) Theo. Eccles. Hist. lib. ii. cap. 15, 16. (.5) Nicolaus de Lyra was a Norman, born at Lyre in the diocese of Evreux. He entered the
Franciscan order about the year 12m, and obtained considerable reputation as an opponent of Judaism, and an interpreter of the Scriptures. He WTrote what were called " Postllla; breves" upon the whole Bible, the editions of which have been very numerous. They were first published in five folio volumes at Rome in 1471 ; in six volumes at Rasil in 1498, and 1501 ; and at Douay in 1017. There is a long list of his other writings, both printed and MS., in Fabricii Biblioth. Scrlp- torum med. et infr. Lat. vol. v. p. 116. edit. 1754. — Ed.
(6) De Poenit. dist. i. cap. [70] Eccles.
(7) Lib. i. cap. ;!3. torn. 9. Edit. Benedict.— Ed. (8) 1 Cor. ii.
(9) August, contra Epist. Manichsei, cap. 5, torn. viii. Edit. Bened. Upon fewer passages of christian antiquity, perhaps, has more ink been expended. See Whitaker, De Sacr. ScriptUra, Controv. i. quaest. iii. cap 8. ; and the same writer, against Stapletoii, De Auct. Sac. Script, lib. ii. cap. 8. — Ed.
HIS GODLY TALK WITH LATIMER IN PRISON. 415
would not believe the gospel,' etc., was wont to trouble many men ; as I remem- Mary
ber, I have read it well qualified of Philip Melancthon ;» but my memory is ' —
altogether sHppery. This it is in effect ; ' The church is not a judge, but a ^- ^• witness.' There were in his time that lightly esteemed the testimony of the ^•'^^^- church, and the outward ministry of preaching, and rejected the outward word itself, sticking only to their inward revelations. Such rash contempt of the word provoked and drove St. Augustine into that excessive vehemency ; in the which after the bare sound of the words, he might seem to such as do not attain unto his meaning, that he preferred the church far before the gospel, and that the church hath a free authority over the same : but that godly man never thought so. It were a saying worthy to be brought forth against the Anabap- tists, which think the open ministry to be a thing not necessary, if they any thing esteemed such testimonies. I would not stick to affirm, that the more part of the great house, that is to say, of the whole universal church, may easily err. And again, I would not stick to affirm, that it is one thing to be gathered together in the name of Christ, and another thing to come together with a mass of the Holy Ghost going before''. For in the first, Christ ruleth; in the latter the devil beareth the swinge — and how then can any thing be good that they go about ? From this latter shall our Six Articles come forth again into the light, they themselves being very darkness. But it is demanded, whether the A ques- sounder or better part of the catholic church may be seen of men, or no ? St. ''"n- Paul saith, * The Lord knoweth them that are his.' What manner of speaking Answer, is this, in commendation of the Lord, if we know as well as he, who are his ? Well, thus is the text : * The sure foundation of God standeth still, and hath this seal. The Lord knoweth them that are his ; and let every man that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.' Now how many are there of the whole catholic church of England which depart from iniquity ? how many of the noblemen, how many of the bishops or clergy? how many of the rich men, or merchants ? how many of the queen's councillors, yea, how many of the whole realm ? In how small room then, I pray you, is the true church within the realm of England ? And where is it 1 And in what state ? I had a conceit of mine own, well grounded (as they say), when I began, but now it is fallen by the way."
Antonian : — " General councils represent the universal church, and have this Eighth pi'omise of Christ : ' Where two or three be gathered together in my name, objection. there am I in the midst of them.* If Christ will be present with two or three, then much more where there is so great a multitude, etc. But in general councils, mass hath been approved and used : therefore, etc."
Ridley : — " Of the universal church, which is mingled of good and bad. Answer, thus I think : Whensoever they which be chief in it, which rule and govern the same, and to whom the whole mystical body of Chi'ist doth obey, are the lively members of Christ, and walk after the guiding and rule of his word, and go before the flock towards everlasting life, then, undoubtedly, councils, gathered together of such guides and pastors of the christian flock, do indeed represent the universal church, and being so gathered in the name of Christ, they have a promise of the gift and guiding of his Spirit into all truth. But that any such council hath at any time allowed the mass, such a one as ours was of late, in a strange tongue, and stuffed with so many absurdities, errors, and super- stitions ; that I utterly deny, and affirm it to be impossible. For like as there is no agreement betwixt light and darkness, between Christ and Belial ;* so surely superstition and the sincere religion of Christ, will-worship and the pure worshipping of God, such as God requireth of his (that is, in Spirit and truth), can never agree together. But ye will say, Where so great a company is gathered together, it is not credible but there be two or three gathered in the name of Christ.* I answer. If there be one hundred good, and two hundred bad (forasmuch as the decrees and ordinances are pronounced according to the greater number of the multitude of voices), what can the less number of voices a pro- avail ? It is a known thing, and a common proverb, ' Oftentimes the greater verb, part overcometh the better.' "
Latimer : — " As touching general councils, at this present I have no more
(1) Mel.de [auctoritate] Ecclesiae. [Viteberg. 1639.— Eb.]
(2) A mass of the Holy Ghost was sung at the opening of a council. An autlior of that period calls it "an unholy mass of the Holy Ghost, rolled up with descant, prick-song, and organs, whereby men's hearts are ravished wholly from God, and from the cogitations of all such things as they ought to pray for:" Complaint of Roderyck Mors unto the Parliament House, Signal. A 5 b. cited in Wordsworth's Eccl. Biog. vol. iii. p. 36.— Ed. (3)2Cor. vi. (-Ijjohnn.
416 THE STOUY OF BISHOP RIDLEY, MARTYR.
Mary, to Bay, than you have said. Only I refer you to your own experience, to think of ^ our country parliaments and convocations, how and what ye have there seen and ■ ■ heard. The more part in my time did bring forth the six articles; for then the king would so have it, being seduced of certain. Afterwards the more part did The in- repel the same, our good Josias willing to have it so. The same articles now '^fTh^"''^ again, alas ! another great but worse part hath restored. Oh, what an uncer- English tainty is tliis ! But after this sort most commonly are man's proceedings, God parlia- be merciful unto us. Who shall deliver us from such torments of mind? aruTcon- Therefore is death the best physician but unto the faithful, whom she together vocations, and at once delivereth from all griefs. You must think this written upon this Death is occasion, because you would needs have your paper blotted." the best Antoman : — " If the matter should go thus, that in general councils men to the should not stand to the more number of the multitude (I mean of them which faithful, ought to give voices), then should no certain rule be left imto the church, by Ninth ob- the which controversies in weighty matters might be determined : but it is not to be believed, that Christ would leave his church destitute of so necessary a help and safeguard." Answer. Ridley : — " Christ, who is the most loving spouse of his espouse the church, who also gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it unto himself, i did give unto it abundantly all things which are necessary to salvation ; but yet so, that the church should declare itself obedient unto him in all things, and keep itself within the bounds of his commandments ; and further, not to seek any thing which he teacheth not, as necessary unto salvation. Now further, for deter- mination of all controversies in Christ's religion, Christ himself hath left unto the church not only Moses and the Prophets, whom he willeth his church in all doubts to go i.mto, and ask counsel at, but also the Gospels, and the rest of the body of the New Testament ; in the which whatsoever is heard of Moses and the prophets, and whatsoever is necessary to be known unto salvation, is revealed and opened.^ So that now we have no need to say, ' Who shall climb up into heaven, or who shall go down into the depth, to tell us what is needfid to be done ?'* Christ hath done both, and hath commended unto us the word of faith, which also is abundantly declared inito us in his word written ; so that hereafter, if we walk earnestly in this way, to the searching out of the truth, it is not to be doubted, but through the certain benefit of Christ's Spirit, which he hath promised unto his, we may find it, and obtain everlasting life.'* ' Should men ask counsel of the dead for the living ? ' saith Isaiah.* Let them go rather to the law and to the testimony, etc. Christ sendeth them that be desirous to know the truth, imto the Scriptures, saying, ' Search the Scriptures.'® I remember a like thing well spoken of Jerome : * Ignorance of the Scriptures is the mother and cause of all en-ors.'' And in another place, as I remember in the same author : ' The knowledge of the Scriptures is the food of everlast- ing life.' But now methinketh I enter into a very broad sea, in that I begin to show, either out of the Scriptures themselves, or out of the ancient writers, how much the holy Scripture is of force to teach the truth of our religion. But this is it that I am now about, that Christ would have the church, his spouse, in all doubts to ask counsel at the word of his Father written, and faithfully left, and commended unto it in both Testaments, the Old and New. Neither do we read, that Christ in any place hath laid so great a bm-den upon the members of his spouse, that he hath commanded them to go to the universal church. * Whatsoever things are written,' saith Paul, ' are written for our learning.' « And it is true, that Christ gave unto his church, some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some shepherds and teachers, to the edifying of the saints, till we come all to the unity of faith, etc." But that all men shoidd meet together out of all parts of the world, to define of the articles of our faith, I neither find it commanded of Christ, nor written in the word of God."
Latimer: — "There is diversity betwixt things pertaining to God or faith, and politic and civil matters. For in the first we must stand only to the
(1) E])h. V. [Compare on this subject. Art. vi. and xx. of the Church of England — ' Of the sufficiency of Holy Scripture for Salvation,' and ' Of the authority of the Cliurch.' — Ed.]
(2) Luke xiii. Isaiah viii. (3) Rom. x (i) Luke xi. (.')) Isaiah viii. (()) John V. (7) Hier. Horn. 23, in Matt. (8) Rom. xii. (9) Eph. iv.
HIS GOULY TALK WITH LATIMER IN PUlSOX. 417
Scriptures, which are able to make us all perfect and instructed unto salvation, if Mary
they be well understood.' And they offer themselves to be well understood
only to them, which have good wills, and give themselves to study and prayer : A. I). n'eiiher are there any men less apt to understand them, than tlie prudent and wise 155.5. men of the world. But, in the other, that is, in civil or politic matters, often- ' times the magistrates do tolerate a less evil, for avoiding of a greater, as they whicli have this saying oft in their mouths: 'Better an inconvenience than a mischief.' And ' it is the property of a wise man,' saith one, ' to dissemble many things; and he that cannot dissemble, cannot rule.' In which sayings they bewray themselves, that they do not earnestly weigh what is just, what is net. Wherefore forasmuch as man's laws, if it be but in this respect only, that they be devised by men, are not able to bring any thing to perfection, but are en- forced of necessity to suffer many things out of square, and are compelled some- times to wink at the worst things: seeing they know not how to maintain the common peace and quiet otherwise, they do ordain that the more part shall take place. You know what these kinds of speeches mean, ' I speak after the manner of men;' 'Ye walk after the manner of men;' 'All men are hars :' ^ and that of St. Augustine, ' If ye live after man's reason, ye do not live after the will of God.' "
Antonian : — " If ye say, that councils have sometimes erred, or may eiT, how Tenth ob- then should we believe the catholic church ? for the councils are gathered by jectiou. the authority of the catholic church."
Ridley: — " From 'maybe,' to 'be indeed,' is no good argument; but from Answer, 'being,' to 'may be,' no man doubteth but it is a most sure argument. But now that councils have sometime erred, it is manifest. How many councils were there in the east parts of the world, which condemned the Nicene council ; and all those which would not forsake the same, they called by a slanderous name (as they thought), ' Homousians.''' Were not Athanasius, Chrysostome, Cyril, Eustathius, men very well learned, and of godly life, banished*and condemned as famous heretics, and that by wicked councils? How many tilings are there in the canons and constitutions of the councib, which the papists themselves do much mislike ! But here, peradventui-e, one man will say unto me, ' We will grant you this in provincial councils, or councils of some one nation, that they Objection, may sometimes err, forasmuch as they do not represent the imiversal church ; but it is not to be believed, that the general and full councils have erred at any time.' Here, if I had my books of the coiuicils, or rather such notes as I have gathered out of those books, I could bring something which should serve for this purpose. But now, seeing I have them not, I will recite one place only out of St. Augustine, which (in my judgment) may suffice in this matter instead of many. ' Who knoweth not,' saith he, 'that the Holy Scripture is so set Ans^vcr. before us, that it is not lawful to doubt of it, and that the letters of bishops may be reproved by other men's words, and by councils ; and that the councils them- selves which are gathered by provinces and countries, do give place to the autho- rity of the general and full councils ; and that the former and general councils are amended by the latter, when by some experience of things, either that which was shut up is opened, or that which was hid is known.'* Thus nuich out of Augustine. But I will plead with our Antonian upon matter confessed. Here with us, when papistry reigned, I pray you how doth that book, which was called the Bishop's Book,^ made in the time of king Henry the Eighth, The whereof the bishop of Winchester is thought to be either the first father, or bisliop's chief gatherer ; how doth it (I sayj shai-ply reprove the Florentine council, in which was decreed the supremacy of the bishop of Rome, and that with the consent of the emperor of Constantinople, and of the Grecians? So that in those days our learned ancient fathers and bishops of England did not stick to affirm, that a general council might err. But me thinketh I hear another man
(1) 2Tim. iii. (2) Gal. v. 1 Cor. iii. Rom. iii. Psalm cxiii.
(3) Soc. Eccles. Hist. lib. ii. (4) Soc. Eccles. Hist. lib. ii. cap. 24, 32. Theo. lib. v. cap. 34.
(5) Lib. ii. de Baptis. cont. Don. cap. 3.
(6) This is probably a different worii from what is ordinarilj- called The Bishop's Book, viz. " The Institution of a Christian man," from which Foxe has collected testimonies in vol. v. p. 87. The book to which Bishop Ridley alludes in this place may be tliat intituled " Ue vera differ- entia regise potestatis et ecclesiastic<-B ; " and which was so well thought of in king Edward's reign, and esteemed so reasonable, that it was then reprinted, having been translated into English by Henry Lord Stafford, and recommended by him. See Strype's Memorials under Henry VIII. chap. XX. p. 237 : see also chap. xxiv. p. 271, Edit. Lond. ISIG: see also Ridley's Remains (Parker Soc. Edit.) p. 511.— Eu.
VOL. VII. K E
418 THE STORY OF BISHOP RIDLEY, MARTYR.
Mary, despising all that I have brought forth, and saying, ' These which you ha7e
• called councils, are not worthy to be called councils, but rather assemblies and
-^•^* conventicles of heretics.' I pr.iy you, sir, why do you judge them worthy of so ^^^^- slanderous a name ? 'Because,' saith he, ' they decreed things heretical, con- trary to true godliness and sound doctrine, and against the faith of christian religion.' The cause is weighty, for the which they ought of right so to be called. But, if it be so that all councils ought to be despised, which decree any thing contrary to sound doctrine, and the true word,' which is according to godliness, forasmuch as the mass, such as we had here of late, is openly against the word of God; forsooth it must follow of necessity, that all such councils, as have approved such masses, ought of right to be fled and despised, as con- venticles and assemblies of men that stray from the truth. The " Another man allegeth imto me the authority of the bishop of Rome, ' with-
of Ro^ °'^' out which neither can the councils,' saitli he, ' be lawfully gathered, neither, authority, being gathered, determine any thing concerning religion.' But this objection is only grounded upon the ambitious and shameless maintenance of the Romish tyranny and usurped dominion over the clei'gy ; which tyranny we Englishmen England long ago, by the consent of the whole realm, have expulsed and abjured. the'poDe' ■'^'"^ ^^°^^ rightly we have done it, a little book set forth, ' De utraque potestate' supre- (that is, of both the powers) doth clearly show. I grant that the Romish am- "■acy. bition hath gone about to challenge to itself and to usurp such a privilege of old time. But the council of Carthage, in the year of our Lord 4.57,- did openly withstand it, and also the council at Milevis, in the which St. Augus- tine was present, did prohibit any appellations to be made to bishops beyond the sea." Eleventh Antonian : — " St. Augustine saith, * the good men are not to be forsaken for objection, j^jjg gyjj^ |J^(; jj^g gyjj gj.g tQ ]jg tiorne withal for the good.' Ye will not say (I
trow) that in our congregations all be evil."'' Answer. Ridley : — " I speak nothing of the goodness or evilness of your congregations ; but I fight in Christ's quarrel against the mass, which doth utterly take away and overthrow the ordinance of Christ. Let that be taken quite away, and then the partition of the wall that made the strife, shall be broken down. Now to the place of St. Augustine, for bearing with the evil for the good's sake : there ought to be added other words, which the same writer hath expressedly in other places ; that is, — if those evil men do cast abroad no seeds of false doc- trine, nor lead others to destruction by their example"* Twelfth Antonian: — " 'It is perilous to attempt any new thing in the church, which objection, lacketh example of good men. How much more perilous is it to commit any act, unto the which the example of the prophets, of Christ, and of the apostles, is contrary!' But unto this your fact, in abstaining from the church by reason of the mass, the example of the prophets, of Christ, and of the apostles, is clean contrary : therefore, etc. The first pai't of the argument is evident, and the second part I prove thus : In the times of the prophets, of Christ, and his apostles, all things were most corrupt. The people was miserably given to superstition, the priests despised the law of God ; and yet, notwithstanding, we read not that the prophets made any schisms or divisions ; and Christ himself haunted the temple, and taught in the temple of the Jews. Peter and John went up into the temple at the ninth hour of prayer ; Paul, after the reading of the law, being desired to say something to the people, did not refuse to do it.* Yea further, no man can show, that either the prophets, or Christ and his apostles, did refuse to pray together with others, to sacrifice, or to be partakers of the sacrament of Moses' law." Answer. Ridley : — " I grant the former part of your argmnent, and to the second part I sa}', that although it contain many true things, as of the corrupt state in the times of the prophets, of Christ, and the apostles, and of the temple being haunted of Christ and his apostles ; yet, notwithstanding, the second part of your argmnent is not sufficiently proved : for ye ought to have proved, that either the prophets, either Christ or his apostles, did in the temple communicate with the people in any kind of worshipping, which is forbidden by the law of
{]) 1 Tim. vi.
(2) Concil. Cartha;?. 3. can. 22. [The sixth council at Carthage, anno 419, would suit Ridley's .argument better, and seems to be the one intended: see Labbe, torn. ii. col. 1589; and for the council at Milevis, see the same volume, col. 1512.— Ed.] (3) Aug. Ep. 48, now 9:!, § 15.— Ed.
(4) Aug. lib. iii. cont. literas Farm. cap. 23. (5) Luke x.xi. Heb. i. Acts xiii.
HIS GODLY TALK WITH LATIMER IN I'UISOX. 419
God, or repugnant to the word of God. But that can nowhere be showed. Mary
And as for the church, I am not angry with it, and I never refused to go to it, ■
and to pray with the people, to hear the word of God, and to do all other things ^- ^^• whatsoever may agree with the word of God. St. Augustine, speaking of the ^^'^^- ceremonies of the Jews (I suppose in the epistle ad Januarium) although he grant they grievously oppressed that people, both for the number and the bond- age of the same, yet he calleth them burdens of the law, which were delivered unto them in the word of God, not presumptions of men, which notwithstand- ing, if they were not contrary to God's word, might after a sort be borne withal.' But now, seeing they are contrary to those things which are in the word of God written, whether they ought to be borne of any Christian or no, let him judge which is spiritual, which feareth God more than man, and loveth everlasting life more than this short and transitory life. To that which was said, that my fact lacketh example of the godly fathers that have gone before, the contrary is most evident in the history of Tobit.' Of whom it is said, that when all other went to the golden calves, which Jeroboam the king of Israel had made, he liimself alone fled all their companies, and got him to Jerusalem unto the temple of the Lord, and there worshipped the Lord God of Israel Did not the man of God threaten grievous plagues both unto the priests of Bethel, and to the altar which Jeroboam had there made after his own fantasy ?■* which plaguesking Josias, the true minister of God, did execute at the time appointed. And where do we read, that the prophets or the apostles did agree with the people in their idolatry, when the people went a whoring witli their hill-altars?* For what cause, I pray you, did the prophets rebuke the people so much, as for their false worshipping of God after their own minds, and not after God's word ? for what was so much as that was, wherefore the false prophets ceased not to malign the true prophets of God? Therefore they beat them, they banished them, etc.^ How else, I pray you, can you understand that St. Paul allegeth, when he saith, ' What concord hath Christ with Belial ? Either what part hath the believer with the infidel? or how agreeth the temple of God with images? For ye are the temple of the living God, as God himself hath said, I will dwell among them, and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wjierefore, come out from among them, and separate yourselves from them (saith the Lord), and touch none unclean thing ; so will I receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'^ Judith, that holy woman, would not suffer herself to be defiled with the meats of the wicked.' All the saints of God, which truly feared God, when they have been provoked to do any thing which they knew to be contrary to God's laws, have chosen to die, rather than to forsake the laws of their CJod. Wherefore the Maccabees put themselves in danger of death for the defence of the law, yea and at length died manfully in the defence of the same. ' If we do praise,' saith St. Augustine, ' the Maccabees, and that with great admiration, because they did stoutly stand even unto death, for the laws of their country; how much more ought we to sufi'er all things for our baptism, for the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ,' etc.* But the supper of the Lord, such a one (I mean) as Christ commandeth us to celebrate, the mass utterly abolisheth, and corrupteth most shamefully."
Latimer :—" Who ani I that I should add any thing to this which you have so well spoken ? Nay I rather thank you that have vouchsafed to minister so plentiful armour to me, being otherwise altogether unarmed, saving that he cannot be left destitute of help, which rightly trusteth in the help of God.^ I only learn to die in reading of the New Testament, and am ever now and then praying unto my God, that he will be a helper unto me in time of need."
Antonian : — " Seeing you are so obstinately set against the mass, that you Thir- affirm, because it is done in a tongue not understood of the people, and for ^^^^.fj^^^^ other causes (I cannot tell what), therefore is it not the true sacrament ' ordained of Christ, I begin to suspect you, that you think not catholicly of baptism, also. Is our baptism, which we do use in a tongue unknown unto the people, the true baptism of Christ, or no ? If it be, then doth not the strangp tongue hurt the mass. If it be not the baptisiu of Christ, tell me, how wen?
(1) Epist. 119. [now 55, cap. 19, § 35.— Ed.] (2) Tob. J. l3) 1 Chron. xia. ■^W"-"''^-
(4) 2 Chron. xiii. (5) Jerem. xx. Heb. xi. (li) 2 Cor. vi. Lev. xxvi. Isa. lii.
(7) .Tudith xii. (8) Cont. Epist. Gaudentii, lib. i. cap. 22. (9) Psalm ix.
objection.
420 THE STORY OF BISHOP UIDI.EV, MARTYR.
Mary, you baptized ; or wlietlier will ye (as tlie Anabaptists do), that all wbicli were
■ baptized in Latin, shonld be baptized again in the English tongue?"
•^- ^- Ridleij : — " Although I would wish baptism to be given in the vulgar tongus? '^^^' for the people's sake which are present, that they may the better understand Answer, their own profession, and also be more able to teach their children the same, yet, notwithstanding, there is not like necessity of the vulgar tongue in baptism, as in the Lord's supper. Baptism is given to children, who, by reason of their age, are not able to understand what is spoken unto them, what tongue soever it be. The Lord's supper is, and ought to be, given to them that are waxen. Moreover, in baptism, which is accustomed to be given to children in the Latin tongue, all the substantial points (as a man would say) which Christ com- manded to be done, are observed. And therefore I judge that baptism to be a perfect and true baptism ; and that it is not only not needful, but also not law- ful for any man so christened, to be christened again. But yet notwithstand- ing, they ought to be taught the catechism of the Christian faith, when they shall come to years of discretion ; which catechism whosoever despiseth, or will not desirously embrace and willingly learn, in my judgment he playeth not the part of a Christian man. But in the popish mass are wanting certain substan- tials, that is to say, things commanded by the word of God to be observed in the ministration of the Lord's supper ; of the which there is sufficient declara- tion made before."
Latimer: — " Where you say, ' I would wish,' surely I would wish that you had spoken more vehemently, and to have said, It is of necessity, that all things in the congregation should be done in the vulgar tongue, for the edifying and comfort of them that are present, notwithstanding that the child itself is suffi- ciently baptized in the Latin tongue." Four- Antonian: — Forasmuch as I perceive you are so stiffly, I will not say obsti-
teenth nately, bent, and so wedded to your opinion, that no gentle exhortations, no wholesome counsels, no other kind of means can call you home to a better mind, there remaineth that which, in like cases, was wont to be the only remedy against stitf-necked and stubborn persons, that is, you must be hampered by the laws, and compelled either to obey whether ye will or no, or else to suffer that which a rebel to the laws ought to suffijr. Do you not know that whosoever refuseth to obey the laws of the realm, he bewrayeth himself to be an enemy to his country ? Do you not know that this is the readiest way to stir uj) sedition and civil war? It is better that you should bear your own sin, than that through the example of your breach of the common laws, the com- mon quiet should be disturbed. How can you say, you will be the queen's true subject, when you do openly profess that you will not keep her laws ?"
Ridley : — " O heavenly Father, the Father of all wisdom, understanding, and true sti-ength, I beseech thee, for thy only Son our Saviour Christ's sake, look mer- cifully upon me, wretched creature, and send thine Holy Spirit into my breast, that not oidy I may imderstand according to thy wisdom, how this pestilent and deadly dart is to be borne off, and with what answer it is to be beaten back, but also when I must join to fight in the field for the glory of thy name, that then I, being strengthened with the defence of thy right hand, may manfully stand in the confession of thy faith, and of thy truth, and continue in the same unto the end of my life, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
" Now to the objection. I grant it to be reasonable, that he, which by words and gentleness cannot be made to yield to that is right and good, should be bridled by the strait correction of the laws: that is to say, he that will not be subject to God's word, must be punished by the laws. It is true that is commonly said, ' He that will not obey the gospel, must be tamed and taught by the rigoin- of the law.' But these things ought to take place against him which refuseth to do that is right and just according to true godliness, not against him, which cannot quietly bear superstitions and the overthrow of Christ's institutions, but doth hate and detest from his heart such kind of pro- ceedings, and that for the glory of the name of God.
" To that which ye say, a transgressor of the common laws bewrayeth him- ."^elf to be an enemy of his country, surely a man ought to look unto the nature of the laws, what manner of laws they be which are broken : for a faithful Chris- tian ought not to think alike of all manner of laws. But that saying ought only tridy to be understood of such laws as be not contrary to God's word. Other-
HIS GODLY TALK WITH LATIMER, IN PRISON. 4^1
wise, whosoever love their country in truth (that is to say, in God), they will juarg. always judge if at any time the laws of God and man be then contrary to the
otlier, that a man ought rather to obey God than man.i And they that think ^- ^• otherwise, and pretend a love to their country forasmuch as they make tlieir 155.5. country to fight as it were against God, in whom consisteth the only stay of their country, surely I do think that such are to be judged most deadly enemies and traitors to their country. For they that fight against God, which is the safety of their country, what do they else but go about to bring upon their country a present ruin and destruction ? But they that do so are worthy to be judged enemies to their country, and betrayers of the realm. Therefore, etc.
" ' But this is the readiest way,' ye say ' to stir up sedition, to trouble the quiet of the commonwealth : therefore are these things to be repressed in time by force of laws.' Behold, Satan doth not cease to practise his old guiles, and satanand accustomed subtleties. He hath ever this dart in a readiness to hurl against his mini- his adversaries, to accuse them of sedition, that he may bring them, if he can, ^\^^,^ ^'^ in danger of the higher Powers : for so hath he by his ministers always charged charge tlie prophets of God. Ahab said unto Elias, ' Art thou he that troubleth ^h." g"'"y Israel?' The false prophets, also, complained to their princes of Jeremy, that Jjo'/ '''^''^" his words were seditious, and not to be suffered. Did not the Scribes and Pharisees falsely accuse Christ as a seditious person, and one that spake against Caesar? did they not, at the last, cry, ' If you let this man go, ye are not Caesar's friend?' The orator Tertullus, how doth he accuse Paul before Felix the high deputy? ' We have found this man,' saith he, 'a pestilent fellow, and a stirrer of sedition, unto all the Jews in the whole world,' etc.^ But 1 pray you were these men, as they were called, seditious persons ? Christ, Paul, and the prophets ? God forbid ! But they were of false men falsely accused. And wherefore I pray you, but because they reproved before the people their guiles, superstition, and deceits ? And when the others could not bear it, and would gladly have had them taken out of the way, tliey accused them as seditious persons, and troublers of the commonwealth, that being by this means made hateful to the people and princes, they might the more easily be snatched up to be tormented, and put to death. But how far they were from all sedition, their whole doctrine, life, and conversation do well declare. For that which was oDjected last of all, that he cannot be a faithful subject to his prince, which professeth openly that he will not observe the laws which the prince hath made; here I would wish that I might have an indifferent judge, and one that feareth God, to whose judgment in this cause I promise I will stand. I answer there- fore, a man ought to obey his prince ; but in the Lord, and never against the Lord. For he that knowingly obeyeth his prince against God, doth not a duty to the prince, but is a deceiver of the prince, and a helper unto him to work his own destruction. He is also unjust, which giveth not the prince what is the prince's, and to God what is God's. Here cometh to my remembrance, that notable saying of Valentinian the emperor, for choosing the bishop of Milan : ' Set him,' saith he, ' in the bishop's seat, to whom if we (as man) do offend at any time, we may submit ourselves.' Polycarp, the most constant martyr, when he stood before the chief nilers and was commanded to blaspheme Christ, and to swear by the fortune of Caesar, etc., he answered with a mild spirit, ' We are taught,' saith he, 'to give honour unto princes, and those powers wliich be of God : l)ut such honour as is not contrary to God'.s religion.'^
" Ilitherunto ye see, good father, how I have in words only made as it were a flourish before the fight, which I shortly look after, and how I have begun to prepare certain kinds of weapons to fight against the adversary of Christ, and to muse with myself how the darts of the old enemy may be borne oft", and after what sort I may smite him again with the sword of the Spirit.* I learn also hereby to be in ure with armour, and to assay how I can go armed. Li Tynedale where I was born, not far from the Scottish borders, I have known my country- men to watch night and day in their harness, such as tlicy had, that is, m their jacks, and their spears in their hand (you call them northern gads), especially when they had any privy warning of the coming of the Scots. And so domg, although at every such bickerings some of them spent their lives, yet by such means, like pretty men, they defended their country. And those tiiat so died,
(1) Acts iv. (2) 1 Kings xviii. Jer. xxvi. Luke xxiii. John xviii. Acts xiv.
(3) Thcoci. Ecclea. Hist. lib. iv. c. 6. Euseb. Eccles. Hist. lib. iv. c 15. Niceph. lib in. c. 3o. (i) Eph. vi.
4-22 THE STORY OF BISHOP RIDLEY, MARTYR,
Mary, I think that before God they died in a good quarrel, and their offspring and
progeny all the country loved them the better for their fathers' sake. And in
A. !)• the quarrel of Christ our Saviour, in the defence of his own divine ordinances, I'^^-J- by the which he giveth unto us life and immortality; yea, in the quarrel of faith, and christian religion, wherein resteth our everlasting salvation, shall we not watch? shall we not go always armed? ever looking when our adversary, which like a roaring lion seeketh whom he may devour,' shall come upon us by reason of our slothfulness ? Yea, and woe be unto us, if he can oppress us unawares, which undoubtedly he will do, if he find us sleeping. ' Let us awake therefore : for if the good man of the house knew at what hour the thief should come he would surely watch, and not suifer his house to be broken up.'' Let us awake therefore, I say : let us not suffer our house to be broken up. ' Resist the devil,' saith St. James,^ 'and he will fly from you.' Let us therefore resist him manfully ; and taking the cross upon our shoulders, let us follow our captain Christ, who by his own blood hath dedicated and hallowed the way which leadeth unto the Father, that is, to the light which no man can attain, the fountain of the everlasting joys.* Let us follow, I say, whither he calleth and allureth us, that after these afflictions which last but for a moment, whereby he trieth our faith, as gold by the fire, we may everlastingly reign and triumph with him in the glory of the Father, and that through the same our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ*; to whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for ever; Amen, Amen.
" Good father, forasmuch as I have determined with myself, to pour forth these my cogitations into your bosom, here, me thinketh, I see you suddenly lifting up your head towards heaven, after your manner, and then looking upon me with your prophetical countenance, and speaking unto me, with these or like words: 'Trust not, my son (I beseech you vouchsafe me the honour of this name ; for in so doing I shall think myself both honoured, and beloved of you) : trust not, I say, my son, to these word-weapons ; for the kingdom of God is not in words but in power.s And remember always the words of the Lord, Do not imagine aforehand, what and how you will speak : for it shall be given you even in that same hour what ye shall speak ; For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.'^ I pray you there- fore, father, pray for me, that I may cast my whole care upon him, and tnist upon him in all perils.' For I know, and am surely persuaded, that whatsoever I can imagine or think aforehand, it is nothing, except he assist me with his Spirit, when the time is. I beseech you therefore, father, pray for me, that such a complete harness of the Spirit, such boldness of mind may be given unto me, that I may out of a true faith say with David, * I will not trust in my bow, and it is not my sword that shall save me. For he hath no pleasure in the strength of a horse, etc. : but the Lord's delight is in them that fear him, and put their trust in his mercy.' ^ I beseech you pray, pray that I may enter this fight only in the name of God, and that when all is past, I, through his gra- cious aid, being not overcome, may remain and stand fast in him, till that day of the Lord, in the which to them that obtain the victory shall be given the lively manna to eat, and a triumphant crown for evermore.^
" Now, father, I pray you help me to buckle on this gear a little better. For ye know the deepness of Satan, being an old soldier, and you have collared with him or now : blessed be God that hath ever aided you so well. I suppose he may well hold you at the bay. But truly he will not be so willing, I think, to join with you, as with us younglings. Sir, I beseech you, let your servant read this my babbling unto you, and now and then, as it shall seem unto you best, let your pen run on my book ; spai'e not to blot my paper, I give j'ou good leave."
Latlmei- : — '' Sir, I have caused my man not only to read your armour unto me, but also to write it out. For it is not only no bare armom-, but also well- bucklcd armour. I see not how it could be better. I thank you even from the bottom of my heart for it, and my prayer shall you not lack, trusting that you do the like for me ; for indeed there is the help, etc. Many things make confusion in memory ; and if I were as well learned as St. Paul, I would not bestow much amongst them, further than to gall them, and spur-gall too, when
(I) 1 Pet. V. (2) Matt. xxiv. (3) James iv. (4) 1 Tim. vl (5) 1 Cor. iv.
(6) Matt. X. Mark xi (?) Eph. vi. (8> Ps. xlvi.; cxlvii. (9; Kev. ii.
HIS GODLY TALK WITH LATIMER IN PRISON. 423
and where occasion were given, and matter came to mind : for the law shall Mar be their shoot-anchor, stay, and refuge. Therefore there is no remedy (namely ^
now, when they have the master-bowl in their hand, and rule the roost), but ■^- ^• patience. Better it is to suffer what cruelly they will put upon us, than to 1555. incur God's high indignation. Wherefore, good my lord, be of good cheer in s« " the Lord, with due consideration what he requireth of you, and what he doth '*'''"""*''■ promise you. Our common enemy shall do no more than God will permit him. God is faithful, which will not suffer us to be tempted above our strength, etc' Be at a point what ye will stand unto ; stick unto that, and let them both say and do what they list. They can but kill the body, which otherwise is of itself mortal : neither yet shall they do that when they list, but when God will suffer them ; when the hour appointed is come.^ To use many words with them it shall be but in vain, now that they have a bloody and deadly law prepared for them. But it is very requisite that ye give a reasonable account of your faith, if they will quietly hear you; else ye know, in a wicked place of judg- ment a man may keep silence, after the example of Christ. Let them not deceive you with their sophistical sophisms and fallacies : you know that false things may have more appearance of truth, than things that be most true : therefore Paul givelh us a watch-word, ' Let no man deceive you with likeliness of speech.'^ Neither is it requisite that with the contentious ye should follow strife of words, which tend to no edification, but to the s\ibversion of the hearers, and the vain bragging and ostentation of the adversaries.* Fear of death doth most persuade a great number. Be well ware of that argument ; for that per- suaded Shaxton (as many men thought), after that he had once made a good profession openly before the judgment-seat. The flesh is weak, but the wil- lingness of the spirit shall refresh the weakness of the flesh.
" The number of the criers under the altar must needs be fulfilled :^ if we be segregated thereunto, happy be we. That is the greatest promotion that God giveth in this world, to be such Philippians,^ to whom it is given not only to believe, but also to suffer, etc. But who is able to do these things? Surely all om- ability, all our sufficiency, is of God. He requireth and promiseth. Let us declare our obedience to his will, when it shall be requisite in the time of trouble, yea, in the midst of the fire.
" When that nmnber is fulfilled, which I ween shall be shortly, then have at the papists, when they shall say, ' Peace, all things are safe,' when Christ shall come to keep his great parliament, to the redress of all things that be amiss.' But he shall not come as the papists feign him, to hide himself, and to play bo- peep as it were under a piece of bread : but he shall come gloriously, to the terror and fear of all papists ; but to the great consolation and comfort of all that will here suffer for him. ' Comfort yourselves one another with these words.' 8
" Lo, sir, here have I blotted your paper vainly, and played the fool egre- giously; but so I thought better than not to do your request at this time. Par- don me, and pray for me; pray for me. I say; pray for me, I say. For I am sometimes so fearful, that I would creep into a mouse-hole ; sometimes God doth visit me again with his comfort. So he cometh and goeth, to teach me to feel and to know mine infirmity, to the intent to give thanks to him that is worthy, lest I should rob him of his due, as many do, and almost all the world. Fare ye well.
" What credence is to be given to papists, it may appear by their rackmg, writhing, wringing, and monstrously injuring of God's holy Scripture, as ap- peareth in the pope's law : but I dwell here now in a school of obhviousness. Fare you well once again, and be you steadfast and unmovable in the Lord. Paul loved Timothy marvellous well, notwithstanding he saith unto him, ' Be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel;'^ and again, ' Harden thyself to suffer afllictions.' '» 'Be faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a crown of life,' saith the Lord.""
(l)lCor. X (2)lPet. iii. Luke xxiii. (3) Colos. ii. (4)2Tiin. ii.
(5) Rev. vi. (6) Phil i. 0) 1 Thess. v. (8) 1 TheSB. iv.
(9) 1 Cor. xiii. (10) 2 Tim. i. (H) Rev. ii.
42 'i
GODLY LETTERS OF BISHOP RIDLEY
Alary.
A.D.
1555.
False reports spread by the policy of the papists.
See Appendix,
Ridley and his fel low- prisoner in Bocar- do, re- Btrained of their liberty.
The in- gratitude of the scholars in not vi- siting the bisluips in Bocarilo.
THE LETTERS OF THE REVEREND BISHOP AND MARTYR, NICHOLAS RIDLEY.
A Letter sent from Bishop Ridley and his Prison-fellows, unto Master Bradford and his Prison-fellows, in the King's Bench in Southwark, Anno 1554.
Well-beloved in Christ our Saviour, we all, with one heart, wish to you, with all those that love God in deed and truth, grace and health, and especially to our dearly-beloved companions which are in Christ's cause, and the cause both of their brethren, and of their own salvation, to put their neck willingly under the yoke of Christ's cross. How joyfid it was to us all to hear the report of Dr. Tayloi", and of his godly confession, etc., I ensure you, it is hard for me to express. Blessed be God, which was and is the giver of that, and of all godly strength and stomach in the time of adversity.
As for the rumours that have or do go abroad, either of our relenting or massing, we trust that they which know God and their duty towards their brethren in Christ, will not be too light of credence. For it is not the slanderer's evil tongue, but a man's own evil deed, that can with God defile a man ; and therefore, with God's grace, ye shall never have cause to do otherwise than ye say ye do, that is, not to doubt but that we will, by God's grace, continue, etc. Like rumour as ye have heard of our coming to London, hath been here spread of the coming of certain learned men prisoners, hither from London ; but as yet we know no certainty whether of these rumours is or shall be more true. Know you that we have you in our daily remembrance, and wish you, and all the rest of our foresaid companions, well in Christ.
It should do us much comfort, if we might have knowledge of the state of the rest of oiu' most dearly beloved, which in this troublesome time do stand in Christ's cause, and in the defence of the truth thereof. Somewhat we liave heard of master Hooper's matter ; but of the rest never a deal. We long to hear of father Crome, Dr. Sands, master Saunders, Veron, Beacon, Rogers, i etc. We are in good health, thanks be to God, and yet the manner of our entreating doth change as sour ale doth in summer. It is reported to us of our keepers, that tlie university beareth us heavily. A coal clianced to fall in the night out of the chimney, and burnt a hole in the floor, and no more harm was done, the bailifi^s servant sitting by the fire. Another niglit there chanced (as master bailiffs told us) a drunken fellow to multiply words, and for the same he was set in Bocardo. Upon these things (as is reported) there is risen a rumour in the town and country about, that we should have broken the prison with such violence, as that, if master bailiffs had not played the pretty men, we should have made a scape.* We had out of our prison a wall that we might have walked upon, and our servants had liberty to go abroad in the town or fields ; but now both they and we are restrained of both.
My lord of Worcester passed by through Oxford, but he did not visit us. Tlie same day began our restraint to be more, and the book of the communion was taken from us by the bailiffs at the mayor's commandment, as the bailiffs did report to us. No man is licensed to come unto us : afore, they might, that would, see us upon the wall ; but that is so grudged at, and so evil reported, that we are now restrained, etc. Sir, blessed be God, with all our evil reports, grudges, and restraints, we are merry in God ; all our cure and care is and shall be (by God's grace) to please and serve him, of whom we look and hope, after these temporal and momentary miseries, to have eternal joy and perpetual felicity with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Peter and Paul, and all the heavenly company of the angels in heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord. As yet there was never learned man, nor any scholar, or other that visited us since we came into Bocardo, which now in Oxford may be called a college of " Quondams."* For as ye know, we be no fewer than three, and I dai'e say, every one well contented with his portion, which I do reckon to be our heavenly Father's fatherly, good, and gracious gift. Thus fare you well. We shall, with God's
( 1 ) This letter seemeth to be -written a little before, about the time of the burning of mastei Rogers.
(2) Whatsoever fault is done, the cause is laid upon the poor Christians. {\i) Bocardo, a college of Uuondams !
trary to eir con-
TO A COUSIN AND TO BRADFORD. 425
grace, one day meet together, and be merry. The day assuredly approacheth Manj.
apace ; the Lord grant that it may shortly come ; for, before that day conic, I
fear me the world will wax worse and worse. But then all our enemies shall ^- ^• be overthrown, and trodden under foot; righteousness and tnath then shall have 1555. ihe victory, and bear the bell away, whereof the Lord grant us to be partners, and all that loveth truly the truth.
We all pray you, as ye can, to cause all our commendations tc be made unto all such as ye know did visit us and you, when we were in the Tower, with their friendly remembrances and benefits. Mistress Wilkinson and mistress Thegood- Warcup have not forgotten us, but, ever since we came to Bocardo, with their "^.'^ °^ charitable and friendly benevolence have comforted us : not that else we did Wiikin- lack (for God be blessed, who ever hitherto hath provided sufficiently for us) ; son and but that is a great comfort, and an occasion for us to bless God, when we see \v"rcup. that he maketh them so friendly to tender us, whom some of us were never familiarly acquainted withal.
Yours in Christ, Nich. Ridley.
A Letter of Ridley, sent to a Cousin of his.
God's Holy Spirit be with you now and ever ; Amen. — When I call to remem- brance, beloved cousin, the state of those that for fear of trouble, either for loss of goods, will do in the sight of the world those things that they know and are j^'j'JfJtjf ' assured are contrary to the will of God, I can do no less but lament their case, the state being assured the end thereof will be so pitiful (without speedy repentance), of them that I tremble and fear to have it in remembrance. I would to God it lay upon fear 'of some earthly burden, so that freedom of conscience might be given unto them, trouble, I wrote (as God knoweth) not of presumption, but only lamenting the state of ^,°,]^\"J^ those, whom I thought now in this dangerous time should have given both you world, and and me comfortable instruction. But alas ! instead thereof we have persua- so con sions to follow (I lament to rehearse it) superstitious idolatry. Yea, and that Jj"" worst of all is, they will seek to prove it by the Scripture. The Lord for his science, mercy turn their hearts ; Amen. Commend me, etc.
Yours, Nicholas Ridley.
A worthy Letter of Ridley to Master Bradford.
Brother Bradford, I wish you and your company in Christ, yea, and all the holy brotherhood, that now with you in divers prisons sufFereth and beareth patiently Christ's cross for the maintenance of his gospel, grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sir, considering the state of this chivalry and warfare, wherein I doubt not but we be set to fight under Christ's banner, and his cross, against our ghostly enemy the devil, the old serpent Satan, methink I perceive two things to be his most perilous and most dangerous engines, which Satan bath to impugn Christ's verity, his gospel, and his faith ; and the same two also to be the most massy posts and mighty pillars, whereby he maintaineth and upholdeth his xwomain satanical synagogue. These two, sir, are they, in my judgment : the one, pillars his false doctrine and idolatrical use of the Lord's supper ; and the other, the „" [l"e%- wicked and abominable usurpation of the primacy of the see of Ronie. ^ By nasogue these two, Satan seemeth to me principally to maintain and uphold his king- «*" S"'^" dom ; by these two he driveth down mightily (alas I fear me) the third part of the stars in heaven.' These two poisonlul rotten posts he had so painted over Satan's with such a pretence and colour ol' religion, of unity in Christ's church of the painted catholic faith, and such like, that tiie wily serpent is able to deceive (if it were over with possible) even the elect of God. Wherefore John saith,_ not without great |p„^^]"',^f cause, ' If any know not Satan's subtleties and the profundities thereof, I will religion. wish him none other burden to be laden withal.'*
Sir, because these be his principal and main posts, whereupon standeth all Ridley's his falsehood, craft, and treachery, tlterefore, according to the poor power that purpose. God hath given me, I have bended mine artillery to shoot at the same. I know it to be but little, God knoweth, tliat I can do, and of my shot I know they pass not. Yet I will not (God willing) cease to do the best that I can, to shake (1) Rev. viii. (2) Rev. ii.
426 GODLY LETTERS OF BISHOP RIDLEY.
ifari/. those cankered and rotten posts. The Lord grant me good success, to the glory
of his name, and the furtherance of Christ's gospel. I have almost (I
A. D. thank God) for this present time spent a good part of my powder in these 1555. scribhlings, whereof this bearer shall give you knowledge. Good brother Bradford ! let the wicked surmise and say what they list; know you for a cer- tainty, by God's grace, without all doubt, that in Christ's gospel's cause, against and upon the aforesaid God's enemies, I am fully determined to live and die. Farewell, dear brother; and I beseech you and all the rest of our brethren to have good remembrance of the condemned heretics (as they call them) of Oxford, in your prayers. The bearer shall certify you of our state. Farewell in the Lord. — From Bocardo.
Yours in Christ, Nich. Ridley.
Another Letter of Ridley unto Master Bradford, and other his
-;; Prison-fellows, Anno 1555.
Dearly beloved, I wish you grace, mercy, and peace.
According to your mind, I have run over all your papers,^ and what I have done (which is but small) therein may appear. In two places I have put in two loose leaves. I had much ado to read that was written in your great leaves, and I ween somewhere I have altered some words, because I could not read perfectly that which was written. Sir, what shall be best done with these things, now ye must consider ; for if they come in sight at this time, undoubt- edly they must to the fire with their father, and as for any safeguard that )'our custody can be unto them, I am sure yoii look not for it ; for as you have been partner of the work, so I am sure you look for none other, but to have and receive like wages, and to drink of the same cup. Blessed be God, that hath given you liberty in the mean season, that you may use your pen to his glory, and the comfort (as 1 hear say) of many. I bless God daily in you, and all Commen- your whole company, to whom I beseech you commend me heartily. Now I dation of [qyq jy)y countryman in deed and in truth, I mean Dr. Taylor, not for my lor! earthly country's sake, but for our heavenly Father's sake, and for Christ's sake,
whom I heard say, he did so stoutly in time of peril confess, and yet also for our country's sake, and for all our mother's sake ; but I mean of the kingdom of heaven, and of heavenly Jei-usalem, and because of the Spirit, which bringeth forth in him, in you, and in your company, such blessed fruits of boldness in the Lord's cause, of patience and constancy. The Lord which hath begun this work in you all, perform and perfect this his own deed, until his own day come ; Amen.
As yet I perceive ye have not been baited, and the cause thereof God know- eth, which will let them do no more to his, than is his pleased will and pleasure to suffer them to do for his own glory, and to the profit of them which be truly his. For the Father, which doth guide them that be Christ's to Christ, is more mighty than all they, and no man is able to pull them out of the Father's hands : except, I say, it please our Father, it please our master Christ, to suffer them, they shall not stir one hair of your heads.
My brother Punt (the bearer hereof, and master Hooper's letters) would that we should say what we think good concerning your mind; 2 that is, not to answer, except ye might have somewhat indifferent judges. We are, as ye know, separated, and one of us cannot in any thing consult with another, and much strait watching of the bailiffs is about us, that there be no privy confe- rence amongst us : and yet, as we hear, the scholars bear us more heavily than the townsmen. A wonderful thing, among so many, never yet scholar offered any of us (so far as I know) any manner of favour, either for or in Christ's cause.
Now as concerning your demand of our coimsel, for my part I do not mislike that which I perceive ye are minded to do ; for 1 look for none other, but, if ye answer afore the same commissioners that we did, ye shall be served and handled as we were, though ye were as well learned as ever was either Peter or
(1) This was a treatise of tlie Lord's Supper with other things which master Bradford sent to liiin to peruse, and to judfje tliereof.
(2) This matter was concerning the deliberation of the prisoners in London; what to do, if they were called to open disj)utation.
A SECOND TO JOHN BRADFORD. 427
Paul. And yet further I think, that occasion afterwards may be given you, Mary. and the consideration of the profit of your auditory may perchance move you
to do otherwise. A. D.
Finally, determinately to say what shall be best, I am not able ; but I trust ^^^^' he, whose cause ye have in hand, shall put you in mind to do that which shall be most for his glory, the profit of his flock, and your own salvation. This letter must be common to you and master Hooper, in whom and in his prison- fellow, good father Crome, I bless God, even from the bottom of my heart; for I doubt not but they both do to our master Christ, true, acceptable, and honour- able service, and profitable to his flock ; the one with his pen, and the other with his fatherly example of patience and constancy, and all manner of true godliness. But what shall I need to say to you, Let this be common among Commu- your brethren? among whom (I dare say) it is with you, as it is with us, to whom "ai")""^ all things here are common, meat, money, and whatsoever one of us hath, that Ridley, can or may do another good. Although, I said, the bailiffs and our hostess Hooper, straitly watch us, that we have no conference or intelligence of any thing ^^l '"^' abroad, yet hath God provided for every one of us instead of our servants, faith- others, ful fellows, which will be content to hear and see, and to do for us whatsoever ^°'',? ■ they can. It is God's work surely, blessed be God for his unspeakable good- for his ness! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the com- saints, munication of the Holy Ghost be with you all : Amen, Amen.
As far as London is from O.xford, yet thence we have received of late, both The meat, money, and shirts, not only from such as are of our acquaintance, but '^Ij"^.^'^" of some (whom this bearer can tell) with whom I had never to my knowledge of certain any acquaintance. I know for whose sake they do it ; to him therefore be all persons, honour, glory, and due thanks.
And yet I pray you do so much as to show them, that we have received their benevolence, and (God be blessed) have plenty of all such things. This I desire you to do ; for I know they be of master Hooper's and your familiar acquaintance. Master Latimer was crazed; but I hear now (thanks be to God) that he amendeth again.
Nicholas Ridley.
Another Letter of Ridley unto Master Bradford.'
O dear brother, seeing the time is now come, wherein it pleaseth the hea- venly Father, for Christ our Saviour's sake, to call upon you, and to bid you to come, happy are you that ever you were born, thus to be found awake at the Lord's caUing : " Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been trusty in small matters, he shall set thee over great things, and thou shalt enter into the joy of thy Lord."-
O dear brother, what meaneth this, that you are sent into your own native country? The wisdom and policy of the world may mean what they will, but I trust God will so order the matter finally by his fatherly providence, that some gi-eat occasion of God's gracious goodness shall be plenteously poured abroad amongst his, our dear brethren in that country, by this your martyrdom. Where the martyrs for Christ's sake shed their blood, and lost their lives, oh ! what wondrous things hath Christ afterward wrought to his glory, and confirmation of their doctrine. If it be not the place that sanctifieth the man, but the holy man doth by Christ sanctify the place, brother Bradford, then happy and holy shall be that place wherein thou shalt suffer, and which sliall be with thy ashes in Christ's cause sprinkled over \vithal. All thy country may rejoice of thee, that it ever brought forth such a one, which woidd render his life again in his cause, of whom he had received it. Brother Bradford, so long as I shall understand thou art in thy journey, by God's grace I shall call upon our heavenly Father for Christ's sake, to set thee safely home : and then, good brother, speak you, and pray for the remnant which are to suffer for Christ's sake, according to that thou then shalt know more clearly.
(1) This letter of bishop Ridley was written to innster Hnulford soon after his condemnation, when it was thought that he should be had to Lancashire.
(2) " T.ug& serve bone, et fidelis, quia super pauca fuistl fidelis, super raulfa te constituct, et iiitrabis in gaudiuni Domini." Mati. xxv.
438
GODLY LETTERS OF BISHOP RIDLEY.
Mary.
A.D. 1555.
The re- joicing of Ridley at the con- stancy of Rogers
We do look now every day when we shall be called on, blessed be God ? I ween I am the weakest many ways of our company ; and yet I thank our Lord God and heavenly Father by Christ, that since I heard of our dear bro- ther Roger's departing, and stout confession of Christ and his truth even unto the death, my heart (blessed be God) so rejoiced of it, that since that time, (I say) I never felt any lumpish heaviness in my heart, as I grant I have felt sometimes before. O good brother ! blessed be God in thee, and blessed be the time that ever I knew thee. Farewell, farewell.
Your brother in Christ, Nicholas Ridley. — Brother, farewell.
To the Brethren remaining in Captivity of the Flesh, and dispersed abroad in sundry Prisons ; but knit together, in Unity of Spirit and Holy Religion, in the bowels of the Lord Jesus.* Grace, peace, and mercy be multiplied among you. What worthy thanks can we render unto the Lord for you, my brethren ; namely, for the great conso- lation which through you we have received in the Lord, who, notwithstanding the rage of Satan that goeth about by all manner of subtle means to beguile the world, and also busily laboureth to restore and set up his kingdom again, that of late began to decay and fall to ruin ; ye remain yet still unmovable, as men surely grounded upon a strong rock. And now, albeit that Satan by his soldiers and wicked ministers, daily (as we hear) draweth numbers imto him, so that it is said of him, that he plucketh even the very stars out of heaven, whiles he driveth into some men the fear of death, and loss of all their goods, and showeth and offereth to others the pleasant baits of the world, namely riches, wealth, and all kind of delights and pleasures, fair houses, great reve- nues, fat benefices, and what not ; and all to the intent they should fall down and worship, not the Lord, but the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil, ^ that great beast and his image, and should be enticed to commit fornication with the strumpet of Babylon, together with the kings of the earth, with the lesser beast and with the false prophets, and so to rejoice and be pleasant with her, and to be drunken with the wine of her fornication;^ yet blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which hath given unto you a manly courage, and hath so strengthened you in the inward man, by the power of his Spirit, that you can contemn as well all the terrors, as also the vain flatterings and allurements, of the world, esteeming them as vanities, mere trifles, and things of nought : who hath also wrought, planted, and surely established in your hearts, so steadfast a faith and love of the Lord Jesus Christ, joined with such constancy, that by no engines of Antichrist, be they never so terrible or plausible, ye will suffer any other Jesus, or any other Christ to be forced upon you, besides him whom the prophets have spoken of before, the apostles have preached, the holy martyrs of God have confessed and testified with the effu- sion of their blood.
Li this faith stand ye fast, my brethren, and sirffer not yourselves to be brought under the yoke of bondage and superstition any more.* For ye know, brethren, how that our Saviour warned his beforehand, that such should come as would point unto the world another Christ, and would set him out with so many false miracles, and with such deceivable and subtle practices, that even the very elect (if it wei-e possible) should thereby be deceived :5 such strong delusion to come did our Saviour give warning of before. But continue ye faithful and con- stant, be of good comfort, and remember that oiu- grand Captain hath overcome the world ; for he that is in us, is stronger than he that is in the world, and the Lord promiseth unto us that, for the elect's sake, the days of wickedness shall be shortened.^ In the mean season abide ye and endure with patience as ye have begun : " Endure," I say, " and reserve yourselves unto better times," as Patience one of the heathen poets said;' cease not to show yoin-selves valiant soldiers of necessary the Lord, and help to maintain the travailing faith of the gospel. » CMrU- Y^ ha\e need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye may re-
tiuns. ceive the promises, " for yet a very little while, and he that shall come, will come,
(1) This letter of Ridley to the persecuted flock of Christ was written in Latin, and translated into English. [This translation is the same as is contained in Coverdale's "Letttr.'iof the Martyrs;" where it is alto given in Latin. See also the first edition of the Acts and Monuments, page i.iSl; and in the Appendix to this volume. — Ed.]
(2) Rev. xii. (3) Rev. xvii. (4) Gal. v. (5) Matt. xxiv. (6) 1 John iv. (7) Virg. iEneid. i. (8) Phil. i.
He e.\- liorteth the bre thren to stand fast.
TO THE BRETHREN IN CAPTIVITY. 429
and will not tarry :" and " the just shall live by faitli ; but if any withdraw Manj.
himself my soul shall have no pleasure in him," saith the Lord. " But we are
not they which do withdraw ourselves unto damnation, but believe unto the ^- ^• salvation of the soul." ' Let us not suffer these words of Christ to fall out of ^-^^^^ our hearts by any manner of terrors or threatenings of the world. " Fear not them which kill the body;"-' the rest ye know: for I write not vuito you as to men which are ignorant of the truth, but which know the truth ; and to this end only, that we, agreeing together in one faith, may take comfort one of another, and be the more confirmed and strengthened thereby. We never had Tliequar-
a better or more just cause either to contemn our life, or shed our blood ; we J^^ ".' ""^
_ J ' ' martyrs
cannot take in hand the defence of a more certain, clear, and manifest truth. ^ is just For it is not any ceremony for the which we contend ; but it toucheth the very and true, substance of our whole religion, yea, even Christ himself. Shall we, either Martyrs can we, receive and acknowledge any other Christ instead of him, who is alone death, be- the everlasting Son of the everlasting Father, and is the brightness of the glory cause and lively image of the substance of the Father, in whom only dwelleth cor- acknow-^ porally the fulness of the godhead, who is the only way, the truth, and the life ? ledge no Let such wickedness, mj^ brethren, let such horrible wickedness be far from us. ™°^P For although there be that are called gods,* whether in heaven or in earth, as but one. there be many gods and many lords, yet unto us there is but one God, which is the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him ; but every man hath not knowledge. "This is life eternal," saith St. John, " that they know thee to be the only true God, and whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ."^ If any therefore would force upon us any other God, besides him whom Paul and the apostles have taught, let us not hear him, but let us flee from him, and hold him accursed.
Brethren, ye are not ignorant of the deep and profound subtleties of Satan ; The pro- for he will not cease to range about you, seeking by all means possible whom p" g^',"^j^ he may devour: but play ye the men, and be of good comfort in the Lord.^ And albeit your enemies and the adversaries of the truth, armed with all T'le mai- worldly force and power that may be, do set upon you ; yet be ye not faint- ^u the hearted, and shrink not therefore, but trust unto your captain Christ; trust prophets, unto the Spirit of truth, and trust to the truth of your cause ; which as it may ^{"j"*^',^!' by the malice of Satan be darkened, so can it never be clean put out.^ For we cient have (high praise be given to God there-for) most plainly, evidently, and clearly enters on our side, all the prophets, all the apostles, and undoubtedly all the ancient gj^g^ ecclesiastical writers which have written, imtil of late years past.
Let us be hearty, and of good courage there-for, and thoroughly comfort our- selves in the Lord. Be in no wise afraid of your adversaries ; for that which is to them an occasion of perdition, is to you a sure token of salvation, and that of God :^ for unto you it is given, that not only ye should believe on him, but also suffer for his sake. And when ye are railed upon for the name of Christ, remember that by the voice of Peter, yea, and of Christ our Saviour also, ye are counted with the prophets, with the apostles, and with the holy martyrs of Christ, happy and blessed there-for : for the glory and Spirit of God resteth upon you.^
On their part our Saviour Christ is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified : for what can they else do unto you, by persecuting you, and working all cruelty and villany against you, but make your crowns more glorious, yea beautify and multiply the same, and heap upon themselves the horrible plagues and heavy wrath of God : and therefore, good brethren, though they rage never iie ex- so fiercely against us, yet let us not wisli evil unto them again, knowing that ^"J^^^^l\^ while, for Christ's cause, they vex and persecute us, they are like madmen, ^ish evU most outrageous and cruel against themselves, heaping hot burning coals upon '^'^"'^^'^^ their own heads ; but rather let us wish well unto them, knowing that we are ^^^^^^ thereunto called in Christ Jesus, that we should be heirs of the blessing.'" Let us pray therefore unto God, that he would drive out of their hearts this dark- ness of errors, and make the light of his truth to shine unto them, that they, acknowledging their blindness, may with all humble repentance bo converted unto the Lord, and together with us, confess him to be the only true God, which is the Father of" light, and his only Son Jesus Christ, worshipping hnu
(1) Heb. X. (2) John x. (3) Heb. i. Coloss. i. (4) 1 Cor. viii. (5) John xii.
(C) Kev. ii. (7) 1 Pet. v. .(8) Phil. i. (&) 1 Pet. iv. (10) 1 Pet. uu
430
GODLY LETTERS OF BISHOP RIDLEY.
Mary, in Spirit and verity: Amen. The Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ comfort your
^ hearts in the love of God, and patience of Christ : Amen.
A.D. Your brother in the Lord, wliose name this bearer shall signify unto you,
^555. ready always by the grace of God to live and die with you.
Commu- nion and unity of saints.
Reasons proving the reli- gion in queen Mary's time not to be of God.
Scriptures in kinu Edward's time known ; in queen Mary's, unknown.
In king
Edward's
time the
people
knew
what they
prayed.
In queen
Mary's,
they nei-
therknew
what, nor
to whom
they
prayed.
A Letter of Bishop Ridley, wherein he confirmeth the Brethren in Captivity ; translated out of the Latin.
To the brethren which constantly cleave unto Christ, in suffering affliction with him and for his sake.
Grace and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, be multiplied unto you : Amen.
Although, brethren, we have of late heard nothing from you, neither have at this present any news to send to you ; yet we thought good something to write unto you, whereby ye might understand that we have good remembrance of you continually, as we doubt not but ye have of us also. When this messenger, coming unto us from you of late, had brought us good tidings of your great constancy, fortitude, and patience in the Lord, we were filled with much joy and gladness, giving thanks to God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, which hath caused his face so to shine upon you, and with the light of spiritual understanding hath so lightened your hearts, that now being in captivity and bonds for Christ's cause, ye have not ceased, as much as in you licth, by words, but much more by deed and by your example, to stablish and conhrm that thins:, which, when ye were at liberty in the world, ye laboured to publish and set abroad by the word and doctrine ; that is to sa)^, holding fast the word of life, ye shine as lights in the world, in the midst of a wicked and crooked nation,' and that with so much the greater glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, and profit of your brethren, by how much Satan more cruelly now rageth and busily laboureth to darken the light of the gospel.
And as for the darkness that Satan now bringeth upon the Clmrch of Eng- land, who needeth to doubt thereof? Of late time cur Saviour Christ, his apostles, prophets, and teachers, spake in the temple to the people of England in the English tongue, so that they might be understood plainly, and without any hardness, of the godly and such as sought for heavenly knowledge in mat- ters which of necessity of salvation pertained to the obtaining of eternal life ; but now those things, which once were written of them for the edifying of the congregation, are read in a strange tongue without interpretation, manifestly against St. Paul's commandment, so that there is no man able to understand them, which hath not learned that strange and unknown tongue.
Of late days those heavenly mysteries, whereby Christ hath ingrafted us into his body, and hath united us one to another ; wherebj' also, being regenerate, and born anew unto God, he hatli nourished, increased, and strengthened us; whereby moreover, either he hath taught and set forth an order amongst them which are whole, or else to the sick in soul or body hath given, as it were, wholesome medicines and remedies : those, I say, were all plainly set forth to the people in their own language, so that what great and exceeding good things every man had received of God, what duty every one owed to another by God's ordinance, what every one had professed in his vocation, and was bound to observe, where remedy was to be had for the wicked and feeble, he to Avhom God hath given a desire and willing heart to understand those things, might soon perceive and understand. But now all these things are taught and set forth in such sort, that the people, redeemed with Christ's blood, and for whose sakea they were by Christ himself ordained, can have no manner of understanding thereof at all.
Of late (forasmuch as we know not how to pray as we ought) our Lord Jesus Christ in his prayer, whereof he would have no man ignorant, and also the Holy Ghost in the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs wliich are set forth in the Bible, did teach and instruct all the people of England in the English tongue, that they might ask such things as are according to the will of the Father, and might join their hearts and lips in prayer together : but now all these things are commanded to be hid and shut up from them in a strange
(1) Phil. ii.
TO MASTER WEST, SOMETIME HIS CHAPLAIN. 431
tongue, whereby it must needs follow, that the people can neither tell how to Mary.
pray, nor what to pray for; and how can they join their hearts and voice toge- ■"
ther, when they understand no more what the voice signifieth, than a brute A.D. beast? 1555.
Finally, I hear say, that the catechism which was lately set forth in the The cate- English tongue, is now in every pulpit condemned. O devilish malice, and chism set most spitefully injui'ious to the salvation of mankind, purchased by Jesus Christ! i°ing Ed- Indeed Satan could not long suffer that so great light should be spread abroad ward's in the world ; he saw well enough that nothing was able to overthrow his king- '1'",'^, ^'"' dom so much, as if children, being godly instructed in religion, should learn to in queen know Christ whilst they are yet young; whereby not only children, but the Mary's elder sort also, and aged folks that before were not taught to know Christ in bidden. " their childhood, should now, even with children and babes, be forced to learn The Ca- to know him. Now therefore he roareth ; now he rageth. But what else do tholic they, brethren, which serve Satan, and become his ministers and slaves in gees,'' maintaining of his impiety, but even the same which they did, to whom Christ our Saviour threateneth this curse in the gospel : " Woe unto j'ou which shut up the kingdom of heaven before men, and take away the key of knowledge from them ; you yourselves have not entered in, neither have ye suffered them that would enter to come in." '
And from whence shall we say, brethren, that this horrible and mischievous darkness proceedeth, which is now brought upon the world ? From whence, I pray you, but even from the smoke of the great furnace of the bottomless pit, The pit of so that the sun and the air are now darkened by the smoke of the jiit ? Now, locusts even now, out of doubt, brethren, the pit is opened against us, and the locusts begin to sv/arm, and Abaddon now reigneth.*
Ye therefore, my brethren, which pertain unto Christ, and have the seal of Exhorta- God marked in your foreheads ; that is to wit, are sealed with the earnest of gJand'con- the Spirit to be a peculiar people of God, quit yourselves like men, and be stant in strong ; for he that is in us, is stronger than he which is in the world, and ye ^'*^'?'. know that all that is born of God overcometh the world ; and this is our vie- truth, tory that overcometh the world, even our faith.^ Let the world fret, let it rage never so much, be it never so cruel and bloody, yet be ye sure that no man can take us out of the Father's hands, for he is greater than all, who hath not spared his own Son, but hath given him to death for us all ; and therefore how "shall he not with him give us all things also? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, who then shall condemn? It is Christ that is dead, yea rather which is risen again, who also is at the right hand of God, and maketh request also for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribula:ion, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or naked- ness, or peril, or sword?"* The rest ye know, brethren. We are certainly per- suaded with St. Paul, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that no kind of thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord ; which thing, that it may come to pass by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the comfort both of you and of us all, as we for our parts will continually (God willing) pray for you ; so, dear brethren in the Lord, with all earnest and hearty request we beseech you, even in the bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye will not cease to pray for us. Fare ye well, dear brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all evermore : Amen. Yours in the Lord, N. Ridley.
A Letter of Bisliop Ridley, answering to a certain Letter of one Master West, sometime his Chaplain. I wish you grace in God, and love of the truth, without the which truly esta- blished in men's hearts by the mighty hand of the Almighty God, it is no more possible to stand by the truth in Christ in time of trouble, than it is for the wax to abide the heat of the fire. Sir, know you this, that I am (blessed be God) persuaded, that this world is but transitory, and, as St. John saith, " The world passeth away, and the lust thereof."* I am persuaded Christ's words to be true, "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven:"" and I believe that no earthly creature shall be
(1) Matt xiii. (2) Rev. ix. (3) Rev. vii. 1 John v. (4) Rom. viii.
(5) 1 John ii. (6) Matt. x.
432
GODLY LETTERS OF BISHOP RIDLEY.
Mary.
A.D.
1555.
No crea- ture can be saved, whom Christ de- iiieth be- fore his Father. What it is for a man well to re- member liimself. Fear God.
Confes- sion to the mini- ster in the way of askinp counsel, not mis- liked. Ridley ever a reverend handler of the sa- crament.
The part of a true bishop, only to seek the glory of Christ his Master.
Ridley repenteth that he was not more ear- nest in stablish- ing the con- sciences of his family and cure.
Dr. Har- vey charged.
saved, whom the Redeemer and Saviour of the world shall before his Father deny. This the Lord grant, that it may be so grafted, established, and fixed in my heart, that neither things present nor to come, high nor low, life nor death, be able to remove me thence. It is a goodly wish, that you wisli me deeply to consider the things peitaining unto God's glory; but if you had wished also, that neither fear of death, nor hope of worldly prosperity, should let me to maintain God's word and his truth, which is his gloiy and true honour, it would have liked me well. You desire me, for God's sake, to remember myself. Indeed sir, now it is time so to do ; lor, so far as I can perceive, it standeth me upon no less danger, than of the loss both of body and soul ; and I trow, then it is time for a man to awake, if any thing will awake him. lie that will not fear iiim that threateneth to cast both body and soul into everlasting fire, whom will he fear?' With this fear, O Lord, fasten thou together our frail flesh, that we never swerve from thy laws. You say, you have made much suit for me. Sir, God grant that you have not, in suing for my worldly deliverance, impaired and hindered the furtherance of God's word and his truth.
You have known me long indeed; in the which time it hath clianced me, as you say, to mislike some things.* It is true, I grant ; for sudden changes with- out substantial and necessary cause, and the heady setting forth of extremities, I did never love. Confession imto the minister which is able to instruct, cor- rect, comfort, and inform the weak, wounded, and ignorant conscience, indeed I ever thought might do much good in Christ's congregation, and so I assure you, I think even at this day. My doctrine and my preaching, you say, you have heard often, and after your judgment have thought it godl}', saving only for the sacrament, which thing although it was of me reverently handled, and a great deal better than of the rest, as you say, yet in the margin you write "warily," and in this world "wisely;" and yet me thought all sounding not well. Sir, but that I see so many changes in this world, and so much altera- tion, else at this your saying I would not a little marvel. I have taken you for my friend, and a man whom I fancied for plainness and faithfidness, as much I assure you, as for your learning : and have you kept this so close in your heart from me unto this day ? Sir, I consider more things than one, and will not say all that I think. But what need you to care what I think, for any thing I shall be able to do unto you, either good or harm? You give me good lessons to stand in nothing against my learning, and to beware of vain-glory. Tridy sir, I herein like your counsel very well, and by God's grace I intend to follow it unto my life's end.
To write unto those whom you name, I cannot see what it will avail me : for this I would have you know, that I esteem nothing available for me, wliich also will not further the glory of God. And now, because I perceive you have an entire zeal and desire of my deliverance out of this captivity and worldly misery, if I should not bear you a good heart in God again, methinks I were to blame. Sir, how nigh the day of my dissolution and departure out of this world is at hand, I cannot tell : the Lord's will be fulfilled, how soon soever it shall come. I know the Lord's words must be verified on me that I shall appear before the uncorrupt Judge, and be accountable to him of all my former life. And although the hope of his mercies is my shoot-anchor of eternal salvation, yet am I persuaded, that whosoever wittingly neglecteth and regardeth not to clear his conscience, he cannot have peace with God, nor a lively faith in his mercy. Conscience therefore moveth me, considering you were one of my family, and one of my household, of whom then I think I had a special cure, and of all them which were within my house ; which indeed ought to have been an example of godliness to all the rest of my cure, not only of good life, but also in promoting of God's word to the uttermost of their power (but alas, now, when the trial doth separate the chaft' from the corn, how small a deal it is, God knoweth, which the wind doth not blow away) : this conscience, I say, doth move me to fear, lest the lightness of my family shall be laid to my charge for lack of more earnest and diligent instruction, which should have been done. But, blessed be God which hath given me grace to see this my default, and to lament it from the bottom of my heart, before my departing hence.
This conscience doth move me also now to require both you, and my friend Dr. Harvey, to remember your promises made to me in times past, of the pure
(1) Luke xii.
TO MASTER WEST, SOMETIME HIS CHAPLAIN'. 4^^
jettmg-fortli and preaching of God's word and his truth. These promises, Afary although you shall not need to fear to be charged with them of me hereafter
before the world, yet look for none other (I exhort you as my friends), but to A. D. be charged with them at God's hand. This conscience, and the love tliat I 1555. bear unto you, biddeth me now say unto you both, in God's name, " Fear God, Good mo- and love not the world : for God is able to cast both body and soul into hell-fire, nitions of When his wrath shall suddenly be kindled, blessed are all they that put their f ''^'^.^ ^ trust in him." ' And the saying of St. John is true, " All that is in the world, chip- as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the '^'°*- Father, but of the world; and the world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever." ^ If this gift of grace (which undoubtedly is necessarily required unto eternal salvation) were truly and un- feignedly grafFed and firmly established in men's hearts, they would not be so light, so suddenly to shrink from the maintenance and confession of the truth as is now, alas ! seen so manifestly of so many in these days. But here, perad- venture, you would know of me, what is the truth. Sir, God's word is the truth, What is as St. John saith, and that even the same that was heretofore.^ For albeit man ''^""'• doth vary and change as the moon, yet God's word is stable, and abideth one for evermore :* and of Christ it is truly said, " Christ yesterday and to-day ; the same is also for ever."'
When I was in office, all that were esteemed learned in God's word, agreed Common this to be a truth in God's word written, that the Common Prayer of the church fj^g^J;,',;"' should be had in the common tongue. You know I have conferred with many, mon and I ensure you I never found man (so far as I do remember) neither old nor tongue. young, gospeller nor papist, of what judgment soever he was, in this thing to be )^'^*' '' of a contrary opinion. If then it were a truth of God's word, think you that fess the alteration of the world can make it an untruth? If it cannot, why then do Christ. so many men shrink from the confession and maintenance of this truth received He that once of us all? for what is it, I pray you, else to confess or deny Christ in this anopj.,', world, but to maintain the truth taught in God's word, or for any worldly truth respect to shrink from the same ? This one thing have I brought for an en- g^j'^J"'*' sample ; other things be in like case, which now particularly I need not word for rehearse : for he that will forsake wittingly, either for fear or gain of the world, worldly any one ojjen truth of God's word, if he be constrained, he will assuredly for- wiiibc'as sake God and all his truth, rather than he will endanger himself to lose or to ready to
leave that he loveth better indeed, than he doth God and the truth of his word. [•?">' ^"'^ T i-i 11 1 • 1 • 1 • T • 1 nimselt.
1 like very well your plam speakmg, whereui you say, 1 must either agree or p^^th
die, and I think that you mean of the bodily death, which is common both to common good and bad. Sir, I know I must die, whether I agree or no. But what folly t" good were it then to make such an agreement, by the which I could never escape namna- this death which is common to all, and also hicur the guilt of death and eternal bie agree- damnation? Lord, grant that I may utterly abhor and detest this damnable "^*"'- agreement, so long as I live ! And because (I dare say) you wrote of friend- ship unto me this short earnest advertisement, and I think verily, wishing me to live and not to die, therefore, bearing you in my heart no less love in God, than you do me in the world, I say unto you in the word of the Lord (and that I say to you, I say to all my friends and lovers of us in God), that if you do not confess and maintain to your power and knowledge that which is grounded upon God's word, but will either for fear or gain of the world shrink and play the apostata," indeed you shall die the death : you know what I mean. And I beseech you all, my true friends and lovers in God, remember what I say ; for this may be the last time peradventure, that ever I sliall write unto you. From Bocardo in Oxford the 8th day of April, 1555.
Yours ill Chiist, N. Ridley. Master Grindal, now archbishop of Canterbury, being in the time J^''«_'.';™ of exile in the city of Frankfort, wrote to Dr. Ridley, then jjrisoner, dav/iet- a certain epistle,' wherein first, he lamenteth his captivity, exhorting ^{^l^.y, him withal to be constant : secondly, he certifieth him of the state of the English exiles being dispersed in Germany, and of the singular
(1) Psalm ii. (2) 1 John ii. (3) John xvii. (t) Eccles. xxvii. (5) Heb. xv.
(6) Apostata was he who fled from his captain to the enemy. He was also so called, that departed from the Christians to the Jews or Gentiles.
(7) " A certain Epistle j" see " Letters of the Martyis." London. 1837. page 34,- Ed
VOL. VIIo F F
434
GODLY LETTERS OF BISHOP RIDLEV.
Mary.
A.D. 1555.
Experi- ence of God's strength towards his saints in their imprison- ment.
Appendix.
Ridley,
prisoner
in the
Tower
half a year
and more.
Cranmer,
Ridley,
Latimer,
Bradford.
prisoners
together
in the
Tower ;
after-
Waids
sent to
Oxford.
providence of God in stimng up the ftivour of the magistrates and rulers there towards them : thirdly, he writeth to know his mind and will concerning the printing of his book against transubstantiation, and of certain other treatises and his disputations ; whereunto bishop Ridley answereth again in order, as foUoweth :
An Answer of Bishop Ridley to Master GrindaFs Letter sent from
Frankfort.
Blessed be God oui- heavenly Father which inclined your heart to have such a desire to write unto me, and blessed be he again, which hath heard your request, and hath brought your letters safe unto my hands ; and over all this I bless him, through our Lord Jesus Christ, for the great comfort I have received by the same, of the knowledge of your state, and of other our dearly beloved brethren and countrymen in those parts beyond the sea.
Dearly-beloved brother Grindal, I say to you, and all the rest of our brethren in Christ with you, Rejoice in the Lord, and as you love me, and the other my reverend fathers and concaptives (which undoubtedly are gloria Christi), lament not our state, but I beseech you and them all to give to our heavenly Father, for his boundless mercies and unspeakable benefits even in the midst of all our troubles given unto us, most hearty thanks. For know ye, that as the weight of his cross hath increased upon us, so he hath not nor doth cease to multiply his mercies, to strengthen us; and I trust, yea by his grace I doubt nothing but he will so do for Christ our Master's sake even to the end. To hear that you and our other brethren do find in your exile favour and grace with the magis- trates, ministers, and citizens at Zurich, Frankfort, and otherwhere, it doth greatly comfort (I dare say) all here, that do indeed love Christ and his true word. lensui-e you, it warmed my heart to hear you by chance to name some, as Scory, and Cox, etc. Oh ! that it had come in your mind to have said some- what also of Cheek, of Turner, of Leaver, of Sampson, of Chambers ; but, I trust in God, they be all well. And sir, seeing you say, that there be in those parts with you of students and ministers so good a number, now, therefore, care you not for us, otherwise than to wish that God's glory may be set forth by us : for whensoever God shall call us home (as we look daily for none other, but w'hen it shall please God to say, come), you, blessed be God ! are enough, through his aid, to light and set up again the lantern of his word in England. As con- cerning the copies, ye say, ye have with you, I wonder how ever they did and could find the way to come to you. My disputation, except ye have that which I gathered myself after the disputation done, I cannot think ye have it truly. If ye have that, then j^e have therewithal the whole manner after the which I was used in the disputation.
As for the treatise in English, " Contra Transubstantiationem," vix possum adduci ut credam operse-pretium fore ut in Latinum transferatur. CjEtenim, quicquid sit, nullo modo velim ut quidquam quocunque modo meo nomine ede- retur, donee quid de nobis Dominus, constituent fieri, vobis prius certo consti- terit ; and thus much imto your letters. Now, although 1 suppose you know a good part of our state here (for we are forthcoming, even as when ye departed, etc.), you shall understand that I was in the Tower about the space of two months close prisoner, and, after that, had granted to me without my labour, the liberty of the Tower, and so continued about half a year ; and then because I refused to allow the mass with my presence, I was shut up in close prison again.
The last Lent save one, it chanced by reason of the tumult stirred up in Kent, there were so many pi-isoners in the Tower, that my lord of Canterbury, master Latimer, master Bradford, and I, w-ere put all together in one prison, where we remained till almost to the next Easter, and then we three, Canterbury, master Latimer, and I, were suddenly sent a little before Easter to Oxford, and were suffered to have nothing with us, but that we carried upon us. About the Whitsiuitide following, were oiu- disputations at Oxford, after the which all was taken from us, as pen, ink, etc. Our own servants were taken from us before, and every one had put to him a strange man, and we each one appointed to be kept in several places, as we are unto this day.
Blessed be God, we three, at the writing hereof, were in good health, and (in God) of good cheer. We have looked long ago to have been despatched; for
TO MASTER GUINDAL AT FRANKFORT. 435
we were all three on one day, within a day or two of our disputations, of Dr. sfary Weston, being the head commissioner, condemned for heretics ; and since that
time we remain as we were of him left. The Lord's will be fidfilled in us, as ^ ^^• I do not doubt but by his grace it shall be to his glory, and our endless salva- ^^^^- tion through Jesus Christ our Lord ! Likewise the Lord hath hitherto preserved weston above all our expectation, our dear brother, and in Christ's cause a strong condemn- champion, John Bradford. He is likewise condemned, and is already deUvered mer ^Rid to the secular power, and writs, as we have heard say, given out for his exe- ley, 'and cution, and called in again. Latimer.
Thus the Lord, so long as his blessed pleasure is, preserveth whom he Hsteth, Writs for notwithstanding the wondei-ful raging of the world. Many (as we hear say) burning have suffered vahantly, confessing Christ's truth, and nothing yielding to the ford"''" adversary, yea not for the fear or pains of death. The names of them which I called in knew, and have now suffered, are these : Ferrar the bishop of St. David's, ''P"' Hooper the bishop of Worcester, Rogers (tuns olim comprebendarius), Dr. manyrs"'^ Taylor of Hadley, master Saunders, and one Tomkins, a weaver ; and now, this last day, master Cardmaker, with another, were burnt in Smithfield at London, and many others in Essex and Kent, whose names are written in the book of life, whom yet I do not know.
West, your old companion, and sometime mine officer, alas, hath relented, as I have heard ; but the Lord hath shoi'tened his days, for anon after he died, and is gone.^ Grimbold was caught by the heel, and cast into the Marshalsea, but now is at liberty again, but I fear me he escaped not without some becking or bowing, alas, of his knee unto Baal.
My dear friend Thomas Ridley, of the Bull-head in Cheap, which was to me the most faithful friend that I had in my trouble, is departed also unto God. My brother Shipside, that hath married my sister, hath been almost half a year in prison, for delivei'ing (as he was accused) of certain things, I ween, from me ; but now, thanks be to God, he is at liberty again, but so that the bishop hath taken ft-om him his park.^
Of all us three concaptives at Oxford, I am kept most strait, and with least liberty, vel quia viro, in cujus tedibus ego custodior, uxor dominatur (licet modo sit praefectus civitatis) — mulier vetula, morosa, et superstitiosissima, quae etiam hoc sibi laudi ducit quod me dicatur arctissime et cautissime custodire; vir autem ipse, Irischius nomine, mitis satis est omnibus, uxori vero plusquam obsequentiss. Licet uxorem (uti nosti) nunquam habuerim, tamen ex hac quo- tidiana consuetudine, quam cum istis conjugibus habeo, videor mihi nonnihil posse intelligere, quam grave malum et intolerabile jugum sit cum mala muliere in conjugio colligari. Recte ergo sapiens dixit, Uxor bona donum Dei; etiterum, Mulieris bonae beatus vir. Vel haec, inquam, causa est, vel quia a magnis n)a- gistratibus (nescio quas ob causas) illud est, ut ita fieret, ipsis mandatum : idque illi, si quando de mea nimia servitute apud eos conqueror, sedulo sa?pe rursus mihi inculcant.
At Cambridge (as I hear say) omnes studiorum et statutorum reformationes All the nuper factae nunc sunt denuo defonnatas et deletae, et omnia sunt in pristinum of^j "fon„. chaos et in antiquvun papismum reducta : omnes collegiorum Preefecti qui ation in sinceritati evangelii favebant, vel qui conjugati erant, loco moti sunt ; et alii ^^j^^ ,. papisticae factionis in eorum loca surrogati, quod et de Sociis Collegiorum qui broken, noluerunt flectere genu Baal factum esse audio. Nee mirum, nam idem passim factum est in universo regno Angliae, in omnibus archiepiscopis, episcopis, decanis, prebendariis, sacerdotibus ecclesiarum, et in toto clero : and to tell you much naughty matter in few words, papismus apud nos ubique in pleno sue antiquo robore regnat.
The Lord be merciful, and for Christ's sake pardon us our old unkindness How and unthankfulness : for when he poured upon us the gifts of his manifold ^°^^l graces and favour, alas we did not serve him nor render unto him thanks was pro- according to the same. We pastors many of us were too cold, and bare too ^■"'^'^^''• much, alas, with the wicked world ; our magistrates did abuse, to their own worldly gain, both God's gospel and tlie ministers of the same. The people in many places was wayward and unkind. Thus of every side and of every sort
(1) This West, when he had relented and said mass against his conscience, shortly after pined away and died for sorrow. [Coverdale's note.]
(2) Note how Bonner here requited the kindness of Ridley showed to his mother, (page 408.)
F V 2
436 GODLY LETTERS OF BISHOP RIDLEY.
Mary, we have provoked God's anger and wrath to fall upon us : but blessed might he be that hath not suffered his to continue in those ways which so wholly have
, ■/;■ displeased his sacred majesty, but hath awaked them by the fatherly correc-
• tion of his own Son's cross, unto his glory and our endless salvation, through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Tlie pray- My daily prayer is (as God doth know), and by God's grace shall be so long
er of Rid- as I live in this world, for you, my dear brethren, that are fled out of your
churched °^'" country, because you will rather forsake all worldly things than the truth
abroad, of God's word. It is even the same that I used to make to God, for all those
which churches abroad through the world, which have forsaken the kingdom of Anti-
profes^s Christ, and professed openly the purity of the gospel of Jesus Christ; that is,
thcgospe! that God our eternal Father, for our Saviour Christ's sake, will daily increase
Chrisl"^ in you the gracious gift of his heavenly Spirit, to the true setting-forth of his
glory and of his gospel, and make you to agree brotherly in the truth of the
same ; that there arise no root of bitterness among you that may infect that
good seed which God hath sown in your hearts already ; and finally that your
life may be so piu'e and so honest, according to the rule of God's word and
according to that vocation whereuntp we are called by the gospel of Christ our
Saviour, that the honesty and purity of the same may provoke all that shall see
or know it, to the love of your doctrine, and to love you for your honesty
and virtue's sake ; and so, both in brotherly unity of your true doctrine, and
also in the godly virtue of your honest life, to glorify our Father which is in
heaven.
Ridley Ex nostratibus magni aliquot magistratus, cancellarius Winton. comes
prayeth Arundellus, et dominus Pachetus, jam legatione funguntur, una cum cardinali
Wary!"^^" Polo, in partibus transmarinis, ad componendam (ut aiunt) pacem inter impera-
torem, regem nostrum, et Francorum regem. Post illorum magistratuum nos-
trorum reditum, et partum reginse, quem jam quotidie expectamus, et jam
aliquandiu expectavimus, quemque Deus pro sui nominis gloria dignetur bene
illi fortunare ; nos tunc statim nihil aliud quam nostrse confessionis de hoste
nostro antiquo triumphales in Domino coronas expectamus.
Omnium vestrum precibus me humillime ex toto corde commendo ; in primis, tuis, O charissime in Christo frater et dilectissime GrindalJe, et charis- simorum fratrum et unice mihi in Domino dilectorum Checi, Coxi, Turneri, Leveri, Sampsonis, Chamberi, et omnium fratrum nostronmi et conterraneorum qui apud vos degunt, et diligunt Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum in veritate. Commendo etiam vobis reverendissimos patres et concaptivos meos in Domino Thomam Cranmerum jam vere magni pastoris et Archipra;suhs nomine dignis- simum et veteranum ilium Christi et nostrse gentis Anglicanas verum apostolum Hugonem Latimerum. Condona mihi, frater, harum prolixitatem, non enim posthac credo, charissime frater, meis Uteris jam amplius aliquando turbaberis. Oxonii. N. R.
To Augustine Bernher.
Brother Austine, 1 bless God with all my heart in his manifold merct- ''V R*riT ^"^ S'^'^> given unto our dear brethren in Christ, specially to our brother to one ^^ Rogers, whom it pleased him to set forth first, no doubt but of his good gracious Augus- goodness and fatherly favour towards him. And likewise blessed be God in Bernher ^^^ ^^^'■' Hooper, Saunders, and Taylor, whom it hath pleased the Lord like- Comme- ^'^^ '° ^^'' ^" '^''^ forebrunt now of battle against his adversaries, and hath en- moration dued them all (so far as I can hear) to stand in the stour, and to be content in of saints, his cause and for his gospel sake to lose their life. And evermore and with- out end blessed be even the same our heavenly Father, for our dear and entirely beloved brother Bradford, w!iom now the Lord, I perceive, calleth for : for I ween he will no longer vouchsafe him to abide among this adul- terous and wicked generation of this world. I do not doubt but that he, for those gifts of grace which the Lord hath bestowed on him plenteously, hath holpen those which are gone before in their journey ; that is, hatli animated and encouraged them to keep the highway, " et sic currere, uti tandem acci- perent prasmium." The Lord be his comfort, whereof I do not doubt ; and I thank God heartily that ever I was acquainted with him, and that ever I had such a one in my house. And yet again I bless God in our dear brother, and of this time protomartyr,^ Rogers, that he was also one of my calling to be a prebendary preacher in Paul's of London. And now, because Griiidal is gone
(1) Proto-martyr is the first martyr, whom he so called, because he was the first that suffered here in those bloody days.
THE STORY AND LIFE OF MASTER LATIMER. 437
(the Lord I doubt not hath and knoweth wherein he will bestow him) I trust to God, it shall please him of his goodness to strengthen me to make' up the ^''"'^' trinity out of Paul's church to suffer for Christ, whom God the Father hath A. D. anointed, the Holy Spirit dotli bear witness unto, Paul and all the apostles 15.55'. preached. As for the books ye write of, ye shall have space to use them as ye — — — • think best: only I desire that my brother Sliiphead may have knowledge of them, whatsoever God shall do with me ; and I pray you at last to talk with him in such things. Thus fare ye now well. ' I had no paper,' and therefore I was constrained thus to write.
Besides these letters of bishop Ridley, divers other tractations also ■were written by him, partly out of prison, partly in prison : as namel}^, among certain others, there remain in my hands certain nrttes answering to the two notable sermons of Dr. Watson, bishop of Lincoln, etc.
*=€f)e ICtfc, ?Cct,^, anb^IBoing^' of M&ittz 5^ug{) %ai\mti, tfje famou.b' ^reacljer atiD toouttjii lllartuc of Cljci^st and l)it! 'i^Oj^yf.
Now after the life of the reverend father in God Dr. Nicolas Ridley, with other his letters written in prison, followeth likewise the life and doings of this worthy and old practised soldier of Christ, master Hugh Latimer ; who was the son of one Hugh Latimer, of Thurkesson in the county of Leicester, a husbandman, of a good and wealthy estimation ; where also he was born [and] brought up until he was of the age of four years, or thereabout : at which time Latimer his parents (having him as then left for their only son, with six other to^schooL daughters), seeing his ready, prompt, and sharp wit, purposed to train him up in erudition, and knowledge of good literature ; wherein he so profited in his youth at the common schools of his own country, that at the age of fourteen years, he was sent to the University of sent to Cambridge ; where, after some continuance of exercises in other brTdge. things, he gave himself to the study of such divinity, as the ignorance of that age did suffer.
Zealous he was then in the popish religion, and therewith so A long scrupulous (as himself confesseth), that being a priest, and using to a'Te'aioua say mass, he was so servile an observer of the Romish decrees, that perttl-" he had thousfht he had never sufficiently mingled his massinor wine ''°'^' with water ; and moreover that he should never be damned, if he were once a professed friar ; with divers such superstitious fantasies. Whereupon in this blind zeal he was a very enemy to the professors Deciaim- of Christ's gospel ; as his oration made, when he proceeded bachelor cam" of divinity in the said University of Cambridge, against Philip ^^^^^^i Melancthon and his works, did plainly declare. But especially his Meianc- popish zeal could in no case abide in those days good master Stafford, reader of the divinity lecture in Cambridge ; most spitefully railing against him, and willing the youth of Cambridge in no wise to believe him.
Notwithstanding, such was the goodness and merciful purpose of Convert- God, that where he thought by that his oration to have utterly defaced \yaLy> the professors of the gospel and true church of Christ, he was himself by a member of the same prettily (yet godlye) catched in the blessed net of God's word. For master Thomas Bilney (of whom mention is
(1) Bishop Ridley's expression, " I had no paper," is at once accounted for on inspecting the autograph of his letter in the Emmanuel CoUetje Library, as it is written on the reverse of that addressed to him by Beriiher. See Letter 24 in PS. Ridley, and Letter 78 in PS. Bradford.— Eu.
(2) See Edition 15C3, p. 12U7 ; and the Appendix.— Ed.
438 THE STORY AND LIFE OF MASTER LATIMER.
Mary, made before), being at tluit time a trier out of Satan's subtleties, and j^D a secret overthrower of Antichrist's kingdom, and seeing master 1555. Latimer to have a zeal in his ways (although without knowledge), was stricken with a brotherly pity towards him, and bethought [by] what means he might best win this zealous (yet ignorant) brother to the true knowledge of Christ. And therefore, after a short time, he came to master Latimer's study, and desired him to hear him make his confession ; which thing he willingly granted ; with the hearing whereof he was (by the good Spirit of God) so touched, that here- upon he forsook his former studying of the school-doctors and other such fooleries, and became a true scholar of the true divinity, as he himself confesseth, as well in his conference with master Ridley as Latimer also in his first sermon made upon the Paternoster.* So that whereas turned to before he was an enemy, and almost a persecutor of Christ, he was now Christian ^^ camest seeker after him, changing his old manner of calumnying into a diligent kind of conferring, both with master Bilney and others, with whom he was often and greatly conversant. He be- After this his winning to Christ, he was not satisfied with his own preacher convcrsiou ouly, but, like a true disciple of the blessed Samaritan, uVj"™" pitied the misery of others, and therefore he became both a public preacher, and also a private instructer, to the rest of his brethren within the University, by the space of three years,^ spending his time partly in the Latin tongue among the learned, and partly amongst the simple people in his natural and vulgar language. Howbeit, as Satan never sleepeth when he seeth his kingdom begin to decay, so likewise now, seeing that this worthy member of Christ would be a shrewd shaker thereof, he raised up his children to molest and trouble him. Enemies Auiougst thesc there was an Augustine friar, who took occasion, cam-*^ ^° upon certain sermons that master Latimer made about Christenmas bridge 1529, as well in the church of St. Edward, as also in St. Augustine's, Latimer, within the University of Cambridge, to envy against him, for that Latimer's mastcr Latimer in the said sermons (alludine: to the common usage of ot the the season) gave the people certain cards out of the fifth, sixth, and Cam-'" seventh chapters of St. Matthew, whereupon they might, not only bridge, then, but always else, occupy their time. For the chief (as their triumphing card) he limited the heart, as the principal thing that they should serve God withal, whereby he quite overthrew all hypocritical and external ceremonies, not tending to the necessary beautifying of God's holy word and sacraments. For the better attaining hereof, he wished the Scriptures to be in English,^ that the common people might thereby learn their duties, as well to God as to their neighbours. The handling of this matter was so apt for the time, and so plea- santly applied of Latimer, that not only it declared a singular toward- ness of wit in him that preached, but also wrought in the hearers much fruit, to the overthrow of popish superstition, and setting up of perfect religion.
For on the Sunday before Christenmas day coming to the church, and causing the bell to be tolled to a sermon, [he] entereth into the pulpit. Upon the text of the gospel read that day in the church, " Tu quis es .'' " etc., in delivering his cards (as is above said), he made
(1) Read Latimer's own confession in his first sermon upon the Paternoster.
(2) " 2yeres," Edition 1563, p. 1297. See Appendix.—ED.
(3) The Sermon in wliich this topic is handled, has not come down to us.~Ed.
GODLY SERMONS OF MASTER LATIMER. 439
the heart to be triumph, exhorting and inviting all men thereby to ^<"-y- serve the Lord with inward heart and true affection, and not with p. outward ceremonies : adding, moreover, to the praise of that triumph, 1555.
that though it were never so small, yet it would make up the best
coat card beside in the bunch, yea, though it were the king of clubs, etc. : meaning thereby how the Lord would be worshipped and The diffe- served in simplicity of the heart and verity, wherein consisteth true tween''''' christian religion, and not in the outward deeds of the letter only, or '""^^ ^""^ in the glistering show of man's traditions, of pardons, pilgrimages, ceremonies, vows, devotions, voluntary works, and works of supere- rogation, foundations, oblations, the pope's supremacy, etc. ; so that all these either be needless, where the other is present, or else be of small estimation, in comparison.
The Copy and effect of these his Sermons, although they were neither fully extracted, neither did they all come to our hands, yet so many as came to our hands I thought here to set abroad, for that I would wish nothing of that man which may be gotten to be suppressed.*
The Tenor and Effect of certain Sermons made by Hugh Latimer in Cambridge, about the year of our Lord 1529.
" Tu quis es ?" which words are as much to say in English, " Who art thou ?" These he the words of the Pharisees, which were sent by the Jews unto St. John Baptist in the wilderness, to have knowledge of him, who he was ; which words they spake unto him of an evil intent, thinking that he would have taken on him to be Christ, and so they would have had him done with their good wills, because they knew that he was more carnal, and given to their laws, than Christ indeed should be, as they perceived by their old prophecies : and also, because they marvelled much of his great doctrine, preaching, and baptizing, they were in doubt whether he was Christ or not; wherefore they said unto him, " Who art thou?" Then answered St. John, and confessed that he was not Christ.
Now here is to be noted, the great and prudent answer of St. John Baptist unto the Pharisees, that when they required of him who he was, he would not directly answer of himself, what he was himself; but he said he was not Christ, by the which saying he thought to put the Jews and Pharisees out of their false opinion and belief towards him, in that they would have had him to exercise the office of Christ ; and so declared further unto them of Christ, saying, " He is in the midst of you, and amongst you, whom ye know not, whose latchet of his shoe I am not worthy to unloose, or undo." By this you may perceive that St. John spake much in the laud and praise of Christ his Master, professing himself to be in no wise like unto him. So likewise it shall be necessary unto all men and women of this world, not to ascribe unto themselves any goodness of themselves, but all unto our Lord God, as shall appear hereafter, when this question aforesaid, "Who art thou?" shall be moved unto them: not as the Pharisees did unto St. John, of an evil pui-pose, but of a good and simple mind, as may appear hereafter.
Now then, according to the preacher's mind, let ever)^ man and woman, of a good and simple mind, contrary to the Pharisees' intent, ask this question, " Who art thou ?" This question must be moved to themselves, what they be of themselves, on this fashion, " What art thou of thy only and natural genera- tion between father and mother, when thou earnest into the world? What substance, what virtue, what goodness art thou of, by thyself?" Which ques- tion if thou rehearse oftentimes unto thyself, thou shalt well perceive and understand, how thou shalt make answer unto it : which must be made on this wise; I am of myself, and by myself, coming from my natural father and mother, the child of the ire and indignation of God, the true inheritor of hell,
440 GODLY SERMONS OF MASTER LATIMER.
Mary, a lump of sin, and working nothing of myself, but all towards hell ; except I have better help of another, than I have of myself. Now we may see in what A. L). gjj^jg ^yg enter into this world, that we be of ourselves the true and just inhe- ^^^^' ritors of hell, the children of the ire and indignation of Christ, working all towards hell, whereby we deserve of ourselves perpetual damnation, by the right judgment of God, and the true claim of ourselves : which unthrifty state that we be born unto is come unto us for our own deserts, as proveth well this example following ;
Let it be admitted for the probation of this, that it might please the king's grace now being, to accept into his favour a mean man, of a simple degree and birth, not born to any possession ; whom the king's grace favoureth, not be- cause this person hath of himself deserved any such favour, but that the king casteth his favour unto him of his own mere motion and fantasy : and, for because the king's grace will more declare his favour unto him, he giveth unto this said man a thousand pounds in lands, to him and his heirs, on this condition, that he shall take upon him to be the chief captain and defender of his town of Calais, and to be true and faithful to him in the custody of the same, against the Frenchmen especially, above all other enemies.
This man taketh on him this charge, promising his fidelity thereunto. It chanceth in process of time, that by the singular acquaintance and frequent familiarity of this captain with the Frenchmen, these Frenchmen give unto the said captain of Calais a great sum of money, so that he will but be content and agreeable, that they may enter into the said town of Calais by force of arms ; and so thereby possess the same unto the crown of France. Upon this agree- ment the Frenchmen do invade the said town of Calais, alonely by the negli- gence of this captain.
Now the king's grace, hearing of this invasion, cometh with a great puissance to defend this his said town, and so by good policy of war overcometh the said Frenchmen, and entereth again into his town of Calais. Then he, being desirous to know how these enemies of his came thither, he maketh profound search and ' inquiry, by whom this treason was conspired. By this search it was known and found his own captain to be the very author and the beginner of the betraying of it. The king, seeing the great infidelity of this person, dischargeth this man of his office, and taketh from him and his heirs this thousand pounds of posses- sions. Think you not that the king doth use justice unto him, and all his pos- terity and heirs ? Yes truly : the said captain cannot deny himself, but that he had true justice, considering how unfaithfully he behaved himself to his prince, contrary to his own fidelity and promise. So, likewise, it was of our first father Adam. He had given unto him the spirit and science of knowledge, to work all goodness therewith ; this said spirit was not given alonely unto him, but unto all his heirs and posterity. He had also delivered him the town of Calais, that is to say, paradise in earth, the most strong and fairest town in the world, to be in his custody. He nevertheless, by the instigation of these Frenchmen, i. e. the temptation of the fiend, did obey unto their desire, and so he brake his promise and fidelity, the commandment of the everlasting King his master, in eating of the apple by him inhibited.
Now then the King, seeing this great treason in his captain, deposed him of the thousand pounds of possessions, that is to say, from everlasting life in glorj', and all his heirs and posterity : for, likewise as he had the spirit of science and knowledge, for him and his heirs ; so in like manner when he lost the same, his heirs also lost it by him, and in him. So now, this example proveth, that by our father Adam we had once in him the very inheritance of everlasting joy ; and by him, and in him again, we lost the same.
The heirs of the captain of Calais, could not by any manner of claim ask of the king the right and title of their father, in the thousand pounds of posses- sions, by reason the king might answer and say unto them, that although their father deserved not of himself to enjoy so great possessions, yet he deserved by himself to lose them, and greater, committing so high treason, as he did, against his prince's commandments ; whereby he had no wrong to lose his title, but was unworthy to have the same, and had therein tiiie justice. Let not you think, which be his heirs, that if he had justice to lose his possessions, you have wrong to lose the same. In the same manner it may