with him, but that he allowed not transubstantiation, nor the abuse of the Masse,
nor that the Lay people should receiue vnder one kinde: with which points the
Byshop went about to perswade him, but all was in vaine, then hee sent him to
Prison againe. Afterward diuers were sent vnto him, to perswade him to sub∣mit
himselfe vnto the Church of Rome, and to acknowledge the Pope to be the
ha••d thereof, and to interpret the Scriptures no otherwise then that Church
doth.
George answered, hee doth acknowledge one holy Catholike and Apostolike
Church, without which is no saluation: and this Church is but one, because it hath
and beléeueth in but one God, and him only worshippeth, and one Christ, and in him
only trusteth for saluation; and it is ruled onely by one Spirit, one Word, and one
Faith: and that it is vniuersall, because it hath béene from the beginning of the
world, and shall be vnto the end of the world; hauing in it some of al Nations, kin∣dreds
and languages, degrees, ••••ates, and conditions of men. This Church is buil∣ded
only vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Iesus Christ being the
Head-corner-stone, and not on the Romish Lawes and Decrees, the Pope being not
the supreame head, and that it was before any succession of Bishops, general Coun∣cels,
or Romish Decrees, neither was bound to any time or place, ordinary suc∣cession,
generall Councels, or Tradition of Fathers; neither had any supremacie
ouer Empires and Kingdomes.
But that it was a little 〈◊〉〈◊〉 flocke dispersed abroad as sheepe without a
Shepheard in the middest of Wolues: or as a flocke of fatherlesse Chil∣dren,
assisted, succoured, and defended onely by Christ Iesus their supreme
head; from all assaults, errours, troubles and persecutions, wherewith shee is
euer compassed about.
He proued by the floud of Noah, the destruction of Sodome: The Israelites de∣parting
out of Egypt by the parables of the sower: by the Kings sons marriage:
of the great Supper: and by other sentences of the Scriptures, that this Church
was of no estimation, and little in comparison of the Church of hypocrites and
wicked worldlings.
After the Bishop caused him to bee brought to the Chappell of the Cathedrall
Church of Chester, where the Bishop with diuers others were set: After he had
taken his oath for a true answering, the Chancelor charged him that he had prea∣ched
heretically, and blasphemously in diuers places against the Popes authority
and Catholick Church of Rome: the blessed Masse, the Sacrament of the Altar,
and many other Articles.
Hee answered, that ••e neither heretically nor blasphemonsly spake against any
of the said Articles, but simply and ••••uely as occasion serued according to his con∣science,
maintaining the truth touching the said Articles, as it was taught in
King Edward the sixth his time, whereupon they condemned him at the next ap∣pearance.
And when he would haue perswaded them otherwise by the word of
God, the Bishop told him he ought not to dispute with hereticks. Then he prayed
the people to beare him witnesse, he held no other opinions then were by Law most
godly established, and publikely taught in King Edwards time, wherein he would
liue and die.
As he came on the way towards the place of execution, some folke proffered him
mo••ey and looked that he should haue had a little purse in his hand, as the manner
of 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ was at their going to execution, to gather money to giue to a Priest
to say trentalls of Masses for them after their death▪ whereby they might be saued:
but Marsh said he would not be troubled with money, and hade them giue it to the
prisoners and poore people.
When he came to the ••••re his pardon was offered him: he answered, being it
tended to plucke him from God, he could not receiue it vpon that condition. They
would not suffer him to speake to the people. He was somewhat long a dying by
reason of the ••lacknes of the ••••re, which hee bare wondrous patiently, in so much