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Robert Glouer, and Iohn Glouer his Brother, and William Glouer another Brother.
IOhn was the eldest brother,* 1.1 a Gentleman of the Towne of Mancetor, he was en∣dued with faire possessions and worldly goods, but much more enriched with hea∣uenly grace: He with his two brethren not only embraced the light of the Gospell, but most zealously professed the same.
In King Henries daies, this Iohn fell into a dispaire of himselfe, vpon the occasi∣on of these words in the 7. to the Hebrewes, For it cannot be, that they which were once illuminated and haue tasted the heauenly gift &c.
The Bishop sending a warrant for this Iohn, the Mayor of Couentry sent him a priuy watch-word, who with his Brother William conuayed himselfe away, but the Sheriffe found Robert lying sicke in bed, and although the Sheriffe would faine haue dismissed him, saying; Hee was not the man for whom they were sent, yet fearing the stout words of the Officer, he put him in Prison vntill the Bishops comming.
Being brought before the Bishop of Couentry, he asked me wherefore I wou••d not come to Church, I said I would not come thither as long as Masse was vsed in their Churches, though I had 500. liues and might saue them all by going: and I asked if they could finde any thing in the Scriptures, whereby they could defend the Masse.
He asked who should be iudge of the holy word, I said Christ.
He refused not to giue his doctri••e to be examined of the people, by sear∣ching of the Scriptures, and so did Paule, and if that would not suffice, I said I would stand to the iudgement of the Primitiue Church, which was next after the Apostles time, and that should be iudge betwixt them▪ He answered he was mine Ordinary, and therefore it was my part to beléeue as hee did. I said, what if hée should sa•••• black is white, or darknesse light.
Thou art gone from the Catholick Church, where was thy Church before King Edwards daies? I asked, where was the Church in Elias his time, and in Christs time? He said, Elias only complained of the ten Tribes. I said there was no Prophet at that time in the other two Tribes, then the Bishop commanded me to be caried vnto a more strait Prison, declaring that he would finde a meanes at his returne, to wéede such wolues out of the way.
After the Chancelor, a Prebendary called Tensea came to him, and exhorted him by all meanes possible to submit himselfe vnto the Church.
I would gladly submit my selfe vnto the Church, which submitteth it selfe to Gods word: but how (quoth he) can you come to the knowledge of the word of God, but as you be led by the Church. I answered, the Church is not aboue the word of God, because it declareth it, no more then Iohn Baptist is aboue Christ, by shewing Christs comming vnto the people, or if you should tell one this is the King, and therefore you should say, you were aboue the King.
after he was sent for againe before the Bishop, he perswaded him to bee a member of his Church.
I told him I was a member of the true Church that was founded vpon the Apostles and Prophets, the chéefe and principall piller beeing Christ Iesus. This Church was from the beginning, and no maruell though according vnto the course of this world, it doth not shew forth the externall light, for it is afflicted with continuall crosses, that it hath no respite from feare and tirannicall vsage: the Bi∣shop contended that he was of the Church; so said I, the whole congregation once cryed against the Prophets, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord; but when I said any thing for my selfe, the Bishop commaunded me vpon my alleagi∣ance to hold my tongue, calling me proud and arrogant Hypocrite.