Christs victorie ouer Sathans tyrannie Wherin is contained a catalogue of all Christs faithfull souldiers that the Diuell either by his grand captaines the emperours, or by his most deerly beloued sonnes and heyres the popes, haue most cruelly martyred for the truth. With all the poysoned doctrins wherewith that great redde dragon hath made drunken the kings and inhabitants of the earth; with the confutations of them together with all his trayterous practises and designes, against all Christian princes to this day, especially against our late Queen Elizabeth of famous memorie, and our most religious Soueraigne Lord King Iames. Faithfully abstracted out of the Book of martyrs, and diuers other books. By Thomas Mason preacher of Gods Word.

His examination before ARVNDEL, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Chancellor, in his Closet, with but three with him.

Bishop.

WIlliam this twenty yeeres and more, thou hast trauelled 〈◊〉〈◊〉 about the North, and other Countreyes to poison all the Land with ••hy vntrue preaching, but by Gods help thou art in my ward, and I will let thee to inue∣nome the shéepe of my prouince: but as Saint Paul saith, as much as in vs is wee will haue peace with all men, if thou wilt faithfully sware to submit thy selfe to my correction and ordinance, I will be gracious vnto thée.

Thorp.

After he had made a confession of his Faith in the Trinitie, and in the Sonne of God, reciting the whole substance of the Gospel, from the Conception of Christ vntill the holy Ghost was sent, he beléeued the Catholike Church was all that euer were, are, or shal be, that endeuour to know & kéep Gods commandements,

fearing to offend him, and louing to please him, hoping stedfastly in his mercy, conti∣nuing in Charity, gladly suffering persecutions by the example of Christ and his A∣postles: all these haue their names written in the Booke of life. The gathering to∣gether of these that be aliue, is the Church fighting against the fi••nd, the prosperity of the World and the fleshly lus••s: and I wil submit my selfe only to the rule and go∣uernance of them, whom after my knowledge I may perceiue, by the hauing and v∣sing of the foresaid vertues, to be members of the holy Church. These Articles and all other that I ought to beléeue by the word of God, I verily beléeue in my Soule, and I beleeue that the word of God is sufficient to saluation: if I haue erred that I submit my selfe to be ••econciled, and I beleeue the authorities of Saints and Doc∣tors as farre as they may be approued by the word of God, and no further, for any earthly power or dignity.

Sir, I pray shall I lay my hand on the Booke to sweare by it; yea, said he, where∣fore else? Sir, I say a Booke is a thing coupled together of diuers Creatures, and Gods and Mans Law is against swearing by any Creature, but I will sweare vnto you as I ought by Gods Law, but for Charity, tell me wherein I shall submit my selfe, and wherein you will correct m••?

Bishop▪

I will that you swear to forsake all the opinions of the Sect of Lollards, which I shall rehearse after you haue sworne, and that you will neither priuily nor openly teach none of them, nor fauour none of that opinion, but withstand them, and them that will not yéeld, make knowne to the Byshop of the Diocesse, and that thou preach no more vntill I do know that thy hart and mouth accord.

Thorp.

If I consent vnto you, here••n I should be euery Bishops spy, Sommoner of al England; yea, I should deceiue many persons, and be y^• cause of their death bodily and ghostly, for many of them that stand now in the truth, and are in the way of sal∣uation, would rather chuse to forsake the way of truth, then to be scorned, slandered, and punished, as Byshops and their Ministers now vse to dee: and I finde not in the Scripture that this office you would now enfeoff me with, accordeth to any Priest or Christian; therefore to do thus, were to me a full noyous band, for many trust so mickle in me, that I would not doe it to saue my life, and they might well account me a Traytor to God and man, and that I had fa••sly and cowardly forsaken the truth, and slandered shamefully the Word of GOD, If I doe thus for feare of bond∣cheefe and mischeefe in this life, I deeme in my conscience, I were worthy to bee cursed of GOD and all his Saints, from which keepe me and all Christians Al∣mighty God.

Bishop.

Thy heart is full hard indurate, as the hart of Pharaoh, the Diuell hath blinded thy wits, that thou hast no grace to know the truth, nor the measure of mer∣cy that I haue pro••••ered thee: but I say to thee lewd Lossell, eyther quickly consent to me, or by Saint Thomas▪ thou shalt be disgraded, and follow thy fellow ••o Smith∣field.

Thorp.

I thought with my selfe God did me great grace, if of his mercy he would bring me to such an end, and my heart was not afraid of his menasing, but I conside∣red in him, that he was not sorrowfull that he had burned William Santry wrongful∣ly, and that he thi••steth to shed more innocent blood, and I was fast mooued to hold him to be no Priest of God, and mine inward Man was departed from him to haue no feare of him, and I was right heauy that there was no audience of seculer men by: and I prayed the Lord to comfort me against them, that were against the soth∣fastnesse, and I purposed to speake no more then my neede behooued. All the while I prayed God for his grace, to speake with a méeke and easie Spirit, and that I might haue authorities of Scriptures, or open reason for my words, and his Clearks said, Why muse you, do as my Lord commands you.

Byshop.

Hast thou not yet bethought thee, whether thou wilt doe as I haue said?

Thorp.

My Parents spent mickle Mony about my learning to make me a Priest, but I had no will to be a Priest, wherefore they were right heauy to mee, that I thought to leaue thē; at length I desired that I might go to such as were named wise,

and of vertuous conuersa••ion, to haue the•••• Councell, so I communed with such, till I perceiued their honest and charitable workes, to passe their fame; wherefore 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by the example of the Doctrine of them, after my cunning and power, I haue exercised me to know perfectly Gods Law, hauing a desire to liue thereafter, and that others exerci∣sed themselues faithfully there abouts. Then he sheweth the reasons aforesaid, and what would follow, if he should forsake, so suddenly, the learning that he had exercised this 30. winters, according to the example of some, whose name I wil now recite, and according to the present doing of Phillip Rampington, now Bishop of Lincolne, by Gods grace, I will learne by them to fly such slander as th••y haue defiled themselues with, and as much as is in them, they haue enuenomed all the Church of God, by their flaunderous reuoking at Paules Crosse, and how now Phillip Rampington pursueth Christs people, which will not be vnpunished of God.

Bishop.

These were fooles, and heretickes, when they were counted wise of thée, and s••ch lose••s, but now they are wise, though ye deeme them vnwise.

Thorpe.

I thinke they are wise concerning this world, I did thinke by their former doings, that they had earnest of the wisdome of God, and deserued ••••ckie grace of him, to haue saued themselues and many others, if they had continued faithfull, and in their bu••••e f••••itfull sowing of Gods word: but woe worth false couetousnesse, euill councell, and t••ranny, by which they, and many be led blindly to an euill end.

Bishop.

Which are those holy and wise men, of whom thou hast taken thine in∣formation?

Thorpe.

Sir, master Iohn Wicliffe, holden of ••ull many the greatest Clarke then liuing ••us••ing rul•• an•• innocent in his liuing great men communed oft with him▪ they so loued his learning, that they wrote it, and b••s••ly inforced themselues to ••ollow it; and his learning is yet holden most agréeable to the learning of Christ and his Apostles, and master Iohn Ayston taught and wrote accordingly, and vsed himselfe right perfectly to his liues end. And sometimes Phillip Rampington▪ Nichols Herford, Dauid Gotray of Pak••ing, and Iohn Puruay, and many other, which were holden right wise and pro∣dent, taught and writ busily his foresaid learning: with al•• these men I was right home∣ly, and communed with them, but of all other, I ••hose to ••ollow Wicliffe himselfe, as the most wise and godly man that I heard of, or know. Some of these I heart them whilst they sate in Christs chaire, but after the workes they now doe, I will not doe, by Gods ••elpe, for they faine would hide and contrary the trueth, which before they taught plain∣ly and truely, and some of them haue confessed they doe it because they are constrained by paine, to leaue the truth; so they blaspheame God rather then suffer a little, though Christ shed his heart bloud for vs.

Bishop.

That which thou callest truth, is slander to holy Church, and though Wicliffe were a great Clerke, and a perfect liuer yet holy Church hath damned many of his Doc∣trines, and well worthy; but Phillip Rampington Bishop of Lincolne, wil not hold the learning that he taught, nor no Bishop pursueth more sharpely them that hold thy way then he doth.

Thorpe.

Many wonder at him▪ and speake him mickle shame, and hold him a cursed e••nemie of the trueth.

Bishop.

Then the Bishop read a Certificate that the bailiffes of Shrewesbury sent to him vnder their Seale the third Sunday after Eas••er, 1407. William Thorpe preaching in Saint Chaddes Church, in his Sermon, said, that the Sacrament, after con••ecration, was materiall bread, and that Images should not be worshipped, and that men should not goe on Pilgrimages, that Priests haue no title to Tythes, and that it is not lawfull to sweare. Then he said, is this wholsome learning to be amongst the people?

Thorpe.

I am sory, and ashamed of them, I neuer taught such Doctrine.

Bishop.

I will beléeue those worshipfull men before thée, thou hast troubled them, and they pray mee, that if thou suffer for thy heresies, that thou most be executed there, that such other ••o••els, for feare, may be reconciled, and they that stand in Faith of holy Church more stablished, by my thirft, this feruent requ••st shall b•• thought on.

Thorpe.

I thanke God, for all this, I was not afraid, but my heart reioyced, and still doth; for I then thought, and yet thinke, that grace shall come to all the Church of God

herethorow, and I said, I doubt not but I can proue that they which are fained to bee out of holy Church at Shrewsbury, and other places, are in true Faith of holy Church, for they dread to offend God, and loue to please him, i•• true and faithfull keeping his commaundements; and they that are said to be in faith of holy Church there, and in o∣ther places, are proud, e••••ious, co••etous, lechero••s, and foule in words and deeds, and know not, nor will know the right Faith of holy Church, their customable swearing, and shamefull workes witnesse it. And sir, where you say, I haue troubled the Com∣munaltie with Preaching, it is not to be wondred at of wise men, seeing all the Com∣munaltie of Ierusalem was troubled at Christ, & all the Synagogue of Nazaret moued against him, that they led him to a mountaine, and would haue cast him downe headlong.

Bishop.

Thou, and such l••s••ls▪ presume to Preach without licence of any Bishop.

Thorpe.

It is euery Priests duetie to Preach busily, freely, and truely the word of God, and they should take the Order of Priesthood chiefly to make Gods word kn••wne to the people, and approuing the truth of the word by his vertuous workes and for this purpose chiefly Bishops and Prelates should take their Prelacie, and for this cause Bi∣shops should giue their Orders, and should accept none to be Priest▪ except he were well disposed, and well learned to Preach. Wherefore, by the example and Doctrine of Christ, and his Apostles, and Prophets, wée are bound vnder full great paine so to doe.

Bishop.

Le••••de losell, why makest thou mée such vaine reasons, asketh not Saint Paul, How should Priests Preach, except they be sent? And I sent thée not to Preach. And saith not Sai••t Paul, Subiects ought to obey their Soueraignes, and not only the good and vertuous, but tyrants and vicious.

Thorpe.

None of you will grant vs any such licence, but we must oblige vs to you•• by vnlawfull Othes, not to passe the bonds you will limmit vs, and we dar•• not so oblige our selues. Wherefore, though we haue no such licenses, we dare not leaue the ••ffice of Preaching, for so mu••h as we haue taken vpon vs the Office of Priesthood, trusting God will bo our sufficient letters and witnesse, if we occupie vs faithfully to d••e our Of∣fice iustly; yea, the hearers shall be our Letters, for the truth, where it is s••wne, cannot be vnwitnessed, as Saint Paul saith; Wee neede no Letters of commendations, a•• some doe, which Preach for couetousnesse, and mens praisings. Touching obedience to superiours, good superiours with sound Doctrine and holy couersation, to them wée must willingly and gladly obey, consenting to their charitable biddings, and working af∣ter their fruitfull workes, of these Saint Paul speaketh; Bee mindfull of your Soue∣raignes, that speake to you in the word of God, and follow the faith of them, whose conuersation you know to be vertuous. These Soueraignes make feruent prayers, that they, and their Subiects may liue in the feare and loue of God, and liue so vertuous∣ly, that they that will liue well may take example by them: but Subiects ought not to obey Tyrants, whose biddings and workes are vicious, that they ought to be hated and left. But if they menace oppressions and punishings, Saint Peter biddeth the seruants of such Tyrants, to, Obey meekely, suffering patiently their malicious cruelty: but hée councelleth not any seruant or subiect, to obey any Lord, Prince, or Soueraigne in any thing not pleasing to God.

Bishop.

If a Soueraigne bid a Subiect doe the thing that is vicious, the Soueraigne is to blame, but the Subiect deserueth méede of God, for obedience pleaseth God more then Sacrifice.

Thorpe.

Samuel told Saul that God was more pleased with the obedience of his com∣mandement then with Sacrifices, but Dauid, S. Paul, and S. Gregory accordeth therto, that they that doe euil are not only worthy condemnation, but they that consent thereto.

Bishop.

All these a••••agings are nothing else bu•• proud presumptions, for hereby yo•• inforce you are iust, and ought not to ••bey the Prelates, and of your owne authoriti•• you will Preach and doe what you list.

Thorpe.

Presenteth not euery Priest the Office of the Apostles, and Disciples 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christ▪ He said yea, the tenth of Mathew, and the last of Mathew witnesseth, Christ sent his Apostles to Preach. And in the tenth of Luke, He sent his 72. Disciples to Preach in euery place that Christ was come to. And Saint Gregory saith, He that taketh vp∣pon him the Office of Priesthoode, taketh on him the Office of Preaching, and

that the Priest stirreth God to great wrath, whose mouth is not heard to Preach, and Ezekiel saith; The Priest that preacheth not busily to the people, shall bee parta∣ker of their damnation, that perish by their default. And though the people bee saued by other means, yet if the Priest Preach not, he is a man••••••per, b••cause they hold from the people the word of God, the life of their soules. Saint Isidore saith; Priests shall be damned for the wickednesse of the people, if they teach not the ignorant, and blame not the sinners. Christ saith; He came into the world to beare witnesse of the trueth.

Lincolne saith; That Priest that Preacheth not the word of God, though he haue no other default, hee is Antichrist, and Satan, a night theefe, and a day theefe, a slayer of Soules, and an Angell of light turned into darkenesse. Therefore, I count my 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in damnable ••ase, if I, for feare, neglect Preaching; and so I doe them that willingly neglect Preaching, and so I doe them that haue purpose or will to let any Priest of this businesse.

Bishop.

Lo•• sirs, this is the businesse of this losell, and such other, to pi••ke sharpe Sentences out of the Scripture, and Doctors, to maintaine their 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Thou desirest the Psalter I tooke from thée, but thou shalt ne••er ha••e it, nor none other booke, vntill I know thy heart and tongue ac••ord to be gouerned by holy Church.

Thorpe.

My will is, and euer shall be, to be gouerned by holy Church. And hée as∣ked me what holy Church was; Christ and his Saints are holy Church, though euery one in charitie be the Church, yet it hath two parts, the first part hath ouercome wretch∣ednesse, and raigneth in ioy with Christ, the other is in earth fighting day and night a∣gainst the temptations of the Feind, forsaking the glory of the world, and the ••usts of the flesh, and which onely are the pilgrimes of Christ, wandring towards Heauen by stedfast faith, grounded hope, and perfect charitie; these will not be let from their purpose by any Doctors discording from the Scripture, nor by the flouds of tribulations, nor the winde of pri••e, or menasing of any creature: for they are fast grounded vppon the stone Christ, hearing his word, louing and practising it with all their wits.

Bishop.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 you not how he is indurate, and trauelled with the Deuill, occupying himselfe busily to aledge Sentences to maintaine his Heresie? Thus he would doe all ••ay, if wee would suffer him. One of his Clerk••s ••id the Bishop appose him vpon the the points of the Certificate from Shrewsbury. And he said; Was it true that is cer∣tified thou diddest Preach touching the Sacrament.

Thorpe.

As I stoode in the pulpit Preaching, there toled a Sacring bell, and much people went from me, and I said; Good men, you were better stand still, and heare Gods word, for the vertue of the Sacrament stondeth much morein the beliefe thereof, that ye ought to haue in the soule, then in the outward sight thereof.

Bishop.

Resteth there in the host materiall bread after consecration?

Thorpe.

Saint Paul was a great Doctor, and he called it bread that he brake, and in the Canon of the Masse, after consecration, it is called holy bread, and euery Priest af∣ter he hath receiued the Sacrament, saith▪ that thing that wee haue taken with our ••••••thea, we pray God we may take with a pure minde. And Saint Augustine saith. That which is seene is bread, but that mens Faith asketh to bee informed of, is very Christs body. Fulgentius saith, It is an error to say Christ is very man, and not God, and that hee is very God, and not man; so is it to say the Sacrament is but a substance.

Bishop.

I command thée answere me shortly.

Thorpe.

I vnderstand it all one, to grant that there dwelleth substance of bread, and that Christs body is accident without subiect; your asking passeth my vndersta••ding, I dare not deny it, nor grant it, I commit this terme accidens cum subiecto, to those Clerkes which delight in subtile Sophistry, they determine often so difficult matters, and w••nder so in them, from argument to argument, with pro & contra, vntill they vnderstand not themselues, but the shame that proud Sophisters haue to yeelde to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, before men maketh them oft fooles, and to bée shamefully concluded be∣fore God.

Bishop.

I will not oblige thee to the arguments of Clerkes, since thou art vn∣able thereto, but I purpose to haue thee obey the determination of holy Church.

Thorpe.

By open euidence, and plaine witnesse, 1000. yeares after Christ, this determination which I rehearse was accepted of holy Church, as sufficient to sal∣uation, but that which was brought in since the Deuill was loosed by Thomas A∣quinas, calling the Sacrament an accident without subiect, I vtterly deny to make this Fryers sentence, or any such my beliefe, dee with mee God what hee will.

Bishop.

Well, well, thou shalt say otherwise before I leaue thee.

Thou Preachest that Images ought not to be worshipped.

Thorpe.

Not so, for all c••eatures are the Images of Gods glory, and a man is made after Gods Image, and they are worshipfull in their ••••nde; but the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or pain∣ting of Images, though it be in high dignitie with man, and for a Calender to lewde men, that nether will nor can be learned to know God in his word, nor by his creatures, nor wonderfull workes; yet this Imaginarie ought not to be worshipped.

Bishop.

But a Crucifixe ought to be worshipped, for the Passion of Christ is pain∣ted therein, and brought to our remembrance thereby, so of the Image of the Trinitie, and of the Uirgine Mary, and of the Saints: as when men receiue the Kings, or their Lords Seale, whe••ein is their Pictures or Armes, in worshippe of them they put off their cappes to these Letters, and since in Images we may know many things of God and his Saints, shall we not worship their Images?

Thorpe.

These worldly vsages of Temporall Lords may be done, but this is no similitude to worshippe Images, since Moses, Salomon, Ba••uch, and others in the Bible forbid plainly the worshipping of such Images.

Bishop.

Lewde ••osell, there was no likenesse of the Trinitie in the Old Law, but since Christ became man, it is lawfull to haue Images to shew his manhood, though great Clarkes hold it an error to paint the Trinitie, I say it is well done, for it mo∣••eth deuotion, so doe other Images of Saints. Beyond Sea are the best Painters, and this is their manner, before they make an Image, they shréeue themselues to a Priest as if they should d••e, and take penance, and make a vowe of fasting, prayer, or pilgri∣mage, praying the Priest to pray for them, that they may haue grace to make a fayr•• and deuout Image.

Thorpe.

I doubt not if the Painters truely vnderstood the Sciptures they would repent themselues of their sinfull and vaine Arte of Painting Idols, and the Priests that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them penance, and prayed for them, sinned more then the Painters, for they comfort them in that which they are vnder paine of the great curs•• of God they ought to forbid, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉, if the word of God were truely Preached, and ministers li∣ued thereafter▪ there would be no neede of these Images▪

Bishop.

I hold thee a vi••ie••s and cursed Priest, for thou, and such others goe about to destroy all Priests and Images of holy Church. Lozell, were it a faire thing to come into a Church, and see neuer an Image.

Thorpe.

They that come to Church to pray, their inward wits may be the more fer∣uent in that their outward wits bee closed from outward seeing. Christ blessd them that sawe him not and beleeued, it sufficeth to know God in his word without Images.

Bishop.

Is it not a stirring thing to behold an Image?

Thorpe.

Being euery person of the Trinitie is eternall, and you say it was not lawful to picture it before Christ, and in that there were many Prophets. Mar∣••••res, and professors before Christ, why was it not then as lawfull to make Images, to moue men to deuotion as now it is?

Bishop.

The Synagogue of the Iewes had not authoritie to approue things, as the Church now hath.

Thorpe.

Saint Gregory was of great dignitie, as the Cannon Lawe witnesseth▪ hee greatly commended a Bishoppe for forbidding Images to bee worshipped.

Bishop.

Ungratio••s losell, thou sauorest truth no more then a houn••, since at the Roode at the North dore at London, and at our Lady at Walsingham, and many other places in England, are many great and praisable miracles ••one.

Thorpe.

I am certaine there is no such miracle done of God▪ that any Image should

be worshipped, therefore I say as I haue often Preached; None should t••ust there were any vertue in them, nor vowe to them, nor seeke to them, nor 〈◊〉〈◊〉, bowe, pray, o••••er, kisse, or incense them. The Brasen Serpent was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by Gods biddi••g, ••et the good King Ezekiah, because it was incensed so, worth••••y destroyed it, and it is to bee dread, that for the vnfaithfulnesse of ••en, the F••••••d 〈◊〉〈◊〉 power to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the miracles that now are done in such places: wherefore s••eing the God of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is the most vnknowne and wonderfull Spirit, what Image may he be painted 〈◊〉〈◊〉?

Bishop.

As holy Church suffereth Images to ••ee painted, and shewed, it suffiseth to th••m that are members of holy Church, but thou art 〈◊〉〈◊〉 member cut off from holy Church, thou fauourest not the ordinances thereof.

Thou speakest against Pilgrimage, and that pilgrimages to Canterbury, ••e∣uerley, Carlington, Walsingham, are accursed, and f••••lish spending their goods in wast.

Thorpe.

There bée true trauellers, trauell all their life, with all their endeauour to please God, that they may attaine to the heauenly Kingdome: but I say now as I said at Shrewsbury, I haue Preached often in other places, and will doe as long as I liue God willing; They that trauell their bodies, and spend their money to s••eke, or visite the bones of Images of this Saint, or that, such pilgrimage is nei∣ther, praiseable, or thankefull to God, nor to any Saint of God; since such pilgri∣mages, almost all▪ despise God, and his commaundements, and vppon Saints they waste blamefully Gods goods, in such vaine Pilgrimages, sometimes vpon vitious Hostices, which they should doe workes of mercie withall vpon the poore and néedie, they offer their go••ds to rich Priests, which haue more then they n••ede, many of them borrow other mens goods, and neuer pay them, and sometimes they steale them. And they haue with them Singers, that can sing wanton Songs, and some will haue Bag-pipes, so that euery Towne where they come, with their noyse of singing, piping, ••angling of Canterbury Bels, and the barking of dogs, they make more noyse then if the king came thither, with all his Clarions and Minstrels, and if they bee a moneth in pilgrimage, they will bee halfe a yeare after, wranglers, tale-bearers, and lyers.

Bishop.

Lewde losell, thou seest not farre enough into this matter, it is fit they haue such musicke with them, that when one goeth barefoote, burteth his foote a∣gainst a stone, and maketh it bleede, it is well done that his fellow sing a song, or play on a bagge pipe, to driue away with mirth the hurt of his fellowe, and with such solace their trauell and wearin••sse, is lightly, and merrily brought forth, Dauids last Psalme teacheth mee to haue diuerse ••nstruments of musicke.

Thorpe.

By the sentence of ••iuerse Doctors, that musicke that Dauid, and other Saints of the Old Lawe spake of, ought not to be interpreted li••terally, but gostly, for Saint Paul saith, all such thing•• befell to them in figure, therefore I vn∣derstand that the letter of this Psalme, and other Psalmes and Sentences doth slay them that take them now literally. This sence I vnderstand Christ approueth, pu••ting out the minstrels, ere he would quicken the Damzell.

Bishop.

Lewd losell, is it not lawfull so haue Organes in the Church, to worship God withall?

Thorpe.

Yea, by mans ordinance, but a good Sermon to the peoples vnderstanding, were much more pleasant to God.

Bishoppe.

Organs, and delectable Songs, quicken mens wits more then a Sermon.

Thorpe.

Worldly men delight in sencible solace▪ but the faithfull louers of Christ delight to heare Gods word, and vnderstand it tru••ly, and Saint Ierome saith; No bo∣dy may ioy with this world, and raigne with Christ.

Bishop.

What thinke you this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will speake, whereas hee hath no dreade, be∣ing bee speaketh thus in my presence? well▪ well, by God, you shall bee ordai∣ned for.

Thou saidest Priests had no tittle to Tythes.

Thorpe.

One would know of me whether Priests, by the word of God, may curse

one for not paying of Tythes, Christ and his Apostles tooke no Tythes, nor commanded none so to doe. Saint Paul saith, The Lord hath ordained, that they that Preach the Gospell, should liue of the Gospell. And if Priests were now in measurable number, and liued vertuously, add ta••gh•• busily and truely Gods word, without Tythes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and other du••ies, the people would giue them suffici••nt liuings. One of his Clarkes said, How can that be, sluc•• by the Law, Priests can scarcely constraine the people to giue them their Liuing?

Bishop.

Thou sayest it is not lawfull in any case.

Thorpe.

I neuer taught in that wise, I haue Preached in many places, that it is not lawfull to sweare by any creature, and that none ought to swrare in any case, if with∣out an oath he may excuse himselfe to them that haue authoritie so take an oath, but as he cannot otherwise excu••e himselfe, he ought onely to sweare by God, taking him only that is true to witnesse truth.

And there were many other arguments▪ wherein was no great mat••er worth a∣bridging, if the reader be disposed, hee may see the booke at large. After hee had de∣nied to sweare obedience vnto the Bishop, except in those things that were accor∣ding to the word of God, the Archbishoppe bade the Constable haue him away in ha••••e.

Bishop.

I was led foorth, and brought to a ••oule and vnhonest prison, where I was neuer before; when they were gone, and had shut the doore, I busied my selfe to thin•••• on God, and thanke him of his goodnesse, and I was greatly comforted, that I was deliuered for a time, from the sight, hearing and presence, and scorning▪ and mena∣sing of mine enemies, but much more I reioyced in the Lord, that of his grace he kept 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that without heauinesse, and anguish of conscience, I passed away from them.

Now O God, to the praising of th•• blessed name, make vs one together by authority of thy word to be knit and made one in truth, faith, and stedfast hope in perfect charitie Amen.