ANNO DOM. 1538. REG. 30.

IT is at length after many Ages resolved, That through the [ 1538] superstitious abuse of Images, God was robbed of his due ho∣nour. The King much prone to Reformation (especially if any* thing might be gotten by it) thought it fit to remove this stumbling-block, and the rather, for that he conceived his Treasury would be thereby supplied. There were some Images of more especial fame, and Shrines of reputed Saints, where∣unto Pilgrimages were made from the farthest parts of the King∣dom, nay even from forein Countries also; the Oblations whereto were so many and so rich, that they not only sufficed for the maintenance of Priests and Monks, but also to the heaping up of incredible wealth. The Shrine of Thomas Becket Archbishop* of Canterbury was covered with plates of Gold, and laden with Gifts of inestimable value. The blind zeal of those and former times, had decked it with Gems, Chains of Gold of great weight, and* Pearls of that large size, which in our Language find no proper term. This Tomb was razed, and his Bones found en∣tire; instead of whose Head the Monks usually obtruded the Scull of some other, peradventure better deserving than did their sup∣posed Martyr. The spoil of this Monument, wherein nothing was meaner than Gold, filled two Chests so full, that each of them required eight strong men for the portage. Among the rest was a Stone of especial lustre called the Royal of France, of∣fered by Lewis the Seventh, King of France, in the year 1179, together with a great massy Cup of Gold, at what time he also bestowed an annuity on the Monks of that Church, of an hun∣dred Tons of Wine. This Stone was afterward highly prized by the King, who did continually wear it on his thumb. Erasmus speaks much of the magnificence of this Monument, as also of the Image of our Lady of Walsingham, both which he had seen and* admired. This Image was also stripped of whatsoever worthy thing it had, the like being also done in other the like places, and the Statues and Bones of the dead digged up and burned, that they might be no further cause of Superstition. Among the rest of these condemned Images there was a Crucifix in South-Wales, called of the Inhabitants, Darvel Gatheren, concerning which there was a kind of Prophecy, That it should one day fire a whole Forest. It chanced that at this time one Doctor Forest a Frier.* Observant, who had formerly taken the Oath of Supremacy, was upon his relapse apprehended and condemned of Treason and Page  93 Heresie: For this Frier a new Gallows was erected, whereon he [ 1538] was hanged by the arm-pits, and underneath him a fire made of this Image, wherewith he was burned, and so by his death made good the Prophecy.

Great was the Treasure which the King raised of the spoils of Churches and Religious Houses. But whether the guilt of Sacriledge (adhering like a consuming Canker) made this ill gotten Treasure unprofitable, or that he found he had need of greater supplies to withstand the dangers that threatned him from abroad, not content with what he had already corraded, he casts his eyes on the Wealth of the Abbeys that had escaped the vio∣lence of the former Tempest: and not expecting (as he deemed it) a needless Act of Parliament, seiseth on the rest of the Abbeys and Religious Houses of the Realm. At first he begins with that at Canterbury, dedicated to Augustine the English Apostle, who* was there interred. This being the first-fruits of Christianity among this Nation (I mean the Saxons, for the Britans had been watred with streams derived even from the Fountains Apostolick, far more pure than were those later overflows of Augustine) he invades, expels the Monks, and divides their means between his Exchequer and Courtiers. Battel-Abbey built by William the* Conquerour, in the same place where by the overthrow of Ha∣rold the last Saxon King he purchased this Kingdom to himself and his posterity, did also run the same fortune. So that it is not so much to be wondered at, if those at Merton in Surrey, Strat∣ford* in Essex, Lewis in Sussex, the Charterhouse, Black-Friers, Gray∣Friers, and White-Friers in London, felt the fury of the same Whirl∣wind.

At the same time among many other Reformations in this Church, that wholesom Injunction was one, whereby the Bible* translated and printed in English, was commanded to be kept in every Parish Church, and to be conveniently placed where any that were so desirous, might read therein.

They who were more eagerly addicted to the superstition of their Ancestors, brooked not these proceedings, among whom were chief Henry Courtney Marquess of Exceter, Henry Lord Moun∣tague* Brother to Cardinal Pool, and Sir Edward Nevill Brother to the Lord Abergavenny, who on the fifth day of November, upon the aceusation of Sir Geoffry Poole Brother to the Lord Mountague, were committed to the Tower, for having maintained intelligence with the 〈◊〉, and conspired the King's destruction; for which they were on the third of the ensuing January, the Lord Audley sitting high Steward for the time, arraigned and con∣demned, and on the ninth of the same month beheaded. Two Priests named Crofts and Colins, with one Holland a Mariner, as partakers in the same guilt, were hanged and quartered at Ty∣burn. This Courtney was by the Father's side of a very noble Page  94 descent, deriving himself from the Blood Royal of France, by [ 1538] Hugh Courtney created Earl of Devonshire by Edward the Third. But by his Mother he far more nearly participated of the Blood Royal of England, being Son to Catharine Daughter to Edward the Fourth, who was Sister to Queen Elizabeth the Mother of King Henry. The King long favoured him as his Cousin-german, but at length in regard of his near Alliance to the Crown, be∣came jealous of his Greatness, whereof he had lately given more than sufficient testimony, in suddenly arming some thousands to oppose against the Yorkshire Rebels. The consideration whereof made Henry gladly entertain any occasion to cut off this Noble Gentleman.

About the same time John Lambert a religious and learned man* was also condemned, the King himself sitting Judge. This Lam∣bert being accused of Heresie, appealed from his Ordinary to the King; who fearing lest he should be accounted a Lutheran, re∣solved upon this occasion to manifest to the World how he stood affected in Religion. To this end summoning as many of the Bishops and other Peers of the Realm as could conveniently be present, he caused Scaffolds to be built in Westminster Hall, from whence the people might be spectators and witnesses of the Acts of that day. On the right hand of the King were seated the Bishops, and behind them the Judges and chief Lawyers of the Realm: at his left hand sate the Temporal Lords, and behind them the Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber. Lambert being brought to the Bar, Day Bishop of Chichester, by the King's appoint∣ment made an Oration, wherein he declared the cause of this meeting; saying,

That Lambert having been accused of Heresie before his Ordinary, had made his Appeal unto the King, as if expecting from his Majesty more favour for Heresie, than from the Bishop. So that he now found it to be true, whereof he had been oft informed, That the credulous People were verily perswaded, that his Majesty abhorring the Religion of his Ancestors, had embraced the new Tenets lately broached in Germany. True it was, the tyranny of the Court of Rome had been troublesom to his Predecessors, but to Him intolerable, and therefore had He shaken it off: That Religion might no longer patronize Idleness, He had expelled Monks, who were no other than Drones in the Bee∣hive: He had taken away the idolatrous worship of Images, had per∣mitted to his Subjects the reading and knowledge of God's Word, hi∣therto prohibited by the Church of Rome, lest their wiles and cozenages should be discovered: And had made reformation in some other things peradventure of less moment, which no man could deny, would much re∣dound to the good both of Church and Commonwealth. But as for other things, He had determined there should be no change in the Church during his Reign: Which his Resolution He now intended publickly to manifest. His Majesty's desire was, That the Delinquent renouncing Page  95 his Errours, should suffer himself to be received into the bosom of the [ 1538] Church: To which end partly, and partly to shew that He thirsted not after any one's blood, out of his elemency, He had procured the presence of those Grave and Learned men (meaning the Bishops) who by Au∣thority and force of Arguments should if it were possible, bring back this strayed Sheep into the Fold of the Church. But if he perversly oppugned the Truth, and all perswasions notwithstanding, became immoveable, He would by this man's exemplary punishment make known, what others should in the like Case expect, and instruct the Judges and Magistrates what they ought to do therein.

The Bishop having ended, the King demanded of Lambert, What he thought of the presence of Christ's Body in the Sacra∣ment? Whose answer being little to the King's liking, reasons and arguments were produced, as if a Disputation in the Schools, and not a Justiciary Session had been appointed. Five whole hours this Disputation lasted, the King being as it were Prior Opponent, Archbishop Cranmer also, and nine other Bishops forcibly pressing upon poor Lambert. But neither this course, nor the battery of threats and terrours prevailing against his con∣stancy, the King commanded the Lord Cromwell to pass sentence of condemnation upon him, by virtue whereof within a day or two after he was burned. Neither this dreadful Sentence, nor his torturing death did any way appale him, which he so little regarded, that going to his death, he merrily took his Breakfast with some Gentlemen into whose company he chanced, as if he had been going to some sportful Game, rather than his Execution.