The history of the worthies of England who for parts and learning have been eminent in the several counties : together with an historical narrative of the native commodities and rarities in each county / endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

Confessors.

JOHN MARBECK was an Organist in the Quire of Windsor and very skilful there∣in, a man of Admirable Industry and Ingenuity, who, not perfectly understanding the Latin Tongue, did out of the Latin with the help of the English Bible make an En∣glish Concordance, which Bishop Gardiner himself could not but commend as a piece of singular Industry, Professing that there were no fewer then twelve Learned men to make the first Latin Concordance; And King Henry the eighth hearing thereof, said that he was better imployed, then those Priests which accused him. Let therefore our Mo∣dern Concordances of Cotton, Newman, Bernard, &c. as Children and Grand-Children do their duty to Marbecks Concordance, as their Parent at first endeavour'd in our Language.

This Marbeck was a very zealous Protestant, and of so sweet and amiable Nature, that all good men did love, and few bad men did hate him. Yet was he con∣demned Anno 1544. on the Statute of the 6. Articles to be burnt at Windsor, had not his pardon been procured, divers assigning divers causes thereof;

• 1. That Bishop Gardiner bare him a speciall affection for his skill in the My∣stery of Musick.
• 2. That such who condemned him, procured his pardon out of Remorse of Conscience, because so slender the evidence against him, it being que∣stionable whether his Concordance was made after the Statute of the 6. Ar∣ticles or before it, and, if before, he was freed by the Kings General pardon.
• 3. That it was done out of design to reserve him for a discovery of the rest of his party; if so, their plot failed them. For being as true as Steel, (whereof his fetters were made, which he ware in Prison for a good time) he could not be frighted or flattered to make any detection.

Here a mistake was committed by Mr. Fox in his first Edition, whereon the Pa∣pis•…•…s much insult, making this Marbeck burnt at Windsor for his Religion, with An∣thony Persons, Robert Testwood, and Henry Fillmer. No doubt Mr. Fox rejoyced at his own mistake, thus far forth; both for Marbecks sake who escaped with his Life, and his Enemies who thereby drew the less guilt of bloud on their own Consciences. But hear what he pleads for his mistake.

• 1. Marbeck was dead in Law, as condemned whereon his errour was probably grounded.
• 2. He confessing that one of the four condemned was pardoned his Life, mis∣naming him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 instead of Marbeck.
• 3. Let Papists first purge their Lying Legend from manifest and Intentio∣nall untruths, before they censure others for casuall slips and un-meant Mi∣stakes.
• 4. Recognizing his Book in the next Edition, he with blushing amended his

• errour. And is not this Penance enough according to the principals of his accusers Confession, Contrition, and Satisfaction?

All this will not content some morose Cavillers whom I have heard jeeringly say, that many who were burnt in Fox in the Reign of Queen Mary, drank Sack in the days of Queen Elizabeth. But enough is said to any ingenious person; And it is impossible for any Author of a Voluminous Book consisting of several persons and circumstances (Rea∣der in pleading for Master Fox, I plead for my self) to have such Ubiquitary intelli∣gence, as to apply the same infallibly to every particular. When this Marbeck dyed is to me unknown, he was alive at the second English Edition of the Book of Martyrs 1583. thirty and nine years after the time of his Condemnation.

ROBERT BENET was a Lawyer living in Windsor, and a zealous Professor of the true Religion. He drank as deep as any of the Cup of Affliction, and no doubt had been condemned with Testwood, Persons, and the rest; Had he not at the same time been sick of the* 1.1 plague-sore in the Prison of the Bishop of London, which proved the means of his preservation; Thus it is better to fall into the hands of God, than into the hands of men. And thus as out of the devourer came food, out of the Destroyer came life, yea the Plague-sore proved a Cordial unto him. For by the time that he was recovered thereof, a Pardon was freely granted to him; as also to Sir Thomas Cardine, Sir Phi∣lip Hobby, (both of the Kings Privy-chamber) with their Ladies and many more design∣ed to death by crafty Bishop Gardner, had not His Majesties mercy thus miraculously interposed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fox, Acts and Mon. pag. 1220.