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DEare wife,* 1.1 I pray God be euer with vs through Christ our onely Mediator. Amen.
I thanke you for my cap: I am something proud of it: for it is one steppe from the Clergy in these dayes. I thanke God my hart is cleane deuided from theyr proceedinges: for I knowe that no
man can serue two maisters, specially if they agree no better thē Christ and Antichrist do. I am glad that Hadley can skill of such packing ware as was brought thether the first day of May last past. Christes sheepe can discerne Christes voyce from the voice of straungers, theeues, or hirelings. The packebringer was sory that he came to late to the funerall market of his faithfull friend·* 1.2 But here I will leaue them both to Gods iudgement, and some∣thyng touch the matter whereof the packer made mention on his openyng day. At the first he called the Scripture (as I heare) full of darke sentences, but in deed it is called of Dauid, a candle to our feete, and a light to our pathes. Our Sauior Christ calleth hys word, the light which euill doers do flee from and hate, least their deeds should be reprooued thereby, S. Paule would haue vs to walke as children of light, and in any wyse not to continue in ignorance or darkenes. But all we in the world pertaine to two princes, eyther to the father of light & truth, or els to the prince of darkenes and lyes. In these dayes preachers declare euidently of whome they are sent, and with what spirit they speake, & to what prince they belong:* 1.3 For they cry out against Gods, Lightes, Sunne, Moone, Starres, torches, lampes, lanternes, cressets, and candles in Gods booke the Bible, prouided of Gods great goodnes and mercy to auoyd all foule darknes; cloudes, and mistes, or dangerous dout∣full wayes in this our iourney to our heauēly father, long home, mansion houses, and dearely purchased heritage. Esay gods faith∣full messenger sayth: Woe be vnto them that call sweete sower, good euill, and light darkenes. Therfore commeth my people in∣to captiuitie, because they haue no vnderstanding. Our Sauiour Christ pronounceth errours and heresies to remaine among the people, so long as ignorance of the scriptures remayneth. And hereby it appeareth to all good consciences, what they meane, which defame or accuse Gods blessed word beyng full of light, as though it were full of darkenes. These Owles would haue all day lights scraped out of bookes, hartes, and Churches. Oh Lord turne their heartes and tongues: bowe them from the waye of darkenesse, least they goe to the prince of darkenesse, and be cast into the pit of vtter darkenes, where is weepyng and gnashyng of teeth.
Now, touching the packes of wooll, and the packes of cloth, I feare they were as all other wares bee, transubstantiate into flockes,* 1.4 euen his very finest packing stuffe against onely faith iu∣stifieng, and for the corporal presence of Christes body in the sa∣crament, for praying for soules departed, and for auricular con∣fession. Abrahams iustification by fayth, by grace, by promise and not by workes, is plainly set forth both in the epistle to the Rom. cap. 4. and to the Gal. ca. 3. and Abrahams works of obedience in offring vp his sonne so long after his iustification, must needes be taken as a fruite of a good tree iustifieng before men, and not of iustification before God: for then had man to glory in, then dyd Christ die in vayne.
And where as the 6 chap. of Iohn was alledged, to proue that Christ did geue his body corporally in his supper, euē as he had promised in the sayd 6. chap. it is most vntrue.* 1.5 For onely he gaue his body sacramentally, spiritually, and effectually in his supper to the faythfull Apostles, and corporally he gaue it in a bloudy sacrifice for the lyfe of the worlde vppon the crosse once for all. There in hys owne person,* 1.6 in hys owne naturall body he bare all our sinnes. By whose stripes we were healed, as S. Peter proueth 1. Pet. 2. and Esay. 53. In deed receiuyng Christs sacrament accor∣dingly as it was instituted, we receyue Christes body & Christs bloud, euen as I sayd before, the Apostles dyd.
But the popish Masse is another matter. The Masse as it is now, is but one of Antichrists youngest daughters, in the which the deuill is rather present and receyued,* 1.7 then our sauiour, the se∣cond person in Trinitie, God and man. O Lord God heauenly fa∣ther, for Christes sake we beseeche thee to turne agayne England to the right way it was in in K. Edwards tyme, from this Babylo∣nicall stewish spirituall whoredome, conspiracie, tyranny, dete∣stable enormities, false doctrine, heresie, hardnes of hart, and cō∣tempt of thy word and commaundements, from this euident and open idolatry, sacriledge, simonie, blasphemy, superstition, hypo∣crisie, transubstantiate angell of lyght and day deuill, kyngdome of lyes, foule vayne schismes, sects, sedition, apostasie, gay sweete poyson, honied and sugred viperous venome, wily woluishnesse, sathanicall subtletie, and abhomination in the sight of God, and of all such as put on the true spectacles of holy scripture. I am the more playne now in this matter, because I feare greatly, that ma∣ny will be to much ready to go from Christ to Antichrist, frō the Bible, true Gods seruice and religion, to Latine lying Legendes, Portases, Masse bookes and superstition. They say theyr Church cannot erre in any poynt, whē in deed they be not of gods church and therfore they can do nothyng but erre, euen as they doe al∣most in all cases of true fayth.
But to come agayne to the packer rather then preacher, hee bringeth S Chrysostome writyng Ad populum Antiochenum,* 1.8 where he makyng a comparison betweene Christes flesh and Eli∣as cloke cast downe to Elizeus, when Elias was taken vp in the fiery Chariot, at length he sayeth, that Christ ascendyng vp to heauen, tooke hys flesh with hym, and also left hys flesh behynd hym in earth.
The meanyng of it is, he dyd ascend with hys flesh,* 1.9 and left a memoriall cloke of the same body and flesh, which he calleth hys flesh, as he in the sacramentall phrase calleth bread his body, be∣cause it representeth his body: and as in the lyke manner of Sa∣cramentall speach, a Lambe was called the Passeouer, the Cir∣cumcision, Gods couenaunt. He tooke vp hys flesh corporally, & least his flesh in mystery and sacrament spiritually.* 1.10 Or it may be sayd, that he left hys flesh vpon earth: that is, hys mysticall body, his faythfull people, whom S. Paule calleth the members of hys body, of hys flesh, of hys bones, Ephes. 5. In the 49. chap. of Gene∣sis, there is no word of Christes sacrament, but there is a prophe∣sie of Christes passion, wherein hys Fole was bound, that is, hys body. And where hee speaketh there of grapes and wyne, it is as that is spoken of Christ in an other place, where hee sayeth: Ego solus torcular calcaui: I alone dyd treade the wyne presse meanyng thereby, that Christ alone suffered paynefull passion for the remission of sinnes, and for the consolation of all hys faith∣full souldiors.
It is not true that the packer sayd, that Christs infinite pow∣er may make his body to bee in a thousand places at once, as a loafe to be in a thousand bellies:* 1.11 for then myght Christ deuide the partes of hys body, as a loafe is deuided and so consumed, & then myght scripture be false, appointyng Christes body to bee but in one place. Act. 3. Phil. 3. Heb. 3. The articles of our faith tel vs sufficiently where Christes body is. It was neuer in two places at once, neyther euer shall be, neither euer can be corporally and naturally, neither euer was, is, can,* 1.12 or shall be eaten so with any corporall mouthes, as the Capernaites and the papistes most er∣roneously and heretically doe iudge. If our sauiour Iesus Christ hath no other body natural then is made of the substāce of bread and is in a thousand places at once, as I haue often sayd in Had∣ley: we are not yet redeemed, neyther shall our bodies ryse a∣gaine, & be made lyke vnto his glorious body. We are sure that our sauiour Christs body is made of none other substaunce then of his mother the blessed virgin Maries substaunce. We are sure, that he taketh not the nature of Angels, much lesse of bread. On∣ly he taketh on hym the seed of Abraham. Heb. 2. In all thynges lyke vnto vs, sin only except.* 1.13 And this is a comfortable doctrine to vs christians, beleuing stedfastly as the true catholike fayth is, that Christ hath but two natures, perfect God, and perfect man. Vpon this rocke Christs church is builded, and the gates of hell shall neuer preuayle agaynst it. Math. 16.
I speake nothing now of auricular confession and praying for soules departed,* 1.14 because I do not heare what authors the packer brought in for this purpose. Sure I am that he can bryng no au∣thenticall and canonicall warrant for such his packware. He may say what hee wyll of Hebricians and Graecians,* 1.15 and fleshe vnder formes, and not aboue formes, or aboue the bourd. He may con∣iure and conuey, passe & repasse, euen what he wil in such clouds and mystes. He reproued the scriptures as full of darkenes, & yet is full of darkenes hymselfe. He did wittily, to bring proofes out of Iewry, Turky, and other strange places, for his rounde whyte cake, for that such his pedlary pelfe packe is contrary to the plain simplicity of Christes supper. He glaunced at priests mariage.* 1.16 He myght agaynst that haue brought as auncient a Doctor as any be alledged out of Hebrue, for hys masse and wafer cake, that is, D. Deuill. 1. Tim. 4.
I meruaile that he dyd not confute and confound S. Paul for the sentences written aboue the aultar, of the which, hee made mention in the pulpit. For he and his fellowes of Oxford bee so profound, so excellent, so glorious, and triumphant clarkes, that they can easily prooue a man an asse, and writers in the Bible ig∣norant, simple, full of errors, ful of heresies, & beggerly fooles. Yet they wil be called catholikes, faithfull true christian people, defenders of the holy mother the Church: but truely they take part with the prince of darknes, with Antichrist, with Iezabell, Apoc. 2. They wyll not be called Papists, Pharises, Iewes, Turkes, heretikes, and so forth: but whatsoeuer they will be called, Gods religion had neuer more euident aduersaries, and that in all the chiefe points of it: no not then, when our sauiour Christ whypt such Merchants out of the temple, callyng them a company of theeues Math. 21. God geue them grace to repent. God be than∣ked that the Nobilitie somethyng of late hath spied and stopped their tyranny. O vnhappy England: Oh more vngrate people,* 1.17 sooner bewitched then the folish Galathians. We haue now none excuse.
We haue vndoubtedly seene the true trace of the propheti∣call Apostolicall primatiue catholike church. We are warned to beware, least we be led out of that way, societie, and rule of Re∣ligion. Now we shall shew what countrey men we bee, whether spirituall and heauenly, or carnall and worldly. We had as true knowledge as euer was in any countrey, or in any tyme, since the beginnyng of the world, God be praysed therfore. If Hadley be∣yng so many yeares perswaded in such truth, will now willingly and wittingly forsake the same, and defile it selfe withe the Cake god, Idolatry, and other Antichristianitie thereunto belongyng,* 1.18
let it surely looke after many and wonderfull plagues of God shortly. Though another haue the Benefice, yet as God know∣eth, I cannot but be carefull for my deare Hadley. And therefore as I could not but speake, after the first abhominable Masse be∣gun there, I beyng present, no more I can not but write now be∣yng absent,* 1.19 hearyng of the wicked prophanation of my late pul∣pit, by such a wily Wolfe. Gods loue, mercy, goodnes and fauour hath bene vnspeakable, in teachyng vs the right way of saluati∣on and iustification: Let vs all haue some zeale, some care how to serue him accordyng to his good will written. The God of loue and peace be euer in Hadley, through Christ our onely ad∣uocate. Amen. Rowland Taylor.
After that Steuen Gardiner Bish. of Winchester, had got the lawes,* 1.20 and the secular arme on his side (as ye haue heard) with full power and authoritie to raigne and rule as he listed, and had brought these godly bishops and re∣uerend preachers aforesayd vnder foote, namely, the Arch∣bishop of Cant. D. Ridley B. of London, M. Latimer, M. Hooper B. of Worcester and Gloucester, M. Rogers, M. Saunders, D. Taylor, and M. Bradford, all which he had now presently condemned, and some also burned, he supposed now all had bene cocke sure, and that Christ had bene conquered for euer, so that the people beyng terrified with example of these great learned men condemned, ne∣uer would ne durst once route against their violent religi∣on: not much vnlike in this behalfe, to the manner of the Turkes, who when they cannot maintaine their sect by good learnyng and truth of Gods word, thinke by violēce of sword to force whome they can to their beliefe, and that done, afterward make lawes, no man vnder payne of he∣resie to dispute or once to call in question any ••f their pro∣ceedyngs.* 1.21 Euen so St. Gardiner and his fellowes, when they see they cannot preuaile by triall of Gods word, and discourse of learnyng, neither are disposed simply to seeke for truth where it is to be found, they take exceptions a∣gaynst Gods word to bee intricate, obscure, and insuffici∣ent to bee his owne iudge, and therefore that of necessitie must bee iudged by the Popes Church, and so hauyng Kyngs and Queenes of theyr side, they seeke not to per∣swade by the worde of God, nor to winne by charitie, but in stead of the law of God, they vse (as the Prouerb saith) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.22 compelling men by death, fire, and sworde, (as the Turkes do) to beleue that in very deed they think not. And in deed after flesh and bloud this seemeth to bee a sure way. Neither peraduenture are they ignoraunt how gaily this way thriueth with the Turkes, and therefore thinke they to practise the same, at least wise so they do, v∣pon what example so euer they doe it. And thus condem∣ned they these godly learned preachers and bishops afore∣sayd, supposing (as I said) that all the rest would soone be quailed by their example. But they were deceiued, for wtin 8. or 9. dayes after that Ste. Gardiner had geuen sentence against M. Hooper, M. Rogers, M. Saunders, D. Tay∣lor,* 1.23 and M. Bradford, being the 8. of Febru. sixe other good men wer brought likewyse before the bishops for the same cause of religion, to be examined, whose names were W. Pigot butcher,* 1.24 St. Knight Barber, Th. Tomkins Wea∣uer, Th. Hawkes gentleman, Ioh. Laurence priest, Will. Hunter prentise.
St. Gardiner seyng thus his deuise disappointed, and that cruelty in this case would not serue to his expectation gaue ouer the matter as vtterly discouraged,* 1.25 & from that day medled no more in such kinde of condemnations, but referred the whole doyng therof to Boner B. of London: who supplied that part right doughtily, as in the further processe of this hystory hereafter euidently and too muche may appeare. Thus B. Boner taking the matter in hand, called before him in his Consistory at Paules, the L. Mai∣or and certaine Aldermen sitting with him, the 6. persons aforenamed,* 1.26 vpon the 8. day of Febr. in the yere aforesaid, and in the next day beyng the 9. of Febr. red the sentence of condemnation vpon them, as appeareth in Boners own registers. Such quicke speed these men could make in di∣spatching their busines at once. Notwithstandyng, be∣cause the death of these condemned martyrs did not folow incontinently before the next month of March,* 1.27 I wyll de∣ferre the prosecuting of their matter, til I come by ye grace of the Lord, to the tyme and day of their suffering.
In the meane tyme, what was the cause that their ex∣ecution was so long deferred after their condemnation, I haue not precisely to say, vnlesse peraduenture the sermon of Alphonsus the Spanish Frier, and the kings Confessor did some good. For so I find, that when these sixe persons aforesaid, were cast vpon saterday the 9. of Febr. vpō son∣day following, which was the x. of February, the sayd Al∣phonsus a Gray Frier, preached before the king, in which sermon he did earnestly inuey against the bishops for bur∣ning of men,* 1.28 saying plainly that they learned it not in scri∣pture to burne any for his conscience: but the cōtrary, that they should lyue & be conuerted, with many other things more to the same purport. But touchyng the lingeryng of these mens death, as I haue not certainly to affirme, so I let it passe.
Upon the 14. of February, M. Rob. Ferrar B. of S. Dauids, was sent toward S. Dauids,* 1.29 there to be cōdem∣ned and executed. Touching whose martyrdome, for so much as it fell not before the month of March, we wil de∣ferre the history thereof till we come to the day and tyme of his suffering.
Furthermore, this foresaid 14. day of February,* 1.30 the L. Chauncellor & other his felow Bishops, caused the image of Thomas Becket, that olde Romish traitor, to be set vp ouer the Mercers Chappell dore in Chepeside in Londō, in the forme and shape of a bishop, with Miter and Cro••••∣er. Howbeit within two dayes after his erection, his two blessing fingers were first broken away, and on the nexte day (beyng the 17. of February) his head also was striken of: wherupon arose great trouble, and many were suspe∣cted: among whom one M. Ioh. Barnes Mercer, dwel∣lyng ouer agaynst the same Chappel, was vehemently by the Lord Chancellour charged withall, as the doer therof & the rather, for that he was a professour of truth. Where∣fore he and three of his seruauntes were committed to pry∣son: and at his deliuery (although it coulde not be prooued vpon him) he was bound in a great summe of money, as well to build it vp agayne as often as it should be broken downe, as also to watch and keepe the same. And therfore at this his compelled charges,* 1.31 the Image was agayne set vp the secōd day of March, then next ensuing, but (for lack belike of carefull watching) the 14. day of the same moneth in the night, the head of that daungerous beast (ouer whō there was suche a charge geuen) was agayne the seconde tyme broken of: which thing was so heynously taken, that the next day (being the 15. day) there was a Proclamation made in London, that who soeuer woulde tell who did strike of his head (though he were of counsayle, and not the principall doer) he shoulde haue not onely his pardon, but also one hundreth crownes of gold, with harty thāks. But it was not knowne who did it.
The 18. day of February, Queene Mary at length af∣ter long delaye,* 1.32 made full aunswere to the kinge of Den∣markes letters, who had written before two letters to the sayd Queene, in ye behalfe of M. Couerdale, for his deliue∣raunce, who at that time went vnder sureties, and was in great danger, had he not bene rescued by the great suite & letters of the sayd K. of Denmarke.
The matter and copy of which his sute and letters, as they came to our hands, we haue here set forth and exprest where by the singular loue of this good king towards the truth of Gods word and the professors thereof might the better appeare to the world.
First this vertuous and godly king Christianus, hea∣ryng of the captiuitie of Myles Couerdale,* 1.33 of whome hee had had some knowledge before (being there in Denmark in King Henry the eight his tyme) and lamentyng hys daungerous case, and partly thorough the intercession of M. Machabeus Superintendent in Denmarke, who was partly of * 1.34 kinne to Maister Couerdales wife, made intercession by letters to Queene Mary, desiring and re∣questyng the sayd Myles Couerdale to be sent vnto hym. The date of which hys first letters, was about the Ca∣lends of May. An. Dom. 1554. The copy whereof here followeth.
¶Christianus Dei gratia, Daniae, Noruegiae, &c. Rex. &c. eadem gratia Serenissimae ac potentissimae principi D. Mariae, An∣gliae, Galliae, & Hyberniae Reginae, consanguineae nostrae chariss. salutem.
SErenissima princeps, consanguinea charissima pro necessitu∣dine mutua ac coniunctione,* 2.1 non solum regij nominis inter nos, sed etiam sanguinis, maximè vero vtrinque inter haec regna nostra à vetustissimis vsque temporibus propagata ac seruata, nō modo commertiorum, sed omnium officiorum vicissitudine & fide, facere non potuimus quin pietatis & doctrinae excellentis commendatione, verè reuerendi viri Ioannis Machabaei, sacrae Theologiae doctoris & professoris praestantiss subditi ac Ministri nostri imprimis dilecti, supplicibus grauissimisque praecibus cō∣moti, ad serenitatem vestram has literas daremus. Exposuit is nobis, in hac recenti perturbatione ac motu regni Angliae (quem ex animo euenisse dolemus, & nunc indies in melius verti spera∣mus) quendam nomine Milonem Couerdalum, nuper dioecesis Exoniensis, piae laudatissimaeque memoriae proximi Regis Sere∣nitatis vestrae fratris, consanguinei itidem nostri chariss. autho∣ritate
constitutum Episcopum, nunc in tristiss. calamitates, car∣cerem, ac periculum vitae, nulla atrocioris delicti culpa, sed illa fatali temporum ruina incidisse. Quae quidem hic Machabaeus∣noster, quod ei affinitate (& quod grauius est) pietatis, eruditio nis ac morum similitudine, tanquam frater deuinctus sit, non mi∣nus ad se pertinere existimat. Itaque nostram opem implorat, vt quam ipse gratiam & fauorem apud nos meretur, hominis inno∣centis calamitati ac periculo (quod ipse non minus suum putat) accommodemus. Mouemur profecto non temere, illius viri (cui suo merito imprimis bene volumus) commiseratione, eiusque maximè testimonio de captiui Antistitis innocentia atque inte∣gritate▪ de qua quidem est vt eo melius speremus, quod multis iam morte mulctatis sontibus, de ipso integrum adhuc deus es∣se voluit. Proinde non dubitauimus serenitatem vestram quanta possimus diligentia atque animi propensione rogare, vt nostra causa captiui illius D. Milonis rationem clementer habere dig∣netur, eum{que} vt à sceleris: ita à poenae etiam atrocitate alienum esse voluit, & temporum offensam, qua ipsum quo{que} affligi verisi∣mile est, nobis nostrae{que} amicitiae regiae & precibus, praesertim hoc primo auditu, benigne condonare, saltem eatenus, vt si fortè hoc rerum statu grauis eius praesentia sit, incolumis ad nos cum suis dimittatur. Id nobis summi benificij loco, & Serenitati vestrae in∣florentiss. regni auspicijs (quae augusta, fausta, ac fortunata sere∣nitati vestrae ex animo optamus) ad clementiae laudem honorifi∣cum erit: & nos dabimus operam, vt cum amicitiae nostrae habi∣tam rationem intellexerimus, eo maiore studio in mutuam vi∣cem gratitudinis omniumque officiorum erga Serenitatem vestrā eiusque vniuersum regnum & subditos incumbamus. Deum op∣timum maximum precamur, vt Serenitati vestrae ad gloriam sui nominis & publicam salutem foelices omnium rerum successus & incolumitatem diuturnam largiatur. Datae ex arce nostra Col∣dingeum, septimo Calendas Maij. Anno. 1554.
Vester consanguineus, frater & amicus Christianus Rex.
To these letters of the king, Queene Mary aunswe∣ring againe,* 2.2 declared that the sayd Miles Couerdale was in no such captiuitie for any religion, but for certayn debt: so neither plainly graunting, nor expresly denying his re∣quest, but vsing a colorable excuse for shifting of the mat∣ter, as appeareth by his second letter sent to the Queene, dated the 24. day of Sept. as followeth.
¶Christianus Dei gratia Daniae, Norwegiae, Gottorum, & Van∣dalorum Rex: Sleswici, Holsatiae, Stormariae, ac Dithmersiae Dux: Comes in Oldenburgh & Delmenhorst, Serenis. prin∣cipi dominae Mariae, Angliae, Franciae, & Hyberniae Reginae, fidei defens. &c Sorori & consanguineae nostrae chariss. salu∣tem, & omnium rerum optatos & faustos successus.
REdditae sunt nobis literae Serenitatis vestrae, quibus benigne admodum ad deprecationem nostram, qua pro D. Milonis Couerdali ecclesiae Exon. nuper nomin ati Episcopi incolumita∣te vsi sumus, respondetur: ita vt intelligamus, licet alterius cau∣sae quam quae nobis innotuerat, periculum sustineat, tamen Se∣reniss. vestram nostrae intercessionis eam rationem habiturā esse, vt illā sibi profuisse ipse Couerdalussētiat. Cui quidē promissio∣ni regiae cum tantum meritum tribuamus, vt ea freti non dubita∣uerimus eius captiui propinquos (nobis inprimis charos) à moe∣rore ac sollicitudine ad spem atque expectationem certae ••alu is vocare, sacere nō potuimus, quin & gratias sereni. vestrae pro tā prōpta ac benigna volūtate, non modo huius beneficij, sed etiā perpetuae inter nos ac regna nostra conseruandae ac colende ami∣citiae ageremus, & quantum in nobis esset, quod ad applectanda persequendaque haec auspicata initia pertineret, nihil praetermit∣teremus. Neque vero nobis de clementia ac moderatione Sere. vestrae vnquam dubium fuit, quam deus opt. max. ad gloriam sui nominis & fructum pub. vtilitatis vt magis ac magis efflorescere velit, ex animo optamus. Proinde cum ob rationes aerarias, ne∣que aliud grauius delictum D. Couerd. teneri Sere. vestra scribat, est sanè, vt ipsius causa laetemur, eoque minus ambigamus, libe∣rationem incolumitatemque eius nostris precibus liberaliter do∣nati. Nam & accepimus ipsum episcopatu, cuius nomine aerario obstrictus fuerat, cessisse, vt inde satisfactio peteretur: maxime cum neque diu eo potitus fuisse, neque tantum emolumenti inde percepisse dicatur. Quinetiam si qua rationum perplexitas, aut alia forte causa reperiri posset, tamen sollicitudinem ac dubitati∣onem nobis Serenitatis vestrae tam amice, atque officiose deferē∣tes literae omnem exemerunt: vt existimemus Sere. vestrā, quo∣ad eius fieri posset, magis honorem nostrum, quam quid ab eo ex∣igi possit, consideraturam▪ Itaque Sere. vestram repetitis precibus vrgere non constituimus: sed potius testatum facere, quam acce∣pta nobis Sere. vest. gratificatio sit, cuius ralem euentum omni∣no speramus, vt ipse Couerd. coram vobis suae incolumitatis à Sere. vest. exoratae beneficium propediem repraesentare possit. Il∣lud vero imprimis Seren. vest. vicissim persuasum esse cupimus, nos non solum referendae gratiae, sed etiam stabilendae prouehē∣dae que inter nos ac regna vtrinque nostra amicitiae ac necessitu∣dinis mutuae occasionem aut facultatem nullam esse praetermis∣suros. Deus opt. max. Sere. vest. diu foeliciter ac beate incolumem esse velit.
Datae ex oppido nostro Ottoniensi, 24. Septembr. An∣no. 1554.
Vester frater & consan∣guineus Christianus.
The same in English.
¶Christierne by the grace of God King of Denmarke Norway, Gotland, and of the Vandales: Duke of Sleswike, Holston, Stormar, and Detmarsh: Earle of Oldenburgh, and Delmenhorst, &c. To the most noble princesse & Lady Mary Queene of England, Fraunce and Ireland, defender of the fayth, &c. Our most dearely beloued sister and cosin, wisheth prosperitie, with good and luckie successe of all thyngs.
WE haue receiued your Maiesties letters, whereby aūswere is rendred,* 3.1 & that very graciously vnto our petitiō, which we made for the safegard of maister Couer∣dall late called bish. of Exon. So that we perceiue, though he be in daūger for an other cause then was signified vnto vs afore, yet your maiestie will so regard our intercession that Couerdale him selfe shall vnderstand it to haue done him good. To the which regall promise, seyng we (as rea∣son is we should do) attribute so much, that trusting vnto ye same, we doubt not, where as he beyng in captiuitie, his frendes (whom we specially tender) are therfore in heaui∣nesse and care, your good promise doth call them from such sorow & solicitude, to the hope & expectation of his assured welfare: we could not do otherwise, but rēder thākes vnto your maiesty for such your ready & gracious good will, not onely in respect of this benefite, but also of the cōseruation & keping of perpetuall amitie betwene vs & our realmes, & so as much as in vs lyeth, to omit nothing that to the no¦rishing & cōtinuance of these fortunate beginnings might appertaine. Neither had we euer any doubt cōcerning the clemēcie & moderation of your goodnes, whom we hartily beseech almighty God, euer more and more prosper, vnto the glory of his name, & profite of the cōmon weale. Wher∣fore seyng your Maiestie writeth that maister Couerdale is in daūger for certaine accomptes of money, & not for a∣ny other more greeuous offence, we haue cause on his be∣halfe to reioyce: & therfore we doubt so much the lesse, that at our request he shall graciously haue his deliuerāce geuē him, and be out of daunger. For as touching the Bysho∣prike, by reason whereof he came in debt, we vnderstād he yelded it vp, that paymēt might thereof be required, speci∣ally seing he is reputed neither to haue enioyed it lōg, nei∣ther to haue had at any time so great cōmodity of it. More ouer, though it be possible to finde some perplexitie in the accōpt, or happily some other cause, yet your maiesties let∣ters offering such fauour and benignitie, haue taken from vs all carefulnesse and doubt: In so much that we thinke your maiestie (as much as may be) will haue more respect vnto our honour, then vnto that whiche might of hym be required. And therefore wee purpose not to trouble your Maiestie by repeting of our petition, but to declare howe greatly we esteeme it, that your maiestie would gratify vs herein: whereof we plainely hope for such an end, that Co∣uerdale him selfe shall shortly in our presence make decla∣ration concerning the benefite of his welfare obtayned of your maiestie. And of this wee desire your maiestie to be specially assured agayne, that wee will not onely omit no occasion or oportunitie to requite this benefite, but also to establish and amplifie our mutual loue & amitie betweene vs and our realms on either side. Almighty God preserue your maiestie in prosperous health and felicitie. Geuen at our Citie of Otton the 24. of Septemb. Ann. D. 1554.
To these letters it was a great while before the queene would aunswere. At length through great sute made, the next yeare, the 18. of February, she aunswered agayne in this wise.
This cap was a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cap sent M· Cou••••dale to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Taylor 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his wyfe▪
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〈◊〉〈◊〉 stripe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 falsely 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈…〉〈…〉 to be ••eare and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
The Popes packe ware: Iustification by workes. Corporall p••esence, Praying for soules, Auricular confession.
Against the corporall presence.
Chr••sts bo∣dy geuen in the Supper spiritually, vpon the cro••se cor∣porally.
Against the Masse. The Masse the Popes youngest da••ghter. D••scription of the popes ••ingdome.
〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
The meaning of Chrisost. rightly expounded con∣cerning Elias cloke.
Of this memo∣riall cloke read before in D. Ridleys dispu∣tations.
The place of Genesis. 49.
Christes natural body cannot be diuided.
Christes body was neuer in two places at once.
Heb. 2.
Auricular con∣fession.
Praying for the dead.
He meaneth by the place 1. Tim. 4. where S. Paule speaketh of the doctrine of Deuills. &c.
English people likened to the Galathians.
The Cake god.
The carefull zeale of Doctor Taylour for Hadley.
The proceedings of the Popes catholickes in maintayning their religion.
The maner of proceeding like in the Ca∣tholickes, & in the Turkes.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Prouerb.
February. 8.
6. Men conuen∣ted before B. Boner for here∣sie.
Ste. Gardiner geueth ouer his mu••thering of∣fice to B. Boner.
February. 9. Ex Regist. Bo∣neri Lond.
6. Men condē∣ned by B. Boner.
February Alphonsus K. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 confessor preaching agayn•••• 〈…〉〈…〉
February 14.
Tho. Bec••kets Imag•• set vp at Mercers chappell. February. 17.
M. Iohn Barnes troubled for Becke•• Image.
Beckets I∣mage. Beckets I∣mage a∣gayne bro∣ken down••
February. 18.
Q. Mary aunswereth to the K. of Denmarkes letters tou∣ching M. Couerdale.
M. Couer∣dale.
This M. Machabeu•• and M. Co∣uerdale ma∣ryed two sisters.
The epistle of the K▪ of Denmarke to Q. Mary for the de∣liuerance of of M. Co∣uerdale.
Q. Maryes slender an∣swere to the kinges first letter.
The same epi∣stle in Englishe.