Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

¶The handling, entreating, and examination of George Marsh, being sent first by the Earle of Derby to Doctor Cotes Byshop of Chester.

ON the monday before Palme Sonday, which was the xij. day of March,* 1.1 it was told me at my mothers house that Rog. Wrinstone, with other of M. Bartōs seruants did make diligent search for me in Bolton, and when they perceiued that I was not there, they gaue strait charge to Roger Ward and Rob. Marsh, to finde & bring me to M. Barton the day next folowing, with others, to be brought before the honourable Earle of Darby, to be examined in matters of Religion. &c.

I knowing by this relatiō of diuers of my frends, was diuersly affected, my mother, and other my frendes aduer∣tising me to flee and to auoid the perill, which thing I had intended afore after a weeke then nexte ensuing, if thys in the meane while had not chaunced, seeing, that if I were takē, and would not recant in matters of religion (as they thought I would not, and as God strengthening and assi∣sting me with his holy spirit I neuer wyll) it woulde not onely haue put thē to great sorow, heauines, & losses, with costes and charges, to theyr shame & rebuke in this world, but also mine owne selfe after troubles and paynfull pri∣sonment, vnto shamefull death.

This considered,* 1.2 they aduised me & coūselled me to de∣part & flie y^e coūtry, as I had entended to haue done, if this had not happened. To whose coūsel my weak flesh would gladly haue cōsented, but my spirit did not fully agree: thin¦king and saying thus to my selfe, that if I fled so away, it would be thought, reported, and sayd, that I did not onely flie the countrey and my nearest and dearest frendes: but much rather from Christes holy worde, according as these yeares past I had with my hart, or at least with mine ou••∣ward liuing professed, and with my mouth & word taught, according to the small talent geuen me of the Lord. I be∣ing thus with theyr aduise & coūsell, and the cogitations & counselles of mine owne minde drawne, as it were diuers wayes, went trom my mothers house, saying, I woulde come agayne at euening.

In the meane time I ceased not by earnest prayer to aske and seeke counsell of God (who is the geuer of al good gyftes) and of other my frendes, whose godly iudgemētes and knowledge I much trusted vnto. After this, I mette with one of my sayd frends on Deane Moore, about sunne goyng downe: and after we had consulted together of my busines, not without harty prayer kneeling on our knees, we departed, I not fully determinyng what to doe, but taking my leaue with my frende sayde I doubted not but God (according as our prayer and trust was) would geue me such wisedome and counsell, as should be most to hys honor and glory, the profite of my neighbors and brethren in the worlde, and ob••eining of mine eternall saluation by Christ in heauen.

This done, I returned to my mothers house agayne, where had bene diuers of M. Bartons seruantes seekyng after me: who when they could not finde me,* 1.3 straitly char∣ged my brother and William Marsh to seek me that night, and to bring me to Smethehilles the next day: who beyng

so charged were gone to seeke me in Adderton, or elswhere I know not. Thus intending afore to haue bene all night with my mother, but thē cōsidering that my tarying there would disquiet her with her householde, I departed from thence,* 1.4 and went beyond Deane Church, and there taried all night with an old frend of mine, taking ill rest, and con∣sulting much with my selfe of my trouble.

So at my first awaking, one came to me from a fayth∣full frend of mine with letters, which I neuer read, nor yet looked on, who sayd this: My frendes aduise was that I should in no wise flie, but abide & boldly confesse the fayth of Iesus Christ. At whose wordes I was so confirmed & established in my conscience, that from thenceforth I con∣sulted no more, whether was better to flie or to tarye, but was at a poynt with my selfe, that I woulde not flye, but go to maister Barton, who did seeke for me, and there pre∣sent my selfe, and paciently beare suche crosse, as it shoulde please God to lay vpon my shoulders. Wherupō my mind and conscience afore being much vnquieted and troubled, was now mery and in quiet estate.

So betimes in the morning I arose, and after I had sayd the English Letany (as my custome was) with other prayers kneeling on my knees by my frendes beddeside, I prepared my selfe to goe towarde Smethehilles: and as I was going thitherward, I went into the houses of Har∣ry Widdowes,* 1.5 of my mother in law, of Rafe Yeton, and of the wife of Thomas Richardsonne, desiring them to pray for me, and haue me commended to all my frendes, and to comfort my mother, and be good to my litle children, for (as I supposed) they should not see my face any more, before y^e last day: & so tooke my leaue of thē not without teares shed on both parties,* 1.6 and came to Smethehilles about 9. of the clocke, & presented my selfe afore M. Barton: who shewed me a letter from the Earle of Darby, wherin he was com∣maunded to send me with others to Lathum.

Wherupon he charged my brother and William Marsh, to bring and deliuer me the next day, by x. of the clocke be∣fore the sayd Earle or his Counsell. I made earnest sute with other speciall frendes, which I had there at the same time, to M. Barton, that he woulde take some one of them or them all bound by recognisaunce or otherwise for mine appearing before the sayd Earle or his sayd Counsell, that my brother & William Marsh might be at home, because it was the chiefest time of seding, & their ploughes could not go if they wer not at home: but nothing could be obteined.

* 1.7So we went to my mothers, and there I dyned & shif∣ted part of my clothes, and so praying, took my leaue of my mother, the wife of Richard Marsh, and both theyr house∣holdes, they and I both weping, & so departed from them, and went toward Lathum, and were al night a mile and a halfe on this side Lathum. So the next daye whiche was Wednesday, we arose, prayd, & came to Lathum betimes, and taryed there till foure of the clocke at afternoone.

Thē was I called by Roger Mckinson, to come to my Lord and his counsell, & so I was brought into the cham∣ber of presence, where was present Syr William Nores, Syr Pierce Alee,* 1.8 Mayster Shereburne the Parson of Grapenhall, mayster More, with others. Where when I had taryed a litle while, my Lord turned him toward me, and asked what was my name. I aunswered Marsh.

Then he asked whether I was one of those that sowed euill seed and dissention amongest the people. Which thing I denied, desiring to know mine accusers, and what could be layd agaynst me:* 1.9 but that I could not know.

Then sayd he, he would with his counsell examine me themselues, & asked me whether I was a priest. I sayd no. Then he asked me, what had bene my liuing? I aunswe∣red, I was a Minister, serued a Cure, and taught a schole. Then sayd my Lord to his Counsell, this is a wonderfull thing. Afore he sayd he was no Priest, and now he confes∣seth himselfe to be one. I aunswered, by the lawes now v∣sed in this Realme (as farre as I do know) I am none.

Then they asked me who gaue me orders, or whether I had taken any at all? I aunswered, I receiued orders of the Bishops of London and Lincolne.

Then sayd they one to an other, those be of these new heretickes, and asked me what acquayntaunce I had with them? I aunswered, I neuer sawe them, but at the tyme when I receiued orders.

They asked me how long I had bene Curate, & whe∣ther I had ministred with a good conscience? I aunswered I had bene Curate but one yere, and had ministred with a good conscience, I thanked God, and if the Lawes of the Realme, would haue suffered me, I would haue ministred still:* 1.10 & if the lawes at any time hereafter woulde suffer me to minister after that sort, I would minister agayne.

Whereat they murmured: and the person of Grapnall sayd: this last Communion was the most deuilishe thing that euer was deuised. Then they asked me what my be∣liefe was.

I answered, I beleued in God the Father, the Sonne & the holy Ghost, according as the Scriptures of the olde and new testament do teach and according as the 4. Sym∣boles, or Creedes, that is to wit, the Creed commonly cal∣led Apostolorum, the Creed of Nice Councell, of Athanasius and of Austen, and Ambrose do teach.

And after a few wordes, the parson of Grapnall sayd: but what is thy beliefe in the Sacrament of the aultar?

I aunswered, I beleued that whosoeuer, according to Christes institution,* 1.11 dyd receyue the holye Sacrament of Christes body and bloud, did eate and drinke Christes bo∣dy and bloud with all the benefites of his death and resur∣rection to their eternall saluation? for Christ (sayd I) is e∣uer present with his sacrament.

Then asked they me, whether the bread and wyne, by the vertue of the wordes pronounced of the Priest, were chaunged into the flesh and bloud of Christ, and that the sa∣crament, whether it were receiued or reserued, was the ve¦ry body of Christ?

Wherunto I made aunswere,* 1.12 I knew no further then I had shewed already. For my knowledge is vnperfecte (sayd I:) desiring thē not to aske me, such hard & vnprofi∣table questions, whereby to bring my body into daūger of death, & to sucke my bloud. Whereat they were not a little offended, saying they were no bloud succours, and intēded nothing to me but to make me a good Christian man.

So after many other questions, whiche I auoyded as well as I could, remembring the saying of Paule: Foolishe and vnlearned questions auoide, knowing they do but ingender strife: my Lord commaunded me to come to the boord, and gaue me pen and incke in my hand and commaunded me to write mine aunsweres to the questions of the Sacra∣ment aboue named: & I wrote as I had answered before.* 1.13 Wherat he being much offended, cōmaunded me to write a more direct answere, saying, I should not chuse but do it.

Then I tooke the pen and wrote, that further I knew not. Whereat hee being sore greeued, after many threat∣nings, sayd I should be put to shamefull death like a trai∣tor, with such other like words, and sometimes geuing me ••ayre wordes, if I would turne and be conformable as o∣ther were, how glad he would be.

In conclusion, after much adoe, he commaunded me to Ward in a cold windy stone house,* 1.14 where was little roome where I lay two nightes without any bed, sauing a fewe great canuasse tentclothes, and that done, I had a payre of sheetes, but no wollen clothes, & so cōtinued till Palm-sonday, occupying my selfe aswel as I could in meditatiō, prayer, & study, for no man could be suffered to come to me but my keeper twise a day when he brought me meat and drinke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The exam••••nation of George Marsh, written with his owne han•• M. Ba••ton Gentlemā and perse••cutour. George Marsh ad••uertised b•• his frend•••• to flye.
• * 1.2

  G. Mars•• in a pe••∣plexitye whether flye or to tarry.
• * 1.3

  G. Marsh consulted with 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••ethren ••••arged to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him. ••he marue∣•••••••• proui∣••ence of 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.5

  G. Marsh 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his leaue of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  G. Marsh of his owne voluntary minde offe∣reth himself to his ene∣mies.
• * 1.7

  G. Marsh taketh his leaue of his mother
• * 1.8

  G. Marsh brought before the Earle of Darby.
• * 1.9

  G. Marsh examined before the Earle of Darby.
• * 1.10

  This blas∣phemous mouth of the pa••son of Grapnal.
• * 1.11

  G. Marshes be∣liefe in the Sa∣crament.
• * 1.12

  G. Marsh loth to aunswere to the question of transubstantia∣tion.
• * 1.13

  G. Marsh com∣maunded by the Earle of Darby to write his an∣sweres.
• * 1.14

  The Earle of Darby cōmaun∣deth G. Marsh into prison.