* 1.1FOr asmuch as not onely when I was at Latham, but also since I departed thence, I heare that there be diuers and sondry re∣portes, and opinions of the cause of mine imprisonment, as wel at Latham as at Lācaster (as by credible persons I am informed) some saying it was onely because I would not do open penance, and some because I could not agree with my Lord and his coun∣cell concerning the sacrament of Christes body and bloud, and the maner of Christes presence there: some because I woulde not graunt it sufficient and according to Christes institution the lay people to receaue the sayd sacrament vnder the one kinde onely I thought it good, dearely beloued in Christe, and my bounden duetie, to certifie you by mine owne hand writing, of mine exa∣mination and handling at Latham, and to tell you the trueth as neare as I could, to quyet your minde in this behalfe, and ther∣fore I haue here written with myne owne hand the certaynty of those thinges as neare as I could, here aboue expressed, not o∣mitting any thing at al concerning Religion, wherof they did ex∣amine me: howbeit I perceiue in some thinges, I keepe not the same order in writing that thing which was asked by them, and answered by me afore or after, as it was in very deed in al points sauing this, telling the truth as neare as I can, desiring you to ac∣cept in good worth this my good will, and to pray for me and all them that be in bondes, that God would assist vs with hys holy spirite, that wee may with boldnes confesse his holye name: and that Christ may be magnified in our bodyes, that wee may stand full and perfect in all the will of God: to whome be all honor and glory world without end. Amen.
And thus you haue heard all the whole trouble which George Marsh susteyned both at Lathum, & also at Lan∣caster, testified and written with hys owne hand wherto he addeth moreouer and sayth.
While I was (sayth he) in Ward at Lathum, diuers at sundry times came vnto me. Some sayd vnto me that all my fellowes had recanted and were gone home, where as in deede that was not so, for I saw diuers of them dyuers times after. Other sayd that it was reported amongest my Lordes houshold, that I had consented and agreed in all things with my Lord and his counsell.
Furthermore, while I was at Lancaster, at this Sessiō time many came to me to talke with me, some of good will towardes me, but without knowledge gaue mee such like counsel as Peter gaue Christ as he went vp to Ierusalem when he tooke hym aside and began to rebuke him:* 1.2 saying maister fauour thy selfe: this thing shall not be vnto thee. But I answered with Christes sharpe answere vnto Pe∣ter agayne: who turned about, and sayd vnto Peter, come after me Sathan, and perceiuing that they were an hinde∣raunce vnto mee, and that they fauoured not the thinges which are of God, but the thinges that are of men, I made them playne answere, that I neither could ne would fol∣low their counsell, but that by Gods grace I woulde both liue and dye with a pure conscience and according as he∣therto I had beleeued and professed. For wee ought in no wise to flatter and beare with them,* 1.3 though they loue vs neuer so well, which go about to pluck vs away from the obedience that wee owe vnto God and to hys worde, but after Christes example sharpely to rebuke them for theyr counsell.
Some others, yea euen straungers also, came to mee far vnlike to these, who after sober communication hadde, consented with mee in all thinges, lamenting muche my troublous estate, geuing me comfortable wordes, & some money to, and resorted to me often tymes, for the space of two three or foure, dayes. There came also many Priestes to me by 2.3.4.5. or 6. at once,* 1.4 whose mouthes it was a thing easy enough to stopp, for the Priests (which is much to be lamēted) be not alwayes greatest clarkes & best lear∣ned in ye lawe of God. At theyr departing they eyther con∣sented wt me, or els had nothing to say agaynst me, saying they could finde no fault with my wordes. My communi∣cation with them was about the Sacrament. There came also into ye prison to me mayster Westby, Mayster Ashton of Hyll, M. Ashton of Chatertō, & many moe both gentle∣men and others to my great comfort. Unto whom I had good occasion to vtter a great parte of my conscience: for God so strengthen me with his spirite of boldnes, accor∣ding to my humble request and prayer before (euerlastyng thankes be geuen him therfore) that I was nothing afraid to speake to any that came to me, no not euen to Iudges,* 1.5 themselues, before whome I was thrise arraygned at the barre amongest the theeues wyth yrons on my feete, and put vp my hād as other did, but yet with boldnes I spake vnto them so long as they would suffer me.
They also sent for me the fourth tyme into their cham∣ber, where amongest other thinges they layd it straitly to my charge, yt I had reported that I knewe an whole messe of good gentlemen in Lancashyre of myne opinion, and straightly charged me vppon payne of allegiaunce to the Queenes grace, to shew who they were. But I denyed that I had spoken any suche thinge (as it was in deede a false forged lye of some wicked wretches.) After that, they threatned and rebuked me, for my preaching to the people out of the prison, as they called it, and for my praying and reading so loud, that the people in the streets might heare.* 1.6 The truth is, I and my prison fellow Warbarton, euerye day kneeling on our knees did read morning and euening