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.

*An other appearaunce of M. Bland in the Spirituall Court.

THen came we to the Castle of Caunterbury, & there we remayned, till the second day of march, at which day we were brought into the Chapterhouse of Crechurch where were set the Suffragane of Canterbury,* 1.1 mayster Collins, mayster Mylles, with other: and then went to them may∣ster Oxenden, mayster Petit, and mayster Webbe, maister Hardes Iustices. And whē I was called, mayster Webbe sayd: Here we present this man vnto you, as one vehe∣mently suspect of heresy.

Bland.

And I sayde: Mayster Webbe, ye haue no cause to suspect me of heresye. I haue bene a prisoner this whole yere, and no matter proued agaynst me. I pray you wher∣fore I bene so long kept in prison?

Webbe.

Leaue your arrogant asking of questions, & aun∣swere to that that is layd to your charge.

Bland.

I do so: for I say you haue no cause to suspect me of heresy.* 1.2

Webbe.

Yes: ye denyed to Sir Iohn Baker, to be confor∣mable to the Queenes proceedinges.

Bland.

Is it a iust cause to suspect me of heresy, for asking a question with leaue? So we had moe wordes there then I well remember.

Then stood vp mayster Petit, and sayd: Ye were cast in to prison, because ye fled away from your Ordinary.

Bland.

Then haue I had wrong. For I neuer fled, nor dis∣obeyed mine Ordinary, nor did any thing contrary to the law. Let thē now say of I did: but they sayd nothing. And when I saw they held theyr peace, I sayd M. Commissary haue you bene y^e cause of this mine imprisōmēt? No, quoth he: ye know that when ye went from me, ye were appoin∣ted to appeare the friday after the Sessions. Here I was suffered to speake no more, but shut vp in a corner tyll my companions were likewise presented, and then wee were sent to Westgate into Prison, and were put in seueral close holdes, that neuer one of vs could speake to an other, nor no mā was permitted to come to vs. We were foure times at this appearaunce.* 1.3 But one they dispatched, by what meanes I can not tell: whose name was Cornewall a Tanner.

And thus hytherto passed the talke betweene Blande and the Iustices, and certayne Gentlemen of the shyre. Now foloweth the order of the reasoning betwene hym & the Clergy men before whome he was exmained. But for as much as the chiefest doer and Iudge against him was the B. of Douer or Suffragan of Caunterbury called D. Richard Thornton, to the intent it may appere what litle trueth or constancye is in these catholicke persecuters, I thought here to exhibite by the way a certayne popish let∣ter, written of a papist vnto him. Wherin is declared what a gospeller the sayd Rich. Thornton was in K. Ed. time, which now turning with the world sheweth himselfe such a bitter persecuter agaynst Gods seruants in Q. Maryes tyme. The copy of this letter here foloweth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  M. Bland brought agayne to the castle of Canterbury. Th•• B. of Douer M. Collins, M. Milles, with o∣thers.
• * 1.2

  The aunsweres of M. Bland first to the Iusti∣ces.
• * 1.3

  Cornewall a Tanner dispat∣ched in secret prison.