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 recantation of Thomas Topley.

ALl Christen men beware of consentyng to Eras∣mus fables, for by consentyng to them, they haue caused me to shrinke in my fayth that I promised to God at my Christenyng by my witnesses. First, as touchyng these Fables, I read in Colloquium by the instruction of Syr Richard Foxe, of certaine Pil∣grimes, which (as the booke doth say) made a vowe to go to S. Iames, & as they wēt, one of them dyed & he desired his felowes to salute S. Iames in his name: and an other dyed homeward, and he desired that they would salute his wife and his childrē, and the thyrd dyed at Florence, & his felow sayd he sup∣posed that he was in heauen, and yet he sayd that he was a great lyer. Thus I mused of these opinions so greatly, that my mynde was almost withdrawne from deuotion to Saintes. Notwithstandyng I cō∣sēted that the diuine seruice of them was very good, and is though I haue not had such sweetnesse in it as I should haue had, because of such Fables, & also because of other foolish pastimes, as daūcing, tennes and such other, which I thinke haue bene great oc∣casions that the goodnes of God hath bene voyde in me, and vice in strength.

Moreouer, it fortuned thus about halfe a yeare a goe, that the sayd Syr Richard went forth and desi∣red me to serue his Cure for him, and as I was in his chāber, I found a certain booke called Wickleffes Wicket, whereby I felt in my cōscience a great wa∣ueryng for the tyme that I did read vpon it, and af∣terward also when I remembred it, it wounded my conscience very sore. Neuerthelesse I consented not to it, vntill I had heard him preach, and that was v∣pō S. Anthonies day: yet my mynde was still much troubled with the sayd booke (whiche did make the Sacrament of Christes body, in forme of bread, but a remēbraunce of Christes Passion) till I heard Syr Myles Couerdale preach, and then my mynde was sore withdrawne from that blessed Sacrament, in so much that I tooke it then but for the remembraunce of Christes body. Thus haue I wretchedly wrap∣ped my soule with sinne, for because I haue not bene stedfast in y^t holy order that God hath called me vn∣to by Baptisme, neither in y^e holy order that God & S. Augustine hath called me to by my Religion. &c.

Furthermore he sayd and confessed, that in the Lent last past, as hee was walkyng in the fielde at Bumstede with Syr Myles Couerdale late Frier of the same order, goyng in y^e habite of a secular Priest, which had preached the iiij. Sonday in Lent at Bū∣stede, they did cōmon together of Erasmus workes, and also vpon cōfession: the which Syr Myles sayd & did hold, that it was sufficient for a man to be con∣trite for his sinnes betwixt God and his conscience, without confession made to a Priest: which opinion this respondent thought to bee true and did affirme and hold the same at that tyme. Also he sayth that at the sayd Sermon made by the said Syr Myles Co∣uerdale at Bumstede, he heard him preache agaynst worshyppyng of Images in the Church, saying and preachyng that men in no wise should honour or worshyp thē: which likewise he thought to be true, because he had no learnyng to defend it.

Wil. Gar∣diner Au∣sten Frier of Clare.

With this Topley I may also ioyne William Gardiner one of the same or∣der and house of Clare, who likewise by ye motion of the said Rich. Foxe Cu∣rate of Bumstede, & by shewyng hym certayne Bookes to read was brought likewise to the lyke learnyng & iudge∣ment, and was for the same abiured by Cuthbert Bysh. the same yeare .1528.

Richard Iohnson of Bocstede and Alyce his wife. 1531.

This Richard and his wife were fauourers of Gods word, and had ben troubled for the same of lōg time. They came from Salisbury to Bocstede by reason of persecution, where they cōti∣nued a good space. At lēgth by resort of good men, they began to be suspected, & specially for a booke of Wickleffes Wic∣ket whiche was in their house, they were conuented before Stokesly By∣shop of London, and there abiured.

So great was the trouble of those times, that it would ouercharge any story to recite the names of all thē, whiche during those bitter dayes before the cōming in of Queene Anne, either were driuen out of the Realme, or were cast out frō their goodes and houses, or brought to open shame by abiuration. Such decrees and Iniunctions then were set forth by the Byshops, such lawes and proclamations were prouided, such watch and narrow searche was vsed, such wayes were taken by force of othe to make one detect an other so subtelly, that vnneth any good mā could or did escape their handes, but either his name was knowen, or els his person was takē. Yet neuerthelesse so mightely the power of Gods Gospell did worke in the hartes of good men, that the nūber of them did nothyng lessen for all this violence or policie of the aduersaries, but rather increased in such sort, as our story almost suffreth not to recite y^e par∣ticular names of all and singular such as then groned vn∣der the same Crosse of affliction and persecution of those dayes: as of which number were these.

• ...Arthur.
• ...Geffray Lome.
• Iohn Tibold, his mother, hys wife, his two sonnes, and his two daughters.
• Edmond Tibold, and his wife.
• Henry Butcher, and his wife.
• William Butcher, and his wife.
• George Preston, and his wife.
• Ioane Smith, widow.
• Robert Smith, her sonne.
• Richard Smith, her sonne.
• Margaret Smith, her daughter.
• Elizabeth Smith, her daughter.
• Rob. Hempstede, and his wife.
• Tho. Hempstede, and his wife.
• Iohn Hempstede, his sonne.
• ...Robert fayre.
• ...William Chatwals.
• Ioane Smith widow, otherwise called Agnes widow.
• Iohn her sonne.
• Thomas her sonne.
• Christopher her sonne:
• Alyce her daughter.
• Ioane her daughter.
• ...Iohn Wiggen.
• Nicholas Holdens wife.
• ...Alyce Shypwright.
• ...Henry Browne.
• ...Iohn Craneford.

¶All these were of the Towne of Bumstede, who being detected by Syr Richard Foxe their Curate, and partly by Tibold, were brought vp to the Byshop of London, and all put together in one house, to the number of xxxv. to be examined and abiured by the sayd Byshop.

Moreouer, in other townes about Suffolke and Es∣sex, other also were detected, as in the towne of Byrbroke, these following.

• Isabell Choote widow.
• Iohn Choote her sonne.
• William Choote her sonne.
• Christopher Choote her sonne.
• Robert Choote her sonne.
• Margeret Choote her daughter.
• Katherine her mayde.
• Thomas Choote, and his wife.
• Haruy, and his wife.
• Agnes his daughter.
• Thomas his sonne.
• Bateman, and his wife.
• Iohn Smith, and his wife.
• Thomas Butcher, and his wife.
• Robert Catlyn, a spone maker.
• Christmas, and his wife.
• William Bechwith, his wife, and his two sonnes.
• Iohn Pickas, and his wife.
• William Pickas, his brother.
• Girling, his wife, & his daugh∣ter.
• Mathewes wife.
• Iohnson, his wife, and his son.
• ...Thomas Hilles.
• ...Roger Tanner.

• Christopher Rauen, and his wife.
• Iohn Chapman, his seruant.
• Richard Chapman, his seruant, and brother to Iohn Chapman.

Who remaineth yet aliue, & hath bene of a long time a great harberour of many good men & women that were in trouble & distresse, & receiued thē to his house, as Tho. Bate, Simon Smith, the Priests wife, Roger Tan∣ner, with a nūber mo, which ye may see & reade in our first edition, pa. 419.

¶Touching this Richard Chapman, this by the way is to be noted, that as he was in his coate and shyrt enioy∣ned bare head, bare foote, and bare legge, to go before the procession, and to kneele vpon the cold steps in the Church all the Sermon time, a little ladde seeing him kneele vpon the cold stone with his bare knees, & hauing pitie on him, came to him, and hauing nothing else to geue him, brought him his cap to kneele vpon. For the which the boy imme∣diatly was taken into the Uestry, and there vnmercifully beaten for his mercy shewed to the poore penitent.

Besides these, diuers other were about London, Col∣chester, and other places also partakers of the same Crosse and affliction for the like cause of the Gospell, in whiche number commeth in these which hereafter follow.

• ...Peter Fenne, Priest.
• ...Iohn Turke.
• ...Robert Best.
• William Raylond of Colchester.
• Henry Raylond, his sonne.
• ...Marion Mathew, or Westden.
• ...Dorothe Long.
• ...Thomas Parker.
• ...Alyce Gardiner.
• ...Iohn Tomson. of Colchester.
• Ioh. Bradley, and his wife. of Colchester.
• Iohn Hubert of Estdoneland, and his wife.
• M. Forman, Bacheler of Diui∣tie, Parson of Hony lane.
• ...Robert Necton.
• ...Katherine Swane.
• Master Cowbrige, of Colche∣ster.
• ...Wydow Denby.
• Robert Hedill, of Colchester.
• William Butcher, whose fathers graundfather was burned for the same Religion.
• Abraham Water, of Colchester.
• ...Robert Wygge. of London.
• ...William Bull. of London.
• ...George Cooper. of London.
• Iohn Toy, of S. Fayth. of London.
• ...Richard Foster. of London.
• Sebastian Harrys, Curate of Kensington.
• ...Ex Regist. Lond.

¶All these in this table contei∣ned, were troubled and abiu∣red. an. 1527. and 1528.

• Ioh. Wyly the elder.
• Catherine Wyly, his wife.
• Io. Wyly, his sonne.
• Christian Wyly, his wife.
• W. Wyly, his sonne.
• Margaret Wyly, his wife.
• ...Lucy Wyly.
• Agnes Wyly, two yong gyrles.
• An. 1532.

These eight persons were accu∣sed, an. 1532. for eating potage and fleshmeate fiue yeares be∣fore, vpon S. Iames euen.

Also another time, vpon S. Peters euen, as Catherine Wy∣ly dyd lye in childbed, the other wiues, with the two gyrles, were found eating altogether of a brothe made with the fore part of a racke of Mutton.

Item, the foresayd Iohn Wy∣ly the elder, had a Primmer in English in his house, and other bookes.

Also, he had a yong daughter of tenne yeares olde, which coulde render by hart the most part of the 24. Chapter of S. Mathewe. Also, could rehearse with∣out booke, the dispu∣tation betweene the clarke and the Frier.

Item, the sayde Iohn Wyly had in hys house a treatise of William Thorpe, and Syr Iohn Old∣castle.

¶A note of Richard Bayfilde aboue mentioned.

MEntion was made before of Richard Bayfild Monke of Bury, pag 1024. who in these perillous dayes, a∣mongst other good Saincts of God, suffered death, as yee haue heard, but how and by whome he was detected, hath not bene shewed: which nowe in searching out of Regi∣sters, as we haue found, so we thought good heere to ad∣ioyne y^e same with the words & confession of the same Ed∣mund Peerson, which detected him in maner as foloweth.

*The accusation of Edmund Peerson agaynst Bayfilde.

THe xiij. day of September at iiij. of the clocke at after noone, the yeare of our Lord. 1527. Sir Richard Bay∣filde sayd that my Lord of Londons Commissary was a playne Pharisey, wherfore he would speake with him, and by his wholesome doctrine he trusted in God, hee shoulde make him a perfect Christen man and me also, for I was a Pharisey as yet, he sayd.

Also he sayde, that he cared not and if the Commissary and the Chauncellour heard him both, for the Chauncel∣lour he sayd, was also a Pharisey, and trusted to make him a Christen man.

Also he sayd, he was entreated by his frends, and in ma∣ner constrayned to abyde in the Citie agaynst hys will, to make the Chauncellour and many moe, perfect Christen men, for as yet many were Phariseis, and knewe not the perfect declaration of the Scripture.

Also he sayde, that M. Arthur and Bilney were and be more pure and more perfecter in their liuing to God, then was or is the Commissary, the Chauncellour, my Lord of London, or my Lord Cardinall.

Also he sayde, that if Arthur and Bilney suffer death in the quarels and opinions that they be in, or hold, they shal be Martyrs before God in heauen.

Also he sayd, after Arthur and Bilney were put cruelly to death, yet should there be hundreths of men, that should preach the same that they haue preached.

Also he sayd, that he would fauour Arthur and Bilney, he knew their liuing to be so good: for they did weare no shyrtes of linnen cloth, but shyrts of heare, and euer were fasting, prayeng, or doing some other good deedes: and as for one of them, whatsoeuer he haue of money in his purse, he will distribute it for the loue of God, to poore people.

Also he sayde, that no man should geue laud nor prayse in no maner of wise, to no creature, nor to no Saint in heauen, but only to God. Soli Deo honor & gloria, that is. To God alone be all honour and glory.

Also he sayd, ah good Sir Edmund, ye be farre from the knowledge and vnderstanding of the Scripture, for as yet ye be a Pharisey with many other of your company: but I trust in God I shall make you and many other mo, good and perfect Christen men ere I depart from the Ci∣tie, for I purpose to reade a common lecture euery day at S. Fosters Church, which lecture shall be to the edifyeng of your soules that be false Phariseys.

Also he sayde, that Bilney preached nothing at Wilse∣done, but that was true.

Also he sayd, that Bilney preached true at Wilsedone, if he sayd that our Ladyes crowne of Wilsedone, her rings & beades, that were offered to her, were bestowed amongest harlots, by the Ministers of Christes Churche: for that haue I seene my selfe, he sayd, heere in London, and that will I abide by.

Also he sayde, he did not feare to commen and argue in Arthur and Bilneys opinions and Articles, and if it were with my Lord Cardinall.

Also he sayd, that he would hold Arthur and Bilneys o∣pinions and Articles, and abyde by them that they were true opinions, to suffer death therfore: I know them (said he) for so noble and excellent men in learning.

Also he sayde, if he were before my Lord Cardinall, hee would not let to speake to him, and to tell hym that he hath done nought in prisoning of Arthur and Bilney, whyche were better disposed in their liuings to God, then my Lord Cardinall, or my Lord of London, as holy as they make themselues.

Also he sayd, my Lord Cardinall is no perfect nor good man to God, for he keepeth not the Commaundements of God: for Christ (he said) neuer taught him to folow riches, nor to seeke for promotions nor dignities of this worlde, nor Christ neuer taught him to weare shoes of siluer and gilt, set with pearle and precious stones, nor Christ had neuer ij. crosses of siluer, ij. axes, nor piller of siluer & gilt.

Also he sayde, that euery Priest might preach the Gos∣pell without licence of the Pope, my Lord Cardinall, my Lord of London, or any other man. And that would he a∣bide by, and thus he verified it as it is written. Marke. 16. Euntes in mundum vniuersum praedicate Euangelium omni cre∣aturae. Christ commaunded euery Priest to go foorth tho∣roughout all the worlde, and preache the word of God, by the authoritie of this Gospel, and not to runne to y^e Pope, nor to no other man for licence, and that would hee abyde by, he sayd.

Also he sayd: Wel Sir Edmund, say you what you will, and euery man, & my Lord Cardinall also, and yet will I say and abide by it, my Lord Cardinall doth punishe Ar∣thur & Bilney vniustly, for there be no truer Christen men in all the world liuing, then they two be, and that punish∣ment that my Lord Cardinall doth to them, he doth it by might and power, as who say, this maye I do, and thys will I do, who shall say nay, but he doth it of no iustice.

Also, about the xiiij. day of October last past, at iij. of the clocke at after noone, Syr Richarde Bayfilde came to S. Edmunds in Lumbardstreete, where he founde me Syr Edmund Peerson, Sir Iames Smith, and Syr Myles Garnet, standing at the vttermost gate of the personage, & Syr Edmund sayd to Syr Richard Bayfilde: how many Christen men haue yee made since yee came to the Citie? Quoth Sir Richard Bayfilde, I came euen now to make thee a Christen man, and these two other Gentlemen with thee, for well I know ye be all three Phariseis, as yet.

Also he sayd to Syr Edmund, that Arthur and Bilney were better Christen men then he was, or any of them that did punish Arthur and Bilney.

Per me Edmundum Peerson.

And thus we haue, as in a grosse summe, cōpiled toge∣ther the names and causes, though not of al, yet of a great, and to great a number of good men & good women, whych in those sorowful daies (from the yere of our Lord 1527. to this present yere 1533. that is, til the comming in of Queene Anne) were manifold wayes vexed and persecuted vnder the tiranny of the Bishop of Rome. Where again we haue to note, that frō this present yeare of our Lord 1533. during the time of the sayd Quene Anne, we read of no great per∣secution, nor any abiuration to haue bene in the Church of Englande, saue onely that the Registers of London make mention of certaine Dutchmen, counted for Anabaptists, of whom 10. were put to death in sondry places of the real∣me. an 1535. other 10. repented and were saued. Where note again that 2. also of the said company, albeit the diffinitiue sentence was read, yet notwithstāding were pardoned by the king, which was contrary to the Popes law.

Now to proceede forth in our matter, after that the By∣shops and heads of the clergy had thus a long time taken their pleasure, exercising their cruell authoritie against the poore wasted flocke of the Lord, and began furthermore to stretch foorth their rigour and austeritie, to attach & molest also other greater persons of the temporaltie: so it fell, that in y^e beginning of the next or 2. yere following, which was an. 1534. a parlament was called by the king, about the 15. day of Ian. In the which parlament, the commons renu∣ing their old griefes, complained of the cruelty of the Pre∣lates & Ordinaries, for calling men before them Ex Officio. For suche was then the vsage of the Ordinaries and theyr Officials, that they would send for men, & lay accusations to them of heresie, onely declaring to them, that they were accused, and would minister Articles to them, but no accu∣ser should be brought forth: wherby the cōmons was gre∣uously anoyed & oppressed, for the party so acited, must ey∣ther abiure, or do worse, for purgatiō he might none make.

As these matters were long debating in the Common house, as last it was agreed, that the temporall men should put their griefs in wryting, and deliuer them to the King. Whereuppon the 18. day of Marche, the common speaker accompanied wyth certaine Knights and Burgeses of the common house, came to the Kyngs presence, and there de∣clared, how the temporal men of his Realme were sore a∣greeued with the cruell demainour of the Prelates & Or∣dinaries, which touched theyr bodies and goodes so neare, that they of necessitie were inforced to make their humble sute by their speaker vnto hys grace, to take such order and redresse in the case, as to his high wisedome myghte seeme most conuenient. &c.

Unto this request of the commons, although the King at that time gaue no present graunt, but suspended them with a delay, yet notwythstanding this sufficiently decla∣red the grudging mindes of the temporal men, against the spiritualtie, lacking nothing but Gods helping hande to woorke in the kings heart for reformation of suche things, whych all they did see to be out of frame. Neyther did the Lordes diuine prouidence faile in time of neede, but eft∣sones ministred a ready remedy in time expedient. He saw the pride and cruelty of the spirituall clergy grown to such an height, as was intollerable. He sawe againe and heard the groning hearts, the bitter afflictions of hys oppressed flocke, his truth decaied, his religion prophaned, the glorie of his sonne defaced, his church lamentably wasted: wher∣fore it was high time for his high Maiestie to looke vppon the matter (as he did in deede) by a straunge & wonderous meanes, whych was through the kings diuorsement from Lady Katherine Dowager, and marying with lady Anne Bullen, in this present yeare: which was the first occasion and beginning of all this publike reformation, which hath followed since in this Churche of England to thys present day, according as ye shall heare.

Notes

• The 〈…〉〈…〉 Tho. Topley, Fryer.
• Colloquia Erasmi.
• Ex Regist. Lond.
• Wickliffes Wicket.
• Myles Co∣uerdale.
• M. Couer∣dale.
• Perilous dayes.
• Persons of B••sted abiu∣red.
• Men & wo∣men of Es∣sex & Suf∣folke trou¦bled for the Gospell.
• Iohn Chap∣man.
• Rich. Chap¦man.
• Cruelty shewed for mercy.
• This Parker was abiured 24. yeares before this.
• Persōs abiured.
• Anno. 1532.
• All these in this table were trou∣bled & ab∣iured, an. 1527. 1528.
• The accusation of Edmund P••••rson, agaynst R••••h. Bayfilde.
• Commendation of Bilney and Arthur.
• Tim. 1.
• The Godly cou∣rage of Rich Bayfilde.
• The peoples offringes bestowed bestowed vppon harlots.
• The Cardi∣nals shooes.
• Ten Dutch∣men Anna∣baptists put to death. Segor, Derycke, Symon, Runa, Derycke, Dominicke, Dauid, Cornelius, Ell••en, Milo,
• Anno. 1533.
• Complaynt of the Cō∣mons against the Clergy. Ex Edw. Hallo. A Parlia∣ment. an. 1534.
• Crueltye of the Clergye against the temporaltie.
• Gods hel∣ping hand in time of neede▪