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 manner of their condemnations, and howe they dyed.

* 1.1WHen the time drewe nie that the kings maiestie (who was newly maried to that good and vertuous Ladie Katherine Parre) should make his progresse abroade,* 1.2 the foresayde Steuen Gardiner B. of Winchester had so com∣passed hys matters, that no man bare so great a swinge a∣bout the king, as he did. Wherewith the Gospellers were so quailed, that the best of them all looked euery houre to be clapt in the necke. For the saying went abroad, that the B. had bent his bowe to shoote at some of the head Deare: but in the meane time 3. or 4. of the poore rascals were caught, that is to saye, Anthony Person, Henry Filmer, and Iohn Marbecke, and sent to Wyndsore by the sheriffes men,* 1.3 the Saterday before S. Iames day, and laid fast in the towns Gaile: and Testwood (who had kept his bed) brought out of his house vpō crouches, and laide with them. But as for Bennet, (whych should haue bene the fift man) hys chance was to be sicke of the Pestilence, and hauing a greate sore vpon him, was left behinde in the bish. of Londons gaile, whereby he escaped the fire.

Now these men being brought to Wyndsore, there was a sessions speciall procured to be holdē the Thursday after, which was S. Annes day. Against the which Sessions (by the counsell of D. London and Symons) were all the far∣mers belonging to the Colledge of Wyndesore, warned to appeare: because they coulde not pike oute Papistes e∣nough in the towne, to go vpon the iury. The iudges that day were these.

• ...Doctor Capon Bishop of Salisburie.
• ...Syr William Essex Knight,
• ...Syr Thomas Bridges Knight.* 1.4
• ...Syr Humfrey Foster Knight.
• ...Maister Franklen Deane of Wyndsore.
• ...And Fachel of Reading.

When these had taken theyr places, and the prisonners brought forth before them, then Robert Ockam occupying for that day the Clarke of peace his ••oume, called Anthony Person, according to the maner of the Courte,* 1.5 and red hys Inditement, which was this.

First, that he should preach two yeares before, in a place called Wyngfield, and there should say:* 1.6 that like as Christe was hanged betwene two theeues, euen so whē the priest is at masse, and hath cōsecrated and lifted him vp ouer hys head, then he hangeth betweene 2. theues, except he preach the word of God truely, as he hath taken vpon hym to do.

Also that he sayde to the people in the Pulpet: yee shall not eate the body of Christ, as it did hang vpon the Crosse, gnawing it with your teeth, that the bloude runne aboute your lippes, but you shall eate him thys day, as ye eat him to morow, the next day, and euery day: for it refresheth not the body, but the soule.

Also, after he had preached and commended the Scrip∣ture, calling it the word of God, he sayd as foloweth: This is the word, this is the bread, this is the body of Christ.

Also hee sayde, that Christ sittinge with hys Disciples, tooke bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gaue it to his dis∣ciples, saying: Take and eate it. This is my body. What is thys to vs, but to take the Scripture of God, and to breake it to the people.

To this, Anthony answered & sayde: I wil be tryed by God and his holy word, and by the true Church of Christ, whether thys be heresie or no, wherof ye haue Indited me this day. So long as I preached the Bishop of Rome and his filthy traditions, I was neuer troubled:* 1.7 but since I haue taken vppon me to preach Christ and his Gospel, yee haue alwaies sought my life. But it maketh no matter, for when you haue taken your pleasure of my body, I trust it shal not lye in your powers to hurt my soule. Thou callest vs theeues, quoth the Byshop. I say, quoth Anthony, yee are not only theeues but murtherers, except ye preach and teach the worde of God purely and sincerely to the people, whych ye do not nor neuer did, but haue allured them to al Idolatry, superstition and hypocrisie, for your owne lucre & glory sake,* 1.8 through the which ye are become rather bite∣sheepes then true byshops, biting and deuouring the poore sheepe of Christ like rauening wolues neuer satisfied with bloud: which God wil require at your hāds one day, dout it not. Then spake Symons his accuser, standing wythin the barre, saying:* 1.9 It is pitie this fellow had not bene burnt long agoe as he deserued. In faith (quoth Anthonie) if you had as you haue deserued, you were more worthy to stand in this place then I: but I trust in the last daye when wee shall both appeare before the tribunall seate of Christ, that then it wilbe known which of vs 2. hath best deserued this place. Shal I haue so long a day, quoth Symons,* 1.10 holding vp hys finger? Nay, then I care not: and so the matter was iested out.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ann. 1544.
• * 1.2

  The king mary∣ed to the Lady Katherin Parre. Stephen Gardi∣ner great about the king. Stephen Gardi∣ners bow bent to shoote at the head Deare.
• * 1.3

  Parson Filmer and M••••∣becke, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.4

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.5

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.6

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.7

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.8

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.9

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.10

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉