Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] 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 second examination of Iohn Philpot before the Queenes Commissioners, M. Cholmley, Roper, D. Story, D. Cooke, and the Scribe, the 24▪ day of Octo. 1555. at Newgate Sessions Hall.

* 1.1AT my comming, a man of Algate of myne acquaintāce said vnto me, God haue mercy on you, for you are al∣redy condemned in this world: for D. Story said, that my L. Chancellor hath commaunded to do you away. After a little consultation had betwene them, M. Cholmley called me vnto him, saying.

Cholm.

M. Philpot, shew your selfe a wise man, & be not stubburne in your owne opinion, but bee conformable to the Queenes proceedyngs, and lyue, and you shall be wel assured of great fauour and reputation.

Phil.

I shall do as it becommeth a Christian man to do.

Story.

This man is the rankest heretike that hath bene in all my L. Chancellors Dioces, and hath done more hurt then any man els there: therfore hys pleasure is, that hee should haue the law to proceede against him, and I haue spoken with my L. herein, and he willeth him to be com∣mitted to the B. of London, & there to recant, or els burne. He houled and wept in the Conuocation house, and made such adoe as neuer man did, as all the heretikes doe when they lacke learnyng to aunswer. He shall go after hys fel∣lowes. How sayst thou, wilt thou recant?

Phil.

I know nothyng I haue done, y^t I ought to recant.

Story.

Well, then I pray you let vs commit him to y^e Lol∣lards Tower, there to remaine vntil he be further exami∣ned before the B. of London, for he is to fine fedde in the kings Bench, and he hath too much fauour there. For hys keper said at the doore yesterday, that he was the finest fel∣low, and one of the best lerned in England: and with this he rose vp and went his way.

Cooke.

This man hath most stoutely mainteined heresies since the Queenes comming in, as any that I haue heard of: therfore it is most meete he should be adiudged by the B. of London, for the heresies he hath mainteyned.

Phil.

I haue mainteined no heresies.

Cooke.

No haue? Did ye not openly speake against the sa∣crament of the aultar in the Conuocation house? Call you that no heresie? Wilt thou recant that, or not?

Phil.

It was the Quenes Maiesties pleasure y^t we should reason thereof, not by my seeking, but by other mens pro∣curing, in the hearyng of the Counsaile.

Cooke.

Did the Queene geue you leaue to be an heretike? You may be sure her grace wyl not so do. Wel, we wil not dispute the matter with you, my L. of London shall pro∣ceed by inquisition vpon thee, and if thou wilt not recant, thou shalt be burned.

Phil.

My L. of London is not myne Ordinary in this be∣halfe, and I haue already answered vnto myne Ordinary in this matter: and therefore (as I haue sayd before) you shall do me great wrong, to vexe me twise for one matter, since I haue sustained this long imprisonment, besides the losse of my liuyng.

Roper.

You were a very vnmeet man to be an Archdeacō.

Phil.

I know I was as meet a mā as he that hath it now.

Cooke.

A meete man quoth he? He troubled M. Roper and the whole countrey.

Phil.

There was neuer poore Archdeacon so handled at your handes as I am, and that without any iust cause ye be able to lay vnto me.

Cooke.

Thou art no Archdeacon.

Phil.

I am Archdeacon still,* 1.2 although another be in posses∣sion of my liuyng: for I was neuer depriued by any law.

Cooke.

No sir, that needeth not: for a notorious heretike should haue no Ordinary proceeding about his depriua∣tion: but the B. may vpon knowledge thereof proceed to depriuation.

Phil.

M. Doctor, you know that the common law is other wise: and besides this,* 1.3 the statutes of this Realme be o∣therwyse, which geueth this benefit to euery person, thogh he be an heretike, to enioy his liuyng vntill he bee put to death for the same.

Cholm.

No, there thou art deceyued.

Phil.

Upon the liuyng I passe not. But the vniust dealing grieueth me, that I should bee thus troubled for my con∣science, contrary to all law.

Cholm.

Why, wyll you not agree that the Queenes Maie∣stie may cause you to be examined of your fayth?

Phil.

Aske you M. Doctor Cooke, and he will tell you that the temporall magistrates haue nothing to doe with mat∣ters of fayth for determination thereof. And S. Ambrose sayeth: Diuina Imperatoriae maiestati non sunt subiecta, that the thyngs of God are not subiect to the power and au∣thoritie of Princes.

Cooke.

No? may not the temporall power commit you to be examined of your fayth to the bishop?

Phil.

Yea sir, I deny not that: but you will not grant that the same may examine any of their owne authoritie.* 1.4

Cooke.

Let hym be had away.

Phil.

Your maistership promised mee the last tyme I was before you, I should see your commission by what autho∣ritie you do call me, and whether I by the same be bound to answer to so much as you demaund.

[illustration]

❧ Maister Philpots beyng in the Colehouse, where he found Thomas Whittle Priest, sittyng in the Stockes.

Roper.

* 1.5Let him see the Commission.

The Scribe.

Then he exhibited it to M. Roper, and was a∣bout to open the same.

Cooke.

No, what will you do? he shall not see it.

Phil.

Then do you me wrong, to call me and vexe me, not shewing your authority in this behalfe.

Cooke.

If we do you wrong, complayne on vs: and in the meane while thou shalt lye in the Lollardes tower.

Phil.

Syr, I am a poore Gentleman: therefore I trust of your gentlenes you wil not commit me to so vile & strait a place, being found no haynous trespasser.

Cooke.

Thou art no Gentleman.

Phil.

Yes that I am.

Cooke.

An hereticke is no Gentleman: for he is a Gentle∣man that hath gentle conditions.

Phil.

The offence can not take away the state of a Gentle∣man as long as he liueth, although he were a traytor: but I meane not to boast of my gentlemanship, but will put it vnder my f••ot, since you do no more esteme it.

Story.

What wil you suffer this heretick to prate with you all this day?

Cooke.

He sayth he is a Gentleman.

Story

A gentleman quoth he? he is a vile hereticke knaue: for an hereticke is no Gentleman. Let the Keeper of Lol∣lardes Tower come in, and haue him away.

The keeper.

* 1.6Here Sir.

Story.

Take this man with you to the Lollardes Tower, or els to the Bishops Colehouse.

Phil.

Syr, if I were a dogge, you coulde not appoynt me a worse and more vile place: but I must bee content wyth whatsoeuer iniury you do offer me. God geue you a more mercifull hart: you are very cruell vpon one that hath ne∣uer offended you. I pray you M. Cholmly, shew me some frēdship, that I be not caryed to so vile a place. And he cal∣led me aside, and sayd:

Cholm.

I am not skilfull of theyr doinges, neither of their lawes: I cannot tell what they meane. I woulde I coulde do you good.* 1.7

Phil.

I am content to goe whyther you wyll haue mee. There was neuer man more cruelly handled, thē I am at your handes, that without any iust cause knowne, should thus be entreated.

Story.

Shall we suffer this hereticke thus to reproue vs? haue him hence.

Phil.

God forgeue you, & geue you more mercifull harts, & shew you more mercy in the time of neede: Et quod facis, fac citius: Do quickely that you haue in hand.

Story.

Do you not heare how he maketh vs Iud••sses?

Phil.

That is after your owne vnderstanding.

After this, I with foure other mo were brought to the Keepers house in Pater noster Row, where we Supped, and after supper I was called vp to a chamber by the arch¦deacon of Londons seruant, & that in his maysters name? who offred me a bed for that night. To whō I gaue than∣kes, saying: that it shoulde be a griefe to me to lie well one night, and the next worse: wherfore I will begin (sayde I) as I am like to continue, to take such part as my felowes do.* 1.8 And with that we were brought through Pater noster row, to my Lord of Londons Colehouse: vnto the whiche is ioyned a litle blinde house, with a great payre of stockes appoynted both for hand & foot, but thankes be to God we haue not playd of those organes yet,* 1.9 although some before vs had tried thē) & there we founde a Minister of Essex a maried priest, a man of godly zeale, w^t one other poore mā. And this minister (at my cōming) desired to speake w^t me, & did greatly lament his owne infirmity, for that through extremity of imprisonmēt, he was constrayned by writing to yelde to the bishop of London: whereupon he was once set at li••erty,* 1.10 and afterwarde felt suche a hell in his consci∣ence, that he could scarse refrayne from destroying himself, and neuer could be at quiet vntill he had gone vnto the bi∣shops Register, desiring to see his bill again, the which as soone as he had receiued, he tare it in pieces: & after he was as ioyfull as any man might bee. Of the whiche when my Lord of London had vnderstanding, he sent for him, and fell vpon him like a Lion, and like a manly Bishop buffet∣ted him well, so that he made his face blacke and blew, & pluckt away a great piece of his beard: but now thanks be to God, he is as ioyfull vnder the crosse, as any of vs, and very sorye of his former infirmity, I write this because I would all men to take heed how they do contrary to theyr conscience: which is to fal into the paynes of hell. And here an end.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The 2. examina∣tion of Iohn Philpot before th•• Commissio∣ners.
• * 1.2

  Iohn Phil∣pot depri∣ued of his Archdea∣con••y with∣out any lawe.
• * 1.3

  Whether an heretick suspected may with∣out ordinary processe be depriued of his liuing by his ordi∣nary before his death, & by what lawe.
• * 1.4

  Iohn Phil∣pot agayne requireth to see their Commissi∣on, and yet it could not be seene: and that al∣so agaynst the lawe.
• * 1.5

  Anno 1555. Decemb.
• * 1.6

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• * 1.7

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• * 1.8

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• * 1.9

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• * 1.10

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