An other conference betwene the Byshop and M. Philpot and other prisoners.
The next day after, an houre before day,* 1.1 the Bishop sent for me againe by the Keeper.
M. Philpot arise, you must come to my Lord.
I wonder what my Lorde meaneth, that he sendeth for me thus earely. I feare he will ••se some violence to∣wardes me, wherfore I pray you make him this answer, that if he send for me by an order of lawe, I will come and answer: otherwise, since I am not of his dioces, neither is hee mine Ordinarie, I will not (without I be violently constrained) come vnto him.
I will go tell my Lord what answere you make: and so he wēt away to the bishop, and immediatly retur∣ned wt two of the Bishops men, saying that I must come whether I would or no.
If by violence any of you will enforce me to go,* 1.2 then must I go, otherwise I wil not: and therwith one of them tooke me with force by the arme, and led me vp into the bi∣shops gallerie.
What? thou art a foolish knaue in deede: thou wilt not come without thou be ••et.
I am brought in deede (my Lord) by violence vnto you, and yo••r crueltie is suche, that I am afrayde to come before you. I would your lordship would gently procede against me by the lawe.
I am blamed of the Lordes the Bishoppes,* 1.3 for that I haue not dispatched thee ere this. And in Faith I made sute to my Lorde Cardinal, and to all the Conuoca∣tion house, that they would heare thee? And my Lorde of Lincolne stode vp, and said yt thou wert a frantike fellow, and a man that wil haue the last worde.* 1.4 And they all haue blamed me, because I haue brought thee so oftē before the Lordes openly: and they say it is meat & drinke to you to speake in an open audiēce, you glory so of your self. Wher∣fore I am commaunded to take a farther order with thee, and in good faith if thou wilt not relent, I will make no farther delay. Mary if thou wilt be cōformable, I wil yet forgeue thee all that is past, & thou shalt haue no hurte for any thing that is all ready sayd or done.
My Lord,* 1.5 I haue answered you already in this be∣halfe, what I will do. And as for report of master White, Bish. of Lincolne, I passe not: who is known to be mine enemie, for that I being Archdeacon, did excommunicate him for preaching naughty doctrine. If Christ my maister were called a mad man, it is no maruell though ye counte me frantike.
Haddest not thou a pig brought thee the other day with a knife in it? Wherefore was it (I pray thee) but to kil thy selfe? Or as it is told me (Mary I am counselled to take hede of thee) to kil me? but I feare thee not. I trow I am able to tread thee vnder my feete: do the best thou cāst.
My Lorde, I can not denie but that there was a knife in the Pigges belly that was brought me.* 1.6 But who put it in, or for what purpose I know not, vnlesse it were because he that sent the meate, thought I was without a knife, and so put it in. But other things your Lordshippe nedeth not to feare: for I was neuer without a knife since I came to prisone. And touching your owne persone, you should liue long if you should liue vntil I go about to kill you: and I confesse, by violence your Lordship is able to ouercome me.* 1.7
I charge thee to answere to mine articles. Hold him a booke. Thou shalt sweare to aunswere truely to all