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 hystorie of ten true godly Disciples, and Martyrs of Christ, burnt together in one fire at Lewes. An. 1557. Iune 22.

* 1.1

IN the towne of Lewes were ten faithfull seruauntes of God put in one fire, the xxij. day of Iune, whose names followe.

• 1 Rich. Woodman.
• 2 George Steuens.
• 3 W. Mainard.
• 4 Alexander Hosman his seruaunt.
• 5 Tomasin a Wood, Mai∣nards maide.* 1.2
• 6. Margerie Moris.
• 7. Iames Moris her sonne.
• 8. Denys Burgis.
• 9. Ashdons wife.
• 10. Groues wife.

Of the which noumber Richarde Woodman was the firste. Concerninge whose apprehension firste by hys e∣nemies, and of hys deliueraunce oute of Byshoppe Bo∣uers handes, then of hys second taking againe by the pro∣curement of hys father, brother, kinsfolkes and frendes, also of hys sundrye examinations and couragious aun∣sweres before the Bishoppes, and lastly of his condemna∣tion, and of his letters sent to his faithfull friendes,* 1.3 heere foloweth to be declared by his owne woords, and relation reported. Which Rich. Woodman, by his occupation was

an Ironmaker,* 1.4 dwelling in the Parish of Warbleton, in the Countie of Sussex, & Dioces of Chichester, of the age of 30. yeres, and somewhat more. The occasion of his first apprehension was this.

There was one Fairebanke, who somtimes had bene a maried priest,* 1.5 and serued the Cure of Warbleton, where he had often perswaded the people not to credite any other doctrine, but that which he then preached, taught, and set forth in K. Edwards dayes. And afterward in the begin∣nyng of Q. Maries raigne, the sayd Fayrebanke turnyng hed to taile, preached cleane contrary to that which he had before taught.

Whereupon Richard Woodman hearyng hym in the Church of Warbleton so to preache contrary to hymselfe, admonished hym of hys inconstancie, how before tyme he had taught them one thing,* 1.6 and now another, and desired hym to teach them the truth. For the which words he was apprehended and brought before M. Iohn Ashbornham, M. Toston, M. Culpeper, and M. Robertes, Iustices of Peace in the Countie of Sussex, and by them committed to the Kyngs Bench, where he continued from Iune, the space almost of a yeare and a halfe: and from thence was transferred by D. Story into Boners Colehouse, where he remayned the space of a moneth before he came to exa∣mination.

At length, the same day when M. Philpot was bur∣ned,* 1.7 which was the 18. of December, he with 4. other pri∣soners was deliuered and set at libertie by Boner himself. Notwithstandyng, shortly after he was sought for again, and at last found out and taken by meanes of hys father, brother, and certaine other his acquainted friendes, and so was sent vp agayne to London to B. Boner, where he remayned in the Colehouse 8. weekes. He was there sixe tymes examined, and 26. tymes before, so that his exami∣nations in all, were 32. from his first apprehension, to his condemnation. Touching the whole discourse wherof, for so much as the matter is something strange, and will per∣aduenture scarce find credit vpon my narration, with thē which deny all thynges, that lyke them not to beleeue, ye shall heare himselfe speake, and testify both of the maner of his troubles, and also his owne examinations by himselfe recorded, in order as followeth.

❧ A true Certificate written by Richard Woodman, of his taking, & how he was brought to the Shiriffes the xv. of March, 1556. and how long he was in prison, and how he was there vsed, till he was broughte before the Bishoppe of Chiche∣ster at blacke Friers in London, with the or∣der of his examinations followyng af∣ter the same.

* 1.8GEntle Reader, here you shall perceiue how the scri∣ptures bee partly fulfilled on me, beyng one of the least of his poore Lambes. First, you shall vnderstād that since I was deliuered out of the Bishop of Londons hands, which was in the yeare of our Lord, 1555. and the same day that M. Philpot was burned, (which was the 18. of December) I lay in his Colehouse 8. weeks lacking but one day. And before that, I was a yeare and a halfe al∣most, in the Kings Bench after my first apprehension, for reproouyng a Preacher in the pulpit, in the parish of War∣bleton where I dwelt. Wherfore I was at two Sessions before I was sent to prison,* 1.9 and caried to two more Sessi∣ons whyle I was in pryson, twyse before the B. of Chi∣chester, and fiue tymes before the Commissioners, & then sent to Londons Colehouse, & many tymes called before him, as it appeareth by my examinations which I wrote, the which examinations, the B. of Chichester now hath, for they were found in my house when I was takē, wher∣in is conteined all the talke, which I had before them a∣forenamed. Also there be in London that had copies of the same of me, when I was in the Colehouse.

* 1.10And it pleased God to deliuer me, with foure or more, out of the butchers handes, requiring nothing els of vs but that we shuld be honest men, and members of the true Catholike Church that was builded vpon the Prophetes and Apostles, Christ beyng the head of the true Churche, the which all we affirmed that we were members of the true Church, and purposed by Gods helpe therein to dye. And hereupon we were deliuered, but he willed vs many tymes to speake good of hym. And no doubt he was wor∣thy to be praysed, because he had bene so faithfull an ayd in his maister the deuils businesse. For he had burnt good M. Philpot the same mornyng, in whose bloud his hart was so drunken (as I supposed) that he could not tell what he did, as it appeared to vs, both before & after. For but two dayes before he promised vs that we should bee condem∣ned that same day that we were deliuered: yea & the mo∣row after that he had deliuered vs, hee sought for some of vs agayne, yea and that earnestly. He waxed dry after his great dronkennes, wherfore he is lyke to haue bloude to drink in hel as he is worthy, if he repent it not with speed. The Lord turne all their harts if it be his will.

This haue I written, chiefly to certifie all people how we were deliuered,* 1.11 because many carnall Gospellers and Papists haue sayd, that it was prescribed that we should be so deliuered, because they thinke that God is subiect to man, and not man to God. For if they did, they would not blaspheme hym as they doe, or if they thought they should geue account for it. Haue not many of them red, how God deliuered Israel out of Egypt? Daniel out of the Lyons denne? Sydrach, Misaach, and Abednago out of the bur∣nyng ouen? with diuers other such like exāples, yea God is the same God that he was then. He is no older, nor lesse in power, as some count hym in wondring at his works. Now to the matter.

After I was deliuered,* 1.12 the Papists sayd that I hadde consented to them, whereof they made themselues glad: the which was the least part of my thought (I praise God therefore) as they well perceiued, and knew the contrarye within a while. For I went from parish to parish, & tal∣ked with them, to the number of 13. or 14. and that of the chiefest in all the Countrey: and I angred them so,* 1.13 y^t they with the Commissioners complayned on me to my Lord Chamberlaine that was then to the Queene, Sir Iohn Gage shewyng him that I baptised children, and married folks, with many such lyes, to bryng me into their hands agayne. Then the Commissioners sent out certaine Cita∣tions to bring me to the Court.* 1.14 My L. Chamberlain had directed out 4. or 5. Warrantes for me, that if I had come there, I should haue bene attached and sent to prisō straite way. Which was not Gods will: for I had warnyng of their laying await for me, and came not there, but sent my deputie, & he brought me word that the Bailifs waited for me there, but they mist of their pray for that tyme, where∣vpon they were displeased.

Then within 3. dayes after,* 1.15 my L. sent 3. of his men to take me, whose names were Deane, Ieffrey, and Frāces. I beyng at plough with my folkes, right in the waye as they were commyng to my house, least mistrusting thē of all other, came to them and spake to them, asking thē how they did. And they sayd,* 1.16 they arested me in the Kyng and Queenes name, and that I must goe with them to their Maister the L. Chamberlaine. Which wordes made my flesh to tremble and quake because of that sodayne. But I answered them that I would go with them.* 1.17 Yet I desired them that they would go to my house with me, y^t I might breake my fast, and put on some other geare, and they said I should. Then I remembred my selfe, saying in my hart: Why am I thus afraid? they can lay no euill to my charge. If they kill me for well doyng,* 1.18 I may thinke my self hap∣py. I remembred how I was contented gladly before to dye in that quarell, and so had continued euer since: and should I now feare to dye? God forbid that I should, for then were all my labour in vayne.

So by and by I was perswaded, I praise God, consi∣dering it was but the frailty of my flesh, which was loth to forgo my wife & childrē and goods: for I saw nothing but present death before mine eyes. And as soone as I was perswaded in my mynd to die, I had no regard of nothing in this worlde, but was as mery and glad and ioyfull, I prayse GOD, as euer I was. This battaile lasted not a quarter of an houre, but it was sharper then death it selfe for the tyme, I dare say.

So when I had my breakfast, I desired them to shew me their warrant, thinkyng thereby I should haue seene wherfore I was arested,* 1.19 to the intent I might y^e better an∣swer for my self whē I came before their maister. And one of them answered, they had not their warrāt there. Which words made me astonied, and it was put in my mynde by God, that I neede not to goe with them,* 1.20 vnlesse they had their warrant. Then said I to them, that is meruaile that you will come to take a man without a warrant. It see∣meth to me that you come of your owne mind to get thāke of your maister, for in deed I heard say (sayd I) that there was 4. or 5. warrants out for me, but they were called in agayne,* 1.21 because I had certified my L. and the Commissa∣ry by a letter that I sent to the Commissaries court, that I was not faulty in that they layd to my charge, which was for baptising of children, and marying of folks: the which I neuer did, for I was neuer minister appointed to do a∣ny such thyng: wherfore set your hartes at rest, I will not

go with you (said I) vnlesse you will cary me by force, and if you will do so, at your owne aduentures. And so I rose from the boord and stepped into my chamber, meanyng to goe from them if I could possible, seeyng God had made the way so open for me.* 1.22 I ment to play Peters part with them, but God would not it should be so, but sent a feare amongst them, that as soone as I was gone into my chā∣ber, ere euer I could come out againe, they were gone out of my house.

When I saw that, I knew it was Gods doyng to set me at liberty once againe.* 1.23 Yet I was compelled to speake to them, and said: If you haue a warrant, I desire you for Gods sake to shew it me, and I wil go with you, with all my hart: if not, I desire you to depart in Gods peace and the kings: for surely I will not go with you without the order of the law: for I haue bene too simple in such things already. For before I was sent to prison first, I went to the Iustices to two Sessions, without any warrant or cō∣mandement, but had word by one of their men, & I went gently to them, & they sent me to prison, and kept me there almost a yere and thre quarters, without all right or equi∣tie, as it is openly known, not hearing my cause iustly de∣bated. And it semeth to me that I should be thus euil hād∣led, and therefore I will not go to none of them all hence∣forth without the extremitie of the law.

Then one of them answered me, and said: we haue not the warrant here, but it is at home at my house: the worst is you can but make vs fetch it. Then I said: Fetch it, if you wil, but if you come in my house before you haue it, at your owne aduenture.* 1.24 So I shut my doore, and went my way out of the other doore. So they got helpe to watch my house, while one of them fet the Constable and many moe, thinking to haue had me in my house, and to haue takē me in my house, & caried me away with a licence: but I was gone before as god would haue it.* 1.25 Notwithstanding they sought euery corner of my house, but could not preuaile, I mistrusted they would search it again that night, and kept me abroad, and in deed there came seuen of his men & the Constable, and searched my house.

And when they sawe that they could not meete w^t me, they were redy to rent their coats, that I had scaped them so, knowing they should haue such a checke of their mai∣ster. When I heard that they had sought so for me againe, I perceiuyng that they were greedy of their pray, came home, and my wyfe told me all thyngs.

Then I supposed that they would lay all the countrey for me, and the sea coast, because I should not go ouer, and thē I thought that they would not mistrust that I would dare bee nigh home. So I tolde my wyfe that I woulde make my lodgyng in a woode not past a flight shotte from my house, as I did in deede, euen vnder a tree, and there had my Bible, my penne and myne inke, and other neces∣saries,* 1.26 and there continued a sixe or seuen weekes, my wife bringing me meate daily as I had neede. Yea I thought my selfe blessed of God, that I was counted worthy to lye in the woodes for the name of Christ. Then there came word into the countrey, that I was seene and spoken too in Flaunders:* 1.27 whereupon they left laying awaite for me for they had layd all the Countrey for me, and the sea coast from Portesmouth to Douer, euē as God put in my mind they would.

So when all was husht, I went abroad among our friends & brethren, and at length I went beyond the Sea both into Flanders and in Fraunce: but I thought eue∣ry day seuen yere or euer I were at home agayne. So I came home again as soone as it was possible. I was there but three weeks, but as soone as I was come home, and it once knowen among Baals priests, they could not abide it, but procured out warrantes agaynst me, causing my house to bee searched sometymes twise in a weeke. This continued from Saint Iames tide to the first Sonday in Lent. Otherwhile I went priuily, otherwhile openly, o∣therwhile I went from home a fortnight or three weeks, otherwhile I was at home a month or fiue weekes toge∣ther, liuing there most commonly and openly, doing such woorkes as I had to doe: and yet all mine enemies coulde lay no hands on me,* 1.28 till the houre was ful come: and then by the voice of the country, and by manifest proofes, mine owne brother as concerning the flesh, deliuered mee into theyr hands, by that he knew that I was at home.

For my father & he had as much of my goodes in theyr hands,* 1.29 as I might haue 56. pound for by the yeare cleare, and therunto praied. It was a Lordship and a honor, and halfe a honor that I had deliuered into their hands, to pay my debts, and the rest to remaine to my wife and childrē. But they had reported that it woulde not pay my debtes: which grieued me sore. For it was two hundred pounds better then the debts came to. Which caused me to speake to some of my frendes, that they would speake to them to come to some reckening with me, and to take all such mo∣ney againe of me, as they were charged with, and to deli∣uer me such wrytings and wryts, as they had of mine, a∣gaine, or to whom I would appoynt them.

So it was agreed betwixt my Father and mee, that I should haue it againe, and the day was apoynted, that the reckening shoulde be made and sent to me that same daye that I was taken, my brother supposing that I shoulde haue put him out of most of al his occupying, that he was in: for it was all mine in a manner that he occupied▪ as all the countrey can and doe well knowe. Whereon (as it is reported) he told one Gradillar my next neighbor, and he told some of M. Gages men, or to M. Gage himselfe: and so he sent to his brother,* 1.30 and hys brother sent 12. o•• his mē (he being Sheriffe) in the night before I was taken, and laye in the bushes not farre from my house, till about 9. of the clocke, euen the houre that was appoynted amongest themselues: for about the same time they thought to haue had me within my house.

They had taken a man of mine and two of my childrē that were abroad in the land: and kept them with them til theyr houre was appoynted to come in, & then a litle girle one of my children, saw them come together, & came run∣ning in, & cried: mother, mother, yonder cōmeth 2. men. I sitting in my bedde and making of shoe thonge••▪ heard the woordes, and suspecting straight way that I was be∣trayed, I stirred out of my bed & whipt on my hol••▪ thin∣king to haue gone out of the doores or euer they had bene come. My wife being amased at the childes words,* 1.31 looked out at the doore, and they were hard by. Then she clapped to the doore and barred it fast, euen as I came oute of my chamber into the Hall, and so barred the other: So the house was beset round straightway, and they badde open the doores, or els they would breake them in peces. Then I had no shift, but either I must shew my selfe openly, or make some other remedy.

So there was a place in my house y^t was neuer found which was at the lest, I dare say 20. times,* 1.32 and somtimes almost of 20. men searched at once, both by night & by day. Into which place I went: And assoone as I was in, my wife opened the doore: wherby incontinent they came,* 1.33 and asked for me: and she sayd I was not at home. Then they asked her wherefore shee shutte the dore, if I were not at home. Shee sayd, because shee had bene made afrayde di∣uers times, with such as came to search vs, and therefore shee shut the doore. For it is reported (sayth she) that who soeuer can take my husband, shall hang him or burne him strait way: and therfore I doubt they will serue me or my children so: for I thinke they may doe so vnto vs as well as to him, shee sayd. Well, sayd they, we know he is in the house, and we must searche it, for we be the sheriffes men: let vs haue a candle. It is tolde vs, there be many secrete places in your house. So shee lighted a candle, & they sou∣ght vp and downe in euery corner that they coulde finde, and had geuen ouer, and many of them were gone out of my house into the churchyard, and were talking with my father, and with some that he had brought with him.

Now when they could not find me,* 1.34 one of them went to him y^t gaue them word that I was at home, and sayde, we can not finde him. Then hee asked them whether they had soughte ouer a windowe that was in the Hall (as it was knowen afterwarde) for that same place I had tolde hym of my selfe. For many times when I came home, I would send for him to beare me company: yet as it chan∣ced I had not tolde him the way into it. Then they began to searche a newe. One looked vp ouer the windowe, and spied a little loft, with three or foure chestes, and the waye went in betwixt two of the chestes, but there could no mā perceiue it. Then hee asked my wife which was the way into it. Here is a place that we haue not sought yet. Then she thought they wold see it by one meanes or other. She sayde, the way was into it out of a chamber they were in euen now. So shee sent them vp, and cried, Away, away. Then I knewe there was no remedye, but make the best shift for my selfe that I could. The place was boarded o∣uer and fast nailed, and if I had come out that way that I went in, I must needes come amongst them al in the hall. Then I had no shift,* 1.35 but set my shoulders to the boardes that were nailed to the rafters to keepe out the raine, and brake them in peeces, which made a great noyse, and they that were in the other chamber, seeking for the waye into it, heard the noise, and looked out of a window, and spyed me, and made an outcry. But yet I gotte oute, and leaped downe, hauing no shoes on.

So I tooke downe a lane that was ful of sharpe syn∣ders, and they came running after, with a great crie, with theyr swordes drawne, crying, Strike him, strike hym.

Which woordes made me looke backe, and there was ne∣uer a one nigh me by a 100. fote: and that was but one, for all the rest were a great way behinde. And I tourned a∣bout hastily to goe my way, and stepped vppon a sharpe Sinder with one foote, & sauing of it, I stepped in a great miery hole,* 1.36 and fell downe withall, and ere euer I coulde arise and get away, he was come in with mee. His name is Parker the wilde, as he is counted in all Sussex. But if I had had on my shooes, they had bene like to haue gone away arrandlesse, if there had beene 500. more, if I hadde caught the plaine grounde once, to the which I had not a stones cast: But it was not Gods will: for if it hadde, I shoulde haue scaped from them all, if there had bene tenne thousand of them.

Then they tooke me and led me home again to put on my shooes and suche geare as I had neede off. Then sayde Iohn Fancouer:* 1.37 Nowe your maister hath deceiued you. You sayd, you were an Angel, and if you had bene an An∣gell, whye did you not flee away from vs? Then sayde I, what be they that euer heard me say that I was an Aun∣gel? It is not the first lie by a thousande y^e they haue made of mee. Angels were neuer begotten of men, nor borne of women: but if they had saide, that they had heard me saye, that I doe trust I am a Saint, they hadde not said amisse. What, do you thinke to be a Saint? Yea that I do, and am already in Gods sight,* 1.38 I trust in God: for he that is not a Saint in Gods sight already, is a deuil. Therefore he that thinketh scorne to be a Saint, let him be a deuil. And with y^e woord they had brought me to mine owne doore: where met w^t me my father, and willed me to remember my self.

To whom I answeared: I praise God, I am wel re∣membred wherabout I go. This way was appoynted of God for me to be deliuered into the handes of mine enne∣mies, but woe vnto him by whom I am betraied. It had bene good for that man, that he had neuer ben borne, if he repent not with speede. The Scriptures are nowe fulfil∣led on me:* 1.39 For the father shall be against the sonne, and the bro∣ther shall deliuer the brother to death, as it is this daye come to passe. Then sayd one: He doth accuse his Father: a good childe in deede. I accuse him not, but say my minde: for there was no man knewe me at home, but my father, my brother, and one more, the which I dare saye, woulde not hurt me for all the good in this towne.

* 1.40There was one George Bechinge that marryed one of my sisters, & he thoughte that I had meant him, that he had betraied me: and he said: Brother, I would you shuld not thinke that I was the cause of your taking. To whō I answered, that I ment him not: I meant one that was nearer of my bloud then he was. Then said one of Lause, that had bene a gospeller, & stood from them, when I was brought to a sessions to Lause, and he said, I thought you would haue ben an honest man when you were at Lause, and I offered Hussey the sheriffe to be bound for you, that you shuld go home to your wife, and come to him againe. Then I remembred what he was,* 1.41 and saide: Be you the Peauterer? And he saide, Yea. Then saide I: It is happe∣ned to you according to the true Prouerbe, as sayeth S. Peter: The dogge is tourned to his vomit againe, and the sowe that is washed, to wallow in the mire, and the ende of all suche will be worse then the beginning. Then his mouth was stopped so, that he had nothing to say.

* 1.42All this while I stoode at my doore without: for they would not let me goe in. So I put on my shooes and my cloathes, and then they putte on an harnesse aboute mine armes made of a dogs slip, which reioyced my heart, that I was counted woorthy to be boūd for the name of God. So I tooke my leaue of my wife and children, my father & other of my friendes, neuer thinking to see them more in this world. For it was so thought of all the country, that I should not liue 6. daies after my taking: for they had so reported. But yet I knew it was not as they would, vn∣lesse God wold graunt it. I know what God can do: but what he wil do, I know not: but I am sure he wil worke al things for the best, for them that loue and feare him. So we dranke and went our way, and came to Firle about 3. of the clocke. And thus much touching the causes & effecte of the troubles of Rich. Woodman. Nowe let vs see his examinations, which follow in this order.

The first examination of Rich. Woodman, be∣fore Doctor Christopherson Bishop of Chichester, Doctor Story, Doctor Cooke, and other.

FIrst you shal vnderstād, that I was sent from the she∣riffes to London, the 12. day of Aprill, in the yere of our Lord. 1557. and afterwarde vppon the 14. daye of the same moneth I was brought before the Bishop of Chichester, and doctor Story, and doctor Cooke. So the sheriffs man deliuered my warrant and me to the bishop.* 1.43 Then the bi∣shop asked me what my name was. My name (quoth I) is Richard Woodman.

Chichester.

I am sory for you, and so are all the worship∣full men of your Countrey. For it hath bene reported to me, that you haue bene a man of good estimation in all the Countrey, amongest the poore and riche, till nowe of late. Wherefore looke wel vpon your selfe, your wife, and chil∣dren, your Father, and other of your frends, and be ruled. Thinke not your selfe wiser then all the Realme. Be en∣fourmed, and you shal haue theyr fauors all, as muche as euer you had.

Wood.

You haue charged me with many things, wherin I haue neuer offended, and if you will geue mee leaue, I will shewe you.

Chichester.

Yes, I pray you, say your minde.

Wood.

If it please you, you haue charged me as thoughe I made my selfe wiser then all the Realme: God doeth knowe, I stande to learne of euerye man that will or can teache me the truthe. And where as you say, I haue beene wel estemed both of the poore and riche, God doth know, I knowe not that I haue geuen any iust offence, either to rich or poore. And as for my wife and children.* 1.44 God doeth know how I loue them in him, and my life also. My life, my wife, and my children are all in Gods handes, and I haue them all as I had them not, I trust, according to S. Paules woords. But if I had x.M. pound of gold, I had rather forgoe it all, then them, if I might be in choice, and not displease God.

Chichest.

The sheriffe tooke paine to come to me of loue, he sayd which he bare to you, as to himselfe: and sayd, you were desirous to speake with me.

Wood.

I thought it mete to appeale to my Ordinarie. For they goe about to shed my bloud vnrighteously.* 1.45 For they haue laid many vniust things to my charge. Wherefore I thoughte it meete to appeale to you, that if you can finde any fault in me, meete to be reformed by Gods woorde, I stād to be reformed: and likewise, if my bloud shalbe shed vnrighteously, that it mighte be required at your handes, because you haue taken vppon you to be the Phisition of our countrey.

Story.

Is not this a peruerse felow, to lay to your charge, that his bloude shalbe required at your hands?* 1.46 Thinkest thou that thou shalt be put to death vniustly, y^t thy bloude should be required? No, if he should condemne a hundred such heretickes as thou art, I helped to ridde a good sort of you. And I promise thee I will helpe to ridde thee too, the best that I can.

Wood.

Then I would haue answeared him, but the Bi∣shop desired vs both to geue him place.

Chichest.

Well, neighbour Woodman: I call you neygh∣bour, because you be one of my Diocesse: and you are sent to me that I should geue you spirituall counsell: for I am your spiritual Pastour. Therefore heare what I shall say to you.

Wood.

First I desire you to heare me a few woordes. You haue said, you wil geue me spiritual counsell. Be you sure that you haue the spirite of God?

Chichest.

No, I am not sure of that?

Wood.

No, be you not sure of that?* 1.47

Chich.

So by S. Mary, I dare not be so bold to say so: I doubt of that.

Wood.

Then you be like the waues of the sea, as saith S. Iames, that be tossed about with the wind, and be vnsta∣ble in all your wayes, and can looke for no good thyng at the Lordes hand: Yea, yee are neither hote nor colde, and therefore God will spew you out of his mouth, as sayeth S. Iohn. Then they were in a great furie, especially doc. Storie, saying:

Storie.

What a peruerse fellow is this? he hath the Deuil within him, and is madde. Hee is woorse then the Deuill.* 1.48 Nowe I perceiue that it is true that is reported by thee, and it is the pride of all suche heretickes, to boaste them∣selues.

Chich.

Yea surely, hee is sent to mee to learne, and taketh vpon him to teache me.

Wood.

I seeing their blindnesse and blasphemie, it made my heart melt, and mine eies gush oute with teares, say∣ing: The Iewes saide to Christ, he hadde the Deuill, and was madde, as you haue said heere by me. But I knowe, the seruant is not aboue his maister. And God forbid that I should learne of him that confesseth that he hath not the Spirite of God.

Chich.

Why, doe you thinke that you haue the Spirite of God?* 1.49

Wood.

I beleeue verely that I haue the spirite of God.

Chich.

You boast more then euer Paul did, or any of the a∣postles, the which is great presumption.

Wood.

* 1.50I boast not in my selfe but in the gift of God, as Paule did: for he sayd, he beleued verily that he had y^e spi∣rit of God, makyng thereof no doubts, in the 1. to the Cor. the 7. chap.

Chich.

* 1.51It is not so, you belye the text.

Wood.

If it be not so, let me be burned to morow.

Story.

Thou shalt not be burned to morow, but thou shalt be burned within these 6. dayes, I promise thee.

Chich

If it be so, it is wrong translated, as it is in a thou∣sand places more.

Wood.

* 1.52Then one looked in a Latine Testament, and ano∣ther in a Greeke Testament, and they said, it was in them both, that Paul supposed that he had the spirit of God, but he was not sure.

Chich.

Euen so I hope and suppose that I haue the spirite of God, but I am not sure.

Wood.

If that place be wrong trāslated, and so many pla∣ces of the Bible as you say, then I may say with Christ, it cannot be auoyded, but offences must be geuen: But woe vnto them by whom they come. I may say woe vnto false Translaters. For cursed are they that adde or take away. But take you heed that you belie not the Translaters. I beleeue they had the feare of God more before their eies then you report of them. And yet if that place bee wrong translated, I can prooue places enough that Paule had the spirit of God, as I my selfe and all Gods elect haue.

Chich.

How prooue you that?

Wood.

No man can beleeue that Iesus is the Lorde, but by the holy Ghost.* 1.53 First to the Corrinth. the 7. chap. I do beleeue that Iesus Christ is my redeemer, and that I shall bee sa∣ued from all my sinnes, by his death and bloudsheding, as Paule and all the Apostles did, and as all faithfull people ought to do, which no man can doe without the spirite of God. And there is no damnation to thē that are in Christ Iesus: so is there no saluation to them y^t are not in Christ Iesu.* 1.54 For he that hath not the spirit of Christ, is none of his, but is a cast away as he saith in the same text. And againe: We haue not receyued the spirite of bondage,* 1.55 to feare any more, but we haue receyued the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba father. The same spirit certifieth our spirites that we are the sons of God. Here are proofes enough, that Paule was sure that he had the spirite of God.* 1.56 Also S. Iohn sayth: He that beleeueth not that Christ is come in the flesh, is an Antichrist, & denieth both the Father and the sonne: which is sinne against the holy Ghost, which shall neuer bee forgeuen in this world, nor in the world to come. Besides all this, Hee that beleeueth in God, dwelleth in God, and God in hym. So is it impossible to beleue in God, vnlesse God dwell in vs. Oh good God, what more iniurie can be done vnto thee, then to mistrust that we haue receyued thy holy spirite by thy gift? Thus may all men see their blindnes, and whose ser∣uants they be, as they do declare themselues both by their words and deeds.

Story.

Oh my Lord, what an heretike is this same? Why heare you hym? Sende hym to prison to his fellowes in the Marshalsee, and they shall bee dispatched within these xij. dayes.

Wood.

When I heard hym say so, I reioyced greatly in my hart, desiring God if it were his will, to keepe hym in that mynd. For I looked surely to haue gone to the B. of Londons colehouse, or to Lollards tower: yea I thoght my selfe happy if I might haue gone to Lollardes tower: but it pleased God to put in the hartes of them to send me to the Marshalsee amongst our brethren and my olde pri∣son fellowes:* 1.57 So mercifully hath God delt with mee in casing of my burden, that I looked for. So when they per∣ceiued that I feared not imprisonment, but rather reioy∣ced as they well perceiued. Then said the B. Me thinkes he is not afraid of the prison.

Wood.

No, I praise the liuyng God.

Story

This is an heretike in deed. He hath the right terms of all heretikes:* 1.58 the liuing God, I pray you be there dead Gods, that you say, the liuyng God?

Wood.

Be you angry with me because I speak the words which are written in the Bible?

Story.

* 1.59Bibble babble, bibble babble. What speakest thou of the Bible? There is no such worde written in all the Bible.

Wood.

Then I am much to blame if it bee not so written: Behold, for the offences that you haue done, you shall bee caried away captiue by Nabuchodonoser to Babylon,* 1.60 and there ye shall be seuen generations: and when you be there▪ you shall see gods of gold, of siluer, of wood, and of stone borne before you & be∣hynd you vpon mens shoulders, to cast out a feare among the Heathen. When you shall see all these abhominations, then say in your heart:* 1.61 It is the liuyng God that ought to bee worshipped. Here I prooue my saying true, both that there is a liuyng God, and that there be dead Gods. Also Dauid sayth in his Psalmes:* 1.62 My soule hath a desire and longyng to enter in∣to the courtes of the Lord: My heart and my flesh reioyce in the liuing God: with diuers other places that I coulde recite. Wherfore I meruaile that you rebuke me for speaking the truth.

Chich.

I doe not deny but it is written, and is the truth,* 1.63 and I know it as well as you, but such is the speach of all heretikes.

Story.

My Lord, I will tell you how you shall knowe an heretike by his words, because I haue bene more vsed to them then you haue bene: that is, they will say (the Lord) and (we prayse God) and (the liuyng GOD.) By these words you shall know an heretike.

Wood.

All these wordes are written for our learnyng, and we are commanded of the Prophets to vse them daily, as this: The Lordes name be praysed frō the rising vp of the sunne vnto the goyng downe of the same. Also, As many as feare the Lord, say alwayes, the Lord be praysed.

Story.

My Lord, send hym to prison, you shall do no good with hym. I will go to church and leaue you here. This is an old heretike. Wast thou neuer before me ere now?

Wood.

Yes forsooth, that I haue.

Story.

Yea, I trowe so: and I sent thee to the B. of Lon∣don, and he released thee, and thou promisedst him to be an honest man, and that thou wouldst be of the true Catho∣like church, which thou hast not fulfilled.

Wood.

I promised him nothing but I haue fulfilled it. No man shall be able to prooue the contrary.

Story.

Well, it will be tried well enough. My Lorde, I will take my leaue. I feare me you shall doe this man no good.

Chich.

I would not haue you to vse such speach as you do, as the Lord be praysed, and the liuing God,* 1.64 with such like words. Can you not say as wel, our Lord, or our God, as otherwyse?

Wood.

I meruaile why you should reprooue me therefore, seeing it is the words of God? I do not refuse to saye our God, or our Lorde, when I talke the Scriptures where it is written. If I should, it must follow that I denied the wordes of God, and must needs be an heretike: but I do not. Wherefore I meruaile what you meane to finde fault therein. It seemeth to me, that you mistrust that I beleeue not as you do.

Chich.

Yea, that is my meanyng in deed.

Woodman.

I beleue in the liuyng God, if you doe not so, then our beliefes be not alike in deede. But if it please you to examine me vpon any perticular matter, now, or at a∣ny other tyme, I will make you answer thereto by Gods helpe.

Chich.

Though you beleeue in God, I can prooue you be∣leeue not as you ought to do, as I can shew you by your hand writing. You haue denied y^e catholike church, Wher∣fore he that erreth from the church, it cannot be sayde that his faith is good. Wherefore be ruled by the Church, from the whiche ye haue erred.* 1.65 I canne shewe you perillous things of your writing, if it should be known, but ye shall not be hurt for me, if you will come to any good order. But I promise you I would not for three thousand poūd some had so much against me, as I cā shew against you of your owne hand writing, which you cannot deny.

Wood.

I will not deny my hand by Gods helpe. For I know well, I haue written nothing at any tyme but the truth. There may be things written against me, reporting it to be myne, and yet be not: but my hand cannot well be counterfeited, there be enow that know my hand.

Chich.

Do you know it your selfe if you see it?

Wood.

Yea, that I do. Then he arose and fet a great bun∣dle of writings, and opened them, and bade me come see. I looked on them, and it was my hand in deed.

Chich.

How say you, is it not your owne writing?

Wood.

Yes surely it is.

Chich.

How say you to this, is not this your hand also?

Wood.

I looked, and it was. And I said, Yes verily is it.

Chich.

Well, you know what it meaneth, I dare say.* 1.66

Wood.

Yea, I know it very well: here is a great deale, the which I had thought had bene in my house, but I thanke God that it is here, for in this you shall try whether it be true or not. For in this is conteined all the talke that was betwixt the Commissioners and me, when I was before them fiue tymes, and also before the Bishop of London diuers tymes: and I am sure, you nor they shall finde no words false therein written:* 1.67 and I thinke the shirifs mē when they searched my house for me, when I was taken, found this, and caried it with them, but I neuer knew it before now. But I am not sory for it, but am rather glad. For herein you may see all the wrong that I receyued at their hands, & how long I was in prisō, and how I was tossed vp and down, and how I was deliuered at length▪

and by this you may try whether it be so or not.* 1.68 I dare say they that found it, & they that brought it to you, had thoght it would haue turned me to displeasure: but in very deed all things worke for the best to them that feare God.

Chic.

In deed I find no great fault in this: but here is pe∣rillous geare, here is sedition. This was set vp vpon the church dore, you know it well enough.

Wood.

* 1.69In deed I wrote it to the Priest and to other that tooke vpon them to fetch my childe out of my house with∣out my leaue, and vsed it at their plesure, when they knew it was baptised already, as they were wel certified before. Wherfore my conscience compelled me to shew them my mynd in writing, wherein is conteined nothyng but the scriptures of God, rebuking them for their folly.

Chichest.

Yea, but it is terribly ment, and vncharitably. It is such geare coupled together I promise you, as I ne∣uer see the lyke. But I promise you, I will make the best of it. And I protest before God, I would you should doe as well as myne owne soule and body. Be contented to be enformed. God hath done his part on you. Cast not your selfe away. Remember your wife and children, & the poore that lacke your occupying. Meane to follow your vocati∣on.* 1.70 Remember you are not called to bee a teacher nor a preacher. S. Paul saith: Let euery man walke wherein he is called, and therein abide. Remember you are called to ano∣ther vocation, for Gods sake walke therin. It is not your office to do as you haue done. You might do as much good by the report of worshipfull men, as any man might do in all the Countrey by your example, and if you would fol∣low the lawes of the catholike church, it would be an oc∣casion to bring a great many into the true church, that are out as you are.

Wood

I would not that you should say, that I am out of the church of God,* 1.71 for I am not, but do allow the Church of God accordyng to his word. Yea, if I were abroad, if I could winne any into the true Church that be out, by any meanes that I could vse, I would be very glad. For God knoweth I loue all people as my self. And where you say I haue bene a preacher, it is not so. I neuer tooke any such thyng vpon me,* 1.72 as it is well known. But as for teaching I cannot deny: for it becommeth euery man to teach and instruct his houshold in the feare of God, and all other (as far as he can) that desire it of him. And where as you haue blamed me for reading the Scripture, and leauing my vo∣cation (as you say) I le•••• not my vocation in reading the Scripture. For I trust I followed my vocation the better therefore. And the greatest cause that I was compelled to read the Scriptures, was, because the preachers and tea∣chers was so changeable.

Chic.

No? did you not preach at a Fayre?

Woodman.

No surely, but it was so reported. I was at a Fayre in deede. Whilest I was in prison, I had leaue of the Counsaile to goe home to pay my debtes, and then I went to a Faire to sell cattayle, and there mette with mee diuers poore men that I had set a worke, and of loue asked me howe I dyd, and how I coulde away with imprison∣ment. And I shewed them howe GOD had delte with mee, and howe he woulde deale with all them that putte their trust in hym:* 1.73 and this they called preachyng. And since that it hath bene reported that I haue baptised chil∣dren, and maried folkes, the which I neuer dyd: for I was neuer Minister. Wherefore if I had so done, I had done contrary to the order of the Apostles, as God forbid I should.

Chich.

I am well apaid, if you be faultles in those thyngs, for I haue heard say the contrary.

Wood.

I haue shewed you the truth, and that no man li∣uyng shal be able to prooue the contrary.

Chich.

You sayd you doe not disallow the true Catholike Church.

Wood.

No, that I do not.

Chich.

* 1.74Why do you not then go to the Church? You come not there, it is enformed me.

Wood.

I trust I am in the true church euery day. But to tell you truth, I come not at the Church where the most do resort. For if I should, I should offend, and be offēded. For at the last tyme that I was there, I offended many, & was offended my selfe. Wherefore for conscience sake I would not come there. For I was sent to prison for my commyng there, & now I am sent to you for biding thēce. So they will not bee pleased any way with mee, for they seeke my lyfe. Wherefore looke you to it, for I am now in your hands, and you ought to be a house of defēce against myne enemies. For if you suffer them to kill me, my bloud shall be required at your hands. If you can finde any iust cause in me worthy of death by Gods word,* 1.75 you may cō∣demne me your self, and not offend god: wherfore looke to it, the matter is weighty, deliuer me not into their hands, and thinke so to be discharged.

Chich.

I tell you truth, I can doe little in the matter. For I haue not full authoritie as yet of myne office: but I wil send for you and talke with you, if I wis•• I should do you any good.

Wood.

I would be glad to talk with you and to shew you my mind in any thing that you shall demaund of me, now or at any other tyme.

Chich.

So then he desired the shiriffes men to tary dinner with hym: that this man (said he) may dine with me also:* 1.76 for it is possible that hee may haue no great store of meate whither he shall go.

Wood.

So we taried dinner with him,* 1.77 and had no further talke, neither how to prooue where the true church of God is, nor of the Sacraments, nor of any other thing pertai∣ning to meward, not for the space of two houres or more: but he entred in talke with me, how I vnderstoode many scriptures, & for bishops and priests mariages, & whether Paul had a wyfe or not. To whom I answered: It is a thyng that I haue little to do with, as concernyng maria∣ges: but I am very well content to talke with you in the matter, as far as my poore learning will serue.* 1.78 So when he had talked with me of diuers Scriptures, he liked my talke well. He asked me how I said by S. Paul, whether he were maried or not. To whom I answered: I prooue by the scriptures, that he was neuer maried.

Chich,

How prooue you that?

Wood.

I will prooue it well enough by Gods helpe. But yet I will prooue that Paul might haue had a wife, as wel as the other Apostles had.

Chich.

Why, had the Apostles wyues?

Wood.

Yea, all, sauing Paul and Barnabas, as I vnder∣stand it.* 1.79 For these are Paules wordes in the 1. to the Cor. 9. chap. Am I not an Apostle? am I not free? haue I not seene Iesus Christ? Are not ye my worke in the Lord? And if I be not an Apostle to other, yet to you I am an Apostle For you are the seale of my Apostleship in the Lord. Myne aunswer to them that aske me, is this: Haue we not power to eate and to drinke? ey∣ther haue we not power to lead about a sister to wyfe, as well as the other Apostles haue, and as the brethren of the Lord? Eyther haue not Barnabas and I power thus to doe? So this text proo∣ueth, that Paul & Barnabas were vnmaried. But Paule declareth that the rest had wiues, & that they had power likewyse so to haue, but they found no neede thereof. But Paul declareth in the 7. chap. of the 1. epistle to the Corin. that he that hath no power ouer his owne flesh, may mar∣rie: For it is better to marrie then to burne. Wherefore, to a∣uoyd fornication (saieth he) let euery man haue his wyfe.* 1.80 Hee sayth, Let euery man haue his wyfe, and euery woman her hus∣band. By this place of scripture I vnderstād,* 1.81 that bishops & priestes may haue wyues, because they are men, rather then burne, or to commit fornication. But I thinke veri∣ly, he that can abstaine, hauing power of his owne wyll, doth best: but if he marrie, he sinneth not.

So then hee debated the Scriptures with me dyuers wayes, that a bishop nor a priest ought not to haue a wife: but I prooued by diuers Scriptures both in the old Law & in the new,* 1.82 that women were at first made for the helpe of men, the which was spoken generally to al men. Wher∣fore (said I) euery man may haue a woman and sinne not in honest matrimony, as well bishops & Deacons, as o∣ther men, which you call priests, if they be true Ministers of Iesus Christ, & of that order that Bishops & Deacons were in Paules tyme.* 1.83 For Paul declareth to Tim. 1. and the 3. That a Bishop should be the husband of one wyfe, & how they should be honestly apparelled, and how they should bring vp their children, and likewise the Deacons. This (sayd I) prooueth more plainly, that both bishops & Dea∣cons had wyues in the Apostles tyme, the which he could not deny. But then he alleaged that no bishop nor Priest might take a wife, after he had taken vpon him that office, but if he had a wife before he tooke the office tryed meet for the purpose, for his lyfe and for his learnyng, hee mighte keepe his wyfe, and bryng vp his children according to s. Paules meadyng to Timothie, or els might they haue no wyues.

Then sayd I, I thinke Paules meanyng in that place was, that a man that hath had two wiues, might not bee made a bishop nor a Deacon, if he had neuer so much lear∣nyng. But that place maketh not that a bishop or a Deacō may not marry after they be made bishops and Deacons. For I am sure that Paul was in the state of a bishop, whē he sayd: He had power to lead about a sister to wyfe, as well as the other Apostles had. Here Paul declareth,* 1.84 that it was in his power to haue a wyfe, after he had the office of a Bi∣shop, which was not in his power, if he had bene forbid∣den of God.

Thus haue I shewed you my mind in this behalf, both of Paul, and also for the mariages of bishops and priests, as I vnderstand the scriptures. Howbeit, it is a thing the which I haue litle to doe withall: but as you required me to say my minde in that matter, so I haue done.

Chich.

Marye I am glad that you haue sayd as you haue done. Many doe affirme boldly that Paul had a wife, and yet can not prooue whether he had or had not, by y^e scrip∣tures: but you haue said very wel. I am glad that yee are contented to be ruled by Gods woord. And if you will be contented likewise in other matters, no dout you shall do well: therefore gentle goodman Woodman be ruled. God hath geuē you a good wit.* 1.85 I protest before God, I would you should do as well as mine owne soule and body, and so would (I dare say) all the worshipfull men in the coū∣trey, as they haue reported to me.

Wood.

Why, my Lord, I take God to recorde (whome I trust to serue) that I woulde be as glad to liue in rest and peace, as any man in all y^e world, if I might. And I stand to learne, & am contented to be reformed of any thing that I hold, if it can be prooued that it be not agreable to gods woorde. And the truthe is so, I haue talked with a dosen Priests at the least, since I was deliuered out of prison, of certaine matters, and they haue not ben able to certify me in any thing that I haue asked them:* 1.86 and therefore haue they complained on me to the Sheriffe and Iustices, ma∣king tales and lies on me, to tourne me to displeasure, as muche as in them lieth. I promise you, there be as manye vnlearned Priests in your dioces, as in any one dioces in England I thinke: the more it is to be lamented.

Chich.

I promise you, I do much lament it my selfe: for I heare say no lesse: but it is true that you say. I woulde I could remedy it, but I can not: but I wil doe the best that I can, when I come into the countrey, and I wil be glad to talke with you some other time, when I am somewhat better at ease. You see I am very tender nowe, as I haue bene this halfe yeare and more. Come to dinner: our din∣ner is ready. I caused not you to tarie for any great chere that you shall haue, nor I would you should not thincke that I goe about to winne you with my meate. But you be welcome with all my heart. Come, sit downe.

Wood.

I thanked him, and wēt to dinner: and there dined with him a Marchant man, one of the sheriffes men, and I,* 1.87 and no mo, & we had good chere, God be praised there∣fore. We had no talke of the scriptures all y^e dinner while: but when dinner was done, the bishop saide.

Chich.

Now cal M. Stories man. For the commissioners haue committed you to prison: but I wil sende for you or euer it be long, and I pray God I may doe you good. I would be very glad of it.

Wood.

If it please you to send for me, I woulde be verye glad to talk with you, for I like your talke wel. And then if it please your Lordship to examine me vpon any parti∣cular matter, I will shew you my minde therein, by gods grace,* 1.88 without dissimulation. But I pray you let me haue nothing to doe wyth M. Storie, for he is a man wythout reason, me thinke.

Chich.

Wel, or euer you goe, how say you to the vij. Sa∣craments? Let me heare what you say to them, y^t I maye be the willinger to send for you againe.

Wood.

* 1.89I know not vij. Sacraments.

Chich.

Then what shall I talke with you? Howe many doe you know?

Wood.

I knowe but two: one the sacrament of baptisme, and the other the supper of the Lorde.* 1.90 But if you can iust∣ly prooue by Gods woord, that there be more then two, I stand to be reformed.

Chich.

If I prooue not vij. by Gods woord, then beleue me not: and so he bade me farewell.

Then the Sheriffes two men, and one of doc. Stories men, caried me to doc. Cookes house, which doctor Cooke commaunded them to carie me to the Sheriffes prisone in Southwarke: saying, he shall be called before vs agayne shortly and all his fellowes, and we shal dispatch them for troubling the countrey any more.

* 1.91And so I was brought to the Marshalsea: where I now am mery (God be praised therfore) loking for iudge∣ment of my flesh: for they intende to dispatch me shortly, if God will geue them leaue: but God hath theyr hearts in his hāds, and they can do nothing to me, but as God wil geue them leaue. Wherefore I commit my cause to God onely,* 1.92 and I am sure there shall not one haire of my head pearish without my heauenly fathers wil, althogh I bide neuer so much trouble. Iob pearished not for all his trou∣ble, although God gaue the deuil leaue to trouble and try him diuers & many waies, as God hath suffered his mem¦bers to trouble and trie mee diuers and many waies, I praise God. They shall as little preuaile against my faith) I haue no mistrust) as y^e deuil preuailed not against Iob,* 1.93 whatsoeuer they doe with my goodes, life or body. For he that kept Iob in al his trouble, neither slombreth nor sle∣peth, but keepeth me & all his electe, that whether we liue or die, it shall be to the praise and glory of God. For if we liue, we liue at the Lordes wil, and if we die, we die to the Lordes will: so, whether we liue or die, we are y^e Lordes, blessed be his name therefore.

Wherfore, dere brethren and sisters, to whom this my wryting shall come, be of good cheare and feare not what man can do vnto you. For they can but kill the body:* 1.94 but feare him that hath power to kill both body and soul. And yet once againe I bid you be of good cheare. For the She∣riffe with diuers other Gentlemen and Priests, whilest I was at the Sheriffes house, said to me that all y^e heretikes in the coūtrey hong on me, as the people did in times past vpon S. Augustine, or S. Ambrose, or such like. Wherfore said they, looke well on it, you haue a great thing to aun∣swer for. To the which I answered: I pray God lay no∣thing more to my charge, then he will doe for heresie, as I am sure he will not. For he hath set my sinnes as far from me, as it is from the East to the West:* 1.95 So that I am sure they shall neuer come neare to mee anye more. Yea, & that they call heresie, wee serue God withall.* 1.96 And I am sure there is no man nor woman that hangeth on me, but on God. But yet that is their imaginations and thoughtes, that if they might winne me to them, they should winne a great many likewise: and thinking to kill mee, if they can not win me, as I trust in God, and am sure they shall ne∣uer by Gods grace, if it were possible to kill me x. times: for I am so linked to Christ in a chaine by Faith,* 1.97 that it is vnpossible for men to loose vs a sunder, neither for life nor death. I praise my Lord God therfore. And no dout their full intent and purpose is to kill me, thinking thereby to make other afraide. Which death of my body were best of al for me, if God were so pleased. But if I may liue for the comfort of other, his name be praised therefore. I knowe what he can doe: but what he will do, I know not. But if death be offred me, so that I can not refuse it, without dis∣pleasing of God, I trust in God I shal not offēd my bre∣thren in receiuing of death, but shall be rather an occasion of the strengthening of their faith, by chusing & receiuing of it, and that with ioy. For as Christ hath geuen hys life for vs,* 1.98 so ought we to geue our liues for the defence of the gospel, and comfort of our brethren. And whereas the by∣shop sayeth, he will prooue vij. sacraments, be you oute of doubt he shal neuer be able to doe it, no more then he hath prooued other arguments with me already.

Thus fare ye well frō the Marshalsey, where I now am, as a sheepe appoynted to be slaine, God be praised therefore.

The second examination of Richard Wood∣man, before the bishop of Chichester, two of his Chapleines: and D. Story at the last came to vs, the xxvij. day of Aprill.

FIrst, I was sent for to the Marshalsey by Doctor Sto∣rie,* 1.99 and was caried to his house besides S. Nicholas Shambles: and when I had spoken to him, he sent me to the bishop of Chichester, and sayde, he would come to him his selfe straight way: and when we were in the Bishops Hall, we had not taried long, but the Bishop sent for me: and when I came before him, I did my duetie to him as much as I could.

Chich.

Then said the Bishop: You be welcome: howe doe you nowe?

Wood.

Well, I praise God, thanking your Lordship for the gentle talke that you hadde with me at my last depar∣ting from you.

Chich.

Well, goodman Woodman, I haue sent for you of loue & good wil that I bare to you, to talke with you: and I would haue you to tel me your minde in few woordes. For in dede the last time that I talked with you, our talke was so long, that I fell into a great drieth thereby, & haue bene the worse in my body euer since. Wherefore I praye you shew me your minde briefly, in those particular mat∣ters that I shall demaunde of you, according to your pro∣mise that you made when you were with me the last time. How say you, will you?

Wood.

Yea forsooth: I wil answere to any thing that you shall demaund of me (by Gods helpe) as wel as I can.

Chich.

Howe say you by the vij. Sacramentes? for there we leaft off, and there we will begin againe. You sayde then there were but two. How say you now to it? wil you denie all sauing two?

Wood.

I say now, as I sayd then. You sayd, there be vij. sacraments, and I said, I knew but two:* 1.100 but if you could

approue seuen by Gods word, when I came before you a∣gain, I must needes graunt thē. And you said, if you could not proue them by Gods word, I should not beleue thē: & now I am come to see how well you can proue thē. Here∣wit•• he was moued and all his Chapleines.

Chich.

By GOD and my troth, I weene he thinketh I can not proue them. How say you to the sacrament of Ma∣trimony?

Wood.

Why, my Lorde, Saynt Paule sayeth to Timo∣thy:* 1.101 A bishop should be faultles: and you vse much swea∣ring, which is a greate fault in a Byshop, of all other, that should be an example to the flocke. Then he and his Pre∣lates were in a great rage w^t me, because I reproued hym for his swearing.

Chich.

What, I perceiue this man is worse then he was the last day: what, he taketh vpō him to teach me to speak, as though I could not tell what I had to do.

Priest.

So me thinketh, my Lorde, he is a stout fellowe in deed, as we haue seene.

Wood.

Yea, I am stout, because I do that I am commaū∣ded. I dare not for my life holde my peace, for I shoulde beare your sinne,* 1.102 the which I will not doe for none of you all, I tell you playnely.

Chich.

Where finde you that you are commaunded to re∣proue me?

Wood.

If thou see thy Brother sinne, reproue hym: if hee repent, thou hast won thy Brother. But you repent it not, me thinketh, but rather goe about to mainteine the same. Christ sayth: He that breaketh one of the least of my commaun∣dementes, and teacheth men so, shall be called least in the king∣dome of heauen: and you goe about to teach men so, as farre as I see.

Priest.

Why my Lord, this man is past cure. I see no hope in him.

Chich.

* 1.103No, so me thinketh. I will neuer talke wyth hym more, Go cal M. Story: let him do with him what he wil. He hath bene with his felowes in the Marshalsea, & now he is worse then he was before. I had some hope in him y^e other day, but now I see none.

Wood.

No, I prayse God, my fayth hangeth vpon no mē, but vpon God.

Priest.

Nay, my Lord, I think he is not the worse for thē: bu•• I feare me they be the worse for him. I know this mā of old, before mine old Lord.

Wood.

Well my Lord, looke well to it: will you deliuer me to other men▪ to shed my bloud, and so think to wash your hands of me, as Pilate did by Christ? Nay you can not be so discharged.

Chichest.

I haue nothing to doe with you: but of my gen∣tlenes I haue sent for you, because you said, you would de∣clare you mind in any particular matter that I would de∣maund of you.

Wood.

Why, I doe not deny but I will doe so, if you doe demaūd it of me. But you go about to deliuer me to other to kill me? and I know that there is none that hath to do with me but you.

Chich.

* 1.104I am not consecrated yet: wherfore my Lord Car∣dinal may examine you, and condemne you, or my Lord of London, for you are now in his Dioces.

Wood.

Yea my Lord, is the matter euen so? Then I per∣ceiue wherabout you go. Nay, I will talke no more wyth you then, if you be at that poynt. Aske me what you will: but I will shew you nothing of my mind. I promise you, I will not aunswere in particuler matters, and so you to accuse me to other, and they to kill me.

Chich.

I goe not about to kill you, but woulde be glad to heare your minde in the sacramēts, that if you vnderstand them not aright, I would be glad with al my hart to shew you my mind how I vnderstand them. For I would you should do as well as mine owne selfe.

Wood.

If you woulde talke with me to doe me good, I would be content to heare you, and shew you my mind: o∣therwise I would be loth.

Chich.

Nay, I will promise you, if I can do you no good, I will do you no harme: for if I meant to doe you harme, I could lay your owne hande writing against you, but I will not:* 1.105 wherefore be in no doubt of me. How say you to y^e sacrament of Matrimony? Is it a sacrament or no? How thinke you by it?

Wood.

I thinke it is a holy institution ordeined of God in Paradise, and so to continue to the worldes end.

Chich.

Lo, now you shall see how you be deceiued in that, as you be in all the rest. Come hither. You can read Latin I am ••ure.

Wood.

Yea, I can read latin, but I vnderstand very litle.

Chich.

Come to me, you shall see that Paule calleth it a ho∣ly Sacrament. For these be the wordes: For this cause shall a man leaue father and mother,* 1.106 and shall be ioyned to his wife: and two shall be made one flesh: This is a great Sacrament.* 1.107

Wood

I remember such a saying: but S. Paule calleth it not a sacrament. But he sayth: It is a great mystery.

Chich.

Where sayth he so?

Wood.

I am not sure in what Texte it is, but I am sure these be S. Paules wordes, and that he calleth it not a sa∣crament in all his writinges.

Chichest.

What, the last daye ye were full of Scriptures: here it is written and there it is written. What, wee can rehearse the Scriptures, as well as you. Wherefore, if we be sure it bee written, it is no greate matter for the place. Come hither, I will shew you the place, I thinke, that you meane.

Wood.

I looked, and it was writtē Sacramentum.* 1.108 I know it is a great mistery in the English translation.

Chich.

I permit it be a mistery. What is a mistery?

Wood.

A mystery is (I take it) vnseene: for he sayth, he speaketh betwixt Christ & the congregation. So the great mystery that he speaketh of, I take to be the fayth of them that be maried, which is hid in christ, the which we see not, but Christe. But the deede which is in the congregation, which is the outward mariage we see, but the inward ma∣riage of y^e hart we see not. Wherefore Paul calleth it a my∣stery. And therfore, if it be a sacramēt, it is inuisible to vs: It is not seene, as other sacraments be.

Chichest.

Nay, I tell you it is a visible Sacrament, seene as the other be: for is not the mariage seen? is not the man and woman seene?

Wood.

My Lord▪ I pray you what is a sacrament?

Chich.

It is the signe of a holy thing.

Wood.

Me thinkes you haue certified mee verye well. There neede not be a signe of a holy thing, where the holy thing is it selfe. Then hys Chapleynes woulde haue in∣terrupted me, but I desired my Lorde I might say out my minde in the matter. So with much adoe he bade me saye what I could.

There neede not to be a signe of a thing, where the thing is it self.* 1.109 Ma∣trimony is a holy thing it selfe and is ended outwardly, and neede no more signes but themselues: Wherefore it canne not be a Sacrament as other bee.

Chich.

Loe, how much you speake a∣gaynste your selfe.* 1.110 And as for an ex∣ample? I come by a Hosier, and there hangeth a payre of Hose, the which be Hose, and be a signe of hose that be to ••ell within.

Priest.

How say you to this? Now my Lord hath hit you home in deed.

Wood.

He hath hit me perillously, I tell you with sophi∣stry to blinde mine eyes withall. I maruell you be not all ashamed of it. I can answere that, to all your shames, if I might be iustly heard, I tell you playnely.

Priest.

What, you be angry me thinkes.

Wood.

I am not angrye, but I am earnest, I tell you, to see your blindnes and folly.* 1.111 I talked of the Scriptures that be written, and it is Gods worde, to prooue my mat∣ter true by, and you wil proue your matter true by a paire of hose. And as well can you proue it by that, as by Gods word.

Priest

Why, is there nothinge true, but that is written in the Bible?

Wood.

S. Paule saith to the Galathians the first chapter: If an Aungell come from heauen, and preach any other doctrine then may be proued by Gods word, hold him accursed: & so doe I, I tell you playnely.

Priest.

Here is a Testament in my hand: if I hurle him in the fire and burne him, haue I burned gods word, or not?* 1.112 I will buy a new for xvj. pence.

Wood.

I saye, you haue burned Gods worde, and I be∣leue, he that will burne a testament willingly, would burn God him selfe, if he were here, if he could: for he and hys word are all one.

Then they made a great laughing at it,

Wood.

Laugh on (quoth I) Your laughing will be turned to weeping, and all such ioy will be turned to mourning. if you repent it not with speed.

Chich.

Then the bishop begon to helpe to cloake the Prie∣stes folly, saying: why, if my Counting house were full of bookes, and if my house should be on fire by chaūce, and so be burned, were Gods word burned?

Wood.

No, my Lord, because they were burned against your will: but yet if you shoulde burne them willingly, or think it well, & not being sory for it, you burn Gods word as well as he. For he that is not sory for a shrewd turne, doth allow it to be good.

Chich.

Folow your vocation: you haue a little learning. We haue an aultar, whereof you may not eate. What meane••h S. Paule thereby?

Wood.

* 1.113There is no manne so foolishe, to eate stones, I trowe.

Chichest.

What Mockers and Scorners be you, to saye no manne will be so foolishe, to eate stones? it is a playne mocke.

Wood.

Why, my Lorde, you sayde I had no learnyng, nor knowledge, nor vnderstanding. Wherefore it becom∣meth you to make things more plaine to me, & not to aske me such darcke questions, and yet blame me too: me thinke it is too much.

Chic.

I dare say you know what it meaneth wel enough. The most foole in my house will vnderstand my meaning better then you do.

Wood.

There stoode some of his menne not farre of, tal∣king together beside a window. He called one of them by his name.

Chich.

Come hither. I say to thee, thou shalt not eate of this table. What do I meane therby?

The man.

* 1.114Forsoothe, my Lorde, you woulde not haue mee eate of this table, laying his hand thereuppon. With this answere he made all them in the house to fall on laughing, and I could not holde it in, but burste out with laughter, and sayd.

Wood.

Hee hath expounded the matter almoste as well as I.

Chich.

He meaneth well enough, if you woulde vnder∣stand him.

Aunswere me agayne, to make it more playne. I saye to thee, thou shalt not eate of this Table. What meane I thereby?

The man.

Forsoothe you woulde not haue mee eate thys Table.

Wood

These wordes made them al laugh. Wherwith the bishop was almost angry, because the answere proued no better, and sayd.

Chich,

He meaneth that I would not haue him eate anye of the meat that is set vpon this Table. How sayest thou, doest thou not meane so?

The man.

* 1.115Yes forsooth my Lorde, that was my meanyng in deede.

Wood.

Yea, my Lorde, nowe you haue tolde him what you meane, he can say so too: and so could I haue done (as litle witte as I haue) if you had sayd Paule meant that no man might eat of that which was offered vpon the aultar, but the priestes.

Chich.

Yea, I perceiue you vnderstande the meaning of Paule well enough, but that you list to cauell with me.

Wood.

Why, my Lord, doe you thinke I vnderstand such darcke places of the scripture, without learning? you sayd euen now, I had no knowledge nor learning, wherefore I aunswered you, as you iudged of me.

Chich.

* 1.116Well, let this matter passe, and let vs turne to the principall agayne. Howe say you by the Sacrament of the Aultar?

Wood.

You meane the sacrament of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ.

Chic.

I meane the sacrament of the aultar, and so I say.

Wood.

You meane Christ to be the aultar, do you not?

Chich.

I mean the sacrament of the aultare in the church. What, is it so straunge to you?

Wood.

It is straunge to me in deede, if you meane the aul∣tar of stone.* 1.117

Chich.

It is that aultar that I meane.

Wood.

I vnderstand not the aultar so.

Chich.

No, I thinke so in deede: and that is the cause that you be deceiued. I pray you, how doe you vnderstand the aultar then?

Wood.

If you will geue me leaue till I haue done, I will shew you how I vnderstand the aultar, and where it is.

Chich.

Yes, you shall haue leaue to say your minde, as much as you will.

Wood.

It is written. Mat. 18. That wheresoeuer two or three be gathered together in Christes name,* 1.118 there is he in the midst a∣mong them: and whatsoeuer they aske the father vpon earth, it shalbe graunted them in heauen, agreeing to the 5. of Math. saying: When thou commest to offer thy gift at the aultar, and there remēbrest that thy brother hath ought agaynst thee,* 1.119 leaue there thy offering, and go first and be reconciled to thy brother, and then offer thy gift. The priests would haue interrupted me: but the bishop bad them let me alone.

Chich.

You shall heare a prety conclusion anone.

Wood.

I pray you let me make an end, and then find fault with me if you can. Now to the matter. In these two pla∣ces of scripture,* 1.120 I proue that Christ is y^e true aultar, wher on euery christian man & woman ought to come and offer their giftes. First wheresoeuer the people are gathered to∣gether in Christes name, there is he in the midst: & where he is, there is the aultar, so that we may be bold to come & offer our gift, if we be in loue and charity: if we be not, we must leaue there our offering, and go first and be reconci∣led to our brother, & agree with him quickely, and so forth, and then come and offer thy gift. Some will say, how shal I agree with my aduersary,* 1.121 when he is not nigh by a hū∣dred miles? may I not pray till I haue spoken with him? To al such I answere: if thou presume to pray among the faithful, wyshing any euil to any mā, womā or child, thou askest vengeaunce vpon thy selfe. For no such asketh any thing els of the Lord in his prayer. Wherefore agree with thy aduersary: y^t is, make thy life agreable to Gods word. Saye in thy harte without dissimulation, that thou askest God and all the world forgeuenes from the bottom of thy hart, entending neuer to offēd thē any more. Thē all such may be bold to come & offer their gifte, their prayer on the aultar, where y^e people of god be gathered together. Thus haue I shewed you my mind, both of y^e aultar, & of the of∣fering, as I vnderstand it.

Chich.

Doe you vnderstand the offering and the aultar so? I neuer heard any man vnderstand it so, no not Luther y^e great hereticke, that was condēned by a generall Coūcell, and his picture burned.

Wood.

If he were an heretick, I thinke he vnderstoode it not so in deed: but I am sure all Christians ought to vn∣derstand it so.

Chich.

O what vayne glory is in you, as though you vn∣derstood all thing, & other men nothing. Heare me: I will shew you the true vnderstanding, both of the aultar, & the offering on the aultar. We haue an aultar (sayd Paul) that ye may not eate of▪* 1.122 meaning thereby that no man might eat of that which was offered on the aultar, but the Priest. For in Paules time all the liuing that the Priest had, the peo∣ple came & offered it on the aultar, mony or other thinges: and when the people came to offer it, and then remēbred that they had any thing agaynst their brother, thē they left their offering vpon the aultar, and went & were reconci∣led to theyr brother: and they came agayne and offred their gift, and the Priest had it. This is the true vnderstanding of the place that you haue rehersed: wherefore you be de∣ceiued.

Wood.

My Lord, that was the vse in the olde law. Christ was the ende of that. But in deede I perceiue by Paules wordes, the sacrifice was offered in Paules time: yet that maketh not that it was wel done, but he rebuked it. Wher¦fore, it seemeth to me that you be deceiued.

Chich.

Who shall be iudges betwixt vs in this matter?* 1.123

Wood.

The xij. of Iohn declareth who shall be iudge in y^e last day.

Chich.

You meane the word shall iudge the word: Howe can that be?

Wood.

Saynct Peter sayth: The Scripture hath no priuate interpretation▪ but one scripture must be vnderstand by an other.

Chich.

And you will vnderstande it one way, and I wyll vnderstand it an other way: and who shalbe Iudges be∣twixt vs then?

Wood.

The true church of God is able to discusse al doub∣tes: to whom I referre it.

Chich.

I am glad you say so, if you will say so in deed.* 1.124

Wood.

My Lord, I neuer meant otherwise.

Chich.

The Church of God doth allow the Sacrament of the aultar.

Wood.

What do you offer now vpon the aultar?

Chich.

We offer vp in the blessed Sacramente of the Aul∣tar the body of Christ,* 1.125 to pacifye the wrath of God the Fa∣ther: and therewith they put off their cappes all, to that a∣bominable Idoll.

Wood.

Saynt Paule sayth to the Hebrues, in the x. chap. We are sanctified by the offering of the body of Iesus Christ vpon the crosse once for all: and euery Priest is dayly mini∣string & oftentimes offereth one maner of offering, which can neuer take away sinnes: and that is the offering that you vse to offer. As farre as I can see, you be priestes after the order of Aaron, that offered vp Sacrifice for their own sinnes, and the sinnes of the people.

Chichest.

Nay, Aarons sacrifice was with bloud, whiche signifieth the death of Christe, the whiche was ended vp∣on the Crosse by his bloudshedding: but we are Priestes after the order of Melchisedech,* 1.126 the whiche offered breade to the king in remembraunce, and signified the geuing of Christes body in bread & wine at his last supper, the whi∣che he gaue to his disciples, & commaunded it to be vsed to the end of the world. This is the sacrifice that we offer, ac∣cording to his word.

Woodman.

Me thinke you haue made the matter verye

playne to me, that as Christ was the ende of all Sacrifi∣ces, so was he the beginning of the Sacramentes, willing them to be vsed in the remembraunce of him, to the worl∣des end.

Chichest.

What, in remembraunce of hym, and not hym selfe,* 1.127 as his worde sayth: Take, eate, this is my body? It is not the signe onely, but the thing it selfe. How say you? is it not his body, after the words be spoken by the priest? How say you? goe briefly to worke, for I can not long ta∣ry with you.

Wood.

My Lord, if you will answere me to one sacramēt, I will answere you to another.

Chich.

Yes, I am very well contented with that.

Wood.

If you say the words of baptisme ouer the water, & there be no childe there, is there true baptisme?

Chich.

No, there must be the water, the worde, and the child, and then it is baptisme.

Wood.

Uerye well. Then if a childe bee Baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, it is not truely ba∣ptised.

Chich.

No the childe muste bee baptised in the name of the father, & of the sonne, & the holy ghost, or els it is not tru∣ly baptised.

Wood.

Then there may be nothing added, nor takē away from the Sacraments: may there?

Chich.

No, sayd the Bishop.

Wood.

Now, my Lord, I will answere to you, if it please you.

Chich.

Well, how say you. Take, eat, this is my body: is it not Christes body, as soone as the wordes be sayd?

Wood.

My Lorde, I will aunswere you by your owne wordes,* 1.128 that you aunswered me, whi••h is true: the water, the word, and the childe, all these together make baptisme: the bread, wine, and the word make the Sacrament: & the eater, eating in true fayth, maketh it his body. Here I proue it is not Christes body, but to the faythfull receiuer. For he sayd: Take, eat, this is my body.

He called it not his body before eating, but after eat∣ing. And Saynt Augustine sayth: Crede, & manducasti: Be∣leue, and thou hast eaten And Saynt Iohn sayth: He that be∣leueth in God, dwelleth in God, and God in him: wherfore it is vnpossible to dwell in God, and to eat his body, without a true fayth.

Priest.

* 1.129Then the fayth of the receiuer maketh it his body, & not his word, by your saying. I pray you, what did Iu∣das eate?

Wood.

Iudas did eat the sacrament of Christ, and the de∣uill withall.

Priest.

He eat the body of Christ vnworthely, as S. Paule sayth.

Wood.

Nay, S. Paule sayth no such thing. He speaketh not of eating of his body vnworthely, but of the sacrament vnworthely. For he sayth: Who soeuer eateth of this bread, & drinketh of this cup vnworthely, eateth and drinketh his owne damnation, because he maketh no difference of the Lordes body: and not because he eateth the Lordes body. If Iudas had eat Christes body,* 1.130 it must needes folow that Iudas is sa∣ued. For Christ sayth in the sixt of Iohn: Who so euer eateth my flesh, and drinketh my bloud, hath eternall life, and I will raise him vp agayne at the last day.

Priest.

My Lord, this man is an interpreter after his own minde.

Chich.

I see it is but folly to talke with you: it is but lost labour. How say you? Doe you not beleue, that after the wordes be sayd,* 1.131 there remayneth neither bread nor wyne, but the very body of Christ really? make me a playne aun∣swere, for I will talke no more with you.

Wood.

I will make you no directe aunswere, howe I be∣leue of the true Sacrament. I doe beleue, that if I come to receiue the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ, truely ministred,* 1.132 beleuing that Christ was borne for mee, and that he suffered death for me, and that I shall be saued from my sinnes by his bloudshedding, & so receiuing the Sacrament in that remembraunce, then I beleue I do re∣ceiue wholly Christ, God and mā, mistically by fayth: this is my beliefe.

Chich.

Why then it is no body without fayth. Gods word is of no force, as you count it.

Wood.

My Lorde, I haue tolde you my minde without dissimulation, & more you get not of me, without you will talke with me by the Scriptures: and if you will do so, I will beginne anew with you, & proue it more plainly thre or foure maner of wayes, that you shall not say nay to that I haue sayd, your selfe.

Then they made a great laughing, and sayd: Thys is an Hereticke in deede, it is time he were burned: Which wordes moued my spirite, and I sayde to them: Iudge not least you be iudged. For as you iudge me, you shall be iudged your selues. For that you call heresy, I serue God truely with, as you all shall well know, when you shalbe in hell, and haue bloud to drinke, and shalbe compelled to say for payne: This was the mā that we iested on, & whose talke we thought foolishnes, and his end to be without ho∣nour:* 1.133 but now we may see how he is counted among the Sayntes of GOD, and we are punished. These wordes shall you say, being in hell, if you repent not with speed, if you consent to the shedding of my bloud: wherefore looke to it, I geue you counsell.

Priest.

What, you be angry, me thinkes. Now I will saye more to you, then I thought to haue done. You were at Baxill a twelue moneth agone, & sent for the Parson & tal∣ked with him in the Churchyard, and would not goe into the church: for you sayd: it was the Idols temple. Yea I was with mine olde Lorde, when he came to the Kinges Bench to you, and you sayd many stout wordes to him.

Wood.

That I sayde, I sayde: and where you sayde, I was angrye, I take God to my recorde, I am not, but am zelous in the truth,* 1.134 & speake out of the spirite of God with chearefulnes.

Priest.

The spirite of God? hough, hough, hough: thinke you that you haue the spirit of God?

Wood.

I beleue surely that I haue the spirite of GOD, I praise God therfore: and you be deceiuers, mockers, and scorners before God, and be the childrē of hel, all the sort of you, as farre as I can see. And therwith came in D. Sto∣ry, poynting at me with his finger, speaking to the bishop in Latin, saying at length.

Story,

I can say nothing to him, but he is an hereticke.* 1.135 I haue heard you talke this houre and a halfe, and can heare no reasonablenes in him.

Wood.

Iudge not, lest you be iudged: for as you iudge, you shalbe iudged your selfe.

Story.

What be you a preaching? you shal preach at a stake shortly with your felowes. My Lord, trouble your self no more with him.

With these wordes, one brought woorde that the Ab∣bot of Westminster was come to dyne with the Byshop, and many other gentlemen and women. Then there was rushing away with speed to meet him. Then sayd Doctor Story to my keeper.

Story.

Cary him to the Marshalsee againe,* 1.136 and let him be kept close, and let no body come to speake with him.

Wood.

And so they departed. Then one of the priestes be∣gon to flatter with me, and sayd: for Gods sake remember your selfe. God hath geuen you a good wit: you haue read the scriptures well, & haue borne them wel in memory: It were great pity you should do amisse.

Wood.

What a flatterer be you, to say my wit is good, and that I haue red the scriptures well: & but euen now you said I was an heretike & despised me. If I be an heretike I can haue no good wit as you haue cōfessed. But I think your owne consciēce doth accuse you. God geue you grace to repent, if it be his will.

Priest.

I cal it a good wit, because you are expert in all que∣stions.

Wood.

You may call it a wicked wit if it agree not with gods word. Then one cried: Away, away, here commeth strangers. So we departed, & I came againe to the Mar∣shalsee with my Keeper.

¶The third examination of Richard Woodman (co∣pied with his owne hand) before D. Langdall parson of Buxted in Sussex, and Chaplaine to my Lord Montague, and M. Iames Gage, at my Lord Montagues house beside S. Mary Oueries in Southwarke, the 12. day of May, Anno. 1557.

THe 1••. day of May the Marshal came to the Marshal∣see & sent for me to speake with him.* 1.137 When I came be∣fore him, & had done my dutie, he asked my name, & what countrey man I was, I shewed him both. Then he asked me when I was abroad in the city. To whom I answe∣red, if it shal please your maistership, I was abroad in the citie on Monday was seuennight.

Marshall.

What made you abroad?

Wood.

The B. o•• Chichester sent for me to talke with mee at home at his house beside S. Nicholas shambles.

Mar.

Were you abroad no otherwise then so?

Wood.

No forsooth: I was neuer abroad since I was sent hither, but then. For I haue nothing to do abroad, vnlesse they send for me.

Mar.

This is a marueilous matter. I promise you I was not so rebuked these 7. yeares,* 1.138 as I was for you within these 3. dayes. It is reported that you were abroad in the citie at certaine Tauernes, & spake seditious wordes both in the Tauernes and Streetes as you went.

Wood.

Syr, the trueth is, I was in neuer a house or Ta∣uerne, whiles I was abroad, but in the bishops house, as my keeper can, & will (I am sure) testify: nor I neuer tal∣ked with any man in the streetes as I came, but with my keeper, sauing with one man in deede, of the Parishe of Framfield in Sussex, where M. Iames Gage dwelleth. His name is Rob. Smith, being one of my most enemies: who stood in a waine as we came by, and was vnlading of Cheese (me thought) but a litle way from the Marshalsee. In deede I bade him God speede, and asked him howe he did: and he sayd, well, he thanked me: and he asked me how I did, and I sayd, well, I prayse God: & that was all the talke that we had: & these wordes were spoken as I came by him. I promise you sir, I stoode not still while I spake thē, as my keeper can tell: and I thinke these words were no seditious wordes, but might be spoken well enough (I thinke) or els it were very strayt.

Marshall.

* 1.139Then it is to bee thought, that that man repor∣ted otherwise then it was. I am gladde it is as you say. Well make you ready, for you must go forth straight way, where you shall be examined of that and of other thinges, where you shal aunswere for your selfe. Go make hast: for I will ••ary till you be ready.

Wood.

* 1.140So I departed from him, & went to my prison fe∣lowes, & took my leaue of them desiring thē to pray for me, for I thought verely to come no more to them. For I sup∣posed I should haue gone before the Counsell, because the Marshall sayd he would tary for me himselfe: and especi∣ally because he sayd it was reported that I had spoken se∣ditious words, it made me to think it is possible that there may be some false things imagined vpon me, to bring me to my end. I remembred that Christ sayd: The seruant is not aboue his Lord. Seyng the Iewes brought false witnes a∣gaynst Christ, I thought they would do much more, or at the least doe so to me, •••• God would suffer thē: which made me cast the worste. But I was and am sure (I prayse my Lord God) that all the world is not able to accuse me iust∣ly of any such thing. Which thing considered, made me me∣ry and ioyfull: and I was surely certified that they coulde do no more against me, then God would geue them leaue: And so I bad my prison fellowes farewell, and went into the Porters Lodge to the Marshall, and he deliuered me to one of his owne men, and to one of my Lord Mounta∣gues men,* 1.141 and bade me go with them: and they caryed me to my Lord Mountagues place in Southwarke not farre from S. Mary Oueries, and brought me into a chamber in my Lord Mountagues house: and there was one Doc. Langdale, chapleine to my Lord. My keepers sayd to the Docto••: this is the man that we went for.

Lang.

Is your name Woodman?

Wood.

Yea forsooth, that is my name.

Lang.

Then hee beganne with a greate Circumstaunce, and sayd: I am sory for you, that you will not be ruled, but stand so much in your owne conceite, displeasing your fa∣ther and other, iudging that all the Realme doth euil, saue a few that doe as you do: with many such wordes, whiche be too long to rehearse: but I will declare the substaunce of them.

Lang.

What think you of them that died long agone, your Graundfather,* 1.142 with theyr fathers before them? You iudge them to be damned, & all other that vse the same that they did, throughout all Christendome, vnlesse it be in Germa∣ny and here in England a few yeares, and in Denmark: & yet they are returned againe. Thus we are sure this is the truth, and I would you should do well. Your father is an honest man and one of my parish, and hath wept to me di∣uers times, because you would not be ruled: and he loueth you well, & so doth all the country, both rich and poore, if it were not for those euill opiniōs that you hold with many such like tales of Robin Hood.

Wood.

I pray you geue me leaue to speake a fewe wordes to you.

Lang.

Yes, say your mind.

Wood.

You haue told a great tale and a long, as it were a∣gaynst me (as you thinke) saying, I hold this and that: I iudge my Father and my Graundfather, and almost al the world, without it be a few that be of our sect. But I iudge no manne. But the xij. of Iohn declareth, who it is that iudgeth, and shall iudge in the last day. The father shal not beare the sonnes offences, nor the sonne the fathers offen∣ces: but that soule that sinneth shall dye, as sayth the Prophet. And agayne,* 1.143 we may not folow a multitude to do euill, as sayth the Prophet: For the most goe the wrong way. And Christ sayth in the xij. of Luke, that his flock is a litle flock. Here be places enough to discharge me, although I do not as the most doe. But can any man say, that I do not as I ought to do? where be my accusers?

Lang.

What, you be full of scripture me thinke, and call for your accusers, as though you were afrayde to vtter your mind to me. But I woulde haue you not to be afrayde to talk with me: For I meane no more hurt to you then I do to my selfe, I take God to my record.

Wood.

I cannot tell. It is hard trusting of fayre wordes, when a man cannot trust his father nor brother,* 1.144 nor other that haue bene his familiar frendes, but they deceiue him. A man may lawfully follow the example of Christ towar∣des them that he neuer saw before, saying: Be as wise as Ser∣pentes, and as innocent as doues. Beware of men, for they goe a∣bout to betray you. And it maketh me suspect you much, be∣cause you blame me for answering with the scriptures. It maketh me to doubt that you would take vauntage of me, if I should speake mine owne wordes. Wherefore I will take as good heede as I can, because I haue bene deceiued already by them I trusted most. Wherefore blame me not though I aunswere circumspectly. It shall not be sayd, by Gods helpe, that I will run wilfully into mine enemyes handes, and yet, I prayse God, my life is not deare to my selfe, but it is deare with God: Wherfore I will do the vt∣termost that I can to keepe it.

Lang.

You be afrayd where no feare is,* 1.145 for I was desired of Mayster Sheriffe and his brother, and of other of your frendes, to talke with you, and they told me thot you were desirous to talke with me, and now ye make the matter as though you had nothing to doe with me, & as though you were sent to prison for nothing: for you call for your accu∣sers, as though there were no man to accuse you. But if there were no man to accuse you, your own hand writing did accuse you enough, that you set vpon the Church doore (if you be remembred) and other letters that you let fall a∣broad, some at one place, and some at an other. Wherefore you need not to cal for your accusers. Your own hand wil accuse you enough, I warrant you: it is kept safe enough. I would not for two hundred pounde there were so much agaynst me.

Wood.

I will not deny mine owne hand, by Gods helpe. For it cannot be lightly counterfayted. I doe not deny but I wrote a letter to the priest and other of the parish, decla∣ring to them theyr folly and presumption, to come into my house without my loue or leaue and fet out my childe, and vse it at their pleasure.* 1.146 Which moued me to write my mind to them: and because I coulde not tell how to conuey it to them, I set it on the Church doore. Which letter my Lorde of Chichester hath: for he shewed it me whē I was before him: wherin is conteined nothing but the very scriptures, to theyr reproch. Let it be layde before me when you or hee will: I will answere to it by the helpe of God, to all theyr shames that I wrote it to. And as for any other letters, I wrote none, as you say I did, neither had I wrote that, if they had done like honest neighbours. Wherfore if they be offended with me, for that I wil aunswere thē with Chri∣stes wordes, in the 18. of Math. woe vnto themselues, be∣cause they gaue me the occasion.

And whereas you sayd, I was desirous to speak with you, and that Maister Sheriffe and his brother, and other of my frendes willed me to talke with you, and that I fare nowe as though I had nothing to doe with you, and as though I were sent to prison for nothing: the truth is, I know no more wherefore I am sent to prison, thē the least child in this towne knoweth. And as for me, I desired not M. Sheriffe to speake with you: but in deede he desired me that I would speake with you, & to vtter my fayth to you.* 1.147 For he supposed that I did not beleeue well: & he reported you to bee learned. But I refused to talke with you at the first. For I remēbred not that you were the parsō of Bux∣ted: wherfore I sayd to him, I would not vtter my faith to any but to the bishop. I sayd, he is mine Ordinary: wher∣fore I appeale vnto him. I am commaunded by S. Peter in the first Epistle the thyrd chap. to render account of my hope that I haue in god, to him that hath authority: wher∣fore I will talke with none in that matter, but with hym. Wherefore send me to him, if you will, or els there shall no man know my fayth, I tell you playnely.

These wordes then made the Sheriffe angry, and he went his way: and when he was gone from me, I remē∣bred that it was you that he would haue me to talke with, and then I remembred that I had made a promise to my father, and goodman Day of Uefield, not past a fournight before I was taken,* 1.148 that when so euer you came into the country, I would speak with you by Gods helpe, because they praysed you so muche, that yee were learned, and they would fayne here vs talke.

So al these thinges called to remēbrance, I desired my keeper, which was the Sheriffes man to shew his maister that I would fayne speake with him: for I had remēbred things that were not in my mind before, when I spake to him. So he went to his maister, & shewed him the matter,

and he came to me: and then I told him my mind, & what promise I had made: and he said, he would send for you on the morow, as he did, and the messēger brought word you could not come: you preached before the Queene, he sayde. Wherupon the Sheriffe came vp himselfe, and spake to the Bishop that he should come downe, but he was sicke. So when he came home agayne, he sent me to the Bishop, and I haue talked with him twise already,* 1.149 and I am sure he can find no fault in me, if he say iustly: and yet I know not wherefore I was sent to prison: For I was not guilty of that whiche was layde to my charge, that I had baptised children, the which I neuer did, as God knoweth: where∣fore I haue wrong to be thus handled.

D. Lang.

In deed it hath bene reported that you haue chri∣stened children, & that you christened your owne child: but since I heard say you would not haue the child christened, which is a damnable way, if you deny baptisme: and they sayd, your child was not christened in a fourtnight or three weekes after it was borne, and the chiefest of the Parishe were fayne to fetch it out of your house agaynst your wyll. Wherefore you wrote rayling wordes agaynst the Prieste and them for theyr good will:* 1.150 the which declareth that you allowe not baptising of children. And if the childe had dy∣ed, it had bene damned, because it was not Christened, and you shoulde haue bene damned, because you were the lette thereof.

Wood.

What abhominable lies haue you told? Be you not ashamed to speake such wordes as you haue done? Fyrste you say, I christened mine owne childe, and by and by you sayd, I denyed baptising of childrē, and that my child was a fortnight or three weekes old ere it was baptised. What abhominable lyes be these? I neither baptised my child my selfe, neither held agaynst the baptising of it, but did moste gladlye allowe it: for it was baptised as soone as it was borne, and I was glad therof: therfore you be to blame to report so of me.

Lang.

* 1.151I pray you, who baptised it? some vnthrift of your prouiding.

Wood.

Nay surely the Midwife baptised it.

Lang.

But it was your mind that it should be so.

Wood.

Nay sure, I was not me home by almost xx. miles nor heard that my wife was brought to bed four dayes af∣ter the child was christened. For it was not like to liue: & therfore the Midwife baptised it.

Lang.

Would you haue had it to church to haue bene chri∣stened,* 1.152 if it had not bene christened?

Wood.

That is no matter what I woulde haue yone. I am sure you can not denye but it is sufficiently done, if the Midwife do it, and I hold not agaynst the doing of it, nei∣ther did I it my selfe, as you sayd I did.

Lang.

Wherfore were you displeased with them that fet it to Church?

Wood.

First tell me whether the child were not truely ba∣ptised by the Midwife?

Langd.

Yes, it was truely Baptised, if shee Baptised it in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holye Ghost.

Wood.

Yes that I am sure shee did, and you graunte that was sufficient: and the cause that I blamed them for, was because they did more to it then neede was,* 1.153 by your owne saying. Yea, they fet it out of my house without my leaue: the which was not well done.

Lang.

They had it to Church to confirme that was done.

Wood.

Yea, but th•••• was more then needs. But God for∣geue them, if it be his will. But let that matter passe. But I would you should not say that I hold agaynst baptising of children, for I doe not, I take God to recorde: but doe allowe it to be most necessary, if it be truely vsed. But me thought you spake wordes euen now that were vncomely to be spoken: if a childe die, & be not baptised, it is damned. How thinke you? be all damned that receiue not the out∣ward signe of baptisme?

Lang.

Yea that they be.

Wood.

How proue you that?

Lang.

* 1.154Goe, sayth Christ, and baptise in the name of the fa∣ther, and of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost, and he that beleueth, and is baptised, shalbe saued: and he that beleueth not shalbe damned. These be the wordes of Christ, which are my warrant.

Wood.

Then by your saying, baptisme bringeth fayth, and all that be Baptised in the water, shall be saued: shall they? how say you?

Lang.

Yea, that they shall: if they die before they come to di∣scretiō,* 1.155 they shalbe saued euery one of them, and all that be not baptised shall be damned euery one of them.

Wood.

Then my spirite was moued with him to reprooue him sharply, because I had manifest scriptures fresh in my mind agaynst his saying. Then sayd I.

O Lord God, how dare you speake suche blasphemye agaynst God and his word, as you doe? howe dare you for your life to take vpon you to preache, & teach the people, & vnderstand not what you say?* 1.156 For I protest before GOD you vnderstande not the scriptures, but as far as naturall reason can comprehēd. For if you did, you would be asha∣med to speake as you do.

Lang.

Wherein haue I spoken amisse? take heede, you haue a toy in your head wil make you dispayre. I dare say you can not tell what you say. Wherefore reproue you me as you do?

Wood.

Because you blaspheme GOD: and as for dis∣payring, take heed to your selfe. For I can not see but you be out of your wit alreadye· and as for me, I prayse God, I can tell what I say, and what you haue sayd: the whiche shall turne to your shame, if you wil talke the Scriptures with me.

So, when hee perceiued that I spake earnestlye, and challenged hym to talke by the woorde, his colour began to chaunge, and his fleshe beganne to tremble and quake. And I sayd.

Proue your sayinges true, if you can: for I will proue them false, by Gods helpe. You sayd. All children, or o∣ther that be not baptised with water, all shall be damned. I dare not say so, for all the good in the worlde. And you brought in the saying of Christ for your warrant. In the xvi. of Marke it is written: Who so beleueth, and is baptised, shalbe saued: which words be very true: and who so beleueth not, shalbe damned. Which words be very true also. He say∣eth: He that beleueth not, shalbe damned. Yea S. Iohn sayeth: He that beleueth not, is condemned already, because he beleueth not. But neither of these two scriptures, nor no other scri∣ptures in all the newe Testament sayth, that he that is not baptised, shalbe damned, or is damned already. But if he be∣leue not, he shalbe damned, and is damned already, as is afore∣sayd. Then he woulde haue interrupted me, & would haue layd to my charge, that I was an Anabaptist. But I wold geue him no place to speake, but sayd:

Let me make an end, and then say what you can. You shall haue as much to doe, by Gods helpe, with this mat∣ter, as euer you had to aunsweare thing in your life. You knowe (I am sure) it is no maner to plucke a tale out of a mans mouth, nor it is not the order of reasoning, as you know that better then I can tell you. Then Doctor Lang∣dale bade me say on.

Wood.

My saying was, that they that beleue not,* 1.157 shall be damned, and be dāned already. But I dare not say, for all the goods vnder heauen, that all they that receiue no mate∣riall baptisme by the water, shall be damned, as you haue sayd: yet I would you should not gather of these wordes, that I denye Baptisme, as you were aboute to laye to my charge, or euer I had halfe told my tale. But I would not haue you, nor no man so rash in iudgement, to cōdemn the thing y^t they are not able to proue by the worde, & to make it seme to the simple, that the outward washing of the wa∣ter were the cause of fayth.

Langd.

Why, is it not so? will you denye it? Howe say you? Will you denye it? I say, the childe hath no fayth before it is baptised: and therefore the baptising bringeth the fayth. How say you to it? Make me a playne answere to this question.

Wood.

Nowe I perceiue you goe about nothing els, but to take vauntage of my wordes. But by Gods helpe, I will aunswere you so,* 1.158 that you shall well see your sayings vntrue. And yet I will not speak mine owne wordes, but the wordes of the holy Ghost, out of the mouth of the pro∣phets and Apostles: and then aske them whether they wil deny it.

You sayd, that fayth commeth by Baptisme, had by the vse of material water.* 1.159 I must be so bold to aske you where Iacob was baptised before he had fayth. S. Paule sayth in the ninth chapter to the Romanes: Or euer the childrē were borne, or euer they had done eyther good or bad, that the pur∣pose of God which is by election, might stand, not by the reason of workes, but by the grace of the caller, the elder shall serue the younger. Iacob I haue loued, and Esau I hated. How think you, had this childe fayth or euer he were borne, or no? answere to this, if you can.

Lang.

What, you speake of the olde Lawe, Iacob was not christened, but circumcised. I speake of Baptisme and you are gone from baptising to the time of Circumcision: answere me to the baptising. And me thinke by your talk, you deny originall sinne and free will,* 1.160 by the wordes that you brought in of S. Paule.

For if children can bee saued without baptisme, then it must needes follow, that children haue no originall sinne, the which is put away in the baptising. But I thinke you know not what originall sinne is, nor free will neyther

me thinke by your talke.

Wood.

Yes, I prayse God (I thinke) I can tell them all better then you can, me thinke euē by your words. First I pray you what free will hath man to doe good of himselfe? Tell me this first, & then I will answere to all your other questions that you haue obiected agaynst me.

Lang.

I say that all men haue as much free will nowe, as Adam had before his fall.* 1.161

Wood.

I pray you how proue you that?

Lang.

Thus I prooue it, that as sinne entred into the world, & by the meanes of one that sinned, all men became sinners, the whiche was by Adam, so by the obedience of man,* 1.162 righteousnesse came vpon all men that had sinned, & sette them as free as they were before theyr fall, the whiche was by Iesus Christ. Rom. v.

Wood.

Oh Lorde, what an ouerthrowe haue you geuen your selfe here in originall sinne, and yet can not see it? For in prouing that we haue free wil, you haue denied quite o∣riginal sinne. For here you haue declared that we be set as free by the death of Christ, as Adam was before his fall, & I am sure Adam had no originall sinne before his fall. If we be as free nowe as he was then, I maruell wherefore Paul complayned thrise to God, to take away the sting of it, God making him aunswere, and saying: My grace is suf∣ficient for thee.

These wordes with diuers other, approueth originall sinne in vs: but not that it shall hurt Gods electe people, but that his grace is sufficient for all his.* 1.163 But you saye in one place, it is not without baptisme: and in an other place you put it away quite by the death of Christ: and in verye deed you haue spokē truer in the matter thē you be aware of. For all that beleue in Christ, are baptised in the bloude of Christ that he shed on the Crosse, & in the water that he swet for payne & putting away of our sinnes at his death. And yet I say with Dauid in the 51. Psalme: In sinne was I borne, and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me: but in no suche sinne that shall bee imputed, because I am borne of God by fayth, as Sayncte Iohn sayth. Therefore I am blessed,* 1.164 as sayth the Prophet: Because the Lorde imputeth not my sinne, and not because I haue no sinne: but because God hath not imputed my sinnes. Not of our owne de∣seruing, but of his free mercy he hath saued vs. Where is now your free will become that you spake of?* 1.165 If we haue free will, then our saluation commeth of our owne selfe, & not of God: the which is a great blasphemy agaynst God and his word.

* 1.166For Saynt Iames sayth: Euery good gift, and euery per∣fect gift commeth from aboue, from the father of light, with whō is no variablenes, neither is he chaunged into darcknesse. Of his owne will he begate vs. For the winde bloweth where it lusteth, and we heare the soūd therof, as sayth S. Iohn: But we cannot tell from whence it commeth,* 1.167 neither whether it goeth: Euen so is it with euery one that is borne of God. For S. Paule sayth: It is God that woorketh in vs the will and also the deed,* 1.168 euen of good will. Seing then that euery good and perfect gift com∣meth from aboue, & lighteth vpon whom it pleaseth God, and that he worketh in vs both the will and the deede: me thinke all the reste of our owne will is little worthe,* 1.169 or nought at all, vnles it be to wickednes. So me think here be places enough to proue that a man hath no free will to doe good of himselfe: with a hundred places moe, that I could recite if time did serue. And as for originall sinne, I thinke I haue declared my mind therin, how it remaineth in man: whiche you can not denye, vnlesse you deny the word of God. Now, if you will suffer me, I will proue my saying of Iacob and Esau, that I brought in, to proue that faith was before baptisme, and you refused it, because (you sayd) Iacob was not baptised.* 1.170 If you will geue me leaue, you shall see what I can say therin: for me think you think my talke long. This I sayd, because I saw he was sore of∣fended at my sayinges.

Lang.

Saye what you canne, For it auayleth me to saye nothing to you.* 1.171 For I was desired to sende for you, to teache you, and there will no wordes of mine take place in you: but you goe about to reproue me. Saye what you will for me.

Wood.

I take not vpon me to teach you, but to aunswere to such thinges as you lay vnto my charge: and I speake not mine owne minde, but the minde of the holy Ghoste, written by the Prophetes and Apostles. Wyll you geue me leaue to aunswere briefly in that matter, that you may report to other what I holde? And he sayd, he was contē∣ted. But I thinke it was for nothing, but to haue caughte vauntage of my wordes.

Wood.

* 1.172First, if you be remembred, you said, that if my child had dyed without baptisme, if I had bene the cause that it had not bene baptised, the child should haue bene damned, and I too. How say you?

Lang.

Yea that you should.

Wood.

That is moste vntrue. For the Prophete sayeth: The father shall not beare the childes offences, nor the childe the fathers offences: but the soule that sinneth shall dye.* 1.173 What could the child haue done withal, if it had died without baptism? the childe coulde not do withall. How say you vnto this? And I am sure: that which I brought in in the olde Law, to proue that fayth is before baptisme, is not disagreeable vnto the word. For Circūcision was a figure of baptisme. And that I may bring to proue baptisme by, as wel as S. Peter did: for he brought in Noes sloude,* 1.174 whiche was a long time before Iacob & Esau, to proue baptisme, saying: While the Arke was a preparing,* 1.175 wherein few (that is to saye) eight soules were saued by water, like as Baptisme also nowe sa∣ueth vs, not in putting away of the filth of the flesh, but there is •• good conscience consenting to God.

Here Peter proueth, that the water had not saued Noe and the other seuen, no more then it saued all the rest, if it had not bene for theyr fayth, which fayth now saueth vs: not in putting away of the filthy sinne of the fleshe, by the washing of the water, but by a good conscience consenting vnto God.

But you sayd: If they be baptised with the water, if they dye before they come to yeares of discretion, they be al saued: the which S. Peter is cleane agaynste, vnlesse you graunt that children haue fayth before they be baptised.

Nowe I aske you what consent of conscience the chil∣dren haue, being infantes. For you say they beleue not, be∣fore they bee Baptised: Ergo, then they consent not to be Baptised, because they beleue not. And by this it followeth that none shalbe saued, althogh they be baptised. I would fayne see how you can aunswere to this.

Lang.

You are the most peruerse man that euer I knewe. You wote not what you say. The children are baptised in theyr * 1.176 Godfathers and Godmothers fayth, and that is the good conscience that S. Peter speaketh of: and the Christe∣ning is the keeping of the law, that S. Paule speaketh of, saying: neither is Circumcision any thing worth, nor vn∣circūcision any thing worth, but keping of the lawe is al∣together. Like as the Circumcision was the keping of the old law, so is baptisme the keeping of the new law.

Wood.

Ah, me thought if you would talke with me, you should be fayne to bring in the old law, to mainteine your sayinges by (for all that you refused it) when I brought it in. But yet it serueth not for your purpose, so muche as you think for. For here you haue confessed that neither cir∣cumcision auayleth, nor vncircūcision: the which you your selfe haue coupled with Baptisme, prouing that none of them both preuaileth, but keping of the law is altogether: the which law is kept (you say) by the outward signes: the which is nothing so, for Abrahā beleued God, & that was counted to him for righteousnes: And this was before he was Circumcised.* 1.177 So the children beleue before they be ei∣ther Circumcised, or Baptised, according to my first saying of Iacob and Esau: Iacob I loued, but Esau I hated.

These wordes declared that Iacob hadde fayth in hys mothers wombe: also Iohn Baptist was sanctified in his mothers wombe, and therfore it was counted to them for righteousnesse: and I am sure, if they had dyed before, they had eyther receiued Circumcision or Baptisme as concer∣ning the outward deed, they should haue bene saued. For Gods giftes and callinges are such, that he cannot repent him of them. But by your saying he doth both repent and chaūge. For you say, keeping of the outwarde law is alto∣gether. But a bad excuse is as good as none at all.

And where you sayd, the children be Baptised in their Godfathers and Godmothers fayth, they being all vnbe∣leuers, in what fayth is that childe baptised then? in none at all, by your owne saying. Whiche woordes made him stampe and stare.

Lang.

What? then you woulde count that there were very few beleeuers, if there be not one of three that belee∣ueth. You enter into Iudgement agaynst the people. Be∣like you thinke there be none that beleue well vnlesse they be of your minde. In deed then Christes flocke were a ve∣ry litle flocke.

Wood.

In deede these bee Christes woordes, in the 12. of Luke, the which we may see to be very true. Yea you sayd, if there were not one amongest three, that were very few. But there is not one amongest three hundred, for any thing that I can see. For if there were, there would not be so many that would seeke their neighbors goodes & lyues as there be.

Lang.

Is the flocke of Christ such a litle flock as you speak of? you may call it a great flock. How many be there of thē: Can you tell me?

Wood.

A prety question, I promise you, it is that you aske me: as though I did make my selfe equall with God.

No, no, you shal catch no such vauntage of my words nor I know not how many there be. But I will tell you as nigh as I can. For therefore you looke, I am sure, that I should enter into Iudgement.

Lang.

* 1.178Yea, I pray you tell me as much as you can, seing you be so cunning.

Wood.

You shall see my iudgement in it by and by. First the Prophet: Follow not a multitude to do euill, for they must go the wrong way. For the most go the wrong way. There is one poynt to know them.

Thē christ sayth in the 7. of Mat. Broad is the way & wide is the gate that leadeth into destruction, and many there be that go in thereat: and strayte is the gate, and narrow is the waye that leadeth vnto life, and few there be that finde it. And in the xii. of Luke, it is written (which words were spoken of Christ) Come you little flocke, it is my fathers will to geue you a kyng∣dome. The third poynt is this. In the thyrd of Mark and second of Mathewe: You (saythe Christe) shall knowe the tree by the frutes.* 1.179 A good tree bringeth foorth good fruites, and a badde tree tree bringeth forth bad fruites: So by fruites I know them. For euery tree that bringeth not foorth good fruites, must be hewn downe and cast into y^e fire (into hell I thinke Christ meant) and your fruites declare that you be one of them.* 1.180 Thus haue I proued foure wayes that the people that shalbe saued, is but a small companye in comparison of the rest. But if that be not enough, for the proofe thereof, I haue twenty wayes more to proue it by, and you were neuer the nere of your purpose.

Lang.

What a naughty man are you? you would make the patientest mā in the world angry with you. I thinke your talke is nothing but pryde and vayneglorye, w^t frumpes, and mockes, and dispising & iudging of men. It was time such a fellow were taken in deede. Suche a one is enough to trouble a whole country. I thinke he is blest of GOD that tooke you: for you are not meete to be in a common wealth.

Wood.

With diuers other such like wordes that I cannot recite, they came out so thicke, with stamping and staryng and chasing as though he had bene out of his witt. I held my peace, vntil he had made an end of his tormētors talk and then I spake.

Wherein haue I sayd amisse? or haue I not answered you vnto euery question that you haue demaunded of me? What fault can you finde in one word that I haue sayd? I dare say you can finde none. I maruayle why you take on thus agaynst me, hauing no cause so to doe.

Lang.

No, no, you haue not aunswered me to original sin, you deny originall sinne.

Wood.

With these wordes came in at the dore M. Iames Gage: And I thinke hee stoode at the dore a good whyle before he came in, and that Doctour Langdall sawe hym: For his face was to the dore ward,* 1.181 and my face was from it.

Gage.

Ah Woodman, me thinke mayster Doctor and you cannot agree.

Wood.

Yes sir me thinke we agree very well.

Lang.

Without doubte sir he is the naughtiest man that e∣uer I talked with in all my life: for he will haue his owne way in all thinges.

Gage.

Woodman, leaue that pride. Do not trust so muche to your own wit. Harken to this man. This is a learned man, I tell you. He is knowne to be learned. For els hee shuld not be allowed to preach before the Queenes maie∣sty: and I dare say he will tell thee nothing, nor will thee to doe nothing, but that he will do himselfe: and I dare say he will not go to the Deuill to bring the thether: How say you M. Doc.? Thou mightest think vs mad, if we would hurt our selues to hurte thee. No I promise thee, my bro∣ther, neither I, nor no gentleman in the Country, I think of my conscience, but would thou shouldst doe as well as their owne bodyes and soules, as a great many of them haue sayd to thy face whilest thou wast at my brothers, the which thou canst not deny.

Wood.

Sir, I can saye none otherwise but I was gently entreated at your brothers, both with meate and drynke & gentle wordes, both of you and him, and diuers other gē∣tlemen: and I am sure you nor they can say, that you foūd me vnreasonable at any time. For I sayde I was conten∣ted to learne of them that were able to teache me, and so I am, as God knoweth: and here M. Doctour (I think) can say no otherwise: for I dare say he can find no fault in the talke that we haue had.* 1.182

Lang.

No mary, I can finde nothing els in you, I pro∣mise you mayster Gage, if you had bene here, you woulde haue sayd so your selfe. He tooke me vp in deede, and sayd he maruailed how I durst preach. For he sayde, I vnder∣stoode not the scripture, but as farre as naturall reason comprehended? as though he vnderstoode all, and I no∣thing. With diuers other such like words he made a great complaint to him on me, & sayd to mayster Iames Gage, he would make you beleue that I could finde no faulte in in him. Yes iwis: he denieth originall sinne.

Gage.

Yea? doth he so? by S. Mary that is a great matter, Woodman: leaue y^t pride. That pride wil come to naught. Can ye liue without sinne?

Wood.

Sir, now I perceiue he will soone lye on me be∣hinde my backe, when hee will not sticke to lye before my face.

He sayth I denied originall sinne: and it was he hym∣selfe, as I will let you be iudge in the matter. For as hee went about to proue that man hath free will, he sayd wee were set as free by the death of christ,* 1.183 as Adam was before his fall: which wordes proue playnely that we haue no o∣riginal sin: And I tooke him withall, & sayd: had Adam o∣riginall sinne before hys fall? and then hee coulde not tell what to say but cauilled with wordes, and sayd he meant not so: and therefore I maruell he is not ashamed to make such lies to my face, These wordes made them both asto∣nyed.

Gage.

M. Doctour he sayd euen now you coulde finde no fault in all his talke. I will bid you aske him a question, that I will warrant you shall finde faulte enough, I pray you aske hym howe he beleeueth in the Sacramente of the Aultar. I thinke hee will make but a bad accompte thereof.

Wood.

Yes, I wil make accompt good enough of that, by Gods helpe.

Lang.

Well, how say you to the sacrament of the aultar?

Wood.

I say I know no such sacrament, vnlesse Chryst be the aultar that you meane.

Gage.

Lo, I told you, you should soone finde fault in him if you came to that poynt with him. You shuld haue begun with that first, and neuer haue talked with him about o∣ther thinges. What?* 1.184 know ye not the sacrament of the aul∣tar?

Wood.

No sure, I know no such, vnlesse christ be the aul∣tar that you meane: for Christ is the aultar of al goodnes. And if you meane Christ to be the aultar of the sacrament you speake of, you shall soone heare my minde and beliefe therein.

Lang.

Well, we meane Christe to be the aultar. Say your minde, and go briefly to worke: for I thinke it almost din∣ner.* 1.185

Gage.

I pray you go roundly to worke, y^t you may make an end before dinner.

Woodman.

Yes, you shall soone heare my minde therin by Gods helpe. I doe beleue that whensoeuer I come to re∣ceaue the sacrament of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ being truely ministred according to Christes Institution I beleuing that Christ was borne of the virgine Mary, & that he was crucified on the crosse, and shed his bloude for the remission of my sinnes, and so take and eate the sacra∣ment of bread and wine in that remembraunce, that then I doe receiue wholy Christ, God and manne, mistically by fayth. This is my beliefe of the sacrament, the whiche no man is able to disproue.

Gage.

By S. Mary I can finde no fault in this.* 1.186 How say you Maister Doctour?

Lang.

Sir, you see not so much in it as I do. For he goeth craftely to worke: I tell you, as I haue heard. For though he haue graunted that the faythfull receauer receaueth the body of Christe, God and man, yet hee hath not graunted that it is the body of Christe before it bee receaued, as you shall see by and by I warrant you, by hys owne wordes.* 1.187 How say you? is it the body of Christ as soone as y^e words be spoken by the Prieste or not? for these wordes will try hym more then all the rest.

Wood.

Doth the worde say that it is his body before it is receiued? if it do, I will say so to.

Gage.

Why? then you shall agree well inough, if you wyll be tryed by the word.

Wood.

Yes forsooth, that I will: God forbid els.

Gage.

Why? the worde sayth it is his body before it is ea∣ten.

Wood.

Those words would I fayne heare:* 1.188 but I am sure they be not in the Bible.

Lang.

No, that you shall see by and by (M. Gage quoth he) & turned to the xxii. of Luke, & there he read, Whē sup∣per was done, Christ tooke bread, gaue thankes, and brake it,* 1.189 and gaue to his Disciples, and sayd: take, eate, this is my body. Then they spake both at once: Here he saith it is his body.

Wood.

M. Gage, I doe not deny but he called it his body but not before eating, as I saide before. Wherefore I pray you marke the wordes. Christ sayd, Take, eate, I pray you Sir marke these wordes that he sayd, Take and eate,* 1.190 and thē he said, it was his body. So you see, eating goeth before.

For he sayd: eate, this is my body. So according to the verye worde, I doe beleue it is his bodye. Whiche wordes made them both astonied.

Lang.

Why, then by your saying, Iudas eate not the body of Christ. How say you? did he not?

Wood.

Nay, I ask you. Did he?

Lang

I aske you.

Wood.

And I aske you.

Lang.

And I aske you.

Woodman.

Mary and I aske you. And I bid you answer if you dare for your life. For what soeuer you aunswere: vnlesse you say as I haue sayd, you will damne your own soule. For M. Gage, I protest before God, I would you should do as well as myne owne owne soule and body: & it lamenteth my hart to see how you be deceaued with thē: they be deceauers all the sorte of them. He cannot answer to this, but either he must proue Iudas to be saued, or els he must proue that it is no bodye before it bee receiued in fayth, as dou shall well perceiue by Gods helpe, if he dare to aunswere the question.

Gage.

Yes, I dare say he dareth. What? you neede not to threaten him so.

Wood.

Then let him aunswere if he can.

Then he sayd he knew what I woulde saye to him: therefore he was much in doubt to answere the question.

Lang.

Mayster Gage, I will tell you in your eare what words he will aunswere me, or euer I speake to him.

Wood.

Then he told M. Gage, a tale in his eare, & sayde:

Lang.

* 1.191I haue told M. Gage what you will say.

Gage.

Yea, and I will tell the truth for both parties.

Wood.

Well, how say you? did Iudas eate y^e body of christ or not?

Lang

Yea, I say Iudas did eate the body of Christ.

Wood.

Then it must needes f••llowe, That Iudas hath e∣uerlasting life.* 1.192 For Christ sayth in the 6. of Iohn: Who so eateth my fleshe and drinketh my bloud: hath eternall lyfe, and I will rayse him vp at the last day. If Iudas did eate Chrystes body, I am sure you cannot deny but that he did both eat hys flesh, and drynke his bloud, and then is Iudas saued by Christes owne wordes. Therefore nowe you are com∣pelled to say that it was not christes body, or els that Iu∣das is saued.

Gage.

Surely these be the verye wordes that M.D. tolde me in mine eare, that you would say to hym.

Wood.

Well, let vs see, how well he can auoyd this argu∣ment.

Lang.

Iudas is damned, and yet he eate the body of christ: but he eate it vnworthely, and therefore he is damned:

Wood.

Where finde you that Iudas did eate the bodye of Christ vnworthely?

Lang.

* 1.193They be S. Paules wordes. i. Corinth xi. chap.

Wood.

M. Gage, I desire you for gods sake marke my wordes well what I saye. If S. Paule speake anye suche wordes there or in anye other place, if there be anye suche wordes written in al the whole Bible,* 1.194 that euer any man eate the bodye of Christ vnworthely, then say that I am the falsest man that euer you heard speake with tongue. But in deede these be the wordes of S. Paule: Who so ea∣teth of this bread, and drinketh of this cuppe vnworthely, eateth and drinketh his owne damnation;* 1.195 because hee maketh no diffe∣rence of the Lordes body: that is, because hee presumeth to eat the sacrament of the Lordes body without sayth, ma∣king no difference betwixt the sacrament and other bread and drynke: And that is S. Paules meaning, and not that any man doth or can eate the body of Christ * 1.196 vnworthely. For who soeuer eateth the body of christ, hath euerlasting life, as is aforesayd in the 6. of Iohn. With which wordes one came from them to come to dinner in all the hast.

Gage.

I am sory. I woulde fayne heare more of this talke but we shall haue an other day wel inough.

Lang.

Nay M. Gage, I will neuer talke with him more: for he is the vnreasonablest man that euer I talked wyth in all my life.

Wood.

Then M. Gage put of hys capp and desired hym y^t he would not refuse to talk w^t me, and that it might not bee greeuous to hym. For he sayde: wee wyll seeke al the meanes possible to make him an honest man, and to keepe him from burning, if we coulde. For if my brother and I had not bene, he had bene burned ere this tyme. Thē there was great curtisie betwixt them.

Lang.

Sir, for your sake, & for my mayster your brothers sakes and for his fathers sake,* 1.197 and other of his fryendes sakes, that haue spoken to me many tymes with weeping teares, I will doe the best to hym that I can: but for no loue nor fauour that I beare to him. I tell you truth.

Gage.

Woodman, you heare what M.D. sayth. When wyl you come agayne?

Wood.

Euen when you will send for me. For I am a pry∣soner, and cannot come when I woulde. Or if I shoulde desire to come, it will cost me money, and I haue none to geue: but if you send for me, it shall cost me none.

Gage.

Well, I will send for you on Friday or Saterdaye, at the farthest: for to morow I must ride forth of towne & I would fayne heare your talke.

Wood.

Sir I would be very glad you should heare oure talke alway, and I trust in God you shall heare me say no thing, but the word of God shall be my warrant. So M. Gage tooke his leaue and went his way to his lodgyng, which was right in my way as I went vnto prisonward agayne: and when hee came without my Lorde Mounta∣gues gates: there we met with one Hode of Buxted, a Smith. Then sayd M. Gage.

Gage.

Woodman, I had forgot one thing, that Hode hath brought me in remembraunce of as soone as I saw hym, for hee heard when the tale was tolde me.

Gage.

Hode, did not you heare when Smith of Framfield tolde me that hee sawe Woodman abroad in the Cittie at libertie?

Hoode.

Yea forsooth, that I did.

Gage.

Yea surely, and I was very glad, for I had wel ho∣ped you had bene conformable. But I heard otherwise af¦terward agayne, that you had leaue of the keeper to go a∣broad and speake openly in the streetes, as you went vpp and downe.

Wood.

In deede so the Marshall told me to day.* 1.198 But in deed I was neuer abroad since I came to prison, but whē I was sent for, and in deede the same time I was abroad with my keeper, comming from the Bysh. and as I was comming, euen not farre from y^e Marshalsey, I saw good∣man Smith, stād in a Wayne vnlading of Cheese & I as∣ked him how he did, euen as I went by and neuer stayed for the matter, and therupon it did rise. So I departed frō them, with my keeper to the Marshalsea agayne, where I now am mery I prayse God therefore, as a sheepe ap∣poynted to be slayne.

*The fourthe examination of Richard Woodman, had before the Byshop of Winchester, the Byshop of Ro∣chester, and a certayn Doctour, with diuers o∣ther Priests and Gentlemen, the xxv. day of May. Anno. 1557.

Woodman.

I Was fet from the Marshalsea to the sayd Byshops and Priestes,* 1.199 sitting in S. Georges Churche in Southwark by one of the Marshals men and one of the Sheriffes mē, When I came before them, and had done my duty to them as nigh as I could, then sayd the Bishop of Winchester.

Winchester.

What is your name?

Wood.

My name is Richard Woodman forsooth?

Winchester.

Ah Woodman, you were taken and apprehen∣ded for heresie about a three yeares agone,* 1.200 and were sente to prison in the kinges Bench, and there remayned a long time. Mine olde Lorde of Chichester, being a learned fa∣mous man well knowne in this realme of England, and almost throughout all Christendome. I think came to pri∣son to you, and there, and at other places, called you before him diuers times, trauayling and perswading with you many wayes (because hee was your Ordinary) to plucke you from your heresies that you held, but he coulde by no meanes aduertise you.

Wherupon you were deliuered to the Commissioners and they could do no good with you neyther.* 1.201 Then they sent you vnto my Lord of Lond. My Lorde of Lond. cal∣ling you before him diuers times, labour was made vnto him of your frendes, that you might be released. My Lord hauing a good hope in you, that you woulde become an honest man, because he had heard so of you in tymes past, yea & you your selfe promising him y^t you would go home and recant your heresies that you held, deliuered you: sen∣ding also a letter of your recantation to the Commissary y^t he should see it done.* 1.202 But as soone as you were out of his hands, you were as bad as euer you were, & would neuer fulfill your promise, but haue hid your selfe in the woodes Bushes, Dennes & Caues, and thus haue continued euer since, til it was now of late. Thē y^e Sheriffe of that Shyre (being a worshipfull man) hearing thereof, sent certayn of his mē, & took you in a wood, & so caried you to his house. I cannot tell his name. What is your Sheriffes name?

Wood.

Forsooth his name is sir Edward Gage.

Winc.

Well, you were apprehended for heresie,* 1.203 and beyng at M. Gages three weekes or more, yee were gentlye en∣treated there, he and other Gentlemen perswading wyth you diuers tymes, little preuayled.

Then you appealed to the Bishop of Chichester that now is▪ The Sheriffe like a worshipfull man sent you to

him, and he hath trauelled with you, and other also, & can do no good with you, whereupon we haue sent for you.

Wood.

Then I spake to him. For I thought he would be long, before hee woulde make an end. I thought hee was a yeare in telling of those lyes y^t he had told there agaynst me already. Yea I kept silence from good wordes: but it was great payne and griefe vnto me (as Dauid sayd).

At length the fire was so kindled within my hart, that I could not chuse but speake with my tongue: for I feared least any of the company shoulde haue departed or euer I had answered to his lyes, and so the Gospell to haue bene sclaundered by my long silence keeping. So I spake I prayse God therefore, and sayd: my Lorde, I pray you let me now answere for my selfe, for it is time.

Winchest.

I permit you to answere to these things that I haue sayd.

Wood.

I thanke God therfore. And I thinke my self hap∣py (as Paule sayd when hee was brought before king A∣grippa) y^t I may this day aunswere for my selfe. My Lord I promise you there is neuer a worde of youre sayinges true that you haue alledged agaynst me.

Winch.

I can not tell, but thus it is reported of you. As for me, I neuer did see you before this day: but I am sure it is not all lyes that I haue sayd,* 1.204 as you report:

Wood.

Yes my Lord, there is neuer a true worde of that you sayd. And ••urther, where you sayd you neuer sawe me before this day, you haue both heard me, and seene me, I dare say, before this day.

Winchester.

I thinke I heard you in deede on Sondaye where you playd the malapart ••ellow: but I cannot tell y^t I sawe you. But I pray you, were you not taken in the woodes by the Sheriffes men?

Wood.

No sure, I was taken besides my house, I beyng in my house when they came, wherefore that is not true,

Winchester.

Were not you at the Sheriffes 3. weekes.

Wood.

Yes that I was, a moneth iust, and was gently en¦treated of him, I can say no otherwise: for I had meat and drinke inough, and fayre wordes.

Winch.

Ah. I am well appayd: it is not all lyes then, as it chaunced. For I spake, but of three weekes, and you con∣fesse a moneth your selfe.

Woodman.

Yet your tale is neuer the truer for that. For you sayd I was there three weekes for heresie, the whiche is not so. For I was not apprehended for heresie at y^e first, neither did mine olde Lorde of Chichester trauayle wyth me to pull me from heresie, as you sayde: for I helde none then, neyther do I now, as God knoweth neither was I sent to the Commissioners nor to the Bishop of London for heresie, neyther was I deliuered to him for anye suche thing, nor promised him to recant, as you sayd I dyd. Wherefore I maruaile you be not ashamed to tel so many lyes, beyng a Byshoppe that should be an ensample to o∣ther.

Winch.

Lo, what an arrogant hereticke this same is. He will deny God:* 1.205 for he that denyeth his owne hand deni∣eth God.

Wood.

My Lord, iudge not least you be iudged yourselfe. For as you haue iudged me, you shalbe iudged, if you re∣pent not. And if I haue set my hand to anye recantation, let it be seene to my shame, before this audience: For I wil neuer deny myne owne hand, by Gods helpe.

Win.

It is not here now, but I thinke it will be had wel enough: but if it cannot be found, by whom will you bee tryed.

Wood.

Euen by my Lord of London: for he delt like a good man with me in that matter that I was sente to pryson for.

For it was vppon the breache of a Statute, as Mayster Sheriffe here can tell.* 1.206 For he was Sheriffe then, as hee is now, & can tell you how I was tossed vp and downe, frō Sessions to Sessions: and because I would not consent y^t I had offended therein, they sent me to prison agayn.

Then my Lorde of Chichester being myne Ordinary, and I being his tenaunt: came to me, to perswade wyth me that I should haue consented,* 1.207 to them, and to finde my selfe in fault, where I was in none. To y^e which I would not agree, but I desired him that he would see me released of my wrong but he said he could not, but willed me or my frendes to speake to the Commissioners for me, because it was a temporall matter:* 1.208 and when I came before them, they sent me to my Lord of London, and my Lord of Lon∣don was certified by the handes of almost thirty mē, both Esquiers, Gentlemen, and Yeomen, the chiefest in all the country where I dwelt, that I had not offended in y^t mat∣ter that I was sent to prison for. Whereupon he deliuered me, not willing me to recant heresies, for I helde none (as God knoweth) neither do I nowe: nor I knowe not wherefore I was sent to prison, no more then anye man here knoweth: for I was taken away from my worke.* 1.209

Winch.

No? wherefore appealed you then to my Lorde of Chichester, if it were not for heresie?

Wood.

Because there was layde to my charge that I had Baptised children, and maried folkes, the whiche I neuer did, for I was no where Minister. Wherfore I appealed to mine Ordinarye, to purge my selfe thereof as I haue. Wherfore if any man haue any thing agaynst me, let them speake, for I came not hither to accuse my selfe, neyther will I.

Winch.

Mayster Sheriffe, can you tell vpon what breache of Statute he was sent to prison first?

The Sheriffe.

Yea forsooth my Lord that I can.

Wood.

My Lord, if you will geue me leaue, I will shewe you the whole matter.

Winch.

Nay, M. Sheriffe, I pray you tell the matter, see∣ing you know it.

The Sheriffe.

My Lord it was for speaking to a Curate in the Pulpit, as I remember.

Winc.

Ah, like enough, that he would not sticke to reproue a Curate.* 1.210 For did you not see how he fashioned himselfe to speake to me in the Pulpit on Sonday? You played y^e ma∣liperte fellowe with me, and therfore it was no great mar∣uell though he played that part with an other.

Woodman.

Why, you will not blame me for that, I am sure. For we spake for no other cause, but to purge oure selues of those heresies that you layd to our charge. For these were your wordes: Good people, these men that bee brought before vs, being here, deny Christ to be God,* 1.211 and the holy Ghost to be GOD (poynting to vs with youre left hand) the whiche might seeme to the whole audience, that you ment vs all. Wherefore to cleare our selues ther∣of, we spake, and sayd we held no such thing. And you sayd you would cut out our tongues. But I am sure you haue no such law.

Win.

Yes, that we haue, if you blaspheme, and as it chaun∣ced, I found such amongest you.

Wood.

In deede, after we spake, you declared who they were, but not before, for you spake generally. Wherefore we blasphemed not, but purged ourselues.

Winch.

But I pray you, how can you purge your selfe for speaking to the Curate that it is not heresie?* 1.212

Wood.

Forsooth these be the wordes of the Statute: Who soeuer doth interrupt anye preacher or preachers, law∣fully authorised by the Queenes Maiestie, or by any other lawfull Ordinary, that all such shall suffer three monthes imprisonment,* 1.213 and furthermore be brought to the quarter Sessions, there (being sory for the same) to be released vp∣on his goodabering one whole yeare. But I had not so offended as it was well proued. For hee that I spake too, was not lawfully authorised, nor hadde not put away his wife. Wherefore it was not lawfull for him to preache by your owne lawe, and therefore I brake not the Statute, though I spake to him.

Winch.

I am glad. I perceaue thys man speaketh against Priestes Maryages, hee is not contented with Pryestes that haue wiues. He is honester man,* 1.214 then I tooke hym for, M. Sheriffe, haue him away. I am glad he loueth not Priestes Mariages.

Wood.

Then I would haue aunswered to hys sayinges, but he would in no wise heare me, but bad y^e Sheriffe haue me away. So the Sheriffe took me by the hand, & plucked me away, and would not let me speake, but goyng out of the Chauncell dore, I sayd: I would shew him the whole matter, if he would haue geuen me leaue, but seeing he wil not, if he will let me go so, they shall see whether I wyll not goe home to my wife and children, and keepe them as my bounden duety is, by the helpe of God. So I was sent to the Marshalsea agayne, where I now am mery, I prayse God therefore, as a sheepe appoynted to be slayne.

Moreouer, I was credibly enformed by one of oure brethren that heard our talke, that the Byshop sayd when I was gone, y^t they would take me whilest I was some∣what good. Which wordes seemed to many of the people that were there, that I spake agaynst priestes Maryages, but I did not, but did not onely aunswere to suche questy∣ons as he asked me, as you shall perceaue wel by y^e words if you marke them, which wordes were these.

How can you purge your self from heresie, for talking to the Curate in the Pulpit, and not offende the Statute, sayd the Bishops?* 1.215 meaning thereby I thinke to haue ta∣ken vauntage of my wordes: but it was not Gods will y^t he should at that tyme. For I aunswered hym by y^e words of the Statute, which wordes bee as hereafter followeth (that is): whosoeuer doth interrupt any preacher, or prea∣chers lawfully authorised by the Queenes Maiestie, or by any other lawfull Ordinary, that all such shall suffer three monthes imprisonment. But I proued that this mā was

not lawfully authorised to preach (by their owne law) be∣cause he had not put away his wife. For their law is, that no Priest may say Masse, nor preach with the Masse, but he must first be separated from his wife. That is because honest Maryages be good and commendable,* 1.216 and theyrs nought and abhominable, therefore they cannot dwell to∣gether.

Now, I geue you al to vnderstand, that I did not re∣proue this Priest he cause he had a wife, but because hee taught false doctrine, which greeued my soule, because hee had bene a feruent Preacher agaynst the Masse and all the Idolatry therof seuen yeares before, and then came & held with it agayne: for the which cause I reproued him in the Pulpit. And the words that I spake to him are written in diuers of my examinations of my first imprisonment for that same.* 1.217 But in very deede, I knew not of the Statute when I reproued him. But because I was sent to prison vpon the breache of it, I bought a Statute booke, & when I had perused it, I perceiue I had not offended by theyr owne lawe: and therefore still when I was called to aun∣swere, I aunswered them with their owne lawe. But yet they kept me in prison a yeare and almost three quarters or euer I was released. I was at mine aunswere for that eighten times. If any thinke I doe not allow Bishoppes and priestes mariages, let them looke in my first examina∣tion before the Bishop of Chichester that nowe is, duryng this my imprisonment, and there they shall finde what I haue found in the matter. The truth is, I looked to be cō∣demned with my brother that same day. But we may also see that they can do nothing but as God will permit them to do. But when the time is full come, I trust in God, I shall runne that ioyfull race that my brethren haue done. Thus I commit you all into the handes of God, who is y^e preseruer, defender, and keeper of all his electe for euer∣more. Amen.

*The fift examination of Richard Woodman, had before the Bishop of Winchester, the Archdeacon of Cant. Doct. Langdale, with a fat headed Priest and other whose names I know not, with certain al∣so of the Cōmissioners, at S. Maryes Oueries church in Southwarke, in the presence, of three C. people at the least, the xv. day of Iune. An. 1557.

WInchester.

* 1.218Woodman, you were before vs the last day and would not be acknowne in anye wise that you were sent to prison for heresie, and called for your accusers and stoode stoutly in defending of your selfe, and in youre departing I had thought you had spoken agaynst priestes Mariages, thinking by youre wordes wee shoulde haue found you an honest man, and conformable when we had called you before vs agayne. You tolde such a fayre tale for your selfe, as though you had bene free from all that was layd to your charge. For you sayde it was all lyes that I tolde agaynst you: but since I haue proued the contrarye, as here is your owne hand to shew. By the which I haue proued that you reproued not the priest for lacking of au∣thoritie, and because he had not put away his wife, but be∣cause you liked not hys preaching. For in deede I tooke it that you reproued him for because hee was not lawfully authorised, but I haue proued the contrary since.

Wood.

I told you not that I did either reproue hym for lacke of authoritie, or because I liked not his preachynge, but I told you wherefore I was first sent to prison. For you sayd I was sēt to prison for heresie, & made a long tale agaynst me. And in deede I told you that there was neuer a word of your sayinges true, but was all lyes, as it was in deed. For I neuer was sent to prison for heresie, neither held I any then, nor do now. I take heauen and earthe to witnesse, but I tolde you I was sent to prison vppon the breach of a Statute, which was for speaking to a Priest in the Pulpit, and for that cause the Iustices of that country had thought I had offended the Statute, and called me be¦fore them, and would haue had me to haue bene bound to my good abearing, and because I refused it, they sent me to prisō. And these be y^e wordes of the Statute, as I told you y^e last day. If any man do interrupt any preacher or prea∣chers, lawfully authorised by the Queenes Maiestie, or by any o∣ther lawfull Ordinary,* 1.219 that then euery partie that so offendeth, shall suffer three monthes imprisonment, and furthermore be brought to the quarter Sessions, and there being sorye for the the same, aad also bound for his good abearing, one whole yeare, to be released, or els to remayne to prison agayne.

And when I was in prison, I bought a Statute book which when I had perused ouer,* 1.220 I founde by the wordes therof that I had not offēded, because he was not lawful∣ly authorised, as the Bishop of London was certified by the handes almost of xxx. men: both Esquiers, Gentlemen and Yeomen, the chiefest in all that Countrey. For he had not put away his wife, and therefore the Statute took no place on me, as I told you the other daye. Wherefore my Lord of London seeing me hauing so muche wrong, dyd like a good man to me in that matter, & released me. Now when I had tolde you this matter, you bad the Sheriffe haue me away: You sayd you were glad I h••lde agaynst Priestes Mariages, because I aunswered to the question you asked me.

The fat Priest.

My Lord, do you not heare what he sayth by my Lord of London?* 1.221 He sayth he is a good man in that he released him, but he meaneth that hee is good in nothyng els.

Wood.

What? can you tell what I meane? let euerye man say as he findeth: he did iustly to me in that matter. I saye if he be not good in any thing els, as you say, he shal aun∣swere for it, and not I: for I haue nothing to doe wyth o∣thers mens matters.

Winc.

Well, how say you? howe liked you his preaching? I pray you tell vs.

Wood.

That is no matter how I liked it. How soeuer I liked it, I offended not the Statute.* 1.222 Wherefore you haue nothing to say to me for that I am sure.

Winc.

Well, how like you this then? Here is youre owne hand writing: I am sure you will not denye it. Will you looke on it?

Wood.

It is mine owne handy worke in deede, the which by Gods helpe I will neuer denye, nor neuer did yet, I prayse God therefore.

Winchester.

And heare is good geare I tell you. I praye you harken wel to it: these be the wordes, before the Com∣missioners. How say you? Doe you not beleeue, as soone as the wordes be spoken by the Priest, that there remay∣neth neyther bread nor wyne, but onely the verye bodye of Christ, both flesh and bloud as he was borne of the vir∣gine Mary? these were the wordes of the Commissio∣ners.

And then thou saydest: thou durst not saye otherwise then the scripture sayth.* 1.223 I cannot finde (sayde you) that it is the body of Christ before it is receaued by fayth, bring∣ing in the xxii. of Luke, saying: Christ sayde, take, eate, this is my body: so I cannot proue that it is his bodye before it is eaten. Then sayd the Commissioners: did not Iudas eate Christes body? And if you can proue that Iud••s is saued (sayd you) I must graunt that he eate his body. For christ sayth in the sixt of Iohn: Who so eateth my fleshe and dryn∣keth my bloud, hath eternall lyfe, and I will rayse hym vp at the last day: which words prooue (said you) that if Iudas eate the body of Christ, he must needes be saued. How say you now? did Iudas eate the body of Christ, or no?

Wood.

Then I perceiued they went about nothyng but to catch words of me in his Dioces, to condemn me with.* 1.224 Though I should confound him neuer so much, I per∣ceiued that he was fully bent thereto. To whom I answe∣red and sayd:

I will answer you to no such thing, for I am none of your Dioces: Wherfore I will not answer to you.

Winchester.

Thou art within my Diocesse, and thou hast offended within my Dioces: and therefore I will haue to do with thee.

Wood.

Haue to do with me and you will:* 1.225 but I wil haue nothing to do with you. I tell you plainly: For though I be now in your Dioces, I haue not offended in your dio∣ces: if I haue, shew me wherein.

Winc.

Mary here is thine owne hand writyng, the which thou affirmedst in my Dioces.

Wood.

I do not deny, but it is myne owne hand writing: but that prooueth neuer the more that I haue offended in your Diocesse: for that doth but declare what talke there was betwixt the Commissioners and me, the which you haue nothing to do withall.

Winchest.

No? hold hym a booke, and thou shalt sweare, whether thou holdest it now or not, & whether thou wro∣test it not in my Dioces, as I thinke thou didst: Lay thy hand on the booke.

Wood.

I wil not be sworne for you:* 1.226 for I am not of your Dioces, and therfore you haue nothyng to doe with mee. And as for the writing of that same, I neuer wrote worde of it in your Dioces.

Lang.

No? did you not? my Lord let me see: I wyll finde where you wrote it.

Wood.

Then he tooke it & looked on it, and anone he found that I was sent for out of the Kings bench, to come before the Commissioners.

Lang.

My Lord, here you may see it was in the Kinges Bench, the which is in your Dioces.

Wood.

Although I were fet out of the Kings Bench, that

prooueth not that I wrote it there, nor I did not, I pro∣mise you truly.

The fat Priest.

Where wrote you it then?

Wood.

Nay, I owe you not so much seruice to tell you: find it out as well as you can: For I perceiue you go a∣bout to shed my bloud.

Winchester.

It is no great matter where it was written: it is here, and he denyeth not but he wrote it. You shall heare more of it. Here the Commissioners asked you whe¦ther Iudas did eate any more thē bare bread, and you an∣swered, that he eate more then bare bread.

Whereupon they sent you away backe to the Kynges Bench agayne, and asked you not what more, for y^e whiche cause (as you haue written here) you had a hell burnyng in your conscience.* 1.227 For you had thought they would haue sent a discharge to the Kinges Benche, and so let me goe (sayd you) and Register my name in their bookes, that I had graunted that Iudas did eate the body of Christe, and so the Gospell should haue bene slaundered by me. For the which cause I was in such case, I could scantly eat, drink, or sleepe for that space, as all my prison fellowes can testi∣fie. If al you (I say) that go to the Church of Sathan, and there heare the detestable doctrine, that they spit, and spue out in their Churches, and Pulpits to the great dishonor of God, if all you (I say) that come there, hadde such a hell burning in your conscience for the time, as I hadde till I came before thē agayne & had vttered my conscience, more playnely. I dare saye you woulde come there no more. All this is your writing is it not? how say you?

Woodman.

I do not deny, but it was mine owne deed.

Winch.

And I pray you, where is there such spitting and spuing out of false doctrine as you speake of?

Wood.

In the sinagogue of Sathan, where God is disho∣noured with false doctrine.

Winc.

And I pray you, where is one of them?

Wood.

Nay, that iudge your selfe: I came not hether to be a iudge.

Winc.

Wel, here you haue affirmed that Iudas (your M.) eate more then bread: but yet he eate not the body of Christ as you haue declared by your wordes. For you had a hell burning in your conscience, because you were in doubt, y^t the commissioners vnderstoode by your wordes y^t Iudas had eaten the body of Chryst, because you sayd, he eat more then bread. Therefore thou haddest a great sorte of Deuils in thee, for in hell he many Deuils: and therefore y^e Deuil, and Iudas is thy mayster, by thyne owne wordes.

Wood.

Nay, I defie Iudas, and the Deuill, and his ser∣uauntes: for they bee youre maysters and you serue them, for any thing that I can see, I tell you truth.

Winchest.

Nay, they bee thy may∣sters.* 1.228 For y^e deuill is mayster wher hell is, and thou saydest thou hadst a hell burning in thee. I pray thee tell me howe thou canst auoyde it but that the Deuill was in thee by thine owne saying.

Wood.

The hell that I hadde, was the louing correction of GOD to∣ward me, to call me to repentance that I should not offend God and his people in leauing thinges so darke, as I left that. For y^e whiche cause, my consciēce bare me record I had not done wel, as at al times I haue felte the sting of it when I haue broken the commaundemēts of God by any meanes, as al gods people do, I dare say, and it is the louing kindnes of god towardes them, to driue them to repentaunce. But it is to be thought that your conscience is neuer troubled, how wickedly soeuer you do. For if it were, it shoulde not be so straunge to you as you make it, which declareth playnely whose seruaunt you be.

Winch.

What a naughty fellow is this? This is such a per¦uerse villayne as I neuer talked with in all my lyfe. Hold him a booke, I will make him sweare, to aunswere dy∣rectly to such thinges, as I will demaund of him: and if he will not aunswere, I will condemne him.

Wood.

* 1.229Call you me a fellow? I am suche a fellowe, I tell you, that will driue you all to hell if you consent to the shedding of my bloud, and you shall haue bloud to drynke as sayd S. Iohn in his Reuelation the ix. chapter and be∣ing in hell, you shall be compelled to say for payne of con∣science: this is the man that we had in derision, & thought his life madnes, and his ende to be without honour, but now we may see how he is counted among the sayntes of God, and wee are punished. This shall you see in hell, if you repent it not, if you do condemne me. This you shall finde in the fift chapter of the booke of wisedome, & there∣fore take heede what you doe, I geue you counsell.

Winchester.

Wisedome? What speakest thou of wisdome? thou neuer haddest it: for thou art as very a ••oole as ••uer I heard speake.

Wood.

Do you not know that the foolishe thin••es of thys world must confound the wise thinges?* 1.230 Wher••ore it gree∣ueth me not to be called a foole at your hand.

Winchest.

Nay thou art none of those fooles: thou art an obstinate foole, and an heretike. Lay hand on the booke, and aunswere to suche thynges as I wyll laye agaynst thee.

Woodman.

I will not laye hand on the booke for none of you all, You be not my Byshop, and therefore I wil haue nothing to do with you.

Winch.

I wyll haue to doe with you.* 1.231 This man is with out law, he careth not for the king nor Queene, I dare say for he will not obey theyr lawes. Let me see the Kynges Commission. I will see whether hee will obeye that or not.

Wood.

I would you loued the king and Queenes Maie∣sty, no worse then I do, if it pleased God: You would not do as you doe then.

Winch.

Holde him a booke, he is a ranke hereticke. Thou shalt aunswere to suche thynges as I wyll demaund of thee.

Wood.

I take heauen and earth to recorde I am no here∣ticke, neither can I tell wherfore I am brought to prison, no more then any man can here tel, and therwith I looked round about on the people, and sayde to the Bishoppe: If you haue any iust cause agaynst me, worthy of death ••ay it agaynst me, and let me haue it: for I refuse not to dye (I praise God) for the truthes sake, if I hadde x. liues. If you haue no cause let me goe home (I pray you) to my wife & children to see them kept, and other poore folk y^t I would set a worke by the helpe of God. I haue set a worke a hun∣dreth persons ere this, all the yeare together, and was vn∣iustly taken from them: but God forgeue them that dyd it if it be his will.

Winchester.

Do you not see how he looketh about for help: But I would see any man shewe thee a cheereful counte∣naunce, and especially you that be of my Dioces.* 1.232 If any of you bid God strengthen him, or take him by the hand, or embrace him, or shew hym a chearefull countenaunce, you shall be excommunicated, and shall not bee receaued in a∣gayne, till you haue done open penaunce, and therfore be∣ware of it.

Wood.

I looke for no helpe of men, for God is on my side I prayse him therefore, and therefore I neede not not care who be agaynst me, neither do I care.

Then they cryed: away with him, and bring vs an o∣ther. So I was caryed agayne to y^e Marshalsea, where I am now mery (I prayse God therfore) as a sheep appoin∣ted to be slayne. But for lack of time, I haue left out much of our talke, but this is the chiefest of it.

¶The 6. and last examinations of Richard Woodman written and copyed with his owne hand.

BE it knowne vnto all men by this present writing that I Ri∣chard Woodman, sometime of the parishe of Warbelton, in the County of Sussex: was condemned for gods euerlasting truth an. 1557. Iuly. 16▪ by the byshop of Winchester, in the churche of S. Mary Oueries in Southwarke, there sitting with him the same time the byshop of Chichester, the Archdeacon of Caunterbury Doctor Langdale, M. Roper with a fatte headed Priest, I cannot tell his name All these consented to the shedding of my bloud, vpon this occasion, as here after followeth.

I affirmed that Iudas receaued the sacrament with a sop and the Deuill withall, and because I would not bee sworne vppon a booke to aunswere directly to suche Articles as hee woulde de∣clare to me: and because I would not beleue that there remained neither bread nor wine after the words of consecration and that the body of Christ could not be receaued of any but of the faith∣full. For these Articles I was condemned, as hereafter shal follow more at large, by the help of God.

First, the Bishop sayd when I came before him.

Win.

You were before vs on Monday last past:* 1.233 & there you affirmed certayne heresies. Howe say you now? Doe you hold them still, or will you reuoke them?

Wood.

I held no heresyes then, neyther do I now, as the Lord knoweth.

Win.

No? did you not affirme, that Iudas receiued bread? which is no heresy, vnlesse you tell what more then bread.

Wood.

Is it heresy to say that Iudas receiued more then bread? I sayd he receaued more then bare bread: for he re∣ceiued

the Sacrament, that was prepared to shewe foorth the Lordes death: and because he presumed to eat without sayth, he eat the deuill withall, as the wordes of Christ de∣clare: after he eate the soppe, the Deuill entred into hym, as you cannot deny.

Winc.

Hold him a booke. I will haue you aunswere dy∣rectly whether Iudas did eate the body of Christ, or no.

Wood.

* 1.234I will answere no more: for I am not of your Di∣oces: wherfore I will haue nothing to do with you.

Winc.

No, you be in my Dioces, and you be of my Dioces because you haue offended in my Dioces.

Wood.

I am not of your Dioces, although I am in your Dioces: and I was brought into your Dioces against my will: and I haue not offended in your Dioces: if I haue, tell me wherein.

Winchester.

Here is your owne hand writing, the whiche is heresie.* 1.235 These be the wordes. I cannot find (say you) y^t it is the body of christ to any, before it be receiued in faith. How say you? is not this your owne hand writing?

Wood.

Yea, I do not deny but it is mine owne hand wry∣ting: but when, or where was it written, or where wer the wo••des spoken?

Before the Commissioners: and here is one of them: Maister Roper,* 1.236 the words were spoken before you. Were they not?

Roper.

Yes in deed, that they were Woodman. I am sure you will not deny them: for you haue written the wordes euen as you spake them.

Wood.

No sir, in deed I will not deny but that I spake thē and I am glad that you haue seene it. For you may see by that whether I lye or not.

Roper.

* 1.237In deede the wordes be written word by word as we spake them.

Winchest.

Well, here you affirme y^t it is your owne deede. How say you now? Will you be sorie for it, and become an honest man?

Wood.

My Lord, I trust no man can say, but that I am an honest manne: and as for that, I maruell that you wil lay it to my charge, knowing that my Lorde of London dys∣charged me of all matters that were layde agaynst me, when I was released of him.

Winc.

You were released▪ and it might fortune, it was not layd to your charge then:* 1.238 therfore we lay it to your charge now because you be suspected to be an hereticke: and wee may call you before vs, and examine you vpon your faith vpon suspicion.

Wood.

In deede S. Peter willeth me to render account of my hope that I haue in God, and I am contented so to do, if it please my Bishop to heare me.

Chichester.

Yes I pray you let vs heare it.

Wood.

I do beleue in God the father almighty, maker of heauē & of earth, and of al things visible & inuisible, and in one Lord Iesus christ, my sauiour very God and man. I beleue in God the holy Ghost, the comforter of al Gods e∣lect people, and that he is equall with the father, and the sonne I beleue the true Catholicke church, and all the sa∣craments that belongeth thereto. Thus I haue rendered accompt of my hope that I haue of my saluation.

Winch.

And how beleue you in the blessed sacrament of the aulter?* 1.239 And with that word they all put of their cappes to that abhominable Idoll.

Wood.

I pray you be contented: for I will not aunswere to any mo questions: for I perceaue you go about to shed my bloud.

Winch.

No, hold him a booke. If he refuse to sweare, he is an Anabaptist,* 1.240 and shall be excommunicated.

Wood.

I will not sweare for you, excommunicate me if you will. For you be not meete to take an oth, for you laid heresies to my charge in yonder pulpite, the whiche you are not able to proue: wherfore you bee not meete to take an othe of any man. And as for me, I am not of your Dy∣oces, nor will haue any thing to doe with you.

Winchester.

I will haue to do with thee: and I saye thou art a strong hereticke.

Wood.

Yea, all trueth is heresie with you: but I am con∣tent to shew you my minde,* 1.241 how I beleue on the sacramēt of y^e body and bloud of Iesus Christe, without flattering. For that you looke for, I am sure. But I will meddle no ••urther: But what I holde my selfe of it. I will not med∣dle of any other mans beliefe on it.

N Harp.

Why? I am sure al mens fayth ought to be alike.

Wood

Yea, I graunt you so, that all true Christians faith ought to be alike. But I will aunswere for my selfe.

N. Harp.

Well, let vs heare what you say to it.

Wood.

I do beleue that when I come to receaue the Sa∣crament of y^e body and bloud of Iesus Christ, if it be truly ministred according to Christes institutiō,* 1.242 I comming in fayth, as I truste in God I will, whensoeuer I come to receiue it, I beleuing that Christ was borne for me: & that he suffered death for the remission of my sinnes, and that I shalbe saued by his death and bloud shedding, and so re¦ceaue the Sacramente of bread and wine in that remem∣braunce, that then I doe receiue whole Christ, God and man, mistically, by fayth. This is my beliefe on the sacra∣ment.

Then they spake all at once, saying:* 1.243 mistically by faythe The fat prieste. What a foole art thou? mistically by faythe thou canst not tell what mistically is?

Wood

If I be a foole, so take me:* 1.244 But God hathe chosen such fooles of this world to confound such wife things as you are.

The fat priest.

I pray thee what is mistically?* 1.245

Wood.

I take mistically to be the fayth that is in vs, that the world seeth not, but God onely.

Winch.

He cannot tell what he sayth. Aunswere to the Sa∣crament of the aulter, whether it be not the body of Christ before it bee receaued, and whether it be not the bodye of Christ to whom soeuer receaueth it. Tell me, or els I will excommunicate thee.

Wood.

I haue sayd as much as I will say: excommunicate me if you will.* 1.246 I am none of your Dioces The Bishop of Chichester is mine Ordinary. Let him do it, if you will needs haue my bloud, that it may be required at his hāds.

Chichest.

I am not consecrated yet, I tolde you when you were with me.

Wood.

No in deede, your kine bringe foorth nothing but Cow calues, as it chaunceth now: Meaning thereby that he had not his Bulles from Rome.

Then they were al in a great rage with me, and called me al to nought, and sayd I was out of my w••t, because I spake feruently to euery mans question: all the whiche I cannot remember: but I sayd:

So Festus sayd to Paule when he spake the words of sobernes and truth out of the spirite of God, as I do. But as ye haue iudged me, you be your selues. You will go to hell all the sorte of you, if you condemne me, if you repent i•• not with speede.

Wood.

Then my keeper and the Sheriffes deputie Ful∣ler, rebuked me, because I spake so sharpely to them.* 1.247 And I sayde: I praye you let me alone: I aunswere for my life.

Then there was muche adoe, that I shoulde keepe si∣lence, and so I held my peace. Then spake the Bishop of Winchester and the Archdeacon of Caunterbury, saying: we go not about to condemne thee, but goe aboute to saue thy soule, if thou wilt be ruled ane doe as we would haue thee.

Wood.

To saue my soule? nay you can not saue my soule. My soule is saued already, I praise God therefore. There can no man saue my soule, but Iesus Christ: and hee it is that hath saued my soule before the foundation of y^t would was layd.

The fat Priest.

What an heresie is that my Lorde?* 1.248 here is an heresie. He sayth hys soule was saued before the founda∣tions we••e layd. Thou canst not tell what thou saiest. Was thy soule saued before it was?

Wood.

Yes I prayse God, I can tell what I say, & I say y^e truth. Looke in the first of the Ephesians, and there you shall finde it, where Paule sayth: Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ▪* 1.249 whiche hath bless••d vs with all maner of spirituall blessinges in heauenly thinges by Christ, according as hee hathe chosen vs in himselfe before the foundation of the earth was layd, that we shuld be holy and without blame before him, through loue, and thereto were wee pred••stinated.* 1.250 These be the wordes of Paule, and I beleue they be moste true. And therefore it is my fayth, in and by Iesus Christe that saueth, and not you or any man els.

The fat priest.

What? fayth without workes? Saint Iames sayth: faythe without workes is dead, and wee haue free will to do good workes.

Wood.

I would not that any of you should think that I do disallow good workes.* 1.251 For a good fayth cannot be w^t∣out good works. Yet not of our selues, but it is the gift of God, as sayth S. Paule to the Phillippians, the 2. Chapt. It is God that worketh in vs both the wil and also the deed, euen of good will.

Winchester.

Make an ende: aunswere to me. Here is your Ordinary, the Archdeacon of Caunterbury:* 1.252 hee is made your Ordinary by my Lord Cardinall: and he hath autho¦ritie to examine you of your fayth vppon a booke, to aun∣swere to such Articles as he will laye to you. And I praye you refuse it not: for the daunger is great if you do. Wher∣fore we desire you shew your selfe a subiect in this matter.

Then they spake al, and said: loe, my Lord desireth you gently to aunswere to him, and so we do all. For if you re∣fuse to take an othe, hee may excommunicate you. For my

Lord Cardinall may put whom he wil in the Bishops of∣fice, vntill he is consecrated.

Wood.

I know not so much. If you will geue me time to learne the trueth of it (if I can proue it be as you saye) I will tell you my mind in any thing that he shall demaūd of me, without any flattering.

Priest.

My Lord and all we tell thee it is true: & therefore aunswere to him.

Wood.

I will beleue none of you all, for you be turne coa∣tes,* 1.253 & chaungelinges, & be wauering minded, as sayth S. Iames: you be neither hoate nor colde, as sayth S. Iohn, therfore God will spue you out of his mouth. Wherfore I can beleue none of you all, I tell you truth.

Winchest.

What? be we turne coates and chaungelinges? what meanest thou by that?

Wood.

I meane that in king Edwardes time you taught the doctrine that was set forth then, euery one of you, and now you teach the contrary: and therfore I call you turne coates, and chaungelinges, as I may well enough. Which wordes made the most part of them to quake.

Winc.

Nay, not all, as it chaunced.

Wood

No? I pray you where were you then?

Winch.

I was in the Tower, as the Lieutenaunt wyll beare me record.

Wood.

If you were in the Tower, it was not therefore, I dare say: it was for some other matter.

Thē they tooke all hart of grace, and sayd: my Lord, he cōmeth to examine you, we think: if he will not answere to the Articles, you were best to excommunicate him.

Winch.

He is the naughtiest verlet hereticke, that euer I knew. I will read the sentence agaynst him.

Wood.

* 1.254Then they spake all at once: and I aunswered then as fast as I could. But I can not remember it all, the wor∣des came out so thicke, & that I spared them not (I prayse God therfore) for I spake freely.

Then they that stood by, rebuked me, & sayd: you cā not tell to whom you speake I thinke.

Wood.

No? thinke you so? they be but men, I am sure I haue spoken to as good as they bee, and better then they will euer be, for any thing that I can see, if they repent not with speed.

Winc.

* 1.255Geue eare: for I will read sentence agaynst you.

Wood.

Will you so? wherefore will you? you haue no iuste cause to excommunicate me: and therefore if you doe con∣demne me you wilbe condemned in hell, if you repent not: and I prayse God. I am not afrayd to dye for Gods sake, if I had a hundred liues.

Winch.

For Gods sake? nay for the Deuilles sake. Thou sayest thou art not afrayde to dye: No more was Iudas that hanged himselfe, as thou wilt kill thy selfe wilfully, be¦cause thou wilt not be ruled.

Wood.

Nay, I defye the deuill, Iudas and all their mem∣bers. And Iudas flesh was not afrayd, but his spirite and conscience was afrayde, and therefore despayred, and hong himselfe. But I prayse God, I feele no lothsomnes in my flesh to dye, but a ioyfull conscience and a willing mynde thereto. Wherfore my flesh is subdued to it, I prayse God: and therfore I am not afrayd of death.

Chichester.

Woodman, for Gods sake be ruled. You know what you sayd to me at my house. I coulde say more if I would.

Wood.

* 1.256Say what you can: the most fault that you founde in me was, because I praysed the liuing God, and because I sayd, I prayse God, and the Lorde: which you ought to be ashamed of, if you haue any grace, for I told you where the wordes were written.

Winc.

Well: how say you? will you confesse that Iudas re∣ceiued the body of Christ vnworthely? tell me playnely.

Wood.

* 1.257My Lord, if you, or any of you all can proue before all this audience, in all the bible, that any man euer eat the body of Christ vnworthely, then I will be with you in all thinges that you will demaund of me: of the which matter I desire all this people to be witnes.

Priest.

Will you so? then we shall agree well enough, S. Paule sayth so.

Woodman.

I pray you where sayeth he so? rehearse the wordes.

Priest▪

In the xi. of the first to the Corinthians, he sayeth: Who so eateth of this bread, and drinketh of this cup vnworthe∣ly,* 1.258 eateth and drinketh his owne damnation, because he maketh no difference of the Lordes body.

Wood.

Doth these wordes proue that Iudas eat the body of Christ vnworthely? I pray you let me see them. They were contēted. Then said I: these be the wordes euen that you sayd.* 1.259 Good people, harken well to them: Who so eateth of this bread, & drinketh of this cup vnworthely: He sayth not, who so eateth of this body vnworthely, or drinketh of this bloude vnworthely. But hee sayeth: Who so eateth of this bread,* 1.260 and drinketh of this cuppe vnworthely (which is the sa∣crament) eateth and drinketh his owne damnation, because he maketh no difference of the sacrament which representeth the Lordes body, and other bread and drinke. Here good people, you may all see they are not able to proue their say∣inges true. Wherefore I can not beleue them in any thing that they do.

Winc.

Thou art a rancke hereticke in deed. Art thou an ex∣pounder? Now I will read sentence agaynst thee.

Wood.

Iudge not leaste you be iudged. For as you haue iudged me, you be your selfe. Then he read the Sentence.* 1.261 Why, sayd I? Will you read the Sentence agaynst me, and can not tell wherfore.?

Winc.

Thou art an hereticke, and therefore thou shalt be excommunicated.

Wood.

I am no heretick, I take heauē & earth to witnes, I defie all heretickes: and if you condemne me, you wilbe damned, if you repēt it not. But God geue you grace to re¦pent all if it be his will:* 1.262 and so he read forth the sentence in latin, but what he said, God knoweth, and not I. God be iudge betwene thē & me. Whē he had done, I would haue talked my mind to thē, but they cried away, away w^t hym. So I was caried to y^e Marshalsea againe, where I am, & shalbe as long as it shall please God: & I prayse god most hartely, y^t euer he hath elected, & predestinated me to come to so high dignity, as to beare rebuke for his names sake: his name be praysed therfore, for euer and euer. Amen.

And thus haue you the Examinations of thys blessed Woodman, or rather Goodman: wherein may appeare as well the great grace and wisedome of God in that man, as also the grosse ignorance and barbarous cruelty of his ad∣uersaries, especially of Doct. White bishop of Winchester. Now foloweth likewise the effect of his Letter.

A godly Letter of Richard Woodman written to a Christian woman Mistres Robertes of Hawkhurst.

GRace, mercy, and peace from God the father, and from hys sonne our alone Sauiour Iesus Christe, by the operation and working of the holy Ghost, be multiplied plenteously vpon you (deare sister Robertes) that you may the more ioyfully beare the crosse of Christ that ye are vnder, vnto the end, to your onely, cō∣fort and consolation, and to all our brethren and sisters that are round about you, both now and euer. Amen.

In my most humble wise I commend me vnto you, and to al our brethren and sisters in those parties, that loue our Lorde vn∣faynedly, certifying you that I and all my brethren with me,* 2.1 are mery and ioyfull, we prayse God therfore, looking daily to be dis∣solued frō these our mortall bodyes, according to the good plea∣sure of our heauenly father: praysing God also for your cōstancy, and gentle beneuolence,* 2.2 that you haue shewed vnto Gods electe people, in this troublesome time of persecution: which may be a sure pledge and token of Gods good will and fauour towardes you, and to all other that heare thereof. For blessed are the merci∣full, for they shall obteine mercy.* 2.3 Wherfore the fruites declare al∣way what the tree is. For a good man or woman, out of the good treasure of theyr hartes bring forth good thinges.

Wherfore deare Sister, it is not as many affirme in these day∣es (the more it is to be lamented) that say God asketh,* 2.4 but a mās hart: which is the greatest iniury that can be deuised agaynst god and his word. For S. Iames sayth: Shew me thy faith by the deeds, and I will shew thee my fayth by my deedes, saying: the deuilles haue fayth, and tremble for feare, & yet shalbe but deuils still, be∣cause theyr minds were neuer to do good.* 2.5 Let vs not therfore be like them, but let our fayth be made manifest to the whole world by our deedes: and in the middest of a crooked and peruerse nati∣on, as S. Paule sayth, let your light shine as in a darcke place.

Oh deare hartes, nowe is the Gospell of God ouerwhelmed with many blacke and troublesome cloudes of persecution, for the which cause very few go about to haue their eies made clere by the true light of the Gospell, for feare of loosing of their trea∣sures of this world which are but vayne, and shall perish.

Let not vs therfore be like vnto them which light their can∣dle and put it vnder a bushell: but let vs set our candle vpon a cā∣dlesticke, that it may geue light vnto all thē that are in the house:* 2.6 that is to saye, let all the people of the housholde of God see our good workes, in suffering all thinges patiently that shalbe layde vpon vs for the Gospels sake, if it be death it selfe. For Christ dy∣ed for vs, leauing vs an example, that we should follow his steps, and as he hath geuen his life for vs, so ought we to geue our liues for the defence of the Gospell, to the comfort of our brethren.

How is it then that some will say, that theyr fayth is good, & yet they do all the deedes of Antichrist the deuill,* 2.7 and be not a∣shamed to alledge certayne Scriptures to maynteine their wic∣kednesse? Saynt Paule sayth: To beleue with the hart iustifieth, & to confesse with the mouth maketh a man safe. Oh good GOD: here maye all menne see that no man or woman can haue a true

faith,* 2.8 vnlesse they haue deedes also: and he that doubteth, is like the waues of the Sea tossed about of the winde, and can looke for no good thing at the Lordes handes. Maye not a man iudge all such to be like those whiche Saynt Iohn speaketh of, that be ney∣ther hoate nor colde,* 2.9 and therfore God will (he sayth) spue them out of his mouth? If we iudge euill of such, haue not they geuen vs occasion?* 2.10 Had it not bene better for them to haue had a myll stone tyed about theyr necks, and to haue bene cast into the Sea, then they should geue such offences to Gods elect people in cō∣demning them as they doe,* 2.11 in going to the sinagogue of Sathan, and there to receiue the marke of the beast, in that they see and heare God blasphemed there, and hold their peace? Doth not that declare to the whole world, that they allow theyr doinges to be good?* 2.12 and these do not only defile themselues, but also be an oc∣casion to confirme the Papistes in theyr Papistry, and so be an oc∣casion of our weake brothers falling, the which will be all requi∣red at theyr handes: which will be to heauy a burden for them to beare,* 2.13 if they repent it not with speed. For they that know theyr Maysters will & doe it not, shalbe beaten with many stripes Oh, do not we perceiue that now is the acceptable time that Christe speaketh of yea euen now is the axe put to the roots of the trees, so that euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruites now,* 2.14 must be hewed downe and cast into the fire.

Now is the Lord come with his fanne in his hand, to trie the wheate from the chaffe. The wheat he will gather into his barne, and the chaffe hee willl burne as is aforesayde. Nowe is the time come,* 2.15 that we muste goe meete the bridgrome with oyle in our Lampes. We are also bidden to the feast: let vs make no excuses. Yea, our Maister hath deliuered his talentes vnto vs: God geue vs grace to occupy them well, that at his comming he may receiue his owne with vauntage. Yea nowe is the Lorde come to see if there be any fruit vpon his trees, so that if the Lord come & find none, he will serue vs as he did the wilde figge trees, that is, neuer fruit shall grow on him more.* 2.16 Also, if we goe to meete the bride∣grome without oyle in our lāpes, & should go to buy: the doubt is, we should be serued as was the foolishe virgins: that was, God sayd to thē depart,* 2.17 I know you not. Or if we should make excuses to come to the feast, other shalbe biddē in our roomes. If we oc∣cupy not our talentes wel,* 2.18 they shalbe taken away from vs & ge∣uen to other, and all such vnprofitable seruantes shalbe cast into prison in hell, whe••e shalbe weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Oh good God what a sort of feareful sayinges are here con∣teined? what christian hart will not harken diligently hereto? Oh, may not all people well perceiue nowe that this is the time that our Mayster Christ speaketh of,* 2.19 that the father should be agaynst the sonne, and the sonne agaynste the father, and one brother a∣gaynst another: that the brother shal deliuer the brother to death: yea and that the wicked shall say all maner of wicked sayinges a∣gaynst vs for his names sake?* 2.20 the which I haue well found by ex∣perience I prayse God therefore, that hath geuen mee strength to beare it. For I thinke there canne no euill bee deuised but it hath bene imagined agaynst me,* 2.21 & that of my familiar frendes, as Da∣uid said: but I prayse my Lord God, they are not able to proue a∣ny of their sayinges true, but that they go about to finde fault in thē that God hath chosen, because they thēselues list not to take vp their crosse and folow Christ, & therfore they spake euil of the thing that they know not: the which shall geue account for it be∣fore him that is ready to iudge both the quicke and the dead.

* 2.22But my trust is, that al the people of God wilbe ruled by the counsell of S. Iohn, saying: My sheepe will heare my voyce, straū∣gers the will not heare: meaning thereby that ye shoulde not be∣leue straungers, counting them straungers that go about to sub∣uert the Gospell. Wherfore marke well what they be, and try thē well or euer you geue credite to thē, according to S. Iohns coū∣sell in his Epistle,* 2.23 saying: Beleue not euery spirit, but trie the spi∣rites whether they be of God or not: meaning thereby that they that be not of God, wil speake good of none but of them that be as they be. Wherefore (deare sister) be of good cheare, & geue no credite to such people, what so euer ye heare them say. For I haue no mistrust, by Gods help, but that all the world shal see & know that my bloud shal not be deare in mine owne sight, whensoeuer it shall please God to geue my aduersaries leaue to shedde it. I doe earnestly beleue that God which hath begon this good worke in me, will performe it to the end, as he hath geuen me grace & wil alway, to beare this easy yoke and light burden: the which I haue alwayes found, I prayse my Lord God.

For when I haue bene in prison, wearing other while boltes other while shackles,* 2.24 other while lying on the bare groūd, some time sitting in the stockes, sometime bound with cordes, that al my bodye hath bene swollen, much like to bee ouercome for the payne that hath bene in my flesh, sometime fayne to lye without in the woodes & fieldes, wandring to and fro, few I say, that durst to keepe my company for feare of the rulers, sometime brought before the Iustices, Shiriffes, Lordes, Doctours, and Bishoppes sometime called dogge, sometime deuill, hereticke, whoremon∣ger, traytor, theefe, deceiuer with diuers other such like: yea & e∣uen they that did eat of my bread, that should haue bene most my f••endes by nature, haue betrayed me. Yet for all this I prayse my Lord God that hath separated me from my mothers wombe,* 2.25 all this that hath happened to me hath bene easy, light and most de∣lectable & ioyful of any treasure that euer I possessed: for I praise God they are not able to proue one iote or title of their sayinges true. But that way that they call heresy, I serue my Lord God, and at all times before whomesoeuer I haue bene brought, God hath geuen me mouth and wisedome, where agaynst all my aduersa∣ries haue not bene able to resist, I prayse God therfore.

Wherfore deare sister, be of good cōfort, with all your bre¦thren and sisters, and take no thought what you shall saye,* 2.26 for it shall be geuen you the same houre, according to the promises, as I haue alwayes found, and as you and all other of Gods elect shall well finde when the time is full come And whereas I and manye other haue hoped, that this persecution woulde haue bene at an end ere this time: now I perceiue, God will haue a further triall to roote out all dissēblers, that no man should reioice in himselfe: but he that reioyceth, shall reioyce of God.

Wherfore if prophecy should fayle, and toungs should cease, yet loue must endure. For feare hath paynefulnesse, but a perfecte loue casteth out all feare: which loue I haue no mistrust but God hath poured it vpō you so aboūdantly, that nothing in the world shalbe able to seprate you from God. Neither high nor low, riche nor poore, life nor death, shalbe able to put you from Christ: but by him I trust you shall enter into new Hierusalem, there to liue for euer, beholding the glory of God with the same eyes that you now haue, and all other faythfull people that cōtinue to the end. Geue all honour and glory to God the father, God the sonne, & God the holy Ghost, three persons and one God, to be honoured now and euer. Amen.

After these examinations thus had and commensed be¦twene Richard Woodman and y^e Bishops, he was (as is afore told) iudged by sentence of cōdēnation, and so depri∣ued of his life: with whom also was burned 9. other, to wit, fiue men and foure women, which were takē not past two or three dayes before theyr iudgement. The names of all which being also before expressed, here agayne folow in this order. Richard Woodman, George Steuēs, William Maynard, Alexander Hosman his seruant, Thomasine a Wood his mayde, Margerye Moris, Iames Moris her sonne, Denis Burgis, Ashdownes wife, Groues wife.

These persons here aboue named, and blessed martyrs, were put to death at Lewes, the xxij. of Iune▪

[illustration]

¶The burning of x. Martyrs at Lewes.

* 2.27

Of the which number the viij. last were apprehend (as is sayd) either the same daye, or the second or third day be∣fore, and so with the sayd Woodman and Steuēs were to∣gether committed to the fire:* 2.28 in which space no writ could come downe from London to the Iustices, for theyr bur∣ning. Wherfore what is to be said to such Iustices, or what reckoning they wil make to God and to the lawes of this Realme, I referre that to them that haue to do in the mat∣ter. The like whereof is to be found also of other Iustices, who without any lawfull writte of discharge, or order of law, haue vnlawfully and disorderly burnt the seruantes

of Christ (whhose bloud the lawe both may and also ought to reuenge:* 2.29) especially at Salisbury, and also at Canterbu∣ry, and Garnesey. But concerning these matters though mans law do wincke, or rather sleep at them, yet they shall be sure Gods law wil find such murderers out at length. I pray God the doers may repent betime.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iune. 22.
• * 1.2

  10. Godly Martyrs.
• * 1.3

  The lyfe & story of Richard Woodman.
• * 1.4

  Anno ••557. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.6

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.7

  R••••hard ••o••dman 〈…〉〈…〉 of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 trouble. R••chard Woodman ag••yne ap∣prehended, 〈…〉〈…〉 of Richard Woodman.
• * 1.8

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.9

  The first ap∣pre••ension 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Richard Woodman.
• * 1.10

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.11

  Woodmen pur∣geth himselfe of false sclander.
• * 1.12

  False surmises agaynst Richard Woodman.
• * 1.13

  Woodman com∣playned of to Syr Iohn G••ge Lord Cham∣berlayne.
• * 1.14

  Warrantes sent out to attach Woodman.
• * 1.15

  L. Chamber∣layne sendeth to take Woodman at his plough.
• * 1.16

  Woodman a∣rested.
• * 1.17

  Feare comming vpon Woodmā at his first ta∣king.
• * 1.18

  Woodman comforted in his spirite after his feare.
• * 1.19

  Woodman as∣keth for their Warrant.
• * 1.20

  How God worketh for his seruauntes.
• * 1.21

  The vnorderly doinges of the Papi••tes in at∣taching men without any warrant.
• * 1.22

  Woodman re∣fus••th to goe with them vn∣lesse they shewe their warrant.
• * 1.23

  Gods great worke, how the persecutors which came to take Woodman, went away without him.
• * 1.24

  Woodman es∣capeth the handes of his takers.
• * 1.25

  Woodmans house agayne searched for him,
• * 1.26

  Woodman lodged sixe wee••es in a woode.
• * 1.27

  All the count••y and Sea coastes l••yd for wood∣man.
• * 1.28

  Woodman deli∣uered by his owne brother into his ene∣nemyes handes.
• * 1.29

  Auri sacra fa∣mes quid non Mortalia cogis pectora? Virgil.
• * 1.30

  Brother bewrayeth the bro∣ther.
• * 1.31

  Woodmans house a∣gayne beset, and sear∣ched.
• * 1.32

  Woodman put to his shiftes.
• * 1.33

  The part of a trusty wife to her hus∣band.
• * 1.34

  This belyke was his brother.
• * 1.35

  Woodman at length after long seeking found out.
• * 1.36

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.37

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.38

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.39

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.40

  George 〈…〉〈…〉 in 〈…〉〈…〉 Woodman.
• * 1.41

  A Pewte∣rer of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 coate.
• * 1.42

  ••oodman 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ounde 〈…〉〈…〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Woodman 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his ••••fe and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The name of this place 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 could 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by 〈…〉〈…〉 Firle.
• * 1.43

  Richard Wood∣man brought before the B. of Chichester., D. Story, and D. Cooke.
• * 1.44

  Richard Wood∣man preferreth the kingdome of Christ, before lyfe, or wyfe, & all worldly respectes.
• * 1.45

  Woodman ap∣pealed to his Ordynary.
• * 1.46

  D. Story a great spiller of bloud by his owne confession.
• * 1.47

  The Papistes in doubte whether they haue the spirite of God.
• * 1.48

  D. Story in a fury.
• * 1.49

  He is no true Christian that hath not the spirite of God.
• * 1.50

  Anno 1556. Iune.
• * 1.51

  1. Cor. 7.
• * 1.52

  Whether Paule was sure to re∣ce••ue the spirite of Christ.
• * 1.53

  1. Cor. 7.
• * 1.54

  Rom. 8.
• * 1.55

  Rom. 8. G••l. ••. 2. Tim. 8.
• * 1.56

  The Papistes bewray their owne blyndnes.
• * 1.57

  Richard Wood∣man glad to goe to the Marshal∣s••••.
• * 1.58

  The liuing God, is a p••••ne of he∣resie among the Catholickes.
• * 1.59

  Story scorneth at the holy Bible.
• * 1.60

  Barne. 6.
• * 1.61

  D. Story set to schoole in the Scriptures.
• * 1.62

  Psal. ••4.
• * 1.63

  If the liuing God in hea∣uen doe make an he¦retick, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 maketh 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the dead God on the Aultar. Storyes rule to know an hereticke that is a true Chri∣stian.

  When D. Story can∣not confute them by learning, he confu∣teth them by impri∣sonment.
• * 1.64

  No but if he should say: the Sacra∣ment of the aultar, wor∣shipped might he be: then he were a per∣fect Catho∣licke.

  The Lord hereticall, our Lord Catholicke with the Papistes.
• * 1.65

  Fallacia e∣quiuoci. He that er∣reth from the church, which church er∣reth not in in the right fayth, his fayth can∣not be good in deede.
• * 1.66

  Woodman charged with his owne wri∣tinges.
• * 1.67

  Richard Woodman 5. tymes be∣fore the Commissi∣oners.
• * 1.68

  Anno 1557. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.69

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.70

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.71

  ••oodman 〈…〉〈…〉 church.
• * 1.72

  A man may 〈…〉〈…〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 prea∣••••••.

  ••eading 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Scrip∣ture letteth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man to 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.73

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 and ••••••under.
• * 1.74

  Woodman 〈…〉〈…〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Church.
• * 1.75

  The Bishop 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.76

  The Bishop bid∣deth Woodman to dinner.
• * 1.77

  Talke betweene Richard Wood∣man and the Bi∣shop about Pri∣estes mariage.
• * 1.78

  Paule if he were not maryed, yet he had power to marry as well as the other had.
• * 1.79

  1. Cor. 9.
• * 1.80

  1. Cor. 7
• * 1.81

  Priestes ought to haue wyues, rather then to burne, by Sainct Paules doctrine.
• * 1.82

  Gene, 2.
• * 1.83

  1. Tim. 3. Bishops and Deacons were maryed in the Apostles tyme. Papistes ••olde, that Byshops & Deacons hauing wi••es before, might keepe them still: but not hauing be∣fore, might not afterward mary.
• * 1.84

  Paul confesseth himselfe after his Apostleship to haue power to ma••y.
• * 1.85

  The Bishops fay••e wordes to Richard Wood∣man.
• * 1.86

  Richard Wood∣man complay∣ned of by vn∣learned Priestes which could not certyfie him in matters of reli∣gion.
• * 1.87

  A Byshoplyke di••ner without any talke of Scriptures.
• * 1.88

  D. story a man without reason.
• * 1.89

  7. Sacramentes denyed.
• * 1.90

  Two onely Sa∣cramentes.
• * 1.91

  Richard Wood∣man caryed to the Marshalsey.
• * 1.92

  Luke 22. The deuills members per∣secutors of the Christians.
• * 1.93

  Iob. Psal. 1••▪ Rom 14.
• * 1.94

  Richard Woo••m•••• to the faythfull brethren.
• * 1.95

  Psal. 103.
• * 1.96

  Those that feare God hang not or man.
• * 1.97

  The insepa∣rable knot of loue be∣tweene Christ and his mem∣bers.
• * 1.98

  Christians ought to geue there liues for de∣fence of the Gospell, if they be thereto cal∣led.
• * 1.99

  The second examinati∣on of Rich. Woodman, before D, Christo∣pherson, Bishop of Chichester, Doct. Story &c.
• * 1.100

  Prouing of 7. Sacra∣mentes.
• * 1.101

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.102

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.103

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.104

  Christo∣pherson not yet conse∣crated, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the ex∣amination 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.105

  ••••ether ••••trimony 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sacra∣ment.
• * 1.106

  Ephe. 5.
• * 1.107

  S. Paules words be these: ••his miste••y is great••▪ &c.
• * 1.108

  In the Greeke text S. Paule calleth it miste∣rium.

  What is a miste∣ry, and what difference there is betweene a mistery and a Sacrament.
• * 1.109

  Argument.

  A thing signified, & a thing signifying can not bee at one tyme in respecte of it selfe, in one subiecte.

  Matrimony is a holy thing it selfe signified

  Ergo, Matrimony cannot be a Sacrament signifying a holy thing.
• * 1.110

  The hose in a hosiers stalle, may be a sign••▪ signifying moe hose to be within: but it is noe signifying signe of it selfe. Neyther againe is eue∣ry signe of an other thing to be called a Sacra∣ment.
• * 1.111

  Chichester pro∣ueth Matrimony to be a Sacramēt by a payre of hose.
• * 1.112

  Letters written in the booke speaking pro∣perly, be one thing: the testa∣ment & worde of God is an o∣ther thing. And yet by vse of speach, the booke of the te∣stament is cal∣led the testa∣ment, as bread, and wine be cal∣led the body & bloud of the Lord.
• * 1.113

  Heb. 13.
• * 1.114

  The Bishop of Chicheste•• rightly aunswe∣red of his man according to his queston.
• * 1.115

  Ai••, Aio.
• * 1.116

  Sacrament of the Aultar.
• * 1.117

  The aultar how it is to be taken, and where it is.
• * 1.118

  Math. 18.
• * 1.119

  Math. 5.
• * 1.120

  Christ the true and onely Aul∣tar.
• * 1.121

  The place of Math. •• expound••
• * 1.122

  Heb. 13.
• * 1.123

  The Ca∣tholickes will not haue the worde to iudge.
• * 1.124

  Woodman referreth himselfe to the true Church.
• * 1.125

  Doctrine preiudiciall to Christes passion to say that the Sacrament of the Aul∣tar doth pa∣cyfie the wrath of God.
• * 1.126

  The Ca∣tholickes make them∣selues Priestes, not after the order of Aaron but of Melchi∣sedech.
• * 1.127

  The Ca∣tholickes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Sacrament doth a ••••gne signi∣••••••••g, and the thing it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 signi∣••ied.

  Another 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wordes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 make 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sacra∣ment of Baptisme, 〈…〉〈…〉 childe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be ••••ptised?
• * 1.128

  The word, water and childe, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bap∣ti••me: So the word, bread and the receauer 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Sacrament of the Lordes body.
• * 1.129

  The fayth of the recei∣uer maketh it the body.
• * 1.130

  If Iudas did eate the body of Christ, thē must he be saued.
• * 1.131

  Whether bread re∣mayne in the Sacra∣ment.
• * 1.132

  The true confession of Richard Woodman touching the Sacra∣ment.
• * 1.133

  Sap. ••.
• * 1.134

  The zeale of Gods spirite in Richard Wood∣man.
• * 1.135

  D. Story com∣meth in.
• * 1.136

  D. Story com∣maundeth Ri∣chard Woodmā agayn to the Marshalsey.
• * 1.137

  The third exa∣mination of Richard Wood∣man, before D. Langdale, and M. Iames Gage, May. 12.
• * 1.138

  False lyes and lewde reportes.
• * 1.139

  Woodman war∣ned to appeare.
• * 1.140

  Woodman ta∣keth his leaue of his fellowes.
• * 1.141

  Woodman de∣liuered to one of the Lord Mountagues men.
• * 1.142

  Religion estee∣med by aunci∣tors & Grand∣fathers, and by place.
• * 1.143

  Multitude not to be followed in doing euill. To doe as most men doe and to doe as a man ought to doe, are two things.
• * 1.144

  Hard tru∣sting any man in thi•• world.

  Woodman•• blamed fo•• aunswerin•• with Scrip∣tures.
• * 1.145

  D. Lang∣dales talke with Ri∣chard Woodman, vpon what occasion, & by whose procure∣ment.

  Woodman charged with his owne hand writing.
• * 1.146

  Richard Woodmans writing ••et vpon the the Church dore vpon what occa∣sion.
• * 1.147

  Woodman required of M. Sheriffe and other his frendes, to talke with D. Langdale. D Lang∣dale Pa••••on of Bux∣steede, where Woodman•• father dwelt.
• * 1.148

  Woodmans friendes de∣sirous to heare him and D. Langdale talke toge∣ther.
• * 1.149

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 By∣••hop was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Christo∣••••erson. W••odman 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.150

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.151

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.152

  D. Lang∣dale to 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.153

  ••••odman 〈◊〉〈◊〉 without 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cause.
• * 1.154

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 childrē 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••mned 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Doctour ••••••••dale 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••ptisme.
• * 1.155

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 childrē 〈…〉〈…〉 by D. Langdale, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.156

  Richard Wood∣mad chargeth D. Langdale with ignorance in the scriptures▪
• * 1.157

  Fayth, not Bap∣tisme saueth. Not lacke of Baptisme, but lacke of fayth condemneth.
• * 1.158

  Baptising of water is not the cause of fayth. The Catholicks do hold the con∣trary.
• * 1.159

  A Catholicke paradoxe. The purpose of Gods election standeth by grace and not by reason of workes.
• * 1.160

  Doctor Lang∣dales Argumēt, Children dying without Bap∣tisme may be saued.

  Ergo, children haue no origi∣nall sinne.
• * 1.161

  Absurde doc∣trine.
• * 1.162

  Aunswere. This righteous∣nes by Iesus Christ commeth vpon all men, not in taking a∣way imperfec∣tions of nature, but in not im∣puting the im∣perfections of man to damna∣tion.
• * 1.163

  We are made free by the death of Christ, not from falling but from dam∣nation due by the lawe for our falling.

  Originall sinne.
• * 1.164

  Iohn, 3. Psal. 23.
• * 1.165

  Perfect doc∣trine.
• * 1.166

  Iames. 1.
• * 1.167

  Iohn. 3.
• * 1.168

  Phil. 2.
• * 1.169

  Adams free will nothing.
• * 1.170

  Fayth was be∣fore baptisme.
• * 1.171

  D. Langdale seemeth to be put to silence.
• * 1.172

  Children dying without bap∣tisme are not therefore dam∣ned, speaking absolutely.
• * 1.173

  Children beare not the offences of their fathers.
• * 1.174

  1. Pet. 3.
• * 1.175

  Gene. 6▪
• * 1.176

  Nay ra∣ther in the fayth of their Pa∣rentes. Neyther is it the fayth of the God∣fathers and Godmo∣thers▪ that sancty∣fieth the child but their dilli∣gence may helpe him in seeing him cate∣chised.
• * 1.177

  False doc∣trine of D. Langdale.

  Fyrste where he sayth the keeping of the law is altogether.

  Secondly, that the ke∣ping of the lawe stan∣deth in the outward signes.

  Thirdly, that chil∣dren dying before Bap∣tisme are damned.

  Fourthly, that childrē be baptised in the fayth of their Godfathers and God∣mothers. &c.

  Many called but fewe chosen. Luke▪ 12.
• * 1.178

  Gods elec∣••••on stan∣••eth not by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 most 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but by the fewest. ••ath. 7. Luke. 12.
• * 1.179

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. Math. 2.
• * 1.180

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Argu∣mentes 〈…〉〈…〉 to be 〈…〉〈…〉 taketh 〈◊〉〈◊〉 agaynst ••••odman 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.181

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Iames 〈…〉〈…〉 talke with Wood¦••••n.
• * 1.182

  D. Lang∣••••le com∣••••••ayneth to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gage of Woodman, causeles. Woodman falsely be∣••••ed.
• * 1.183

  D. Langdale de¦nieth originall sinne, yet accu∣seth Woodman, for the which he is culpable himselfe.
• * 1.184

  Woodman knoweth no Sacrament of the Aultar, vn∣lesse they take Christ to be the Aultar.
• * 1.185

  Woodmans iudgement of the Sacrament.
• * 1.186

  D. Langdale seeketh a knot in a rushe.
• * 1.187

  Whether the Sacrament be be the body of Christ before it be receaued.
• * 1.188

  Luke. ••2.
• * 1.189

  Eating goeth before the wordes of con∣secrating.
• * 1.190

  D. Langdale driuen to his shiftes.
• * 1.191

  D. Langdale a∣frayd to aun∣swere to Ri∣chard Wood∣man.
• * 1.192

  The Catholicks hold that Iudas did eate the bo∣dy of Christ. Argument.

  Who so euer eateth the fleshe of Christ hath euerlasting lyfe. Iohn. 6.

  Iudas did eate the fleshe of Christ: Ergo, Iudas hath euerlasting lyfe.
• * 1.193

  S. Paules words misalleaged by D. Langdale.
• * 1.194

  1. Cor. 11.
• * 1.195

  Making no dif∣ference of the Lordes body expounded.
• * 1.196

  Christ speaketh of eating his fleshe simply, without any determination of vnworthynes: that is simply who soeuer be∣leueth in Christ he shalbe saued neyther is any vnworthines in beleeuing in Christ.
• * 1.197

  Note well the working of this mans charitye, to doe for a man more at request, then for any compassion of the partye.
• * 1.198

  Lewde tales and false lyes raysed vpon Woodman.
• * 1.199

  The 4. exa∣mination of Richard Woodman before the Byshop of Winche∣ster. &c.
• * 1.200

  This olde Byshop of Chichester was Doct. Daye.
• * 1.201

  Vntrue. For B. Boner deliuered him of his owne ac∣corde at the burning of Philpot, vpon other causes.
• * 1.202

  False and vntrue.
• * 1.203

  Syr Ed∣ward Gage Shrieffe of Sussex.
• * 1.204

  Woodman charged with false matter.
• * 1.205

  Winchester 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in i••dging. Richard Woodman cleareth himselfe of recantation.
• * 1.206

  The honest dealing of B Boner with Wood¦man herein.
• * 1.207

  This was Doct. Day.
• * 1.208

  The cause and maner how Wood¦man was ••eliuered by B. Bo∣ner.
• * 1.209

  Wherefore Woodman ap∣pealed to his Ordinary.
• * 1.210

  The cause why Woodman was first appre∣hended.
• * 1.211

  Rich. Woodman and his fellowe prisoners false∣ly accused and belied of the B. of Winchester in the pulpit.
• * 1.212

  Speaking to the curate in the pulpit made heresie.
• * 1.213

  Woodman clea∣reth himselfe from breach of the Statute.
• * 1.214

  Note the prety shift of this Ca∣tholick Prelate.
• * 1.215

  Woodmā falsly taken to spea••e agaynst Priestes mariage.

  A Priest keping his wyfe yet would needes hold agayne with Papistry.
• * 1.216

  A Priest keping his wyfe yet would needes hold agayne with Papistry.
• * 1.217

  Richard Wood∣man sauing him selfe from his e∣nemyes by theyr owne lawe.
• * 1.218

  The fift exami∣nation of Ri∣chard Woodmā, before the B. of Winchester, and diuers other. Iune. 15. Anno. 1557.
• * 1.219

  The wordes of the statute.
• * 1.220

  No breach of this Statute, & why.
• * 1.221

  The Priest scannet•• vpon the meaning of Woodman.
• * 1.222

  See how neerly these men seeke matter a∣gaynst him whereby to trap him.
• * 1.223

  Luke. ••••. W••odman charged with his aunsweres before the Commissi∣oners at his last exami∣nation.
• * 1.224

  D. White B of Win∣chester bent to haue the bloud of Woodman.
• * 1.225

  Richard Woodman appealeth from the B. of Winche∣ster, to his owne Or∣d••nary.
• * 1.226

  Woodman refuseth to sweare or aunswere before Win∣chester be∣ing not his Ordinary.
• * 1.227

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.228

  *The Bishops Argument.

  The deuill is maister in hel•• Woodman felt a burning hell in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Ergo, the deuill was Wood∣•••••• Maister.

  *Aunswere.

  Hell is takē in Scripture two wayes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the place where damned spi∣•••••• and soules be tormented for euer 〈…〉〈…〉 this lyfe: or els for Gods correc∣•••••• and anguish of the soule in this life 〈◊〉〈◊〉 somtime is felt so sharpe, that it ••••••embled to hell it selfe. As where 〈◊〉〈◊〉: The Lord bringeth to hell and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 out agayne. &c. Tob. 13. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of hell haue found me. &c. Psal. ••••.
• * 1.229

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.230

  1. Cor. ••.
• * 1.231

  Rich. Woodman agayne refuseth to sweare or aunswere before the Bishop be∣ing not his Or∣dinary.
• * 1.232

  A charitable commaundemēt of a Catholicke Prelate vnder paine of excom∣munication, no man to say: God strengthen him.
• * 1.233

  The sixt exami∣natiō of Richard Woodman, be∣fore the Byshop of Winchester & diuers other in the Church of S. Mary Que∣ryes.
• * 1.234

  Richard Wood∣man agayne re∣fuseth Winche∣ster to be his iudge.
• * 1.235

  Truth taken for heresie.
• * 1.236

  M. Roper Com∣missioner, and witnes agaynst Woodman.
• * 1.237

  Woodmans hand writing brought in a∣gaynst him.
• * 1.238

  Woodman first released, and yet called to ac∣compt agayne, agaynst all good order.
• * 1.239

  Sacrament of the Aultar.
• * 1.240

  Woodman made an Anabaptist, because he will not sweare be∣fore him that is not his Ordina∣ry.
• * 1.241

  All truth is he∣resie, with these men.
• * 1.242

  Woodmans con∣fession of the Sacrament.
• * 1.243

  Mistically.
• * 1.244

  1. Cor. 1.
• * 1.245

  What is Mistically▪
• * 1.246

  Woodman agayne ap∣pealeth to his Ordina••••••lye.

  M. Christo∣pherson B. of Chi∣chester his Ordina••••, not yet con∣secrated.
• * 1.247

  Woodman for hi•• fer∣uent speach rebuked.
• * 1.248

  This fatte Priest well seene in the Scriptures.
• * 1.249

  Ephes 1.
• * 1.250

  Iesus Christ onely Saui∣our of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 soule, and not man.
• * 1.251

  Good wo••••e•• not disallowed.
• * 1.252

  Phil. 2. The Arch∣deacon of Canter∣bury made Ordinary by the Car∣dinall to examine Richard Woodman.
• * 1.253

  Richard ••oodman ••••alengeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iudges 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••e all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 coates 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chaunge∣••••••ges.
• * 1.254

  The free speach of Woodman 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the By∣shops and Priestes.
• * 1.255

  Winchester about to read the Sentence.
• * 1.256

  Read in the first exami∣nation of Woodman pag. in the 2. edition 2176.
• * 1.257

  No man can receiue the body of Christ vn∣worthely.
• * 1.258

  1. Cor. 11.
• * 1.259

  The place of S. Paule 1. Cor. 11. expounded.
• * 1.260

  What it mea∣neth to make no difference of the Lordes body.
• * 1.261

  Winchester rea∣deth sentence a∣gainst Woodmā and cannot tell wherefore.
• * 1.262

  Richard Wood∣man condemned & caryed to the Marshalsey, be∣ing not suffered to speake.
• * 2.1

  Phil. 2.
• * 2.2

  Math. 24.
• * 2.3

  Math. 5.
• * 2.4

  God asketh more thē the hart onely. Iames. 2.
• * 2.5

  Phil. 2▪
• * 2.6

  Math. 5.
• * 2.7

  Rom. 10. Confessing with the mouth and beleeuing in hart, must goe together.
• * 2.8

  Anno 1557. August.
• * 2.9

  Apoc. 1.
• * 2.10

  Math. 18.
• * 2.11

  Apoc. 13.
• * 2.12

  Sclaunderers of the Gospell.
• * 2.13

  Luke. 12.
• * 2.14

  Math. 3.
• * 2.15

  Math. 25.
• * 2.16

  Luke. 13.
• * 2.17

  Luke. 14.
• * 2.18

  Math. 25.
• * 2.19

  Math. 10.
• * 2.20

  Math. 5.
• * 2.21

  Richard Wood∣man v••xed of his own friends.
• * 2.22

  Iohn. 10.
• * 2.23

  1. Iohn. 4.
• * 2.24

  The manifold troubles which Woodman hath passed through.
• * 2.25

  Woodma•• comforte•••• in his tro••••bles.
• * 2.26

  Luke. 21. Math. 10. Experienc•• of the Lor•• to keepe promise with his people. 1. Cor. 13.
• * 2.27

  Rom. 8. The Mar∣tyrdome of 10. godly Martyrs of Christ at Lewes. An. 1557. Iune. 22.
• * 2.28

  Certayne Iustices charged for burning of Christes people without a∣ny lawfull warrant: o•• writte.
• * 2.29

  Anno 1557. Iune.