¶A Letter sent from the Queenes Councell vnto Boner, Bishop of London, touching the exa∣mination of Iohn Rough Minister.
* 1.1AFter our harty commendations to your good Lordship, we send you here inclosed the examination of a Scottish man, named Iohn Rough, who by the Queenes Maiesties commaun∣dement is presentlye sent to Newgate, beyng of the chiefe of them that vpon Sonday last, vnder the colour of comming to see a Play at the Saracens head in Islington, had prepared a commu∣nion to be celebrated and receiued there among certayne other seditious and hereticall persons. And forasmuch as by the sayde Roughes examination, conteining the story and progresse of hys former life, it well appereth of what sort he is: the queenes high∣nes hath willed vs to remit him vnto your Lordship, to the ende that being called before you out of prison, as ofte as your Lord∣ship shall think good, ye may proceed, both to his further exami∣nation, and otherwise ordering of him, according to the lawes, as the case shall require. And thus we bidde your Lordshippe har∣tely well to fare. From Saynt Iames the 15. day of December. 1557.
Your Lordships louing frendes. Nicholas Ebor.
* 1.2F. Shrewsbery.
Edward Hastinges.
Antony Mountague.
Iohn Bourne.
Henry Iernegam.
Boner nowe minding to make quicke dispatche, dyd wythin three dayes after the receipt of the Letter (the xviij. day of December) send for this Rough out of New∣gate, and in his Palace at London ministred vnto him 12. Articles: Many whereof because they conteine onely que∣stions of the profession and Religion of that age, wherein both he and his Parentes were Christened (which in sū∣dry places are already mentioned) I doe here for breui∣ty omitte: minding to touche suche onely, as perteyne to matters of fayth now in controuersy, and then chiefely ob∣iected agaynst the Martyrs and Saynts of God, which in effect are these.
1. FIrst, that thou Iohn Rough diddest directly speake agaynst the 7. Sacramentes,* 1.3 vsed commonlye and reuerently, as thinges of estimation and great worthines in the catholick chur∣che: and also diddest reproue and condemne the substance of the sayd Sacramentes, but especially the Sacrament of the aultar, af∣firming that in that same is not really and truely the very body & bloud of Christ: and that confession to the priest, and absolution geuen by him (as the minister of Christ) for sinnes, is not neces∣sary or auayleable in any wise.
2. Item, thou hast misliked and reproued the religion and eccle∣siasticall seruice, as it is now vsed in this realme, and hast allowed the religion and seruice vsed in the latter yeares of king Edward the 6. and so much as in thee hath leyne,* 1.4 hast by word, writing, & deed, set forwardes, taught, and preached the same openly, and in sundry places, affirmed, that the sayde Englishe seruice and doc∣trine therein conteined, is agreable in all poyntes to Gods word and vnto the truth, condemning vtterly the Latine seruice nowe vsed in the Queenes reigne, and inducing other by thine exam∣ple to do the like
3. Item, thou hast in sundrye places within this Realme com∣mended and approued the opinion & doctrine of Thomas Cran∣mer, late Archbishop of Canterbury. Nicholas Ridley, & Hugh Latimer, concerning the Sacrament of the aultar, affirming that in the Sacrament there remayneth after the wordes of consecra∣tion, materiall breade and materiall wine, without any transub∣stantiation.
4. Item, thou hast in sundrye places of this Realme, since the Queenes reigne, ministred and receiued the Communion as it was vsed in the late daies of king Edward the sixt,* 1.5 and thou kno∣west, or credibly hast heard of diuers, that yet do keepe bookes of the sayd Communion, and vse the same in priuate houses ou•• of the Church, and are of opinion agaynst the Sacrament of the aultar.
5. Item, that thou in sundry places of this realme hast spoken a∣gaynst the Pope of Rome and his Apostolicke sea,* 1.6 & hast plaine∣ly contemned & despised the authority of the same, misliking & not allowing the faith and doctrine therof, but directly speaking agaynst it, and by thine example hast induced other the subiects of this realme, to speake and do the like.
6. Item, thou doest knowe, and hast bene conuersaunt with all, or a great part of such English men as haue fledde out of this Realme for Religion, and hast consented and agreed with them in theyr opinions, and hast succoured, maynteyned, and holpen them, and hast beene a conueyer of theyr seditious Letters and bookes into this realme.
7. Item, that thou hast sayd, that thou hast bene at Rome, and taryed there about 30. dayes or more, and that thou hast sene li∣tle good or none there, but very much euill.* 1.7 Amongest the which thou sawest one great abhomination, that is to say, a man (or the Pope) that shoulde goe on the ground, to bee carried vppon the shoulders of foure men, as though he had bene God and no mā: Also, a Cardinall to haue his harlot riding openly behinde hym: And thirdly a Popes Bull that gaue expresse licence to haue and vse the stewes, and to keepe open bawdry by the Popes approba∣tion and authority.
8. Item, that thou sithens thy last comming into England out of the parties beyond the sea, hast perniciously allured and comfor∣ted diuers of the subiectes of this Realme, both young, olde men, and women, to haue and vse the booke of Communion, set forth in this Realme in the latter daies of king Edward the sixt, and hast also thy selfe read and sette forth the same, causing others to doe the like, and to leaue theyr comming to their parish churches to heare the Latine seruice now vsed.
9. Item, that thou the thirde sondaye of Aduent the xij. daye of this December. 1557. wast apprehended at the Saracens heade at Islington, in the county of Middlesexe and dioces of London, by the Queenes Vicechamberlayne, with one Cutbert a Taylour,* 1.8 Hugh a hosier, and diuers other there assembled, vnder the co∣lour of hearing a playe, to haue read the communion booke, and to haue vsed the accustomed fashion, as was in the latter dayes of king Edward the sixt.