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 examination of Driuers wyfe, before Doct. Spenser the Chauncellor of Norwich.

FIrst, she comming into the place where she should bee examined,* 1.1 with a smiling countenance. Doct. Spenser said: Why woman, doest thou laugh vs to scorne?

Driuers wyfe.

Whether I do, or no, I might well enough, to see what fooles ye be.

Doct. Spenser.

Then the Chauncellour asked her wherfore she was brought before hym, and why she was layed in prison.

Dry.

Wherefore? I thinke I neede not to tell you: for ye know it better then I.

Spens.

No by my troth woman, I know not why.

Dry.

Then haue ye done me muche wrong (quoth shee) thus to imprison me, and know no cause why: for I know no euill that I haue done, I thank God, and I hope there is no man that can accuse me of any notorious fact that I haue done, iustly.

Spenser.

Woman, woman, what sayest thou to the blessed Sacrament of the aultar?* 1.2 Doest thou not beleeue that it is very flesh and bloud, after the words be spoken of con∣secration?

Driuers wife at those words helde her peace, & made no answer. Then a great chuffeheaded priest that stood by, spake, and asked her why shee made not the Chauncel∣lour an aunswere. With that, the sayd Driuers wyfe loo∣ked vpon hym austerely, and sayde: Why Priest, I come not to talke with thee, but I come to talke with thy Mai∣ster:* 1.3 but if thou wilt I shall talke with thee, commaunde thy Maister to holde his peace. And with that the Priest put his nose in hys cappe, and spake neuer a worde more. Then the Chauncellor bade her make aunswere to that he demaunded of her.

Dry.

Sir (sayd she) pardon me though I make no aun∣swer, for I cannot tell what you meane thereby: for in all my lyfe I neuer heard nor read of any such Sacrament in all the Scripture.

Spens.

Why, what scriptures haue you read, I pray you.

Dry.

I haue (I thanke God) read Gods booke.

Spens.

Why, what maner of Booke is that you call Gods booke?

Dry.

It is the old and new Testament. What call you it?

Spens.

That is Gods booke in deed, I cannot deny.

Dry.

That same booke haue I read thoroughout,* 1.4 but yet neuer could find any such sacrament there: & for that cause I cannot make you aunswer to that thing I knowe not. Notwithstanding, for all that, I will grant you a Sacra∣ment, called the Lords supper: and therfore seyng I haue graunted you a Sacrament, I pray you shew me what a sacrament is.

Spens.

It is a signe. And one D. Gascoine beyng by, con∣firmed the same, that it was the signe of an holy thing.* 1.5

Dry.

You haue sayd the truth sir, sayd she. It is a signe in deede, I must needes graunt it: and therefore seyng it is a signe, it cannot be the thyng signified also. Thus farre we do agree: for I haue graunted your owne saying. Then stoode vp the sayd Gascoine, and made an Oration wyth many fayre wordes, but little to purpose, both offensiue & odious to the myndes of the godly. In the ende of which long tale,* 1.6 he asked her if shee did not beleeue the omnipo∣tencie of God, and that he was almighty, and able to per∣forme that he spake. She answered, yes, and said: I do be∣leeue that God is almighty, and able to performe that hee spake and promised.

Gasc.

Uery well. Then he sayd to his disciples: Take, eate, this is my body: Ergo, it was his body.* 1.7 For he was able to performe that he spake, and God vseth not to lye.

Dry.

I pray you did he euer make any such promise to his disciples, that he would make the bread his body?

Gasc.

Those be the wordes. Can you deny it?

Dry.

No, they be the very wordes in deed, I cannot deny it: but I pray you, was it not breade that hee gaue vnto them?

Gasc.

No, it was his body.

Dry.

Then was it his body that they did eat ouer night.

Gasc.

Yea, it was his body.

Dry.

What body was it then that was crucified the nexte day?

Gasc.

It was Christes body.

Dry.

How could that be,* 1.8 when his disciples had eaten him vp ouer night? except he had two bodies, as by your ar∣gument he had: one they did eate ouer night, and another was crucified the next day. Such a Doctor, such doctrine. Be you not ashamed to teach the people, that Christ had two bodies? In the 22. of Luke, He tooke bread, and brake it, and gaue it to his disciples, saying: Take, &c. and do this in the remembraunce of me. Saint Paule also sayeth, 1. Cor. 11. Do this in the remembraunce of me: for as often as ye shall eate this bread, and drinke this cup, ye shall shewe the Lordes death till he come: and therefore I meruaile ye blushe not before all this people, to lye so manifestly as ye doe. With that Gascoine held his peace, & made her no answer: for,* 1.9 as it seemed, he was ashamed of his doyngs. Then the Chan∣cellor lift vp his hed of from his cushion, and commanded the Gaoler to take her away.

Dry.

Now, sayd she, ye be not able to resist the truth, ye cō∣maund me to prison agayne. Well,* 1.10 the Lord in the end shal iudge our cause, and to hym I leaue it. Iwisse, iwisse, this geare will go for no payment then. So went she with the Gaoler away.

Notes

• * 1.1

  D. Spenser after the death of D. D••nning who dyed sodenly in Lincolne∣••••ire, was Chauncel∣l••••r vnder B••••hop Hopton.
• * 1.2

  Sacrament of the Aul∣tar.
• * 1.3

  A farre Pr••est put to 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  No Sacrament of the Aultar to be found in Gods booke.
• * 1.5

  D. Gascoyne persecutour. What a Sacra∣ment is.
• * 1.6

  D. Gascoynes Oration little to purpose.
• * 1.7

  Talke betweene Alyce Dryuer & D. Gascoyne.
• * 1.8

  If Christ had but one body, & that body was eaten vp ouer night, what bo∣dy then was crucified the next day? Luce. 22. 1. Cor. 11.
• * 1.9

  Gascoynes mouth stopped.
• * 1.10

  The Chauncel∣lour when he could not aun∣swere her with reason, sendeth her to prison.