¶The second examination of Tho. Rose before the bishop of Norwiche, Hopkins by name, in his owne Palace in the presence of sir William Woodhouse knight, M. Stew∣arde the Chauncellor, Doct. Barret, with diuers others, the Wednesday in Whitson weeke. an. Domini. 1553.
* 1.1AFter I was presented by my keeper, the bishop imme∣diately asked me what I was. I told him I had bene a Minister.
What is this to the purpose, were yee a Fryer or a Priest▪
Fryer was I neuer, but a Prieste haue I bene, and beneficed by the kinges Maiesty.
Where were ye made Priest?
In Exceter, in the county where I was borne. Thē the bishop required of me my letters of orders. I told hym I knew not where they were become, for they wer things of me not greatly regarded.
Well, you are sent to me to be examined: what say you, will you submit your selfe to the order of the Churche of England?
My Lord, I trust I am not out of the order of chry∣stes Church in England, neither do I knowe my selfe an offender there agaynst.
What, ye••, ye haue here preached moste damnable & deuilish doctrine.
Not so, my lord. The doctrine by me here preached, was both true, sincere, & holy. But in deede the doctrine yt is now set forth, is most wicked and damnable, yea & that both agaynst Gods lawes & mans. But as for the doctrin by me preached, it is grounded vpon the word of God, set out also by the authoritie of two most mighty kings, with the consent of all the Nobilitie and clergy of the same, so yt I preached nothing but their lawfull proceedinges, ha∣uing their lawfull authoritie vnder their broad Seales for confirmation of ye same, for which my doyng ye cannot iustly charge me. For why, sithens the lawe ceased, I haue kept silence, so that the Counsaile which sent me vnto you haue not charged me therwith. Wherefore ye doe me open wrong to burden me with that wherein I am free.
What sir? ye are very captious, answerest thou my Lord after such a sort?
Syr (sayd I) I aunswere for my selfe, and accordyng to the truth, wherwith ye ought not to be offended, if ye be of God.
Thou art an euill man. Wast thou not abiured be¦fore now?
No, ye vntruely report me, and are in no wise able to proue that whiche ye haue spoken: so that your wordes appeare to proceede altogether of malice, whiche I haue not deserued at your handes. But in this I well perceiue ye are made an instrument to vtter other mennes malice conceiued of olde.
What sayest thou to the reall presence in the sacra∣ment?
I wist right well yee were made an instrument to seeke innocent bloud: well ye may haue it, if God permitte it is present and at hande, for I am not come hither to lye, but to dye (if God see it good) in defence of that whiche I haue sayd. Wherefore ye may begin when ye shall thinke good, for I haue sayd nothing but the trueth, and y• which in those dayes was of al men allowed for truth, & agaynst the which ye at that time durst not once whisper, although ye now brag neuer so much.
Wel father Rose, sayd he, what soeuer hath ben done in times past, shal not now be called in question, so that ye now submit your self. For not only you, but all the whole realm hath bene out of ye right way, both high & low, spiri¦tual & tēporal but al notwtstāding haue submited thēselues & acknowledged their faith. Wherfore if ye wil be accoūted for an Englishman, ye must likewyse submit your selfe.
My L. I am an Englishman borne, & do most hum∣bly require of ye christian congregation of England,* 1.2 to bee counted as a perticular member of the same, & with al due reuerence submit my self as in forme & maner followyng: That whatsoeuer law or laws shal be set forth in the same for the establishment of Christs true religion, & that accor∣ding to ye faith & doctrine of ye holy patriarchs & prophets, Iesus Christ, & his holy apostles, wt the faithful fathers of Christs primatiue church: I do not only hold it & beleeue it, but also most reuerently obey it. At which my assertion, the B. seemed to be greatly reioiced, & said: well, then we shall soone be at a point. But said he, you shal take this for no day of examination, but rather of communication, so that ye shall now depart & pawse your selfe, vntill we call for you againe, and so ended our first meetyng.