All the examinacions of the constante martir of God M. Iohn Bradforde before the Lorde Chauncellour, B. of Winchester the B. of London, [and] other co[m]missioners: whervnto ar annexed, his priuate talk [and] conflictes in prison after his condemnacion, with the Archbishop of york, the B. of Chichester, Alfonsus, and King Philips confessour, two Spanishe freers, and sundry others. With his modest learned and godly answeres. Anno. Domini 1561

¶The effect of .M. Iohn Bradfordes examinacion be∣fore the Lord Chanceller B. of Winchester, the B. of London and others in commission the .22. of Aprill. Anno. Do∣mini .1555.

AFter the Lord Chan∣cellor and the residew of the Queenes coun∣cel in commission with him, had ended their talke with master Farrar late bi∣shop of S. Dauies: the vnder∣marshal of the kings Bench was commaunded to bring in maister Bradford, who being come in to the presence of the counsel sitting at a table he kneling down on his knee, but immediately by my lord

Chauncelor was bidden to stand vp and so he did. Whē he was ri∣sen the lord Chauncelor earnestly loked vpon him, to haue (be lyke) ouerfaced him: but he gaue no place, that is, he ceased not in like maner, to loke on the lorde Chan∣celor stil and continuallye (saue y^e once he caste his eyes to heauen warde sighing for gods help) and so outfaced him as they say. Thē the Lorde Chauncelor, as it were amased and some thing troubled: spake thus to hym in effecte, that of long tyme he had bene impry∣soned iustly, for his behauioure at Poules crosse the .xiii. of Auguste Anno. 1554. for his false prechinge and arrogancye, takinge vppon hym to preache withoute auctho∣ritie. But nowe, quoth hee, the tyme of mercye is come, and

therefore the Queenes highnesse myndyng to offer vnto you mer∣cy, hath by vs sente for you, to de∣clare and geue the same, if so bee ye will with vs retourne. And quoth he yf you wyll dooe as we haue done, you shall finde as we haue founde I warraunte you. These were the summe, and euen in maner, the words he spake. To these woordes maister Bradford spake, after reuerent obeysaunce made, in thys maner. My Lorde and Lordes all, I confesse that I haue beene longe prisoned, and (with humble reuerence be it spo∣ken) vniustlye, for that I dyd no∣thynge sediciouslye, falselye, or arrogantlye, in worde or fact, by preching or otherwise, but rather sought peace, & al godly quietnes as an obedient & faithful subiecte

bothe in going aboute to saue the bishoppe of Bathe now, the•• M. Bourne the preacher at y^e crosse, and in preaching for quietnes ac∣cordingly. At these wordes or ra∣ther before he had fullye finished them the lorde Chauncellor some thing snuffed, and spake with an admiracion, y^t there was a loude lie. For quoth he, the fact was se∣dicious as you my lord of Londō can beare witnes, you saye trewe my lorde, quoth the bishop of Lō∣don. I sawe him with mine owne eyes when he tooke vpon him to rule, and leade the people maly∣pertly, therby declaring y^t he was the authour of the sedicion. Heare Iohn Bradforde replied, & sayd: that notwithstandinge my lorde bishops seyng & sayinge y^t he had tolde, was the trueth, as one daye

quoth he, my lord god almightye shall reueile to all the world, whē we all shall come and appeare be∣fore him. In the meane season be∣cause I cannot be beleued of you, I must, and am ready to suffer, as now your sayīgs: so whatsoeuer God shall licence you to doe vnto me. I know, quoth my lord Chā∣cellor then, thou haste a gloriouse tonge, & godlye shewes thou ma∣kest, but all is lyes that thou do∣est. And againe, I haue not for∣gotten how stubburne thou wert when thou werte before vs in the Towre, whether thou wast com∣mitted to prison concerning rely∣gion. I haue not forgotten thy be¦hauiour and talk, wher through, worthely thou hast bene kepte in prison, as one y^t would haue done more hurt then I wil speake of.

My Lorde (quoth Bradforde) as I sayd, I say again, that I stād, as before you, so before god, & one day we shall al stand before him, The trueth then will be the truth, though you wyl not now, so take it. Yea my lorde (quoth he) I dare saye that my lorde of Bathe (M. Bourne) will witnes with me, y^t I sought his sauegard, with the perill of myne owne life, I thank god therefore. That is not trew, quoth the bishop of Lōdon, for I my self did see thee, take vpō thee to muche. No, quoth Bradforde, I tooke nothinge vppon me, vn∣desired and that of master Bourn himselfe, as if he were here presēt, I dare saye he woulde affirme it, for hee desired me, bothe to helpe him to pacifie the people, and not to leaue him till he was in safety.

And as for my behauioure in the Towre, and talk before your ho∣hours, if I did or saide any thing that did not beseme me, if wherin your lordships woulde tell me: I should and would shortely make you aunswer. Wel (quoth my lord Chancelor) to leaue this matter, how saist thou now, wilt thou re∣turne again, and doe as we haue done, and thou shalte receiue the Queenes mercy and pardon? M•• lorde, quoth Bradforde, I desire mercy with gods mercy, but mer∣cy with Gods wrathe, god keepe me from, althoughe, I thanke God therefore, my conscience do∣eth not accuse me that I did or spake any thīg, wherfore I should nede to receiue mercye or pardon. For all that euer I did or spake, was agreinge to Goddes lawes,

and the lawes of the realm at that presēt, and did make much quiet∣nes. Well quoth my lord Chance∣lor, if thou make this bablīg rol∣ling in thy eloquent tonge, beyng altogether ignoraunt and vayne glorious, and will not receyue mercy offered to thee: knowe for trueth that the Quene is mynded to make a purgacion of all suche as thou arte. The Lorde quoth Bradforde to fore whom I stand as well as before you, knoweth what vain glory I haue sought, and seke in this behalf. His mer∣cy I desire, & also would bee glad of the Queenes fauor, to lyue as a subiecte without clogge of con∣science, but otherwise the lordes mercye is to me better then lyfe. And I knowe, quoth he, to whom I haue committed my life: euē to

his handes which will kepe it so, that no man maye take it awaye before it be his pleasure. There ar 1••. houres in the daie, and as long as they last, so long shall no man haue power theron. Therfore his good will be done, life in his dys∣pleasure is worse then death, and death in his true fauour is trewe lyfe. I knowe wel ynough, quoth my Lorde Chauncellor, that wee shoulde haue glorious talke y∣nough of thee, be sure therefore y^t as thou hast deceyued the people with false and deuilishe doctrine: so shalte thou receiue. I haue not deceiued, quod Bradforde, the people, nor taught any other doc∣trine, then by Gods grace I am (and hope shall be) ready to con∣firme with my lyfe. And as for deuilishnesse and falsenesse in the

doctrine I woulde bee sorye you could so proue it. Why (quoth the Bishop of Duresme) tell me what you say by the ministracion of the communion, as you now know it is: My lorde (saithe Bradforde) here must I desire of your Lorde∣ship, and of all youre honours: a question, tofore I doe make aun∣swere to any intergatorie or que∣stion, wherewith you now begin. I haue bene .vi. tymes sworne, y^t I should in no case consent, to the practysing of any iurisdiccion, or any authoritie on the Bishop of Romes behalf, within this realm of Englande. Nowe therfore (be∣fore God) I humbly pray your ho∣nours, to tel me, whether you ask me this question, by his aucthori∣tie or not? If you dooe I dare

not nor maye not aunswere you anye thyng in his aucthorite you shall demaunde of me, excepte I would be forsworne, whiche God forbid. Hast thou bene sworne .vi. tymes quoth maister Secretarye Burne, what offices haste thou borne? Here is an other lie, quoth my Lorde Chauncelor. Forsooth, quoth Bradfoode, I was thryse sworn in Cambridge, whē I was admitted maister of Arte, when I was admitted felowe in Pēbrock Hall, and when I was there, the Visiters came thether and sware the Vniuersitye. Agayne I was sworne when I entered into the mynisterye, when I hadde a pre∣bende geuen me, and when I was sworne to serue the Kynge a litle before his death.

Tushe quoth my lorde Chaunce∣lor, Herodes othes a man should make no consciēce at. But, quoth Bradford, mi lord, these othes wer no Herodes othes, nor no vnlaw∣full othes, but othes according to gods woorde, as you youre selfe haue well affirmed in youre boke de Vera obediētia. My lords quoth an other of the counsel, y^t stode by the table, M. Rochester I wene, I neuer knewe wherfore this mā was in prison before nowe, but I see wel, that it had not bene good that this man had beene abrode. What so euer was the cause he was laide in prison I know not, but I now see well, y^t not without cause he was, and is to be kept in prisone. Yea, quoth Secretarye Bourn, it was reported this par∣liament tyme by the Erle of Der∣by,

that he hath doone more hurte by letters, and exhortinge these y^t haue come to him, in religion, thē euer he did when he was abrode by preachinge. In his letters he curseth al that teacheth false doc∣trine (for so he calleth that whiche is not accordīg to that he taught) and moste earnestly exhorteth thē to whome he writeth to continue still in that they haue receiued by him, and such lyke as he is. All which woordes diuers others of of the counsel affirmed, wherun∣to the saide maister Bourn added saying, howe saye you serra (spea∣king to Bradforde) haue you not thus sediciouslye written, and ex∣horted the people. I haue, quoth Bradford, written nor spoken any thing sediciouslye: and, I thanke god therefore, I haue not admyt∣ted

any sedicious cogitacion, nor I trust neuer shall dooe. yea, but thou haste wrytten letters, quoth maister Secretary Bourne. why speakest thou not, quoth my lord Chauncelour, hast thou not writ∣ten as he saith. That, quoth Brad¦forde, I haue wrytten, I haue written. Lorde God (quoth. M. Southwell) what an arrogant & stubburne boye is this, that thus stoutlye and dallyengly, behaue hymself before the Queenes coū∣sell. whereat, one looked vpon an other, with disdaynefull counte∣naunce. My lordes and masters, quoth Bradforde, the Lorde God whiche is, and wyll iudge vs all: knoweth, that as I am certayne I stande nowe before his maie∣stye, so wyth reuerence in hys syghte, I stande beefore you vnto

youre, and accordyngly, in woor∣des and gesture I desyre to be∣haue my selfe. yf you otherwyse take it, I doubte not but God in hys tyme wyll reuele it. In the meane season, I shall suffer with all due obedyence, your sayinges and deedes too, I hope. These bee gay glorious wordes, quoth my Lorde Chauncelour, of reue∣rēce, reuerence, but as in al other thynges, so hrrein thou doest no∣thyng but lye. Well quoth Brad∣forde, I would God the authour of trueth, and abhorrer of lyes, woulde pul my tounge out of my head before you all, and shewe a terrible iudgemente on me here presentlye: yf I haue purposed or dooe purpose, to lye beefore you, whatsoeuer you shall aske me.

Why then, quoth my lord Chan∣celor, doest thou not answer? haste thou written such letters as here is obiected against the? As I said my lord (quod Bradforde) that I haue written I haue written. I stande nowe before you whiche eyther can laye my letters to my charge or not, if you lay any thīg to my charge that I haue writtē, if I denye it I am then a lier. we shall neuer haue done with thee I perceiue now, saith my lord Chā∣celor, be short, be short, wylt thou haue mercy? I praye God (quoth Bradforde) geue me his mercie, & if therwith you wil extend yours, I wyll not refuse it, but otherwise I wil not. Heare was now much a dooe, one speaking thus and o∣ther speaking that, of his arro∣gancye in refusing the Queenes

pardon whiche she so louyngly▪ dyd offer vnto him. wherto Brad¦forde aunswered thus: my lordes yf I may liue as a quiete subiect, withoute clogge of conscience, I shal hartely thanke you, for your pardō, yf otherwyse I behaue my selfe, then I am in daunger of the faute. In the meane season, I aske no more, but the benefite of a sub∣iect, till I be conuinced of trans∣gressiō. If I cannot haue this, as hitherto I haue not had, goddes good wyll be doone. Vppon these wordes, my lord Chauncelor be∣gon a lōg proces, of the false doc∣trine, wherewith people were de∣ceiued, in the dayes of kyng Ed∣warde, and so tourned the ende of his talk to Bradforde, sayīg, how sayst thou. My lord, quoth Brad¦forde, the doctrine taught i•• K••••g

Edwardes daies was gods pure religion, the whiche as I then be∣leued, so doe I nowe more beleue then euer I didde. And therein I am more confirmed and ready to declare it, by gods grace euen as he will, to the worlde, then I was when I firste came into prisone. What religion meane you (quoth the bishop of Durisme, in Kynge Edwardes daies? what yeare of his raigne? Forsoth (quoth Brad∣forde) euen that same yere of hys raigne (my Lorde) that the kynge dyed and I was preacher. Heare wrote maister Secretary Bourn I wotte not what. Nowe after a lytle pawsyng, my Lorde Chaun∣celloure begynneth agayne to declare, that the doctryne taught in Kynge Edwardes dayes, was

heresye vsynge for probacion and demonstra••ion therof no Scryp∣pure nor reason but thys, that i•• ended wyth Treason and Rebel∣lion, so that (quoth he) the verye ende were ynoughe to improue, that doctryne to bee naughte. Ah my Lorde (quoth Bradford) that you would enter in to Gods Sanctuarie, and marke the ende of this present doctrine, you nowe so magnifie. What meanest thou by that (quoth he) I wene we shal haue a snatche of rebellion e∣uen now. No (quoth Bradforde) my lord I meane no suche ende as you woulde gather, I meane an ende whiche none seeth but thei y^t enter into gods Sanctuarie. If a man loke but on presēt thyngs, he wil sone deceiue hīself. Heare now dyd my Lorde Chauncellor offer

againe mercye, and Bradford an∣swered as before, mercye w^t gods mercy should be welcome, but o∣therwise he would none. Wherv∣pon the said lord Chancellor dyd ring a litle bel be like to cal in sōe bodye, for there was present none in maner, but onelye these before named, and the bishop of Worce∣ster. Now whē one was come in, it is beste, quoth maister Secre∣tarye Burne, y^t you geue y^e keper a charge of this fellowe. So was the vndermarshall called in. you shall take this man to you, quoth my Lord Chauncelor, & kepe him close, without conference with a∣ny man, but by your knowledge, and suffer him not to wryte anye letters. &c. For he is of an other maner of charge vnto you now, then he was before, and so thei de∣parted,

the said Bradford lokyng as cherefully as any man coulde doe, declaring thereby, euen a de∣sire to geue his lyfe, for confirma∣cion of that he hath taughte and written. And surely (yf he dooe) so his death wyll destroye more of the Philistines, as Sampson dyd, then euer he dydde in hys lyfe, God almyghtie keepe hym and al his felowes bounde for the lordes sake. Amen.