The spirit of the martyrs revived in a brief compendious collection of the most remarkable passages and living testimonies of the true church, seed of God, and faithful martyrs in all ages: contained in several ecclesiastical histories & chronological accounts of the succession of the true church from the creation, the times of the fathers, patriarchs, prophets, Christ and the Apostles.

The principal heads of the first Examination of Robert Smith before Bishop Bonner, written by himself.

About nine of the Clock in the Morning I was among the rest of my Brethren, brought to the Bishops house, and I first of all was brought before him into his Chamber, to whom the Bishop said as followeth, after he had asked my Name.

Bonner,

How long is it ago since the time that you were confessed to any Priest?

Smith,

Never since I had years of discretion for I never saw it need∣ful, neither commanded of God to come to shew my faults to any of that sinful number, whom ye call Priests.

Bonner,

Thou shewest thy self even at the first chop to be a rank Heretick, which being weary of painting art entred into Divinity, and so fallen through thy departing from thy vocations into Heresie.

Smith,

Although I have understanding in the said Occupation, yet (I praise God) I have had little need all my life hitherto to live by the same, but have lived without the same, in mine own house, as ho∣nestly in my vocation as ye have lived in yours, and yet used the same better then ever you used the Pulpit.

Bonner

How long is it ago since you received the Sacrament of the Altar? and what is your opinion in the same?

Smith,

I never received the same since I had years of discretion, nor never will by Gods Grace, neither do esteem the same in a∣ny point, because it hath not Gods Ordinance, neither in Name, nor in other usage, but rather is set up and erected to mock God withal.

Bonner,

Do you not believe that it is the very Body of Christ, that was born of the Virgin Mary, naturally, substantially, and really after the words of Consecration?

Sm••th,

I shewed you before, it was none of Gods Ordinances, as you use it, then much less to be God, or any part of his Substance, but only bread and wine erected to the use aforesaid; yet neverthe∣less, if ye can prove it to be the Body that ye speak of, by the Word, I ••ill believe it, if not I will, as I do, account it a detestable Idol, not God, but contrary to God and his Truth.

Then after many raging words, and vain Objections, he said, There was no remedy but I must be burned.

Smith,

Ye shall do no more unto me then ye have done to better men then either of us both: but think not thereby to quench the Spirit of God neither thereby to make your matter good; for your sore is too well seen to be healed so privily with Blood, for even the very Children have all your deeds in derision, so that although ye parch up one place with Authority, yet shall it break forth in forty to your shame.

Then after much ado; and many railing sentences, the Bishop said, throwing away the Paper of mine Examination; Well, even

now, by my Troth, even in good earnest, if thou wilt go and be shriven, I will tear this Paper in pieces.

Smith,

To which I answered, it would be too much to his shame to shew it to men of discretion.

After which Answer, I was carried down to the Garden with my Goaler, and there remained until my Brother Harwood was examined, and then being again brought up before the said Bonner, he demand∣ed, if I agreed with Harwood in his Confession, upon this Articles following.

Bonner,

What say you to the Catholick Church; do ye not confess there is one in Earth?

Smith,

Yesverily, I believe that there is one Catholick Church or faithful Congregation, which, as the Apostle saith, is builded upon the Prophets and Apostles, Christ Jesus being the head Corner-Stone, which Church in all her words and works maintaineth the Word, and bringeth the same for her Authority, and without it doth nothing, nor ough•••••• do, of which I am assured, I am by Grace made a Member.

Bonner,

You shall understand, that I am bound, when my Brother offendeth, and will not be reconciled, to bring him before the Congregation; now if your Church be the same, where may a man find it, to bring his Bro∣ther before the same.

Smith,

It is written in the Acts of the Apostles that when the Tyranny of the Bishops was so great against the Church in Jury, they were fain to Congregate in Houses, and private places, as they now do, and yet were they nevertheless the Church of God; and seeing they had their matters redressed, being shut up in a Cor∣ner, may not we do the like now adayes?

Bonner,

Yea, their Church was known full well, for St. Paul writ to the Corinthians to have the man punished and Excomunicated, that had committed evil with his Fathers Wife, whereby we may well perceive it was a known Church, but yours is not known.

Smith,

Then could you not Persecute it as ye do, but as ye say the Church of God at Corinth was manifest both to God and Paul, even so is this Church of God in England, whom ye Persecute both known to God, and also even to the very Wicked, although they know not, nor will not know their Truth nor Conversation; yea, and your sinful number have professed their Truth, and maintained the same a long season.

Bonner,

Well, Thou sayest that the Church of God was only at Corinth when Paul writ unto them, and so will I put in Writing, shall I?

Smith,

I do marvel greatly that you are not ashamed to lay Snares for your Brethren on this manner; this is now the third Snare you have laid for me; first to make me confess that the Church of England is not the Church of Christ: Secondly, to say it is not known: Thirdly, to say the Church of God is not Universal, but Particular, and this is not the office of a Bishop; for if an Innocent had come in your way you would have done your best I see to have intangled him.

Harpsfield,

Well, Friend, quoth one of the Chaplains, you are no In∣nocent, as appeareth.

Smith,

By the Grace of God I am that I am, and this Grace in me I hope is not vain.

Bonner,

Laughing, said, tell me, how sayest thou of the Church?

Smith,

I told you whereupon the true Church is builded, and I affirm in England to be the Congregation of God, and also in Om∣nem Terram, as it is written, their sound is gone forth into all Lands, and that is the afflicted and persecuted Church, which ye cease not to Imprison, Slay and Kill: And in Corinth, was not all the Con∣gregation of God, but a number of those holy and elect People of God? for neither Paul nor Peter were present at Corinth, when they wrote, and yet were they of the Church of God, as many thousands more, which also Communicate in that holy Spirit.

Bonner,

What call you Catholick, and what call you Church?

Smith,

Catholick, is universal; and Church, is a Congregation knit together in unity.

Then after much like vain talk, it was laid to his charge, that his fellow and he spoke one thing; whereof he praised God; and was sent again to the Garden; where after a while, as his Brother Har∣wood and he had been together, came one of the Chaplains that much desired to commune with him, demanding first, if he were a Pri∣soner.

Smith,

I am in this flesh a Prisoner, and subject to my Master and yours; but I hope yet the Lords Free-man through Christ Jesus.

Doctor,

I do much desire to talk with you lovingly, because you are a man that I much lament, with many other sweet words.

To which I answered, sub melle lates venenum; and after much ado about his God, I compelled him to say, that it must needs enter into the Belly, and so fall into the draught, to which he an∣swered.

Doctor,

What deragation was it to Christ when the Jews spit in his Face?

Smith,

If the Jews being his Enemies, did but spit in his Face, and we being his Friends, throw him into the draught; which of us have deserved the greatest Damnation? Then by your Argu∣ments he that doth injury to Christ shall have a most Plenteous Sal∣vation.

Then start he away, and would have his humanity in comprehen∣sible, making a comparison between our Soul, and the Body of Christ, bringing in to serve his turn, which way Christ came in among his disciples the Doors being shut?

Smith,

Although it be said that when he came the doors were shut, yet have I as much to prove that the doors opened at his coming, as ye have to prove he came through the door; for that mighty God that brought the Disciples out of prison, which yet when search came were found shut, was able to let Christ in at the door although it were shut; and yet it maketh not for your purpose, for they saw

him, heard him, and felt him, and so cannot we say ye do; at which answer he made many scoffs, and departed, and we were carried into my Lords Hall, where we were baited of my Lords Band almost all the day, until our Keeper seeing their misorder shut us up in a fair Chamber, while my Lord went into his Sinagogue to condemn M. Dealy and John Newman.

* 1.1 Then brought they up the Lord Mayor to hear our matter above in the Chamber, and I first of all was called into the Chamber, where the Bishop intended to Sup, where the Lord Mayor being set, with the Bishop, and one of the Sheriffs, Wine was walking on every side, I standing before them, as an outcast, which made me remember how Pilate and Herod were made Friends; but no man was sorry for Josephs hurt; but after the Bishop had well drunk, my Articles were sent for, and read, and he demanded whether I said not as was written?

Smith,

That I have said, I have said, and what I have said, I do mean utterly.

Bonner,

Well, my Lord Mayor, your Lordship hath hard somewhat what a stout Heretick this is, and that his Articles have deserved death; yet nevertheless, for as much as they do report me for to seek Blood, and cast me Bloody Bonner; whereas, God knoweth, I never sought any mans blood in all my life, I have stayed him from the Consistory this day, whether I might have brought him justly, and yet here before your Lordship I desire him to turn, and I will with all speed dispatch him out of trouble, and this I profess before your Lordship and all this Audience.

Smith,

Why do you put on this fair visor before the Lord Mayor, to make him believe that ye seek not my Blood to C••o••k your Murthers through my stoutness, as you call it? Have ye n•••• had my Brother Tomkins before you, whose hand, when you had burned most cruelly, ye burn also his body, and not only him, but a great many of the numbers of Christ, men that feared God, and lived Vertuously, and also the Queens true Subjects; and seeing to these Saints you have shewed so little mercy, shall it seem to my Lord, and this Audience, that ye shew me more favour; no no, my Lord, but if you mean as you say, why then examine you me of that I am not bound to answer you unto?

Bonner,

Well, what sayest thou by the Sacrament of the Altar, is it not the very body of Christ, Flesh, Blood and Bone, as it was born of the Virgin?

Smith,

I have answered that it is none of Gods order, neither any Sacrament, but mans own vain invention, and shewed him the Lords institution: But when he was so earnestly before the Au∣dience, declaring that we knew nothing, bringing out his hoc est Cor∣pus meum to lay in my dish; I proved before the Audience, that it was a dead God; declaring the distinction appointed between the two Creatures of Bread and Wine, and that a body without Blood hath no life, at which Harpsfield found himself much offended, and took the Tale out of my Lords mouth, saying,

Harpsfield,

I will prove by the Scriptures that you blaspheme God in

so saying, for it is given in two parts, because there is two thing shewed that is to say, his Body, and his Passion, as saith St. Paul, and therefore is the Bread his Body, and the Wine the representation of his death and blood shed∣ding.

Smith,

You falsify the Word, and rack it to serve your purpose; for the Wine was not only the shewing of his passion, but the Bread also; for our Saviour saith, so oft as you do this, do it in remem∣brance of me; and St. Paul saith, so oft as you eat of this Bread, and Drink of this Cup, you shall shew the Lords death till he comes; and here is as much reverence given to the one, as the other.

Then rose up the Lord Bishop; and the Lord Mayor desired me to save my Soul.

To whom I answered, I hope it was saved through Christ Jesus, desiring him to have pity on his own soul, and remember whose Sword he carried.

At which I was carried into the Garden, and there abode until the rest of my Friends were Examined, and so were we sent away with many foul farewels to Newgate again; the Lord Bishop giving the Keeper a charge to lay me in Limbo.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rob. Smith brought a∣gain before the Bishop and the L. Mayor.