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The Bishop began with the common Snare, asking him, What he said to the seven Sacraments, for there we left off, and there we will begin, said he: Woodman replyed, If he could prove them, he should believe them; hereat the Bishop was moved, and swore by his troth, whereupon Woodman reproved him, saying, a Bishop should be blameless, and you use much swaring, which is a great fault in a Bishop above all other,
which should be an Example to the Flock: Then said the Bishop, in a rage. I perceive this man is worse then he was, for he takes upon him to teach me to speak. Woodman replyed; I am commanded to do that I do, I dare not for my life hold my peace, for if I should, I should bare your sin.
Where do you find that you are commanded to reprove me?
If thou see thy Brother Sin, reprove him. A Priest stand∣ing by, said, My Lord this man is past cure.
So my thinks, I will talk no more with him, since he has been with his Fellows in the Marshalsea, he is worse then he was; call M. Sto∣ry, and let him do with him what he will.
My Faith hangeth upon no man, but upon God: The Priest standing by, said, My Lord, I think he is not the worse for them, but I fear they are the worse for him. Then Woodman speaking to the Bishop said, Look well to it, you will deliver me to other men to shed my Blood, and so think to wash your hands of me, as Pilate did by Christ, but you cannot be so discharged: Then the Bishop replyed to this effect; I have nothing to do with you, I am not yet Consecrated, the Cardinal may Examine you, and condemn you, or the Bishop of London, in whose Diocess you now are; and after other dis∣course, he askt him, What he said to the Sacrament of the Altar?
Do you mean Christ to be the Altar?
I mean the Sacrament of the Altar, in the Church.
What the Altar of Stone?
Yes, 'tis that Altar I mean, how d•• you understand the Altar otherwise?
It is written that wheresoever two or three are gather∣ed together in Christs Name there is he in the midst of them, and whatsoever they ask in his Name it shall be given unto them; when thou comest to Offer thy Gift at the Altar, and there remembrest that thy Brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy Offering, and go first, and be reconciled to thy Brother, and then come and offer thy Gift.
A Priest standing by, would have interrupted him, but the Bishop said, Let him alone.
Then VVoodman said, By these two places of Scripture I prove that Christ is the true Altar whereon every Christian, that is in the Love and Charity, ought to offer their Gifts
I never heard any man understand the Altar so, no, not Lu∣ther the great Heretick, that was condemned by a general Council, and his Picture burnt.
If he were an Heretick I think he understood it not so indeed, but I am sure all Christians ought so to understand it; and after further discourse they laughed at him, and said, This is a Here∣tick indeed, it is time he were burnt.
Then VVoodman replyed, judge not least you be judged, for in that way you call Heresie I serve my God with.
Then Story said, VVhat you are a Preaching. You shall Preach at a
Stake shortly with your Fellows, carry him to the Marsh•••••• ••••••••n, and let him be kept close, and let none come to speak with him.
At another time being brought before the Bishop of Winchester, and others, the Bishop spoke to him to this effect; Woodman, When you were l••st before us, you would not confess that you were sent to P••i••on for Heresie, but called for your Accusers, and stood stoutly in defend of your self.
Woodman replyed, saying, You said, I was sent to Prison for He∣resie, I told you wherefore I was sent to Prison, which was upon the breach of a Statute, for speaking to a Priest in the Pulpit,* 1.1 and for that cause, the Justices of that Country thought I had offended the Statute, and sent for me before them, and would have bound me to the good behaviour, and because I refused they sent me to Prison.
He was at his Examination before the Bishop of Winchester prest to answer to several things objected against him, but he refused, saying, he was not of his Diocess.
The Bishop being displeased at his answers, called him, Perverse Villian, and Obstinate Fool, and Heretick, and cryed, Hold him a Book I'le make him sware, and answer, or else I will condemn him; hold thy hand on the Book said the Bishop; I will lay no hand on the Book for none of you all, said Woodman; and looking on the People, the Bishop cry∣ed, See how he lookes about for help. I look for no help (said he) from men, for God is on my side, and therefore I do not care who is a∣gainst me.
Then they cryed, Away with him, and bring us another.
At another time being brought before the Bishop of Winchester, the Bishop askt him, His belief concerning the Sacrament of the Altar. To which Richard Woodman replyed, to this effect. I pray you, said he, be content, I will answer no more Questions, for that I perceive you go about to shed my blood.
Then said the Bishop, No, hold him a Book, if he refuse to sware, he is an Anabaptist, and shall be Excommunicated.
Woodman made answer, I will not sware, Excommunicate me if you will.
After some more words past between them, the Bishop past the Sentence against the said VVoodman, and then they cryed, Away with him, away with him, not suffering him to speak any more for himself, and so was had away to the Marshalsea again: And thus the Reader hath the chiefest and most weighty matters that past at his Examina∣tions, from time to time. After the Sentence was past, he was burnt at Lewis with nine more, viz. five Men, and four Women, as be∣fore some mention was made of them.
Woodman ••••us•••• to be B•••••••••• to the good be, haviour.