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 Suffering and Preservation of Richard Bartie of Lincolnshire and Katherine, Dutchess of Suffolk, his Wife.

In the Reign of Queen Mary, Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester surmising the Dutchess of Suffolk to be one of his Antient Enemies, because he knew he had deserved no better of her, began to practice some revenge upon her for former grudges, and thereupon sub∣paened her Husband Richard Bartie to appear before him at his House at Mary-Overs, when he came before him, after much discourse, at last he said, If I may ask the question of my Lady your Wife, is she as ready now to set up the Mass as she was lately to pull it down? Doth she think her Lambs now safe enough, who said to me, when I vailed my Bonnet to her out of my Chamber Window in the Tower, that it was merry with the Lambs now the Wolf were shut up.

Richard Bartie, after he had heard him, endeavoured to moderate things, saying, that though them words seemed at that season bitter, yet if the cause were considered one would purge the other, and for setting up of Mass, she had learned by the perswasions of excellent men for Six Years past, inwardly to abhor, and if she should then outwardly allow it, she should shew her self a false Christian, and to her Prince a Masking Subject; you know my Lord one by Judgment reformed is more worth then a thousand transformed Temporizers, to force a Confession of Religion by Mouth, contrary to that in the Heart, work∣eth Damnation, where Salvation is pretended.

Then said the Bishop, That deliberation would do well, if she were re∣quired to come from an Old Religion to a New, but now she is to returned from a New to an Antient Religion.

My Lord, said Bartie, in answer to that, not long since she answered a Friend of hers, using your Lordships speech, that Religion went not by Age, but by Truth, and therefore she was to be turned by perswa∣sion, and not by Commandment.

The Dutchess and her Husband daily understanding by their Friends, that the Bishop intended to call her to Account for her Faith, and considering the Sufferings and Extremity that might follow, en∣deavoured to get the Queens Licence to travel beyond Sea, which in a few dayes he obtained, and then first went over by himself, leaving

the Duchess behind, who had agreed to follow him,* 1.1 which with much difficulty she did, and in their travels beyond Sea they suffered very much, for having taken a House in a Town called Santon, a Haunce Town, under the Duke of Cleves Dominion, to which Town divers Wallons were fled for Religion, it was muttered about the Town, that the Dutchess and her Husband weregreater persons of note then they discovered themselves to be, and the Magistrates being not very well inclined to Religion, a suddain order was given out that the Dutches and her Husband should be Examined of their Condition and Religion; Bartie hearing this, took his Wife and Child, and two other with him, and on Foot travelled forthwith towards VVeesell, which proved a wet and wearisome Journey, being not used to Foot it, and Passage otherwayes they could not hire; he being fain for some part of the way to carry the Child himself, and she to earry his Cloak, and that which was worse, when night approached coming to Weesel they could get no entertainment at Inns; the Inn∣holders suspecting him to be a Launce Knight, and the Dutches his Woman; so that they were brought to a great straight, for it rained hard, the Child with cold cryed, and the Mother wept; the Hus∣band seeing themselves destitute of Succor, resolved to get some Straw and Coals, and lay them in a Porch that night, if he could get no better Lodging; but in the midst of this hardship he met with two Boyes that spoke Latine, through their directions he found out a Wallons House, where he met with one of his acquaintance, and one that had been a Friend to him, who meeting together, and seeing the Dutchess and her Husband in such a dirty wet condition could not speak for some time to each other for tears; but at last the comfort they received from their Friend revived them, and in a few dayes he hired a fair House for them, and it was soon noised about the Town what they were, and the uncivility of the Inn-holders towards them was openly and sharply rebuked by the Preachers in their Pulpits, for being so unkind to Strangers; but they were not long settled here, but they were unsettled again, for a Snare was laid to apprehend them there, which through the kindness of the English Embassadour they had intimation of whereupon they travel'd to the Palsgraves Country, and after some time of abode there, the King of Poland hearing of their troubles, invited them into his Country, where they were quiet∣ly and honourably entertained till the Death of Queen Mary.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Q. Mary, An. 1558