exercised in his pen. Who if he had kept himself in his owne shop, and applied the facultie, being a lay man, whereunto he was called, and had not overreached himselfe to prove masteries in such matters, wherein he had little skil, lesse experience, and which pertained not to his profession, he had deserved, not only much more commendation, but also longer life.

But for so much as he, not contented with his owne vocation, hath with Oza reached out his unmeet hand to meddle with Gods Arke-matters, wherein he had little cunning; and while he thinketh to helpe religion, destroyeth religion, and is an utter enenie to Christ, and to his spirituall doctrine, and his poore afflicted church: to the intent therefore, that he being taken for a special ringleader, and a chief stay in the popes church, might the better be knowne what he is, and that the ignorant and simple may see what little credit is to be given unto him, as well in his other false facing out of matters, as namely in this present historie of Bilneyes recantation: I have diligently searched out and procured the true certificat of master Bilneyes burning, with all the circumstances, and points thereto belonging, testified not by somesayes and hearesayes (as master More useth) but truely witnessed, and faithfully recorded by one, who as in place and degree he surmounteth the estate of master More (though he were lord Chancellour) so being also both a spiri. tuall person, and there present the same time, comming for the same purpose the day before, to see his burning, was a present beholder of things there done, αυτόπτης τε και μαρτυς of his martyrdome,

* Recorded by one.] burie." Fox.

"Dr. Parker, archbishop of Cantur.

whose credit I am sure will counterpease with the credit of master More. The order of which martyrdome was this, as followeth.

Thomas Bilney, after his examination and condemnation before doctour Pelles, doctour of law and Chancellour, first was degraded by Suffragan Underwood, according to the custome of their popish manner, by the assistance of all the friers and doctours of the same suite. Which done, hee was immediately committed to the lay power, and to the two Sheriffes of the citie, of whom Thomas Necton was one. This Thomas Necton was Bilneyes speciall good friend, and sorie to accept him to such execution as followed. But such was the tyrannie of that time, and dread of the Chancellour and friers, that hee could no otherwise doe, but needs must receive him. Who notwithstanding, as he could not beare in his conscience himselfe to be present at his death; so, for the time that he was in his custodie, he caused him to be more friendly looked unto, and more wholesomely kept, concerning his diet, than he was before.

After this, the Friday following at night, which was before the day of his execution, being Saint Magnus day and Saturday, the said Bilney had divers of his friends resorting unto him in the Guildhall, where hee was kept. Amongst whom one of the said friends finding him eating of an Alebrew with such a cheerefull heart and quiet mind as hee did, said, that he was glad to see him at that time, so shortly before his heavie and painfull departure, so heartily to refresh himselfe. Whereunto he answered, "Oh, said he, I follow the example of the husbandmen of the countrie, who having a ruinous house to dwell in, yet bestow cost as long as they may, to hold it up; and so do I now with

this ruinous house of my bodie, and with Gods creatures in thankes to him, refresh the same as yee see. Then sitting with his said friends in godlie talke, to their edification, some put him in mind, that though the fire which hee should suffer the next day, should be of great heat unto his body, yet the comfort of Gods Spirit should coole it to his everlasting refreshing. At this word the said Thomas Bilney putting his hand toward the flame of the candle burning before them (as also he did divers times besides) and feeling the heat thereof, "O" (said hc) "I feel by experience, and have knowne it long by philosophie, that fire by Gods ordinance is naturally hot, but yet I am persuaded by God's holy word, and by the experience of some spoken of in the same, that in the flame they felt no heate, and in the fire they felt no consumption: and I constantly beleeve, that howsoever the stubble of this my bodie shall be wasted by it, yet my soule and spirit shall be purged thereby; a paine for the time, whereon notwithstanding followeth joy unspeakable." And heere he much entreated of this place of Scripture, (Esay 43.) Feare not, for I have redeemed thee, and called thee by thy name, thou art mine owne. When thou goest thorow the water, I will be with thee, and the strong flouds shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest in the fire, it shall not burne thee, and the flame shall not kindle upon thee, for I am the Lord thy God, the holy one of Israel. Which he did most comfortablie entreate of, as well in respect of himselfe, as applying it to the particular use of his friends there present, of whom some tooke such sweet fruit therein, that they caused the whole said sentence to be faire written in tables, and some in their bookes. The comfort whereof (in divers of them) was never taken from them to their dying day.

The Saturday next following, when the officers of execution (as the maner is) with their gleaves and halberds were readie to receive him, and to leade him to the place of execution without the citie gate, called Bishop's gate, in a low valley, commonly called the Lollards pit, under Saint Leonards hill, environed about with great hilles (which place was chosen for the peoples quiet sitting to see the execution) at the comming forth of the said Thomas Bilney out of the prison doore, one of his friends came to him, and with few words, as he durst, spake to him and prayed him in Gods behalfe, to be constant and to take his death as patiently as he could. Whereunto the said Bilney answered, with a quiet and milde countenance, "Ye see when the mariner is entred his ship to saile on the troublous sea, how he for a while is tossed in the billowes of the same, but yet in hope that he shall once come to the quiet haven, he beareth in better comfort, the perils which he feeleth: So am I now toward this sayling, and whatsoever stormes I shall feele, yet shortly after shall my ship be in the haven; as I doubt not thereof by the grace of God, desiring you to helpe me with your prayers to the same effect."

And so he going forth in the streets, giving much almes by the way, by the hands of one of his

Giving much almes.] "When the time and day appointed came that hee should suffer, the shiriffes of the city with their officers and a great number of poore simple barbers, with rustie bills and pollaxes, went to the Northgate, and there tooke out the said George Marsh, who came with them most humbly and meekely, with a locke upon his feete. And as he came upon the way towards the place of execution, some folks proffered him money, and looked that he should have gone with a little purse in his hand (as the manner of felons

friends, and accompanied with one doctour Warner, doctour of Divinitie and parson of Winterton, whom he did chuse as his old acquaintance, to be with him for his ghostly comfort; came at the last, to the place of execution, and descended downe from the hill to the same, apparelled in a lay mans gowne with his sleeves hanging downe, and his armes out, his haire being pitiously mangled' at his degradation (a little single bodie in person, but alwaies of a good upright countenance) and drew neere to the stake prepared, and somewhat tarrying the preparation of the fire, hee desired that hee might speake some words to the people, and there standing, thus he said:

"Good people, I am come hither to die, and borne I was to live under that condition, naturally to die againe; and that ye might testifie that I depart out of this present life as a true Christian man in a

was accustomed in that citie in times past, at their going to execution (to the ende to gather money to give unto a priest to say trentals or masses for them after their death, whereby they might, as they thought, be saved: but Marsh said he would not as then be troubled with medling with money, but willed some good man to take the money, if the people were disposed to give any, and to give it unto the prisoners, or poore people. So hee went all the way unto his death, with his book in his hand, looking upon the same; and many of the people said, this man goeth not unto his death as a theife, or as one that deserveth to die. Fox's Acts, p. 1423. Martyrdome of George Marsh.

His kaire being pitiously mangled.] Previously to excommunication and burning, the ecclesiastics, whether secular or religious, underwent the ceremonial of degradation, the particu lars of which varied according to the order and degree in the church to which the person had attained. This marring of the hair, of which we shall meet with several other instances in the progress of our history, is sufficiently illustrated by a passage in the ceremonial of the degradation of William Sawtre, A. D. 1400. "Also we have caused thy crowne, and ecclesiastical tonsure in our presence to be rased away, and utterlie to bee abolished, like unto the forme of a secular lay man and heere doe put upon the head of thee the aforesaid William, the cap of a lay secular person." Fox's Acts, p. 476.

VOL. 11.

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