John Tyndale, A. d. 1530. For sending five marks to his brother William Tyndale beyond the sea, and for receiving and keeping with him certain letters from his brother. William Worsley, Priest and Hermit, A. D. 1530. His articles :-For preaching at Halestede, having the curate's license, but not the bishop's. Item, For preaching these words, 'No man riding on pilgrimage, having under him a soft saddle, and an easy horse, should have any merit thereby, but the horse and the saddle,' &c. Item, For saying that hearing of matins and mass, is not the thing that shall save a man's soul, but only to hear the word of God. John Stacy, Tiler, A.D. 1530. His articles were against purgatory, which, he said, were but a device of the priests to get money: against fasting days by man's prescription, and choice of meats: against superfluous holy days: Item, against pilgrimage, &c. Lawrence Maxwell, Tailor, A.D. 1530. His articles-That the sacrament of the altar was not the very body of Christ in flesh and blood; but that he received him by the word of God, and in remembrance of Christ's passion. Item, That the order of priesthood is no sacrament: that there is no purgatory, &c. Thomas Curson, Monk of Eastacre, in Norfolk, A.D. 1530. His articles were these:-For going out of the monastery, and changing his weed, and letting his crown to grow; working abroad for his living, making copes and vestments. Also for having the New Testament of Tyndale's translation, and another book containing certain books of the Old Testament, translated into English, by certain whom the Papists call Lutherans. Thomas Cornewell or Austy, A.D. 1530. His articles:It was objected, that he, being enjoined afore, by Richard Fitzjames, bishop of London, for his penance to wear a faggot embroidered upon his sleeve under pain of relapse, he kept not the same; and therefore he was condemned to perpetual custody in the house of St. Bartholomew, from whence afterwards he escaped and fled away. Thomas Philip, A.D. 1530. Thomas Philip was delivered by sir Thomas More, to bishop Stokesley by indenture. Besides other articles of purgatory, images, the sacrament of the altar, holy-days, keeping of books, and such like, it was objected unto him, that he, being searched in the Tower, had found about him Tracy's Testament; and in his chamber in the Tower was found cheese and butter in Lent-time. Also, that he had a letter delivered unto him going to the Tower. This letter, with the Testament also of Tracy, because they are both worthy to be seen, we mind (God willing) to annex also unto the story of this Thomas Philip. As he was oftentimes examined before Master More and the bishop, he always stood to his denial, neither could there any thing be proved clearly against him, but only Tracy's Testament, and his butter in Lent. One Stacy first bare witness against him, but after, in the court, openly he protested that he did it for fear. The bishop then willing him to submit himself, and to swear never to hold any opinion contrary to the determination of holy church, he said he would:' and when the form of his abjuration was given him to read, he read it: but the bishop, not content with that, would have him to read it openly. But that he would not; and said, He would appeal to the king as supreme head of the Henry A. D. 1530 to 1533. Henry church, and so did. Still the bishop called upon him to abjure. He answered, VIII. That he would be obedient as a christian man should, and that he would swear never to hold any heresy during his life, nor to favour any heretics. A. D. 1530 to 1533. A letter sent by the con gregation. But the bishop, not yet content, would have him to read the abjuration after the form of the church conceived, as it was given him. He answered again, that he would forswear all heresies, and that he would maintain no heresies, nor favour any heretics. The bishop with this would not be answered, but needs would drive him to the abjuration formed after the pope's church: to whom he said, If it were the same abjuration that he read, he would not read it, but stand to his appeal made to the king, the supreme head of the church under God. Again the bishop asked him, if he would abjure or not. Except,' said he, 'you will show me the cause why I should abjure, I will not say yea nor nay to it, but will stand to my appeal;' and he required the bishop to obey the same. Then the bishop, reading openly the bill of excommunication against him, denounced him for contumax,' and an excommunicated person, charging all men to have no company, and nothing to do with him. After this excommunication, what became of him, whether he was holpen by his appeal, or whether he was burned, or whether he died in the Tower, or whether he abjured, I find no mention made in the registers. A Letter directed to Thomas Philip in the name of the Brethren, and given him by the way going to the Tower. The favour of him that is able to keep you that you fall not, and to confess your name in the kingdom of glory, and to give you strength by his Spirit to confess him before all his adversaries, be with you ever. Amen. Sir, the brethren think that there be divers false brethren craftily crept in among them, to seek out their freedom in the Lord, that they may accuse them to the Lord's adversaries, as they suppose they have done you. Wherefore, if so it be, that the Spirit of God move you thereunto, they, as counsellors, desire you above all things to be stedfast in the Lord's verity, without fear; for he shall and will be your help, according to his promise, so that they shall not minish the least hair of your head without his will; unto which will, submit yourself and rejoice: for the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and how to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment, to be punished:1 and therefore cast all your care on him, for he careth for you.? And in that you suffer as a christian man, be not ashamed, but rather glorify God on that behalf, 'Looking upon Christ the author and finisher of our faith, which, for the joy that was set before him, abode the cross and despised the shame.'s Notwithstanding, though we suffer the wrong after the example of our Master Christ, yet we be not bound to suffer the wrong cause, for Christ himself suffered it not, but reproved him that smote him wrongfully. And so likewise saith St. Paul also. So that we must not suffer the wrong, but boldly reprove them that sit as righteous judges, and do contrary to righteousness. Therefore, according both to God's law and man's, ye be not bound to make answer in any cause, till your accusers come before you; which if you require, and thereon do stick, the false brethren shall be known, to the great comfort of those that now stand in doubt whom they may trust; and also it shall be a mean that they shall not craftily, by questions, take you in snares. And that you may this do lawfully, in Acts xx. it is written,It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man that he should perish, before that he which is accused have his accusers before him, and have license to answer for himself, as pertaining to the crime whereof he is accused.' And also Christ willeth that in the mouth of two or three witnesses all things shall stand. And in 1 Tim. v., it is written, 'Against What is a a senior, receive none accusation, but under two or three witnesses.' A senior, senior by in this place, is any man that hath a house to govern. And also their own law is agreeable to this. Wherefore, seeing it is agreeable to the word of God, that in accusations such witnesses should be, you may with good conscience require it. And thus the God of grace, which hath called you unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, shall his own self, after a little affliction, make you perfect; shall settle, strengthen, and stablish you, that to him may be glory and praise for ever. Amen. St. Paul. (1) 2 Pet. ii. (2) 1 Pet. v. (3) Heb. xii. (4) Acts xxiii. (5) Matt. xviii. Thus ye have heard the letter delivered to Thomas Philip. Now Henry followeth the Testament of William Tracy. William Tracy, Esquire, of Gloucestershire. VIII. A.D. 1531 to A little before this time, this William Tracy, a worshipful esquire 1533. in Gloucestershire, and then dwelling at Toddington, made, in his will, that he would have no funeral pomp at his burying, neither passed he upon mass; and he further said, that he trusted in God only, and hoped by him to be saved, and not by any saint. This gentleman died, and his son, as executor, brought the will to the bishop of Canterbury to prove: which he showed to the convocation, and there most cruelly they judged that he should be taken out of the ground, and be burned as a heretic, A. D. 1532. This commission was sent William to Dr. Parker, chancellor of the diocese of Worcester, to execute Tracy their wicked sentence; who accomplished the same. The king, being hearing his subject to be taken out of the ground and burned, without burut. his knowledge or order of his law, sent for the chancellor, and laid high offence to his charge; who excused himself by the archbishop of Canterbury who was lately dead; but in conclusion it cost him three hundred pounds to have his pardon. The will and testament of this gentleman, thus condemned by the clergy, was as hereunder followeth : The Testament of William Tracy.1 In the name of God, Amen. I William Tracy of Toddington in the county of Gloucester, esquire, make my testament and last will as hereafter followeth: First and before all other things, I commit myself to God and to his mercy, believing, without any doubt or mistrust, that by his grace, and the merits of Jesus Christ, and by the virtue of his passion and of his resurrection, I have and shall have remission of all my sins, and resurrection of body and soul, according as it is written, I believe that my Redeemer liveth, and that in the last day I shall rise out of the earth, and in my flesh shall see my Saviour: this my hope is laid up in my bosom.2 And touching the wealth of my soul, the faith that I have taken and rehearsed is sufficient (as I suppose) without any other man's works or merits. My ground and belief is, that there is but one God and one mediator between God and man, which is Jesus Christ; so that I accept none in heaven or in earth to be mediator between me and God, but only Jesus Christ: all others to be but as petitioners in receiving of grace, but none able to give influence of grace: and therefore will I bestow no part of my goods for that intent that any man should say or do to help my soul; for therein I trust only to the promises of Christ: 'He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned.'3 taken up, dead, and As touching the burying of my body, it availeth me not whatsoever be done Funeral thereto; for St. Augustine saith, De cura agenda pro mortuis,' that the funeral pomp pomps are rather the solace of them that live, than the wealth and comfort of them that are dead: and therefore I remit it only to the discretion of mine the living. executors. serveth only for And touching the distribution of my temporal goods, my purpose is, by the grace of God, to bestow them to be accepted as the fruits of faith; so that I do not suppose that my merit shall be by the good bestowing of them, but my our merit is the faith of Jesus Christ only, by whom such works are good, according merits to the words of our Lord, I was hungry, and thou gavest me to eat,' &c. And be it followeth, 'That ye have done to the least of my brethren, ye have done it to in Christ. me,' &c. And ever we should consider that true saying, that a good work (1) See Hall's Chronicle, p. 796. Edit. 4to. 1809. There is a commentary both by Tyndale and (2) Job xix. our faith Henry maketh not a good man, but a good man maketh a good work; for faith maketh a man both good and righteous: for a righteous man liveth by faith, and whatsoever springeth not of faith is sin, &c.1 A.D. 1531 to 1533. And all my temporal goods that I have not given or delivered, or not given by writing of mine own hand, bearing the date of this present writing, I do leave and give to Margaret my wife, and Richard my son, whom I make mine executors. Witness hereof mine own hand the tenth of October, in the twentysecond year of the reign of king Henry the Eighth. This is the true copy of his will, for which (as you heard before), after he was almost two years dead, they took him up and burned him. THE TABLE CONTINUED.2 John Periman, Skinner, A.D 1531. His articles were much like unto the others before; adding, moreover, that all the preachers then at Paul's Cross preached nothing but lies and flatterings, and that there was never a true preacher but one; naming Edward Crome. Robert Goldstone, Glazier, A.D. 1531. His articles:-That men should pray to God only, and to no saints: that pilgrimage is not profitable: that men should give no worship to images. Item, for saying, that if he had as much power as any cardinal had, he would destroy all the images that were in all the churches in England. Lawrence Staple, Serving-man, a. D. 1531. His articles :-For having the Testament in English, the five books of Moses, the Practice of Prelates, the Sum of Scripture, the A. B. C. Item, About the burning of Bainham, for saying, 'I would I were with Bainham, seeing that every man hath forsaken him, that I might drink with him, and he might pray for me.' Item, That he moved Henry Tomson to learn to read the New Testament, calling it The Blood of Christ. Item, In Lent past, when he had no fish, he did eat eggs, butter, and cheese. Also, about six weeks before Master Bilney was attached, the said Bilney delivered to him at Greenwich four New Testaments of Tyndale's translation, which he had in his sleeve, and a budget besides of books, which budget he, Eating of shortly after riding to Cambridge, delivered unto Bilney, &c. eggs, made heresy. Item, On Fridays he used to eat eggs, and thought that it was no great offence before God, &c. Henry Tomson, Tailor, a. D. 1531. His articles :-That which the priest lifteth over his head at the sacringtime, is not the very body of Christ, nor is it God; but a thing that God hath ordained to be done. This poor Tomson, although at first he submitted himself to the bishop, yet they with sentence condemned him to perpetual prison. Jasper Wetzell, of Cologne, A. D. 1531. His articles :-That he cared not for going to the church to hear mass, for he could say mass as well as the priest: That he would not pray to our Lady, for she could do us no good. Item, Being asked if he would go hear mass, he said, he had as lieve go to the gallows, where the thieves were hanged. Item, Being at St. Margaret Patens, and there holding his arms across, he said unto the people, that he could make as good a knave as he is, for he is made but of wood, &c. Robert Man, Serving-man, A. D. 1531. His articles :-That there is no purgatory: That the pope hath no more power to grant pardon than another simple priest: That God gave no more authority to St. Peter than to another priest: That the pope was a knave, and his priests knaves all, for suffering his pardons to go abroad to deceive the people: That St. Thomas of Canterbury is no saint: That St. Peter was never pope of Rome. Henry VIII. A. D. 1531 to 1533. store by a Item, He used commonly to ask of priests where he came, whether a man Priests were accursed, if he handled a chalice, or no? If the priest would say, Yea: set more then would he reply again thus: 'If a man have a sheep-skin on his hands,' pair of meaning a pair of gloves, 'he may handle it.' The priests saying, Yea. Well gloves, then,' quoth he, 'ye will make me believe, that God put more virtue in a sheep- layman's skin, than he did in a Christian man's, hand, for whom he died. Henry Feldon, a. d. 1531. His trouble was for having these books in English: A proper Dialogue between a Gentleman and a Husbandman, The Sum of Scripture, The Prologue of Mark, a written book containing the Pater-noster, Ave-Maria, and the Creed, in English; The Ten Commandments, and The Sixteen Conditions of Charity. Robert Cooper, Priest, A. D. 1531. His article was only this:-For saying that the blessing with a shoe-sole, is as good as the bishop's blessing, &c. Thomas Roe, A. d. 1531. His articles were, for speaking against auricular confession and priestly penance, and against the preaching of the doctors. William Wallam, A. D. 1531. His opinion: That the sacrament of the altar is not the body of Christ in flesh and blood; and that there is a God, but not that God in flesh and blood, in the form of bread. than by a hand. Grace Palmer, A. D. 1531. Witness was brought against her by her neighbours, John Rouse, Agnes his Against wife, John Pole, of St. Ŏsithe's, for saying, Ye use to bear palms on Palm- bearing of palms. Sunday it skilleth not whether you bear any or not, it is but a thing used, and need not.' Also, Ye use to go on pilgrimage to our Lady of Grace, of Walsingham, and other places: ye were better tarry at home, and give money to succour me and my children, and others of my poor neighbours, than to go thither; for there you shall find but a piece of timber painted: there is neither God nor our Lady. Item, For repenting that she did ever light candles before images. Item, That the sacrament of the altar is not the body of Christ; it is but bread, which the priest there showeth for a token or remembrance of Christ's body. Philip Brasier, of Boxted, A.D. 1531. His articles:-That the sacrament holden up between the priest's hands is not the body of Christ, but bread, and is done for a signification: That confession to a priest needeth not: That images be but stocks and stones: That pilgrimage is vain: Also for saying, that when there is any miracle done, the priests do anoint the images, and make men believe that the images do sweat in labouring for them; and with the offerings the priests find their harlots. |