church, be two the determination of which I will stand; but not the church which you call Mary. catholic, which sooner might be termed diabolic. And whereas you join to- A.D. gether the Romish and catholic church, stay there, I pray you. For it is one 1555. thing to say Romish church, and another thing to say catholic church: I must use here, in this mine answer, the counsel of Cyprian, who at what time he was The caascited before certain bishops' that gave him leave to take deliberation and tholic counsel, to try and examine his opinion, he answered them thus: In sticking and the and persevering in the truth, there must no counsel nor deliberation be Romish taken.'" And again demanded of them sitting in judgment, which was most church, like to be of the church of Christ, whether he who was persecuted, or they who things. did persecute? "Christ," said he, "hath foreshowed, that he that doth follow Cyprian's him, must take up his cross and follow him. Christ gave knowledge that the counsel: disciples should have persecution and trouble. How think you then, my lords, is it most like that the see of Rome, which hath been a continual persecutor, is rather beration the church, or that small flock which hath continually been persecuted of it, to be even to death? Also the flock of Christ hath been but few in comparison to the residue, and ever in subjection:" which he proved, beginning at Noah's time even to the apostles. Lincoln: Your cause and St. Cyprian's is not one, but clean contrary: for he suffered persecution for Christ's sake and the gospel. But you are in trouble for your errors and false assertions, contrary to the word of God and the received truth of the church." Master Latimer interrupting him, said: "Yes verily, my cause is as good as St. Cyprian's: for his was for the word of God, and so is mine."2 in truth no deli taken. of the But Lincoln goeth forth in his talk: "Also at the beginning and foundation of the church, it could not be but that the apostles should suffer great persecution. Further, before Christ's coming, continually, there were very few which truly served God; but, after his coming, began the time of grace. Then began the church to increase, and was continually augmented, until it came unto this perfection, and now hath justly that jurisdiction which the unchristian princes before by tyranny did resist. There is a diverse consideration of the estate of The the church now in the time of grace, and before Christ's coming. But, master image Latimer, although we had instructions given us determinately to take your answer church to such articles as we should propose, without any reasoning or disputations, yet before we, hoping by talk somewhat to prevail with you, appointed you to appear before Christ, us yesterday in the divinity school, a place for disputations. And whereas then, with the notwithstanding you had license to say your mind, and were answered to every church afmatter, yet you could not be brought from your errors, we, thinking that from that time ye would with good advisement consider your estate, gave you respite from that time yesterday when we dismissed you, until this time; and now have Articles called you again here in this place, by your answers to learn whether you are prothe same man you were then or no? Therefore we will propose unto you the same articles which we did then, and require of you a determinate answer, Latimer. without further reasoning ;" and eftsoons recited the first article. compared ter him. pounded again to Christ re Latimer:-" Always my protestation saved, that by these mine answers it should not be thought that I did condescend and agree to your lordships' au- The very thority, in that you are legaced by authority of the pope, so that thereby I might body of seem to consent to his jurisdiction-to the first article I answer now, as I did ceived in yesterday, that in the sacrament the worthy receiver receiveth the very body of the sacra Christ, and drinketh his blood by the Spirit and grace: but, after that corporal the spirit being, which the Romish church prescribeth, Christ's body and blood is not in and grace. the sacrament under the forms of bread and wine." The notaries took his answer to be affirmatively. For the second article he referred himself to his answers made before. After this the bishop of Lincoln recited the third article, and required a determinate answer. ment by Latimer:-" Christ made one oblation and sacrifice for the sins of the whole The seworld, and that a perfect sacrifice; neither needeth there to be any other, cond and neither can there be any other, propitiatory sacrifice." (1) See Appendix. (2) The cause of the martyrs of the primitive time, and of the latter time, is all one. third articles. Mary. A. D. 1555. Latimer deny his master Christ. His condemnation read. The notaries took his answer to be affirmatively. In like manner did he answer to the other articles, not varying from his answers made the day before. After his answers were penned of the notaries, and the bishop of will not Lincoln had exhorted him in like sort to recant, as he did master Ridley, and revoke his errors and false assertions, and master Latimer had answered that he ne could, ne would deny his Master Christ, and his verity, the bishop of Lincoln desired master Latimer to hearken to him and then master Latimer, hearkening for some new matter and other talk, the bishop of Lincoln read his condemnation; after the publication of the which, the said three bishops brake up their sessions, and dismissed the audience. But master Latimer rePapists quired the bishop to perform his promise in saying the day before, that he should have license briefly to declare the cause, why he refused the pope's authority. But the bishop said that now he could not hear him, neither ought to talk with him. false in their promises. Then master Latimer asked him, whether it were not lawful for him to appeal from this his judgment. And the bishop asked him again to whom he would appeal. "To the next general council, quoth master Latimer, "which shall be truly called in God's name. With that appellation the bishop was content: but, he said, it would be a long season before such a convocation as he meant would be called. Then the bishop committed master Latimer to the mayor, saying, "Now he is your prisoner, master mayor." Because the press of the people was not yet diminished, each man looking for further process, the bishop of Lincoln commanded avoidance, and willed master Latimer to tarry till the press were diminished, lest he should take hurt at his egression, as he did at his entrance. And so continued bishop Ridley, and master Latimer, in durance till the 16th day of the said month of October. A COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DR. BROOKS, AND DR. RIDLEY, In the mean season upon the 15th day in the morning, and the same year abovesaid, Dr. Brooks, the bishop of Gloucester, and the vice-chancellor of Oxford, Dr. Marshal, with divers other of the chief and heads of the same university, and many others accompanying them, came unto master Irish's house, then mayor of Oxford, where Dr. Ridley, late bishop of London, was close prisoner. And when the bishop of Gloucester came into the chamber where the said Dr. Ridley did lie, he told him for what purpose their coming was unto him, saying, that yet once again the queen's majesty did offer unto him, by them, her gracious mercy, if that he would receive the same, and come home again to the faith which he was baptized in, and revoke his erroneous doctrine that he of late had taught abroad to the destruction of many. And further said, that if he would not recant and become one of the catholic church with them, then they (1) Master Latimer appealeth to the next general council, truly called in the Lord's name; but that council is long a coming. (2) No mercy to be had without consenting to iniquity. must needs (against their wills) proceed according to the law, which Mary. they would be very loth to do, if they might otherwise. "But," saith he, "we have been oftentimes with you, and have requestea that you would recant this your fantastical and devilish opinion, which hitherto you have not, although you might in so doing win many, and do much good. Therefore, good master Ridley, consider with yourself the danger that shall ensue, both of body and soul, if that you shall so wilfully cast yourself away in refusing mercy offered unto you at this time." A. D. 1555. to Dr. "My lord," quoth Dr. Ridley, "you know my mind fully herein; and as for Answer of the doctrine which I have taught, my conscience assureth me that it was sound, Ridley and according to God's word (to his glory be it spoken); the which doctrine, Brooks. the Lord God being my helper, I will maintain so long as my tongue shall wag, O worthy and breath is within my body, and in confirmation thereof seal the same with champion my blood." Gloucester:-" Well, you were best, master Ridley, not to do so, but to become one of the church with us: for you know this well enough, that whosoever is out of the catholic church, cannot be saved. Therefore I say once again, that while you have time and mercy offered you, receive it, and confess with us the pope's holiness to be the chief head of the same church."1 Ridley :-"I marvel that you will trouble me with any such vain and foolish talk. You know my mind concerning the usurped authority of that Romish Antichrist. As I confessed openly in the schools, so do I now, that both by my behaviour and talk I do no obedience at all unto the bishop of Rome, nor to his usurped authority, and that for divers good and godly considerations." of Christ's church. com to silence, when he could not be And here Dr. Ridley would have reasoned with the said Brooks, Ridley bishop of Gloucester, of the bishop of Rome's authority, but could manded not be suffered, and yet he spake so earnestly against the pope teen therein, that the bishop told him, if he would not hold his peace, he otherwise should be compelled against his will. "And seeing," saith he, "that you will not receive the queen's mercy now offered unto you, but con stubbornly refuse the same, we must, against our wills, proceed according to our commission to disgrading, taking from you the dignity of priesthood. For we take you for no bishop, and therefore we will the sooner have done with you. So, committing you to the secular power, you know what doth follow." Ridley :-" :-"Do with me as it shall please God to suffer you, I am well content to abide the same with all my heart.' Gloucester:-" Put off your cap, master Ridley, and put upon you this surplice. Ridley:-"Not I, truly." Gloucester:-" But you must." Ridley:-" I will not." Gloucester:-" You must: therefore make no more ado, but put this surplice upon you." Ridley :-"Truly, if it come upon me, it shall be against my will." Ridley: -"No, that I will not." Gloucester:-" It shall be put upon you by one or other." vinced. Ridley refuseth to put on the surplice. against the bishop of Rome and his foolish Ridley :-"Do therein as it shall please you; I am well contented with that, Ridley inand more than that; 'the servant is not above his master.' If they dealt eighth so cruelly with our Saviour Christ, as the Scripture maketh mention, and he suffered the same patiently, how much more doth it become us his servants." And in saying of these words, they put upon the said Dr. Ridley apparel. the surplice, with all the trinkets appertaining to the mass. And as plice here they were putting on the same, Dr. Ridley did vehemently inveigh is called against the Romish bishop, and all that foolish apparel, calling him apparel. (1) With that their caps went off, but Dr. Ridley held on his cap. The sur a foolish Mary. Antichrist, and the apparel foolish and abominable, yea, too fond for a A. D. Vice in a play, insomuch that bishop Brooks was exceeding angry with 1555. him, and bade him hold his peace, for he did but rail. Dr. Ridley answered him again, and said, so long as his tongue and breath would suffer him, he would speak against their abominable doings, whatsoever happened unto him for so doing. See Appendix Master Edridge giveth that Gloucester:-" Well, you were best to hold your peace, lest your mouth be stopped." At which words one Edridge, the reader then of the Greek lecture, standing by, said to Dr. Brooks; "Sir, the law is, he should be counsel, gagged; therefore let him be gagged." At which words Dr. Ridley, Ridley looking earnestly upon him that so said, wagged his head at him, and gagged. made no answer again, but with a sigh said, "Oh well, well, well!" Degrad So they proceeded in their doings, yet nevertheless Dr. Ridley was ever talking things not pleasant to their ears, although one or other bade him hold his peace, lest he should be caused against his will. should be ing of Ridley. would not hand the chalice and wa Ridley degraded from When they came to that place where Dr. Ridley should hold the chalice and the wafer-cake, called the singing-bread, they bade him Ridley hold the same in his hands. And Dr. Ridley said, "They shall let come not come in my hands; for, if they do, they shall fall to the ground in his for all me. Then there was one appointed to hold them in his hand, while bishop Brooks read a certain thing in Latin, touching fer-cake. the degradation of spiritual persons according to the pope's law. Afterward they put a book in his hand, and withal read (as is before said) a certain thing in Latin, the effect whereof was: "We do take preach from you the office of preaching the gospel," etc. At which words Dr. Ridley gave a great sigh, looking up towards heaven, saying, "O Lord God, forgive them this their wickedness!" And as they put upon him the mass-gear, so they began with the uppermost garment, in taking it away again, reading a thing in Latin, according to the order contained in the said book of the pope's law. Now when all was taken from him, saving only the surplice left on his back, as they were reading and taking it away, Dr. Ridley said unto them, "Lord God, what power be you of, that you can take from a man that which he never had! I was never singer in all my life, and yet you will take from me that which I never had." ing. So when all this their abominable and ridiculous degradation1 was ended very solemnly, Dr. Ridley said unto Dr. Brooks, "Have you done? If you have done, then give me leave to talk with you a little concerning these matters." Brooks answered and said, "Master Ridley, we may not talk with you; you be out of the church, and our law is, that we may not talk with any that be out of the church." Then master Ridley said, "Seeing that you will not suffer me to talk, neither will vouchsafe to hear me, what remedy but patience? I refer the cause to my heavenly Father, who will reform things that be amiss, when it shall please him." At which words they A praise would have been gone, but master Ridley said, "My lord, I would wish that your lordship would vouchsafe to read over and peruse a book upon little book of Bertram's doings, concerning the sacrament. I promise you, you shall find much good learning therein, if you will read the of Ber tram's the Sacra ment. (1) All the glittering of Antichrist's kingdom, consisteth in apish toys. 1 same with an indifferent judgment." Dr. Brooks made no answer to Mary. this, but would have been gone away. Then master Ridley said, A. D. 1555. "Oh, I perceive that you cannot away with this manner of talk. Well! it boots not, I will say no more, I will speak of worldly affairs. I pray you therefore, my lord, hear me, and be a mean to the queen's majesty, in the behalf of a great many of poor men, and especially for my poor sister and her 'husband which standeth there. They had a poor living granted unto them by Note the me, whiles I was in the see of London, and the same is taken away from them, by charity of him that now occupieth the same room, without all law or conscience. Here I papists. have a supplication to the queen's majesty in their behalfs. You shall hear the same read, so shall you perceive the matter the better." Then he read the same; and, when he came to the place in the supplication, that touched his sister by name, then he wept, so that for a little space he could not speak for weeping. After that he had left off weeping, said, "This is nature that moveth me: but I have now done." And with that read out the rest, and delivered the same to his brother, commanding him to put it up to the queen's majesty, and to sue, not only for himself, but also for such as had any leases Ridley's or grants by him, and were put from the same by Dr. Bonner, then from her bishop of London. Whereunto Brooks said, "Indeed master lease by Ridley, your request in this supplication is very lawful and honest: therefore I must needs in conscience speak to the queen's majesty for them." Ridley: :-" I pray you, for God's sake, do so." Gloucester:-" I think your request will be granted, except one thing let it, and that is, I fear, because you do not allow the queen's proceedings, but obstinately withstand the same, that it will hardly be granted." Ridley:-"What remedy? I can do no more but speak and write. I trust The copy of this supplication written to the queen here followeth. A Supplication of Bishop Ridley to Queen Mary in the behalf of certain poor Men's Leases. It may please your majesty, for Christ our Saviour's sake, in a matter of conscience (and now not for myself, but for other poor men) to vouchsafe to hear and understand this humble supplication. It is so, honourable princess, that in the time whiles I was in the ministry of the see of London, divers poor men, tenants thereof, have taken new leases of their tenantries and holdings, and some hath renewed and changed their old, and therefore hath paid fines and sums of money, both to me, and also to the chapter of Paul's, for the confirmation of the same. Now, I hear say, that the bishop' which occupieth the same room now, will not allow the foresaid leases, which must redound to many poor men's utter ruin and decay. Wherefore this is mine humble supplication unto your honourable grace, that it may please the same, for Christ's sake, to be unto the foresaid poor men their gracious patroness and defender, either that they may enjoy their foresaid leases and years renewed, as I suppose when their matter shall be heard with conscience, both justice, conscience, and equity shall require, for that their leases shall be found (I trust) made without fraud or coven, either of their part, or of mine, and always also the old rents reserved to the see without any kind of damage thereof: or if this will not be granted, then that it may please your gracious highness, to command that the poor men may be restored to their former leases and years, and to have rendered to them again such sums of (1) This bishop was doctor Bonner. sister put Bonner. See Appendiz. |