Mary. Lollards' Tower to be judged by him for the words thou spakest in his diocese against the blessed mass.' A.D. Philpot:"Sir, you know by the law, that I may have 'Exceptionem fori. 1555. and it is against all equity, that I should be twice vexed for one cause, and that by such as by the law have nothing to do with me." Philpot further Roper:-" You cannot deny, but that you spake against the mass in the convocation-house." Story:-"Dost thou now deny that which thou spakest there, or no?" Philpot "I cannot deny that I have spoken there, and if by the law you may put me to death therefore, I am here ready to suffer whatsoever I shall be adjudged unto." The Scribe :-" This man is led of vain glory." Cholmley: "Play the wise gentleman, and be conformable; and be not stubborn in your opinions, neither cast yourself away. I would be glad to do you good." Philpot: :-" I desire you, sir, with the rest here, that I be not charged furcharged ther at your hands than the law chargeth me, for that I have done, since there than the was then no law directly against that wherewith I am now charged. And you, law would master doctor (of old acquaintance in Oxford), I trust will show me some friendship, and not extremity." bear. Philpot to see Story: :-" I tell thee, if thou wouldst be a good catholic man, I would be thy friend, and spend my gown to do thee good; but I will be no friend to a heretic, as thou art, but will spend both my gown and my coat, but I will burn thee. How sayest thou to the sacrament of the altar?" " Philpot :- Sir, I am not come now to dispute with your mastership, and the time now serveth not thereto, but to answer to that I may be lawfully charged withal." Story:-"Well, since thou wilt not revoke that thou hast done, thou shalt be had into the Lollards' Tower." 66 Philpot :- Sir, since you will needs show me this extremity, and charge me requireth with my conscience, I do desire to see your commission, whether you have this their authority so to do, and after the view thereof I shall (according to my duty) commis- make you further answer, if you may, by the virtue thereof, burden me with my_conscience." sion. Philpot will not dissemble Roper: :-"Let him see the commission: is it here?" Story:-" Shall we let every vile person see our commission?" Cholmley :- see our commission." Story:-"No, let him lie in the meanwhile in the Lollards' Tower; for I will sweep the King's Bench, and all other prisons also, of these heretics, they shall not have that resort as they have had, to scatter their heresies." Philpot ::-"You have power to transfer my body from place to place at your pleasure; but you have no power over my soul. And I pass not whither you commit me, for I cannot be worse entreated than I am, kept all day in a close chamber: wherefore it is no marvel that my flesh is puffed up, wherewithal master doctor is offended." Story:-" Marshal, take him home with you again, and see that you bring him again on Thursday, and then we shall rid your fingers of him and afterward of your other heretics." Philpot: "God hath appointed a day shortly to come, in the which he will judge us with righteousness, howsoever you judge of us now." Roper: :-"Be content to be ruled by master doctor, and show yourself a catholic man." Philpot :-" Sir, if I should speak otherwise than my conscience is, I should but dissemble with you: and why be you so earnest to have me show myself a against dissembler both to God and you, which I cannot do?" his con science. Roper :- -"We do not require you to dissemble with us, but to be a catholic man." Philpot ::-" If I do stand in any thing against that, wherein any man is able to burden me with one jot of the Scripture, I shall be content to be counted no catholic man, or a heretic, as you please.' Story:"Have we Scripture, Scripture?" and with that he rose up, saying, (1) Philpot having public leave spake in the convocation. Ergo, he must be committed to Lollards' Tower, by Dr. Story's logic. (2) Now cometh in the butcher's axe. "Who shall be judge, I pray you? This man is like his fellow Woodman, Mary. which the other day would have nothing else but Scripture." And this is the beginning of this tragedy. The second Examination of Master Philpot before the Queen's Commissioners, Master Cholmley, Roper, Dr. Story, Dr. Cook, and the Scribe, the 24th of October, 1555, at Newgate Sessions'-Hall. "God At my coming, a man of Aldgate of mine acquaintance said unto me, have mercy on you, for you are already condemned in this world; for Dr. Story said, that my lord chancellor had commanded to do you away." After a little consultation had between them, master Cholmley called me unto him, saying: Cholmley:-"Master Philpot, show yourself a wise man; and be not stubborn in your own opinion, but be conformable to the queen's proceedings, and live, and you shall be well assured of great favour and reputation." Philpot :-" I shall do as it becometh a christian man to do." Story:- "This man is the rankest heretic that hath been in all my lord chancellor's diocese, and hath done more hurt than any man else there: and therefore his pleasure is, that he should have the law to proceed against him; and I have spoken with my lord herein, and he willeth him to be committed to the bishop of London, and there to recant, or else burn. He howled and wept in the convocation-house, and made such ado as never man did, as all the heretics do when they lack learning to answer. He shall go after his fellows. How sayest thou; wilt thou recant?" Philpot:- Story:-"Well; then I pray you let us commit him to the Lollards' Tower, there to remain until he be further examined before the bishop of London; for he is too fine fed in the King's Bench, and he hath too much favour there for his keeper said at the door yesterday, that he was the finest fellow, and one of the best learned in England." And with this he rose up and went his way. Cook:-" This man hath most stoutly maintained heresies since the queen's coming in, as any that I have heard of; therefore it is most meet he should be adjudged by the bishop of London, for the heresies he hath maintained." Philpot::-"1 have maintained no heresies." Cook:-"No have? Did you not openly speak against the sacrament of the altar in the convocation-house? Call you that no heresy? wilt thou recant that, or not?" Philpot: :-"It was the queen's majesty's pleasure, that we should reason thereof, not by my seeking, but by other men's procuring, in the hearing of the council." Cook::-"Did the queen give you leave to be a heretic? you may be sure her grace will not so do. Well, we will not dispute the matter with you: my lord of London shall proceed by inquisition upon thee, and if thou wilt not recant, thou shalt be burned." Philpot: "My lord of London is not mine ordinary in this behalf, and I Philpot: "There was never poor archdeacon so handled at your hands as A. D. 1555 Philpot:-"I am archdeacon still, although another be in possession of my Philpot living; for I was never deprived by any law." deprived of his Cook:-"No sir; that needeth not: for a notorious heretic should have no archdeaordinary, proceeding about his deprivation; but the bishop may, upon know- conry ledge thereof, proceed to deprivation." Philpot :-"Master doctor, you know that the common law is otherwise; and besides this, the statutes of this realm be otherwise, which give this benefit without any law. Mary. to every person, though he be a heretic, to enjoy his living until he be put to death for the same." A. D. 1555. Com Cholmley:-" No, there thou art deceived." Philpot :-" Upon the living I pass not: but the unjust dealing grieveth me, that I should be thus troubled for my conscience, contrary to all law." Cholmley:-"Why, will not you agree that the queen's majesty may cause you to be examined of your faith?" Philpot:-"Ask you master doctor Cook, and he will tell you that the temporal magistrates have nothing to do with matters of faith, for determination thereof. And St. Ambrose saith, that the things of God are not subject to the power and authority of princes." Cook:-"No? may not the temporal power commit you to be examined of your faith to the bishop?" Philpot :-"Yea, sir, I deny not that. But you will not grant that the same may examine any of their own authority." Cook "Let him be had away." Philpot: :-"Your mastership promised me the last time I was before you, I should see your commission by what authority you do call me, and whether I by the same be bound to answer to so much as you demand." Roper:-" Let him see the commission."3 Then the scribe exhibited it to master Roper, and was about to open the same. Cook:-"No, what will ye do? he shall not see it." Philpot:-" Then do you me wrong, to call me and vex me, not showing your authority in this behalf." Cook :-"If we do you wrong, complain on us; and in the mean while thou shalt lie in the Lollards' Tower.' Philpot:-"Sir, I am a poor gentleman; therefore I trust of your gentleness you will not commit me to so vile and strait a place, being found no heinous trespasser." Cook:- -"A heretic is no gentleman: for he is a gentleman that hath gentle Cook:conditions." Philpot:-"The offence cannot take away the state of a gentleman as long as he liveth, although he were a traitor: but I mean not to boast of my gentlemanship, but will put it under my foot, since you do no more esteem it.' Story:-"What! will you suffer this heretic to prate with you all this day?" Cook:- -“He saith, he is a gentleman.' Story:-"A gentleman, quoth he? he is a vile heretic knave: for a heretic is no gentleman. Let the keeper of the Lollards' Tower come in, and have him away." The Keeper:-"Here, sir." Story:"Take this man with you to the Lollards' Tower, or else to the manded Bishop's coal-house." to Lol lards' Philpot:-"Sir, if I were a dog you could not appoint me a worse and more Tower by vile place: but I must be content with whatsoever injury you do offer me. Dr. Story. God give you a more merciful heart; you are very cruel upon one that hath never offended you. I pray you master Cholmley, show me some friendship, that I be not carried to so vile a place." Cholmley And Cholmley called me aside, and said, "I am not skilful of their doings, talketh neither of their laws: I cannot tell what they mean. I would I could do you pot apart. good." with Phil Philpot:-"I am content to go whither you will have me. There was never man more cruelly handled than I am at your hands, that without any just cause known should thus be entreated." Story:-"Shall we suffer this heretic thus to reprove us? Have him hence." Philpot:-"God forgive you, and give you more merciful hearts, and show you more mercy in the time of need: 'Do quickly that you have in hand.'" (1) That is, whether a heretic suspected, may, without ordinary process, be deprived of his living by his ordinary before his death, and by what law. (2)" Divina imperatoriæ majestati non sunt subjecta." [Epist. lib. 5. 33.] (3) Philpot again requireth to see their commission, and yet it could not be seen, and that also against the law. (4) "Et quod facis, fac citius." [Latin Vulg. Joan. 13. 28.] Story:-"Do you not hear how he maketh us Judases?" Mary. A. D. 1555. Bonner's After this, I, with four others more, were brought to the keeper's house in Paternoster-row, where we supped; and after supper I was called up to a chamber by the archdeacon of London's servant, and that in his master's name, who offered me a bed for that night. To whom I gave thanks, saying, that it should be a grief to me to lie well one night, and the next worse: "wherefore I will begin," said I, "as I am like to continue, to take such part as my fellows do." And with that we were brought through Paternoster-row to my lord of Philpot London's coal-house; unto the which is joined a little blind house, with a great laid in pair of stocks, appointed both for hand and foot. But, thanks be to God, we coalhave not played of those organs yet, although some before us had tried house. them. And there we found a minister of Essex, a married priest, a man of godly zeal,1 with one other poor man. And this minister, at my coming, desired to speak with me, and did greatly lament his own infirmity, for that through extremity of imprisonment he was constrained by writing to yield to the bishop of London: whereupon he was once set at liberty, and afterward felt such a Examples hell in his conscience, that he could scarce refrain from destroying himself, and what an unquiet never could be at quiet until he had gone unto the bishop's registrar, desiring conscito see his bill again, the which as soon as he had received, he tore it in pieces; ence doth. and after, he was as joyful as any man might be. Of the which when my lord Bonner plucketh of London had understanding, he sent for him, and fell upon him like a lion, away a and like a manly bishop buffeted him well, so that he made his face black and great part blue, and plucked away a great piece of his beard: but now, thanks be to God, of Whit he is as joyful under the cross as any of us, and very sorry of his former infir- beard,etc. mity. I write this, because I would all men to take heed how they do contrary to their conscience; which is, to fall into the pains of hell. And here an end. The Manner of my Calling first before the Bishop of London, the second Night of mine Imprisonment in his Coal-house. tle's The bishop sent unto me master Johnson his registrar, with a mess of meat, Bonner's and a good pot of drink, and bread, saying, that my lord had no knowledge charity erst of my being here, for which he was sorry: therefore he had sent me and Philpot. my fellows that meat, knowing whether I would receive the same. I thanked God for my lord's charity, that it pleased him to remember poor prisoners, desiring Almighty God to increase the same in him and in all others; and therefore I would not refuse his beneficence. And therewith took the same unto my brethren, praising God for his providence towards his afflicted flock, that he stirred our adversaries up to help the same in their necessity. Johnson :-" My lord would know the cause of your sending hither (for he knoweth nothing thereof); and wondereth that he should be troubled with prisoners of other diocese than his own." I declared unto him the whole cause. After the which he said, My lord's will was, that I should have any friendship I would desire: and so departed. Within a while after, one of my lord's gentlemen cometh for me. was brought into his presence, where he sat at a table alone, with three or of his chaplains, waiting upon him, and his registrar. four sent to And I Bonner entertain ing Phil pot. Bonner:-" Master Philpot, you are welcome; give me your hand." With that, because he so gently put forth his hand, I, to render courtesy for courtesy, kissed my hand, and gave him the same." common Bonner :-" I am right sorry for your trouble, and I promise you before it Bonner was within these two hours, I knew not of your being here. I pray you tell made the me what was the cause of your sending hither; for I promise you I know inquisitor nothing thereof as yet, neither would I you should think, that I was the cause against thereof. And I marvel that other men will trouble me with their matters; but I must be obedient to my betters; and I wis men speak otherwise of me than I deserve." I showed him the sum of the matter: that it was for the disputation in the convocation-house, for the which I was, against all right, molested. Bonner :-"I marvel that you should be troubled there-for, if there was (1) This godly man was Thomas Whittle, whose story followeth. his will. Mary. none other cause but this. But, peradventure, you have maintained the same since, and some of your friends of late have asked whether you do stand to the same, and you have said, 'Yea;' and for this you might be committed to prison." A. D. 1555. No man to render account of his Philpot:-" And it shall please your lordship, I am burdened none otherwise than I have told you, by the commissioners, who have sent me hither, because I would not recant the same." Bonner:-" A man may speak in the parliament-house, though it be a place of free speech, so as he may be imprisoned for it; as in case he speak words of high-treason against the king or queen. And so it might be that you spake otherwise than it became you of the church of Christ." Philpot:-"I spake nothing which was out of the articles, which were called in question, and agreed upon to be disputed by the whole house, and by the queen's permission and the council." 66 Bonner :- Why, may we dispute of our faith?" Philpot :- Bonner:-"Nay, I trow not, by the law." Philpot :-" Indeed, by the civil law I know it is not lawful, but by God's law, we may reason thereof. For St. Peter saith, 'Be ye ready to render account unto all men of that hope which is in you, that demand you of the same." Bonner:-"Indeed, St. Peter saith so. Why then, I ask of you, what your judgment is of the sacrament of the altar?" Philpot:-"My lord, St. Ambrose saith, that the disputation of faith ought is bound to be in the congregation, in the hearing of the people, and that I am not bound to render account thereof to every man privately, unless it be to edify. But now I cannot show you my mind, but I must run upon the pikes, in danger faith pri- of my life there-for. Wherefore, as the said doctor said unto Valentinian the emperor, so I say to your lordship: "Take away the law, and I shall reason with you." And yet if I come in open judgment, where I am bound by the law to answer, I trust I shall utter my conscience as freely as any that hath come before you." vately, unless it be to edify. One church. The faith promised by his godfathers was the faith of Christ, after his creed only. Bishop me. Bonner ::—“ I perceive you are learned: I would have such as you be about But you must come and be of the church; for there is but one church." Philpot ::-"God forbid I should be out of the church, I am sure I am within the same; for I know as I am taught by the Scripture, that there is but one catholic church, one dove, one spouse, one beloved congregation,3 out of the which there is no salvation." Bonner:-"How chanceth it then, that you go out of the same, and walk not with us?" Philpot ::-"My lord, I am sure I am within the bounds of the church whereupon she is builded, which is the word of God." Bonner:-"What age are ye of?" Philpot I am four and forty." Bonner:-"You are not now of the same faith your godfathers and godmothers promised for you, in the which you were baptized." Philpot :-" Bonner:-"How can that be? there is but one faith." 4 Bonner:-" You were twenty years ago of another faith than you be now." Philpot::-"Indeed, my lord, to tell you plain, I was then of no faith, a neuter, a wicked liver, neither hot nor cold." Bonner:-"Why, do you not think that we have now the true faith?" Philpot:-"I desire your lordship to hold me excused for answering at this time. I am sure that God's word thoroughly, with the primitive church, and with John all the ancient writers, do agree with this faith I am of." offended Philpot's singing in prison. Bonner:-"Well, I promise you I mean you no more hurt, than to mine own person: I will not therefore burden you with your conscience as now,3 I marvel that you are so merry in prison as you be, singing and rejoicing, as the (1) Or else why were the questions there propounded? (3) "Una columba, una sponsa, una dilecta." (4) "Nullius fidei." (5) And why then began you so hastily with him in the sacrament of your altars? |