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Mary. A. D.

1557.

The catholics

will not

our brother, and agree with him quickly, and so forth; and then come and offer the gift. Some will say, How shall I agree with my adversary, when he is not nigh by a hundred miles? may I not pray till I have spoken with him? To all such I answered, If thou presume to pray among the faithful, wishing any evil to any man, woman, or child, thou askest vengeance upon thyself; for no such asketh any thing else of the Lord in his prayer. Wherefore agree with thy adversary, that is, make thy life agreeable to God's word. Say in thy heart without dissimulation, that thou askest God and all the world forgiveness from the bottom of thy heart, intending never to offend them any more. Then all such may be bold to come and offer their gift, their prayer on the altar, where the people of God be gathered together. Thus have I showed you my mind, both of the altar, and of the offering, as I understand it."

Chichester:-" Do you understand the offering and the altar so? I never heard any man understand it so; no not Luther the great heretic, that was condemned by a general council, and his picture burned.'

Woodman:-" If he were a heretic, I think he understood it not so indeed; but I am sure all Christians ought to understand it so."

Chichester:-" Oh! what vain glory is in you, as though you understood all things, and other men nothing. Hear me: I will show you the true understanding, both of the altar, and the offering on the altar. We have an altar,' said Paul, that ye may not eat of:' meaning thereby, that no man might eat of that which was offered on the altar, but the priest. For in Paul's time, all the living that the priest had, the people came and offered it on the altar, money, or other things: and when the people came to offer it, and then remembered that they had any thing against their brother, then they left their offering upon the altar, and went and were reconciled to their brother; and they came again and offered their gift, and the priest had it. This is the true understanding of the place that you have rehearsed: wherefore you be deceived."

Woodman :- "My lord, that was the use in the old law. Christ was the end of that. But indeed I perceive by Paul's words, the sacrifice was offered in Paul's time; yet that maketh not that it was well done, but he rebuked it. Wherefore it seemeth to me, that you be deceived."

Chichester:-" Who shall be judges betwixt us in this matter?"

Woodman:-" The twelfth of John declareth who shall be judge in the last

have the day."

word to

judge.

Woodman referreth himself to the true church.

The ca

tholics make

themselves priests, not after

of Aaron,

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Chichester:- "You mean the word shall judge the word. How can that be?" Woodman:"St. Peter saith, The scripture hath no private interpretation:' but one scripture must be understood by another."

Chichester:-"You will understand it one way, and I will understand it another way; and who shall be judges betwixt us then?"

Woodman:-" The true church of God is able to discuss all doubts; to whom
I refer it."

Chichester: "I am glad you say so, if you will say so indeed."
Woodman:- "My lord, I never meant otherwise."

Chichester :- "The church of God doth allow the sacrament of the altar."
Woodman:-" What do you offer now upon the altar?"

2

Chichester:-"We offer up, in the blessed sacrament of the altar, the body of Christ, to pacify the wrath of God the Father ;" and therewith they all put off their caps to the abominable idol.

Woodman::—“ St. Paul saith to the Hebrews, 'We are sanctified by offering of the body of Jesus Christ upon the cross once for all:'3 and every priest is daily ministering, and oftentimes offereth one manner of offering, which can never take away sins;' and that is the offering that you use to offer. As far as I can see, you be priests after the order of Aaron, that offered up sacrifice for their own sins, and the sins of the people."

Chichester :-
3166

Nay, Aaron's sacrifice was with blood, which signifieth the the order death of Christ, the which was ended upon the cross by his bloodshedding: but but of we are priests after the order of Melchizedech, the which offereth bread to the king in remembrance, and signifieth the giving of Christ's body in bread and wine at the last Supper, the which he gave to his disciples, and commanded it

Melchi

zedech.

(1) Heb. xiii.

(2) Here is a doctrine prejudicial to Christ's passion to say, that the sacrament of the altar doth pacify the wrath of God.

(3) Heb. x.

to be used to the end of the world. This is the sacrifice that we offer, accord- Mary. ing to his word.'

Woodman:-" Methinketh you have made the matter very plain to me, that as Christ was the end of all sacrifices, so was he the beginning of the sacraments, willing them to be used in the remembrance of him, to the world's end." Chichester:-" What, in remembrance of him, and not himself, as his word saith, 'Take, eat, this is my body! It is not the sign only, but the thing itself. How say you? Is it not his body, after the words be spoken by the priest? How say you? Go briefly to work, for I cannot long tarry with you.'

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Woodman:-" My lord, if you will answer me to one sacrament, I will answer you to another."

Chichester:-" Yes, I am very well contented with that."

A. D.

1557.

Woodman:-" If you say the words of baptism over the water, and there be Whether no child there, is there true baptism?"

Chichester:-" No, there must be the water, the word, and the child; then it is baptism.”

the words only and make the

sacra

Woodman:-" Very well. Then if a child be baptized in the name of the ment of Father, and of the Son, it is not truly baptized."

baptism, without

there to be bap

Chichester:-"No: the child must be baptized in the name of the Father, the child and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost; or else it is not truly baptized." Woodman:-" Then there may be nothing added nor taken away from the tized. sacraments may there?"

Chichester:- "No," said the bishop.

Woodman:-
:-" Now, my lord, I will answer to you, if it please you."

Chichester:-"Well, how say you, 'Take, eat; this is my body:' is it not

Christ's body, as soon as the words be said?"

child

Woodman:- "My lord, I will answer you by your own words, that you The word, answered me, which is true: the water, the word, and the child, all these water, and together make baptism; the bread, wine, and the word make the sacrament; make bapand the eater, eating in true faith, maketh it his body. Here I prove it is not tism: so Christ's body, but to the faithful receiver: for he said, 'Take, eat, this is the word, my bread, body.' He called it not his body before eating, but after eating. And St. Augus- and the tine saith, Believe, and thou hast eaten." And St. John saith, He that believeth receiver, in God, dwelleth in God, and God in him :' wherefore it is impossible to dwell make the in God, and to eat his body, without a true faith.”

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sacra

ment of

ceiver maketh it

Priest:-"Then the faith of the receiver maketh it his body, and not his the Lord's body. word, by your saying. I pray you what did Judas eat?" The faith Woodman:-"Judas did eat the sacrament of Christ, and the devil withal." of the rePriest:-" He eat the body of Christ unworthily, as St. Paul saith." Woodman :-"Nay, St. Paul saith no such thing. He speaketh not of eating the body. of his body unworthily, but of the sacrament unworthily. For he saith, Who- If Judas soever eateth of this bread, and drinketh of this cup unworthily, eateth and did eat drinketh his own damnation, because he maketh no difference of the Lord's the body. of Christ, body,' and not because he eateth the Lord's body. If Judas had ate Christ's then body, it must needs follow, that Judas is saved. For Christ saith in John vi., must he 'Whosoever eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up again at the last day.'”

Priest:-"My lord, this man is an interpreter after his own mind." Chichester:-" I see it is but folly to talk with you: it is but lost labour. How say you? do you not believe that after the words be said, there remaineth neither bread nor wine, but the very body of Christ really? Make me a plain answer, for I will talk no more with you.'

be saved.

Wood

man

Woodman :-"I will make you a direct answer, how I believe of the true Confessacrament. I do believe that if I come to receive the sacrament of the body sion of and blood of Christ truly ministered, believing that Christ was born for me, and that he suffered death for me, and that I shall be saved from my sins by his blood- touching shedding, and so receive the sacrament in that remembrance, then I believe I the sacrado receive wholly Christ, God and man, mystically by faith: this is my belief." Chichester:-"6 Why, then it is no body without faith! God's word is of no force, as you count it.'

Woodman :-" My lord, I have told you my mind without dissimulation, and

(1) The catholics make the sacrament both a sign signifying, and the thing itself signified. (2) "Crede et manducasti." In Joh. Evang. cap. 6. tract. 25, § 12.-Ed.

ment.

Mary.

1557.

more you get not of me, without you will talk with me by the Scriptures; and if you will do so, I will begin anew with you, and prove it more plainly three or A. D. four manner of ways, that you shall not say nay, to that I have said, yourself." Then they made a great laughing, and said, "This is a heretic indeed; it is time he were burned:" which words moved my spirit, and I said to them, "Judge not, lest you be judged:' for as you judge me, you shall be judged yourselves. For that you call heresy, I serve God truly with, as you all shall well know, when you shall be in hell, and have blood to drink, and shall be compelled to say for pain, This was the man that we jested on, and whose talk we thought foolishness, and his end to be without honour: but now we may see how he is counted among the saints of God, and we are punished.' These words shall you say, being in hell, if you repent not with speed, if you consent to the shedding of my blood: wherefore look to it, I give you counsel."

The zeal

of God's Spirit in Woodman.

Dr.Story cometh

in.

Story

com

mandeth Wood

man

again to the Marshalsea.

Priest:-"What! you be angry, methinks. Now I will say more to you than I thought to have done. You were at Bexhill a twelvemonth agone, and sent for the parson and talked with him in the churchyard, and would not go into the church; for you said, it was the idol's temple. Yea, I was with mine old lord, when he came to the King's Bench to you; and you said many stout words to him."

Woodman:-"That I said, I said; and whereas you said, I was angry, I take God to my record, I am not, but am zealous in the truth, and speak out of the Spirit of God, with cheerfulness."

Priest:- "The Spirit of God? hough, hough, hough! think you that you have the Spirit of God?"

Woodman:-"I believe surely that I have the Spirit of God, I praise God there-for: and you be deceivers, mockers, and scorners before God, and be the children of hell, all the sort of you, as far I can see."

And therewith came in Dr. Story, pointing at me with his finger, speaking to the bishop in Latin, saying at the length, "I can say nothing to him, but he is a heretic. I have heard you talk this hour and a half, and can hear no reasonableness in him."

Woodman:-" Judge not, lest you be judged: for as you judge, you shall be judged yourself."

Story -"What! be you a preaching? you shall preach at a stake shortly with your fellows. My lord, trouble yourself no more with him."

Then there

With these words, one brought word that the abbot of Westminster was come to dine with the bishop, and many other gentlemen and women. was rushing away with speed to meet him. Then said Dr. Story to my keeper, Carry him to the Marshalsea again, and let him keep close; and let nobody come to speak with him." And so they departed.

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Then one of the priests began to flatter with me, and said, "For God's sake remember yourself. God hath given you a good wit: you have read the Scriptures well, and have borne them well in memory. It were great pity you should do amiss."

Woodman :-"What a flatterer be you, to say my wit is good, and that I have read the Scriptures well; and but even now you said I was a heretic and despised me. If I be a heretic, I can have no good wit as you have confessed. But I think your own conscience doth accuse you. God give you grace to repent, if it be his will."

Priest:-"I call it a good wit, because you are expert in all questions." Woodman:-" You may call it a wicked wit, if it agree not with God's word." Then one cried, "Away, away, here come strangers!" So we departed, and I came again to the Marshalsea, with my keeper.

The Third Examination of Richard Woodman (copied with his own hand) before Dr. Langdale, Parson of Buxsted, in Sussex, and Chaplain to my Lord Montague, and Master James Gage, at my Lord Montague's House, beside St. Mary Overy's, in Southwark, the 12th day of May.

The 12th day of May the marshal came to the Marshalsea, and sent for me to speak with him. When I came before him, and had done my duty, he asked my name, and what countryman I was. I showed him both. Then he asked

me, when I was abroad in the city. To whom I answered, "If it shall please Mary. your mastership, I was abroad in the city on Monday was sevennight." Marshal:-"

:-"What made you abroad?"

Woodman::-"The bishop of Chichester sent for me, to talk with me at home, at his house beside St. Nicholas's Shambles."

Marshal:-"Were you abroad no otherwise than so?"

Woodman:-"No forsooth; I was never abroad since I was sent hither, but

then; for I have nothing to do abroad, unless they send for me."

A.D.

1557.

reports.

Marshal:-"This is a marvellous matter. I promise you I was not so rebuked False lies these seven years, as I was for you within these three days. It is reported that and lewd you were abroad in the city at certain taverns, and spake seditious words both in the taverns and streets, as you went."

Woodman :-"Sir, the truth is, I was in never a house nor tavern, whiles I was abroad, but in the bishop's house, as my keeper can, and will (I am sure) testify: nor did I ever talk with any man in the streets as I came, but with my keeper, saving with one man, indeed, of the parish of Framfield, in Sussex, where master James Gage dwelleth. His name is Robert Smith, being one of my worst enemies; who stood in a wain as we came by, and was unlading of cheese (methought) but a little way from the Marshalsea. Indeed I bade him God speed, and asked him how he did: and he said, Well, he thanked me. And he asked me, how I did : and I said, Well, I praise God; and that was all the talk that we had. And these words were spoken as I came by him. I promise you, sir, I stood not still while I spake them, as my keeper can tell and I think these words were not seditious words, but might be spoken well enough (I think), or else it were very strait."

man

go warned to

Marshal:-" "Then is it to be thought, that that man reported otherwise than Woodit was. I am glad it is as you say. Well, make you ready for you must forth straightway, where you shall be examined of that and of other things, where you shall answer for yourself. Go make haste, for I will tarry till you be ready."

appear.

taketh his

lows.

So I departed from him, and went to my prison-fellows, and took my leave Woodof them, desiring them to pray for me; for I thought verily to come no more to man them: for I supposed I should have gone before the council, because the marshal leave of said, he would tarry for me himself. And especially because he said, it was his felreported that I had spoken seditious words, it made me think it is possible that there may be some false things imagined upon me, to bring me to my end. I remember what Christ said, "The servant is not above his lord." Seeing the Jews brought false witness against Christ, I thought they would do much more, or at the least do so to me, if God would suffer them; which made me cast the worst. But I was, and am sure (I praise my Lord God), that all the world is not able to accuse me justly of any such thing. Which thing considered, made me merry and joyful; and I was surely certified, that they could do no more against me, than God would give them leave. And so I bade my prison-fellows farewell, and went into the porter's lodge to the marshal; and he delivered me to one of his own men, and to one of my lord Montague's men, and bade me go livered to with them and they carried me to my lord Montague's place in Southwark, one of the not far from St. Mary Overy's; and brought me into a chamber in lord Mon- tague's tague's house; and there was one Dr. Langdale, chaplain to my lord. My keepers men. said to the doctor, "This is the man that we went for."

Langdale :-"Is your name Woodman?"

Woodman:-"Yea, forsooth, that is my name."

Then he began with a great circumstance, and said, "I am sorrow for you, that you will not be ruled, but stand so much in your own conceit, displeasing your father and others, judging that all the realm doth evil, save a few that do as you do:" with many such words, which be too long to rehearse, but I will declare the substance of them.

Wood

man de

lord Mon

by ances

Langdale :-"What think you of them that died long agone-your grand- Religion fathers, with their fathers before them? You judge them to be damned, and all esteemed others that use the same that they did throughout all Christendom, unless it be tors, etc. in Germany, and here in England a few years, and in Denmark; and yet they are returned again. Thus we are sure this is the truth; and I would you should do well. Your father is an honest man, and one of my parish, and hath wept to me, divers times, because you would not be ruled; and he loveth you well,

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Mary.

A. D.

1557.

and so doth all the country, both rich and poor, if it were not for those evil
opinions that you hold, with many such like tales of Robin Hood."

Woodman:- I pray you give me leave to speak a few words to you."
Langdale: "Yes, say your mind."

Woodman: :-"You have told a great tale, and a long, as it were against me (as you think), saying, I hold this and that; I judge my father and my grandfather, and almost all the world, without it be a few that be of our sect. But

I judge no man. But the twelfth of John declareth who it is that judgeth, and shall judge in the last day. The father shall not bear the son's offences, nor the The mul- son the father's offences: but that soul that sinneth shall die,' as saith the titude not prophet. And again, we may not follow a multitude to do evil, as saith the lowed in prophet; for the most go the wrong way. And Christ saith in Luke xii., that his flock, is a little flock. Here be places enow to discharge me, although I do not as the most do. But can any man say that I do not as I ought to do ?? Where be my accusers?"

to be fol

doing

evil.

Hard.

any man in this

world.

·

Langdale: "What! you be full of scriptures methinks, and call for your accusers, as though you were afraid to utter your mind to me. But I would have you not be afraid to talk with me. For I mean no more hurt to you, than I do to myself, I take God to be my record."

:

Woodman :-"I cannot tell it is hard trusting of fair words. When a man trusting cannot trust his father nor brother, nor others that have been his familiar friends, but they deceive him: a man may lawfully follow the example of Christ towards them that he never saw before, saying, 'Be as wise as serpents, and as innocent as doves:' 'Beware of men, for they go about to betray you.' And it maketh me to suspect you much, because you blame me for answering with the Scriptures. It maketh me to doubt that you would take vantage of me, if swering I should speak mine own words. Wherefore I will take as good heed as I can,

Wood

man

blamed

for an

with scriptures.

Dr. Lang

with

Woodman, upon

Wherefore blame me not, though I answer circumspectly. It shall not be said, by God's help, that I will run wilfully into mine enemies' hands; and yet I praise God, my life is not dear to myself, but it is dear with God: wherefore I will do the uttermost that I can to keep it."

because I have been deceived already by them I trusted most.

Langdale :-"You be afraid where no fear is; for I was desired of master dale's talk sheriff and his brother, and of other of your friends, to talk with you; and they told me, that you were desirous to talk with me. And now ye make the matter as though you had nothing to do with me, and as though you were sent to prison what oc- for nothing for you call for your accusers, as though there were no man to accuse you. But if there were no man to accuse you, your own hand-writing did accuse you enough, that you set upon the church-door (if you be remembered), procure and other letters that you let fall abroad, some at one place and some at another. Wherefore you need not to call for your accusers. Your own hand will accuse you enough, I warrant you; it is kept safe enough. I would not for two hundred pounds there were so much against me.'

casion, and by whose

ment.

Woodman's writing

the

churchdoor, upon what occasion.

Woodman:-"I will not deny mine own hand, by God's help; for it cannot be lightly counterfeited. I do not deny but I wrote a letter to the priest set upon and others of the parish, declaring to them their folly and presumption to come into my house without my love or leave, and fetch out my child, and use it at their pleasures; which moved me to write my mind to them: and because I could not tell how to convey it to them, I set it on the church-door. Which letter my lord of Chichester hath, for he showed it me when I was before him: wherein is contained nothing but the very Scriptures, to their reproach. Let it be laid before me when you or he will, I will answer to it by the help of God, to all their shames that I wrote it to. And as for any other letters, I wrote none, as you said I did; neither had I wrote that, if they had done like honest neighbours. Wherefore if they be offended with me for that, I will answer them with Christ's words, in Matt. xviii. Woe unto themselves,' because they gave me the occasion.

6

"And whereas you said, I was desirous to speak with you; and that master

(1) Dr. Langdale seems to doubt the existence of this forester, or at least he esteemed the tenets of the Protestants as lightly as he did some of the tales connected with him: but Bayley, in his "Etymological Dictionary," informs us: "This Robin Hood was a famous robber, and storied to be an expert archer in the time of king Richard the first, about the year 1200; his principal haunt was about Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire."-ED.

(2) To do as most men do, and to do as a man ought to do, are two things.

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