66 it is plain, that our Savior would not that we should fear death. To dy, saith S. John Chrysostom, is to put off our old garments, and death is a pilgrimage of the spirit from the body: (He means, for a time) And a sleep, somewhat longer than the old custome. The fear of it, saith he, is nothing else, than the fear of Buggs, and a childish fear of that thing that cannot harm thee. Remember holy S. Ambrose's saying, which S. Augustin, lying on his death bed, ever had in his mouth, I do not fear to dy; for we have a good and merciful Lord and Master. Lactantius, the great learned man confirms the saying of Cicero to be true, which said, " that no man "can be right wise, which feareth death, pain, banishment or poverty and that he is the honest and vertuous man, "which not regardeth what he suffers, but how wel he "doth suffer. Sedulius, one of disciples, defineth death to be the gate, by the which lyeth the strait way unto reign and kingdom. Basilius, who as in name, so both in vertue and learning was great, thus he exhorteth us: "O! man, saith he, shrink not to withstand your Adversa"ries, to suffer labors; abhor not death, for it destroys not, "nor makes not an end of you, but it is the beginning and "occasion of life. Nor death is the destruction of al things, "but a departing, and a translation unto honors." And S. Hierom, the strong and stout champion of Almighty God, saith, declaring this saying of holy Job, the day of death is better than the day of birth; "that is, saith he, because "other [either] that by death it is declared what we are, or "else because our Birth doth bind our liberty of the soul "with the body, and death do loose it. 66 The holy Martyr Cyprian saith, "he ought to fear death, "that would not, nor hath no lust to go to Christ: and that "he hath no wil to God, the which believeth not, that by death, he shal begin to reign with Christ, as it is written, "The right wise man liveth by faith. Wherefore, saith he, "do not ask that the Kingdom of God may come, if this earthly bondage do delight us, &c. With a great deal more: al upon allegations. II. An Exhortation to take sicknes wel, and adversity patiently drawn out of Cyprian. THIS misliketh some men, that disease of sicknes "cometh to the Christen, no less then to the Heathen. As "who should say, that therfore the Christian believeth, "because he should be quiet from danger of Adversity, and might have the fruition of this world at his own pleasure : "and not because that after he hath suffered adversity "here, he shalbe reserved for the joy to come, &c. 66 III. An Exhortation to take the pain of sicknes patiently; 66 THOU wilt say, I love God: God grant, saith S. Augus"tin, that it be so indeed as thou promisest in words. The "proof and trial of the love of God is the fulfiling of his "Commandments, the fulfilling of his works, willingly to "love that God loveth, with a fervent desire to embrace that, the which God worketh. Then if thou lovest God, "thou lovest that that God doth, and if thou love that that "God doth, then thou lovest Gods disciplin. When thou "art chastened, thou lovest Gods rod. Thou art pained 66 : "with the cough, the lungs faileth thee: thy stomack ab"horres his meat thou pinest away with a Consumption: "thou tastest not thy drink: thou art vexed within thy body thou art grieved with many sundry and divers "kinds of diseases. But al these, if thou have an eye to perceive, if thou reckon God, al these, I say, are the gifts "of God. Son, cast not away the discipline of the Father. "There is no child, which the Father doth not correct, &c. 66 63 NUM. XXXIII. Interrogatories for Dr. London. WHETHER he commanded Serles Palm-Sunday upon MSS. C.C.C.C. Even, to write such Articles or Sermons, as had been intit. Sy nodalia. 64 preached in Kent: [by those of the New learning: Which Serles would have to be done by the Countenance of Cranmer.] Whether Serles brought the Articles upon Palm-Sunday. Whether he required Serles to go with him to the Councel, to present the said Articles, or else to subscribe them with his hand. And Serles refused so to do, because they were not proved by Witnesses, but only by hear-say. Whether he threatned Serles, because he would not set to his hand; notwithstanding that Serles knew them not, but by hear-say. How Dr. London did find out Serles; and how long he had enquired for him before he could find him. Whether in the presence of Serles Dr. London did pen the Articles anew, otherwise then they were presented. Whether Serles said then to Dr. Willoughby, whom Dr. London had persuaded to go with him to the Councel; Beware what you do: for you shall never be able to prove of this sort, that Dr. London doth now pen them. Whether beside the Book subscribed by divers Prebendaries and others of Cant. Dr. London made another great book of many more articles. Where that book is, and of whom he had his Instructions. What matters he knew against the Abp. of Cant. or others in Kent, before Palm-Sunday last past, when he had Articles of Serles. And of whom he had such knowledg before the said day. Dr. Willoughbies Confession and Submission; as to his medling in the Abp. of Canterburies busines, under his own hand. HE declared, that he first met Serles at Dr. Londons house at London, on Palm-Sunday, coming to London to speak with the Chamberlain of London. And then they opened the busines first to him. That he was not able to say any thing against any one person mentioned in these Articles, more then by hear-say. That he and Gardiner had been gathering of matter a quarter of a year before. That he knew nothing that they minded any thing towards his Grace, til he saw it in writing: By whom, and whose devise God, the Devil and they know; he knew nothing for his part. And that it was the most deceitful and disobedient country in the world. As concerning their preferment of their Articles at the Sessions, he knew nothing of that neither. Nor was in Kent at that time, nor knew of no Sessions, as God should be his help. Nor that he spake with any Justices of Peace in this matter; or that he was privy, that any of them did. That he told Mr. Moyle, and Mr. Thwaite [two eminent Justices] what Mr. London said to him, that the Justices al would be shent, because they suffered such preachings and contentions without doing any thing therin. That he only consented to bear the name of putting up of these matters [that is, of preferring the Articles to the Sessions.] He acknowledged, that he said, he heard that it was in the Country in many places: lying upon himself like a fool: and yet that he never came before the Councel, nor never minded. But to avoyd the suspition, he made much babling, bringing himself into much slander. And for this doing he submitted himself to God, and my Lords Grace. That, by his Father, [a sort of oath] he had no dealing with Pettit, nor any other Lawyer, or did know what they did, as to indictment, or any other thing thereunto belonging: nor ever reasoned with Pettit about any such matter. What effect or head they intended to bring this matter unto, God knoweth : Most likely to subdue his Graces power. That they had good hope to have had other Commissioners, than his Lordship. So London promised them at the beginning, or else they would not have medled so much, as they did: and especially against his Grace. 65 That as concerning their authority, he suspected they took it of Londons presumption, seeing him go forward against such men of Worship [meaning the late Indictments of so many eminent persons at Winsor] and of the rigor in handling and fetching up of Persons. Another Confession of Dr. Willoughby. MR. Serles manitimes resorted home to me, and stil lay upon me to put up Articles that he and they should devise, because I was the Kings Graces Chaplain. Whereupon I granted, so they might be proveable and true. And so it fortuned in Passion week, He and I on Friday in the same week rode to London, and on Saturday he had be with Dr. London, and put up his Articles, [nothing to my knowledg, that he had any) and promising him, that he would put them up himself. And on Palm-Sunday in the morning he sent for me, and prayed me to go with him to Mr. London: and so I did. And there (wo worth them both, London and Serles, who is ordained to cause much trouble) He told London that I would put up the Articles: and so asked me the Question. And I bad him read them, for I never saw them before, nor knew whether they were true or false: and so I told him. And Serles said, ye know, it is openly spoken. And I said, though I hear such things, I am not sure they be true: and also here is no record to affirm them true: Which methink were row [rough] matter, knowing neither party nor record. And therfore seeing Serles hath put them to you, let him present them himself. Then Mr. London said, I have shewed them to part of the Councel already and chid sore with Serles, saying, that he would shew the truth, who brought them. Then said Dr. London to me, put ye them up, knowing such shameful Articles presented here before your own face, it shal be hard for you to byde the danger hereof, knowing the Kings wil is to have it so. And also fear not; for I have set such a spectacle before you at Winsor, in bringing to light abominable heresies at the which the Kings Majesty was astonied, and wondred, angry both with the doers and bearers. And therfore if ye shrink herein, ye shal shew your self not to be herein the Kings true subject. Therefore seeing ye be his Chaplain, ye did him never such service, as ye may do herein, to present them for your discharge. For now ye shal not be rid of them, and ye would. [Having heard them read, and so being privy to them.] : And with this threatning and fear I was content. And so Dr. London wrot them new, and added to them at his pleasure wherwith both Serles and I were vexed. Meaning, as he said, to bring the matter into the Justices hond, and certain of the spiritualty; whose names Serles recited |