A16571:66
All the examinations of the constant martyr of God M. John Bradford before the…All the examinacions of the constante martir of God M. Iohn Bradforde before the…
All the examinations of the constant martyr of God M. John Bradford before the Lord Chancellor, B. of Winchester the B. of London, [and] other co[m]missioners: whereunto are annexed, his private talk [and] conflicts in prison after his condemnation, with the Archbishop of york, the B. of Chichester, Alfonsus, and King Philips confessor, two Spanish friars, and sundry others. With his modest learned and godly answers. Anno. Domini 1561All the examinacions of the constante martir of God M. Iohn Bradforde before the Lorde Chauncellour, B. of Winchester the B. of London, [and] other co[m]missioners: whervnto ar annexed, his priuate talk [and] conflictes in prison after his condemnacion, with the Archbishop of york, the B. of Chichester, Alfonsus, and King Philips confessour, two Spanishe freers, and sundry others. With his modest learned and godly answeres. Anno. Domini 1561
Imprinted at London : In Fleetstrete, at the sign of the faucon by William Griffith, and are to be sold at the little shop in saint Dunstones churchyard, Anno 1561. The .xiii. day of MayImprinted at London : In Fleetstrete, at the signe of the faucon by William Griffith, and are to be sold at the litle shop in saincte Dunstones churchyard, Anno 1561. The .xiii. daie of Maye
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Upon the .21. day, which was friday, the Archbishop of york, and the Bishop of Chichester: came to the Counter to speak with me. When I was come before them, they both, & specially my Lord of york: used me very gently, they would have had me ⟨image 79⟩sit down, and because I would not: they also would not sit, so we all stood, & whether I would or no, they would needs I should put on, not only my night cap: but my upper cap also, saying unto me, that obedience was better then sacrifice. Now thus standing together, my Lord of york began to tell me, how that they were not sent to me, but of love and charity we come to you. And I, quoth he, of old acquaintance which I have had with you, more then my Lord of Chichester hath had. And so commended me of a godly life &c concluding with a question, how I was certain of salvation, & of my religion. Marie, quod I amittinge all formalities, save that I thanked them for their good will, by the word of god, by the scriptures, ⟨image 80⟩I am certain of salvation, and of my religion. Very well said quod my Lord of york. But how do you know the word of God and the scriptures but by the church? In deed my Lord, quoth I, the church was, and is a mean to bring a man more speedily, to know the scriptures, and the word of God, as was the woman of Samaria was a mean that the Samaritans knew Christ, but as when they had herd him speak, they said now we know, that he is Christ, not because of the words, but because we our selves have heard him: so, quoth I, after we come to the hearing and reading of the scriptures showed to us, and discerned by the church: we do believe them, and know them, not by cause the church saith they are the ⟨image 80⟩scriptures, but because they be so, being thereof assured, by the same spirit which wrote and spake them▪ yea, quoth my lord of york, but you know in the Apostles time at the first, the word was not written. True, quoth I, if you mean it for some books, of the books of the new Testament, but else, for the old testament, Peter telleth us that we have Firmiorem sermonem Propheticum, a more sure word of prophecie. Not, quod I, that it is simply so, but in respect of the Apostles persons, which being a live and compassed with infirmity: