A67926:4457
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
In faith quoth the Gentleman, thou knowest as well who be heretics of thy fellows at home, and who be none, as I do know this paper to be in my hand: but it maketh no matter, for they shall all be sent for and examined: and thinkest thou that they will not utter and tell of thee all that they can? yes I warrant thee. And what a foolish dolt art thou, that wilt not utter aforehand what they be, seeing it standeth upon thy deliverance to tell the truth? Whatsoever quoth he, they shall say of me, let them do it in the name of God,1 for I will say no more of them, nor of no man else, then I know. Mary quoth the Gentleman if thou wilt do so, my L. requireth no more. And for as much as now peradventure, thy wits are troubled, so that thou canst not call things even by & by to remembrance, I have brought thee ink & paper, that thou mayest excogitate with thy self, & write such things as shall come to thy mind.2 O lord, quoth Marbecke, what will my L. do? Will his lordship compel me to accuse men, and wot not whereof? No, quoth the Gentleman, my L. compelleth thee not, but gently entreated thee to say the truth. Therefore make no more ado, but write, for my Lord will have it so, and so laid down the ink and paper and went his way.
In faith quoth the Gentleman, thou knowst as well who be heretikes of thy fellowes at home, and who be none, as I doo know this paper to be in my hand: but it maketh no matter, for they shall al be sent for and examined: and thinkest thou that they will not vtter and tell of thee all that they can? yes I warrant thee. And what a folish dolt art thou, that wilt not vtter aforehand what they be, seeyng it standeth vpon thy deliueraunce to tell the truth? Whatsoeuer quoth he, they shall say of me, let thē doe it in the name of God,1 for I will say no more of thē, nor of no man els, then I know. Mary quoth the Gentleman if thou wilt doe so, my L. requireth no more. And for as much as now peraduenture, thy wits are troubled, so that thou canst not call things euen by & by to remembrance, I haue brought thee inke & paper, that thou mayest excogitate with thy selfe, & write such things as shal come to thy mynd.2 O lord, quoth Marbecke, what will my L. do? Will his lordship compell me to accuse men, and wot not whereof? No, quoth the Gentleman, my L. compelleth thee not, but gently entreated thee to say the truth. Therfore make no more adoe, but write, for my Lord will haue it so, and so layd downe the ynke and paper and went his way.
Now was Marbecke so full of heaviness and woe, that he wist not what to do, nor how to set the pen to the book to satisfy the Bishops mind,1 unless he did accuse men to the wounding of his own soul. And thus being compassed about with nothing but sorrow and care, he cried out to God in his hart, falling down with weeping tears and said:
Now was Marbecke so full of heauines and wo, that he wyst not what to do, nor how to set the pen to the booke to satisfie the Byshops mynd,1 vnlesse he did accuse men to the woundyng of his owne soule. And thus beyng compassed about with nothing but sorrow and care, he cryed out to God in his hart, fallyng downe with weping tears and sayd:
O most merciful father of heaven, thou that knowest the secret doings of all men, 1have mercy upon thy poor prisoner which is destitute of all help and comfort. Assist me (O Lord) with thy special grace, that to save this frail and vile body, which shall turn to corruption at his time, I have no power to say or to write any thing, that may be to the casting away of my christen brother: but rather (O Lord) let this vile flesh suffer at thy will and pleasure. Grant this, O most merciful father, for thy dear son Jesus Christs sake.
O most mercifull father of heauen, thou that knowest the secret doyngs of all men, 1haue mercy vppon thy poore prisoner which is destitute of all helpe and comfort. Assist me (O Lorde) with thy speciall grace, that to saue this frayle and vile bodye, which shall turne to corruption at his tyme, I haue no power to say or to write any thing, that may be to the casting awaye of my christen brother: but rather (O Lord) let this vile flesh suffer at thy will and pleasure. Grant this, O most mercifull father, for thy deare sonne Iesus Christes sake.
Then he rose up and began to search his conscience what he might write, and at last framed out these words: Where as your Lordship will have me write such things as I know of my fellows at home:1 pleaseth it your lordship to understand, that I cannot call to remembrance any manner of thing whereby I might justly accuse any one of them, unless it be that the reading of the new testament (which is common to all men) be an offence: more than this I know not.
Then he rose vp and beganne to search his conscience what he might write, and at last framed out these wordes: Where as your Lordship will haue me write such thyngs as I knowe of my fellowes at home:1 pleaseth it your lordship to vnderstand, that I cannot call to remembraunce any maner of thing whereby I might iustly accuse any one of them, vnlesse it be that the readyng of the new testament (which is common to all men) be an offence: more thē this I know not.
Now the Gentleman about his hour appointed, came again, and found Marbecke walking up and down the chamber. How now, quoth he, hast thou written nothing?1 yes Sir, quoth he, as much as I know. Well said, quoth the Gentleman, and took up the paper. Which when he had read, he cast it from him in a great fume, swearing by our lords body, that he would not for xx. pound, carry it to his L. and master. Therefore quoth he, go to it again, and advise thy self better, or else thou wilt set my Lord against thee, and then art thou utterly undone. By my troth Sir,2 quoth Marbecke, if his Lordship shall keep me here these seven years, I can say no more then I have said. Then wilt thou repent it, quoth the Gentleman, and so putting up his penner and inkhorn, departed with the paper in his hand.
Now the Gentleman about his houre appointed, came agayne, and found Marbecke walking vp and downe the chamber. How now, quoth he, hast thou written nothing?1 yes Sir, quoth he, as much as I know. Well sayd, quoth the Gentleman, and tooke vp the paper. Which when hee had read, he cast it from him in a great fume, swearyng by our lordes body, that he would not for xx. pound, cary it to his L. and maister. Therfore quoth he, go to it againe, and aduise thy selfe better, or els thou wilt set my Lord against thee, and then art thou vtterly vndone. By my troth Sir,2 quoth Marbecke, if hys Lordshyppe shall keepe me here these seuen yeares, I can say no more then I haue sayde. Then wilt thou repent it, quoth the Gentleman, and so putting vp hys penner and inkehorne, departed wyth the paper in hys hand.
The next day, which was Wednesday, by viij. of the clock in the morning,1 the bishop sent for Marbecke to his house at S. Mary Overies, and as he was entering into the bishops hall, he saw the bishop himself coming out at a door in the upper end thereof, with a roll in his hand, and going toward the great window, he called the poor man unto him and said: Marbecke, wilt thou cast away thy self? No my Lord quoth he, I trust. Yes, quoth the B. thou goest about it, for thou wilt utter nothing. What a devil made thee to meddle with the scriptures? Thy vocation was an other way, wherein thou hast a goodly gift,2 if thou didst esteem it? Yes my Lord, quoth he, I do esteem it and have done my part therein, according to that little knowledge that God hath given me. And why the devil quoth the Bishop, didst thou not hold thee there? and with that he flung away from the window out of the Hall, the poor man following him from place to place, till he had brought him into a long gallery, and being there, the bishop began on this wise: A sirrah, quoth he, the nest of you is broken I trow. And unfolding his roll (which was about an ell long) he said: Behold, here be your captains both Hobby and Haynes, with all the whole pact of thy sect about Windsor, & yet wilt thou utter none of them. Alas my lord quoth he, how should I accuse them, by whom I know nothing? Well, quoth the bish. if thou wilt needs cast away thy self, who can let thee?3 What helpers haddest thou in setting forth thy book: Forsooth my lord, quoth he none. Now quoth the bishop? how can that be? It is not possible that thou shouldest do it without help. Truly my L. quoth he, I can not tell in what part your lordship doth take it, but how soever it be, I will not deny but I did it without the help of any man save God alone. Nay quoth the B. I do not discommend thy diligence, but what shouldest thou meddle with that thing which pertained not to thee?
THe next day, which was Wednesday, by viij. of the clocke in the morning,1 the bishop sent for Marbecke to his house at S. Mary Oueries, and as he was entring into the bishops hall, he sawe the bishop himselfe commyng out at a doore in ye vpper end therof, with a rolle in his hād, and goyng toward the great wyndow, he called the poore man vnto him and sayd: Marbecke, wilt thou cast awaye thy selfe? No my Lord quoth he, I trust. Yes, quoth the B. thou goest about it, for thou wilt vtter nothing. What a deuill made thee to meddle with the scriptures? Thy vocation was an other way, wherin thou hast a goodly gyft,
And in speaking these words, one of his Chaplains, (called M. Meadow) came up and staid himself at a window, to whom the bishop said, here is a marvellous thing. This fellow hath taken upon him to set out the Concordance in english, which book when it was set out in latin was not done without the help and diligence of a dozen learned men at the least, and yet will he bear me in hand that he hath done it alone. But say what thou wilt, quoth ⟨p. 1216⟩the B. except God himself would come down from heaven and tell me so, I will not believe it: and so going forth to a window, where two great Bibles lay upon a cushion, the one in Latin, and the other in English, he called Marbecke unto him, and pointing his finger to a place in the Latin Bible, said: Canst thou English this sentence? Nay my L. quoth he, I trow I be not so cunning to give it a perfect English, but I can set out the English thereof in the English Bible. Let see, quoth the B. Then Marbecke turning the English Bible, found out the place by and by, and read it to the Bishop. So he tried him a three or four times, till one of his men came up and told him the Priest was ready to go to Mass.
And in speaking these words, one of his Chaplaynes, (called M. Medow) came vp and stayd himselfe at a window, to whō the bishop sayd, here is a marueilous thinge. This fellow hath taken vppon him to set out the Concordance in english, which book whē it was set out in latyn was not done without the helpe and dilligence of a dosen learned men at the least, and yet will he beare me in hand that he hath done it alone. But say what thou wilt, quoth ⟨p. 1216⟩the B. except God himselfe would come downe from heauen and tell me so, I will not beleue it: and so going forth to a window, where two great Bibles lay vpon a cusshion, the one in Latine, and the other in English, he called Marbecke vnto him, and pointing his finger to a place in the Latin Bible, sayd: Canst thou English this sentence? Nay my L. quoth he, I trow I be not so cunning to geue it a perfect English, but I can set out the English thereof in the English Bible. Let see, quoth the B. Then Marbecke turning the English Bible, found out the place by and by, and read it to the Bishop. So he tried hym a three or foure tymes, till one of his men came vp and tolde hym the Priest was ready to go to Masse.
And as the B. was going, said the Gentleman which had examined Marbecke in the Marshalsea the day before:1 Shall this fellow write nothing while your Lordship is at mass, for he passeth not on it. It maketh no matter quoth the Bishop, for he will tell nothing, and so went down to hear Mass, leaving Marbecke alone in the gallery. The B. was no sooner down, but the Gentleman came up again with ink and paper.2 Come sirrah quoth he, my Lord will have you occupied till Mass be done, persuading him with fair words, that he should be soon dispatched out of trouble, if he would use truth and plainness. Alas sir, quoth he, what will my Lord have me to do? for more then I wrote to his Lordship yesterday, I can not? Well, well, go to quoth the Gentleman, & make speed, and so went his way. There was no remedy but Marbecke must now write some thing: wherefore he calling to God again in his mind, wrote a few words as nigh as he could frame them, to those he had written the day before. When the B. was come from Mass, and had looked on the writing, he pushed it from him, saying: what shall this do? It hath neither head nor foot. There is a marvellous sect of them (quoth the B. to his men) for the devil cannot make one of them to bewray another. Then was there nothing among the Bishops Gentlemen, as they were making him ready to go to the court, but Crucisige upon the poor man. And when the bishops white ratchet was on him and all: well Marbecke, quoth he, I am now going to the Court, and was purposed, if I had found thee tractable, to have spoken to the kings majesty for thee and to have given thee thy meat, drink, & lodging here in mine house: but seeing thou art so wilful and so stubborn, thou shalt go to the devil for me.
And as the B. was goyng, sayd the Gentleman whiche had examined Marbecke in the Marshalsey the day before:1 Shall this fellow write nothyng whyle your Lordship is at masse, for he passeth not on it. It maketh no matter quoth the Bishop, for he will tell nothing, and so went downe to heare Masse, leauing Marbecke alone in ye gallery. The B. was no sooner downe, but the Gentleman came vp agayne with inke and paper.2 Come sirha quoth he, my Lord will haue you occupied till Masse bee done, perswadyng hym with fayre wordes, that he shoulde bee soone dispatched out of trouble, if he would vse truth and plainenes. Alas sir, quoth he, what will my Lorde haue me to do? for more then I wrote to his Lordship yesterday, I can not? Well, well, goe to quoth the Gentleman, & make speed, and so went his way. There was no remedie but Marbecke must nowe write some thyng: wherefore he calling to God againe in his mind, wrote a few words as nye as he could frame them, to those he had written the day before. When the B. was come from Masse, and had looked on the writing, he pusht it from him, saying: what shall this do? It hath neither head nor foote. There is a maruelous sect of them (quoth the B. to hys men) for the deuill cannot make one of them to bewray another. Then was there nothyng among the Bishops Gentlemen, as they were making him ready to go to the court, but Crucisige vpon the poore man. And when the bishops white ratchet was on him and all: well Marbecke, quoth he, I am now going to the Court, and was purposed, if I had foūd thee tractable, to haue spoken to the kings maiesty for thee and to haue geuen thee thy meat, drinke, & lodging here in myne house: but seyng thou art so wilful and so stubburne, thou shalt go to the deuill for me.
Then was he carried down by the B. men, with many railing words.1 And coming through the great chamber, there stood D. London, with two more of his fellows, waiting the bishops coming: and passing by them into the Hall, he was there received of his keeper, and carried to prison again. It was not half an hour after, ere that the B. sent one of his Gentlemen to the under keeper called Stokes, commanding him to put irons upon Marbecke, and to keep him fast shut in a chamber alone, and when he should bring him down to dinner or supper, to see that he spake to no man, nor no man to him: & furthermore, that he should suffer no manner of person (not his own wife) to come & see him or minister any thing unto him. When the porter (who was the cruellest man that might be, to all such as were laid in for any matter of religion, and yet as God would,2 favourable to this poor man) had received this commandment from the B. he clapped irons upon him & shut him up, giving warning to all the house, that no man should speak or talk to Marbecke, whensoever he was brought down, and so he continued the space of iij. weeks & more, till his wife was suffered to come unto him.
Then was he caried downe by the B. men, with many railing words.1 And comming through the great chamber, there stood D. London, with two mo of hys fellows, waiting the bishops comming: and passing by them into the Hall, he was there receiued of his keper, and caried to prison againe. It was not halfe an houre after, ere that the B. sent one of his Gentlemen to the vnder keeper called Stokes, commanding him to put irons vpon Marbecke, and to keepe him fast shut in a chamber alone, and when he should bring him downe to dinner or supper, to see that he spake to no man, nor no man to him: & furthermore, yt he should suffer no maner of person (not his owne wife) to come & see him or minister any thing vnto him. When the porter (who was the cruellest man that might be, to al such as were laid in for any matter of religion, and yet as God would,2 fauorable to this poore man) had receyued this cō mandement from the B. he clapt irons vpon him & shutte him vp, geuing warning to all the house, yt no man should speake or talke to Marbecke, whensoeuer he was brought downe, and so he continued the space of iij. wekes & more, till his wife was suffered to come vnto him.
Marbeckes wife, at the time of her husbands apprehē sion,1 had a young child of a quarter old, sucking upon her breast: & when her husband was taken from her, & had away to the Counsel, not knowing what should be come of him, she left the child and all, and gate her up to London, and hearing her husband to be in the Marshalsea, goeth thither. But when she came there, she could in no wise be suffered to see him, which greatly augmented her sorrow. Then by counsel of friends, she gate her to the B. of Winchester (for other help was there none to be had at that time) making great suit to have his licence to go & see her husband, and to help him with such things as he lacked. Nay quoth the B. thy husband is acquainted with all the heretics that be in the Realm,2 both on this side the Sea and beyond, and yet will he utter none of them. Alas my Lord quoth she, my husband was never beyond the seas, nor no great traveller in the Realm to be so acquainted, therefore good my Lord let me go see him. But all her earnest suit from day to day would not help, but still he put her of, harping always upon this string: thy husband will utter nothing. At the last, she finding him in the court at s. James going toward his chamber, was so bold to take him by the ratchet and say: O my Lord, these 18. days I have troubled your Lordship: now for the love of God, and as ever ye came of a woman, put me of no longer, but let me go to my husband.3 And as she was standing with the Bishop & his men, in a blind corner going to his chamber, one of the kings servants called Henry Carrike, and her next neighbour, chanced to be by: & hearing the talk between the B. and her, desired his Lordship to be good Lord unto the poor woman, which had her own mother lying bedrid upon her hands, beside 5. or 6. children. I promise you quoth the B. her husband is a great heretic, & hath read more scripture then any man in the Realm hath done. I cannot tell my Lord, quoth Carrike, what he is inwardly, but outwardly he is as honest a quiet neighbour as ever I dwelt by. He will tell nothing quoth the B. He knoweth a great sort of false harlots, and will not utter them. Yes my Lord quoth Carrike, he will tell, I dare say, for he is an honest man. Well, quoth the B.
MArbeckes wife, at the tyme of her husbands apprehē sion,
(speaking to the wife) thou seemest to be an honest woman, and if thou love thy husband well, go to him, and give him good counsel, to utter such naughty fellows as he knoweth, and I promise thee he shall have what I can do for him: for I do fancy him well for his Art, wherein he had pleased me as well as any man: and so stepping into his chamber, said she should have his letter to the keeper.1 But his mind being changed he sent out his ring by a Gentleman, which Gentleman delivered the ring to his man, charging him with the Bishops message. And so his man went with the woman to the water side, & took boat, who never rested railing on her husband all the way, till they came to the prison: which was no small cross unto the poor woman.
(speaking to the wyfe) thou seemest to be an honest woman, and if thou loue thy husband well, go to him, and geue him good counsayle, to vtter such naughty felowes as he knoweth, and I promise thee he shall haue what I can doe for him: for I doe fansie him well for his Art, wherin he had pleased me as well as any man: and so stepping into his chamber, said she shold haue his letter to the keper.1 But his mynd being changed he sent out his ring by a Gentleman, which Gentleman deliuered the ring to his man, charging him with the Bishops message. And so his man went with the woman to the water side, & tooke boat, who neuer rested rayling on her husband all the way, till they came to ye prison: which was no small crosse vnto the poore woman.
And when they were come to the Marshalsea: the messenger showed the B. ring to the Porter, saying: Master Stokes, my Lord willeth you by this token, that ye suffer this woman to have recourse to her husband: but he straitly chargeth you, that ye search her both coming & going least she bring or carry any letters to or fro, & that she bring no body unto him, nor no word from no man. Gods blood quoth the Porter (who was a foul swearer) what will my Lord have me to do?1 Can I let her to bring word from any man? Either let her go to her husband, or let her not go for I see nothing by him but an honest man. The poor woman fearing to be repulsed, spake the Porter fair, saying: Good master be content, for I have found my Lord very good Lord unto me. This young man is but the Gentleman's servant which brought the ring from my Lord, & I think doth his message a great deal more straiter then my Lord commanded the Gentleman, or that the Gentleman his master commanded him. But nevertheless good M. quoth she, I shall be content to strip my self before you both coming and going,2 so far as any honest woman may do with honesty. For I intend no such thing, but only to comfort and help my husband. Then the Messenger said no more, but went his way, leaving the woman there, who from that time forth, was suffered to come and go at her pleasure.
And when they were come to the Marshalsey: the messenger shewed the B. ring to the Porter, saying: Maister Stokes, my Lord willeth you by this token, that ye suffer this woman to haue recourse to her husband: but he straitly chargeth you, that ye search her both comming & going least she bring or cary any letters to or fro, & that she bryng no body vnto him, nor no word from no mā. Gods bloud quoth the Porter (who was a foule swearer) what wil my Lord haue me to do?1 Can I let her to bring word from any man? Either let her go to her husband, or let her not go for I see nothyng by him but an honest man. The poore woman fearing to be repulsed, spake the Porter faire, saying: Good maister be content, for I haue found my Lorde very good Lord vnto me. This yong man is but the Gentlemans seruant which brought the ring from my Lord, & I thinke doth his message a great deale more straiter then my Lord commanded the Gentleman, or that the Gentleman his maister commanded him. But neuerthelesse good M. quoth she, I shal be content to strip my selfe before you both commyng and goyng,
About a three weeks before Whitsunday, was Marbecke sent for to the B. of London's house,1 where sat in Commission Doctor Capon, Bishop of Salisbury, Doctor Skip Bishop of Hereford, Doct. Goodricke Bishop of Ely, Doct. Okyng, Doct. May, and the Bishop of London's Scribe, having before them all Marbeckes books. Then said the Bishop of Salisbury: Marbecke, we are here in commission sent from the kings majesty, to examine thee of certain things whereof thou must be sworn to answer us faithfully & truly. I am content my lord quoth he, to tell you the truth so far as I can, and so took his oath. Then the Bishop of Salisbury laid forth before him, his 3. books of notes, demanding whose hand they were. He answered they were his own hand, & notes which he had gathered out of other mens works, 6. years ago. For what cause quoth the Bishop of Salisbury diddest thou gather them? For none other cause my Lord, quoth he, but to come by knowledge. For I being unlearned & desirous to understand some part of scripture, thought by reading of learned mens works to come the sooner thereby, & where as I found any place of Scripture opened and expounded by them, that I noted as ye see, with a letter of his name in the margin, that had set out the work. So me think quoth ⟨p. 1217⟩the Bishop of Ely (who had one of the books of notes in his hand all the time of their sitting) thou hast read of all sorts of books both good and bad, as seemeth by the notes. So I have my Lord, quoth he. And to what purpose, quoth the Bishop of Salis. by my truth, quoth he, for no other purpose but to see every mans mind. Then the B. of Salis. drew out a quire of the Concordance, and laid it before the B. of Hereford, who looking upon it a while, lifted up his eyes to D. Oking (standing next him) and said: This man hath ben better occupied, then a great sort of our priests. To the which he made no answer.
ABout a three weekes before Whitsonday, was Marbecke sent for to the B. of Londons house,1 where sat in Commission Doctor Capon, Bishop of Salisbury, Doctor Skyp Bishop of Harford, Doct. Goodricke Bishop of Ely, Doct. Okyng, Doct. May, and the Bishop of Londons Scribe, hauyng before them all Marbeckes bookes. Then sayd the Byshop of Salisbury: Marbecke, we are here in commission sent frō the kings maiesty, to examine thee of certaine things wherof thou must be sworne to answer vs faithfully & truly. I am content my lord quoth he, to tell you the truth so far as I can, and so tooke hys othe. Then the Bishop of Salisbury layd forth before hym, hys 3. bookes of notes, demaunding whose hand they were. He answered they were his owne hand, & notes which he had gathered out of other mens works, 6. yeres ago. For what cause quoth the Byshop of Salisbury diddest thou gather them? For none other cause my Lorde, quoth he, but to come by knowledge. For I being vnlerned & desirous to vnderstād some part of scripture, thought by readyng of lerned mens works to come the sooner therby, & where as I found any place of Scripture opened and expounded by thē, that I noted as ye see, with a letter of his name in the margent, that had set out the worke. So me thinke quoth
