A67927:6138
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] 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 2] 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.
Woodman. I Was fet from the Marshalsea to the said Bishops and Priests,1 sitting in S. Georges Church in Southwark by one of the Marshals men and one of the Sheriffs men, When I came before them, and had done my duty to them as nigh as I could, then said the Bishop of Winchester.
Woodman. I Was fet from the Marshalsea to the sayd Byshops and Priestes,1 sitting in S. Georges Churche in Southwark by one of the Marshals men and one of the Sheriffes mē, When I came before them, and had done my duty to them as nigh as I could, then sayd the Bishop of Winchester.
Winchester. What is your name?
Wood. My name is Richard Woodman forsooth?
Winchester. Ah Woodman, you were taken and apprehended for heresy about a three years agone,1 and were sent to prison in the kings Bench, and there remained a long time. Mine old Lord of Chichester, being a learned famous man well known in this realm of England, and almost throughout all Christendom. I think came to prison to you, and there, and at other places, called you before him divers times, travailing and persuading with you many ways (because he was your Ordinary) to pluck you from your heresies that you held, but he could by no means advertise you. Whereupon you were delivered to the Commissioners and they could do no good with you neither.2 Then they sent you unto my Lord of Lond. My Lord of Lond. calling you before him divers times, labour was made unto him of your friends, that you might be released. My Lord having a good hope in you, that you would become an honest man, because he had heard so of you in times past, yea & you your self promising him that you would go home and recant your heresies that you held, delivered you: sending also a letter of your recantation to the Commissary that he should see it done.3 But as soon as you were out of his hands, you were as bad as ever you were, & would never fulfil your promise, but have hid your self in the woods Bushes, Dens & Caves, and thus have continued ever since, till it was now of late. Then the Sheriff of that Shire (being a worshipful man) hearing thereof, sent certain of his men, & took you in a wood, & so carried you to his house. I cannot tell his name. What is your Sheriffs name?
Winchester. Ah Woodman, you were taken and apprehended for heresie about a three yeares agone,1 and were sente to prison in the kinges Bench, and there remayned a long time. Mine olde Lorde of Chichester, being a learned famous man well knowne in this realme of England, and almost throughout all Christendome. I think came to prison to you, and there, and at other places, called you before him diuers times, trauayling and perswading with you many wayes (because hee was your Ordinary) to plucke you from your heresies that you held, but he coulde by no meanes aduertise you. Wherupon you were deliuered to the Commissioners and they could do no good with you neyther.2 Then they sent you vnto my Lord of Lond. My Lorde of Lond. calling you before him diuers times, labour was made vnto him of your frendes, that you might be released. My Lord hauing a good hope in you, that you woulde become an honest man, because he had heard so of you in tymes past, yea & you your selfe promising him yt you would go home and recant your heresies that you held, deliuered you: sending also a letter of your recantation to the Commissary yt he should see it done.
Wood. Forsooth his name is sir Edward Gage.
Winc. Well, you were apprehended for heresy,1 and being at M. Gages three weeks or more, ye were gently entreated there, he and other Gentlemen persuading with you divers times, little prevailed. Then you appealed to the Bishop of Chichester that now is▪ The Sheriff like a worshipful man sent you to ⟨p. 1998⟩him, and he hath travelled with you, and other also, & can do no good with you, whereupon we have sent for you.
Winc. Well, you were apprehended for heresie,1 and beyng at M. Gages three weekes or more, yee were gentlye entreated there, he and other Gentlemen perswading wyth you diuers tymes, little preuayled. Then you appealed to the Bishop of Chichester that now is▪ The Sheriffe like a worshipfull man sent you to ⟨p. 1998⟩him, and he hath trauelled with you, and other also, & can do no good with you, whereupon we haue sent for you.
Wood. Then I spake to him. For I thought he would be long, before he would make an end. I thought he was a year in telling of those lies that he had told there against me already. Yea I kept silence from good words: but it was great pain and grief unto me (as David said). At length the fire was so kindled within my hart, that I could not choose but speak with my tongue: for I feared least any of the company should have departed or ever I had answered to his lies, and so the Gospel to have been slandered by my long silence keeping. So I spake I praise God therefore, and said: my Lord, I pray you let me now answer for my self, for it is time.
Wood. Then I spake to him. For I thought he would be long, before hee woulde make an end. I thought hee was a yeare in telling of those lyes yt he had told there agaynst me already. Yea I kept silence from good wordes: but it was great payne and griefe vnto me (as Dauid sayd). At length the fire was so kindled within my hart, that I could not chuse but speake with my tongue: for I feared least any of the company shoulde haue departed or euer I had answered to his lyes, and so the Gospell to haue bene sclaundered by my long silence keeping. So I spake I prayse God therefore, and sayd: my Lorde, I pray you let me now answere for my selfe, for it is time.
Winchest. I permit you to answer to these things that I have said.
Winchest. I permit you to answere to these things that I haue sayd.
Wood. I thank God therefore. And I think my self happy (as Paul said when he was brought before king Agrippa) that I may this day answer for my self. My Lord I promise you there is never a word of your sayings true that you have alleged against me.
Wood. I thanke God therfore. And I thinke my self happy (as Paule sayd when hee was brought before king Agrippa) yt I may this day aunswere for my selfe. My Lord I promise you there is neuer a worde of youre sayinges true that you haue alledged agaynst me.
Winch. I can not tell, but thus it is reported of you. As for me, I never did see you before this day: but I am sure it is not all lies that I have said,1 as you report:
Winch. I can not tell, but thus it is reported of you. As for me, I neuer did see you before this day: but I am sure it is not all lyes that I haue sayd,1 as you report:
Wood. Yes my Lord, there is never a true word of that you said. And •urther, where you said you never saw me before this day, you have both heard me, and seen me, I dare say, before this day.
Wood. Yes my Lord, there is neuer a true worde of that you sayd. And •urther, where you sayd you neuer sawe me before this day, you haue both heard me, and seene me, I dare say, before this day.
Winchester. I think I heard you in deed on Sunday where you plaid the malapart •ellow: but I cannot tell that I saw you. But I pray you, were you not taken in the woods by the Sheriffs men?
Winchester. I thinke I heard you in deede on Sondaye where you playd the malapart •ellow: but I cannot tell yt I sawe you. But I pray you, were you not taken in the woodes by the Sheriffes men?
Wood. No sure, I was taken besides my house, I being in my house when they came, wherefore that is not true,
Wood. No sure, I was taken besides my house, I beyng in my house when they came, wherefore that is not true,
Winchester. Were not you at the Sheriffs 3. weeks.
Winchester. Were not you at the Sheriffes 3. weekes.
Wood. Yes that I was, a month just, and was gently entreated of him, I can say no otherwise: for I had meat and drink enough, and fair words.
Wood. Yes that I was, a moneth iust, and was gently entreated of him, I can say no otherwise: for I had meat and drinke inough, and fayre wordes.
Winch. Ah. I am well apaid: it is not all lies then, as it chanced. For I spake, but of three weeks, and you confess a month your self.
Winch. Ah. I am well appayd: it is not all lyes then, as it chaunced. For I spake, but of three weekes, and you confesse a moneth your selfe.
