¶William Sweating, alias Clerk martyr.¶William Sweting, alias Clerke martyr.
pp. 81810 passages
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.
¶William Sweating, alias Clerk martyr.
¶William Sweting, alias Clerke martyr.
1William Sweeting, otherwise named Clerk, first dwelt with the Lady Percy at Dalington in the County of Northampton for a certain space, and from thence went to Boxsted in the County of Essex, where he was the holy water Clerk, the space of seven years: after that was bailiff and farmer to mistress Margery Wood,2 the term of 13. years. From Boxted he departed and came to the town of saint Osithe, where he served the Prior of saint Scythes named George Land, the space of 16. years and more.3 Where he had so turned the Prior by his persuasions, that the said Prior of saint Osithe was afterward compelled to abjure. This William Sweating coming up to London with the foresaid Prior, for suspicion of heresy was committed to the Lollards Tower, under the custody of Charles Joseph, and there being abjured in the Church of saint Paul, was constrained to bear a fagot at Pauls cross, and at Colchester. And afterward to wear a fagot upon his coat all his life. Which he did two years together upon his left sleeve, till at length the person of Colchester required him to help in the service of the Church, and so plucked the badge from his sleeve: and there he remained two years, being the holy water Clerk. From thence afterward departed, and travailing abroad, came to Rederith in the diocese of Winchester, where he was holy water Clerk the space of a year: then went to Chelsith, where he was their neat heard, and kept the town beasts. In the which town upon Saint Annes day in the morning, as he went forth with his beasts to the field, the good man was apprehended & brought before the Bishop: and his chamber searched for books. This was anno. 5511.
1WIlliam Sweeting, otherwise named Clerke, first dwelt with the Ladye Percy at Dalington in the County of Northampton for a certayne space, and from thence went to Boxsted in the County of Essex, where he was the holy water Clerke, the space of seuen yeares: after that was baliffe and fermer to maystres Margerye Wood,