How all their conspiracies were known.: Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable… by John Foxe | AskReformation

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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.By John FoxeAt London : Imprinted by John Daye, dwelling over Aldersgate beneath S. Martins, An. 1583. Mens. Octobr.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.By John FoxeAt London : Imprinted by Iohn Daye, dwellyng ouer Aldersgate beneath S. Martins, An. 1583. Mens. Octobr.Title page of Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…, London, 1583Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…

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How all their conspiracies were known.

How all their conspiracies were knowen.

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YE have heard before of one Robert Bennet, how he was at the first apprehended with the other four persons aforesaid, and committed to the B. of London's prison, and about the time he should have gone to Windsor, fell sick of the pestilence, by mean whereof he remained still in prison.

YE haue hearde before of one Robert Bennet, howe hee was at the first apprehended wyth the other foure persons aforesayd, and committed to the B. of Londons pryson, and aboute the tyme hee shoulde haue gone to Wyndsore, fell sicke of the pestilence, by meane whereof he remained still in prison.

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This Bennet, & Symons (ye shall understand) were the greatest familiars and company keepers that were in all Windsor, & never (lightly) swerved the one from the other,¹ saving in matters of religion, wherein they could never agree. For Bennet the one Lawyer, was an earnest Gospeller, & Simons the other Lawyer, a cankered papist: but in all other worldly matters, they cleaved together like burrs.

This Bennet, & Symons (ye shall vnderstād) were the greatest familiars and cōpany kepers yt were in all Windsore, & neuer (lightly) swarued the one frō the other,¹ sauing in matters of religiō, wherin they could neuer agree. For Bennet the one Lawyer, was an earnest Gospeller, & Simons the other Lawyer, a cankered papist: but in al other worldly matters, they cleaued together like burres.

1[…]〈…〉

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This Bennet had spoken certain words against their little round God, for the which he was as far in ⟨p. 1221⟩as the best, and had suffered death with the other, if he had gone to Windsor when they went.¹ And now that the matter was all done and finished, it was determined by the bishop of Salisbury, that Robert Ockam on the Monday after the men were burnt should go to the Bishop of Winchester with the whole process done at the Sessions the Thursday before.

Thys Bennet had spoken certayne woordes agaynst theyr little rounde God, for the whych hee was as farre in ⟨p. 1221⟩as the best, and had suffered death wyth the other, if he had gone to Windsore when they went.¹ And now that the mater was al done and finished, it was determined by the bishop of Salisburye, that Robert Ockam on the Mondaye after the men were burnte shoulde goe to the Byshop of Winchester wyth the whole processe done at the Sessions the Thursday before.

1R. Occam […] up by the bishop of Salisbury and by other• to Gardiner with letters.R. Oc•am 〈…〉 vp by the bi•hop of Salisbury and by other• to Gardiner with letters.

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Then Symons, at Bennets wives request, procured of the bishop of Salisbury his favourable letter to the bishop of Winchester for Bennets deliverance. Which letter Bennets wife (forasmuch as her own man was not at home, which should have gone with the letter) desired Robert Ockam to deliver it to the Bishop, & to bring her word again: who said he would. So forth went Ockam toward the bishop of Winchester with his budget full of writings, to declare and open all things unto him that were done at Windsor Sessions:¹ but all their wicked intents (as God would have it) were soon cut off, and their doings disclosed. For one of the Queens men (named Fulke) which had lien at Windsor all the time of the business, and had got knowledge what a number were privily indited, and of Ockam's going to the bishop of Winchester, gate to the Court before Ockam, and told sir Thomas Cardine & other of the privy chamber, how all the matter stood. Whereupon Ockam was laid for and had by the back, as soon as he came to Oking, and kept from the bishop.

Then Symons, at Bennets wiues request, procured of the byshop of Salisbury his fauourable letter to the byshop of Winchester for Bennets deliuerance. Which letter Bennets wife (for asmuche as her owne man was not at home, which should haue gone with the letter) desired Robert Ockam to deliuer it to ye Bishop, & to bring her word againe: who sayde hee woulde. So foorth went Ockam toward the bishop of Winchester with his budget ful of wrytings, to declare and open all thyngs vnto hym that were done at Wyndsore Sessions:¹ but all theyr wicked intentes (as God wold haue it) were soone cut off, and their doings disclosed. For one of the Queenes menne (named Fulke) which had lien at Windsore all the time of the busines, and had got knowledge what a number were priuily indited, and of Ockams going to the bishop of Winchester, gate to the Court before Ockam, and told sir Thomas Cardine & other of the priuy chamber, how al the matter stode. Wherupon Ockam was layde for and had by the backe, as soone as he came to Oking, and kepte from the byshop.

1The conspiracy of the […] disclosed. Many good men▪ and certain of the […] chamber, indited by the Bishops.The conspiracie of the disclosed. Many good men and certayne of the chamber, indited by the Byshops.

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On the next morrow very early, Bennets wife sent her man to the Court after Ockam, to see how he sped with her husbands letter. And when he came there, he found sir Thomas Cardine walking with Ockam up and down the green before the Court gate: whereat he marvelled, to see Ockam with him so early, mistrusting the matter: whereupon he kept himself out of sight, till they had broken off their communication.

On the next morrowe very early, Bennets wyfe sent her man to the Courte after Ockam, to see howe he spedde with her husbandes letter. And when hee came there, hee founde sir Thomas Cardine walking wyth Ockam vppe and downe the greene before the Courte gate: whereat he marueled, to see Ockam with him so early, mistrusting the matter: whereuppon he kept himselfe out of sight, till they had broken off theyr communication.

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And as soon as he saw M. Cardine gone (leaving Ockam behind) he went to Ockam and asked him, if he had delivered his masters letter to the Bishop. No, said Ockam, the king removeth this day to Guildford, and I must go thither, and will deliver it there. Mary, quoth he, and I will go with you, to see what answer you shall have, and to carry word to my mistress, and so they rode to Guildford together. Where Bennets man (being better acquainted in the town then Ockam was) gat a lodging for them both, in a kinsman's house of his.

And assoone as he saw M. Cardine gone (leauing Ockam behinde) he went to Ockam and asked hym, if hee had deliuered hys maisters letter to the Bishop. No, sayd Ockam, the king remooueth thys day to Gilforde, and I must goe thether, and will deliuer it there. Mary, quoth hee, and I will goe with you, to see what aunswere you shall haue, and to carie woord to my mistres, and so they rode to Gilford together. Where Bennets man (being better acquainted in the towne then Ockam was) gat a lodging for them both, in a kinsmans house of hys.

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That done, he asked Ockam, if he would go and deliver his mistress letter to the Bishop.¹ Nay (said Ockam) you shall go and deliver it your self, and took him the letter. And as they were going in the street togethers, and coming by the Earle of Bedford's lodging (then Lord privy seal) Ockam was pulled in by the sleeve, & no more seen of Bennets man, till he saw him in the Marshalsea. Then went Bennets man to the bishops lodging and delivered his letter. And when the Bishop had red the contents thereof, he called for the man that brought it. Come Sirrah, quoth he, you can tell me more by mouth, then the letter specifieth, & had him into a little garden. Now, quoth the Bishop, what say you to me? Forsooth my Lord, quoth he, I have nothing to say unto your Lordship, for I did not bring the letter to the Town. No quoth the Bishop, where is he that brought it? Forsooth my Lord quoth he, I left him busy at his lodging. Then he will come, quoth the Bishop. Bid him be with me betimes in the morning. I will quoth he,² do your lordships commandment, and so he departed home to his lodging. And when his kinsfolks saw him come in, alas cousin, quoth they, we are all undone. Why so, quoth he, what is the matter? Oh said they, here hath been since you went, M. Padget the kings secretary, with sir Tho. Cardine of the privy chamber, and searched all our house for one that should come to the town with Ockam: therefore make shift for your self as soon as you can. Is that all the matter, quoth he? then content your self, for I will never flee one foot, hap what hap will. And as they were thus reasoning together, in came the foresaid searchers again, & when M. Cardine saw Bennets man, he knew him very well, & said: was it thou that came to the town with Ockam? Yea sir, quoth he. Now who the devil (quoth M. Cardine) brought thee in company with that false knave? Then he told them his business, and the cause of his coming, which being known, they were satisfied, and so departed. The next day had Bennets man a discharge, for his master (procured by certain of the privy chamber) and so went home.

That done, he asked Ockam, if he would goe and deliuer his mistres letter to the Byshop.¹ Nay (sayde Ockam) you shall go and deliuer it your selfe, and tooke him the letter. And as they were goynge in the streate togethers, and comming by the Earle of Bedfordes lodging (then Lorde priuie seale) Ockam was pulled in by the sleeue, & no more seene of Bennets man, till he sawe him in the Marshalsey. Then went Bennets man to the bishops lodging and deliuered hys letter. And when the Byshop had red the contentes thereof, he called for the man that brought it. Come Syrha, quoth he, you can tell me more by mouth, then the letter specifieth, & had hym into a litle garden. Now, quoth the Bishop, what say you to me? Forsoth my Lorde, quoth he, I haue nothing to say vnto your Lordshippe, for I did not bryng the letter to the Towne. No quoth the Byshop, where is he that brought it? Forsoth my Lorde quoth he, I left him busie at his lodging. Then he wil come, quoth the Byshop. Bid him be wyth me betimes in the mornyng. I wil quoth he,

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Now was Ockam all this while at my Lord privy Seals, where he was kept secret, till certain of the Counsel had perused all his writings, among the which they found certain of the privy Chamber indited, with other the kings Officers, with their wives, that is to say, Sir Tho. Cardine, sir Phillip Hobby, with both their Ladies. M. Edmund Harman, M. Thomas Weldon, with Snowball and his wife.¹ All these they had indited by the force of the 6. Articles, as aiders, helpers, and maintainers of Anthony Person. And beside them, they had indited of heresy (some for one thing, and some for an other) a great number moe of the Kings true and faithful subjects. Whereof the kings Majesty being certified, his grace of his special goodness (without the suit of any man) gave to the foresaid Gentlemen of his privy Chamber, and other his servants with their wives, his gracious pardon. And as God would have the matter further known unto his majesty, as he road one day a hunting in Guildford Park, and saw the Sheriff with sir Humphrey Foster sitting on their horse backs together, he called them unto him, & asked of them, how his laws was executed at Windsor: Then they beseeching his grace of pardon, told him plainly that in all their lives they never sate on matter under his graces authority, that went so much against their consciences, as the death of these men did, and up and told his grace so pitiful a tale of the casting away of these poor men, that the King turning his horse head to depart from them, said: Alas poor Innocents.

Nowe was Ockam all this while at my Lorde priuie Seales, where he was kept secret, til certaine of the Counsaile had perused all his wrytings, amonge the which they found certaine of the priuie Chamber indited, wt other the kings Officers, with their wiues, that is to say, Sir Tho. Cardine, sir Phillip Hobby, wyth both theyr Ladies. M. Edmund Harman, M. Thomas Weldone, wyth Snowball and hys wife.¹ All these they had indited by the force of the 6. Articles, as aiders, helpers, and maintainers of Anthony Person. And beside them, they had indited of heresie (some for one thing, and some for an other) a great nomber moe of the Kings true and faithfull subiects. Whereof the kings Maiestie beynge certified, hys grace of hys speciall goodnes (without the sute of any man) gaue to the foresayd Gentlemen of his priuie Chamber, and other his seruants with theyr wiues, hys gracious pardō. And as God wold haue the matter further knowen vnto hys maiestie, as hee roade one day a huntinge in Gilforde Parke, and sawe the Sheriffe wyth syr Humfrey Foster sitting on theyr horse backes together, he called them vnto him, & asked of them, how hys lawes was executed at Windsore: Then they beseching hys grace of pardon, tolde hym plainely that in all theyr liues they neuer sate on matter vnder his graces authoritie, that went somuch against theyr consciences, as the death of these men did, and vp and told hys grace so pitiful a tale of the casting away of these poore men, that the King turning hys horsehead to departe from them, sayde: Alasse poore Innocents.

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After this,¹ the king withdrew his favour from the B. of Winchester, & being more and more informed of the conspiracy of doctor London and Symons, he commanded certain of his counsel, to search out the ground thereof.

After thys,¹ the king withdrew hys fauour from the B. of Winchester, & being more and more enformed of the conspiracie of doctor London and Symons, he commaunded certaine of his counsaile, to search out the ground thereof.

1The Bishop of winchester out of the kings favour. D. London, W. Simons and R. Ockam, apprehended & condemned of perjury.The Bishop of wynchester out of the kinges fauour. D. London, W. Simons and R. Ockam, apprehended & condemned of periury.

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Whereupon Doctor London and Symons were apprehended and brought before the Counsel, and examined upon their oath of allegiance. And for denying their mischievous and traitorous purpose, which was manifestly proved to their faces, they were both perjured, and in fine, adjudged as perjured persons, to wear papers in Windsor, and Ockam to stand upon them pillory in the town of Newbury where he was borne▪

Whereupon Doctour London and Symons were apprehended and brought before the Counsail, and examined vpon their othe of allegeaunce. And for denying their mischeuous and traiterous purpose, whiche was manifestlye proued to theyr faces, they were both periured, and in fine, adiudged as periured persons, to weare papers in Wyndsore, and Ockam to stand vpon thē pillerie in the towne of Newbery where he was borne▪

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The judgement of all these 3. was to ride about Windsor, Reading and Newbury, with papers on their heads,¹ and their faces turned to the horse tales, & so to stand upon the Pillory in every of these Townes, for false accusation of the forenamed Martyrs, and for perjury.

The iudgemēt of all these 3. was to ride about Windsore, Reading and Newbery, with papers on their heads,¹ and theyr faces turned to the horse tales, & so to stand vpon the Pillerye in euery of these Townes, for false accusation of the forenamed Martyrs, and for periurie.

1The punishment of D. London, W. Symons, and of R. Ockam, for false accusation and periury. Ex testimonio Joan. Marbeck• ▪The punishmēt of D. London, W. Symons, and of R. Ockam, for false accusation and periury. Ex testimonio Ioan. Marbeck• ▪

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And thus much touching the persecution of these good Saints of Windsor, according to the copy of their own acts, received and written by John Marbecke, who is yet alive, both a present witness, and also was then a party of the said doings, and can testify the truth thereof.

And thus much touching the persecution of these good Saintes of Windsore, according to the copie of their owne acts, receiued and wrytten by Iohn Marbecke, who is yet aliue, both a present witnes, and also was then a partye of the sayd doings, and can testifie the truth thereof.