all meekness obeyed. Master Ridley took his gown and his tippet, and
gave it to his brother in law master Shipside, who all his time of
imprisonment, although he might not be suffered to come to him, lay
there at his own charges to provide him necessaries, which from time to
time he sent him by the serjeant that kept him. Some other of his
apparel that was little worth, he gave away: other the bailiffs took.
He gave away besides, divers other small things to gentlemen standing
by, and divers of them pitifully weeping, as to Sir Henry Lea he gave a
new groat: and to divers of my lord Williams’s gentlemen some napkins,
some nutmegs, and rases of ginger: his dial, and such other things as he
had about him, to every one that stood next him. Some plucked the points
off his hose. Happy was he that might get any rag of him.
Master Latimer gave nothing, but very quietly suffered his keeper to
pull off his hose, and his other array, which to look unto was very
simple: and being stripped into his shroud, he seemed as comely a person
to them that were there present, as one should lightly see; and whereas
in his clothes he appeared a withered and crooked silly old man, he now
stood bolt upright, as comely a father as one might lightly behold.
Then master Ridley standing as yet in his truss, said to his brother,
“It were best for me to go in my truss still.” “No,” quoth his brother,
“it will put you to more pain; and the truss will do a poor man good.”
Whereunto master Ridley said, “Be it, in the name of God”; and so
unlaced himself. Then, being in his shirt, he stood upon the foresaid
stone, and held up his hand and said, “O heavenly Father, I give unto
thee most hearty thanks, for that thou hast called me to be a professor
of thee, even unto death: I beseech thee, Lord God, take mercy upon this
realm of England, and deliver the same from all her enemies.”
Then the smith took a chain of iron, and brought the same about both Dr.
Ridley’s and master Latimer’s middles: and, as he was knocking in a
staple, Dr. Ridley took the chain in his hand, and shaked the same for
it did gird in his belly, and looking aside to the smith, said, “Good
fellow, knock it in hard, for the flesh will have his course.” Then his
brother did bring him gunpowder in a bag, and would have tied the same
about his neck. Master Ridley asked, what it was. His brother said,
“Gunpowder.” “Then,” said he, “I take it to be sent of God; therefore I
will receive it as sent of him. And have you any,” said he, “for my
brother?” meaning my master Latimer. “Yea, sir, that I have,” quoth his
brother. “Then give it unto him,” said he, “betime; lest ye come too
late.” So his brother went, and carried of the same gunpowder unto
master Latimer.
In the meantime Dr. Ridley spake unto my lord Williams, and said, “My
lord, I must be a suitor unto your lordship in the behalf of divers poor
men, and especially in the cause of my poor sister: I have made a
supplication to the queen’s majesty in their behalfs. I beseech your
lordship, for Christ’s sake, to be a mean to her grace for them. My
brother here hath the supplication, and will resort to your lordship to
certify you hereof. There is nothing in all the world that troubleth my
conscience, I praise God, this only excepted. Whilst I was in the see of
London, divers poor men took leases of me, and agreed with me for the
same. Now I hear say the bishop that now occupieth the same room will
not allow my grants unto them made, but, contrary unto all law and
conscience, hath taken from them their livings, and will not suffer them
to enjoy the same. I beseech you, my lord, be a mean for them: you shall
do a good deed, and God will reward you.”
Then they brought a faggot, kindled with fire, and laid the same down at
Dr. Ridley’s feet. To whom master Latimer spoke in this manner: “Be of
good comfort, master Ridley, and play the man. We shall this day light
such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put
out.”
And so the fire being given unto them, when Dr. Ridley saw the fire
flaming up towards him, he cried with a wonderful loud voice, “In manus
tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum: Domine recipe spiritum meum.” And
after, repeated this latter part often in English, “Lord, Lord, receive
my spirit”; master Latimer, crying as vehemently on the other side, “O
Father of heaven, receive my soul!” who received the flame as it were
embracing of it. After that he had stroked his face with his hands, and
as it were bathed them a little in the fire, he soon died (as it
appeareth) with very little pain or none. And thus much concerning the
end of this old and blessed servant of God, master Latimer, for whose
laborious travails, fruitful life, and constant death, the whole realm
hath cause to give great thanks to Almighty God.
But master Ridley, by reason of the evil making of the fire unto him,
because the wooden faggots were laid about the gorse and over-high
built, the first burnt first beneath, being kept down by the wood; which
when he felt, he desired them for Christ’s sake to let the fire come
unto him. Which when his brother-in-law heard, but not well understood,
intending to rid him out of his pain (for the which cause he gave
attendance) as one in such sorrow not well advised what he did, heaped
faggots upon him, so that he clean covered him, which made the fire more
vehement beneath that it burned clean all his nether parts, before it
once touched the upper; and that made him leap up and down under the
faggots, and often desire them to let the fire come unto him, saying; “I
cannot burn.” Which indeed appeared well; for, after his legs were
consumed by reason of his struggling through the pain (whereof he had no
release, but only his contentation in God) he showed that side toward us
clean, shirt and all untouched with flame. Yet in all this torment he
forgot not to call unto God still, having in his mouth, “God have mercy
upon me,” intermingling his cry, “Let the fire come unto me, I cannot
burn.” In which pangs he laboured until one of the standers by with his
bill pulled off the faggots above, and where he saw the fire flame up he
wrested himself unto that side. And when the flame touched the gunpowder
he was seen to stir no more, but burned on the other side, falling down
at Master Latimer’s feet, which, some said, happened by reason that the
chain loosed; others said, that he fell over the chain by reason of the
poise of his body, and the weakness of the nether limbs.
Some said, that before he was like to fall from the stake, he desired
them to hold him to it with their bills. However it was, surely it moved
hundreds to tears, in beholding the horrible sight; for I think there
was none that had not clean exiled all humanity and mercy, which would
not have lamented to behold the fury of the fire so as to rage upon
their bodies. Signs there were of sorrow on every side. Some took it
grievously to see their deaths, whose lives they held full dear: some
pitied their persons, that thought their souls had no need thereof. His
brother moved many men, seeing his miserable case, seeing (I say) him
compelled to such infelicity, that he thought then to do him best
service, when he hastened his end. Some cried out of the fortune, to
see his endeavour (who most dearly loved him, and sought his release)
turn to his greater vexation and increase of pain. But whoso considered
their preferments in time past, the places of honour that they some time
occupied in this commonwealth, the favour they were in with their
princes, and the opinion of learning they had in the university where
they studied, could not choose but sorrow with tears, to see so great
dignity, honour and estimation, so necessary members sometime accounted,
so many godly virtues, the study of so many years, such excellent
learning, to be put into the fire, and consumed in one moment. Well!
dead they are, and the reward of this world they have already. What
reward remaineth for them in heaven, the day of the Lord’s glory, when
he cometh with his saints, shall shortly, I trust, declare.
INTERROGATORIES TO CHURCHWARDENS (1558).
=Source.=--Quarto (title as below), British Museum (Huth Bequest, 33).
INTERROGATORIES,
upon which and everye part of the same, aswell the Churchwardens now
being, as also all other hereafter to be appointed, shalbe charged
withal, set foorth by the kyng and Quenes Majesties Commissioners for
searche, inquiry, and certificat to be had of al such things as now be,
or hereafter shalbe amysse in anye wyse concernyng the Commission to
them geven, upon whych certificat duelye made, reformation and redresse
shall be had thereof wyth all convenient speede and diligence. _Anno
1558. Mense Aprilis._
First if there be within theyr parishe a Parson, Vicar or Curat,
resident continuallie upon his benefice and cure, doyng his dutye there
as he is bound to do in al things, especially in preaching, saying
Matins, Masse, and Evensonge at due tyme....
ii. Item whether the said Parson, Vicar, or Curat, have been heretofore
maried or no, and if he continue with his woman or either of them
suspiciouslye doo resorte to other.
iii. Item whether within the said parish there be openly or secretly any
maried priest, or any woman heretofore maried to a priest, and whether
they be suspected of any evell rule and evel conversation or no....
iv. Item whether there be within the said parish any that doth maintayne
or uphold the opinion that priestes and religious persones may lawfullye
be maryed and continue together.
v. Item whether there be within your parish any prieste that taketh upon
hym to serve the cure, not being before examined and allowed thereto by
th’ordinary, and whether the said priest hath in the tyme of the late
scisme here in the realme preached heresy or evil doctrine, and not
recanted the same, or doth not now preache and sette forth the true
doctrine of the catholike church, and also pray for the three estates of
the catholike churche, and especiallye for the Kynge and Quenes
Majesties, and also whether, prayinge for the thyrd estate, they do name
Purgatorye or no.
vi. Item whether there be within the sayde parishe any that do
obstinately persist and stande in any heresie or hereticall opinion, or
be suspected of erronious and false doctrine, or a favorer, mainteiner
or aider of any erronious or hereticall person or persones, or of any
heresies or hereticall opinions or noughty doctrine.
vii. Item whether you know or have heard say of any person or persones
within your said parish that hath kept, or at this present doth kepe,
any hereticall, noughtye, or sedicious erronious booke or bookes,
especially english testamentes or Bibles falsely translated, secretlye
or otherwise, and whether ye have any suspectes thereof.
viii. Item whether ye knowe or have hearde of anye Prynters or
Bookesellers wythin youre Parishe that hath solde, or now doth sell or
keepe anye the sayde hereticall, nawghtye, or sedicious booke or bookes,
letters or wrytynges, and whether ye have any suspectes thereof.
ix. Item whether ye knowe or have hearde saye of anye person or
persones within your Parishe, that wyllynglye or obstinatelye dothe
neglecte or refuse to make theyr confession to the Priest, and to
receyve absolution and penaunce at hys hande for hys offences, or
obstinatelye or wyllynglye do refuse to receyve the Sacramente of the
Aultare, or extreme Unction, in extreme daunger of syckenesse, or to
heare Masse, or to come to hys Paryshe Churche, or refuse to go on
Procession, or to take Holywater, or otherwyse doo mysuse them selves in
breaking the Rytes and Ceremonyes of the Catholyque Churche, speciallye
in fastynge on the Ember dayes and other dayes by the Churche speciallye
appoynted, or in prayinge, or other suche lyke.
x. Item whether ye knowe or have hearde of anye person or persones
wythin your Paryshe that have murmured, grudged, or spoken directlye or
indirectlye agaynste the Masse, or ... holye breade, holy water, ashes,
palmes, creping to the crosse, holye Oyle and Chrisme, bearyng of Palmes
or Candelles, buryinge of the deade, or praying for them, speciallye in
sayinge of Diriges and Commendations, or in usinge anye other laudable
or Godlye Ceremonye or usage of the Churche.
xi. Item whether there be within your Paryshe anye that dothe favoure,
or is suspected to ... receyve any noughty person or persones,
especiallye to rede the english service used in the time of King Edwarde
the sixte, or the booke of Communion, or anye booke prohibited or
forbydden to be redde or taught, or to set forth any noughtye opinion or
doctrine.
xii. Item whether there be within the sayde parish any privie lectures
or sermons, or other devises, or anye unlawfull conventicles or
assembles.
xiii. Item whether there be within the sayde parishe any that at the
sacring time of the Masse dothe hange downe theyr heades, or hyde them
selves behinde pillers, or turneth away their faces, or departeth out of
the church, because they woulde not looke upon the blessed sacrament of
the Aultare.
xiv. Item whether ye knowe or have hearde saye of any person or
persones within your parishe that have committed Lollardie, as in
eatynge of fleshe at dayes and times forbydden, or otherwise practising
or allowinge anye the opinions of the Lollardes.
xv. Item whether there be within the sayde parish any person, man, woman
or childe, being of sufficient age and discretion, that can not saye
theyr _Pater noster_, _Ave Maria_, and the Crede.
xvi. Item whether there be within your parish any schole master or
scolemastresse ... not beyng first examined and admitted thereunto by
th’ordinarie or his sufficiet deputie, and whether the said scolemaster
and scolemaistresse be sound in religion, and of honest lyving and
discrete behaviour, causing theyr scholers to fast, to praye, to come to
the church, and to do theyr duties there, specially in hearing Masse and
other divine service, and whether they teache them to helpe the Priest
to Masse, and to saye their _Pater noster_, the _Ave Maria_, and the
Crede with _De profundis_ for all Christen soules, and whether the
scholes, especially being commen,[12] be faithfully and diligently kept
or no.
xvii. Item whether there be within the sayde Parish any that do absent
themselves willynglie from the churche....
xviii. Item whether you knowe or have hearde of any in your parishe,
that have bene, or is, a scold or a slaunderous person of his
neighbours, or a sower of discorde and debate betwene partye and
partie....
* * * * *
xx. Item whether ye knowe or have heard saye of any concelementes,
contempts, conspiracies, false rumors, tales, sedicions, misbehaviours,
slaunderous woordes, bruited or spred by anye person or persones against
the King and Quenes Majesties, or either of them, or agaynst the quiet
rule and governaunce of theyr subjectes or realmes.
xxi. Item whether the Patrones and other having advowsons of benefices
have sincerly, truly, and justly presented in due time....
xxii. Item whether you know of anye Patrones or other having advowsons,
that have ... covenanted or agreed ... to have anye summe of money for
the same....
xxiii. Item whether ye know any Patrones or other having such advowsons,
or any other persone that of his owne private authoritie and pleasure
have pulled downe any church, chappel, or other ecclesiastical
buildinge, or have taken away the lead, belles, ornaments, goodes, or
landes of the said places, or anye of them, or spoyled anye of the same,
or have converted the tithes profites, commodities, revenues and
possessions of anye of the same to his owne private and prophane use.
* * * * *
xxvi. Item whether within the saide parishe there be any woman that doth
exercise th’ office or room of a Midwyfe, not beyng before examined and
admitted thereto by th’ ordinary or his sufficient deputy....
xxvii. Item whether the said Midwife have heretofore bene, and now is,
catholike, faithfull, discrete, sober and diligent....
xxviii. Item whether the saide woman ... do use any Witchecraft ... or
do omit or alter the laudable rytes and ceremonies accustomed and used
of antiquitie.
xxix. Item whether the said midwife or other woman denieth or letteth
the newe borne childe to be brought to the church....
* * * * *
xxxii. Item whether within your said parishe there be a roode and a
roode loft, having the images of Mary and John, and lightes before the
same, and whether in the Lente season there be a covering for the saide
Crucifixe[13] decentlye provided, and whether there be any lightes upon
the high Aultare, and whether there be an image of the patrone of the
church or no.
xxxiii. Item whether there be any inventory made and kept of the church
goodes, and a book concerning the registringe of those that are
baptized, maried, or buryed.
xxxiv. Item whether the vestimentes for the priests and other ministers,
and al the ornamentes for and about the altar, be kept clene and
sufficiently repayred and maintained ... and whether there be a comely
pixe to kepe the blessed sacrament in and upon the high Aultar ... and
whether the blessed sacrament be caryed decentlye and devoutlye to the
sicke, the Clerke goynge before the Prieste in a surplesse with lighte
in his hand, and a little sacring bell ringing.
xxxv. Item whether the church or chauncel of your parish be in ruine or
decay....
xxxvi. Item whether there have bene or be anye legacies or gyftes made
for the repayringe and mayntenaunce of your church, or of highwaies,
finding of the poore, marying of poore Maydens, or anye suche like, and
the same not payde and aunswered accordingly.
* * * * *
xxxviii. Item whether ye knowe of anye man that hath two wives living,
or of anye woman that hath two husbandes lyving, no lawfull divorce
beyng made betwene them.
xxxix. Item whether you know of any usurers....
* * * * *
xlii. Item whether suche as can not reade upon the booke have everye one
of them a payre of beades, and doo use the same devoutlye and
accordingly.
xliii. Item whether anye Minstrels or anye other persons do use to syng
or say any songes or ditties that be uncleane or vile, especiallye
against any of the vii Sacraments, or against any the rites and
ceremonies of this Churche of Englande, whyche is a notable member of
Christes catholike Churche.
xliv. Item whether any do deprave or contempne the auctoritie or
jurisdiction of the Popes holynes or the see of Rome....
xlv. Item whether any playes or interludes not beyng first examined,
allowed, and approved by th’ordinary, are used at any tyme, especiallye
in the Lent, or upon Sondaies or holydaies....
xlvi. Item whether there be any that doth use to buy and sel upon the
sundayes or holydayes....
xlvii. Item whether ye have procured or consented in any wyse that
duryng anye part of the Sermon made at Paules Crosse there shoulde be
ryngyng of belles, playing of Children, cryinge or making lowde noyse,
ryding of horses, or otherwyse, so that the Preacher there or his
audience was troubled thereby....
xlviii. Item whether ye do know, or crediblye have heard that within any
part of the citye of London there hath bene any set tables kept for such
as woulde thyther resorte to eate and drynke, and whether it be not used
at the said tables to have Diner and supper upon the Fryday and Embryng
dayes, and all other dayes, as well within the Lent time as without, or
whether there be at the saide tables any flesh eaten at times
prohibited.
FINIS.
Imprinted at
London by Robart Caly, wythin
the precinct of Christes Hospitall.
The vi. day of Aprill.
MDLVIII.
Cum privilegio ad imprimendum
solum.
PRESBYTERIAN DEMANDS (1572).
=Source.=--_An Admonition to the Parliament._ By John Field and Thomas
Wilcox, 1572.
Seeing that nothing in this mortal life is more diligently to be sought
for and carefully to be looked unto than the restitution of true
religion and reformation of God’s church: it shall be your parts (dearly
beloved) in this present Parliament assembled, as much as in you lieth
to promote the same, and to employ your whole labour and study, not only
in abandoning all popish remnants both in ceremonies and regiment,[14]
but also in bringing in and placing in God’s church those things only
which the Lord Himself in His word commandeth.... May it therefore
please your wisdoms to understand, we in England are so far off from
having a church rightly reformed according to the prescript of God’s
word, that as yet we are not come to the outward face of the same....
For ... now by the letters commendatory of some one man, noble or other,
tag and rag, learned and unlearned, of the basest sort of people ... are
freely received. In those days[15] no idolatrous sacrificers or
heathenish priests were appointed to be preachers of the Gospel: but we
allow, and like well, of popish mass-mongers, men for all seasons, King
Henry’s priests, King Edward’s priests, Queen Mary’s priests, who of a
truth (if God’s word were precisely followed) should from the same be
utterly removed.... Then[15] election was made by the common consent of
the whole church: now everyone picketh out for himself some notable good
benefice, he obtaineth the next advowson by money or by favour, and so
thinketh himself to be sufficiently chosen.... Then it was painful: now
gainful. Then poor and ignominious, now rich and glorious. And therefore
titles, livings, and offices by Antichrist devised are given to them, as
Metropolitan, Archbishop, Lord’s Grace, Lord Bishop, Suffragan, Dean,
Archdeacon, Prelate of the Garter, Earl, County Palatine, Honour, High
Commissioners, Justices of Peace and Quorum, etc. All which, together
with their offices, as they are strange and unheard of in Christ’s
Church, nay, plainly in God’s word forbidden, so are they utterly with
speed out of the same to be removed.... Your wisdoms have to remove
Advowsons, Patronages, Impropriations, and Bishops’ authority, claiming
to themselves thereby right to ordain ministers, and to bring in that
old and true election, which was accustomed to be made by the
congregation.... Appoint to every congregation a learned and diligent
preacher. Remove Homilies, Articles, Injunctions, a prescript order of
service made out of the mass-book. Take away the Lordship, the
loitering, the pomp, the idleness and livings of Bishops....
The officers that have to deal in this charge [ecclesiastical
discipline] are chiefly three, ministers, preachers or pastors, of whom
before; Seniors or Elders;[16] and Deacons. Concerning Seniors, not only
their office but their name also is out of this English church utterly
removed. Their office was to govern the church with the rest of the
ministers.... Instead of these Seniors in every church, the pope hath
brought in and we yet maintain the Lordship of one man over many
churches, yea, over sundry shires.... Touching Deacons, though their
names be remaining, yet is the office foully perverted and turned upside
down; for their duty in the primitive church was to gather the alms
diligently, and to distribute it faithfully.... Now it is the first step
to the ministry, nay rather a mere order of priesthood....
To these three jointly, that is the Ministers, Seniors and Deacons, is
the whole regiment of the church to be committed.... Not that we mean to
take away the authority of the civil Magistrate and chief Governor, to
whom we wish all blessedness, and for the increase of whose godliness we
daily pray: but that, Christ being restored into his kingdom, to rule in
the same by the sceptre of his word and severe discipline, the Prince
may be better obeyed....
Amend therefore these horrible abuses and reform God’s church, and the
Lord is on your right hand.... Is a reformation good for France? and can
it be evil for England? Is discipline meet for Scotland? and is it
unprofitable for this realm? Surely God hath set these examples before
your eyes, to encourage you to go forward to a thorough and a speedy
reformation. You may not do as heretofore you have done, patch and
piece, nay rather go backward and never labour or contend to perfection.
But altogether remove whole Antichrist, both head, body and branch, and
perfectly plant that purity of the word, that simplicity of the
sacraments, and severity of discipline, which Christ hath commended and
commanded to His church.
THE ANGLICAN POSITION (1572).