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Mary.

A.D. 1555.

Morgan taken up for halt

ing.

Harpsfield and Cosins depart.

Christian

truth called heresy.

The Holy

Philpot :- -"Thou hast the spirit of illusion and sophistry, which is not able to countervail the Spirit of Truth. Thou art but an ass in the true understanding of things appertaining unto God. I call thee ass, not in respect of malice, but in that thou kickest against the truth, and art void of all godly understanding, not able to answer to that thou braggest in."

Morgan

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Why have I not answered thee in all things thou hast said unto me? I take them to record."

Philpot :-"Ask of my fellow whether I be a thief!"

Cosins:-" Hark, he maketh us all thieves."

Philpot::—“You know that phrase of the proverb, that like will hold with like. And I am sure you will not judge with me, against him, speak I never so true; and in this sense I speak it. The strongest answer that he hath made against me is, that you will burn me."

Why, we do not burn you; it is the temporal men that burn

Morgan:
you, and not we!"

Philpot :- -"Thus you would, as Pilate did, wash your hands of all your wicked doings. But I pray you, call upon the secular power,2 to be executioners of your unrighteous judgments. And have you not a title in your law, 'to burn heretics?" "3

Harpsfield :-"I have heard you both a good while reason together, and I never heard so stout a heretic as you are, master Philpot."

Cosins:"Neither I, in all my life."

Philpot :-"You are not able to prove me a heretic, by one jot of God's word."

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Harpsfield :-"You have the spirit of arrogancy; I will reason with you no more. And so he was departing, and master Cosins also. And with that the bishop and Christopherson came in again, and said:

Bonner:-"
:-"Master doctor, how do this man and you agree?"

Morgan: :-"My lord, I do ask him where his church was fifty years ago?" Bonner:-"Are you not half agreed? as one man said once to twaye parties, of whom the one was equally disagreeing from the other."

Christopherson :-"My lord, it is but folly to reason with him any further, your lordship shall but lose time, for he is incurable."

Bonner ::—“ Well then, let his keeper have him away." And with that Dr. Chedsey led me a way by the which we could not pass, and therefore came back again through the bishop's chamber, where all these doctors were clustered together; and, as I was passing by, the bishop took me by the gown and said, "Wot you what master Christopherson telleth me? I pray you, master Christopherson, rehearse the sentence in Latin." And so he did: the contents whereof were, that a heretic would not be won.

Christopherson:-"St. Paul saith, 'Flee a heretic after once or twice warning."" All the Doctors:-"Yea, my lord, it is best you so do, and trouble your lordship no more with him."

Philpot: :-"You must first prove me justly to be a heretic, before you use the judgment of St. Paul against me; for he speaketh of such as hold opinion against the manifest word, the which you cannot prove by me and because you want in your proof, and be able to prove nothing against me, therefore you go about falsely to suppose me to be a heretic, for the safeguard of your own counterfeit honesties. But afore God, you are the heretics which so stoutly and stubbornly maintain so many things directly against God's word, as God in his time shall reveal." As I went out of his chamber the bishop called me aside, and said,

Bonner:-"I pray thee in good sadness, what meanest thou by writing in Ghost is the beginning of thy Bible, 'The Spirit is the vicar of Christ on the earth?'s I Christ's wis have some special meaning thereof."

vicar up

on earth,

you

Philpot:-"My lord, I have none other meaning than as I have told you and how. already, that Christ, since his ascension, worketh all things in us by his Spirit, and by his Spirit doth dwell in us. I pray you, my lord, let me have my Bible,

See

(1) This is mere delusion. In the "Lucerna Inquisitorum" (Romæ, 1584), it is stated that the Appendix. secular powers are to be excommunicated, unless they act within a year; page 38. The Aphorismi Inquisitorum, Auct. Ant. de Sousa (Turnoni, 1633), support this representation; lib. 3. cap. 6.-ED. (2) Invocate seculare brachium." (3)De hæreticis comburendis."

(4. "Hæreticum hominem post unam atque alteram admonitionem devita."
(5) "Spiritus est vicarius Christi in terris."

with other lawful books and writings which you have of mine, whereof many Mary. of them be none of mine, but lent to me by my friends." Bonner:-"Your Bible you shall not have, but I will perhaps let another; and after I have perused the rest, you shall have such as I think good."

you have

A.D. 1555.

Philpot :-"I pray your lordship then, that you would let me have candle- John

light."

I pray you?"

Philpot denied to have can

Bonner "To what purpose, :Philpot::-"The nights be long, and I would fain occupy myself about some- dle-light. what, and not spend my time idly." Bonner :- "You may then pray." Philpot:

-"I cannot well say my prayers without light." Bonner:-"Can you not say your Pater-noster without a candle? I tell you, sir, you shall have some meat and drink of me, but candle you get none." Philpot:-"I had lieffer have a candle, than your meat and drink: but, seeing I shall not have my request, the Lord shall be my light."

Bonner:-" Have him down."

Chedsey:-"I will bring him to his keeper, my lord. Master Philpot, I wonder all these learned men whom you have talked withal this day, can nothing at all persuade you."

Philpot:-"Why, master doctor, would you have me to be persuaded with nothing? or would you have me build my faith upon sand? What do you all bring, whereby I ought by any sufficient authority to be persuaded to you?"

Chedsey :-"I am sorry you will so wilfully cast away yourself, whereas you might live worshipfully: do you not think others have souls to save as well as you have?"

Philpot :-"Every man shall receive according to his own doings. Sure I am, you are deceived, and maintain a false religion; and as for my casting away, I would my burning day were to-morrow, for this delay is every day to die, and yet not to be dead."

Chedsey" You are not like to die yet, I can tell you."

Philpot:-"I am the more sorry thereof. But the will of God be done of me to his glory.

Amen."

The Twelfth Examination of John Philpot, on Wednesday, the 4th of December, before the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Worcester, and the Bishop of Bangor.

In the morning I was fet down to the wardrobe adjoining to the chapel, and within a while after came three of the bishop's chaplains unto me, saying, "Master Philpot, my lord hath sent us unto you, to desire you to come to mass, certifying you that there is a doctor of divinity, a chaplain of my lord's, a notable learned man called Dr. Chedsey, going to mass. Therefore we also pray you, good master Philpot, be content to come: it is even hard hereby."

sent for

Philpot:-"I wonder my lord would trouble you in sending you about this Philpot, matter, seeing he knoweth I am a man, by your law, that cannot hear mass, to mass, because I stand excommunicate."

refuseth

Bishop's Chaplain :—“Your excommunication is but upon a contumacy; and to come. my lord will dispense with you, if you will come."

66

Philpot My lord cannot, for he is not mine ordinary, and I will not seek any such thing at his hands."

layeth out

With this answer they went their way; and after mass the bishop called me The before him into his chapel, and there, in the presence of his registrar (after he bishop had said his mind, because I would not come to mass), recited the articles, which his ar he oftentimes before had done in that behalf, with the depositions of the witnesses, ticles of whom some were not examined. 66 Sir," said Bonner, "what can you now again. say, why I should not proceed to give sentence against thee as a heretic?"

Philpot :-"Why, my lord, will you proceed to give sentence against me The before your witnesses be examined? That is plain against your own law, as bishop's all your doings have been hitherto."

doings

against

Bonner :-" See what a fool thou art in the law. I need not to recite the law. the depositions of the witnesses, but if I list; for I know them well enough already."

Mary.

A.D. 1555.

Philpot is

Philpot:- "It appeareth indeed you may do what you list."

Bonner: "Tell me, I say, whether thou wilt answer, or no: and whether,

if thou wert absolved of thine excommunication, thou wouldst come to mass or no?"

Philpot :-"I have answered as much as I intended to do until I be called to lawful judgment: and as concerning my conscience, I will not make you God, to sit there as yet; it is God's part only, to be searcher of the heart.” Bonner:-"Look how foolishly he speaks. Art thou God? and yet dost thou not sit in thine own conscience?"

Philpot:

I sit not in mine own conscience; but I know it, and God there only ought to sit, and no man else."

Bonner ::-"Thou art a naughty fellow, and hast done much hurt, and hast rebuked seduced other poor fellows here in prison with thee, by thy comforting of them for sing in their errors, and hast made them rejoice and sing with thee."

ing.

Talk be

tween Philpot and the

Philpot:-"Yea, my lord, we shall sing, when you and such others as you are shall cry, 'Væ, væ,' 'Wo, wo,' except you repent."

Bonner:-"What an arrogant fool is this! I will handle thee like a heretic, and that shortly."

Philpot:-"I fear nothing, I thank God, you can do to me. But God shall destroy such as thou art, and that shortly, as I trust."

Bonner:-" Have him away: this is a knave indeed."

And I was had into the wardrobe again by my keeper; and, within an hour after, was sent for to come before him and the bishops of Worcester and Bangor.

Bonner :—“ Sir, I have talked with you many times, and have caused you to be talked with of many learned men, yea and honourable, both temporal and spiritual, and it availeth nothing with you. I am blamed that I have brought thee afore so many for they say thou gloriest to have many to talk withal. Well, now it lieth upon thee to look to thyself; for thy time draweth near to an end, if thou do not become conformable. And at this present we are sent from the synod to offer you this grace, that if you will come to the unity of the church of Rome with us, and acknowledge the real presence of Christ in the sacrament of the altar with us, all that is past shall be forgiven, and you received to favour."

Worcester:-"Master Philpot, we are sent (as you here have heard by my lord of London) from the synod, to offer you mercy, if you will receive it; and, of good-will I bear you, I wish you to take it, whilst it is offered; and be not a bishops of singular man against a whole multitude of learned men, which now in fasting Worcester and prayer are gathered together to devise things to do you good. There have and many very learned men talked with you. Why should you think yourself betBangor. ter learned than them all? Be not of such arrogancy, but have humility:

The

pope's religion

hath no
other

ground to
stand
on but

up

violence.

Where

this religion was

one hundred

and remember there is no salvation but in the church."

Bangor :-"Me thinketh my lord hath said wonderfully well unto you, that you should not think yourself so well learned, but other men are as well learned as you, neither of so good wit, but others be as wise as you, neither of so good memory, but others have as good memories as you. Therefore mistrust your own judgment, and come home to us again. I wis I never liked your religion, because it was set forth by violence and tyranny, and that is no token of true religion. And I was the same manner of man then, that I am now, and a great many more. Marry, for fear we held our peace, and bare with that time. Wherefore master Philpot, I would you did well, for I love you: and therefore be content to come home with us again into the catholic church of Rome."

Philpot :-"Whereas, my lord (as I may begin first to answer you), you say, that religion is to be misliked, which is set forth by tyranny, pray God you give not men occasion to think the same by yours at this day, which have none other argument to stand by, but violence. If you can show me by any good sufficient ground, whereby to ground my conscience, that the church of Rome is the true catholic church, whereunto you call me, I will gladly be of the same: otherwise I cannot so soon change the religion I have learned these many years."

Bangor :-" Where was your religion to be found (I pray you) a hundred years ago. years ago, that any man knew of it?"

(1) If violence and tyranny be no token of true religion: what may men judge then of the pope's religion, pray you?

Philpot: -" It was in Germany, and in divers other places apparent.' Worcester:- "Jesus! will you be still so singular a man? What is Germany to the whole world?"

Mary.

A.D.

1555.

aileth at

Latimer.
See

Appendix.

Bonner:-"My lords, I pray you give me leave to tell you; that I sent for him to hear mass this morning. And wot you what excuse he made unto me? Bonner forsooth, that he was accursed, alleging his own shame. He playeth as that varlet Latimer did at Cambridge, when the vice-chancellor sent for him (who intended to have excommunicated him for some of his heresies), and the chancellor was coming to his chamber: who, hearing that the chancellor was coming, made answer that he was sick of the plague, and so deluded the chancellor. Even so this man saith, he is accursed, because he will not come to mass."

Worcester:-"My lord, I am sure, here doth behave himself like a father unto you; therefore be admonished by him, and by us, that come now friendly unto you, and follow your fathers before you."

Philpot::-"It is forbidden us of God by the prophet Ezekiel, to follow our fathers, or to walk in their commandments.'

Worcester:- "It is written also in another place, Ask of your fathers. " Philpot:-"We ought to ask indeed our fathers that have more experience Fathers and knowledge than we, of God's will; but no more to allow them, than we may be perceive they agree with the Scripture."

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but not

further than they

Worcester:-"You will be a contentious man, I see well; and St. Paul saith, followed that we, neither the church of God, have no such custom.' Philpot::-"I am not contentious but for the verity of my faith, in the which follow the I ought to contend with all such as do impugn the same without any just Scripobjection."

Worcester:-" Let us rise, my lord, for I see we shall do no good."

:

Bonner :- "6
Nay, I pray you tarry and hear the articles I lay to his charge."
And after he had recited them, they arose, and after standing, they reasoned
with me awhile.

Worcester:-" Master Philpot, I am very sorry that you will be so singular. I never talked with none yet in my diocese, but after once communication had with me, they have been contented to revoke their errors, and to teach the people how they were deceived, and so do much good-as you may if you list. For as I understand you were archdeacon of Winchester (which is the eye of the bishop); and you may do much good in that country, if you would forsake your errors, and come to the catholic church."

Philpot :-"Wherewithal you so soon persuaded them to your will, I see not. Error, that I know, I hold none of the catholic church I am sure I am."

Worcester:-" The catholic church doth acknowledge a real presence of Christ in the sacrament, and so will not you."

Philpot:-"That is not so: for I acknowledge a very essential presence in the duly using of the sacrament."

Worcester:-"What? a real presence?"

Philpot:-"Yea, a real presence by the Spirit of God in the right admini

stration."

Worcester:- -"That is well said: and do you agree with the catholic church

also?"

Philpot :-"I do agree with the true catholic church."

Worcester:-"My lord of London, this man speaketh reasonably now." Bonner:-"You do agree in generalities; but when it shall come to the particularities, you will far disagree."

Worcester:-"Well, keep yourself here, and you shall have other learned bishops to commune further with you, as my lord of Durham, and my lord of Chichester, whom, I hear say, you do like well."

Philpot:-" I do like them as I do all others that speak the truth. I have once already spoken with them, and they found no fault with me."

Worcester:-" Pray, in the mean season, for grace to God."

Philpot :-" Prayer is the comfortablest exercise I feel in my trouble, and my conscience is quiet, and I have the peace of mind, which cannot be the fruits of heresy."

Worcester:-"We will bid you farewell for this time."

(1)Interroga patres."

(2) Note, he saith not in the sacrament,' but in the administration' of the sacrament.

tures.

Mary.

A. D. 1555.

After dinner Philpot called

again.

The

Christ,

"Feed my

Another Talk the same day.

After dinner they called for me again, and demanded of me whether I meant as I spake before dinner, and would not go from it. To whom I answered, that I would not go from that I had said.

Worcester:-" You said, at my departing from you before dinner, that if we did burn you, we should burn a catholic man. Will you be a catholic man? and stand to the catholic church?"

Philpot:-" I will stand to the true catholic church."

Worcester:-" Will you stand to the catholic church of Rome?" 1

Philpot::-" If you can prove the same to be the catholic church, I will be one thereof."

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Worcester:-" Did not Christ say unto Peter, and to all his successors of Rome, Feed my sheep, feed my lambs ?" which doth signify that he gave him a more authority than the rest."

Philpot ::-"That saying pertaineth nothing to the authority of Peter above words of others, but declareth what Christ requireth of his beloved apostles, that they should with all diligence preach to the flock of Christ the way of salvation; and that doth the iteration of feeding, spoken to Peter, only signify. But the bishop of Rome little regardeth this spiritual feeding, and therefore he hath imagined an easier way to make himself lord of the whole world, yea and of God's word too, and doth not feed Christ's flock, as Peter did."

sheep." opened.

The pope

is no feeder.

Talk with

Worcester:-" How can you tell that?"

Philpot:-" :-"Yes, I have been there, and I could not learn of all his countrymen, that ever he preacheth."

Worcester:-"Though he preacheth not one way, he preacheth another, by procuring good order for the church to be kept in.’

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Philpot: :-"I am sure that it will be his damnation before God, that he leaveth that he is commanded of Christ, and setteth forth his own decrees to deface the gospel."

Worcester: "It is the evil living that you have seen at Rome, that causeth you to have this ill judgment of the church of Rome. I cannot now tarry with you to reason further of the matter. How say you to the real presence of the sacrament? will you stand to that?"

Philpot::-" I do acknowledge (as I have said) a real3 presence of the sacrament, in the due administration thereof, to the worthy receivers by the Spirit of God."

Worcester:-" You add now a great many more words than you did before: and yet you say more of the sacrament, than a great many will do."

Thus they departed, and after them came in to me Dr. Chedsey, and Dr. Wright Dr. Ched- archdeacon of Oxford, with a great many more. "Master Philpot," said Chedsey, "here is master archdeacon of Oxford come to you, to give you good Wright counsel, I pray hear him."

sey, and Dr.

and

others.

Philpot:- "I will refuse to hear none, that will counsel me any good; and if any can bring any matter better than I have, I will stick thereunto."

Wright:-" I would wish you, master Philpot, to agree with the catholic church, and not to stand in your own conceit. You see a great many of learned men against you."

Philpot::-"I am, master doctor, of the unfeigned catholic church, and will live and die therein: and if you can prove your church to be the true catholic church, I will be one of the same."

Wright:-"I came not to dispute with you, but to exhort you. Here be better learned than I, that can inform you better than I."

Chedsey: What proof would you have? I will prove unto you, our church to have its being and foundation by the Scriptures, by the apostles, and by the primitive church, confirmed with the blood of martyrs, and with the testimony of all confessors." 4

Philpot :-"Give me your hand, master doctor; prove that, and have with you."

(1) To stand to the catholic church, is not enough with these men, except you be in the church of Rome.

(2)

"Pasce oves meas, pasce agnos meos."

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(4) You promise more, Chedsey, than you can prove.

(3) By "really" he meaneth "truly."

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