Richard Johnson, of Boxted, and Alice his Wife. Henry A. D. 1532 to This Richard and his wife were favourers of God's word, and had been troubled for the same of long time. They came from Salisbury to Boxted by reason of persecution, where they continued a good space. At length, by resort 1533. of good men, they began to be suspected, and especially for a book of Wickliff's Wicket, which was in their house, they were convented before Stokesley, bishop of London, and there abjured. So great was the trouble of those times, that it would overcharge Perilous any story to recite the names of all them that during those bitter days. days, before the coming of queen Anne, either were driven out of the realm, or were cast out from their goods and houses, or brought to open shame by abjuration. Such decrees and injunctions then were set forth by the bishops, such laws and proclamations were provided, such watch and narrow search was used, such ways were taken by force of oath to make one detect another so subtilly, that scarcely any good man could or did escape their hands, but either his name was known, or else his person was taken. Yet, nevertheless, so mightily the power of God's gospel did work in the hearts of good men, that the number of them did nothing lessen for all this violence or policy of the adversaries, but rather increased in such sort, as our story almost suffereth not to recite the particular names of all and singular such as then groaned under the same cross of affliction and persecution of those days; of which number were these: All these were of the town of Bumstead, who being detected by sir Richard Foxe, their curate, and partly by Tibauld, were brought up to the bishop of London, and all put together in one house, to the number of thirty-five, to be examined and abjured by the said bishop. who ab jured. Moreover, in other towns about Suffolk and Essex, others also Men and were detected, as in the town of Byrbrook, these following: women of Essex and Suffolk troubled for the gospel. Henry VIII. A.D. 1532 to 1533. R. Chap for mercy. William Pickas, his brother. Girling, his wife and his daughter. Johnson, his wife and his son. Roger Tanner. Christopher Raven, and his wife. Richard Chapman, his servant, and Christopher remaineth yet alive, and hath been of a long time a great harbourer of many good men and women that were in trouble and distress, and received them to his house, as Thomas Bate, Simon Smith, the priest's wife, Roger Tanner, with a number more, which ye may see and read in our first edition.' Touching this Richard Chapman, this, by the way, is to be noted, Cruelty that as he was in his coat and shirt enjoined, bare-head, bare-foot, showed and bare-leg, to go before the procession, and to kneel upon the cold steps in the church all the sermon time, a little lad, seeing him kneel upon the cold stone with his bare knees, and having pity on him, came to him, and having nothing else to give him, brought him his cap to kneel upon; for which the boy was immediately taken into the vestry, and there unmercifully beaten, for his mercy showed to the poor penitent. Beside these, divers others were about London, Colchester, and other places also, partakers of the same cross and affliction for the like cause of the gospel, in which number come in these who hereafter follow. Peter Fenne, priest. John Turke. William Raylond of Colchester. Marion Matthew, or Westden. Thomas Parker." Robert Wigge, William Bull, and Sebastian Harris, curate of Kensington. M. Forman, bachelor of divinity, par- John Hubert, of Esdonland, and his All these in this table contained, were troubled and abjured, A.D. 1527, and A.D. 1528. John Wily the elder. Katharine Wily, his wife. William Wily, another son. John Wily, son of John Wily the elder. Lucy Wily, and Agnes Wily, two young girls. These eight persons were accused A.D. 1532, for eating pottage and flesh-meat, five years before, upon St. James's even. Also another time, upon St. Peter's even, as Katharine Wily did lie in childbed, the other wives, with the two girls, were found eating all together of a broth made with the fore-part of a rack of mutton. Item, The aforesaid John Wily the elder had a primer in English in his house, and other books. (1) The first Edition of the Acts and Monuments, p. 419. See also vol. iv. pp. 585, 586 of this Edition. This catalogue of names is omitted in all other Editions.-ED. (2) This Parker was abjured twenty-four years before this. (3) Ex Regist. Lond. VIII. Also he had a young daughter of ten years old, who could render by heart Henry the most part of the twenty-fourth chapter of St. Matthew. Also she could rehearse without book, 'The Disputation between the Clerk and the Friar.' Item, The said John Wily had in his house a treatise of William Thorp, and sir John Oldcastle. A NOTE OF RICHARD BAYFIELD ABOVE MENTIONED. Mention was made before1 of Richard Bayfield, monk of Bury, who, in these perilous days, amongst other good saints of God, suffered death, as ye have heard; but how, and by whom he was detected, hath not been showed; which now, as in searching out of registers we have found, so we thought good here to adjoin the same, with the words and confession of the same Edmund Peerson, who detected him in manner as followeth. The Accusation of Edmund Peerson against Richard Bayfield. The thirteenth day of September, at four o'clock in the afternoon, A.D. 1527, sir Richard Bayfield said, that my lord of London's commissary was a plain pharisee; wherefore he would speak with him, and by his wholesome doctrine, he trusted in God, he should make him a perfect Christian man, and me also, for I was a pharisee as yet, he said. Also he said that he cared not even if the commissary and the chancellor both heard him; for the chancellor, he said, was also a pharisee, and he trusted to make him a christian man. Also he said he was entreated by his friends, and, in a manner, constrained to abide in the city against his will, to make the chancellor, and many more, perfect christian men; for as yet many were pharisees, and knew not the perfect declaration of the Scripture. Also he said that Master Arthur and Bilney were, and be, more pure and more perfect in their living to God, than was, or is, the commissary, the chancellor, my lord of London, or my lord cardinal. A. D. 1532. to 1533. Also he said that if Arthur and Bilney suffer death in the quarrels and opinions that they be in or hold, they shall be martyrs before God in heaven. Also he said, After Arthur and Bilney were put cruelly to death, yet should there be hundreds of men that should preach the same that they have preached. Also he said that he would favour Arthur and Bilney, he knew their living Commento be so good; for they did wear no shirts of linen cloth, but shirts of hair, and dation of Bilney ever were fasting, praying, or doing some other good deeds. And as for one of them, whatsoever he have of money in his purse he will distribute it, for the Arthur. love of God, to poor people. Also he said that no man should give laud or praise, in any manner of wise, to any creature, or to any saint in heaven, but only to God; Soli Deo honor et gloria; that is, To God alone be all honour and glory. and Also he said, Ah, good sir Edmund!' ye be far from the knowledge and understanding of the Scripture, for as yet ye be a pharisee, with many others of your company: but I trust in God, I shall make you, and many other more, The godly good and perfect christian men, ere I depart from the city; for I purpose to of Bay read a common lecture every day at St. Foster's Church, which lecture shall field be to the edifying of your souls that be false pharisees.' courage See Appendix, Also he said that Bilney preached nothing at Wilsdon, but what was true. Also he said that Bilney preached true at Wilsdon, if he said that our Lady's The crown of Wilsdon, her rings and beads that were offered to her, were bestowed people's offerings amongst harlots, by the ministers of Christ's church; for that I have seen bestowed myself,' he said, 'here in London, and that will I abide by.' upon Also he said, He did not fear to commune and argue in Arthur's and Bilney's harlots. opinions and articles, even if it were with my lord cardinal. Also he said that he would hold Arthur's and Bilney's opinions and articles, and abide by them, that they were true opinions, to suffer death there-for; 'I know them,' said he, 'for such noble and excellent men in learning.' Henry VIII. A. D. 1533. Also he said, If he were before my lord cardinal, he would not let to speak to him, and to tell him, that he hath done naughtily in imprisoning Arthur and Bilney, who were better disposed in their livings to God, than my lord cardinal, or my lord of London, as holy as they make themselves. Also he said, My lord cardinal is no perfect nor good man to God, for he keepeth not the commandments of God; for Christ (he said) never taught him The car to follow riches, nor to seek for promotions or dignities of this world, nor did Christ ever teach him to wear shoes of silver and gilt, set with pearl and precious stones; nor had Christ ever two crosses of silver, two axes, or a pillar of silver and gilt. dinal's shoes. Complaint of the commons against the clergy. Also he said that every priest might preach the gospel without license of the pope, my lord cardinal, my lord of London, or any other man; and that he would abide by: and thus he verified it, as it is written, Mark xvi., 'Euntes in mundum universum, prædicate Evangelium omni creaturæ.' Christ commanded every priest to go forth throughout all the world, and preach the word of God by the authority of this gospel; and not to run to the pope, nor to any other man for license and that he would abide by, he said. Also he said, Well, Sir Edmund!' say you what you will, and every man. and my lord cardinal also, and yet will I say, and abide by it, my lord cardinal doth punish Arthur and Bilney unjustly, for there be no truer christian men in all the world living, than they two be; and that punishment that my lord cardinal doth to them, he doth it by might and power, as one who would say, This may I do, and this will I do: who shall say nay? but he doth it of no justice.' Also about the 14th day of October last past, at three o'clock at afternoon, sir Richard Bayfield came to St. Edmund's in Lombard-street, where he found me, sir Edmund Peerson, sir James Smith, and sir Miles Garnet, standing at the uttermost gate of the parsonage; and sir Edmund said to sir Richard Bayfield, 'How many christian men have ye made, since ye came to the city? Quoth sir Richard Bayfield, 'I came even now to make thee a christian man, and these two other gentlemen with thee; for well I know ye be all three pharisees as yet.' Also he said to sir Edmund, that Arthur and Bilney were better christian men than he was, or any of them that did punish Arthur and Bilney. By me, Edmund Peerson. And thus we have, as in a gross sum, compiled together the names and causes, though not of all, yet of a great, and too great a number of good men and good women, who, in those sorrowful days (from the year of our Lord 1527, to this present year 1533, that is, till the coming in of queen Anne) were manifold ways vexed and persecuted under the tyranny of the bishop of Rome. Where again we have to note, that from this present year of our Lord 1533, during the time of the said queen Anne, we read of no great persecution, nor any abjuration to have been in the church of England, save only that the registers of London make mention of certain Dutchmen counted for Anabaptists,' of whom ten were put to death in sundry places of the realm, A.D. 1535; other ten repented and were saved. Where note again, that two also of the said company, albeit the definitive sentence was read, yet notwithstanding were pardoned by the king; which was contrary to the pope's law. Now to proceed forth in our matter: After that the bishops and heads of the clergy had thus a long time taken their pleasure, exercising their cruel authority against the poor wasted flock of the Lord, and began, furthermore, to stretch forth their rigour and austerity, to attach and molest also other great persons of the temporalty; so (1) The names of the ten Dutchmen Anabaptists, who were put to death, were Segor, Derick, Simon, Runa, Derick, Dominick, David, Cornelius, Elken, Milo. VIII. See Appendis. it fell that in the beginning of the twenty-third year of king Henry, Henry which was A.D. 1532, a parliament was called by the king about the 15th day of January: in the which parliament the commons renew- A.D. ing their old griefs, complained of the cruelty of the prelates and 1534. ordinaries, for calling men before them Ex officio.' For such was then the usage of the ordinaries and their officials, that they would send for men, and lay accusations to them of heresy, only declaring to Cruelty of them that they were accused; and would minister articles to them, against but no accuser should be brought forth: whereby the commons were poralty. grievously annoyed and oppressed; for the party so ascited must either abjure or do worse: for purgation he might none make. As these matters were long debating in the common house, at last it was agreed that the temporal men should put their griefs in writing, and deliver them to the king. Whereupon, the 18th day of March, the common speaker, accompanied with certain knights and burgesses of the common house, came to the king's presence, and there declared how the temporal men of his realm were sore aggrieved with the cruel demeanour of the prelates and ordinaries, who touched their bodies and goods so nearly, that they of necessity were enforced to make their humble suit by their speaker unto his grace, to take such order and redress in the case, as to his high wisdom might seem most convenient, &c. the clergy the tem helping need. Unto this request of the commons although the king at that time gave no present grant, but suspended them with a delay, yet notwithstanding, this sufficiently declared the grudging minds of the temporal men against the spiritualty, lacking nothing but God's God's helping hand to work in the king's heart for reformation of such hand in things, which all they did see to be out of frame. Neither did the time of Lord's divine providence fail in time of need, but eftsoons ministered a ready remedy in time expedient. He saw the pride and cruelty of the spiritual clergy grown to such a height as was intolerable. He saw again, and heard the groaning hearts, the bitter afflictions, of his oppressed flock; his truth decayed, his religion profaned, the glory of his Son defaced, his church lamentably wasted. Wherefore it was high time for his high majesty to look upon the matter; as he did indeed, by a strange and wondrous means, which was through the Queen king's divorcement from lady Katharine, dowager, and marrying with Anue lady Anne Bullen, in this present year; which was the first occasion and lady and beginning of all this public reformation which hath followed since Kathain this church of England, to this present day, according as ye shall divorced hear. A Compendious Discourse, COMPREHENDING THE WHOLE SUM AND MATTER CONCERNING In the first entry of this king's reign ye heard before, how, after the death of prince Arthur, the lady Katharine, princess dowager, and wife to prince Arthur, by the consent both of her father and of his, and also by the advice of the nobles of this realm, to the end her (1) Ex Ed. Hall. [The twenty-third year of Henry VIII. page 784. Lond. 1809.-ED.] married. rine |