Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

Fifth, he asked me what I said concerning confession? I answered him my meaning, which was as St. James saith, that every man ought to acknowledge his faults to other; and the one to pray for the other.

Sixthly, he asked me what I said to the king's book?* And I answered him, that I could say nothing to it, because I never saw it.

Seventhly, he asked me if I had the Spirit of God in me? I answered, If I had not, I was but a reprobate or cast away. Then he said he had sent for a priest to examine me, who was there at hand. The priest asked me what I said to the sacrament of the altar, and required much to know therein my meaning. But I desired him again to hold me excused concerning that matter. None other answer would I make him, because I perceived him to be a papist.

Eighthly, he asked me, if I did not think, that private masses did help souls departed. I said, it was great idolatry to believe more in them, than in the death which Christ died for us.

Then they had me thence unto, my lord mayor, and he examined me, as they had before, and I answered him directly in all things as I answered the quest before. Besides this, my lord mayor laid one thing to my charge, which was never spoken of me, but of them; and that was, whether a mouse eating the host, received God or no. This question did I never ask, but indeed they asked it of me, whereunto I made them no answer, but smiled.†

Then the bishop's chancellor rebuked me and said, that * See Cranmer, p. 33. 86.

+ Strype on Loud's authority, relates this more particularly. "My lord mayor, sir Martin Bowes, sitting with the council, as most meet for his wisdom, and seeing her standing upon life and death, said, 'I pray you, my lords, give me leave to talk with this woman;' leave was granted. L. M. Thou foolish woman, sayest thou that the priests cannot make the body of Christ? A. A. I say so, my lord; for I have read that God made man; but that man can make God I never yet read, nor ever shall read it, as I suppose. L. M. No! Thou foolish woman, after the words of consecration, is it not the Lord's body? A. A. No; it is but consecrated bread, or sacramental bread. L. M. What if a mouse eat it after the consecration? What shall become of the mouse? What sayest thou, thou foolish woman? A. A. What shall become of her, say you, my lord? L. M. I say, that mouse is damned. A. A. Alack poor mouse!-By this time my lords heard enough of my lord mayor's divinity; and perceiving that some could not keep in their laughing, proceeded to the butchery and slaughter they intended before they came thither."

> I was much to blame for uttering the Scriptures. For St. Paul, he said, forbade women to speak, or to talk of the word of God. I answered him, that I knew Paul's meaning as well as he, which is, 1 Cor. xiv., that a woman ought not to speak in the congregation by the way of teaching. And then I asked him, how many women he had seen go into the pulpit and preach? He said he never saw any. Then I said, he ought to find no fault in poor women, except they had offended against the law.

Then the lord mayor commanded me to ward. I asked him if sureties would not serve me, and he made me short answer, that he would take none. Then was I had to the compter, and there remained twelve days, no friend being admitted to speak with me. But in the mean time there was a priest sent unto me, who said that he was commanded of the bishop to examine me, and to give me good ⚫ counsel, which he did not. But first he asked me for what cause I was put in the compter, and I told him I could not tell. Then he said, it was great pity that I should be there without cause, and concluded that he was very sorry for me. Secondly he said, it was told him that I should deny the sacrament of the altar. And I answered again, that what I had said, I had said. Thirdly, he asked me if I were shriven. I told him No. Then he said he would bring one to me to shrive me. And I told him so that I might have one of these, that is to say, Dr. Crome,* sir William, Whitehead, or Huntington, I was contented, because I knew them to be men of wisdom; as for you, or any other, said I, I will not dispraise, because I know you not. Then he said, I would not have you think but that I, or any other that shall be brought you, shall be as honest as they, for if we were not, you may be sure the king would not suffer us to preach. Then I answered by the saying of Solomon; By communing with the wise, I may learn wisdom, but by talking with a fool, I shall take scathe,†

ers.

* Dr. Crome was a person of some eminence among the reformHe was troubled under the act of six articles, and afterwards in queen Mary's reign; he escaped by making some explanations and retractations, but was always suspected by the Romanists. At this time, 1546, he was called to account by Bonner for a sermon preached at Mercer's chapel, wherein he had urged that Christ was the only sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, and that he had offered himself once for all. Crome thereby condemned the popish doctrine respecting the mass.

+ Harm, injury.

Prov. xiii. Fourthly he asked, if the host should fall and a beast did eat it, whether the beast did receive God or no? I answered, seeing you have taken the pains to ask this question, I desire you also to take so much pains more as to assoil it yourself, for I will not do it, because I perceive you come to tempt me. And he said it was against the order of schools, that he which asked the question, should answer it. I told him I was but a woman, and knew not the course of schools. Fifthly, he asked me, if I intended to receive the sacrament at Easter, or no? I answered, that else I were no Christian woman, and that I did rejoice that the time was so near at hand; and then he departed thence with many fair words.

The twenty-third day of March, my cousin Britain came into the compter unto me, and asked there whether I might be bailed or no? Then went he immediately unto my lord mayor, desiring him to be so good unto me, that I might be bailed. My lord answered him, and said that he would be glad to do the best that in him lay. Howbeit he could not bail me without the consent of a spiritual officer, requir ing him to go and speak with the chancellor of London. For he said, like as he could not commit me to prison without the consent of a spiritual officer, no more could he bail me without consent of the same.

So upon that, he went to the chancellor, requiring of him as he did before of my lord mayor. He answered him, that the matter was so heinous, that he durst not of himself do it, without my lord of London were made privy thereunto. But he said he would speak unto my lord in it, and bade him repair unto him the next morrow, and he should well know my lord's pleasure. And upon the mor. row after, he came thither, and spake both with the chancellor and with the bishop of London. The bishop declared unto him that he was very well contented that I should come forth to a communication, and appointed me to appear before him the next day after, at three of the clock at afternoon. Moreover, he said unto him, that he would there should be at the examination such learned men, as I was affectioned to, that they might see, and also make report, that I was handled with no rigour. He answered him, that he knew no man that I had more affection to, than to another. Then said the bishop, Yes; as I understand, she is affectioned to doctor Crome, sir William, Whitehead, and Huntington, that they might hear the mat

ter, for she did know them to be learned and of godly judgment. Also he required my cousin Britain, that he should earnestly persuade me to utter even the very bottom of my heart, and he sware by his fidelity, that no man should take any advantage of my words, neither yet would he lay ought to my charge for any thing that I should there speak: but if I said any manner of thing amiss, he, with others more, would be glad to reform me therein, with most godly counsel.

On the morrow after, the bishop of London sent for me at one of the clock, his hour being appointed at three, and as I came before him, he said he was very sorry for my trouble, and desired to know my opinion in such matters as were laid against me. He required me also, in anywise, boldly to utter the secrets of my heart, bidding me not to fear in any point, for whatsoever I did say within his house, no man should hurt me for it. I answered, Forsomuch as your lordship appointed three of the clock, and my friends will not come till that hour, I desire you to pardon me giving answer till they come. Then said he, that he thought it meet to send for those four men which were aforenamed and appointed. Then I desired him not to put them to the pains, for it should not need, because the two gentlemen which were my friends, were able enough to testify what I should say. Anon after he went into his gallery with master Spillman, and willed him in anywise that he should exhort me to utter all that I thought. In the mean while he commanded his archdeacon to commune with me, who said unto me, Mistress, wherefore are you accused? I answered, Ask my accusers, for I know not as yet. Then took he my book out of my hand, and said, Such books as this is, have brought you to the trouble you are in. Beware, saith he, beware, for he that made it was burnt in Smithfield. Then I asked him if he were sure that it was true that he had spoken. And he said he knew e well the book was of John Frith's making. Then I asked him if he were not ashamed for to judge of the book before he saw it within, or yet knew the truth thereof. I said also that such unadvised and hasty judgment, is a token apparent of a very slender wit. Then I opened the book and showed it him. He said he thought it had been another, for he could find no fault therein. Then I desired him no more to be so swift in judgment, till he thoroughly knew the truth, and so he departed. Immediately after

[ocr errors]

came my cousin Britain in with divers others, as master Hall of Gray's Inn, and such others like. Then my lord of London persuaded my cousin Britain as he had done oft before, which was that I should utter the bottom of my heart in any wise. My lord said after that unto me, that he would I should credit the counsels of my friends in his behalf, which was, that I should utter all things that burdened my conscience; for he ensured me that I should not need to stand in doubt to say anything. For like as he promised them, he said, he promised me, and would perform it; which was, that neither he, nor any man for him, should take me at advantage of any word I should speak; and therefore he bade me say my mind without fear. I answered him, that I had nought to say; for my conscience, I thanked God, was burdened with nothing.

Then brought he forth this unsavoury similitude, that if a man had a wound, no wise surgeon would minister help unto it, before he had seen it uncovered. In like case, said he, can I give you no good counsel, unless I know wherewith your conscience is burdened. I answered, that my conscience was clear in all things; and for to lay a plaster unto the whole skin, it might appear much folly.

Then you drive me, said he, to lay to your charge your own report, which is this; you did say, He that doth receive the sacrament by the hands of an ill priest, or a sinner, receiveth the devil and not God. To that I answered, that I never spake such words. But as I said before, both to the quest and to my lord mayor, so say I now again, that the wickedness of the priest should not hurt me, but in spirit and faith I receive no less the body and blood of Christ. Then said the bishop unto me, What a saying is this, In spirit? I will not take you at advantage. Then I answered, My lord, without faith and spirit I cannot receive him worthily.

Then he laid unto me, that I should say that the sacrament remaining in the pix was but bread. I answered that I never said so, but indeed the quest asked me such a question, whereunto I would not answer, I said, till such time as they had answered me this question of mine, wherefore Stephen was stoned to death? They said they knew not. Then said I again, no more would I tell them what it was.

Then my lord laid it unto me, that I had alleged a certain text of the Scripture. I answered, that I alleged none other but St. Paul's own saying to the Athenians, in the

« ZurückWeiter »