discord among the king's council, who were so divided among themselves in equal parts, that the one half seemed to hold with the one religion, the other half with the contrary; the names of whom, although it were not necessary to express, yet being compelled for the setting forth of the truth of the story, we have thought good here to annex, as the certainty thereof came to our hands. Henry VIII. A. D. 1540. cil divid This division and separation of the council amongst themselves, The councaused both these parts above mentioned, the one for one religion, ed in rethe other for another, to suffer together. For, as the one part of the ligion. council called for the execution of Barnes, Garret, and Jerome; so the other part, likewise, called for the execution of the law upon Two togePowel, Fetherstone, and Abel; which six, being condemned and ther laid drawn to the place of execution, two upon a hurdle, one being a papist, the other a protestant, thus, after a strange manner, were the one a brought into Smithfield, where all the said six together, for contrary the other doctrine, suffered death; three, by the fire, for the gospel; the other ant. three, by hanging, drawing, and quartering, for popery. upon the hurdle; papist, a protest made martyrs. Alan Cope, in his worshipful Dialogues, making mention of these Traitors three aforesaid, Powel, Fetherstone, and Abel, amongst others who may died in king Henry's days in the like popish quarrel, that is, for the like treason against their prince (being in all to the number of twentyfour), extolleth them not only in words, but with miracles also, up to the height of heaven, among the crowned martyrs and saints of God. To the which Cope, because in this haste of story I have no leisure at this present to give attendance, I shall wait attendance (the Lord Neither willing) another time, to join in this issue with him more at leisure. good marIn the meantime, it shall suffice at this present to recite the names God, nor only of those twenty-four rebels, whom he, of his popish devotion, so good subdignified with the pretensed title of martyrs: the names of thirteen the king. of which monkish rebels be these here following:' John Houghton, Augustine Webster, Reginald of Sion, John Rochester, John Traverse, William Horne, tyrs to jects to Besides these there were other nine Carthusian monks who died in the prison of Newgate; to which number if you add Master More and the bishop of Rochester, the 'summa totalis' cometh to twenty (1) Dialogi Sex' (Antw. 1566), pp. 993-995. Reginald is said to be ordinis Brigitani.'-ED. 440 SEVERITY WITH WHICH THE SIX ARTICLES ARE ENFORCED. Henry four, whom the said Cope unjustly crowned for martyrs. But of these more shall be said (the Lord willing) hereafter. VIII. A. D. 1541. turbance land after the six Thus, having discoursed the order of the six articles, with other Great dis- matter likewise following in the next parliament, concerning the conin Eng demnation of the lord Cromwell, of Dr. Barnes, and his fellows, let us now (proceeding further in this history) consider what great disarticles. turbance and vexations ensued after the setting forth of the said articles, through the whole realm of England, especially among the godly sort wherein first were to be mentioned the straight and severe commissions sent forth by the king's authority, to the bishops, chancellors, officials, justices, mayors, and bailiffs in every shire, and other commissioners by name in the same commissions expressed; and, amongst others, especially to Edmund Bonner bishop of London, to the mayor, sheriffs, and aldermen of the same, to inquire diligently after all heretical books, and to burn them. Also to inquire after all such persons whatsoever, culpable or suspected of such felonies, heresies, contempts, or transgressions, or speaking any words contrary to the aforesaid act, set forth, of the six articles. The tenor of the said commissions being sufficiently expressed in ancient records, and in the bishops' registers, and also partly touched before,' therefore, for tediousness I here omit only showing forth the commission directed to Edmund Bonner bishop of London, to take the oath of the mayor of London, and of others, for the execution of the commission aforesaid; the tenor whereof here followeth: The Commission for taking the Oath of the Mayor of London and Henry the Eighth, by the grace of God, king of England and of France, What the oath was of these commissioners whereunto they were bound, read before. A NOTE HOW BONNER SAT IN THE GUILDHALL IN COMMISSION OF MEKINS. Upon this commission given unto Edmund Bonner, he, coming to the Guildhall, with other commissioners, to sit upon the statute (1) Read before page 262. VIII. of the Six Articles, began eftsoons to put in execution his authority Henry after a rigorous sort, as ye shall hear. And first, he charged certain juries to take their oath upon the statute aforesaid, who, being sworn, A.D. had a day appointed to give their verdict: at which day they indicted sundry persons, who, shortly after, were apprehended and brought to ward; who, after awhile remaining there, were, by the king and his council, discharged at the Star-chamber, without any further punish ment. Not long after this, sir William Roche being mayor, Bonner with other commissioners sat at the Guildhall aforesaid, before whom there were a certain number of citizens warned to appear; and after the commission read, the said parties were called to the book, and when five or six were sworn, one of the said persons, being called to the book, Bonner seemed to mislike, and said, "Stay awhile, my masters," quoth he; "I would ye should consider this matter well that we have in hand, which concerneth the glory of God, the honour of the king, and the wealth of the realm; and if there be any here among you that doth not consider the same, it were better that he were hence than here." Then communed the commissioners with Bonner about that man, so that at length he was called to the book and sworn, not altogether with his good will. 1541. "Robins, When the two juries were sworn, Bonner taketh upon him to give the charge unto the juries, and began with a tale of Anacharsis, by which example he admonished the juries to spare no persons, of what degree soever they were. And at the end of his charge, he brought forth Mekins to the bar a boy, whose name was Mekins, declaring how grievously presen he had offended by speaking of certain words against the state, and Bonner. of the death of Dr. Barnes; and produced into the said court two witnesses, who were there sworn in the face of the court. So a day was assigned upon which the juries aforesaid should give up their verdict; at which day both the commissioners, and the said juries, met at Guildhall aforesaid. Then the clerk of the peace called on the juries by their names, and when their appearance was taken, Bonner bade them put in their presentments. Then said the fore- William man of that jury, whose name was William Robins; My lord," juror. with a low courtesy, "we have found nothing" at which words he fared as one in an agony, and said, "Nothing? have ye found nothing? what nothing? By the faith I owe to God," quoth he to the foreman, "I would trust you upon your obligation; but by your oath I will trust you nothing." Then said some of the commissioners; "My lord, give them a longer day." "No," quoth he, “in London they ever find nothing. I pray you what say you to Mekins?" "My lord," quoth the foreman, "we can say nothing to him, for we find the witnesses to disagree. One affirmeth that he should say the sacrament was nothing but a ceremony; and the other, nothing but a signification." "Why," quoth Bonner, "did he not say that Barnes died holy?" Then pausing awhile, he bade call the other jury. "Put in your verdict," quoth he. "My lord," said one, "we have found nothing." "Jesus!" quoth he, "is not this a strange case ?" Foxley, Then spake one of the same jury, whose name was Ralph Foxley, Ralph and said, "My lord, when you gave us charge, we desired to have juror. |