VIII. Henry positive law of the church, and used by a custom within this realm, and of none other force or necessity, but the same may be, upon good considerations and A. D. grounds, altered and dispensed with from time to time, by the public authority of 1543. kings and princes, whensoever they shall perceive the same to tend to the hurt and damage of their people: the king's highness therefore, most graciously considering and tendering the wealth and commodity of his people, hath thought good, for the considerations above rehearsed, to release and dispense with the said law and custom of abstaining from white meats this holy time of Lent; and, of his especial grace and mere motion, giveth and granteth unto all and singular his subjects within this his realm of England, Wales, Calais, Guisnes, and Hamme, and in all other his grace's dominions, free liberty, faculty, and license, to eat all manner of white meats, as milk, eggs, butter, cheese, and such like, during the time of this Lent, without any scruple or grudge of conscience; any law, constitution, use, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. Wherein nevertheless his highness exhorteth, and in the name of God requireth, all such his faithful subjects, as may, will, or shall enjoy this his said grant or faculty, that they be in no wise scrupulous or doubtful thereof, nor abuse or turn the same into a fleshly or carnal liberty, but rather endeavour themselves, to their possible powers, with this liberty of eating of white meats, to observe also that fast which God most specially requireth of them; that is to say, to renounce the world and the devil, with all their pomps and works, and also to subdue and repress their carnal affections and the corrupt works of the flesh, according to their vow and profession made at the font-stone; for in these points, especially consisteth the very true and perfect abstinence or fasting of a christian man; thus to endure and continue from year to year, till the king's highness's pleasure shall, by his majesty's proclamation, be published to the contrary. The Trouble and Persecution of four Windsor-men, Kobert Testwood, Henry Filmer, Anthony Peerson, and John Marbeck.' PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE, AND FOR THE GOSPEL. Coming now to the story and time of the four Windsor-men, troubled and persecuted for the true testimony of God's word, whereof three were martyred and sacrificed in fire, the fourth (who was Marbeck) had his pardon; first, I have to show the original of their troubles in several parts: secondly, the manner and order of their death as they suffered together, which was A.D. 1543: thirdly, to answer partly in purgation of myself, against certain clatterers who have hitherto taken their pleasure in railing against my former edition of Acts and Monuments, for mistaking the name of Marbeck, whom, in one place, I reported to have been burned; albeit, in the end of the story, correcting myself again, I declared him not to have been burned. Wherefore, to stop the brawling mouths of such quarrellers, I thought here to set forth the full narration, both of the said Marbeck and of his fellows, in truth, as I trust none of them shall have just cause to quarrel thereat. A full Narration of the Persecution at Windsor. Persons persecuted at Windsor A.D. 1543:-Robert Testwood, Henry Filmer, Anthony Peerson, John Marbeck, Robert Bennet, sir Philip Hobby and his wife, sir Thomas Cardine and his wife, Master Edmund Harman, Master Thomas Weldon; Snowball and his wife, of the king's chamber; and Dr. Haynes, dean of Exeter. (1) See Hall's Chronicle, (4to. Lond. 1809,) page 858. Also Fabyan's Chronicle, (Lond. 1811,) rage 705. Foxe erroneously gives the date 1544.-ED. (2) Filmer is called Finmore in the first edition.-ED. VIII. Persecutors :-Master Ely, Simons a lawyer, Dr. London, Stephen Henry Gardiner, bishop of Winchester; Wriothesley, then secretary to the king, and afterwards lord chancellor ; Southarne, treasurer of A.D. Exeter; Dr. Bruerwood, chancellor of Exeter; Master Knight, Win- 1543. chester's gentleman; Dr. Oking; Dr. Capon, bishop of Sarum; sir William Essex, kt.; sir Thomas Bridges, kt.; sir Humfrey Foster, knight; Master Franklin, dean of Windsor; Master Fachel, of Reading; Bucklayer, the king's attorney; Filmer's brother; Hide, a Jurate dwelling beside Abingdon; Robert Ocham, a lawyer. THE ORIGINAL OF ROBERT TESTWOOD'S TROUBLE. In the year of our Lord 1543, there was one Robert Testwood, dwelling in the city of London, who for his knowledge in music had so great a name, that the musicians in Windsor College thought him a worthy man to have a room among them. Whereupon they informed Dr. Sampson (being then their dean) of him. But, forasmuch as some of the canons had at that time heard of Testwood, how that he smelled of the new learning (as they called it), it would not be consented unto at first. Notwithstanding, with often suit of the aforesaid musicians, made to one Dr. Tate (who, being half a musician himself, bare a great stroke in such matters), a room being void, Testwood was sent for to be heard. And being there four or five days among the choir-men, he was so well liked both for his voice and cunning, that he was admitted, and after settled in Windsor Testwood with his household, and was had in good estimation with the dean into and canons a great while. But when they had perceived him, by his Windsor. often talk at their tables (for he could not well dissemble his religion), that he leaned to Luther's sect, they began to mislike him. And so, passing forth among them, it was his chance, one day, to be at dinner with one of the canons, named Dr. Rawson. At Master that dinner, among others, was one of king Edward's four chantry priests, named Master Ely, an old bachelor of divinity; which Ely, in his talk at the board, began to rail against laymen, who took upon them to meddle with the Scriptures, and to be better learned (knowing no more but the English tongue) than they that had been students in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge all the days of their lives. Then Testwood, perceiving he meant that against him, could forbear his railing no longer, but said, "Master Ely, by your patience, I think it be no hurt for laymen, as I am, to read and to know the Scriptures." "Which of you," quoth Ely, "that be unlearned, knoweth them, or understandeth them? St. Paul saith, 'If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: and, in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.' Now, sir," quoth Ely, "what meaneth St. Paul by these coals of fire ?" " Marry, sir," quoth Testwood, "he meaneth nothing else by them (as I have learned) but burning charity, that, with doing good to our enemies, we should thereby win them." "Ah, sirra," quoth he, "you are an old scholar indeed!" After this they fell into further communication of the pope, whose supremacy was much spoken of at that time, but not known to be received Ely perse cutor. VIII. Henry so far in question in the parliament-house as it was. And in their talk Ely demanded of Testwood, whether the pope ought to be A.D. head of the church or no? against which Testwood durst not say 1543. his full mind, but reasoned within his bounds a great while. But, when they were both well stricken in a heat, Testwood, forgetting himself, chanced to say, that every king, in his own realm and dominion, ought to be the head of the church under Christ: at which words Ely was so chafed, that he rose up from the table in a great realin and fume, calling him heretic, and all that nought was; and so went church is brawling and chiding away, to the great disquieting of all the company that were there. Every king in his own head un derChrist. news of Бирге macy to Windsor. Then was Testwood very sorry to see the old man take it so grievously whereupon, after dinner, he went and sought Master Ely, and found him walking in the body of the church, thinking to have talked with him charitably, and so to have been at one again; but ever as Testwood pressed towards him, the other shunned him, and would not come nigh him, but did spit at him; saying to others that walked by, "Beware of this fellow ! for he is the greatest heretic and schismatic that ever came into Windsor." Now began the matter to brew; for, after that Ely had made his complaint to the dean's deputy, and other of the canons, they were all against Testwood, purposing surely, at the dean's coming home (if all things had chanced even), to have put him to his trump. But see the fortune. It was not twelve days after, ere that the king's supremacy passed in the parliament-house. Whereupon the dean, Dr. The first Sampson, came home suddenly in the night, late, and forthwith sent the king's his verger about to all the canons and ministers of the college, from the highest to the lowest, commanding them to be in the chapterbrought house by eight of the clock in the morning. Then Ely consulted with the canons overnight (as late as it was), and thought on the next day to have put Testwood to a great plunge: "But he that layeth a snare for another man," saith Solomon, "shall be taken in it himself.” And so was Ely; for when the dean and every man were come and placed in the chapter-house, and that the dean had commended the ministers of the church for their diligence in tending the choir, exhorting them also to continue in the same, he began, contrary to every man's expectation, to inveigh against the bishop of Rome's supremacy and usurped authority, confounding the same, by manifest Scriptures and probable reasons, so earnestly, that it was a wonder to hear; and at length declared openly, that by the whole consent of the parliament-house, the pope's supremacy was utterly abolished out of this realm of England for ever; and so commanded every man there, upon his allegiance, to call him pope no more, but bishop of Rome, and whatsoever he were that would not so do, or did from that day forth maintain or favour his cause by any manner of means, he should not only lose the benefit of that house, but be reputed as an utter enemy to God and to the king. The canons, hearing this, were all stricken in a dump: yet notwithstanding, Ely's heart was so to com great, that he would fain have uttered his cankered stomach against plain of Testwood; but the dean (breaking his tale) called him old fool, and called fool took him up so sharply, that he was fain to hold his peace. Then the for his la dean commanded all the pope's pardons which hanged about the Master Ely thinking others, is bour. VIII. church, to be brought into the chapter-house, and cast into the Henry chimney, and burned before all their faces; and so departed. ANOTHER CAUSE OF ROBERT TESTWOOD'S trouble. A. D. 1543. to good Windsor. dehorteth As it chanced Testwood one day to walk in the church at after- Idolatry noon, and to behold the pilgrims, especially of Devonshire and Corn- king wall, how they came in by plumps, with candles and images of wax Henry of in their hands, to offer to good king Henry of Windsor, as they called him, it pitied his heart to see such great idolatry committed, and how vainly the people had spent their goods in coming so far to kiss a spur, and to have an old hat set upon their heads; insomuch that he could not refrain, but, seeing a certain company which had Testwood done their offering and were standing gazing about the church, he the people went unto them, and with all gentleness began to exhort them to from idoleave such false worshipping of dumb creatures, and to learn to worship the true living God aright; putting them in remembrance what those things were which they worshipped, and how God, many times, had plagued his people, for running a whoring to such stocks and stones, and so would plague them and their posterity, if they would not leave it. After this sort he admonished them so long, till at last his words, as God would, took such place in some of them, that they said, they never would go a pilgrimage more. latry. image ter in defaceth image. Then he went further, and found another sort licking and kissing Idolatry a white Lady made of alabaster, which image was mortised in a wall to an behind the high altar, and bordered about with a pretty border, of alabas which was made like branches with hanging apples and flowers. And Windsor. when he saw them so superstitiously use the image, as to wipe their Testwood hands upon it, and then to stroke them over their eyes and faces, the as though there had been great virtue in touching the picture, he up with his hand, in which he had a key, and smote down a piece of the border about the image, and with the glance of the stroke chanced to break off the image's nose. "Lo! good people," quoth he, "you see what it is; nothing but earth and dust, and cannot help itself; and how then will you have it to help you? For God's sake, brethren, be no more deceived." And so he gat him home to his house, for the rumour was so great, that many came to see the image, how it was defaced. And among all others, came one William Simons, a lawyer, who, seeing the image so bewrayed, and to lack her nose, took the matter grievously, and looking down upon the pave- William ment, he spied the image's nose where it lay, which he took up and put in his purse, saying it should be a dear nose to Testwood one day.' Now were many offended with Testwood; the canons, for speaking against their profit; the wax-sellers, for hindering their market; Magna and Simons, for the image's nose. And more than that, there were Diana of the canons' men that threatened to kill him. Hereupon Testwood run, Acts kept his house and durst not come forth, minding to send the whole matter in writing by his wife to Master Cromwell the king's secretary, who was his special friend. The canons, hearing that Testwood would send to Cromwell, sent the verger unto him, to will him to come to the church; who sent them word again, that he was in fear (1) O blind popery! to seek the death of a living man, for the nose of a dead stock. Simons a persecu for. Ephesio xix. VIII. A. D. pists of afraid of Henry of his life, and therefore would not come. Then sent they two of the eldest petty canons to entreat him, and to assure him that no man should do him harm. He made them a plain answer, that he 1543. had no such trust in their promises, but would complain to his The pa friends. Then wist they not what shift to make, for of all men they Windsor feared Cromwell; but sent, in post haste, for old Master Ward, a Crom- justice of peace, dwelling three or four miles off, who, being come, well, are and hearing the matter, was very loath to meddle in it. But notwithfall in standing, through their entreaty, he went to Testwood, and had with Test- much ado to persuade him; but, at last, he did faithfully promise wood. him by the oath he had made to God and the king, to defend him from all danger and harms, so that Testwood was content to go with him. glad to again in danger Testwood And when Master Ward, and Testwood, were come into the of his life. church, and were going toward the chapter-house, where the canons abode their coming, one of the canons' men drew his dagger at Testwood, and would have been upon him, but Master Ward with his man resisted, and got Testwood into the chapter-house, causing the serving-man to be called in, and sharply rebuked by their masters, who straitly commanded him, upon pain of losing their service, and further displeasure, not to touch him, nor to give him an evil word. Now Testwood, being alone in the chapter-house with the canons and Mr. Ward, was gently treated, and the matter so pacified, that Testwood might quietly come and go to the church, and do his duty as he had done before. Thomas rochet made a relic. THIRD CAUSE OF ROBERT TESTWOOD'S TROUBLE. Upon a Relic Sunday (as they named it), when every minister, after their old custom, should have borne a relic in his hand about a procession, one was brought to Testwood; which relic (as they said) was a rochet of bishop Becket's. And as the sexton would have put the rochet in Testwood's hands, he pushed it from him, saying, If he did give it to him, he would make sport withal; and so the rochet was given to another. Then came the verger down from the high altar with St. George's dagger in his hand, demanding who lacked a George's relic. "Marry," quoth Testwood, "give it to Master Hake," who made a stood next him, "for he is a pretty man of his hands:" and so the St. dagger relic. Master Franklin dagger was given unto him. Now Testwood perceiving the dagger in Master Hake's hand, and being merrily disposed (as he was a merry-conceited man), stepped forth out of his place to Dr. Clifton, standing directly before him in the midst of the choir, with a glorious golden cope upon his back, having the pix in his hand, and said, "Sir! Master Hake hath St. George's dagger. Now, if he had his horse, and St. Martin's cloak, and Master John Shorn's boots, with king Harry's spurs, and his hat, he might ride when he would:" and so stepped into his place again. Whereat the other changed colour, and wist not what to say. FOURTH CAUSE OF ROBERT TESTWOOD'S TROUBLE. In the days of Master Franklin, who succeeded Dr. Sampson in dean of the deanery of Windsor, there was, on a time, set up at the choir Windsor. door, a certain foolish printed paper in metre, all to the praise and |