VIII.

to 1544.

prosper

Henry favourable unto them (to wit, the lord Gray, sir George Carew, and sir Richard Grenville), who purged the town of those slanders that A. D. untruly were raised upon it, were there-for, for a time, in their prince's 1539 high displeasure; within that year they were all three in greater favour with his majesty than ever they were before, and that not without the reward of twenty pounds by year to him and to his heirs, How God who had least. The other eight councillors, unjustly charging them and the town with sedition and heresy (that is to say, the lord Lisle, to his gos- the lord Sands, sir John Wallop, sir Edward Kingsly, Robert Fowler, turneth esquire, vice-treasurer; sir Thomas Palmer, knight, called Long the ma- Palmer; William Simpson, esquire, under-marshal; and John their ene- Rockwood), were either greatly out of their prince's favour, and in their own the Tower, or else were prisoners, or else by very desperate deaths, in outward appearance, taken out of this world.

eth the friends

pel, and

lice of

mies upon

head.

For tediousness, I will rehearse but only the horrible end of the said Rockwood, the chief stirrer-up of all the afflictions afore spoken of; who, even to his last breath, staring and raging, cried, he was utterly damned. And being willed to ask God mercy, who was God's ready to forgive all that asked mercy of him, he brayed and cried judgment out," All too late, for I have sought maliciously the deaths of o cruel per- number of the most honest men in the town; and though I sa

The ex

ample of

upon a

secutor.

thought them in my heart, yet I did what lay in me to bring them to an evil death all too late therefore, all too late!" Which same words he answered to one, who, at the departure of the thirteen in irons towards England, said, "Sir! I never saw men of such honesty so sharply corrected, and taking it so patiently and joyfully." Rockwood then, fetching a frisk or two, scoffingly answered, "All too late!" The under-marshal suddenly fell down in the council-chamber, and never spake a word after, nor showed any token of remembrance. The plagues of the others also, as I am credibly informed' were little better.

THE SECOND APPREHENSION OF ADAM DAMLIP; WITH HIS
MARTYRDOM.

Concerning Adam Damlip, otherwise called George Bucker, ye heard before declared, how he, being convented before the bishops at Lambeth, and afterwards secretly admonished, and having money given him by his friends to avoid, and not to appear again before the bishops; after he had sent his allegations in writing unto them, departed into the west country, and there continued teaching a school a certain space, about a year or two. After that, the good man was again apprehended by the miserable inquisition of the Six Articles, and brought up to London, where he was, by Stephen Gardiner, commanded into the Marshalsea, and there lay the space of other two years or thereabouts.

During the imprisonment of this Damlip in the Marshalsea, John Marbeck (as partly ye heard before) was also committed unto the same prison, which was the morrow after Palm Sunday. The manner of that time so required, that at Easter every person must needs come to confession. Whereupon Marbeck, with the rest of the prisoners there, was enforced to come upon Easter-day to sir George

VIII.

contessor

Bucker aforesaid, to be confessed, who was then confessor to the Henry whole house. By this occasion John Marbeck, who had never seen him before, entering into conference with him, perceived what A.D. he was, what he had been, what troubles he sustained, how long he 1544. had lain there in prison, by whom and wherefore; who declared, George moreover, his mind to Marbeck, to the effect as followeth : "And Bucker, now, because," said he, "I think they have forgotten me, I am fully to the priminded to make my humble suit to the bishop of Winchester, in an the Marepistle, declaring therein mine obedience, humble submission, and earnest desire to come to examination. I know the worst: I can but lose my life present, which I had rather do, than here to remain, and not to be suffered to use my talent to God's glory. Wherefore, God willing, I will surely put it in proof."

soners in

shalsea.

well

especially

thekeeper

This Damlip, for honest and godly behaviour, was beloved of all Damlip the whole house, but especially of the keeper himself, whose name beloved was Massy, whom he always called master; and being suffered to go the priat liberty within the house whither he would, he did much good soners, among the common and rascal sort of prisoners, in rebuking vice and of Massy, sin, and kept them in such good order and awe, that the keeper of the thought himself to have a great treasure in him. And no less also MarshalMarbeck himself confesseth, to have found great comfort by him; for, notwithstanding the straight precept given by the bishop of Winchester, that no man should come to him, nor he to speak with any man, yet the said Adam many times would find the means to come and comfort him.

sea.

writeth

Now, when he had made and drawn out his epistle, he delivered the Damlip same to his master the keeper, upon Saturday in the morning, which to the was about the second week before Whitsunday following, desiring bishop of him to deliver it at the court, to the bishop of Winchester. The ter. keeper said, he would; and so did. The bishop, what quick speed he made for his dispatch I know not, but thus it fell out, as ye shall hear.

sendeth

out a precept for

Damlip.

The keeper came home at night very late, and when the prisoners Gardiner (who had tarried supper for his coming) saw him so sad and heavy, they deemed something to be amiss. At last the keeper, casting up the exehis eyes upon sir George! said, "O George, I can tell thee tidings." cution of "What is that, master?" quoth he. "Upon Monday next thou and I must go to Calais." "To Calais, master? What to do?" "I know not," quoth the keeper: and pulled out of his purse a piece of wax with a little label of parchment hanging out thereat, which seemed to be a precept. And when sir George saw it, he said, "Well, well, master, now I know what the matter is." "What?" Cheerfu! quoth the keeper. Truly, master, I shall die in Calais." " Nay," of Damquoth the keeper, "I trust it to be not so." "Yes, yes, master; it is most true, and I praise God for his goodness therein." And so the keeper and they went together to supper, with heavy cheer for sir George, as they there called him; who, notwithstanding, was merry himself, and did eat his meat as well as ever he did in all his life insomuch that some at the board said unto him, that they marvelled how he could eat his meat so well, knowing he was so near his death. 66 Ah, masters!" quoth he, "do you think that I have been God's prisoner so long in the Marshalsca, and have not yet

66

" constancy lip.

Henry learned to die? Yes, yes, and I doubt not but God will strengthen me therein."

VIII. A.D.

*At2 length it came to pass, that by the bishop of Winchester's 1544. diligent pursuing of the aforesaid Adam Damlip (for he was always

brought

to suffer.

excellent good at the sucking of innocent blood), this godly man was gotten again into their hands, that first laid heresy to his charge; * Damlip for, on Monday, early in the morning before day, the keeper to Calais with three other of the knight-marshal's servants, setting out of London, conveyed the said Adam Damlip to Calais upon the Ascension even, and there committed him to the mayor's prison. Upon the same day John Butler, the commissary aforesaid, and sir Daniel, his curate of St. Peter's, were also committed to the same prison, and commandment given for no man to speak with Butler.

stant courage of

not caring

for his death.

Upon Saturday next was the day of execution for Damlip. The cause which first they laid to his charge, was for heresy. But, because by an act of parliament all such offences, done before a certain day, were pardoned (through which act he could not be burdened with any thing that he had preached or taught before), yet, for the receiving of the aforesaid French crown of cardinal Pole (as you heard before), he was condemned of treason, and in Calais cruelly put to death; being drawn, hanged, and quartered.

66

The day before his execution, came unto him one Master Mote, then parson of our Lady's church in Calais, saying, "Your four quarters shall be hanged at four parts of the town." "And where shall my head be?" said Damlip. "Upon the Lantern gate," said The con- Mote. Then Damlip answered, "Then shall I not need to provide for my burial." At his death, sir Ralph Ellerker knight, then knightDamlip, marshal there, would not suffer the innocent and godly man to declare either his faith, or the cause he died for, but said to the executioner, " Dispatch the knave; have done!" For sir William Mote, appointed there to preach, declared to the people, how he had Lamlip been a sower of seditious doctrine; and albeit he was for that pardoned by the general pardon, yet he was condemned for being a traitor against the king. To the which when Adam Damlip would innocent- have replied and purged himself, the aforesaid sir Ralph Ellerker would not suffer him to speak a word, but commanded him to be had away. And so, most meekly, patiently, and joyfully, the blessed and innocent martyr took his death, sir Ralph Ellerker saying, that An ex- he would not away before he saw the traitor's heart out. But, God's just shortly after, the said sir Ralph Ellerker, in a skirmish or rout revenge between the Frenchmen and us at Boulogne, was, among others,

falsely accused

of treason, and

ly put to death.

ample of

ment.

slain; whose only death sufficed not his enemies, but after they had stripped him stark naked, they shamefully mutilated him, and cut the heart out of his body; and so left him a terrible example to all bloody and merciless men. For no cause was known why they showed such indignation against the said sir Ralph Ellerker, more than against the rest, but that it is written, "Faciens justitias Dominus et judicia, omnibus injuria pressis;" *and3 because his innocent blood, as Abel's did, cried unto God.

Our Lord grant unto the like offenders grace, speedily, by that

(1) Ex Literis Johan. Marbecki.

(2) See Edition 1563, p. 665.-ED. (3) See Edition 1563, p. 666.-ED.

VIII.

lively and terrible example, either heartily to repent, or else to give Henry like profitable example to such as would not be warned by other men's evils.*

A. D. 1544. Another

Butler,

Daniel

As touching John Butler, and sir Daniel his curate, imprisoned (as ye heard) the same day with Damlip, upon Sunday next following trouble of they were committed to John Massy aforesaid, keeper of the John Marshalsea, and his company, and brought to the Marshalsea, where and sir he and his curate continued nine months and more. At last, being his cusore laid unto by sir George Gage, sir John Baker, and sir Thomas rate. Arundel, knights, but especially by Stephen Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, for the retaining of Adam Damlip, yet, by friends soliciting the king's highness for him (namely sir Leonard Musgrave, and his brother Baunster, who were bound for his appearance in a thousand pounds), he, at length, by great labour and long time, was discharged, and, at last, by license permitted to return to Calais again.'

an ear

falsely

ed for po

Furthermore, as touching William Stevens above mentioned, who Stevens, remained all this while prisoner in the Tower, the same was also con- nest prodemned with Adam Damlip of treason; which was, for note and testant crime of popery, in lodging Adam Damlip the traitor, who came condemnfrom cardinal Pole, in his house, at the lord deputy's commandment. pery, but Notwithstanding, the king afterward, understanding more of the said with the William Stevens, how innocent he was from that crime, being known doned by to all men to be an earnest and zealous protestant, gave him his pardon, and sent him home again to Calais; and so, likewise, all the other thirteen above mentioned.

THE STORY OF A POOR LABOURING MAN, AND ALSO OF ONE
DODD, A SCOTCHMAN, BURNED IN CALAIS.

rest, par

the king.

By the credible information and writing of the said Calais men, who were then in trouble, it is reported of a certain poor labouring man of Calais, that after the preaching of Adam Damlip, being in a certain company, he said that he would never believe that a priest could make the Lord's body at his pleasure. Whereupon he was then accused, and also condemned by one Harvey, commissary there; which Harvey, in time of his judgment inveighing against him with opprobrious words, said, that he was a heretic, and should die a vile death. The poor man (whose name yet I have not certainly learned), answering for himself again, said that he was no heretic, but was in a notable the faith of Christ: "And whereas thou sayest," said he, "that I "that I example shall die a vile death, thou thyself shalt die a viler death, and that judgment shortly." And so it came to pass; for, within half a year after, the bloody said Harvey was hanged, drawn, and quartered, for treason, in the said town of Calais.

of God's

upon a

persecutor.

burned in

After the burning of this poor man, there was also another certain One Dodd scholar, counted to be a Scotchman, named Dodd, who, coming out Calais. of Germany, was there taken with certain German books about him ; and, being examined thereupon, and standing constantly to the truth. that he had learned, was therefore condemned to death, and there

(1) Ex scripto testimonio Caletiensium.

VIII.

Henry burned in the said town of Calais, within the space of a year, or thereabouts, after the other godly martyr above mentioned.

A.D.

1544.

William Crossbow

question.

THE STORY OF WILLIAM CROSSBOWMAKER, BEARING A BILLET
IN CALAIS.

And, forasmuch as I am presently in hand with matters of Calais, I cannot pass from thence without the memory of another certain honest man of the same township, named William Button, alias Crossbowmaker; although the time of this story is a little more ancient in years: which story is this.

William Crossbowmaker, a soldier of Calais, and the king's servant, being a man (as some natures be) somewhat pleasantly disposed, maker's used, when he met with priests, to demand of them certain merry questions of pastime; as these: Whether, if a man were suddenly taken, and wanted another thing, he might not without offence occupy one of the pope's pardons instead of a broken paper?

Another question was, Whether in the world might better be wanting, dogs or priests? And if it were answered that dogs might rather be spared; to that he would reply again and infer, that if there were no dogs, we could make no more; but if there lacked ignorant priests, we might soon, and too soon, make too many of them.

66

It happened in the time of Dr. Darly, parson of our Lady's church in Calais, being commissary there for archbishop Warham, there came a black friar to Calais with the pope's pardons, who, for four pence, would deliver a soul out of purgatory. The friar was full of Romish virtues, for what money came for pardons by day, he bought no land with it at night. This aforesaid William Button, alias Crossbowmaker, coming to the pardoner, and pretending that he would deliver his father and friends' souls, asked, if the holy father the pope could deliver souls out of purgatory? The friar said, "There is no doubt of that." Why then," quoth Button, "doth not he, of charity, deliver all the souls thereout?" Of which words he was accused to the commissary; who, at his appearing before the said commissary, confessed to have asked such questions. The comHeresy, missary, being angry thereat, said, "Doubtest thou thereof, thou to doubt heretic?" There was standing by a black friar named Capel, an Englishman, who said to the commissary, "There be ten thousand of these heretics between Gravelines and Triers." Button answered, "Master friar! of all men you may keep silence; for your coat hath been twice cut off from the faith. The first time your order was enjoined to have your black coat shorter than your white; and, for the second time, your order must go to the furthest part of their church, and there sing an anthem of our Lady." The commissary chafed at these words, calling Button "heretic," with many other opprobrious words. Then said Button to the commissary, "If your holy father the pope may deliver souls out of purgatory, and will not of charity deliver them, then, I would to God the king would make me pope, and I would surely deliver all out without money." At these words the commissary raged, and reviled Button exceedingly,

of the pope's charity.

(1) This anthem the black friars were enjoined to sing every night to our Lady, in praise of her conception.