men, yet, through the example and exhortation of her, they, being the more boldened, received occasion of greater comfort in that so painful and doleful kind of death; who, beholding her invincible constancy, and also stirred up through her persuasions, did set apart all kind of fear. Thus they, confirming one another with mutual exhortations, tarried looking for the tormentor and fire, which, at the last, flaming round about them, consumed their blessed bodies in happy martyrdom, in the year of our salvation 1546, about the month of June.1 There is also a certain letter extant, which the said John Lacels briefly wrote, being in prison, touching the sacrament of Christ's body and blood; wherein he doth both confute the error of them, who, being not contented with the spiritual receiving of the sacrament, will leave no substance of bread therein, and, also, confuteth the sinister interpretation of many thereupon: the tenor of which letter is as hereunder followeth. The Copy of the Letter of John Lacels, written out of Prison. St. Paul, because of sects and dissension among the Corinthians, wrote this epistle unto them; and, in like case pertaining to my conscience, I do protest my whole heart in the blessed supper of the Lord; wherein I trust in God to bring nothing for me, but I shall be able, with God's holy word, to declare and manifest the same. And herein I take occasion to recite the saying of St. Paul, in the said epistle, chap. xi., 'That which I delivered unto you, I received of the Lord. For the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, gave thanks, and brake it, and said, Take ye, eat ye; this is my body, which is broken for you.' Henry VIII. A. D. 1546. and wick Here, me seemeth, St. Paul durst not take upon him his Lord and Master's Blas authority. Wherefore, as at God's hand the breaking of the most innocent and phemy immaculate body and blood of Christ is the quietness of all men's consciences, edness of the only remedy of our sins, and the redemption of mankind, which is called in the mass. the Scripture the daily offering: so the mass, which is the invention of man (whose author is the pope of Rome, as it doth appear in Polydore Virgil and many others), is the unquietness of all Christendom, a blasphemy unto Christ's blood, and (as Daniel calleth it) the abominable desolation, as the Scripture A proshall hereafter more manifest it. St. Paul was, belike to learn of the Romans' phecy. church, the manner of the consecration as they call it, with the breathing over did not the host, and other ceremonies besides, that he durst not take upon him to say, take upon 'Hoc est corpus meum.' But this I will admit it was the Lord Jesus that him in made the supper; who also did finish it, and made an end of the only act of son of our salvation, not only here in this world, but with his Father in heaven; as Christ to he declareth himself, that he will drink no more of this bitter cup, till he drink say, 'Hoc it new in his Father's kingdom, where all bitterness shall be taken away. St. Paul the per est corpus meum," None but 'Hoc est Now, if any man be able to finish the act of our Saviour, in breaking of his as our body, and shedding of his blood here, and also to finish it with the Father in priests do. heaven, then let him say it. But I think that if men will look upon St. Paul's words well, they shall be forced to say, as St. Paul saith, The Lord Jesus said it;' and once for all, who only was the fulfiller of it. For these words 'Hoc Christ est corpus meum,' were spoken of his natural presence (which no man is able can say, to deny), because the act was finished on the cross, as the story doth plainly corpus manifest it to them that have eyes. Now this bloody sacrifice is made an end meum,' of; the supper is finished, forasmuch as Christ hath once suffered for sins, the and he just for the unjust, to bring us to God, and was killed as pertaining to the flesh, once for and hath entered in by his own blood once for all, into the holy place, and all. found eternal redemption.' '3 Here now followeth the administration of the supper of the Lord, which I will take at Christ's hands after the resurrection, although other men will not (1) Stowe says July 16th. See his Annals (fol. Lond. 1631,) p. 592.-ED. (2) 1 Cor. xi. 23. (3) 1 Pet. iii. 18; Heb. ix. 12 said it Henry supper in the apostles' time. And be ashamed to bring the wicked counsels of foolish inventions for them. A.D. nister extendeth in consecrating the supper. The faithful and reverend confes Furthermore, I do steadfastly believe, that where the bread is broken according to the ordinance of Christ, the blessed and immaculate Lamb is present to the eyes of our faith, and so we eat his flesh, and drink his blood, which is, to dwell with God, and God with us. And in this we are sure we dwell with God, in that he giveth us his Holy Spirit, even as the forefathers, that were before Christ's coming, did presently see the Lord's death, and did eat his body, and drink his blood. In this I do differ from the pope's church, that the priests have authority to make Christ's natural presence in the bread, for so doth he more than our Lord and Saviour did; as the example is manifest in Judas, who, at Christ's hands, received the same wine and bread as the other apostles did. But the pope and his adherents are even they whom Daniel speaketh of, saying, 'He shall set men to unhallow the sanctuary, and to put down the daily offering, and to set up the abominable desolation. Yea, he' of Rome, 'shall speak marvellous things against the God of heaven, and God of all gods, wherein he shall prosper so long, till the wrath be fulfilled, for the conclusion is devised already. He shall not regard the God of heaven, nor the God of his fathers, yea in his place shall he worship the mighty idol, and the God whom his fathers knew not, which is the god Maozim.' For lack of time, I leave the commemoration of the blessed supper of the Lord, and the abominable idol the mass, which is it that Daniel meaneth by the god Maozim. Read the second and last chapters of Daniel, and 2 Thess. ii., where they recite the abomination of desolation, which Matthew saith, 'standeth in the holy place," that is, in the consciences of men. Mark saith, where it ought not to stand,'s which is a plain denial of all the inventions of men. Further, Luke saith, the time is at hand.' Paul saith, the mystery of iniquity worketh already, yea, and shall continue till the appearance of Christ,'10 which in my judgment is at hand. Now for the supper of the Lord, I do protest to take it as reverently as Christ left it, and as his apostles did use it, according to the testimonies of the prophets, the apostles, and our blessed Saviour Christ, which accordingly St. sion of Paul to the Ephesians doth recite. Lacels, touching Now, with quietness, I commit the whole world to their pastor and herdsthe Lord's man Jesus Christ, the only Saviour and true Messias, and I commend my sovesupper. reign lord and master the king's majesty, king Henry VIII., to God the Father, and to our Lord Jesus Christ: the queen, and my lord the prince, with this whole realm, ever to the innocent and immaculate Lamb, that his blood may wash and purify their hearts and souls from all iniquity and sin, to God's glory, and to the salvation of their souls. I do protest, that the inward part of my heart doth groan for this; and I doubt not but to enter into the holy tabernacle which is above, yea, and there to be with God for ever. Farewell in Christ Jesu. John Lacels, late servant to the king, and now I trust to serve the everlasting King, with the testimony of my blood in Smithfield. (2) Acts ii. 47. (3) 1 Cor. xi. 26. (1) Luke xxiv. 31. (4) Chap. xi. 36. (10) 2 Thess. ii. 7. In Annæ Askevæ constantissimæ Fœminæ et Martyris Bustum, Lictor incestis manibus cruente, Fortius istis pietas nitescit Instat immani rabidus furore Exprimit nullum tamen illa nomen : Artubus luxis resoluta cedunt Ossa juncturis: nihil e pudico Sola enim nullis potuit moveri Ergo quæ nullis aliis revinci Sola nequaquam potitur brabeio One Kogers, a Martyr, burned in Smithfield. Like as Winchester and other bishops did set on king Henry against Anne Askew and her fellow martyrs, so Dr. Repse, bishop of Norwich, did incite no less the old duke of Norfolk against one Rogers in the county of Norfolk; who, much about the same year and time, was there condemned and suffered martyrdom for the six articles. After which time it was not long, but within a half year, both the king himself, and the duke's house decayed: albeit, the duke's house, by God's grace, recovered again afterwards, and he himself converted to more moderation in this kind of dealing. The Story of Queen Katharine Parr, late Queen, and Wife to king IN WHEREIN APPEARETH WHAT DANGER SHE WAS FOR THE STEPHEN GARDINER AND OTHERS OF HOW GRACIOUSLY SHE WAS PRESERVED BY HER KIND AND LOVING HUSBAND THE KING. After these stormy stories above recited, the course and order as well of the time as the matter of the story doth require now somewhat to treat, likewise, touching the troubles and afflictions of the virtuous and excellent lady queen Katharine Parr, the last wife to king Henry: the story whereof is this. Henry VIII. A. D. 1546. of queen Katha rine Parr God's About the same time above noted, which was about the year after The relithe king returned from Boulogne, he was informed that queen Katha- gious zeal rine Parr, at that time his wife, was very much given to the reading and study of the holy Scriptures, and that she, for that purpose, toward had retained divers well learned and godly persons to instruct her thoroughly in the same; with whom as, at all times convenient, she used to have private conference touching spiritual matters, so also of ordinary; but especially in Lent, every day in the afternoon, for the space of an hour, one of her said chaplains, in her privy chamber, (1) See the Latin Edition. Basle, 1559, p. 200.-ED. word. VIII. Henry made some collation to her and to her ladies and gentlewomen of her privy chamber, or others that were disposed to hear; in which serA. D. mons they ofttimes touched such abuses as in the church then were 1546. rife. As these things were not secretly done, so neither were their preachings unknown to the king; whereof, at first, and for a great time, he seemed very well to like. This made her the more bold (being indeed become very zealous toward the gospel, and the professors thereof) frankly to debate with the king touching religion, and The ex- therein flatly to discover herself; oftentimes wishing, exhorting, and persuading the king, that as he had, to the glory of God, and his eternal fame, begun a good and a godly work in banishing that monstrous idol of Rome, so he would thoroughly perfect and finish the same, cleansing and purging his church of England clean from the dregs thereof, wherein as yet remained great superstition. hortation of queen Katha rine to the king. The king toward his latter end wax ed more impatient. Virtuous inclina tion of queen Katha wards the king. spirers against the gos And albeit the king grew, towards his latter end, very stern and opinionate, so that of few he could be content to be taught, but worst of all to be contended withal by argument; notwithstanding, towards her he refrained his accustomed manner (unto others in like case used), as appeared by great respects, either for the reverence of the cause, whereunto of himself he seemed well inclined, if some others could have ceased from seeking to pervert him, or else, for the singular affection, which, until a very small time before his death, he always bare unto her. For never handmaid sought with more careful diligence to please her mistress, than she did, with all painful endeavour, apply herself, by all virtuous means, in all things to please his humour. Moreover, besides the virtues of the mind, she was endued with very rare gifts of nature, as singular beauty, favour, and comely personage, being things wherein the king was greatly delighted: and so rine to enjoyed she the king's favour, to the great likelihood of the setting at large of the gospel within this realm at that time, had not the malicious practice of certain enemies professed against the truth (which at that time also were very great), prevented the same, to the utter alienating of the king's mind from religion, and almost to the extreme ruin of the queen and certain others with her, if God had not marvelEnemies lously succoured her in that distress. The conspirers and practisers and con- of her death were Gardiner bishop of Winchester, Wriothesley, then lord chancellor, and others, as well of the king's privy chamber, as of his privy council. These, seeking (for the furtherance of their ungodly purpose) to revive, stir up, and kindle, evil and pernicious humours in their prince and sovereign lord, to the intent to deprive her of this great favour which then she stood in with the king (which they not a little feared would turn to the utter ruin of their antichristian sect, if it should continue), and thereby to stop the passage of the gospel; and consequently (having taken away her, who was the only patroness of the professors of the truth), openly, without fear of check or controlment, with fire and sword, after their accustomed manner, to invade the small remainder, as they hoped, of that poor flockmade their wicked entry unto this their mischievous enterprise, after this manner following. pel. The king's majesty, as you have heard, misliked to be contended withal in any kind of argument. This humour of his, although not VIII. 1546. some contrary in argu diffi in smaller matters, yet in causes of religion as occasion served, the Henry queen would not stick, in reverent terms and humble talk, entering with him into discourse, with sound reasons of Scripture now and A.D. then to contrary; the which the king was so well accustomed unto in those matters, that at her hands he took all in good part, or, at The king least, did never show countenance of offence thereat: which did not times a little appal her adversaries to hear and see. During which time, to the perceiving her so thoroughly grounded in the king's favour, they durst queen not for their lives once open their lips unto the king in any respect ment. to touch her, either in her presence, or behind her back. And so long she continued this her accustomed usage, not only of hearing private sermons (as is said), but also of her free conference with the king Waxeth in matters of religion, without all peril; until, at the last, by reason sickly of his sore leg (the anguish whereof began more and more to increase), and di he waxed sickly, and therewithal froward, and difficult to be pleased. please. In the time of this his sickness, he had left his accustomed manner of coming, and visiting the queen and therefore she, according ast she understood him, by such assured intelligence as she had about him, to be disposed to have her company, sometimes being sent for, at other times of herself, would come to visit him, either after dinner or after supper, as was most fit for her purpose: at which times she would not fail to use all occasions to move him, according to her manner, zealously to proceed in the reformation of the church. The sharpness of the disease had sharpened the king's accustomed Beginpatience, so that he began to show some tokens of misliking; and, net to contrary unto his manner, upon a day breaking off that matter, he the took occasion to enter into other talk, which somewhat amazed the queen to whom, notwithstanding, in her presence he gave neither evil word nor countenance, but knit up all arguments with gentle words and loving countenance; and after other pleasant talk, she, for that time, took her leave of his majesty; who, after his manner, bidding her "Farewell, sweet heart!" (for that was his usual term to the queen,) licensed her to depart. queen. ter taketh mischief. At this visitation chanced the bishop of Winchester aforenamed Winchesto be present, as also at the queen's taking her leave (who very well occasion had printed in his memory the king's sudden interrupting of the to work queen in her tale, and falling into other matter), and thought, that if the iron were beaten whilst it was hot, and that the king's humour were holpen, such misliking might follow towards the queen, as might both overthrow her, and all her endeavours; and he only awaited some occasion to renew in the king's memory the former misliked argument. His expectation in that behalf did nothing fail him; for the king at that time showed himself no less prompt and ready to receive any information, than the bishop was maliciously bent to stir up the king's indignation against her. The king, immediately upon her departure from him, used these or like words: "A good hearing," quoth he, "it is, when women become such clerks; and a thing much to my comfort, to come in mine old days to be taught by my wife." The bishop, hearing this, seemed to mislike that the queen should His words so much forget herself as to take upon her to stand in any argument king with his majesty, whom he, to his face, extolled for his rare virtues, and especially, for his learned judgment in matters of religion, above to the |