The Tragical death of David Beaton Bishop of saint Andrew's in Scotland. Whereunto is joined the martyrdom of master George Wyseharte gentleman, for whose sake the aforesaid bishop was not long after slain. Wherein thou mayst learn what a burning charity they showed not only towards him: but unto all such as come to their hands for the blessed Gospel's sake. ☞ ☜ ☜ ❧ Roberte Burrant to the reader. ATtendauntly considering (most benign reader) the effect of this Tragical writ, such was the tenderness of mine affection, that I could do no less than the same, with such knowledge as in me lieth, make manifest to all men's understandings, to the good example, and no less profit of all creatures, & especially of those whom God hath of his secret motion, freely called to the administration of his spiritual gifts. Wherein I do most chief note the secret judgement of God, The secret judgement of God executed in all ages. which hath not only been now declared by the most wretched slaughter of this member of Antichrist, but also heretofore in all times and ages even from the first creation of man, to this present time of our sensible understanding of this example & many others chaunceinge to like effect. For after that God had made God first entered into judgement with Adam. Adam in his perfection and associated him with a companion for his comfort: He gave unto him incontinently certain precepts, which he commanded most diligently to be observed, that is, to use all his heavenvly gifts contained within Paradise to his most delectation, saving one poor silly tree, which he had reserved to his godly pleasure. But this oblivious minister Adam, having more respect to the flattering tongue of Eva, who had received a corrupt doctrine of the serpent, and with light persuasion inkenled in his heart with the pestilent flame of vain glory, in that he thought to attain to the estimation to know both good and evil, and so be made equal in knowledge with God, was by just and secret judgement of God deprived of his administration, ex pulsed out of Paradise, and made a slave and vile bondman to death and sin. notwithstanding the wrath of God did not so far entre into judgement with Adam, that he did utterly forsake him, but yet once more made him a ministre upon the earth, & gave him Civil power give to Adam in earth. civil power to rule all his creatures therein, & to constitute other rulers under him. By the which authority Adam did substitute Cain his elder son & Abel his brother like civil officers unto God. But Cain being a spiteful Cain an envious and covetous minister. and envious minister, willing his own prefermente, boasting his hypocritical deeds, judging evil of his brother's conscience, misusing his function, unsaylled in his administration, understanding not his vocation: yea coveting himself only to be in office, and his unpure sacrifice to seem most best, began most tyrannously to persecute his brother & at the last slew him to the high displeasure of god: whereupon almighty god proceeding into definite sentence of his most secret The judgement of god against Cain and all his issue. judgement with Cain, gave him up into like death, and all his posterity lineally descending from him was consumed in the flood of Noe. In the which flood is in like case to be noted the great Ire and wrath of god against the universal world, for that The judgement of god against the whole world, they contemned him. For their adultery and tyrannte, wherein they most abominably did use all kind of filthy and vicious living. For the text sayeth. The sons of the godly began to wax tyrants upon the earth. ❧ After this stoude, the seed of man being multiplied again, to some numbered, among the Chaldeis The justice of God against the Chaldeis. they began to build a city, and a strong tower, and called it Babylon, whereby they thought in their foolish cogitations to prostrate unto their obeisance the universal earth. But God of his divine power forcing their foolish thoughts, and wicked Imaginations, prevented them, and ministered unto them his justice, confounding their speeches, whereby their works were left unperfected, their councils broken, their Kingdom in process made desolate, and led away captive by the Assyrians, and so came to an utter destruction. And not without just cause did God precede with this wicked generation into judgement, for by them arose the first The first occasion of Idolatry. occasion of Idolatry. For when the godly among them, made sacrifice unto God, it so pleased God to kindle their sacrifice (which they had prepared) with fire from heaven. The ungodly following their manner of sacrifice, brunt it in like fashion with fire, and so of their imaginations and dreams made a new sacrifice unto God, without express commandment of the word of God, or else having any trust in the promise of Christ's coming. The same vengeance of God was not absent from King Pharaoh, who with obstinate Pharaoh. will and purpose abusing the might of his civil power, did most cruelly persecute the children of God. God looked upon the house of Israel, and among kings there sat he in judgement, where he found Abimelech guilty of his brother's Abimelech death, and him left not unplagued for his offence. Into the same judgement entered god with Saul, who for his malicious stomach and stubborn heart against the elect of God, miserably perished, the sceptre and kingly honour being taken away from his posterity, yea, he last of all rigned among his generation, and together Saul. with him utterly died his generation. And the kingdom was delivered into the hands of David the anointed of god. Although that Asa deserved much commendation, for that he abrogated Asa. the vain & superstitious honouring of god in so much that he spared not to punish his own natural mother in this behalf, for she also used a certain superstition in her religion: yet escaped not he this straight judgement of god, for that he had wrought a certain conspiracy, & had set apart his trust and hope in god. joram commanded the Elders of the realm & his Joram brethren to be slain, and he was the author of a new Idolatry, wherefore god for his iniquity plagued him, and gave him over into the hands of the Philistians, by whom he was slain, his wife and children led away prisoners, saving his youngest son Dchosias'. Ochosias'. who following the steps of his father renewed false religion, wherefore god extended his Ire against him, & gave him over into destruction. Howbeit his mother Athalia Athalia when she saw her son dead, dreading lest some of his kindred would take upon him the crown, she commanded that all, which remained of the kings blood should be slain. And so by this means the salomon's blood destroyed. stock & whole house of Solomon was extinguished for the only cause of disobeying god's word, for the maintenance of Idolatry, & despising true religion. And Athalia her Athalia slain. self for her tyranny & usurpation contrary the will of god escaped not unavenged. For the high priest commanded her to be slain as an enemy to god's truth, and unmeet ministre in the house of the Lord. joas was an holy man, & loved well to hear joiada preach the word joas of god, as long as he lived, but when joiada was dead, he fell to Idolatry, & killed the prophet zachary joiada son before the temple. And for this, gods will was that he should be punished among the Syrians, and at the last he was strangled among his own servants. A story of like effect we read of king Amasias. This Amasias when he was first chosen king, wholly disposed Amasias himself to godly living, and elected to hear the prophets preach, & for that cause god made him fortunate against the Idumers. But incontinuaunce he began to were proud against god, and being constrained of no necessity, to fulfil his own sensual appetite, he would needs have war, wherein he was taken prisoner, and so died wretchedly. And as Ozias, otherwise called Asarias' Ozias alias Asarias' succeeded him in administration of the kingdom, so like wise he followed him in state and condition of living, for at the beginning he was virtuous and a favourer of the word of God, and had thorough the help of god, a notable victory against the Philistians. afterward where as he would have done sacrifice in the temple contrary the commandment of god, he was stricken with an horrible leprosy. I may not in this place forget Achas, who also ordained Achas. false religion, and of a perverse study & affection conceived in superstition, he builded chapels and altars every where throughout all his realm, but god espied him, and gave him and all his realm into the spoil of strangers. No partial judge was god who spared not his anger from his only chosen people, and the posterity and offspring of Abraham, to whom he made so great and faithful promises: but justly punished them in the sixth year of Ezechias, when the king of the Assyrians conquered the city of Samaria, and led away captive the. x. tribes of Israel. For that they had instituted The. x. tribes of Israel. a peculiar and a strange religion within themselves, taught a new doctrine, and made sacrifice contrary the decrees which god had given over them, abusing themselves under the pretence of God's word and name, to maintain and uphold their private power and usurped Kingdom. What secret judgement God used with Manasse, how righteously he deite with him, let your Manasse consciences judge. Wicked and ab horninable was his administration, for of a false & diabolical zeal of holiness he burned his own sons in steed of sacrifice unto the lord, he persecuted the prophets, and sawed Esaias the holy one in sunder. Yet being taken of his enemies, knowledging his detestable facts, god took him into favour. Did not god abbreviate and shortten the kingdom of Amon, and gave him over into the hands of Amon his own servants to be slain, for his wicked administration before the Lord: Who would think that God would have been displeased with josias, which suppressed all false religion, pulled down, josias. the chapels and Idols, and commanded the bones of the false preachers to be burned, whom they had tofore misused for relics: Yea, he restored the books of Moses which had been hidden away a long time. That not withstanding, where as he thought that all things would frame well and luckily with him, because he was so holt a man, because he did so many good deeds of charity, he would needs fyghie with the King of Egypte, who would gladly have lived in peace and requiring the same at josias hand. But josias presuming upon his holiness, and trusting in his own strength, was strooken to death in the same battle. And although these were sufficient to fear any christians heart, willing to subdue his stubborn & to much swelling stomach against the will of the Lord, yet I will briefly recite (so that ye shall not think it tedious) how god did prostrate and utterly destroy the persecutors of his faithful people, and the stout rebellions against his word in the rest of the age of the world, as I hitherto have begun. Did not the pertinacy and stout stomach of Sedechias despising the godly preaching of Hieremias Sedechias make god angry with him and suffer him to be taken prisoner, his own sons to be killed afore his face, his eyes to be plucked out of his head, the parents to eat their own children for hunger, the city of Jerusalem to be destroyed, the temple (whom he had commanded to be builded) consumed with fire, the most chosen part of the people of juda brought into captivity of the babylonians. God of his most secret judgement stirred up the hearts of the Medtans and Persians against Balthasar, who Balthasar blasphemed the name of God, and abused the vessels of the lords house (dedicated to his holy administration) in the Bankatyng●●● his concubines. And so through this blaspheming and stout resistance of goddesholy will, the city of Babylon was conquered and the whole empire of the Chaldeis and Assyrians made subject to the rule of the Persians. I cannot omit the tyrannical and bloody persecution of Aman the vicegerent to kynge Assuerus who thorough Amos his power and subtle engine had obtained a commission of the king to destroy God's people under the name of jews, whereby he was sure to have the godly queen Hester put to death. But god being, a present remedy to his elect rewarded Aman with the same gibbet or halter, which he prepared for god's people. How long did god defer his judgement from Antiochus, the very figure of Antichrist, who commanded gods holy word to be burned, he sore punished those christians that would Antiochus not believe upon his faith▪ He also profaned the temple of god, for he set up there an Idol of the gentiles. Howbeit the anger of god fell upon him. For his stock & offspring did not only perish utterly, but the whole Empire also was overturned and subjecteth to the Siri ans. And now to perform my promise that I in the beginning did make, that is, in few words to notice the most notable high stories concernying the persecution of the christians executed in all ages, let us come to the time of Christ. In the which the first and most cruel persecution was of Herode against john Baptist. For at the shameless request of Herodiades his brother's Herode daughter, who had well pleased him with her friscalles & most lascivious dancing, he granted her by an oath, to fulfil her request what soever she would demand. where upon she asked the head of saint john baptist. But to the great and miserable ruth of the both. For they were banished out of their country and deprived of their princely honour by Caius Caligula. An other of the same blood, called likewise Herode, nevy to the aforesayed Herode, slew the Herode apostle S. james the elder, wherefore god shortened their kingdoms and rooted them out as unprofitable ministers unto him, & brought their posterity into utter confusion, and that within a short time. And foras much as: it is o●ē to every man's sight, and easy to their understandings what persecution the apoostles and messengers of God did suffer, and under whose tyranny: I think it therefore sufficient to admonish you, that for their death likewise God always entered into judgement, and spared not to plague the world for their obstinate and wilful blindness in despising their doctrine, and killed them which preached the true Messiah to have redeemed all men freely from sin, and is a sufficient sacrifice to appease God's wrath. ❧ But now if ye will vouchsafe with diligent eye to peruse these aforesaid stories, and confer them (with indifferent judgement) with the like exemples chanced in our time: ye shall find God to be no less mindful of his servants now adays, no slowar avenger against them that injuriously shed tie vioude of his elect, no uniuster in entering into judgement with them, that stoutly, & stubbornly refuse to admit his holy word. This diligently marked, what need I make any rehearsal of their names, places or times? And as yet daily practise of the same cometh in ure. For first consider, how justly God hath overthrown that babilonious The Bishop of Rome harlot, and our great enemy the bishop of Rome, Christ's only deceiver in earth. Yea and not only hy. n, but also as many (be they never so secret in their wicked thoughts) as maintain his superstitious traditions, and damnable heresies. Among whom I found none to appear so notable, as this David Beaton, that obstinate Sedechias, David Beaton of Scotland that hard hearted Pharaoh, that blasphemous Balthasar, that blood suckar Aman, that cruel murtherar of the nobles and elders of his realm joram, that detestable Idolater Achas, and the perverse hinderar of god's word Antioch. I know not who hath most cause to rejoice and praise the Lord of his deliverance, whether Scotland for that they are delivered from his traitorous tyranny, or else England who found him an obstinate and proud enemy. But well I know that the papists of just cause much lament & mourn, for they lost a right trusty spear of their chivalry. Much good report I heard of him, by his familiars that he used to swear but in trifles, and in weighty matters to blaspheme stoutly. Whose oath was most commonly gods blood as most seemly for his estate. Many times & often cursed he England for their doctrine. He railed at their counsels as vain, and con dempned the clergy as heretics, All countries love winchester. and not one bishop to be good, but only Winchester, and that was bound with an holy day oath. What need I make farther rehearsal of his abominable facts & tragical deeds, when they be manifestly declared in this little treatise following. But for asmuch as the cause of his death is not to every man apparent: I think it necessary The cause of Beatons' death therefore to put you in mind, that the last day of March, in the year of our Lord. M. D. xlvi. he most cruelly put to death in his castle of saint Andrew's, the man of god master George wysehart a man descending of a noble house, for that he truly and sincerely preached George Wysehart the word of god to the simple and ignorant people. But god (as it is manifestly afore declared) never leaving the blood of his elece unavenged, thorough his secret motion, he moved the hearts of certain gentlemen in Scotland, to conspire the death of this tyrant & the oppressor of his people. So that there by divine policy intung the castle, & guarded with the faithful hope of a good intent to acquit their country of an intolerable burden of tyranny & traitorous David Beaton slain rebellion, finding all ways open to their pretenced purpose: slew this Antichrist lurking in his dungeon the last day of May in the year aforesayed. So that it may be well verified in him. He that striketh with the sword, shall perish with the sword. Therefore I would wish that all those which are called to the administration of common weals and also to the office and dignity of Elders in the congregation would with most circumspect diligence mark these foresaid stories and late exemples, and daily set them before their eyes as appointed tokens by God, Lucifer. to avoided like dangers, which assuredly are promised by the word of God to all them that strive so obstinately and wilfully against his holy will. And as Lucifer could no longer be permitted to occupy the estate of an angel in heaven, when that he fell into obstinate and arrogant contention with God: likewise can no ministre of Christ's here in earth (according to his undoubted promises longer obtain a rule among his elect, then that the same ministre be subjecteth and obedient to God's ordinance, and wyllynglie doth fulfil the same, applying all his administration to the glory of God, to the increase of his faith among his people, & so necessarily to the profit of the common weal. And to such a minister the scriptures do vouchsafe to attribute double honour both for the worthiness of his office, and also for his spiritual and Godly council. And beside all this Christ hath faithfully promised to glorify him among his saints, for that he in earth glorified his father which is in heaven. With whom the same Christ grant all us to rest in like glory. Amen. Here followeth the Tragedy of the late most reverend father David, by the mercy of God Cardinal and archbishop of saint Andrew's. And of the whole realm of Scotland primate, Legate and Chancellor, administrator of the bishopriche of Merapois in France, and commendator perpetual of the Abbay of Aberbrothoke, compiled by sir David Lyndsaye of the mount knight. Alias Lione, king of arms. ❧ Anno. M. D. xlvi. Ultimo Maii. ¶ The words of David Beaton the Cardinal aforesaid at his death. Alas alas, slay me not, I am a Priest. ☞ * ☜ ☞ NOt long sense, after the hour of prime Secretly sitting in mine Oratory I to be a book, to occupy the time where I found, many Tragedy & story Which john Bochas had put in memory How many a prince, conqueror & captain Were dolfully deposed from their reign How Alexander the potent conqueror In Babylon was poisoned petiously, And julius the mighty Emperor, Murdered at Rome causeless and truly Prudent Pompey in Egypt shamefully, Murdered was, what needeth process more Whose Tragedies are petifull to deplore I sitting so, upon my book reading Right suddenly, afore me did appear One wounded man, abundantly bleeding With visage pale, and with a deadly cheat Seining a man of two and fifty year. In raiment red, clothed full curiously With fine velvet, and satin richly. With feeble voice, as man oppressed with pain▪ Softly he made me supplication, saying, my friend, read, and read again It thou can find by true narration Of one pain, like to my passion, Right sure I am, were john Bochas alive, My Tragedy at length he would describe. seeing he is gone, I pray the to indite Of mine infortune, some remembrance, Or at the lests my Tragedy write, As I to thee, shall show the circumstance, In terms brief, of my unhappy chance, Sense my beginning, unto my fatal end, Which I would to all creatures were kende. I would (said I) make such memorial It of thy name, I had intelligence I am David that careful Cardinal Which doth appear (said he) to thy presence, That sometime had so great pre-eminence. Then he began his deeds to indite, As ye shall hear, and I began to write. The Tragedy. ¶ I David Beaton some time Cardinal Of noble blood, by line I did descend During my time, I had no peir equal, But now is come, alas, my fatal end. Ay, 'gree by gree, up ward I did ascend, So that in this realm did never reign So great a man (as I) under my sovereign. When I was a young jolly gentleman Princes to serve, I set my whole intent. First to ascend, at Arbroth I began, An abbasie of great riches, and rend, Of that estate, yet was I not content, To get more riches dignity and glore, My heart was set, alas alas therefore. I made such service, until our Sovereign He did promote me, to more high estate, A Prince above all priests, for to Reign, Archbishop of saint Andrew's consecrate, To that honour, when I was elevate My prideful heart, was not content at all Till that I was created a Cardinal. Yet pressed I, to have more authority And finally was chosen Chauncelat And for upholding, of my dignity Was made Legate, than had I no compare, I purchased, for my profit singular, My coffers, and my treasure to advance, The bishopric of Merapois in France. Of all Scotland, I had the governal But mine advise concluded was not certain Abbot, bishop, archbishop, cardinal In this realm no higher could I reign But I had been Pope, Emperor or sovereign For shortness of time, I am not able At length to show mine acts honourable For my most princely prodigality Among prelate's in France, I took the price I did show my lordly liberality In banqueting, playing at cards and dice In such wisdom I was holden wise And spared not, to play with hang or knight Three thousand crowns of gold upon one night In France, sir, I made honest voyages Where I did arts, dign of remembrance Thorough me were made triumphant marriages To our sovereign both profit and pleasance Queen Magdalen, the first daughter of France With great riches, was into Scotland brought That marriage thorough my wisdom was wrought After whose death into France I passed again The second queen, homeward I did convoy, That lusty Princess, Mary de Lorraine Which was received with triumph and joy So served I, our right redoubted Roye, soon after that, Henry of England king Of our sovereign, desired one communing. Of that meeting, our king was well content So that in York, was set both time and place, But our prelate's and I, would never consent, That he should see, king Henry in the face. But we were well content, so that his grace, Had sailed the sea, to speak with any other, Except the king, which was his mother's brother Where thorough, there arose, great war & mortal strife, Great heirships, hunger, dearth, & desolation On the other side many did lose their life. If I would make any true narration, I caused, all that tribulation, For to take peace I never would consent, Without the king of France, had been content During these wars, were taken prisoners Of noble men, fighting full turiously Many a Lord, baron, and bacchillers. Where thorough our king, took such melancholy Which drove him, to the deed right dolefully, Extreme dolour, overset did so his heart That from this life, alas he did depart But after that, both strength & speech were loosed, A paper blank, I got his grace subscrive, Into which I wrought, all that me pleased. After his death, which long were to descrive, Thorough that writing, I purposed believe, With support of some lords benevolence, In this region, to have pre-eminence. As for our Lord, our righteous Governor. If I would shortly, show the verity, To him I had no manner of favour. During that time, I purposed that he Should never come, to none authority, For his support, therefore he brought among us Forth of England, the noble Earl of Anguish. Then was I put aback from my purpose, And suddenly cast into captivity, My prideful heart, to break, as I suppose, Devised by the high divinity. Yet in my heart, sprang no humility, But now the word of God full well I know, Who doth exalt himself, God shall him low. In the mean time, when I was so subjecteth, ambassadors were sent into England, Where they both peace, and marriage contracted And more surely for to observe that band Were promised diverse pledges of Scotland. Of that contract, I was no way content, Nor ever would thereto, give my consent. To captains that kept me in ward Gifts of gold, I gave them great plenty Rulars of court, I richly did reward, Whereby I escaped, from captivity, But when I was free, at my liberty, Then like a Lion, loosed of his caige, Out thorough this realm, I begun to rail & rage. Contrary the Governor, and his company, Oft times made I, insurrection. Purposing for to have him hastily, Subdued unto my correction, Or put him to extreme subjection, During this time, if it were well dissided This realm, by me, was utterly divided, The Governor purposing to subdue, I raised an host of many a bold baron, And made a road, which Lyghgowe yet may rue For we destroyed, one mile about the town For that I gate, many black malison, Yet contrary the governors intent, With our young princess, we to Steruiling went For high contemptation of the Governor, I brought the Erie of Lemox, forth of France That lusty Lord, living in great pleasure Did lose that laud, and honest ordinance, But he and I fell cone at variance, And thorough my council, was in short space Forfeited, and banished, he gate no other grace. Then thorough my prudence, practice and engine Our Governor I caused to consent, Full quietly, to my council incline, Whereof his nobles, were not well content, For why, I gate, dissolved, in plain parliament The band of peace, contarcted with England, Where thorough came harm, & heirship to Scotland. That peace broken, arrose new mortal war, By sea and land, such theifte without relieve, Which to report, it frayeth my heart far. The verity to show in terms breve I was the rote of all that great mischief The South country (may say) it had been good, That my nourice, had smored me in my could. I was the cause of mykle more mischance For uphold of my glore and dignity, And pleasure of the potent king of France▪ With England would I have no unity, But who consider would, the verity. We might full well, have lived in peace and rest Nine or ten years, and then played lose or fast Had we with England kept our contrackes Our noble men had lived, in peace and rest Our merchants had not lost, so many packs. Our common people, had not been oppressed, On tother side, all wrongs had been redressed, But Endenburgh (sense that) Lyth & Kyngorne, The day and hour, may ban that I was borne Our Governor to make him to me sure With sw●te and subtle words I did him file Till I his son and heir, got in my cure To that effect, I found that crafty wile, That he no manner of way might me beguile. Then laughed I, when his liege did allege How I his son had gotten into pleage. The Earl of Anguish,▪ his germane brother I purposed, to rid them out of this life, Right so to have destroyed many other, Some with the fire, some with the sword & knife Especially many gentlemen of Fife, And purposed, to have put to torment All favourers of the old and new testament. Then every man took of me such fear That time when I had, so great governance Great lords dreading, I should do them dear They dursie not come at court, but assurance Sense that time, there hath not been such variance Now to our princess, barons obediently With assurance, they come full courteously My hope was most, in the king of France, together, with the Pope's holiness, More than in God, my worship to advance, I rested so into their gentleness, That no man durst presume me to oppress, But when the day came, of my fatal hour far was from me, their support and secure Then to preserve, my riches, and my life, One strength, of walls high and broad, I made Such a fortress was never found in Fyfe, believing there durst, no man invade. Now find I true, the saying, which David said Without God of an house, be master of work He worketh in vain, though it be never so stark For I was thorough the high power divine Right dolfully strooken down, among the ash, Which could not be thorough mortal man's engine But as David did slay, the great Golyasse, Or Olopharne, by Judith, killed was. In mid among, his triumphant army So was I slain, in my chief city When I had greatest dominion As Lucifer had, in the heavenly Empire Came suddenly, my deprivation, By them which did my dolent conspire So cruel was, their furious burning Ire I got, no time, leisure, nor liberty To say, In manus tuas domine. Behold my fatal infelicity, I being in my strength incomparable. That dreadful doungion, made me no safety My great riches, nor rents profitable, My silver work, jewels inestimable, My papal pomp, of gold, my rich treasure, My life and all, I lost in half an hour. To the people, was made a spectacle Of my dead, and deformed carrion, Some said it was a manifest miracle, Some said it was divine punition So to be stain, in my strong doungion, When every man, had judged as him list, They salted me, and then closed me in a chest, I lay unburied, seven months and more Or I was borne to cloister, church, or quiar In a dunghill, which is pain to deplore, Without suffrage of canon, monk, or friar, All proud prelate's, by me may learn to be wisar Which reigned so long, and so triumphantly, Sense in the dust, strooken down, so dolefully. ¶ His exhortation. To the Prelates. O ye my brethren, Princes of the priests, I make you heartily, supplication, Both night and day, revolve in your breasts, The process, of my deprivation, Consider, what is your vocation, To follow me, I pray you, not pretend you, But read at length this shedul that I send you Ye know how jesus his disciples sent, ambassadors, to every nation, To show his law, and his commandment, To all people, by predication. Therefore I make, to you narration seeing you to them, are very successors, You ought so to do, as did your predecessors. How dare ye be so bold, to take in hand, To be heralds, to so great a King, To bear his message, both to borough & land. Ye being dumb, and can pronounce nothing, Like minstrels, that can not play, nor sing, Or why should men, give such herds hire, Which can not guide, their ship, out of the mire Shame ye not, to be christian servitures, And for your fee, have great temporal lands, seeing of your office, ye can not take cures? As common law, & scriptures you commands? Ye will not want, teathing sheaf, nor offerings, Tithing will, teathing lamb, teathing calf, & like things To do you true service, you make many abusinges My dear brethren do not as ye were wont Amend your life now, while your days endures, Trust well, ye shallbe called to a count, Of every thing belonging to your cures, Leave Idolatry, your harlotry and whores, Remembering on, my unpromised deed, For after death, may no man make remedy, Ye prelate's, which have thousands for to spend Ye send one simple friar, for you to preach It is your craft, I make it to you kend, Yourselves, in your temples for to teach Therefore marvel not, at their flattering speech For and they plainly, show the verity, Then will they want the bishops charity Wherefore is given to you such royal rent But for to find the people spiritual food Preaching to them, the old and new testament? The law of God, doth plainly so conclude Put not your hope in your worldly good, As I have done, behold my great treasure made me no help, at mine unhappy hour. That day when I was bishop consecrate The great Bible was bound upon my back What was therein little I know God woate More than a beast, bearing a precious pack But hastily my covenant I broke. For I did forget, with mine own consent The law of God, to preach with good intent brethren right so, when ye were consecrate, Ye so got you all, in the same wise. Ye may be called, bishops counterfeit As gallandes busked, to make a guise, Now think I princes, are nothing wise, To give a famous office to a fool to rule As, who would put a mitre, upon a mule. Alas and ye, that sorrowful sight had seen, How I lay blenthering bathed in my blood To amend your life, it had occasion been, And left your old, corrupt consuetude, Blaming the same, then shortly I conclude Without ye from your rybauldrie arise, Ye shall be served on the same wise. ¶ His exhortation to the Princes. Imprudent princes without discretion, Having in earth power imperial Ye be the cause of this transgression I speak to you all in general, Which do dispone, all office spiritual, giving the souls, which are Christ's sheep, To blind postours, without conscience to keep When ye princes do lack an officer A baker, a brewer, or any master coke, A trime tailor, a cunning cordiner Over all the land, at length ye will send to look Most able men such office to broke▪ A brewer, which can brew most wholesome ale, A cunning coke, which best can season cayle. A tailor, which fostered hath been in France That can make garments of the gayest guise, Ye princes, be the cause of this mischance, That when there doth void any benefice Ye ought to do, even the same wise. Go search and seche, both borough and land, The law of God, who best can understand, Make him bishippe, that prudently can preach, As doth pertain, to his vocation. A person, which his parishioners can teach, 'Cause vicar's, make, dew ministration, Also I make you, supplication, Make your abbots of right religious men Which Christ's law can to their covent ken, But not to ribalds, new come from the roast Nor to a lackey, stolen out of a stable, Which into the schools made never no cost N●r ever was to spiritual science able, Except the cards, the dice, the chest and table To Rome rakars, nor to rude ruffianes, To quarrel pykars, nor to profanes. Nor to phantastatical, fantased flatterars, Most meet together muscles in may, To lack lattins, nor yet to flatterars, That in the church, can neither sing nor say, Though they be cloaked up, in clerks array jyhe doughty doctors, new come out of Athens And mumble over, a pair of mangled matins. Not qualified, to broke any benefice, But thorough sir Simons solicitation I was promoted, in the same wise, Alas thorough Prince's supplication, And made in Rome, thorough false narration Bishop, Abbot, but no religious man, Who me promoted, I now their banes ban. Howbeit I was Legat, and Cardinal Little I knew, therein what should be done I understood no science, spiritual, No more than did, blind Alane of the moan, I dread the king, that sitteth on heavenvly throne On you Princes, he shall make sore punishment, Right so on ve, thorough righteous judgement. On you Princes, for undiscrite giving To ignorants, such offices to use, And we, for our importune ashing, Which should have done, such dignity refuse Our ignorance, hath done the worldly abuse, Thorough covetise of riches and of rent That ever I was a prelate, I repent. O Kings, make you no care to give in cure Virgins professed into religion Into the keeping of one common whore To make, think ye not great derision A woman, person, of a paryson Wherein are twenty thousand souls to guide That from harlots can not her lips hide? What, and King David, lived in these days Or out of heaven, what and he looked down The which did found so many fair abbeys▪ Scinge the great, abomination, In many abbeys of this nation? He would repent, that narrowed so his bounds, Of yearly rent, three score thousand pounds. Wherefore I counsel every christened Sovereign Within his realm, make reformation And suffer no more ribalds for to reign, Abusing Christ's true congregation, Failing thereof, I make narration, That ye Princes and prelate's all at ones. Shall buried be, in hell, soul, body and bones. That ever I broked benefice, I rue Or to such height, so proudly did pretend, I must depart, therefore my friend adieu, Where ever it pleaseth god, now must I wend, I pray thee, to my friends me recommend, And fail not at length to put in write, My Tragedy, as I have now indite. FINIS. ¶ The accusation of master George wysehart gentleman, who suffered martyrdom for the faith of Christ Jesus, at S. Andrew's in Scotland the first day of March. In the year of our Lord. M D. xlvi. with the articles, which he was accused of, and his s●ete answers to the same, whereunto are joined his godly orations & prayers. With most tender affection and unfeigned heart, considre (gentle reader) the uncharitable manner of accu●ation of master George Wyseharte made by the bloody enemies of Christ's sayeth. Note also the articles whereof he was accused, by order digested, and his meek answers so far as he had leave and leisure to speak. Finally ponder with no dissembling spirit the tyrannical fury, & infernal crudelity of the malingnant church, in aponing the said The love of God taketh a way all human dread. articles, and of the contrary the humble, patient, & most pleasant answers of master George, made to them suddenly without all fear, not having respect to their glorious manassinges & bostious threats: but cheritably and without stop of tongue answered, not moving his countenance, nor changing his visage, as in his accusation hereafter following manifestly shall appear: to the said master George being in captivity in the castle of saint Andrew's, the Dean of the same town was sent by the commandment of the Cardinal, & his wicked counsel. And The dean of saint Andrew's was summonet there summoned the said master George, that he should upon the morn following appear before the judge, then and there to give account of his seditious & heretical doctrine. To whom master George A pretty taunt answered, what needeth (said he) my lord Cardinal to summon me to answer for my doctrine openly before him, under whose power and dominion, I am thus strayghlie bound in Irons? May not my lord compel me to answer of his extort power? Or believeth he that I am unprovided to render account of my doctrine? To manifest yourselves, what men ye are, it is well done that ye keep your old ceremonies and constitutions made by men. Upon the next morn my Lord Cardinal caused his servants to address themselves in their most warlike array, with jacke, Knapskall. Splente, spear & Are, more seeming for the war, then for the preaching of the true word of God. And when these armed champions marching in warlike order had conveyed the bishops into the abbey church: Incontinently they sent for Master George who was conveyed into the said church, by the captain of the castle, and the numbered of an hundredth men addressed in manner aforesaid. Like a lamb led they him to Master George his alives. sacrifice. As he entered in at the abbey church door, there was a poor man lying vexed with great infirmities, asking of his alms, to whom he slange his purse. And when he came before the Cardinal, by and by the suppriour of the abbey, called Dane john Wyntime stood up in the pulpit & made john Wintyme preached. a sermon to all the congregation there then assembled, taking his matter out of the. xiii. Chapter of Matthew. Whose sermon was divided into four principal parts. The first part was a short and brief declaration of the evangel The second part, of the interpretation of the good seed. And because he called the word of god the good side, and heresy the evil seed, he declared what heresy was, and how it should be known, which he defined on this manner. Heresy is a false opinion defended with Heresy. partinacie, clearly repugning the word of god. The third part of his sermon was the cause of heresy within that realm, and all other realms. The cause of heresy (quoth he) is the ignorance of them, which have the cure of men's souls, to The cause of heresy whom it necessarily belongeth to have the true understanding of the word of god, that they may be able to win again the false doctors of heresies with the sword of the spirit, which is the word of god. And not only to win again but also to overcome, as sayeth l. ad Titum Paul. A bishop must be faultless, as becometh the minister of god, not stubborn, not angry, no drunkard, no fighter, not given to filthy lucre, but herberous, one that loveth goodness, sober minded, righteous, holy, temperate, & such as cleaveth unto the true word of doctrine, that he may be able to exhort with wholesome learning, & to improve that which they say against him. The fourth part of his sermon was how heresies should be known. Heresies (quoth he) be known on this manner. As the goldsmith knoweth the fine gold from the unperfit, by the touchstone. So likewise may we know The manner to know 〈◊〉 heretics heresy by the undoubted touchstone that is the true sincere, & undefiled word of god. At the last he added, that heretics should be put down in this present life. To which proposion the gospel appeared to repugn. which he entreated of. Let them not grow unto the harvest, the harvest is the end of the world. Mat. xiii. Nevertheless he affirmed that they should be put down by the civil and magistrate law. And when he ended his sermon: incontinently they caused master George to ascend into the pulpit, there to hear his accusation and articles. For right against him stood up one john Lander accuser of the fed flock a monster, john Lander, laden full of curssynges written in paper. Of the which he took out a roll, voeth long and also full of curssynges, threats, maledictions, and words of dyvylyshe spit and malice: saying to the Innocent master George, so The way to fear the ignorant. many cruel & abominable words and hit him so spitefully with the Pope's thunder, that the ignorant people dreaded, lest the earth than would have swallowed him up quick. notwithstanding he stood still with great patience, hearing their sayings, not once moving or changing his countenance. When that this fed sow, had red throughout all his lying manassynges, his face running down with sweat, and frothing at his mouth The fruits of that charity. like a bear, spit at master George his face, saying: what answerest thou to these sayings, thou runna gate traytoute, thief, whithe we have duly proved by sufficient witness against thee? Master George hearing this, sat down upon his knees in the pulpit, making his prayer to God. When he had ended his prayer, sweetly and christian-like he answered to them all in this manner. ¶ Master George his oration. Many & horrible sayings unto me, one christian man, many words ahhominable for to hear, ye have spoken here this day. Which not only to teach, but also once to think, I thought The causes why master George deserved to be heard ever great abomination. Wherefore I pray your discretions quietly to hear me, that ye may know what were my sayings, & the manner of my doctrine. This my petition (my lords) I desire to be heard for three causes. The first is, because thorough preaching of the word of god, his glory is made manifest. It is reasonable therefore, for the avauncing of the glory of god, that ye hear me teaching truly the pure word of god without any dissimulation. The second reason is, because that your health springeth of the word of god (for he worketh all thing by his word) It were therefore an unrighteous thing, if ye should stop your ears from me, teaching truly the word of god. The third reason is, because your doctrine speaketh forth many pestilentious, blasphemous & abominable words, not coming by the inspiration of God, but of the devil, on no less peril than my life. It is Just therefore and reasonable your discretions to know, what my words & doctrine are, and what I have ever taught in my time in this realm, that I perish not unjustly to the great peril of your souls. Wherefore both for the glory & honour of god, your own health, and safeguard of my life, I beseech your discretions, to hear me, and in the mean time I shall recite my doctrine without any colour. First & chief, sense the time I came into this ream, I taught nothing, but Master George his doctrine. their commandments of god, the xii. articles of the faith, and the prayer of the Lord in the mother tongue. Moreover in Dundie, I taught the Epistles of Saint Paul to the Romans. And I shall show your discretions faithfully what fashion and manner I used when I taught, without any human dread. So that your discretions, give me your ears benevolent and attent. Suddenly then with an high voice cried, the accuser the fed sow) thou heretic, runagate, traitor and thief. It was not lawful for the to preach. Thou haste taken the power at thine own hand, without any authority of the church, we forthink that thou haste been a preacher so long. Then all the whole congregation of the prelate's with their complices, said these The cry of the scribes and pharisees words. And if we give him licence to preach, he is so crafty, and in the holy scripture so exercised, that he will persuade the people to his opinion, and raise them against us. Master George seeing their malicious and wicked intent, appealed to an indifferent and equal judge. To whom the accuser john Master George apprateth to the Governor. Lander aforesayed with hoggish voice answered. Is not my Lord Cardinal the second person within this Realm? Chancellor of Scotland? Archbishop of saint The style of an unworthy prelate. Andrew's? bishop of Meropois: Commendator of Aberbrothoke? Legatus natus? Legatus a latere? And so reciting, as many titles of his unworthy honours, as would have laden a ship, much sooner an ass. Is not he (quod john Lander) an equal judge apparently unto thee? Whom other desirest thou to be thy judge? To whom this humble man answered, saying. I refuse not my Lord Cardinal, but I desire the word of god to be my judge, and the temporal estate with some of pour lordships Behold their traitorous hearts? mine auditors, because I am here my Lord governors prisoner. Whereupon the prideful & skornful people that stood by, mocked him, saying. Such man, such judge. Speaking seditious & reproachful words against the Governor & other the nobles, meaning them also to be heretics. And incontinente without all delay they would have given sentence upon master George, & that without farther process, had not certerne men there counseled my lord Cardinal to read again the articles, and to hear his answers thereupon, that the people might not complain of his wrongful condemnation. And shortly for to declare, these were the articles following with his answers, as far as they would give him leave, to speak. For when he intended to mitigate their leasings, & show the manner of his doctrine, by & by they stopped his mouth with an other article. ¶ The first article. ☞ Thou false heretic, runagate These be their accustomed terms cursings traitor, & thief, deceiver of the people, despisest the holy church cursings, & in like case contempneste my lord governors authority. And this we know for surety that when thou preached est in Dundy, & wast charged by my lord governor his authority to desist: nevertheless thou wouldst not obei, but perseus redst in the same. And therefore the bishop of Brothen cursed thee, & dell vered the into the devils hands, & gave the in commandment that thou shouldest preach no more. That not with standing thou didst continued obstinately. ¶ The answer. ❧ My Lords I have red in the acts of the apostles, that it is not lawful for the threats and manassinges of men to desist from the preaching of the Gospel. Therefore it is written, we shall rather obey God then men. I have also red in the prophet Malachi. I shall curse your blessings, and Mala. two. bless your curssynges. If my conscience had judged me to have done evil, I should have desisted for your curssynges, or else for your brotherlyke warnings, but because I used no ungodly deed, I suffered patiently your cursings believing firmly, that the Lord would turn your curssynges into blessings. ¶ The second article. ☞ Thou false heretic diddest say that a priest standing at the aultare The priest at mass saying Mass, was like a fox wagging his tail in july. ¶ The answer. ❧ True worshipping of God. My Lords I said not so, these were my sayings. The moving of the body outward, without the inward moving of the heart, is nought else, but the playing of an ape, & not the true serving of god. For God is a secret searcher of men's hearts. Therefore who will truly adorn and honour god, he must in spirit and verity honour him. 〈◊〉. Then the accuser stopped his mouth with another article. ¶ The third article. ☞ Thou false heretic preachedst Sacraments. against the sacraments, saying: that there were not seven Sacraments. The answer. ❧ My lords and it be your pleasures, How many sacraments be allowed. I taught never of the number of the Sacraments, whether they were seven or an eleven. So many as are instituted by Christ, and are shown to us by the evangel, I profess openly. Except it be the word of god I dare affirm nothing. ¶ The iiii. article. ☞ Thou false heretic hast openly taught, that auricular confession Auricular confession is not a sacrament. And thou sayest, that we should only confess us to god and to no priest. ¶ The answer. ❧ My Lords, I say that auricular confession, seeing that it hath no promise of the evangel, therefore it cannot be a sacrament Of the confession Ps. xxxii to be made to god, there are many testimonies in scripture, as when David sayeth. I thought that I would knowledge mine iniquity against myself unto the Lord, and he forgave the trespass of my sins. Here confession signifieth the secret knowledge of our sins before God. When I exhorted the people in this manner, I reproved no manner of confession And farther saint james sayeth. Knowledge your sins one to jac. v an other, and so let you have peace among yourselves. When that he had said these words, the bishops and their complices cried and girned with their teeth, saying: See ye not what colours he hath in his speaking, that he may beguile us and seduce us to his opinion. ¶ The fift article. ☞ Thou heretic didst say openly, that it was necessary to every Baptism man, to know and understand his baptism, and what it was. Contrary or general counsels and the states of holy church. ¶ The answer. ❧ My Lords, I believe there be none so unwise here, that will make Baptism necessarily to be known of all men. marchaundice with a french man, or any other unknown stranger, except he knew and understood first the Confirmation condition or promise made by the french man or stranger. So like I would that we understood what thing we promise in the name of the Infant unto god in baptism. For this cause I believe ye have confirmation. Then said master Bleiter chaplain, that he had the devil within him and the spirit of error. Master Bleiter Answerth by a child. Then answered him a child saying the Devil cannot speak such words, as yonder man doth speak. ¶ The. vi. article. ☞ Thou heretic traitor, and thief, thou saidest that the sacrament The sacrament of the aultare of the aultare was but a piece of bread baken upon the ashes, and no other thing else, and all that is there done is but a superstitious rite against the commandment of God. ¶ The answer. ❧ Oh Lord God so manifest lies & blasphemies the scripture doth not teach you. As concerning the sacrament of the aultare (my Lords) I never taught any thing against the scripture, the which I shall (by God's grace) make manifest this day, I being ready therefore to suffer death. The lawful use of this sacrament The lawful use of the sacrament of the aultare is most acceptable unto god, but the great abuse of it, is very detestable unto him. But what occasion they have to say such words of me, I shall shortly show your Lordships. I once chanced to meet with a jew when I was sailing upon the water of Rene. I did inquire of him what was The tale of a jew the cause of his pertinacy, that he did not believe that the true Meslias was come, considering that they had seen all the Prophecies (which were spoken of him) to be fulfilled. Moreover the prophecies taken away and the sceptre of ●uda, by many other testimonies of the scripture, I vanquest him that Messiah was come the which they called jesus of Nazareth. This jew answered again unto me. When Messiah cometh, he shall restore all things. And he shall not abrogate the law, which was given to our forefathers as ye do. For why? we see the poor almost perish thorough hunger among The poor you: yet ye are not moved with piety towards them. But among us jews (though we be poor) there are no beggars found. secondarily, it is forbidden by the law, to fame any kind of Imagery, of things in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the sea under the earth: but one God only to honour. But your sanctuaries and churches are full of Idols. Images. Thirdly a piece of bread baken The sacrament of t●● aultare. upon the ashes, ye adorn & worship & say, that it is your God. I have rehearsed here: but the sayings of the jew, which I never affirmed to be true. Then the bishops shaken their heads and spitted into the earth. And what he meant in this matter farther, they would not hear. ¶ The. seven. article. Thou false heretic didst say that extreme Extreme unction unction was not a sacrament. The answer. ❧ My Lords, forsooth I never taught any thing of extreme unction in my doctrine, whether it were a sacrament or no. The. viii. article. ☞ Thou false heretic, saidest that holy water is not so good as Holy water wash, & such like. Thou contemnest conjuring and sayest that holy churches curssynges avail not The answer. ¶ My Lords as for holy water, what strength it is of, I taught never in my doctrine. Coniuringe & exorzismies, if there were conformable to the word of god, I would commend them, but in so far as they are not conformable to the commaundement mandment and word of God, I reprove them. ¶ The. ix. article. ☞ Thou false heretic and runagate, haste said that every ley ley man a priest The Pope's authority man is a priest, and such like. Thou sayest that the Pope hath no more power, than any other man. ¶ The answer. ¶ My Lords, I taught nothing but the word of god. I remember that I have read in some places ●po. ●. ●. v ●. Pet. two in saint john and saint Peter, of the which one sayeth, he hath made us kings and priests. The other sayeth, he hath made us the kingli priesthood. Wherefore I have affirmed any man being cunning in the word of God and the true faith of jesus Christ, to have his power given him from god, & not by the power or violence of men but by the virtue of the word of god, the which word is called the power of god, as witnesseth S. Paul Ro. i. evidently enough. And again I say any unlearned man, and not exercised in the word of god, nor yet constant in his faith, what soever estate or order he be of, I say he hath no power to bind or lose, seeing he wanteth the instrument, The instrument to bind and lose by the which he bindeth or loseth, that is to say, the word of God. After that he had said these words, all the bishops laughed and mocked him. When that he beheld their laughing. Laugh ye (sayeth he) my lords. Though that these sayings appear scornful & worthy of derision to your Lordships. neverthelesss they are very weighty to me, & of a great value, because that they stand not only upon my life, but also the honour and glory of God. In the mean time many godly men beholding the woodness, and great crudelity of the bishops and the invincible patience of master George did greatly morn and lament. The. x. article. ☞ Thou false heretic saidest that a man hath no free will. But Free will is like to the stoics, which say, that it is not in man's will to do any thing, but that all concupiscence and desire cometh of God of what soever kind it be of. The answer. ❧ My Lords I said not so truly. I say that as many as believe in Christ firmly unto them is given liberty, conformable to the saying john. viii of saint john. If the son make you free, then shall ye verily be free. Of the contrary as many as believe not in Christ jesus, they are bond servants of sin. He that syndeth is bond to sin. ¶ The. xi. article. ☞ Thou false heretic sayest, it is as lawful to eat flesh upon the Eating of meats friday as on sunday. The answer. ❧ Pleaseth it your Lordships, I have read in the epistles of saint Titum. i. Paul, that who is clean, unto them all things are clean, of the contrary to the filthy men all things are unclean. A faithful man, clean, & holy sanctifieth by the word the creature of God. But the creature maketh no man acceptable unto God. So that a creature may not sanctify any impure & unfaithful man. But The creature doth not sanctify without the word. to the faithful man, all things are sanctified, by the prayer of the word of God. After these sayings of master George, then said all the bishops with their complices: what needeth us any witness against him: hath he not openly here spoken blasphemy? The. xi. article. ☞ Thou false heretic dost say that we should not pray to sanctes, Praying to sanctes but to God only. say whether thou hast said this or no, say shortly. ¶ The answer. ❧ For the weakness and the infirmity To honour one God is certain of the hearers, he said without doubt plainly that saints should not be honoured. My lords (said he) there are two things worthy of note. The one is certain, the other uncertain. It is found plainly & certain in scripture, that we should worship and honour one God, according to the saying of the first commandment. Thou shalt only worship and Mat. iiii. honour thy Lord God, with all thy heart. But as for praying to and honouring of saints, there To pray to saints is great doubt among many whether they hear, or no, invocation made unto them. Therefore I exhorted all men equally in my doctrine, that they should leave the unsure way, and follow that way, which was taught us by our master Christ. He is our only Mediator and maketh intercession for us to God his father. He is the door by the which we must enter in. He that entereth not in by this dors, The surest way is to be followed but climbeth an other way, is a thief & murtherar. He is the verity & life. He that goeth out of this way, there is no doubt but he shall fall into the mire: yea verily he is fallen into it already. This is the fashion of my doctrine, the which I have ever followed. verily that which I have heard and read in the word of god I taught openly, and in no corners. And now ye shall witness the same, if your lordships will hear me, but it be by the word of god I dare not be so bold to affirm any thing. These sayings he rehearsed diverse times. The xiii. article. ☞ Thou false heretic haste preached Purgatory plainly, sating that there is no purgatory. And that it is a fattened thing, any man after this life, to be punished in purgatory. The answer. My lords as I have often times said heretofore, without express witness and testimony of the scripture Purgatori●●ot once named in scripture I dare affirm nothing. I have oft, and diverse times read over the Bible, & yet such a term found I never, nor yet any place of scripture applicable thereunto. Therefore I was ashamed ever to teach of that thing, which I could not find in the scripture. Then said he to master john Lauder his accuser. If you have any testimony of the scripture, by the which ye may prove any such place, show it now before this auditory. But this dolt had not a word to say for himself, but was as dumb as a bitle in that matter. The. xiiii. article. ☞ Thou false heretic haste taught plainly against the vows Uowes of monks, friars, noons & priests, saying: that who soever was bound to such like vows, they vowed themselves to the estate of damnation. Moreover that it was lawful for priests to marry wives and not to live sole. ¶ The answer. ¶ Of sooth (my Lords) I have read in the evangel, that there are three kinds of chaste men. Some are gelded from their mother's womb. Some are gelded by Three kinds of chaste men Mat. nineteen. men. And some have gelded themselves, for the kingdom of heaven sake. verily, I say, these men are blessed by the scripture of God. But as many as have not the gift of chastity, nor yet for the evangel, The danger of unchastity have not overcome the concupiscence of the flesh, and have vowed chastity, ye have experience, although I should hold my peace, to what inconvenience they have vowed themselves. When he had said these words, they were all dumb, thinking better to have ten concubines, them one married wife. ¶ The. xv. article. ☞ Thou false heretic and runagate, sayest that thou wilt not obey our general nor provincial General counsels councils. ¶ The answer. ¶ My lords, what your general councils are, I know not, I was never exercised in them: but to the pure word of God I gave my labours. Read here your general councils, or else give me a book wherein they are contained, that I may read them. If that they agree with the word of God, I will not disagree. Then the ravening wolves turned into woodness & said, wherun They run apace to shed blood to let we him speak any farther? Read forth the rest of the articles and stay not upon them. Among these cruel tigers, there was one false hypocrite, a seducer of the people called john Grayfind Scot, standing behind john Lauders john Grayfynd Scotte an hasty buccher to his slaughter back, hasting him to read the rest of the articles, and not to tarry upon his witty & godly answers. For we may not abide them, quoth be, no more than the devil may abide the sign of the cross, when it is named. The. xvi. article. ☞ Thou heretic sayest, that it is vain to build to the honour Building of churches of god costly churches. Seeing that God remaineth not in the churches made by men's hands, nor yet, god can be in so little space as betwixt the priests hands. ¶ The answer. ¶ My Lords, Solomon sayeth. If that the heaven of heavens can not two. Re. viii comprehend thee, how much less this house, that I have builded? And job consenteth to the same sentence. Seeing that he is higher than the heavens, therefore what job. xi can thou build unto him. He is deepar then hell, then how shalt thou know him? He is longer than the earth, & brother than the sea. So that god can not be comprehended into one place, because that he is infinite. These sayings notwithstanding, I said never that churches Whereunto churches should serve should be destroyed. But of the contrary I affirmed ever, that churches should be sustained and upholden, that the people should be congregated into them, there to hear of god And moreover, where soever is the true preaching of the word of God, and the lawful use of the sacraments, undoubtedly there is God present himself. So that both these sayings are true together. Mat. xviii God can not be comprehended into any place. And where so ever there are two or three gathered in his name, there is he present in the midst of them. Then said he to his accuser. If thou thinkest any other wise, than I say, show forth thy reasons before this auditory. Then he without all reason was dom, & could not answer one word. The. xvii article. ☞ Thou false heretic, contemnest Fasting fasting, and sayest thou shouldest not fast. The answer. ¶ My Lords, I find that fasting is commended in the scripture: The true fasting he alloweth therefore I were a slanderer of the gospel, if I contemned fasting. And not so only, but I have learned by experience, that fasting is good for the health of the body. But god knoweth who fasteth the true fast. The. xviii. article. ☞ Thou false heresicke haste preached openly, saying that the soul Of the reserving of the soul. of man shall sleep to the later day of judgement, and shall not obtain life immortal until that day. The answer. ❧ God full of mercy and goodness: forgive them that saith such things of me: I wot and know surely by the word of god: that he which hath begun to have the faith of jesus Christ and believeth firmly in him. I know surely that the soul of that man shall never The faithful soul shall never sleep. sleep but ever shall live an immortal life. The which life from day to day is renewed in grace and augmented: Nor yet shall ever perish, or have one nde: but ever immortal shall live with Christ. To the which life all that believe in him shall come and rest in eternal glory. Amen. ¶ When that the Bishops Master George condemned with their complices had accused this innocent man in manner and form afore said, incontinently they condemned him to be burnt as an heretic, not having respect to his Godly answers and true reasons which he alleged: nor yet to their own consciences. Thinking verily that they should do to God good sacrifice, conformable to the sayings of saint john. They shall excommunicate you: yea, and the time shall come that he which killeth john. xvi. you shall think that he hath done to God good service. ¶ The prayer of master George. O Immortal god how long shalt thou suffer the wodnesse Master George his prayer for the tongregation of. God. and great crudelity of the ungodly, to exercise their fury upon thy servants which do farther thy word in this world seeing they desire to be contrary, that is to choke and destroy thy true doctrine and verity, by the which thou haste showed the unto the world which was all drowned in blindness and misknowledge of thy name. O Lord we know surely that thy true servants must needs suffer for thy name's sake persecution, affliction and troubles in this present life which is but a shadow, as thou haste showed to us by thy Prophets and Apostles. But yet we desire the heartily, that thou conserve, defend, and help thy congregation, which thou haste chosen before the beginning of the world. And give them thy grace to hear thy word, and to be thy true servants in this present life. ☞ Then by and by, they caused the common people to remove, whose desire was always to hear that innocent speak. And the sons of darkness pronounced their sentence definitive, not having respect to the judgement of God. When all this was done and said, my Lord Cardinal caused his tormentors to pass again with the meek lamb into the Castle, until such time the fire was made ready. When he was come into the Castle, than there came two grey finds, Friar Scotte and his mate, saying: Sir ye must make your confession unto us. He answered and said. I will make no confession unto you. Go fetch me yonder man Master George confessed. that preached this day, and I will make my confession unto him. Then they sent for the Supprior of the abbey, who came to him with all diligence. But what he said in his confession I can not show. When the fire was made ready, and the gallows at the west part of the Castle near the Priory, my Lord Cardinal dreading that master George should have been taken away by his friends, therefore he commanded to bend all the ordinance of the Castle forryghte against that part. And commanded all his gunners to be ready and stand beside their guns unto such time he were burned. All this being done, they bound master George's hands behind his back, and led him forth with their soldiers from the Castle to the place of their wicked execution. As he came forth of the Castle gate, there met him certain beggars asking of his alms for God his sake. To whom Master George prayeth for the relief of the poor he answered, I want my hands▪ wherewith I should give you alms. But the merciful Lord of his benignity and abundance of grace, that feedeth all men, vouchsafe to give you necessaries both unto your bodies and souls. Then afterward met him two false finds, I should say friars, saying. Master George Master George answereth the friars tempting him. pray to our Lady, that she may be mediatrix for you to her son. To whom he answered meekly. Cease tempt me not my brethren. After this he was led to the fire with a Rope about his neck and a chain of Iron about his middle. When that he came to the fire he sat down thrice upon His prayer his kneees, and rose again, And thrice he said these words. O thou Saviour of the world have mercy on me. Father of heaven I commend my spirit into thy holy hands. When he had made this prayer, he turned him to the people and said these words. ❧ I beseech you christian brethren and sisters, that ye be not offended in the word of God, His sermon to the people. for the afflictions and torments, which ye see already prepared for me. But I exhort you that ye love the word of God and suffer patiently and with a comfortable heart for the words sake, which is your undoubted salvation and everlasting comfort. ❧ Moreover I pray you show my brethren and sisters, which have heard me oft before, that they cease not, nor leave of the word of God, which I taught unto them after the grace given unto me, for no persecutions, or troubles in this world, which lasteth not. And show unto them that my doctrine was no wives favies after the constitutions made by men. And if I had taught men's doctrine, I had gotten great thanks by men. But for the words sake and true evangel, which was given to me, by the grace of God, I suffer His upright conscience felt no death this day by men, not sorrowfully, but with a glad heart and mind. For this cause I was sent, that I should suffer this fire for Christ's sake. Consider and behold my visage, is shall not see me change my colour. This grim fire I fear not. And so I pray you for to do, if that any persecution come unto you: for the words sake. And not to fear them that slay the body, and afterward have no power to slay the soul. Some have said of me that I taught, that the soul of man should sleep until the last day. But I know surely and my faith is such, that my soul shall sup with my saviour Christ this night or it be sixth hours, for whom I suffer this. Then he prayed for them which accused His prayer for his accusers him, saying: I beseech thee (father of heaven) to forgive them, that have of any ignorance, or else of any evil mind, forged any lies upon me. I forgive them with all my heart, I beseech Christ to forgive them that have condemned me to death this day ignorantly. ❧ And last of all, he said to the people on this manner. I beseech you brethren and sisters to exhort your Prelates to the learning of the word of God, His exhortation for the clergy to learn God's word that they at the last may be ashamed to do evil and learn to do good. And if they will not convert themselves from their wicked error, there shall hastily come upon them, the wrath of god which they shall not eschew. Many faithful words said he in the mean time, taking no heed or care of the cruel torments which were then prepared for him. And last of all the hang man, that was his tormentor sat down upon his knees, and said. Sir I pray you forgive me, for I am not guilty of your death. To whom he answered. Come hither to me. When that he was come to him, he kissed his cheek, and said. Lo here is a token that I forgive thee, and I beseech Christ to forgive the. My heart do thine office. And then by and by, he was put upon His words to the hangman. the gibbet and hanged, and there burnt to powder. When that the people beheld the great tormenting, they might not withhold from pitiouse mourning, and complaining of this innocent lambs slaughter. ¶ Imprinted at London, by john Day, and William Seres, dwelling in Sepulchres parish, at the sign of the Resurrection, a little above Holborn conduit. ❧ ❧ ☞ ❧ Cum gratia & privilegio ad imprimendum solum.