Henry his privy chamber; beseeching therefore his majesty that his laws might be prosecuted. The king, giving credit to the council's A. D. words, was content his laws should be executed on such as were 1543. offenders. Then had the bishop what he desired, and forthwith proWinches cured a commission for a privy search to be had in Windsor for books and letters that Anthony Peerson should send abroad; which search in commission the king granted to take place in the town of Windsor, Windsor. but not in the castle. ter pro cures a privy Haynes, dean of Exeter, to the Master Hobby and Haynes At this time the canons of Exeter (specially Southarne, treasurer of the church, and Dr. Bruerwood, the chancellor) had accused Dr. accused Haynes, their dean, to the council, for preaching against holy bread council and holy water, and that he should say in one of his sermons (having occasion to speak of matrimony) that marriage and hanging were destiny; upon which they gathered treason against him, because of the king's marriage. The bishop of Winchester (at the same time) had also informed the council of Master Hobby, how he was a hearer of Anthony Peerson, and a great maintainer of heretics: whereupon both he, and Dr. Haynes, were apprehended and sent to the Fleet. But it was not very long after, ere that by the mediation of friends, they were both delivered. sent to the Fleet. The secret search be Filmer, Test Marbeck, hended Now, as touching the commission for searching for books, Master Ward and Master Fachel, of Reading, were appointed commissioners, ginneth. who came to Windsor the Thursday before Palm-Sunday, A.D. 1543, and began their search about eleven of the clock at night: in which Wood, and search were apprehended Robert Bennet, Henry Filmer, John Marappre- beck, and Robert Testwood, for certain books and writings found in for books their houses against the Six Articles, who were kept in ward till Monday after, and then fetched up to the council, all save Testwood, Articles. with whom the bailiffs of the town were charged, because he lay sore diseased of the gout. The other three, being examined before the council, were committed to prison, Filmer and Bennet to the bishop of London's jail, and Marbeck to the Marshalsea; whose examination is here set out, to declare the great goodness of the council, and the cruelty of the bishop. against the Six The Con of the Bible in English, by Mar beck, THE FIRST EXAMINATION OF JOHN MARBECK BEFORE THE This Marbeck had begun a great work in English, called "The cordance Concordance of the Bible;" which book, being not half finished, was among his other books taken in the search, and had up to the council. And when he came before them to be examined, the whole work lay before the bishop of Winchester, Stephen Gardiner, at the upper end of the board; who, beholding the poor man awhile, said, “Marbeck, dost thou know wherefore thou art sent for ?" 66 "No, my lord," quoth he. "No!" quoth the bishop? "that is a marvellous thing." "Forsooth, my lord," quoth he, "unless it be for a certain search made of late in Windsor, I cannot tell wherefore it should be." "Then thou knowest the matter well enough," quoth the bishop: and, taking up a quire of the Concordance in his hand, he said, "Understandest thou the Latin tongue ?" "No, my lord," quoth he, "but simply." "No!" quoth the bishop; and with that spake Master " A. D. 1543. to the Winchester's rea Concor Latin Wriothesley (then secretary to the king): "He saith, but simply." Henry "I cannot tell," quoth the bishop, "but the book is translated word for word out of the Latin Concordance :" and so began to declare to the rest of the council the nature of a Concordance, and how it was Wrifirst compiled in Latin, by the great diligence of the learned men for othesley the ease of preachers; concluding with this reason, that if such a book secretary should go forth in English, it would destroy the Latin tongue. And king. so, casting down the quire again, he reached another book, which was the Book of Isaiah the Prophet, and turning to the last chapter, gave son, the the book to Marbeck, and asked him who had written the note in the dance in English margin. The other, looking upon it, said, "Forsooth, my lord, I would dewrote it." "Read it," quoth the bishop. Then he read it thus: stroy the "Heaven is my seat, and the earth is my footstool." "Nay," quoth tongue. the bishop, "read it as thou hast written it." "Then shall I read it wrong," quoth he, "for I had written it false." "How hadst thou written it," quoth the bishop. "I had written it," quoth he, "thus: Heaven is my seat, and the earth is not my footstool.' Yea, marry," quoth the bishop, "that was thy meaning." "No, my lord," quoth he, "it was but an oversight in writing; for, as your lordship seeth, this word 'not' is blotted out." At this time came other matters into the council, so that Marbeck was had out to the next chamber. And when he had stood there awhile, one of the council, named sir Anthony Wingfield, captain of the guard, came forth, and calling for Marbeck, committed him to one Belson of the guard, Marbeck saying unto him on this wise: "Take this man and have him to the sent to Marshalsea, and tell the keeper that it is the council's pleasure that shalsea. he shall treat him gently; and if he have any money in his purse, as I think he hath not much, take you it from him, lest the prisoners do take it; and minister it unto him as he shall have need. And so the messenger departed with Marbeck to the Marshalsea, and did his commission most faithfully and truly, both to the keeper and to the prisoner, as he was commanded. THE SECOND EXAMINATION OF MARBECK, BEFORE THE the Mar 1 between gentle Marbeck On the next day, which was Tuesday, by eight of the clock in the Talk morning, there came one of the bishop of Winchester's gentlemen Winchesinto the Marshalsea, whose man brought after him two great books ter's under his arm, and finding Marbeck walking up and down in the man and chapel, demanded of the keeper why he was not in irons. "I had in prison. no such commandment," quoth he; "for the messenger which brought him yesternight from the council, said it was their pleasure, he should be gently used." "My lord," quoth the gentleman, "will not be content with you:" and so taking the books of his man, he called for a chamber, up to which he carried the prisoner, and casting the books from him upon a bed, sat him down and said, “Marbeck! my lord doth favour thee well for certain good qualities that thou hast, and hath sent me hither to admonish thee to beware and take heed lest thou cast away thyself wilfully. If thou wilt be plain, thou shalt do thyself much good; if not, thou shalt do thyself much (1) The name of this gentleman was Master Knight. Henry A. D. harm. I assure thee, my lord lamenteth thy case, forasmuch as he hath always heard good report of thee; wherefore now see to thyself, and play the wise man. Thou art acquainted with a great sort 1543. of heretics, as Hobby and Haynes, with others more, and knowest much of their secrets: if thou wilt now open them at my lord's request, he will procure thy deliverance out of hand, and prefer thee to better living." 66 "Alas! sir," quoth he, "what secrets do I know? I am but a poor man, and was never worthy to be so conversant either with Master Hobby, or Master Haynes, to know any part of their minds." Well," quoth the gentleman, "make it not so strange, for my lord doth know well enough in what estimation they had both thee and Anthony Peerson, for your religion." "For Anthony Peerson," quoth he, "I can say nothing, for I never saw him with them in all my life and as for myself, I cannot deny but that they have always, I thank them, taken me for an honest poor man, and showed me much kindness; but as for their secrets, they were too wise to commit them to any such as I am.” "Peradventure," quoth the gentleman, "thou fearest to utter any thing of them, because they were thy friends, lest they, hearing thereof, might hereafter withdraw their friendship from thee; which thou needest not to fear, I warrant thee, for they are sure enough, and never like to pleasure thee more, nor any man else." With that the water stood in Marbeck's eyes. "Why weepest cannot be thou?" quoth the gentleman. "Oh, sir," quoth he, "I pray you pardon me: these men have done me good; wherefore I beseech the living God to comfort them as I would be comforted myself." Marbeck persuaded to detect others. Another talk between 66 Well," quoth the gentleman, "I perceive thou wilt play the fool;" and then he opened one of the books and asked him if he understood any Latin. "But a little, sir," quoth he. "How is it then," quoth the gentleman, "that thou hast translated thy book out of the Latin Concordance, and yet understandest not the tongue ?" "I will tell you," quoth he; "in my youth I learned the principles of my grammar, whereby I have some understanding therein, though it be very small." Then the gentleman began to try him in the Latin Concordance and English Bible which he had brought: and when he had so done, and was satisfied, he called up his man to fetch away the books, and so departed, leaving Marbeck alone in the chamber, the door fast shut unto him. upon About two hours after, the gentleman came again, with a sheet of folded in his hand, and set him down paper the bed-side (as Winches before), and said, "By my troth, Marbeck! my lord seeth so much gentle- wilfulness in thee, that he saith it is pity to do thee good. ter's man and Marbeck. When wast thou last with Haynes ?" "Forsooth," quoth he, "about three weeks ago, I was at dinner with him." "And what talk," quoth the gentleman, "had he at his board ?" "I cannot tell now,' quoth he. "No!" quoth the gentleman; "thou art not so dull witted, to forget a thing in so short a space." "Yes, sir," quoth ne, “such familiar talk as men do use at their boards, is most commonly by the next day forgotten; and so it was with me." "Didst thou never," quoth the gentleman, "talk with him, or with any of thy (1) How Winchester hunteth for Dr. Havnes. Henry A. D. science among fellows, of the mass, or of the blessed sacrament ?" "No, forsooth," quoth he. "Now forsooth," quoth the gentleman, "thou liest; for thou hast been seen to talk with Testwood, and others of thy fellows, an hour together in the church, when honest men have 1543. walked up and down beside you; and, ever as they have drawn near you, ye have stayed your talk till they have been past you, because they should not hear whereof you talked." "I deny not," quoth he, "but I have talked with Testwood and others of my fellows, I cannot tell how oft; which maketh not that we talked either of the mass or of the sacrament: for men may commune and talk of many matters, that they would not that every man should hear, and yet far from any such thing; therefore it is good to judge the best." "Well!" quoth the gentleman, "thou must be plainer with my lord than this, or else it will be wrong with thee, and that sooner than thou weenest." "How plain will his lordship have me to be, sir?" quoth he. "There is nothing that I can do and say with a safe conscience, but I am ready to do it at his lordship's pleasure." "What tellest thou me," quoth the gentleman, "of thy conscience? Thou mayest, with a safe conscience, utter those that be heretics, and, so doing, thou canst do God and the king no greater service." "If I knew, sir," quoth he, "who were a heretic indeed, it were a thing; but if I should accuse him to be a heretic that is none, what a worm would that be in my conscience so long as I lived! Conyea it were a great deal better for me to be out of this life, than to e live in such torment." "In faith," quoth the gentleman, "thou passed of knowest as well who be heretics of thy fellows at home, and who be these none, as I do know this paper to be in my hand. But it maketh no matter, for they shall all be sent for and examined: and thinkest thou that they will not utter and tell of thee all that they can? Yes, I warrant thee. And what a foolish dolt art thou, that wilt not utter aforehand what they be, seeing it standeth upon thy deliverance to tell the truth ?” "Whatsoever," quoth he, "they shall say of me, let them do it in the name of God: for I will say no more of them, nor of any man else, than I know." "Marry!" quoth the gentleman," if thou wilt do so, my lord requireth no more. And forasmuch as now, peradventure, thy wits are troubled,' so that thou canst not call things even by and by to remembrance, I have brought thee ink and paper, that thou mayest excogitate with thyself, and write such things as shall come to thy mind." "O Lord!" quoth Marbeck Marbeck, "what will my lord do? Will his lordship compel me to accuse his accuse men I wot not whereof?" "No," quoth the gentleman, "my lord compelleth thee not, but gently entreateth thee to say the truth therefore make no more ado, but write; for my lord will have it so." And so he laid down the ink and paper, and went his way. Now was Marbeck so full of heaviness and woe, that he wist not Brought what to do, nor how to set the pen to the book to satisfy the bishop's distress. mind, unless he did accuse men to the wounding of his own soul. And thus, being compassed about with nothing but sorrow and care, he cried out to God in his heart, falling down with weeping tears, and said, (1) Mark here the wiles of Winchester. papists. urged to brethren. to great Henry Marbeck's Prayer to God. O most merciful Father of heaven! thou that knowest the secret doings of A. D. all men, have mercy upon thy poor prisoner who is destitute of all help and 1543. comfort. Assist me, O Lord, with thy special grace, that, to save this frail and vile body, which shall turn to corruption at its time, I may have no power to say or to write any thing that may be to the casting away of my christian brother; but rather, O Lord, let this vile flesh suffer at thy will and pleasure. Grant this, O most merciful Father, for thy dear Son Jesus Christ's sake. Then he rose up and began to search his conscience what he might write, and at last framed out these words: "Whereas your lordship will have me to write such things as I know of my fellows at home, pleaseth it your lordship to understand, that I cannot call to remembrance any manner of thing whereby I might justly accuse any one of them, unless it be that the reading of the New Testament, which is common to all men, be an offence: more than this I know not." Now the gentleman, about his hour appointed, came again, and found Marbeck walking up and down the chamber. "How now," quoth he, “hast thou written nothing ?" "Yes, sir," quoth he, "as much as I know." "Well said," quoth the gentleman; and took up the paper: which, when he had read, he cast it from him in a great fume, swearing by our Lord's body,' that he would not for twenty pounds carry it to his lord and master. "Therefore," quoth he, "go to it again, and advise thyself better, or else thou wilt set my lord against thee, and then art thou utterly undone." By my troth, sir," quoth Marbeck, " if his lordship shall keep me here these seven years, I can say no more than I have said." "Then wilt thou repent it," quoth the gentleman: and so putting up his penner and ink-horn, he departed with the paper in his hand. 66 THE THIRD EXAMINATION OF MARBECK BEFORE THE BISHOP The next day, which was Wednesday, by eight of the clock in the morning, the bishop sent for Marbeck to his house at St. Mary Overy's, and as he was entering into the bishop's hall, he saw the bishop himself coming out at a door in the upper end thereof, with a roll in his hand; and going toward the great window, he called the poor man unto him, and said, "Marbeck! wilt thou cast away thyself?" "No, my lord," quoth he, "I trust." "Yes," quoth the bishop, "thou goest about it, for thou wilt utter nothing. What a devil made thee to meddle with the Scriptures P2 Thy vocation was another way, wherein thou hast a goodly gift, if thou didst esteem it." "Yes, my lord," quoth he, "I do esteem it; and have done my part therein, according to that little knowledge that God hath given me." "And why the devil," quoth the bishop, " didst thou not hold thee there?" And with that he flung away from the window out of the hall, the poor man following him from place to place, till he had brought him into a long gallery, and being there, the bishop began on this wise: Ah, sirra," quoth he, "the nest of you is broken, I trow." And (1) Well sworn, and like a right papist. (2) Christ saith, Scrutamini scripturas; and Winchester saith, The devil makes men to meddle with the Scriptures. |