DURING the time of his sickness, when King Edward began to appear more feeble, a marriage was solemnized in the month of May, between the lord Guilford, son to the duke of Northumberland, and the lady Jane, the duke of Suffolk's daughter; whose mother being then alive, was daughter to Mary, king Henry's second sister, who was first married to the French king, and afterwards to Charles duke of Suffolk. The marriage being concluded, and the king waxing every day more sick, and when there seemed to be no hope of recovery, it was brought to pass by the consent not only of the nobility, but also of the chief lawyers of the realm, that the king by his testament should appoint the lady Jane, daughter to the duke of Suffolk, to be inheretrix to the crown of England, passing over his two sisters, Mary and Elizabeth.

To this all the king's council subscribed, and the chief of the nobility, the mayor and city of London, and almost all the judges and chief lawyers of this realm, saving only justice Hales, of Kent, a man both favouring true religion, and also as upright a judge as any in this realm, who, giving his consent to lady Mary, would in no case subscribe to lady Jane. Of this man (God willing) you shall hear more in the sequel of this history.

The causes laid against lady Mary, were that it was feared she would marry a stranger, and thereby entangle the crown; and also that she would alter the religion, used both in the days of King Henry her father, and also in those of her brother King Edward, and so bring in the pope, to the utter destruction of the realm, which indeed afterwards came to pass, as by the sequel of this history will well appear.

When king Edward was dead, this lady Jane was established in the kingdom by the consent of the nobles, and was forthwith proclaimed queen at London, and in other cities. Between this young damsel and king Edward there was little difference in age, though in learning and knowledge of the tongues she was not only equal, but also superior to him, being instructed by a master right nobly learned.

In the mean time, while these things were working at London, lady Mary, who had knowledge of her brother's death, wrote to the lords of the council, as follows:

A letter of the Lady Mary, sent to the Lords of the Council, wherein she claims the crown after the decease of King Edward.

"My lords, we greet you well, and have received sure advertisement, that our dearest brother the king, our late sovereign lord, is departed to God's mercy, which news how woeful they be unto our heart, He only knoweth, to whose will and pleasure we must, and do humbly submit us and our wills. But in this so lamentable a case, that is to wit, now after his majesty's departure and death, concerning the crown and governance of this realm of England, with the title of France, and all things thereto belonging, what hath been provided by act of parliament, and the testament and last will of our dearest father, besides other circumstances advancing our right, you know, the realm, and the whole world knoweth, the rolls and records appear by the authority of the king our said father, and the king our said brother, and the subjects of this realm; so that we verily trust that there is no good true subject, that is, can, or would pretend to be ignorant thereof: and of our part we have of ourselves caused, and, as God shall aid and strengthen us, shall cause our right and title in this behalf to be published and proclaimed accordingly. And albeit this so weighty a matter seemeth strange, that our said brother dying upon Thursday at night last past, we hitherto had no knowledge from you thereof, yet we consider your wisdom and prudence to be such, that having oftentimes amongst you debated, pondered, and well weighed this present case with our estate, with your own estate, the commonwealth, and all our honours, we shall and may conceive great hope and trust, with much assurance in your loyalty and service, and therefore for the time interpret and take things not for the worst; and that you will, like noblemen, work the best. Nevertheless, we are not ignorant of your consultations, to undo the provisions made for our preferment, nor of the great bands and provisions forcible, wherewith ye be assembled and prepared, by whom, and to what end, God and you know, and nature cannot but fear some evil. But be it that some political consideration, or whatsoever thing else hath moved you thereto, yet doubt you not, my lords, but we can take all these your doings in gracious part, being also right ready to remit and fully pardon

the same, and that freely to eschew bloodshed and vengeance against all those that can or will intend the same, trusting also assuredly you will take and accept this grace and virtue in good part as appertaineth, and that we shall not be forced to use the service of others our true subjects and friends, which in this our just and right cause, God, in whom our whole affiance is, shall send us. Wherefore, my lords, we require you, and charge you, and every of you, that of your allegiance which you owe to God and us, and to none other, for our honour and the safety of our person only employ yourselves, and forthwith upon receipt hereof, cause our right and title to the crown and government of this realm to be proclaimed in our city of London, and other places, as to your wisdom shall seem good, and as to this case appertaineth, not failing hereof as our very trust is in you. And this our letter, signed with our hand, shall be your sufficient warrant in this behalf.

"Given under our signet, at our Manor of Kenning Hall, the ninth of July, 1553."

To this letter of the lady Mary, the lords of the council made answer again, as follows:

Answer of the Lords to the Lady Mary's Letter. "Madam, we have received your letter, dated the ninth of this instant, declaring your supposed title, which you judge yourself to have to the imperial crown of this realm, and all the dominions thereunto belonging. For answer whereof, this is to advertise you, that forasmuch as our sovereign lady queen Jane is, after the death of our sovereign lord Edward the Sixth, a prince of most noble memory, invested and possessed with the just and right title to the imperial crown of this realm, not only by good order of the ancient laws of this realm, but also by our late sovereign lord's letters patent, signed with his own hand, and sealed with the great seal of England in presence of the most part of the nobles, councillors, judges, with several others, grave and sage personages, assenting and subscribing to the same: We must therefore, as of the most bounden duty and allegiance, assent unto her said grace, and to none other, except we should (which faithful subjects cannot) fall into grievous and unspeakable enormities. Wherefore we can do no less, but for the quiet both of the realm and you also, to advertise you, that forasmuch as the divorce made between the king of famous memory, king Henry the Eighth, and the lady Catharine your mother, was necessary to be had both by the everlasting laws of God, and also by the ecclesiastical laws, and by the most part of the noble and learned universities of Christendom, and confirmed also by the sundry acts of parliaments remaining yet in their force, and thereby you were justly made illegitimate and unheritable to the crown imperial of this realm, and the rules, and dominions, and possessions of the same, you will upon just consideration hereof, and of divers other causes, lawful to be alleged for the same, and for the just inheritance of the right line and godly order taken by the late king our sovereign lord king Edward the Sixth, and agreed upon by the nobles and great personages aforesaid, cease by any pretence to vex and molest any of our sovereign lady queen Jane her subjects from their true faith and allegiance due unto her grace: Assuring you, that if you will for respect shew yourself quiet and obedient (as you ought) you shall find us all and several ready to do you any service that we with duty may, and glad with your quietness to preserve the common state of this realm wherein you may be otherwise grievous unto us, to yourself, and to them. And thus we bid you most heartily farewell.

"From the Tower of London, in this ninth of July, 1553.

"Your ladyship's friends, shewing yourself an obedient subject.

After this answer the lady Mary stole secretly away from the city, resting chiefly upon the good will of the commons, and yet perchance not destitute altogether of the secret advice of some of the nobles. When the council heard of her sudden departure, they speedily gathered an army, and assigned that the duke of Suffolk should take that enterprise in hand. But afterwards altering their minds, they thought it best to send the duke of Northumberland, with other lords and gentlemen, and that the duke of Suffolk should keep the Tower, where the lord Guilford and the lady Jane were lodged.

Mary in the meanwhile withdrew into Norfolk and Suffolk, where she understood the duke's name was in much hatred, for the service he had done there under king Edward, in subduing the rebels, and there gathering to her aid such of the commons as she could, at the same time keeping herself close within Framlingham Castle. To her, first of all, there resorted the Suffolk men; who being always forward in promoting the gospel, promised her their aid and help, provided she would not attempt an alteration of the religion, which her brother king Edward had before established by law publicly enacted, and received by the consent of the whole realm.

To this condition she soon agreed, with such promises to them that no innovation should be made in the matter of religion, so that no man would or could then have doubted her. Which promise, if she had as constantly kept, as they willingly preserved her with their bodies and weapons, she had done a deed both worthy her blood, and had also made her reign more stable to herself. For though a man be never so mighty of power, yet breach of promise is an evil upholder of quietness, fear is worse, but cruelty is the worst of all.

pro

Thus Mary being guarded by the power of the testants of Suffolk, vanquished the duke, and all those that came with her. In return for which it was (methinks) an heavy word that she answered to the Suffolk men afterwards, who made supplication to her grace to perform her promise: "Forasmuch," saith she, "as you, being but members, desire to rule your head, you shall one day well perceive, that members must obey their head, and not look to bear rule over it." And not only that, but also to cause the more terror to others, a certain gentleman named Master Dobbe, for reminding her of her promise, was punished, being three times set on the pillory to be a gazing stock to all men. Others delivered to her books and supplications made out of the scriptures, to exhort her to continue in the true doctrine then established; and these were sent to prison. But such is the condition of man's nature that we are for the most part more ready always to seek friendship when we stand in need of help, than ready to requite a benefit once past and received.

The greatest help that made for the cause of the lady Mary was the short journeys of the duke, which by commission were assigned to him before. For the longer the duke lingered in his voyage, the lady Mary the more increased in power; the hearts of the people being mightly bent to her which after the council at London perceived, and understood how the common multitude withdrew their hearts from them to stand with her, and that certain noblemen began to go over to her, they changed also, and proclaimed the lady Mary queen.

And thus the duke of Northumberland was left destitute and forsaken at Cambridge with some of his sons and a few others, among whom the earl of Huntington was one, where they were arrested and brought to the Tower of London, as traitors to the crown.

Thus Mary was made queen, and the sword of autho

rity put into her hand. When she had been thus advanced by the Protestants of Suffolk, and saw all things quiet, as her enemies were conquered, and the duke sent to the Tower, she followed not long after, being brought on the third day of August to London, to the great rejoicing of many men, but with a greater fear of many. Thus coming up to London, she took her first lodging at the Tower, where the lady Jane, with her husband the lord Guilford, a little before her coming, were imprisoned; and where they remained waiting her pleasure for more than six months. But the duke of Northumberland, within a month after his coming to the Tower, being adjudged to death, was brought forth to the scaffold, and there beheaded, August 22. Having received a promise and hope of pardon that if he would recant and hear mass, he consented, and denied in words that true religion which before in king Henry VIII. and in king Edward VI.'s days he had declared himself both to favour and promote; exhorting also the people to return to the Catholic faith, as he termed it.

At the same time, the duke of Northumberland, with Sir John Gates, and Sir Thomas Palmer, were put to death. This Palmer, on the other side, confessed his faith, which he had learned in the gospel, and lamented that he had not lived more gospel-like. In the meantime queen Mary entering thus upon her reign with the blood of these men, besides hearing mass in the Tower, gave a sad sign, especially by the delivering of Stephen Gardiner out of the Tower, that she would not stand to that which she had promised so faithfully to the Suffolk men, concerning the not altering the state of religion.

Other things also followed, which every day more and more discomforted the people, shewing that the queen bore no good will to the present state of religion: she not only released Gardiner, but made him lord chancellor of England and bishop of Winchester (doctor Poynet being put out), and also Bonner was restored to his bishopric again, and Doctor Ridley displaced. Doctor Day was appointed to the bishopric of Chichester; J. Scory being put out. Doctor Tonstal to the bishopric of Durham; Doctor Heath to the bishopric of Worcester, (Hooper being committed to the Fleet.) Doctor Veysey was appointed to Exeter, and Miles Coverdale put out. These things being perceived, great heaviness and discomfort grew more and more among all good men ; so that there was now to be seen a miserable face of things in the whole commonwealth of England. They that could dissemble took no great care how the matter went; but those whose consciences were joined with the truth, perceived already the coals to be kindled, which would be the destruction of many a true christian man. In the meanwhile, queen Mary removed from the Tower to Hampton Court, and caused a parliament to be summoned for the 10th of October.

You heard before how several bishops were removed, and others placed in their sees: among whom was Doctor Ridley bishop of London, a worthy man both of fame and learning. This Doctor Ridley, in the time of queen Jane, had made a sermon at St. Paul's Cross, declaring his mind to the people as to the lady Mary, and dissuading them, alleging there the incommodities and inconveniencies which might arise by receiving her as their queen, prophesying as it were before that which afterwards came to pass, that she would bring in a foreign power to reign over them; besides the subverting also of the christian religion then established; showing too, that Mary being in his diocese, he, according to his duty, had laboured much with her to turn her to his religion; and notwithstanding in all other points of civility she shewed herself sensible and tractable, yet in matters that concerned true faith and doctrine, she shewed herself so stiff and obstinate that there was no other hope of her, but that she would disturb and overturn all that had been confirmed and planted by her brother before. Shortly after this sermon, queen Mary was proclaimed, upon which he repaired to Fremingham to salute the queen, but had such cold welcome, that, being spoiled of all his dignity, he was sent back upon a lame halting horse to the Tower.

Queen Mary seeing things not yet going on after

her mind as she desired, devised with her council to bring that to pass by other means which by open law she could not accomplish; setting forth a prohibition by proclamation, that no man should preach or read openly in churches the word of God, besides other things also in the same proclamation.

A Prohibition of the Queen for Preaching, Printing, &.c.

"The queen's highness well remembering what great inconveniencies and dangers have grown to this her highness' realm in times past, through the diversity of opinions in question of religion, and hearing also that now of late, since the beginning of her most gracious reign, the same contentions are again much revived, through certain false and untrue reports and rumours spread by some light and evil disposed persons, hath thought good to make known to all her highness' most loving subjects, her most gracious pleasure in manner following: First, her majesty, being now, by the alone goodness of God, settled in her just possession of the imperial crown of this realm, and other dominions thereunto belonging, cannot now hide that religion which God and the world knoweth she hath ever professed from her infancy. Which as her majesty is minded to observe and maintain for herself by God's grace, during her time, so doth her highness much desire, and would be glad the same were by all her subjects quietly and charitably embraced.

"And yet she signifies to all her majesty's loving sub. jects, that of her most gracious disposition and clemency her highness mindeth not to compel any of her said subjects thereunto, until such time as further order by common assent may be taken therein: forbidding nevertheless all her subjects of all degrees, at their perils, to move seditions, or stir unquietness in her people, by interpreting the laws of this realm after their brains and fancies, but quietly to continue for the time, till (as before is said,) further order may be taken, and therefore willeth and straightly chargeth and commandeth all her said good loving subjects to live together in quiet sort and christian charity, leaving those new found devilish terms of papist or heretic, and such like, and applying their whole care, study, and travel to live in the fear of God, exercising their conversations in such charitable and godly doing, as their lives may indeed express that great hunger and thirst of God's glory and holy word, which by rash talk and words many have pretended: and in so doing they shall best please God, and live without danger of the laws, and maintain the tranquillity of the realm. Whereof as her highness shall be most glad, so if any man shall rashly presume to make any assem blies of people, or at any public assemblies, or otherwise shall go about to stir the people to disorder or disquiet, she mindeth according to her duty, to see the same most severely reformed and punished according to her highness' laws.

"And furthermore, forasmuch as it is also well known, that sedition and false rumours have been nourished and maintained in this realm, by the subtlety and malice of some evil-disposed persons, who take upon themselves without sufficient authority to preach and to interpret the word of God after their own heads in churches, and other places both public and private, and also by playing of interludes, and printing of false-found books, ballads, rhymes, and other improper treatises in the English tongue, concerning doctrine, in matters now in question and controversy, touching the high points and mysteries of christian religion; which books, ballads, rhymes, and treatises are chiefly by the printers and stationers set out to sale to her grace's subjects, of an evil zeal for lucre and covetousness of vile gain. Her highness therefore straightly chargeth and commandeth all and every of her said subjects, of whatever state, condition, or degree they be, that none of them presume from henceforth to preach, or by way of reading in churches, or other public or private places, except in schools of the university, to interpret or teach any scriptures, or any manner of points of doctrine concerning religion, neither also to print any books, matter, ballad, rhyme,

interlude, process or treatise, nor to play any interlude, except they have her grace's special licence in writing for the same, upon pain to incur her highness' indignation and displeasure.

"And her highness also further chargeth and commandeth all and every her subjects; that none of them of their own authority do presume to punish, and to rise against any offender in the causes aforesaid, or any other offender in words or deeds in the late rebellion committed or done by the duke of Northumberland, or his accomplices, or to seize any of their goods, or violently to use any such offender by striking, imprisoning, or threatening the same, but wholly to refer the punishment of all such offenders unto her highness and the public authority, whereof her majesty mindeth to see due punishment according to the order of her highness' laws.

"Nevertheless, as her highness intendeth not hereby to restrain and discourage any of her loving subjects, to give from time to time true information against any such offenders in the causes aforesaid, unto her grace or her council, for the punishment of every such offender, according to the effect of her highness' laws provided in that part so her said highness exhorteth and strictly chargeth her subjects to observe her commandment and pleasure in every part aforesaid, as they will avoid her highness' indignation and most grievous displeasure. The severity and vigour whereof, as her highness shall be most sorry to have cause to put in execution, so doth she utterly determine not to permit such unlawful and rebellious doings of her subjects, whereof may ensue the danger of her royal estate, to remain unpunished, but to see her said laws touching these points to be thoroughly executed: which extremities she trusteth all her said subjects will foresee, dread, and avoid accordingly : her highness straightly charging and commanding all mayors, sheriffs, justices of peace, bailiffs, constables, and all other public officers and ministers, diligently to see to the observing and executing of her commandments and pleasure, and apprehend all such as shall wilfully offend in this part, committing the same to the next gaol, there to remain without bail or mainprize, till upon certificate made to her highness, or her privy council, of their names and doings; and upon examination had of their offences, some further order shall be taken for their punishment to the example of others, according to the effect and tenor of the laws aforesaid.

"Given at our manor of Richmond, the 18th day of August, in the first year of our most prosperous reign." Master Bourne Preaching at St. Paul's Cross. About this time, or not long before, Bonner, bishop of London, being restored, appointed Master Bourne, a canon of St. Paul's, to preach at the Cross; he afterwards was bishop of Bath and Wells. Bourne taking occasion of the gospel of that day to speak something largely in justifying Bonner who was then present; "which Bonner," said he, "had preached before upon the same text in that place, that day four years, and was for the same most cruelly and unjustly cast into the most vile dungeon of the Marshalsea, and there kept during the time of king Edward." His words sounded so ill in the ears of the hearers, that they could not keep silence, and began to murmur and stir so that the mayor and aldermen, who were then present, greatly feared an uproar. One person hurled a dagger at the preacher, but who it was could not then be proved; though afterwards it be

came known.

Indeed, the stir was such, that the preacher drew in his head, and durst appear no more in that place. The matter of his sermon tended much to the dispraise of king Edward, which the people could not bear. Then Master Bradford, at the request of the preacher's brother and others, stood forth and spake so mildly, christianly, and effectually, that with a few words he appeased all and afterwards he and Master Rogers conducted the preacher between them from the pulpit to the grammar school, where they left him safe. But for this they were shortly after both rewarded with long imprisonment, and last of all with fire in Smithfield!

By reason of this tumult at St. Paul's Cross, an order

was made by the lords of the council, and sent to the mayor and aldermen of London, desiring that they should call the next day following a common council of the city, and should charge every householder to cause their children, apprentices, and other servants to keep their own parish churches upon the holydays, and not to suffer them to attempt to break the peace. Commanding them also to signify to the assembly the queen's determination, which was, that her grace meant not to compel other men's consciences otherwise than God shall put into their hearts a persuasion of the truth that she herself believed in.

It was also ordered, that every alderman in his ward should forthwith send for the curates of every parish, and warn them not only to forbear to preach themselves, but also not to suffer any others to preach; or make any open or solemn reading of the scriptures in their churches, unless the preachers were licensed by the queen.

On the next day after this sermon at St. Paul's Cross, the queen's guard was at the Cross with their weapons to guard the preacher. And when the people withdrew themselves from the sermon, an order was given by the mayor, that the elders of all companies should be present so as to make a congregation, least the preacher should be discouraged by his small auditory.

On the 15th of August, A.D. 1553, one William Rutler was committed to the Marshalsea, for uttering words against Master Bourne, for his sermon at St. Paul's Cross.

On the 16th of August, Humfrey Palden was committed to the Compter, for words against Bourne's sermon at St. Paul's Cross.

A letter was sent to the sheriffs of Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, to apprehend Fisher, parson of Ammersham, a preacher.

Another letter was sent to the bishop of Norwich, not to suffer any preacher or other to preach or expound the scriptures openly without special license from the queen.

The same day Master Bradford, Master Vernon, and Master Beacon, preachers, were committed to the charge of the lieutenant of the Tower.

The same day also Master John Rogers, preacher, was commanded to keep himself prisoner in his own house at St. Paul's, without having any conference with any others than those of his own household.

On the 22nd of August there were two letters directed to Master Coverdale, bishop of Exeter, and Master Hooper, bishop of Gloucester, to repair forthwith to the court, and there to attend the council's pleasure.

The same day Fisher, parson of Ammersham, made his appearance before the council, according to their letter of the 16th of August, and was appointed the next day to bring in a note of his sermon.

On the 24th of August, one John Melvin, a Scotchman and preacher, was sent to Newgate, in London, by the council.

On the 28th of August there was a letter sent to the mayor of Coventry and his brethren, for the apprehension of one Sanders, then vicar of St. Michael's, in Coventry, and to send him up to the council, with his examinations and other matters they could charge him with; with a commission to punish all such as had by means of his preaching used any talk against the queen's proceedings.

On the 26th of August, Master Hooper, bishop of Worcester, made his personal appearance before the council, according to their letters of the 22nd of August.

On the 31st of August, Master Coverdale, bishop of Exeter, made his appearance before the council, according to their letters of the 22nd of August.

On the 1st of September, Master Hooper and Master Coverdale appeared again before the council, when Master Hooper was committed to the Fleet, and Master Coverdale commanded to attend the lords' pleasure.

On the 2nd of September, Master Hugh Sanders, vicar of St. Michael's, in Coventry, was before the council for a sermon, and was commanded to appear again upon the Monday following.

The 4th of September, a letter was directed from the council to Master Hugh Latimer for his appearance before them.

About the 5th of September, Peter Martyr came to London from Oxford, where for a time he had been commanded to keep his house, and found there the archbishop of Canterbury, who offered to defend the doctrine of the book of Cominon Prayer, both by the scriptures and the doctors, assisted by Peter Martyr and a few others, as hereafter ye shall hear. But while they were in hope to come to disputations, the archbishop and others were imprisoned, but Peter Martyr was suffered to return.

The same day there was a letter sent to the mayor of Coventry to set Hugh Symonds at liberty, if he would recant his sermon, or if not, to detain him in prison.

On the 13th September, Mr. Hugh Latimer appeared before the council, according to their letter of the 4th of September, and was committed as a close prisoner to the Tower.

The same day the archbishop of Canterbury appeared before the council, and was commanded to appear on the next day before them in the star-chamber.

On the 14th of September, the archbishop of Canterbury made his appearance before the lords in the starchamber; where they, charging him with treason and spreading abroad seditious bills to the disquieting of the state, committed him to the Tower of London, there to remain till further sentence, or order, at the queen's pleasure.

On the 15th of September, there was a letter sent to Master Horn, dean of Durham, for his appearance before them, and another was sent to him on the 7th of October, for his speedy appearance.

On the 16th of September, there were letters sent to the mayors of Dover and Rye, to suffer all French protestants to pass out of this realm, except such as should be signified to them by the French ambassador.

To

On the first day of October, queen Mary was crowned at Westminster, and on the tenth day of the same month began the parliament with the solemn mass of the Holy Ghost, after the popish manner, which was celebrated with great pomp in the palace of Westminster. which mass, among the other lords, according to the custom, the bishops should have come. Those bishops who yet remained undeposed were the archbishop of York; Doctor Taylor, bishop of Lincoln; John Harley, bishop of Hereford. Of these bishops, Taylor and Harley, presenting themselves according to their duty, took their places among the lords, but after they saw the mass begin, and not bearing the sight, they withdrew : for which the bishop of Lincoln being examined, and protesting his faith, was commanded to attend; but not long afterwards died by sickness. Harley, because he was married, was excluded both from the parliament and from his bishopric.

Mass being done, the queen, accompanied by the estates of the realm, was brought into the parliamenthouse, to enter and begin the consultation: at which consultation or parliament were repealed all statutes made in the time of king Henry VIII. for premunire, and statutes made by king Edward VI. for the administration of common prayer and the sacrament in the English tongue and further, the attainder of the duke of Northumberland was confirmed by this parliament. In the meanwhile many men were forward in erecting altars and masses in churches. And of such persons as would adhere to the laws made in king Edward's time, till others should be established, some were marked and some apprehended. Among whom Sir James Hales, a knight of Kent, and justice of the Common Pleas, was one, who, although he had ventured his life in queen Mary's cause, in that he would not subscribe to the disinheriting of her by the king's will, yet because at a quarter sessions he charged upon the statutes made in the time of king Henry VIII. and Edward VI. for the supremacy and religion, he was imprisoned, and so cruelly handled and put in fear by the talk that the warden of the Fleet used to have in his hearing, of such torments as were prepar

ing for heretics, (or for what other cause God knoweth,) that he sought to rid himself out of this life by wounding himself with a knife; and afterwards was contented to say as they desired him: upon which he was discharged; but he never rested till he had drowned bilaself in a river, half a mile from his house in Kent.

During the time of this parliament, the clergy likewise held a convocation, with a disputation also, appointed by the queen's command, at St. Paul's church in London. In the convocation, Master John Harpsfield, bachelor of divinity, made a sermon to the clergy. After the sermon, it was agreed by the bishops, that they of the clergy-house, for avoiding confusion of words, should choose a prolocutor. To which office, by common assent, was named Doctor Weston, dean of Westminster, and presented to the bishops with an oration by Master Pye, dean of Chichester, and Master Wimbisley, archdeacon of London. Which Doctor Weston being chosen and brought to the bishops, made his oration to the house, with an answer again by Bishop Bonner.

ment.

After these things arranged in the convocation-house, they proceeded next to the disputation appointed, by the queen's command, about the matter of the sacraWhich disputation lasted six days. Wherein Doctor Weston was chief on the pope's part; who behaved himself outrageously in taunting and checking. Such as disputed on the other side were compelled some to fly, some to deny, and some to die, though to most men's judgments that heard the disputation they had the advantage, as may appear by the report of the disputation, the copy of which we here annex :

The true Report of the Disputation had and begun in the Convocation-house at London, the 18th of Oct. A.D. 1553, written by one who was present at it.

Act of the First Day.

First upon Wednesday, being the 18th of October, Doctor Weston the prolocutor certified the house, "that it was the queen's pleasure, that they, being learned men, should debate of matters of religion, and constitute laws, which her grace and the parliament would ratify. And as there is a book of late set forth, called the Catechism bearing the name of this honourable synod, and yet put forth without your consent as I have learned, being a very pestiferous book, and full of heresies, and likewise a book of common prayer very abominable, I thought it therefore best to begin with the articles of the catechism concerning the sacrament of the altar, to confirm the natural presence of Christ in the same, and also transubstantiation. Wherefore, it shall be lawful on Friday next ensuing for all men freely to speak their conscience in these matters, that all doubts may be removed, and they fully satisfied therein."

Act of the Second Day.

On Friday, being the 20th of October, when men thought they should have entered on the disputation of the questions proposed, the prolocutor exhibited two bills to the house; one for the natural presence of Christ in the sacrament of the altar; the other concerning the catechism, that they did not agree thereto : requiring all to subscribe to the same, as he himself had done. The whole house immediately assented, except six, who were Philips, dean of Rochester; Haddon, dean of Exeter; Philpot, archdeacon of Winchester; Cheyney, archdeacon of Hereford; Ailmer, archdeacon of Stow; and Young, chanter of St. David's. And while the rest were about to subscribe these two articles, John Philpot stood up and spake concerning the articles of the catechism, that it beareth the title of the synod of London last before this, although many of them who then were present were never made privy thereof in setting it forth; because this house had granted authority to make ecclesiastical laws to certain persons appointed by the king's majesty; therefore it might be well said to be done in the synod of London, although such as be of this house now had no notice of it before the promulgation.

And he said, concerning the article of the natural