thinges had chaunced euen) to haue put him to hys trumpe. But see the fortune. It was not. 12. dayes after, ere that the kinges supremacy passed in þe Parlament house. MarginaliaThe fyrst newes of the kinges supremacie brought to Windsore.Wherupon the Deane (Doctor Samson) came home sodainly in the night late, and forthwythall sent hys Verger about to all the Canons and Ministers of the Colledge, from the highest to the lowest, commaunding them to be in the Chapter house by. 8. a clocke in the morning. Then Ely consulted wyth the Canons ouer night (as late as it was) and thought on the next day, to haue put Testwod to a great plūge. But he that layeth a snare for an other man (sayth Salomon) shall be taken in it him selfe
See Proverbs 28:10.
I.e., the dean of St George's Chapel.
MarginaliaAn other trouble of Testwood.AS it chaunced Testwod one day to walke in the Churche at after noone, and behelde the pilgrimes (specially of Deuonshyre & Cornewall) how MarginaliaIdolatry to K. Henry of Windsore.they came in by plumpes with candels and Images of waxe in their handes, to offer to good kyng Henry of Wyndsore (as they called hym) it pitied his hart to see so great Idolatrie committed, and how vaynely the people had spent their goods in comming so farre, to kisse a spurre, & to haue an old hatte set vpō their heades
Although never canonized, Henry VI was popularly regarded as a saint and the shrine to him at Windsor castle was a favourite pilgrimage site. The spur and hat were relics of Henry VI, being putatively worn by him when he wandered as a fugitive in the north of England. It was believed that wearing Henry's hat could cure disease. This anecdote is fascinating evidence of the late survival of Henry's cult.
[Back to Top]After this sorte he admonished thē so long, till at the last, his wordes (as God would) tooke such place in some of them, that they said, they would neuer go a pilgrimage more. MarginaliaIdolatrye to an image of a white Lady made of Alabaster in Windsore.Then he went further and found an other sort, lickyng and kissyng a white Lady made of Alabaster, which Image was mortrest in a wall behynd the hye altare, and bordred about with a pretie border, which was made like braunches with hangyng apples and floures. And when he sawe them so superstitiously vse the Image (as to wype their handes vppon it, and thē to strake them ouer their eyes and faces, as though there had bene great vertue in touching the picture) he vp with his hand in the which he had a key, MarginaliaTestwoode defaceth the Image.and smote a peece of the border about the Image downe, and with þe glaunce of the stroke chaunced to breake of the Images nose. Lo, good people (quoth he) ye see what it is, nothyng but earth & dust, & can not helpe it self, and how will you then haue it to helpe you? For God sake brethren, be no more deceaued: and so he gat him home to his house, for the rumour was so great, that many came to see the Image, how it was defaced. And amōg all other, MarginaliaW. Simons a persecuter.came one William Symons (a Lawyer) who seyng þe Image so berayed, and to lacke her nose, MarginaliaO blinde Poperye to seeke the death of a liuing man for the nose of a dead stocke.tooke the matter greuously, and lookyng downe vpon the pauement, hee spyed the Images nose where it lay, whiche he tooke vp & put in his purse, saying it shoulde be a deare nose to Testwod one day.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaMagna Diana Ephesiorum.
Act. 28.Now were many offended with Testwod: The Canons for speakyng against their profite: the waxe sellers for hindryng their market: and Symons for the Images nose. And more then that, there were of þe Canons men that threatned to kill him. Wherupon Testwod kept his house and durst not come forth, minding to haue sent þe whole matter in writtyng by hys wife, to M. Cromwell the kynges Secretarye, who was hys speciall frend. The Canons hearyng that Testwod would send to Cromwell, they sent the Verger vnto hym, to will him to come to the Church: who sent thē worde againe, that he was in feare of his life, and therfore would not come. Then sent they two of the eldest Peticanons to entreate hym and to assure hym that no man should do him harme. He made thē a playne aunswere, that hee had no such trust to their promises, but would complayne to his frendes. Then wyst they not what shift to make MarginaliaThe Papistes of Windsore afrayde of Cromwell.(for of all men they feared Cromwell) but sent in post hast for old M. Warde, a Iustice of peace dwelling a iij. or iiij. myles of: who beyng come and hearyng the matter, was very loth to medle in it. MarginaliaThe Canons of Windsore glad to fall in agayne with Testwoode.But notwithstādyng, thorough their intreatie, he wēt to Testwod and had much a do to persuade hym, but at the last, he did so faythfully promise hym by the othe he had made to God and the kyng, to defend hym from all daungers and harmes, that Testwod was content to go with hym.
And when M. Warde and Testwod were come into the Church & were goyng toward the Chapter house, where the Canons abode their cōmyng, MarginaliaTestwoode in daunger of hys life.one of the Canons men drue hys dagger at Testwod, & would haue bene vpon hym, but M. Warde with his men resisted, and gat Testwod into the Chapter house, causing the seruing men to be called in, and sharpelye rebuked of their Maisters, who straitlye commaunded them vpon payne of leesing their seruice, and further displeasure, not to touch him, nor to geue him an euyll word. Now Testwod being alone in the Chapter house with the Canons and M. Warde, was gentlye intreated, and the mater so pacified, that Testwod might quietly come and go to the Church, and do his dutye as he had done before.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaAn other cause of Testwoods trouble.VPon a Relique Sonday
Relic Sunday is the third Sunday after Midsummer day and thus falls in mid-July.
A rochet is a white linen vestment; this one was putatively worn by Archbishop Thomas Becket. Since Becket's shrine was destroyed on Henry VIII's orders, in 1538, this would suggest that this incident took place before then.