MarginaliaAn. 1555. March.Godfathers and Godmothers for thē at their baptisme, and that they are no hereticks nor misbeleuers in that they beleue, that there remayneth onely bread and wyne in the sacrament of the aultar, and that Christes naturall body is not there, but in heauen: for they say that þ^e scriptures so teach them.

To the fourtene they aunswere and beleue, that the premisses before by them confessed be true, notorious, and manifest.

After these aunsweres exhibited and perused, then the bishop speaking vnto thē after this sort, begynneth first (as he dyd euer before) with Thomas Causton: Because ye shall not be sodainly trapped, and that men shall not say that I go about to seeke snares to put you away, MarginaliaA copy of Catholicke charity shewed.I haue hetherto respited you, that you should way and consider with your selfe, your state and conditiō, and that you should, while ye haue tyme and space, acknowledge the truth, and returne to the vnitye of the catholicke church. Then the bishop reading theyr former articles and aunswers to the same, asked them if they would recant: which when they denyed, they were againe dismissed, and commaūded to appeare the wensday next after, at two of the clocke at after noone, there to receaue their diffinitiue sentēce against them: which thing (as it seemeth) was yet differred.

¶ An other examination of M. Causton and Maister Higbed.  

Commentary     Close

The accounts of the sessions in Consistory Court, together with the articles charged againt Causton and Higbed, and their answers, are taken from Bishop Bonner's official records, probably a court book which has now been lost.

MarginaliaAn other examination.THe next Friday, being the eight day of March, the sayd Thomas Causton was first called to examination before the Bishop, Fecknam, and MarginaliaThis Stempe is now Warden of the Colledge in Winchester.D. Stemp, in his pallace, and there had read vnto him his foresayd articles, with his aunswers thereunto, and after certayne exhortations to recant his former profession, and to be conformable to the vnitie of their church, they promysed him (so doing) willingly to receaue hym agayne thereunto. To whom he aunswered: MarginaliaM. Causton denyeth to recant.you go about to catch vs in snares and ginnes: but marke by what measure ye measure vs, looke you to be measured wyth the same agayne at Gods hands. The bishop styl perswaded with him to recant: to whom he answered no, I wyll not abiure. Ye sayd that the Bishops that were lately burned, be heretickes, but I pray God make me such an hereticke as they were.

The bishop then leauing Maister Causton, called forth mayster Hygbed, vsing with him the like perswasions, that they did wyth the other. MarginaliaM. Hygbed called for: he denyeth to abiure.But he aunswered, I wyll not abiure: For I haue bene of this minde and opinion that I am now, these. xvj. yeares, and do what ye can, ye shall do no more then God wyll permit you to do: and with what measure ye measure us, looke for the same agayne at Gods handes.

MarginaliaM. Fecknam still busy wyth matter of the sacrament.Then Fecknam asked him his opinion in the Sacrament of the altar. To whom he aunswered: I do not beleue that Christ is in the Sacrament as ye wyll haue him, which is of mans making.Both their aunsweres thus seuerally made, they were agayne commaunded to depart for that time, and to appeare the next day in the Consistory at Paules, betwene the houres of one and three of the clocke at after noone.

¶ The last appearance of M. Causton, & M. Higbed before Boner.  

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This account of the condemnation and sentencing of Causton and Higbed looks as though it may be the account of a witness rather than an official record. But in the absence of the official records it is impossible to be sure about this.

AT which day and houre, being the ninth day of March, they were both brought thither: MarginaliaM. Causton and Maister Hygbed appeare againe before the Byshop.where the bishop caused Maister Thomas Caustons articles and aunswers first to be read openly, and after perswaded with him to recant and abiure hys hereticall opinions, and to come home now at the last to their mother the catholicke church, and saue hym selfe.

But Maister Tho. Causton aunswered agayne and sayd: No, I wyll not abiure. For I came not hyther to that purpose: and therewythall he dyd exhibite in writing vnto the bishop (as well in his owne name,

as also in Thomas Higbeds name) a confession of their fayth,MarginaliaMaister Causton and M. Hygbed do exhibite a confession of their faith. to the which they woulde stand: and required leaue to reade the same, which (after great suite) was obteyned, and so he read it openly in the hearing of the people, as followeth.

MarginaliaThe cōfessiō of M. Causton.MarginaliaAbrenouncing of the world.1. FIrst, we beleue and professe in Baptisme, to forsake the Deuill and his workes and pompes, and the vanities of the wicked world, with all the synnefull lustes of the flesh.

MarginaliaThe articles of the Creede.2. We beleue all the Articles of our Christian fayth.

MarginaliaThe commaundementes.3. We beleue that we are bound to keepe Gods holy will and commaundementes, and to walke in the same all the dayes of our lyfe.

MarginaliaThe Lords prayer.4. We beleue that there is contayned in the Lordes prayer all thinges necessary both for body and soule, and that we are taught therby to pray to our heauēly father, and to none other Saint or Aungell.

MarginaliaThe Catholicke church.5. We beleue that there is a Catholicke Church, euen the Communion of Saintes, Built vppon the foundation of the Prophetes, and Apostles (as S. Paul sayth) Christ beyng the head corner stone. For the which Church Christ gaue hymselfe, to make it to hym selfe a glorious Congregation, without fault in hys sight.

MarginaliaThe church of it selfe is sinfull: by imputation righteous.6. We beleue that this Church, of her selfe and by her owne merites is sinnefull, and must nedes say: Father, forgiue vs our sinnes: but through Christ & his merites, she is frely forgeuen: For he in his owne person (sayth S. Paul) hath purged her sinnes, and made her faultles in his sight. Besides whom there is no Sauiour (sayth the Prophet) neither is there saluation (sayth S. Peter) in any other name.

MarginaliaChrist only our mediatour.7. We beleue, as he is our onely Sauiour, so is he our onely Mediatour. For the holy Apostle S. Paul sayth: There is one God, one Mediatour betwene God and man, euen the man Iesus Christ. Wherefore, seing none hath this name God and man but Iesus Christ, therefore there is no Mediatour but Iesus Christ.

MarginaliaThe condition of the church to be persecuted.8. We beleue that this Church of Christ is and hath bene persecuted, by the wordes of Christ, saying: As they haue persecuted me, so shall they persecute you: For the Disciple is not aboue his Maister. For it is not onely geuen vnto you to beleue in Christ (sayth S. Paul) but also to suffer for his sake. For all that will lyue godly in Christ Iesu, must suffer persecution.

MarginaliaThe church only is directed by Gods word, neyther adding nor taking fro.9. We beleue that the Church of Christ teacheth the worde of God truly and sincerely, puttyng nothyng to, nor taking any thyng fro: & also doth minister þ^e Sacramentes accordyng to the primatiue Church.

MarginaliaThe true church forbiddeth none to read the scriptures.10. We beleue that this Churche of Christ suffereth all men to read the Scriptures, accordyng to Christes commaundement, saying: Search the Scriptures: for they testifie of me. We read also out of the Actes, that when S. Paul preached, the audience dayly searched the Scriptures, whether he preached truly or no. Also the Prophet Dauid teacheth all men to pray with vnderstandyng: For how shall the vnlearned (sayth S. Paul) say, Amen, at the geuyng of thankes, when they vnderstande not what is sayd? And what is more allowed, then true fayth, which S. Paule sayth, commeth by hearyng of the worde of God?

MarginaliaGod only to be worshipped after hys word.11. We beleue that the Church of Christ teacheth that God ought to be worshipped accordyng to his worde, and not after the doctrine of men: For in vayne (sayth Christ) ye worshyp me, teachyng nothyng but the doctrine of men.

MarginaliaGods precepts to be folowed & not the institutions of men.Also we are commaunded of God, by his Prophet, saying: Walke not in the traditions and preceptes of your Elders, but walke (sayth he) in my preceptes: do that I commaund you: put nothyng therunto, neither take any thyng frō it. Likewise (sayth Christ) you shall forsake Father and Mother, and folowe me. Wherby we learne, that if our Elders teach otherwise then God cōmaunded, in that point we must forsake thē.

MarginaliaThe Lords supper is not to be chaunged from the institution of Christ.12. We beleue that the Supper of the Lord ought not to be altered and chaūged, for as much as Christ him selfe beyng the wisedome of the father, did institute it. For it is written: Cursed is he that chaungeth my ordinaunces, and departeth from my commaundementes, or taketh any thyng from thē.

Now, we find by the Scriptures, that this holy Supper is sore abused.

First, in that it is geuē in one kynd, where Christ gaue it in both.

Secondly, in that it is made a priuate Masse, where