Marginalia1555. Aprill.res, & Sir Pierce Alee were not thē present in place) amōgest whō was Sir Iohn Beran, & the Vicar of Prescot. So they examined me yet once againe of the sacrament. And after I had communed aparte with the Vicar of Prescot a good space concerning that matter, hee returned to my Lord and hys Counsell with me, saying: MarginaliaMarsh agayne examined about the Sacramēt.that aunswer which I had made before, and then dyd make (as it is aboue written) was sufficient for a beginner, and as one which did not professe a perfect knowledge in that matter, vntyll such time as I had learned further.MarginaliaMarsh keepeth himselfe yet close in the Sacrament. Wherewith the Earle was very wel pleased, saying he doubted not, but by the meanes and helpe of the Vicar of Prescot I would be conformable in other things. So after many fayre wordes he commaunded I should haue a bed, with fyre, and libertye to go amongest hys seruantes, so that I would doe no harme with my communication amongest them.  

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Because the earl of Derby believed that Marsh might recant; Marsh was confined in easier conditions.

MarginaliaMarsh troubled in his conscience for being no more bolde touching the Sacrament.And so after much other cōmunication, I departed, much more troubled in my spirit then afore, because I had not wyth more boldnes cōfessed Christ, but in such sort, as mine aduersaries thereby thought they shoulde preuaile agaynst me: wherat I was much greued: For hetherto I went about as much as in me lay, to ryd my selfe out of their hands, if by any meanes, without open denying of Christ and hys woord that could bee done. This considered, MarginaliaMarsh prayeth for more boldnes.I cryed more earnestly vnto God by prayer, desiring hym to strengthen me with his holy spirite, wyth boldnes to confesse hym: and to delyuer me from their intising woordes, and that I were not spoyled through their philosophy and deceitfull vanity after the traditions of men & ordinances of the world, and not after Christ.

MarginaliaMarsh agayne examined before the Bishops Chaplens.And so after a day or two I was sent for to the Vicar of Prescot, and the Parson of Grapnall: where our most communication was concerning the Masse: and he asked what offended me in the Masse: I aunswered MarginaliaTalke about the Masse.the whole Masse dyd offend me, MarginaliaAllegations against the Masse.fyrst because it was in a straunge language, whereby the people were not edified, contrary to S. Paules doctrine. 1. Corinth. 14. and because of the manyfold and intolerable abuses and errours contayned therein, contrary to Christes priesthood and sacrifice.

Then they asked me in what place thereof, and I named certain places: which places they went about with gentle & far sought  

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I.e., far-fetched or implausible.

I aunswered, I dyd vnderstande them as they dyd purport, and as theyr owne bookes did comment and glose vpon them.

They sayd, MarginaliaSacrificium Mißæ quid sit.Sacrificium or Oblatio dyd not in the Masse signifie any thing els, then eyther a Sacrifice of prayse or thankesgeuing,MarginaliaSacrifice of the Masse, expounded by the Papistes to be nothing els but the Sacrifice only of thankesgeuing. or els a memoriall of a sacrifice or oblation. So they caused a Masse booke to be sent for, and shewed me where in some places of the Masse was wrytten Sacrificium laudis. Whereto I aunswered, that it followed not therefore that in al places it signified a sacrifice or oblation of prayse or thankesgeuing: and although it dyd, yet was not a sacrifice of prayse or thankesgeuing to bee offered for the sinnes of the people, for that dyd Christ by hys own passion once offer on the crosse: where the wordes of the Masse were that the Priest did offer an oblation and sacrifice for the sinnes & offences both of him selfe and of the people: for them that were dead, & for the saluation of the liuing: and that the commixtion of the body & bloud of Christ was health both of body and soule.

The Vicar aunswered, that was to be vnderstand of the commixtion of Christes body and bloud with his church or people. So after much exhortation vnto me, that I shoulde bee conformable to the true catholicke church (which as they ment, was the Romish church) I departed, not consenting vnto them.

So within a day or twayne came to me M. Moore,

bringing wyth him certaine articles, whereunto Doctour Crome had consentedMarginaliaThe Articles of Doct. Cromes recantation brought to G. Marsh. and subscribed in the presence of certaine witnesses in the dayes of Kyng Henry the. viij. and wylled me to read them ouer, and asked me whether I would consent and subscribe vnto those articles: and after communication had of one or two of the sayd articles, I confessed plainly I would in no wyse consent and subscribe to those articles, for then I dyd against myne own conscience: and so he departed.

So within a short space after, which was on Sherethursday, the sayd Parson and Vicar sent for mee agayne, saying, my Lord would be at a short poynt with me: for if I would not consent and subscribe vnto. iiij. articles drawen out of the articles aforesayd, I must go to prison straight wayes.

Marginalia4. Popishe Articles for Marsh to subscribe vnto.
1. Masse.The first was, whether the Masse nowe vsed in the church of England, was according to Christes institution, and with fayth, reuerence, and deuotion to bee heard and seene?

Marginalia2. Transubstantiation.The second, whether the almightie by the woordes pronounced by the Priest, dyd chaunge the bread and wyne after the wordes of consecration, into the body & bloud of Christ, whether it were receaued or reserued?

Marginalia3. Receauing in one kind.Thirdly, whether the lay people ought to receaue but vnder the forme of bread onely, and that the one kynde was sufficient for them?

Marginalia4. Confession.Fourthly, whether confession to the Priest nowe vsed in England were godly and necessary?

These. iiij. questions or articles they deliuered me in writing, and bad me go to my chamber & subscribe my annswers with myne own hand, and come againe. So within one halfe houre, I came to them agayn, and deliuered them the questions with myne aunsweres. MarginaliaG. Marsh denieth the Articles.The first I denyed. To the second I aunswered, as I dyd to my Lord afore, and as is aboue written. To the third I aunswered that the lay people by Christes institution ought to receaue vnder both kindes, and that it sufficeth not them to receaue vnder the one kynde onely. Fourthly, that though cōfession auricular were a commodious meane to instruct the rude people, yet was it not necessary nor commaunded of God.

They much exhorted me then to leaue myne opinions, saying I was much deceaued, vnderstādyng the Scriptures amisse, MarginaliaG. Marsh exhorted to the Catholicke Church.and much counselled me to folowe the Catholicke Church of Christ, and to do as other did. I aunswered, my fayth in Christ conceaued by his holy word, I neither could nor would deny, alter nor chaunge, for any liuing creature whatsoeuer he were, desiryng them to speake to my Lord that duryng my lyfe and imprisonment, my poore frendes might be suffered to releue me with necessary thinges accordyng to their powers,  

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I.e., to supply Marsh with food, clothing, bed linen, money and other necessities.

Vpon one of the Easter holy dayes MarginaliaM. Shereburne and M. More examiners of G. Marsh.M. Shereburne and M. More sent for me persuading me much to leaue myne opinions: saying all the bryngers vp and fauorers of that Religiō had euil lucke, and were either put to death or in prison, and in daūger of lyfe. Agayne, the fauorers of the Religion now vsed had wōderous good lucke, and prosperitie in all thinges: with many other worldly reasons of mans wisedome, for as for þ^e Scriptures, M. Shereburne confessed hym self ignoraunt.

I aunswered that I beleued and leaned onely to the Scriptures, not iudgyng thynges by prosperitie or aduersitie: but they earnestly aduised me to refuse mine opinions, and not to let for any worldly shame.

MarginaliaGods truth is not to be estemed by prosperitie or aduersitie.I aunswered that that which I dyd, I did not for the auoydyng of any worldly shame, saying: my soule and life were dearer to me then the auoiding of any worldly shame: neither yet did I it for any vayne prayse of the world, but in the reuerent feare of God.