MarginaliaAn. 1555. Aprill.Then M. More questioned wt me of receauing þe Sacrament vnder the one kynd. I sayd Christes institutiō was playne that all mē should drinke of the cup. Then he told me of þe xxiiij. of Luke, & the xx. of þe Actes, MarginaliaChristes breaking of bread. Luke. 24. proueth not the receauing vnder one kynd.where was but mention of breakyng of bread onely: whereof he gathered, that they receiued the Sacrament but vnder one kynd.
[Back to Top]That I denyed, saying: those places either did not speake of the celebration of the Lordes Supper, or els vnder the name of breakyng bread, was signified and ment the receiuyng of the Sacrament, both of the body and bloud of Christ, accordyng to his institution. So after much communication of that matter, M. Shereburne sayd it was great pitie that I beyng a well fauoured young man, and one that might haue good liuyng and doe good, would so foolishly cast my selfe away stickyng so hard to such foolish opinions.
[Back to Top]I aunswered as afore I had done to my Lord and to his counsell, that MarginaliaG. Marsh forsaketh kindred and all together to stick to Christ.my life, mother, children, brethren, sisters, and frendes, with other delites of lyfe, were as deare and sweete vnto me as vnto any other man, and that I would be as loth to lose them, as an other would if I might hold them with good consciēce, and without the ignominy of Christ: and seyng I could not do that, my trust was that God would strengthen me with his holy spirite to lose them all for his sake: for I take my selfe (sayd I) for a shepe appointed to be slayne, patiently to suffer what Crosse so euer it shall please my mercifull father to lay on me. And so after I had desired them that if I were committed to prison my frendes might be suffered to relieue me, they departed.
[Back to Top]M. More afore this brought vnto me a booke of one AlphonsusMarginaliaAlphonsut booke brought to G. Marsh. a Spanish Frier, of all heresies wherwith the Church of Rome, which hee called Christes true Church, had bene troubled since Christes time, willing me to read and take counsell of that booke: and appointed me a place, where this authour did write agaynst thē that say, the lay people ought to receiue vnder both kyndes. This authour I perceiued did vehemently write against Luther, Melancthon, Pellican and other Germains of this our tyme, in all pointes defendyng the blasphemous abuses and enormities of þe Romishe Church, condemnyng as detestable heresies, what soeuer was writtē, taught, or beleued cōtrary to the same, vsing for his strongest and surest Argumentes, the consent, agreement, and determination of the Romishe Church. So within a few dayes M. More came to me agayne, asking me how I liked the booke. MarginaliaMarshes iudgement of Alphonsus booke.I sayd the authour of the booke did in all poyntes beyng a Papist, allowe the rites and abuses of the Romish Church, and shewed him further, that this authour without authoritie, and contrary both to the Scriptures and old Doctours, did condēne for heresie, the lay people receiuyng of this Sacrament vnder both kyndes, where as this authour witnesseth his owne selfe, that Christ Church nine hundred yeares after Christ vsed the contrary.
[Back to Top]So in conclusion he rebuked me, saying I was vnlearned, & erred from the catholicke fayth, stubburne, and stoode altogether in myne owne conceite. I aunswered, for my learning, I knowledge my self to know nothing but Iesus Christ, euē hym that was crucified, and that my fayth was groūded vpon Gods holy word onely, and such as I doubted not, pleased God, and as I would stand in vntyll the last day, God assisting me: and that I dyd not say or do any thing, eyther of stubburnnes, selfe wilfulnes, vayne glory, or any other worldly purpose, but with a good conscience, and in the feare of God: and desired hym to speake to my Lord and hys Counsell, that I might finde some gentlenes and mercy at their handes. He made me but short aunswer. Then I said, I commit my cause vnto God, who hath nombred the heares of my head, & appoynted the dayes of my lyfe, saying: I am sure God which is a righteous Iudge, would make inquisitiō for my bloud, according as hee hath promised. Then he tooke hys
[Back to Top]booke from me, and departed.
I continued styll in Ward vntyll Low Sonday,
Low Sunday is the first Sunday following Easter.
To whom I made plaine aunswer, that in matters of fayth, I would geue place to no earthly creature. So they comforted me, and sayd they were sory for me, saying: if I knew mine opinion to be good, I did wel, and so they departed, wylling my bringers to entreate me honestly.
My bringers by þe way shewed me they were willed & aduised to bynd me, and that they desired first to see me: and after they had looked on me, sitting at dynner, they aunswered they would take charge of me being loose, for they sayd I seemed to be an honest man. The fyrst night we were all night at Broughton, and the second day we came to Lancaster betimes at after noone, and so they kept me all night with thē of their gentlenes, & on the morow deliuered me to the Iaylor, who brought me into the hyghest pryson, where I do remayne.
[Back to Top]After that, the sayd George came to Lancaster Castell, and there being brought with other prisoners vnto the Sessions, MarginaliaG. Marsh caused to holde vp his handes at Lancaster amōgst other malefactors.was made to hold vp hys handes with other malefactours. The Earle of Darby had this communication wyth hym, as here followeth.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaTalke betwene G. Marsh and the Eearle of Darby.I Sayd vnto my Lord I had not dwelled in the country these three or foure yeares past, & came home but lately to visit my mother, children, & other my frendes, and to haue departed out of the coūtrey before Easter then next, and to haue gone out of the realme.
Given that the earl of Derby had heard of Marsh's activities in London and had determined to apprehend him, it is doubtful that Marsh's visit to Lancashire was as innocuous as he claims. Marsh was probably preaching and stiffening resistance to the religious policies of the Marian regime in the area.
[Back to Top]He sayd to hys Counsell, he had heard tell of me aboue at London,
Given that the earl of Derby had heard of Marsh's activities in London and had determined to apprehend him, it is doubtful that Marsh's visit to Lancashire was as innocuous as he claims. Marsh was probably preaching and stiffening resistance to the religious policies of the Marian regime in the area.
[Back to Top]I aunswered, I woulde haue gone eyther into Almayne,
I.e., Germany.
I.e., Germany.
So after such like wordes I said vnto hym, my trust was that hys lordship being of the honorable Counsell of the late kyng Edward, consenting and agreeing to Actes concerning fayth toward God and religion vnder great payne, would not so soone after consent to put poore men to shamefull death, as he had threatned me, for embrasing the same with so good a conscience.
[Back to Top]He aūswered that MarginaliaThe Earle of Darby, L. Windsor, and L. Dacars, in King Edwardes tyme, agreed not to the Actes of religion.he, wyth the Lord Windsor, and Lord Dacars, with one moe, whose name I haue forgotten, did not consent to those Actes, and that the nay of them foure would be to be seene as long as the Parlament house stood. Then my Lord did rehearse the euyll lucke of the Dukes of Northumberland and Suffolke with others, because they fauored not the true religion, and agayne the good hap and prosperitie of the Queenes highnes, because she fauored the true religiō, thereby gatheryng the one to be good and of God, and the other to be wicked & of the deuill, and sayd that the Duke of Northumberland confessed so playnly.
[Back to Top]