MarginaliaAn. 1555. Iuly.he was borne: but their purpose concerning the place was afterward altered: for they burned him in Lōdon.

After þ^e cōdemnation of M. Bradford, which was the last day of Ianuary, M. Bradford being sent into prison did there remaine vntill the first day of Iuly, during all which tyme, diuers other conferences and conflictes he susteined with sondry aduersaries, which repayred vnto him in the prison. Of whom first Byshop Boner commyng to the Counter to disgrade D. Taylour, the 4. day of February entred talke with the said M. Bradford: the effect wherof here ensueth.

MarginaliaB. Boners talke with M. Bradford.VPon the fourth of February, that is, the same day M. Rogers was burned, Boner Bishop of London came to the Coūter in the Pultry to disgrade M. Doct. Taylour about one of the clocke at after noone. But before he spake to M. Taylor, he called for Ioh. Bradford which was prisoner there: whom when he saw, he put of his cappe, and gaue him his hand, saying: Because I perceaue that ye are desirous to cōferre with some learned men, therfore I haue brought Maister Archdeacon Harpsfield to you. And I tell you, you do like a wise man. But I pray you go roundly to worke: for the time is but short.

Bradford. My Lord, as roundely as I can I will go to worke with you: MarginaliaBradford desireth to conferre with none, and yet is ready to talke with any.I neuer desired to conferre with any man, nor yet do. Howbeit if ye will haue one to talke with me, I am ready.

Boner. What (quoth the Bishop in a fume to the keeper) did not you tell me that this man desired conference?

Keper. No my Lord, I told you that he would not refuse to conferre with any: but I did not say that it is his desire.

Boner. Well, M. Bradford, you are welbeloued, I pray you consider your selfe, & refuse not charitie when it is offered.

Brad. In deede my Lord, this is small charitie, to cōdemne a man as you haue condemned me, which neuer brake your lawes. MarginaliaMore charitie amongest the Turkes, then amongest the persecuting Papistes.In Turky a man may haue charitie, but in Englād I could not yet find it. I was condemned for my faith, so soone as I vttered it at your requestes, before I had committed any thing against the lawes. And as for cōference I am not afraid to talke with whō you will. But to say that I desire to conferre, that do I not.

Boner. Well, well. And so he called for M. Taylour and Bradford went his way.

MarginaliaTalke betwen M. Bradford, and Willerton Chaplayn to B. Boner.VPō an other day of February one, M. Willerton, a Chaplein of the B. of London, did come to cōferre with Bradford: but when he perceaued that Bradford desired not his comming, and therefore wished rather his departing them abidyng, well M. Bradford (quoth he) yet I pray you let vs conferre a litle: perchaunce you may do me good, if I can doe you none: Vppon which wordes Bradford was content, and so they began to talke. Willerton spake much of the Doctours, the fathers, of the bread in the 6. chap of S. Iohn &c. laboring to proue transubstantiation, and that wicked men do receaue Christ. But Bradford on the cōtrary part improued his authorities, so that they came to this issue, that Willerton should draw out of the Scriptures and Doctours his reasons, and Bradford would peruse thē: and if he could not aunswere them, then he would geue place. Likewise should Bradford draw out his reasons

out of the Scriptures and Doctours, to which Willerton should aunswere if he could: and so for that day they departed.

The next day folowing in þ^e morning, MarginaliaWillerton sendeth his writing to Bradford, to proue transubstantiation.Willerton sent halfe a shete of a paper written on both sides, cōtaining no reasons how he gathered his doctrine, but onely bare sentences: Panis quē ego dabo, &c.  

Latin/Greek Translations     Close

St. John, 6. 52

Foxe text Latin

Panis quem ego dabo, etc.

Foxe text translation

The bread which I will geue is my flesh.

Actual text of St. John, 6. 52 (Vulgate)

et panis quem ego dabo caro mea est pro mundi vita

[Accurate citation]

MarginaliaWillerton commeth agayne to Bradford.In the after noone he came him selfe, and there they had a long talke to litle effect. At the length Willerton began to talke of the Church, saying that Bradford swarued from the Church.

Brad. No, that do I not, but ye do. For the * Church is Christes spouse, and Christes obedient spouse, which your Church is not, which robbeth the people of the Lordes cup, and of seruice in the English toung.

Willerton. Why? it is not profitable to haue the seruice in English: for it is written: Labia Sacerdotis custodiunt legem.  

Latin/Greek Translations     Close

Malachi, 2. 7.

Foxe text Latin

Labia Sacerdotis custodiunt legem

Foxe text translation

The lippes of the Priest should keepe the law [and out of his mouth man must looke for knowledge.]

Actual text of Malachi, 2. 7. (Vulgate)

labia enim sacerdotis custodient scientiam et legem requirent ex ore eius.

[Note the differences - Foxe may have translated the Greek or Hebrew himself.]

Brad. Should not the people then haue the Scriptures? Wherefore serueth this saying of Christ: Search the Scriptures?

Willer. This was not spoken to the people, but to the Scribes and learned men.

Brad. Thē the people must not haue þ^e Scriptures.

Willer. No, for it is writē: MarginaliaArgumēt. Erunt docti a Deo: Ergo, the people must not haue the scriptures.Erunt docti a deo:  

Latin/Greek Translations     Close

Foxe narrative

Foxe text Latin

Erunt docti a deo.

Foxe text translation

they shalbe al taught of God.

Brad. And must we learne all at the Priestes?

Willerton. Yea.

Brad. Then I see you would bring the people to hāg vp Christ and let Barrabas go, as the Priestes did then persuade the people. At which wordes, M. Willerton was so offended that he had no lust to talke any more. MarginaliaMaister Bradfords reason agaynst trāsubstantiation not answered.In the end Bradford gaue him the reasons which hee had gathered against transubstantiation, & prayed him to frame his into the forme of reasons, and then, quoth Bradford, I will aunswere them.

Willer. Well I will do so. But first I will aunswere yours. The which thing vntill this day hee hath not done.

Vpō the 12. of February there came MarginaliaThe Earle of Darbies Seruaunt.one of the Earle of Darbyes seruauntes to Bradford, saying: My Lord hath sent me to you: he willeth you to tender your self, and he would be good Lord vnto you.

Brad. I thāke his Lordship for his good will toward me: but in this case I can not tender my selfe more then Gods honour.

Seruaunt. Ah M. Bradford, consider your mother, sisters, frēdes, kinsfolke, and countrey, what a great discōfort it wilbe vnto them to see you dye as an hereticke.

MarginaliaMaister Bradford preferreth Christ before all hys kynne and kynred.Brad. I haue learned to forsake father, mother, brother, sister, frend, and all that euer I haue, yea euē mine owne selfe, or els I can not be Christes disciple.

Seruaunt. If my Lord should obtaine for you that ye might depart the Realme, would ye not be content to be at the Queenes appointment, where she would appoint you beyond the Sea?

Brad. No, MarginaliaBradford contented to be burned in England, rather then to be sent ouer the sea to Popish places.I had rather be burned in England, then be burned beyond the Seas. For I know that if she should send me to Paris, Louaine, or some such place, forthwith they would burne me.

MarginaliaPerciuall Creswell talketh wyth Bradford.VPon the xiiij. of February, Perciuall Creswell, an old acquayntaūce of Bradfordes came to him, bringing with him a kinseman of M. Fecknams, who after many wordes sayd.