Marginalia1555. Iuly.Brad. What will ye so proue? Transubstantiation?

Alphon. Yea, that the bread is turned into Christes body.

Brad. You speake more then ye can do.

Alphon. That do I not.

Brad. Then wyll I geue place.

Alphon. Wyll ye beleue?

Brad. Belief is Gods gift: therfore cā not I promise: but I tell you that I will geue place: and I hope I shal beleue his truth alwaies, so good is he to me in Christ my Sauiour.

Alphon. Here the Frier found a great fault wyth Bradford that he made no difference betwixt habitus, and actus: MarginaliaThe Papistes hold that the acte of beleuing is in mans power.as though actus which he called credulity, had bene in our power. But this he let passe, and came again asking Bradford, if he could proue it, as he sayd, whether he would geue place.

Brad. Yea that I wil. Then called he for paper, pen and inke, to write, and then sayd I: what and if that I proue by the testimony of the Fathers, that continually for. viij. hundred yeares after Christ at the least, they did beleue that the substance of bread doth remaine in the sacrament? what will you do?

Alphon. I wyll geue place.

Brad. Then write you here that you will geue place if I so proue, and I will write that I will geue place if you so proue: because ye are the auncient, ye shall haue the preeminence.

Here the Frier fumed marueilously, and sayd: MarginaliaThe fryer refuseth to abyde triall with Bradford.I came not to learn at thee. Are not here witnesses? (meaning the two Priestes) be not they sufficient? But the man was so chafed, that if Bradford had not passed ouer this matter of writing, the Frier would haue fallen to plain scolding.

Confes. At the length the kinges Confessour asked Bradford what the second question was?

Brad. That wicked men receiue not Christes body in the sacrament, as S. Augustine speaketh of Iudas, þ^t he reciued Panem domini, but not Panem dominum.

Alphon. Saint Augustine saith not so.

Brad. MarginaliaThe fryer againe proued a lyer.Yes that doth he. So they arose and talked no more of that matter. Thus went they away, without bidding Bradford farewell.MarginaliaThe friers depart in a heate from Maister Bradford.

A Priest. After they were gone, one of the Priestes came, and willed Bradford not to be so obstinate.

Brad. Syr, be not you so wauering: in all the scripture can not you finde me, non est panis.

Priest. Yes that I can in fiue places.

MarginaliaA priest put to a foyle.Brad. Then I will eate your booke. So the booke was opened, but no place found: and he went his way smiling. God helpe vs.

MarginaliaConferēce betwene Maister Bradford, and Doct. Weston.IT followed after this, vpon the. xxj. of the moneth of March, that by meanes of one of the Earle of Darbies men, there came to the Counter to dinner one M. Collier, once Warden of Manchester, and the sayd seruaunt of the Earle of Darby, of whom M. Bradford learned that Doct. Weston Deane of Westminster would be with him in the after noone about two of the clocke. At dinner time, when the said Warden did discommend king Edward, and went about to set forth the authoritie of the Pope, which Bradford withstood, defending the Kinges faith, that it was catholicke, and that the authority of the Bishop of Romes supremacy was vsurped, bringing forth the testimony of Gregorie,MarginaliaThe name of supreme head is the forerunner to Antichrist. Gregor. which affirmeth the name of supreame head, to be a title of the forerunner to Antichrist: a woman prisoner was brought in, whereupon the sayd Bradford tooke occasion to ryse from the table, and so went to his prison chamber, to beg of God grace, and help therein, continuing there still vntill hee was called downe to speake with maister Weston, which was then come in.

Maister Bradford then being called downe, so soone

as hee was entred into the hall, MarginaliaD. Weston commeth to M. Bradford.Maister Weston very gently tooke him by the hand, and asked how hee dyd, with such other talke. At length he willed auoydance of the chāber: So they all went out, saue Maister Weston him selfe, Maister Collier, the Earle of Darbyes seruaunt, the Subdeane of Westminster, the Keeper Maister Clayden, and the Parson of the church where the Counter is.

Now then hee began with M. Bradford, to tell how that he was often minded to haue come vnto him, being therto desired of the Earle of Darby: and, quoth he, after that I perceiued by his man, that you could bee contented rather to speake with me, then any others: I could not but come to do you good, if I can, for hurt you be sure I will not.

Brad. Syr, quoth M. Bradford, when I perceyued by the report of my Lords seruant, that you did beare me good will, more (as he said) then any other of your sort, I told him then, that therefore I could be better cōtent and more willing to talke with you, if you should come vnto me. This did I say, quoth he: otherwyse I desired not your comming.

West. Well quoth he, now I am come to talke with you: but before we shall enter into any talke, certayne principles we must agree vpon, which shall bee thys dayes worke.

MarginaliaD. Weston lessons, such as he did neuer follow hym selfe.First, quoth hee, I shall desire you to put away all MarginaliaVayne glory.vaine glory, and not hold any thing for the praise of the world.

Brad. Syr, S. Augustine maketh that in dede a peece of the definition of an hereticke, which if I cannot put away cleane (for I thyncke there wyll a spice of it remaine in vs, as long as this flesh liueth) yet I promise you by the grace of God, that I purpose not to yeld to it. God I hope wyll neuer suffer it to beare rule in thē that striue there against, and desire all the dregges of it vtterly to be driuen out of vs.

West. I am glad to heare you say so, although in dede I thinke you do not so much esteme it as others do.

Secondly, I would desire you that you will put away MarginaliaSingularitie.singularitie in your iudgement and opinions.

Brad. Syr, God forbyd that I should sticke to anye singularitie or priuate iudgemēt in Gods religion. Hetherto I haue not desired it, neyther do, nor mynde at any time to hold any other doctrine then is publick and catholicke, vnderstanding catholicke as good men do, according to Gods word.

West. Very well: this is a good daies worke, I hope to do you good: and therefore now thirdly, MarginaliaWeston willeth M. Bradford to put downe in writing the chiefe ground of his fayth.I shal pray you to write me Capita of those thynges, whereupon you stand in þ^e Sacrament, and to send them to me betwixt this and wednesday next: vntill which tyme, yea vntill I come to you agayne, bee assured that you are without all perill of death. Of my fidelity, I warrant you, therefore away with all dubitations. &c.

Brad. Sir, I will wryte to you þ^e groundes I leane to in this matter. As for death, if it come welcome be it: this which you requyre of me, shalbe no great let to me therin.

West. You know that Saint Augustine was a Manichean, yet was he conuerted at the length: so I haue good hope of you.

Brad. Sir because I will not flatter you: I would you shoulde flatly know, that I am euen setteled in the religion wherefore I am condemned.

West. Yea, but if it bee not the truth, and if you see euident matter to the contrary, will not you then giue place?

Brad. God forbid, but that I should alwayes gyue place to the truth.

West. I would haue you to pray so.

Brad. So I do, and that he will more and more confirme mee in it, as I thanke God hee hath done and doth.

West. Yea, but pray with a condicion, if you be in it.