MarginaliaAn. 1555. Iuly.leagues, which were Iohn Frankesh, Nich. Sheterden, Tho. Thacker, Vmfrey Middleton, William Coker, was examined of Articles. To whom it was obiected by the Commissary, whether he dyd beleue, that CHRIST is really in the Sacrament or no. &c. To this he aunswered and sayd: MarginaliaThe wordes of Master Bland at his examination.that he beleued that CHRIST is in the Sacrament, as he is in all other good bodyes: so that hee iudged not CHRIST to be really in the Sacrament.  

Whereupon the day beyng Monday, MarginaliaAn other appearance.he was byd to appeare agayne vppon Wednisday next, and from thence was differred agayne to Monday folowyng, beyng the. xx. of Iune in the same Chapterhouse, then to heare further what should bee done in case hee would not relent to their minde. MarginaliaThe last appearance of M. Bland before the B. of Douer, and others.The which day and place he appearyng as before, was required to say his minde playnly and fully to the foresayd Articles, beyng againe repeted to him. Which Articles commonly and in course they vse to obiect to their Examinates which bee brought before them, as here now foloweth, and neede not much hereafter, specially for that countrey of Kent, to be repeted.

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MarginaliaArticles of course ministred agaynst M. Bland.1. FIrst that thou art of the Dioces of Canterbury, and so subiect to the iurisdiction of the Archbishop there.

2. Item, that thou art a Christē man, and doest professe the lawes of God, and faith of CHRISTES Catholicke Church, and the determination of the same.

3. Item, that all persons which teach, preach, beleue, affirme, hold, maintaine, or say, within the Dioces of Canterbury, otherwise then our holy mother the Church doth, are excommunicate persons and heretickes, and as excommunicate and heretickes ought to be named, reputed, and taken.

4. Item, that thou, contrary to the Catholicke faith and determination of our mother holy Church, within the Dioces of Canterbury hast openly spoken, maynteined, holden, affirmed, and beleued, and yet doest hold, mayntaine, affirme, and beleue, that in the blessed Sacrament of the aultar, vnder the formes of bread and wyne, there is not the very body and bloud of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST in substance, but onely a token, signe, and a remembraunce therof, and that the very body and bloud of CHRIST is onely in heauen, and no where els.

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5. Item, that thou, cōtrary to the Catholicke faith, and determination of our mother holy Church, hast within this Dioces of Canterbury openly spoken, sayd, maynteined, holden, affirmed and beleued, and yet doest hold maintayne, affirme, and beleue, that it is agaynst Gods word that the Sacramēt of CHRISTES Church should be ministred in an vnknowē toung: & that no mā safely & with a safe conscience or without perill of sinne, receiueth any Sacrament ministred in any toung that he vnderstandeth not.

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6. Item, that thou contrary to the Catholicke fayth of our mother holy Church hast and yet doest hold opinion and say: that it is against Gods worde that the Sacrament of the aultar should be ministred in one kynd: and that no man may with a safe conscience so receiue it.

7. Item, that the premisses be true, and that there is a cōmon fame vpō thē within the Dioces of Canterbury.

MarginaliaAnswere to the first article out of the Regester.1. TO these Articles M. Bland aunswering agayne in order as they were obiected to him, sayth to the first, grauntyng the same, that he was a Priest, and of the Dioces of Canterbury.

2. To the second also he aunswereth affirmatiuely.

Marginalia
The Catholike church of Christ.
The Catholike church of Antichrist.3. Item, to the third he aūswereth that the Article is true, meaning þ^e Catholicke Church to be CHRISTES Church.

4. Item, in the fourth Article as touchyng the first part of the Article, he doth confesse that he hath preached and taught it, as it is conteined in the same. And as touching the second part of the Article, he doth confesse that he doth now also hold and say, as he preached and taught before.

5. Item, to the v. Article he graunteth.

6. To the sixt, he hath preached and held & doth hold, as it is conteined in the Article.

7. Item, to the last Article he graunteth the same. &c.

This done, and his aunsweres and confession takē, respite was geuen him yet a few dayes to deliberate with him selfe. So the xxv. day of the sayd moneth of Iune he makyng his appearing agayn in þ^e sayd Chapterhouse, MarginaliaM. Bland denieth the Pope.there openly and boldly withstoode the authoritie of the Pope, wherupon his sentence was red, & so he condemned and committed to the secular power. MarginaliaM. Bland condemned.Touchyng þ^e forme and tenour of the sentence, because all their Sentences of course agree in one, read before in the story of M. Rogers,  

pag. 1661.

[Back to Top]MarginaliaA prayer of Master Bland.

THe Lord IESVS, for whose loue I do willingly leaue this lyfe, and desire rather the bitter death of this crosse, with the losse of all earthly thynges, then to abyde the blasphemy of thy holy name, or els to obey man in breaking thy commaundementes: thou seest, oh Lorde, that where as I might lyue in worldly wealth to worship false Gods, and honour thy enemy, I chose rather the tormētes of this body, and losse of this my life, & haue counted all thyngs but vile, dust, and dung, that I might wynne thee: Which death is more deare vnto me, then thousandes of gold and siluer. Such loue oh Lord hast thou layd vp in my brest, that I hunger for thee, as the deare that is wounded desireth thee soile. Send thy holy comfort, O Lord, to ayde, comfort, and strengthen this weake peece of earth, which is voyde of all strength of it selfe. Thou remembrest, O Lord, that I am but dust, and not able to do any thyng that is good. Therfore, O Lord, as thou of thy accustomed goodnes hast byddē me to this bancket, & counted me worthy to drinke of thine own cup amongest thine elect: geue me strength agaynst this element, that as it is to my sight most irckesome and terrible: so to my mynd it may be at thy commaundement, as an obedient seruaunt, swete and pleasaunt: and through the strength of thy holy spirite, I may passe through the strength of this fire into thy bosome, accordyng vnto thy promise, and for this mortalitie, to receaue immortalitie, and for this corruptible, to put on incorruptible. Accept this burnt offering and sacrifice, O Lord, not for the sacrifice it selfe, but for thy deare sonnes sake my Sauiour: for whose testimony I offer thys freewill offering with all my hart and with all my soule. O heauenly father, forgiue me my sinnes, as I forgiue the whole world. O sweete Sauiour, spread thy wynges ouer me. O God, graunt me thy holy Ghost, through whose mercyfull inspiration I am come hether. Conduct me vnto euerlastyng lyfe. Lord into thy handes I commend my spirite: Lord IESVS receaue my soule, So be it. 1555.

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MarginaliaIuly. 12. Ioh Frākesh, Humfrey Midleton, Nicholas Sheterdē, Martyrs.HAuing now passed ouer þ^e examinations of M. Bland, let vs farther proceede to the rest of his fellowes concaptiues, beyng ioyned the same tyme with him both in the like cause, and like affliction. The names of whom were Iohn Frankesh, Nic. Sheterden, Vmfrey Middletō, Thacker and Coker:  

of whom Thacker only gaue backe. The rest constantly standyng to the truth, were altogether condemned by the Suffragan of Caunterbury the xxv. day of Iune, the yeare aboue expressed. Touching whose examinations I shall not nede long to stand, for somuch as the Articles ministred agaynst them, were all one: so in their aunsweres they litle or nothing disagreed, as hereafter (by the Lordes helpe) you shall heare. In the meane tyme, because Nic. Sheterden in his examinations had a litle more large talke with þ^e Archdeacon and the Commissary, I will first begyn with the same.

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