MarginaliaAn. 1555 August.Smith. Then is it fulfilled which is written: How cā an euill tree bryng forth good fruite?

Boner. Nay naughty felow, I set these Gentlemen to bryng thee home to CHRIST.

Smith. Such Gentlemen, such CHRISTES: and as truly as they haue that name from CHRIST, so truly do they teach CHRIST.

Boner. Well, wilt thou neither heare them nor me?

Smith. Yes I am compelled to heare you: but ye cā not compell me to folow you.

Boner. Well, thou shalt be burned at a stake in Smithfield, if thou wilt not turne.

MarginaliaThe meruealous bouldnes of Rob. Smith geuen him of God agaynst Christes enemies.Smith. And ye shall burne in Hell, if ye repent not: but my Lord, to put you out of doubt, because I am weery, I will strayne curtesie with you. I perceiue ye will not with your Doctours come vnto me, and I am not determined to come vnto you, by Gods grace. For I haue hardned my face against you as hard as brasse. Then after many rayling sentences I was sent away: and thus haue I left the truth of myne aunsweres in writyng (gentle Reader) beyng compelled by my frendes to do it: that ye may see how the Lord hath, accordyng to his promise, geuen me a mouth and wisedome for to aunswere in his cause, for which I am condemned, and my cause not heard.

MarginaliaThe last examination of Robert Smith before Bishop Boner, with his condemnation in the Consistory.THe xij. of Iuly I was with my brethren brought into the Consistory, and mine Articles red before my Lord Maior and the Sheriffes, with all the assistaunces: to which I aunswered as foloweth.

Boner. By my faith my Lord Maior, I haue shewed hym as much fauour as any man liuyng might do: but I perceiue all is lost, both in him and all his company.

Smith. At this word which he coupled with an oth, came I in, and takyng him with the maner, sayd: my Lord, it is written: Ye must not sweare.

Boner. Ah Master Countroller, are ye come? Lo my Lord Maior, this is Master speaker, pointyng to my brother Tankerfield, and this is Master Coūtroller, pointing to me. And then beginning to read my articles, he perseuered til he came at my tale of the Gētleman of Northfolke, and then demaunded of my Lord Maior if he heard of the same before. To which he aunswered, no. To whom I aunswered.

Smith. My Lord Maior, shall it please you to heare me to recite it, as I heard it and told it, and then shall you heare the truth. For this tale that my Lord hath told, is vntrue.

Boner. How say you good M. Mordant? spake hee not this that is heare, as it is written? were ye not by?

Mord. Yes my Lord, that it is: I heard him say it.

Smith. How heard ye me say it, and were not presēt when I spake it?MarginaliaSyr Iohn Mordant came in after this story was told. should such a man make a lye? it is manifestly proued that the Prophet sayth: Euen as the king sayth, so sayth the iudge, that he may do him a pleasure agayne. And so was brought out my Gailer for triall therof, who there opēly professed, that neither M. Mordant nor the Doctours before mentioned were present when I spake it. At which M. Mordant with blushyng cheekes sayd he heard them read, and heard me affirme the same, which was also not true. Then proceded my Lord with the rest of myne Articles, demaundyng of me, if I sayd not as was written. To which I aunswered no, and turnyng to my Lord Maior, I sayd: MarginaliaThe words of Robert Smith to the Lord Mayor.I require you my Lord Maior in Gods behalfe, vnto whō pertaineth your sword and iustice, that I may here before your presence aūswere to those obiections that are layed agaynst me, and haue the probation of the same: and if any thyng that I haue sayd or will say, be to be approued (as my Lord sayth) heresie, I shall not onely with all my heart forsake the same and cleaue to the truth, but also recant where soeuer ye shall assigne me, and all this audience shalbe witnesses to the same.

Maior. Why Smith, thou canst not deny but this

thou saydst?

MarginaliaHere my brother Tākerfield recited the story of my Lord Bishops Cooke.Smith. Yes my Lord, I deny that which hee hath written, because he hath both added to, and dimished from the same. But what I haue spoken, I will neuer deny.

Maior. Why, thou spakest agaynst the blessed Sacrament of the aultar.

Smith. I denyed it to be any Sacrament, and I do stand here to make probation of the same: & if my Lord here or any of his Doctours be able to approue either the name, or vsage of the same, I will recant myne errour. Then spake my brother Tankerfield,  

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George Tankerfield, the martyr.

Boner. By my trouth Master speaker, ye shal preach at a stake.

Smith. Well sworne my Lord, ye kepe a good watch.

Boner. Well Master Countroller, MarginaliaB. Boner no Saint.I am no Saint.

Smith. No my Lord, nor yet good Bishop. For a Bishop, sayth S. Paul, should be fautles, and a dedicate vessell vnto GOD, and are ye not ashamed to sit in iudgement, and be a blasphemer, condemnyng innocentes?

Boner. Well Master Controller, ye are fautles.

Smith. My Lord Maior,MarginaliaThis Mayor was Sir Ioh. Lion. I requyre you in Gods name, that I may haue Iustice. We bee here to day a great many of Innocentes, that are wrongfully accu- of heresy. And I require you, if you wyll not seeme to be partiall, let me haue no more fauour at your hands, then the Apostle had at the handes of Festus & Agrippa,MarginaliaHere my brother Tākerfield pulled out of his bosome a testament, requiring iudgement by the same, but it would not be heard. which being Heathen and Infidels, gaue him leaue not onely to speake for himself, but also heard þ^e probation of hys cause. Thys require I at your handes, which being a Christian Iudge, I hope wyll not deny me that right which the Heathē haue suffered: if ye do, then shal al this audience, yea, and the Heathen speake shame of your fact. For a city (saith our Sauiour) that is builded on an hyll, cannot be hyd: if they therefore haue the truth, let it come to light. For all that well do, come to the light, and they that do euyl, hate the light.

Then my Lorde Maior hanging downe hys head, sayd nothing, but the bishop told me I shoulde preach at a stake, and so the SheriffeMarginaliaThys Sheriffe was M. Woodrofe. cryed with the bishop, away with me.

Thus came I in before them foure times, desiring iustice, but could haue none: and at length my frendes requiring with one voyce the same, and could not haue it, we had sentence, and then being caryed out, were brought in agayne, and had it euery man seuerally geuen.MarginaliaIustice required in the Byshops Cōsistorie, but could not be had. But before the bishop gaue me sentence, he told me in derision of my brother Tankerfield a tale betwene a Gentleman and hys Cooke. To which I aunswered: My Lorde, ye fill the peoples eare wyth fantasies and foolish tales, and make a laughing matter at bloud: but if ye were a true Bishop, ye should leaue these rayling sentences, & speake the wordes of God.

Boner. Well, I haue offred to that naughty felow Master Speaker, your companion the Cooke, that my Chauncellour should here instruct hym: but he hath here wyth great disdayne forsaken it. How saiest thou, wylt thou haue hym instruct thee, and leade thee in the right way?

Smith. My Lord, if your Chauncellour shall do me any good, and take any paines as ye say, MarginaliaA lawfull request not heard.let hym take mine articles in hys handes, that ye haue obiected against me, and eyther proue one of them heresy, or any thing that you do, to be good: and if he be able so to do, I stand here with all my hart to heare him: if not, I haue no neede, I prayse God, of hys Sermon: for I come to aunswer for my life, and not heare a sermon.

Thē began the sentence In dei nomine.  

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'In the name of God': these words were the beginning of the sentence condemning a heretic to death.