Marginalia1555. Decemb. MarginaliaThe history of M. Iohn Philpot, Martyr.NExt followeth the constant Martyrdome of M. Iohn Philpot, of whom partly ye heard before in þ^e beginning of Queene Maries tyme in prosecuting the disputation of the Conuocation house, pag. 1571. MarginaliaIohn Philpot a Knightes sonne, student of law in New Colledge in Oxford.Hee was of a worshipfull house, a Knightes sonne borne in Hampshere, brought vp in þ^e new College in Oxford, where he studied the ciuill law the space of. vj. or. vij. yeares, besydes the study of other liberall artes, especially of the tonges, wherein very forwardly he profited, namely in the knowledge of the Hebrue toung. &c. In witte he was pregnant  

& happy, of a singular courage, in spyrite feruent, in religion zelous, and also well practised, and exercysed in the same (which is no small matter in a true Diuine) of nature and condition playne and aperte, farre from all flattery, farther from all hypocrisy and deceitfull dissimulation. What his learning was, his own examinations penned of his owne hand can declare.

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MarginaliaIohn Philpot went ouer to Italy.From Oxford, desyrous to see other coūtreys as occasion serued thereunto, he went ouer into Italy and places theraboutes, where he cōming vpon a tyme frō Venice to Padua, was in daunger through a certayn Franciscan FryerMarginaliaIohn Philpot in danger by an Italian fryer. accompaning him in his iourney, who cōming to Padua sought to accuse hym of heresy.  

At length returning to Englād his coūtrey agayn,MarginaliaThe returne of Iohn Philpot into England. as þ^e tyme ministred more boldnes to hym, in the dayes of K. Edward hee had diuers conflictes with Gardiner the Bishop in the City of Winchester, as appeareth by diuers of Winchesters letters and hys examinations. Wherof read before pag. 1526.

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MarginaliaIohn Philpot Archdeacō of Winchester.After that, hauing an aduouson  

by the sayd Bishop, he was made there Archdeacon of Winchester vnder Doctor Ponet,MarginaliaThys D. Ponet Bishop of Winchest. fled afterward into Germany, and there deceased, An. 1557. who then succeeded Gardiner in that Bishopricke. Thus during the tyme of K. Edwarde he continued to no small profit of those parties thereabout. When that blessed King was taken away, and Mary his sister came in place, whose study was wholy bent to alter the state of religion in the wofull Realme of England, first shee caused a Cōuocation of the prelates & learned mē to be congregate to the accomplishment of her desyre.

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In the which Cōuocation M. Philpot being present according to his roome  

and degree, with a few other, susteyned the cause of the Gospell manfully against the aduersary part (as is aboue recited) for þ^e which cause, notwithstanding the liberty of the house promised before, he was called to accompt before Bishop Gardiner the Chaūcellour, then beyng his ordinary, by whō he was first examined, although that examination came not yet to our handes. MarginaliaIohn Philpot sent from Gardiner to Boner.From thence agayne he was remoued to Boner and other Commissioners, with whō he had diuers and sondry conflictes, as in hys examinations here folowyng may appeare.

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MarginaliaThe first examination of M. Philpot before the Commissioners.DOct. Story, before I was called into an inner parler where they sat, came out into the hall where I was, to vew me among other that there were, and passing by me sayd: MarginaliaD. Stories wordes to M. Philpot.Ha M. Philpot, and in returning immediately agayne, stayed against me, beholding me and saying that I was well fed in deede.

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Ioh. Phil. If I be fat and in good liking (Master doctor) it is no maruel, since I haue bene stalled vp in prison this tweluemoneth and an halfe in a close corner.

I am come to know your pleasure wherfore you haue sent for me.

Story. We heare that thou art a suspect person, and of hereticall opinions, and therfore we haue sent for thee.

Phil. I haue bene in prison thus long, onely vpon the occasion of MarginaliaIohn Philpot imprisoned for the disputation in the Cōuocation house.disputation made in the Conuocation house, & vpon suspect of setting forth the report therof.  

Story. If thou wilt reuoke the same and become an honest man, thou shalt be set at liberty, and so do right wel: or els thou shalt be committed to the Bishop of London. How sayest thou, wylt thou reuoke it or no?

phil. I haue already aunswered in thys behalfe to myne Ordinary.  

Story. If thou aunswerest thus when thou commest before vs anon, thou shalt heare more of our myndes: and with thys hee went into the parler, and I within a litle whyle after was called in.

The Scribe. Syr, what is your name?

Phil. My name is Iohn Philpot. And so he intituled  

my name.

Story. This man was Archdeacon of Winchester, of Doct. Ponets presentment.

Phil. I was Archdeacon in deede, but none of hys presentment, but by the vertue of a former aduouson geuen by my Lord Chauncellour that now is.

Story. Ye may be sure that my Lorde Chauncellour would not make any such as he is, Archdeacon.

Roper. Come hither to me M. Philpot. We heare say that you are out of the catholicke church, and haue bene a disturber of the same: out of the which who so is, he cānot be the childe of saluation. Wherefore if you will come in to the same, you shall be receiued and finde fauour.

Phil. I am come before your woorshipfull masterships at your appointment, vnderstanding that you are Magistrates authorised by the Queenes maiestye, to whom I owe and wyll do my due obedience to þ^e vttermost. Wherfore I desire to know what cause I haue offended in wherfore I am now called before you. And if I cānot be charged with any particular matter done cōtrary to the lawes of this realme, I desire your masterships that I may haue the benefite of a subiect, and be deliuered out of my long wrongfull imprisonment,MarginaliaIohn Phiplot lying in prison a yeare and a halfe before he was called to his answere. where I haue lyen this tweluemoneth and thys halfe, without any calling to aunswer before now, and my liuing taken from me wythout all law.

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Roper. Though wee haue MarginaliaNo particular matter agaynst M Philpot, but only suspicion.no particular matter to charge you withall, yet we may both by our commissiō and by the law driue you to aunswer to the suspicion of a sclaunder going on you: and besides this, we haue Statutes to charge you herein withall.

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Phil. If I haue offēded any statute, charge me therwithall: and if I haue incurred the penaltie thereof, punishe me accordingly. And because you are Magistrates and executors of the Queenes maiesties lawes, by force whereof you do now sit, I desire that if I be found no notorious transgressour of any of them, I may not be burdened with more then I haue done.

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Chomley. If the Iustice do suspect a Felon, hee may examine him vpon suspicion thereof and commit him to prison, though there be no fault done.

Story. I perceiue whereabout this man goeth. He is plaine in Cardmakers case, for he made the selfe same allegations. But they wyll not serue thee, for thou art an hereticke, and holdest against the blessed Masse: how sayest thou to that?

Phil. I am no hereticke.

Story. I will proue thee an hereitcke. MarginaliaThe Maior is not vniuersally true, for in the time of K. Edward, who that spake agaynst the Masse as M. Philpot dyd, by those lawes was no hereticke but a perfect christian.Whosoeuer hath holdē against the blessed Masse, is an hereticke: but thou hast holdē against the same, therfore thou art an hereticke.

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Phil. That which I spake, and which you are able to charge me withal, was in þ^e Cōuocatiō, where, by the Queenes Maiesties wyll and her whole Counsell, liberty was geuen to euery man of the house to vtter hys conscience, and to say hys minde freely of such questions in religion, as there were propounded by the Prolocutor, for the which now I ought not to be molested and imprisoned as I haue bene, neyther now be compelled of you to aunswer to the same.

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Story. Thou shalt go to the Lollards Tower,  

and be handled there lyke an hereticke, as thou art, and answer