MarginaliaAn. 1557. Iune.the 6. of Iohn. With which wordes one came for them to come to diner in all the hast.

Gage. I am sory. I would faine here more of this talke: but we shall haue an other day well inough.

Lang. Nay Master Gage, I will neuer talke with him more: for he is the vnreasonablest man that euer I talked with in all my life.

VVood. Then Master Gage put of his cap and desired him that he would not refuse to talke with me, and that it might not bee greauous to him. For he sayd: we will seke all the meanes possible to make him an honest man, and to kepe him from burning, if we could. For if my brother and I had not bene, he had bene burned ere this time. Then there was great curtesy betwixte them.

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Lang. Sir, for your sake, and for my master your brothers sake, and for his fathers sake, and other of hys frendes sakes that haue spokē to me many times with weping teares, I will do the best to him that I can:MarginaliaNote well the workyng of thys mans charitie, to do for a man more at request, then for any compassion of the partie. but for no loue nor fauour þ^t I beare to him, I tell you truth.

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Gage. VVoodman, you heare what M. Doctor saith. When will you come agayne?

VVood. Euen when you will send for me. For I am a prisoner, and cannot come when I would. Or if I should desire to come, it wil cost me money, and I haue none to geue: but if you send for me, it shall cost me none.

Gage. Well, I will send for you on Friday or Saterday, at the farthest: for to morrow I must ride foorth of towne, and I would faine here your talke.

VVood. Sir, I would be very glad you should heare our talke alway: and I trust in God you shall heare me say nothing, but the worde of God shal be my warrant. So master Gage tooke his leaue and went his way to his lodging, which was right in my way as I went vnto prison ward agayne, and when he came without my Lord Moūtagues gates, there we met with one Hode of Buxted, a Smith. Then sayd master Gage.

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Gage. VVoodmā, I had forgot one thing, that Hode hath brought me in remembrance of as soone as I saw him, for he heard when the tale was tolde me.

Gage. Hode, did not you here when Smith of Framfield tolde me that he saw VVoodman abroade in the citie at libertie?

Hode. Yes forsooth, that I did.

Gage. Yea surely, and I was very glad, for I had well hoped you had bene conformable. But I heard otherwise afterwarde agayne, that you had leaue of the keper to go abroade and speake openly in the stretes, as you went vp and downe.

VVood. In deede so the Marshall told me to day. MarginaliaLewde tales and false lyes raysed vpon Woodman.But in deede I was neuer abroad since I came to prison, but whē I was sent for, & in dede the same time I was abroad with my keper, comming from the Bishop, and as I was comming, euen not farre from the Marshalsea, I saw goodman Smith stand in a Waane vnlading of Chese, and I asked him how he did, euen as I went by, and neuer stayed for the matter: & thereupon it did rise. So I departed from them, with my keeper, to the Marshalsea agayne, where I now am mery I prayse God therefore, as a shepe appoynted to be slaine.

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VVoodman.

MarginaliaThe 4. examination of Richard Woodman before the Byshop of Winchester. &c.I Was fet from the Marshalsea to the sayd Byshops and Priestes, sitting in S. Georges Church in Southwarke, by one of the Marshals men and one of the Sheriffes men. When I came before them, and had done my duty to them, as nigh as I could, then sayd the Bishop of VVinchest.

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VVinchest. What is your name?

Wood. My name is Richard VVoodman forsooth.

VVinchest. Ah VVoodman, you were taken and apprehended for Heresie  

about a three yeares agone, and were sente to prison in the Kinges Bench, and there remained a long time. Mine olde lord of Chichester,MarginaliaThys olde B. of Chichester was Doct. Day. being a learned famous man well knowne in this realme of England, and almost throughout all Christendome, I thinke, came to prison to you, and there, and at other places, called you before him diuers times, traueling and perswading with you many wayes (because he was your Ordinary) to plucke you from your heresies that you held, but he could by no meanes aduertise you. Wherupō you were deliuered to the Commissioners, and they could doo no good with you neither. Then they sent you vnto my Lord of London. My Lord of Londō calling you before him diuers times, MarginaliaVntrue. For B. Boner deliuered hym of hys owne accord at the burning of Philpot vpon other causes.labour was made vnto him of your frendes, that you might be released. My Lord hauing a good hope in you, that you would become an honest man, because he had heard so of you in times past, yea and you your selfe promising him that you would go home and recant your heresies that you held, deliuered you: sending also a letter of your recantation to the Commissary that he should see it done.   But as soone as you were out of his handes, you were as bad as euer you were, and would neuer fulfill your promise,MarginaliaFalse and vntrue. but haue hid your selfe in the woodes, Bushes, Dennes, and Caues, and thus haue continued euer since, till it was now of late. Then the sheriffe of that shire (being a worshipfull man) hearing therof, sent certaine of his men, and tooke you in a wood, and so caried you to this house. I can not tell his name. What is your sheriffes name?

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Wood. Forsooth his name isMarginaliaSyr Edw. Gage Shrieffe of Sussex.sir Edward Gage.

VVinchest. Well, you were apprehended for heresie, and being at master Gages three weeks or more, ye were gently entreated there: he and other gentlemen perswading with you diuers times, little preuailed. Then you appealed to þ^e bishop of Chichester that now is. The sheriffe like a worshipfull man sent you to him, and he hath trauelled with you, and other also, and cā doo no good with you, wherupon we haue sent for you.

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Wood. Thē I spake to him. For I thought he would be lōg, before he would make an end. I thought he was a yeare a telling of those lies þ^t he had told there against me already. Yea I kept silence from good wordes: but it was great payne & griefe vnto me (as Dauid said). At length the fyre was so kindled within my hart, that I coulde not choose but speake with my toung: for I feared least any of the company should haue departed or euer I had aunswered to his lyes, and so for the Gospell to haue bene sclaundered by my long silence keping. So I spake, I prayse God therefore, and sayd: my Lorde, I pray you let me now aunswere for my selfe, for it is time.

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VVinches. I permit you to aunswere to these thinges that I haue sayd.

Wood. I thanke God therfore. And I thinke my selfe happy (as Paul said when he was brought before king Agrippa) that I may this day aunswere for my selfe. MarginaliaWoodmā charged with false matter.My Lord, I promise you there is neuer a word of your sayinges true that you haue alledged against me.

VVinches. I cannot tell, but thus it is reported of you. As for me, I neuer did see you before this day: but I am sure it is not all lyes that I haue sayd, as your reporte.

Wood. Yes my lord, there is neuer a true word of that you sayd. And further, where you sayd you neuer saw me before this day, you haue both heard me, & seene me, I dare say, before this day.

VVinches. I thinke I heard you in deede on Sonday, where you playde the malapert: but I can not tell that I saw you. But I pray you, were you not taken in the woodes by the Sheriffes men?

Wood. No sure, I was taken besides my house, I be-