Marginalia1557. Iune.yng in my house when they came: wherefore that is not true.
VVin. Were not you at the Sheriffes three weekes.
Wood. Yes that I was, a moneth iust, and was gently entreated of him, I can say no otherwise: for I had meate and drinke inough, and fayre wordes.
VVinches. Ah, I am well appayed: it is not all lyes then, as it chaunced. For I spake but of three Weekes, and you confesse a moneth your selfe.
Wood. Yet your tale is neuer the truer for that. For you sayd I was there three weeks for heresie, the which is not so. For I was not apprehended for heresie at the first,
Woodman is saying - accurately - that he was not initially arrested for heresy.
VVinches. Lo, MarginaliaWinchest. swift in iudging.what an arrogant hereticke this same is. He will denie God: for that he denieth his owne h?d, denieth God.
Wood. My Lord, iudge not least you be iudged your selfe. For as you haue iudged me, you shalbe iudged, if you repent not. And if I haue set my hand to any recantation, let it be sene to my shame, before this audience:MarginaliaRichard Woodm? cleareth him selfe of rec?tation. for I will neuer deny mine owne hand, by Godes helpe.
[Back to Top]VVin. It is not here now, but I thinke it will be had well inough: but if it can not be found, by whom will you be tryed
Wood. Euen by my Lord of London: MarginaliaThe honest dealing of B. Boner with Woodm? herein.for he delt lyke a good man with me in that matter that I was sent to prison for. For it was vppon the breach of a statute, as Maister Sheriffe here can tel. For he was Sheriffe th?, as he is now, and can tell you how I was tossed vp and down, from Sessions to Sessions: and because I would not consent that I had offended therein, they sent me to prison agayne. Then my MarginaliaThis was D. Day.Lord of Chichester beyng mine Ordinary, and I being his tenaunt, came to me, to perswade with me that I shoulde haue consented to them, and to finde my selfe in fault, where I was in none. To the which I woulde not agree, but I desired him that hee woulde see me released of my wrong: but he sayd he could not, but willed me or my frendes to speake to the Commissioners for me, because it was a temporall matter: and when I came before them, they sent me to my Lord of London, and my Lord of London was certified by the handes of almost, xxx. men, both Esquiers, Gentlemen, and Yeomen, the chiefest in al the countrey where I dwelt, that I had not offended in that matter that I was sent to prison for.MarginaliaThe cause and manner how Woodm? was deliuered by B. Boner. Wherupon he deliuered me, not willyng me to recant heresies, for I held none (as God knoweth) neither do I now: nor I know not wherfore I was sent to prison, no more then any man here knoweth: for I was taken from my worke.
[Back to Top]VVin. No? wherfore appealed you then to my Lord of Chichester, if it were not for heresie?
Wood. Because there was layd to my charge that I had Baptised children, and maried folkes, the which I neuer did, for I was no where Minister. MarginaliaWherefore Woodm? appealed to his Ordinary.Wherefore I appealed to mine Ordinary,
I.e., the bishop of the diocese in which an accused heretic lived. The ordinary had sole jurisdiction to try someone for heresy.
VVin. Maister Sheriffe, can you tell vp? what breach of the statute he was sent to prison first?
The Sheriffe. Yea forsooth my Lord, that I can.
Wood. My Lord, if you will geue me leaue, I will shew you the whole matter.
VVin. Nay Maister Sheriffe, I pray you tell you the
matter, seyng you know it.
The Sheriffe. My Lord, it was for speakyng to a Curate in the Pulpit,MarginaliaThe cause why Woodman was first apprehended. as I remember.
VVin. Ah, like inough, that he would not sticke to reproue a Curate. For did you not see how he fashioned him selfe to speake to me in the Pulpite on Sonday? You played the malaperte felow with me, and therfore it was no great maruaile though hee played that part with an other.
Wood. Why, you will not blame me for that, I am sure. For we spake for no other cause, but to purge our selues of these heresies that you layed to our charge. For these were your wordes: Good people, MarginaliaRichard Woodman and hys fellow prisoners falsely accused and belyed of the B. of Winchester in the pulpit.these men that be brought before vs, beyng here, deny Christ to be God, and the holy ghost to be God (pointyng to vs with your left hand) the which might seeme to the whole audience, that you m?t vs all. Wherfore to cleare our selues therof, we spake, and sayd we held no such thyng. And you sayd you would cut out our toungs. But I am sure you haue no such law.
[Back to Top]VVin. Yes, that we haue, if you blaspheme, and as it chaunced, I found such amongest you.
VVood. In deede, after we spake, you declared who they were, but not before: for you spake generally. Wherfore we blasphemed not, but purged our selues.
VVin. But I pray you, how can you purge your selfe for speakyng to the Curate, MarginaliaSpeaking to the Curate in the pulpit, made heresie.that it is not heresie?
VVood. Forsooth these be the wordes of the Statute: Who soeuer doth interrupt any preacher or preachers, lawfully authorised by the Queenes Maiesty, or by any other lawfull Ordinary, that all such shall suffer three monethes imprisonment, and furthermore be brought to the quarter Sessions, there (being sory for the same) to be released vpon his good abearing one whole yeare. But I had not so offended as it was well proued. For hee that I spake too, was not lawfully authorised, nor had not put away his wife. MarginaliaWoodman cleareth him selfe from breach of the Statute.Wherfore it was not lawfull for him to preach by your owne law, & therefore I brake not the Statute, though I spake to him.
[Back to Top]VVin. I am glad. I perceaue this man speaketh agaynst Priestes Mariages: hee is not contented with Priestes that haue wiues. He is an honester man, then I tooke him for. Maister Sheriffe, haue him away. I am glad he loueth not Priestes Mariages.
VVood. Then I would haue aunswered to his sayinges, MarginaliaNote the pretie shift of thys Catholicke Prelate.but hee would in no wise heare me, but bad the Sheriffe haue me away. So the Sheriffe tooke me by the hand, and plucked me away, and would not let me speake, but goyng out of the Chauncell doore, I sayd: I would shew him the whole matter, if he would haue geuen me leaue: but seyng he will not, if he will let me go so, they shall see whether I will not go home to my wife and children, and keepe them as my bounden duty is, by the helpe of God. So I was sent to the Marshalsea againe, where I now am mery, I prayse God therfore, as a sheepe appointed to be slaine.
[Back to Top]Moreouer, I was credibly enformed by one of our brethr? that heard our talke, that the Byshop sayd wh? I was gone, that they would take me whilest I was some what good. Which wordes seemed to many of the people that were there, that I spake agaynst Priestes Mariages: but I did not,MarginaliaWoodman falsely taken to speake against priestes mariage. but did not onely aunswere to such questions as he asked me, as you shall perceiue well by the wordes if you marke them, which wordes were these. How can you purge your selfe from heresy, for talkyng to the Curate in the Pulpit, and not offend the Statute, sayd the Bishop? meaning therby I thinke to haue taken vauntage of my wordes: but it was not Gods will, that he should at that tyme. For I aunswered him by the wordes of the Statute, which wordes be as here after foloweth (that is): who so euer doth interrupt any preacher, or preachers lawfully authorised by
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