Thematic Divisions in Book 12
1. Exhumations of Bucer and Phagius along with Peter Martyr's Wife2. Pole's Visitation Articles for Kent3. Ten Martyrs Burnt at Canterbury4. The 'Bloody Commission'5. Twenty-two Prisoners from Colchester6. Five Burnt at Smithfield7. Stephen Gratwick and others8. Edmund Allen and other martyrs9. Alice Benden and other martyrs10. Examinations of Matthew Plaise11. Richard Woodman and nine other martyrs12. Ambrose13. Richard Lush14. Edmund Allen15. The Martyrdom of Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper16. Rose Allin and nine other Colchester Martyrs17. John Thurston18. George Eagles19. Richard Crashfield20. Fryer and George Eagles' sister21. Joyce Lewes22. Rafe Allerton and others23. Agnes Bongeor and Margaret Thurston24. John Kurde25. John Noyes26. Cicelye Ormes27. Persecution at Lichfield28. Persecution at Chichester29. Thomas Spurdance30. Hallingdale, Sparrow and Gibson31. John Rough and Margaret Mearing32. Cuthbert Simson33. William Nicholl34. Seaman, Carman and Hudson35. Three at Colchester36. A Royal Proclamation37. Roger Holland and other Islington martyrs38. Stephen Cotton and other martyrs39. Scourging of Thomas Hinshaw40. Scourging of John Milles41. Richard Yeoman42. John Alcocke43. Thomas Benbridge44. Four at St Edmondsbury45. Alexander Gouch and Alice Driver46. Three at Bury47. A Poor Woman of Exeter48. Priest's Wife of Exeter49. The Final Five Martyrs50. John Hunt and Richard White51. John Fetty52. Nicholas Burton53. John Fronton54. Another Martyrdom in Spain55. Baker and Burgate56. Burges and Hoker57. The Scourged: Introduction58. Richard Wilmot and Thomas Fairfax59. Thomas Greene60. Bartlett Greene and Cotton61. Steven Cotton's Letter62. James Harris63. Robert Williams64. Bonner's Beating of Boys65. A Beggar of Salisbury66. Providences: Introduction67. William Living68. The Miraculously Preserved69. Edward Grew70. William Browne71. Elizabeth Young72. Elizabeth Lawson73. Christenmas and Wattes74. John Glover75. Dabney76. Alexander Wimshurst77. Bosom's wife78. Lady Knevet79. John Davis80. Anne Lacy81. Crosman's wife82. Congregation at Stoke in Suffolk83. Congregation of London84. Englishmen at Calais85. Edward Benet86. Jeffrey Hurst87. William Wood88. Simon Grinaeus89. The Duchess of Suffolk90. Thomas Horton 91. Thomas Sprat92. John Cornet93. Thomas Bryce94. Gertrude Crockhey95. William Mauldon96. Robert Horneby97. Mistress Sandes98. Tome 6 Life and Preservation of the Lady Elizabeth99. The Unprosperous Queen Mary100. Punishments of Persecutors101. Foreign Examples102. A Letter to Henry II of France103. The Death of Henry II and others104. Admonition to the Reader
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2229 [2189]

Queene Mary. The iiij. Examination of Richard VVoodman, Martyr.

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,  

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Woodman is saying - accurately - that he was not initially arrested for heresy.

neither did mine old Lord of Chichester trauayle with me to pull me from heresie, as you sayd: for I held none then, neither do I now, as God knoweth, neither was I sent to the Commissioners nor to the Byshop of London for heresie, neither was I deliuered to him for any such thing, nor promised him to rec?t, as you sayd I did. Wherfore I maruaile you be not ashamed to tell so many lyes, beyng a B. that should be an ex?ple to other.

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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.

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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.

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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,  

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I.e., the bishop of the diocese in which an accused heretic lived. The ordinary had sole jurisdiction to try someone for heresy.

to purge my selfe thereof, as I haue. Wherfore if any m? haue any thyng agaynst me, let them speake: for I came not byther to accuse my selfe, neither will I.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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the