Marginalia1557. Septemb.is the sound that hath gone throughout all Christendome, and he that beleueth not the sound of the holy Church, as S. Cyprian, sayth, doth erre. For he sayth, that who so euer is out of the Church, is lyke vnto thē that were out of Noes ship when the floud came vpon all the whole world: so that the Arke of Noe is likened vnto the Church: and therefore thou hast well sayd in thy cōfession. For þ^e Church is not alone in Germanie, nor was here in Englād in þ^e time of the late schismes, as the heretickes doe affirme. For if þ^e Church should be there alone, then were Christ a lyer. For he promised that the holy Ghost should come to vs, lead vs into all truth, yea, and remaine with vs vnto the end of the world. So now if we will take Christ for a true sayer, then must we needes affirme, that the way which is taught in Fraunce, Spaine, Italie, Flaunders, Denmarke, Scotland, and all Christendome ouer, must needes be the true Catholicke Church.

Rafe. My Lord, if you remember, I spake of all the worlde, as it is written, and not of all Christendome onely, as me thinke your Lordship taketh it, the which kinde of speaking you doe not finde in all the Bible. For sure I am that the Gospell hath bene both preached and persecuted in all landes: first, in Iewry by the Scribes and Phariseis, and since that tyme by Nero, Dyoclesian, and such like, and now here in these our dayes by, your Lordship knoweth whom.MarginaliaHe meaneth belike, Boner and hys fellowes. For truth it is that þ^e Church which you call Catholicke, is none otherwyse Catholicke then was figured in Caine, obserued of Ieroboam, Ahab, Iezabell, Nabuchadonozor, Antiochus, Herode, with innumerable more of the like: and as both Daniell and Esdras maketh mention of these last daies by a plaine prophecie, & now fulfilled as appeareth, & affirmed by our Sauiour Christ, and hys Apostles, saying: there shall come greuous wolues to deuoure the flocke.

Boner. Now, by the blessed Sacrament of the altar, Maister Morton, he is the ranckest hereticke that euer came before me. Now say you? haue you heard þ^e like?

Morton. I thought what he was, my Lorde, at the first, I.

Boner. Now by al Hallowes thou shalt be brent with fire for thy lying, thou horeson verlet and pricklouse, thou. Doest thou find a prophecy in Daniell of vs? nay you knaue, it is of you that he speaketh of, and of your false pretensed holines. Go to, let me heare what is the saying of Esdras, and take heede ye make not a lye, I aduise you.

Rafe. The saying of Esdras is this: Marginalia4. Esd. 16.the heate of a great multitude is kindled ouer you, and they shall take away certayne of you, and feede the Idoles with you, and hee that consenteth vnto them, shall be had in derision, laughed to scorne, and troden vnder foote: yea they shall be like mad mē, for they shall spare no man: they shall spoyle and wast such as feare the Lord. &c.

Boner. And haue you taken this thing to make your market good? Ah syrrha, wilt thou so? by my fayth a prety instruction, and a necessary thing to be taught among the people. By my trouth I thinke there be no more of this opinion. I pray thee tell me? Is there any that vnderstandeth this scripture on this fashion? Before god, I thinke there be none in all England, but thou.

Rafe. Yes my Lorde, MarginaliaThree sortes of religion in England.there are in England three religions.

Boner. Sayst thou so? which be those three?

Rafe. The first is that which you hold: the second is cleane contrary to the same: and the third is a Neuter, being indifferent, that is to say, obseruing all thinges that are commaunded, outwardly, as though he were of your part, his hart being set wholy against þ^e same.

Bonor. And of these three which art thou? for now thou must needes be of one of them.

Rafe. Yea my Lord, I am of one of them: and that which I am of, is euen that which is contrary to that which you teach to be beleued vnder payne of death.

Boner. Ah Syr, you were here with me at Fulham, and had good cheare, yea and mony in your purse when you went away, and by my fayth I had a fauour vnto thee, but now I see thou wilt be a naughty knaue. Why, wilt thou take vpon thee to reade the scripture, and canst not vnderstand neuer a word? for thou hast brought a text of scripture, the which maketh cleane agaynst thee. For Esdras speaketh of the multitude of your heretickes, declaring your hate agaynst the catholicke church, making the simple or idle people to beleue that al is idolatry that we do, and so intise them away vntill you haue ouercome them.

Rafe. Nay not so my Lord. For he maketh it more playne, and sayth on this wise: MarginaliaThe place of Esdras explaned.They shall take away their goods, and put them out of their houses, and then shall it bee knowen who are my chosen (sayth the Lorde): for they shall bee tryed, as the siluer or golde is in the fire. And we see it so come to passe, euen as he hath sayd. For who is not now driuen from house and home, yea and his goods taken vp for other men that neuer swette for thē, if he do not obserue as you commaund and set forth? Or els, if he be taken, then must he eyther deny the truth, as I did, in dissembling, or els he shall be sure to be tried, as Esdras sayth, euen as the gold is tryed in the fire. Whereby all the world may knowe that you are the bloudy Church, figured in Cayne the tyrant, neyther yet are ye able to auoyde it.

Morton. I promise you my Lord, I like him better now then euer I did when he was here before you the other time. For then he did but dissemble, as I perceaued well inough: but now me thinke he speaketh playnely.

Boner. Mary syr, as you say in deede, he is playne. For he is a playne hereticke and shall be burned. Haue the knaue away. Let him be caryed to Litle ease at London, vntill I come.

Rafe. And so was I caryed to London vnto Little ease,  

Commentary     Close

A notorious dungeon in the Tower of London, so called because it was too small for the prisoner to stand, or to lie full length.

Boner. Come on your wayes, syrrha. MarginaliaAllerton charged with his own hand writing.Is not thys your hand, and this, and this?

Rafe. Yea, they are my hand all of them: I confesse the same, neyther yet will I denie any thyng that I haue set my hand vnto. But if I haue set my hand to any thyng that is not lawfull, therefore am I sory. Neuertheles, my hand I will not denie to be my doing.

Boner. Well sayd. Now ye must tell me: Were you neuer at the Church since you went from me, at Masse and Mattins? &c.

Rafe. No my Lord, not at Masse, Mattins, nor none other straunge worshipping of God.

Boner. Yea, sayest thou so? Wast thou neyther at thine owne Parish Church, nor at none other? And doest thou also say that it is a straunge worshipping? Why, I pray thee, wilt thou not beleue the Scripture to bee true?

Rafe. Yes my Lorde, I beleue the Scripture to bee true, and in the defense of the same I entend to geue my life, rather then I will denie any part therof, God willing.

Deane. My Lord, this fellow will be an honest man, I heare by hym. He wyll not stand in his opinion: for he sheweth himselfe gentle and pacient in hys talke.

Boner. Oh, he is a glorious knaue. Hys paynted termes shall no more deceaue me. Ah horeson Pricklouse, doth not Christ say: thys is my body? And how darest thou deny these wordes, for to say as I haue a writing to shew, and thyne owne hand at the same? Let me see, wylt thou deny thys? Is not this thyne owne hand?

Rafe. Yes my Lord, it is myne owne hand, neyther