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1255 [1230]

K. Henry. 8. Persecution in Scotland. George Wisehart, Martyr.

Vpon the morrow, when they appeared & wer brought forth to iudgement in the towne, was laid in generall to all their charge, the violatyng of the act of parliament before expressed, and their conference and assamblies in hearing and expoundyng of scripture agaynst þe tenour of the saide acte. Robert Lambe was accused in speciall for interruptyng of the fryer in the pulpit: which he not only confessed, but also affirmed constantly, that it was the dutie of no man, which vnderstood and knew the truth, to heare the same impugned without contradiction, and therefore sūdry which there wer present in iudgement, who hyd the knowledge of the truth, should beare their burden in Gods presence for consenting to the same.

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MarginaliaLambe, Anderson, Raueleson, for hanging S. Fraunces in a corde. The said Robert also with William Anderson, & Iames Raueleson were accused for hanging vp the image of saint Fraunces in a corde, nailyng of Rammes hornes to his head and a Cowes rumpe to his taile, and for eating of a Goose on Alhallow euen.

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MarginaliaIames Hunter for vsing suspect company. Iames Hunter being a simple man and without learnyng, and a Fletcher by occupation, so that he coulde be charged with no greate knowledge in Doctrine, yet because he often vsed the suspect companye of the rest, he was accused.

MarginaliaHellē Sirke for calling vpon Iesus and not our Lady in childebed. The woman Hellen Stirke was accused, for that in her chyldbed shee was not accustomed to cal vpon the name of the virgine Mary, beyng exhorted thereto hy her neighbours, but onely vpon God, for Iesus Christes sake, and because shee saide in like maner, that if shee her selfe had ben in the tyme of the virgin Mary, God might haue loked to her humilitie and base estate, as he dyd to the virgins, in making her the mother of Christe, thereby meaning, that ther was no merites in the virgin, which procured her that honor, to be made the mother of Christ, & to be preferred before other women, but Gods only free mercy exalted her to that estate. Which wordes were counted most execrable in the face of the Clergie and whole multitude.

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MarginaliaRauelson, for setting vp in his house a triple crowne of S. Peter. Iames Raueleson aforesaid building a house, set vpon the round of his fourth stayre, the three crowned Diademe of Peter carued of tree, which the Cardinal tooke as done in mockage of his Cardinals hat, and this procured no fauour to the said Iames at their handes.

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MarginaliaSentence geuen agaynst them. These forenamed persons vpon the morow after saint Paules day were cōdemned and iudged to death, & that by an assise, for violatyng (as was alleged) þe act of parlament, in reasoning and conferring vpō scriptures, for eatyng flesh vpon dayes forbidden, for interruptyng the holy fryer in the pulpit, for dishonoring of Images, and blasphemyng of the virgin Mary, as they alleged.

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After sentence geuen, their hands were bound, and the men cruelly entreated. Which thyng the woman beholding desired likwse to be bound by the sergeantes with her husband for Christes sake.

There was great intercession made by the towne in the meane season for the lyfe of these persons aforenamed, to the Gouernour, who of him self was wyllyng so to haue done, that they might haue bene deliuered. But the Gouernour was so subiect to the appetite of the cruel piestes, that he could not do that which he would. Yea, they manaced to assist his enemyes, and to depose hym, except he assisted their cruelty.

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There were certaine priestes in the citie, who dyd eate and drinke before in these honest mens houses, to whō the priestes were much bounden.MarginaliaCruell Priestes and vnkinde. These priestes were earnestly desired to entreate for their hostesse, at the Cardinalles handes: but they altgether refused, desiryng rather their death, then preseruation. So cruell are these beastes from the lowest to the highest.

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Then after, they were caryed by a great band of armed men (for they feared rebellion in the towne, except they had their men of warre) to the place of execution, whiche was common to al theeues, and that to make their cause appeare more odious to the people.

MarginaliaThe Martyrdome of these good men. Robert Lambe at the gallowes foote made his exhortation to the people, desiryng them to feare God, and leaue the leauen of papistical abominations, & manifestly there prophesied of the ruine and plague whiche came vppon the Cardinall thereafter. So euery one comforting an other, and assuring them selues to sup together in the kingdome of heauen, that nyght cōmended them selues to God, and dyed  

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The executions took place on 26 January 1544.

constantly in the Lord.

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The woman desired earnestly to dye with her husband, but shee was not suffered: yet folowyng hym to the place of execution, shee gaue hym comfort, exhortyng hym to perseuerance and pacience for Christes sake, and partyng from hym wyth a kysse, sayd on this maner:MarginaliaThe wordes of Hellen Styrke to her husband. Husband, reioyce, for we haue lyued together many ioyful dayes: but this day, in whych we must dye, ought to be most ioyful to vs both, because we must haue ioy for euer. Therfore I wyll not byd you good night, for we shall sodaynely meete with ioy in the kyngdome of heauen.

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MarginaliaHellen Styrke pluckt from her sucking childe & drowned for the Gospell. The woman after was taken to a place to be drowned, and albeit shee had a chyld sucking on her brest, yet this moued nothyng the vnmerciful hartes of the enemies. So after she had commended her children to the neighbors of the towne for Gods sake, and the suckyng barne was geuen to the nurse, shee sealed vp the truth by her death.MarginaliaEx [illegible text] Ex Registris et instrumentis a Scótia missis.

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The condemnation of M. George Wisehart, Gentleman  
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This account of George Wishart's trial, which is the only text relating to Scotland to appear unchanged in all four early editions of the Acts and Monuments, is taken verbatim and in its entirety from David Lindsay, The tragical death of Dauid Beaton Bishoppe of sainct Andrewes in Scotland. Whereunto is ioyned the martyrdom of maister George Wyseharte gentleman (STC 15683: London, 1548?), sigs. C7v-F6r. Foxe was presumably introduced to this tract by John Day, who printed both it and the Acts and Monuments. Freeman, '"The reik of Maister Patrik Hammyltoun"', p. 46.

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, who suffered martyrdome for the fayth of Christ Iesu at saint Andrewes in Scotland, ann. 1546. Marche. 1. with the Articles obiected against him, and his answeares to the same.

MarginaliaAn. 1546.
The examinatiō of M. George Wysehart.
WIth moste tender affection and vnfayned hart consider (gentle reader) the vncharitable maner of the accusatiō of Master George Wisehart, made by the bloudye enemies of Christes fayth. Note also the articles whereof he was accused, by order digested, and his meeke answeares, so farre as he had leaue and leysure to speake. Finally, ponder with no dissemblyng spirite the furious rage, and tragicall cruelnes of the malignant Churche, in persecutyng of this blessed man of God:MarginaliaGods spirite geueth [illegible text] to his seruaunt. and of the contrarye, his humble, pacient, and most godly answeares, made to them sodaynely without al feare, not hauyng respect to their glorious manasinges & boysterous threates, but charitably and without stop answearing: not mouyng his countenaunce, nor chaunging his visage, as in his accusation hereafter folowyng manifestly shal appeare.

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To the said M. George beyng in captiutie in the castle of saint Andrewes, the Deane of the same towne, was sent by the commaundement of the Cardinall, and his wicked Coūsayle,MarginaliaM. George Wysehart summoned out of prison to appeare. and there summoned þe sayd M. George, that he shoulde vppon the mornyng folowyng, appeare before the Iudge, then and there to geue accounpt of his seditious and heretical doctrine.

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MarginaliaM. George Wysehartes aunswere to the Deane that summoned hym. To whom M. George answeared, what needeth (said he) my Lord Cardinal to summon me to answeare for my doctrine, openly before hym, vnder whose power and dominion I am thus straytly bounde in yrons? Maye not my Lord compel me to answeare of his extort power? Or beleueth he that I am vnprouided to render a couupt of my doctrine? To manifest your selues what men ye are, it is wel done that ye keepe your olde ceremonies and constitutions made by men.

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Vpon the next mornyng, the Lord Cardinal caused his seruauntes to addresse them selues in their moste warlike arraye, with Iacke, Knapskal, Splente, Speare & Axe, more seemyng for the warre, then for the preachyng of the true worde of God.

MarginaliaM. Wysehart brought agayne before the byshops. And whē these armed chāpions marching in warlike order had conueyed the bishops into the Abbey church, incōtinently they sent for M. George (who was conueyed into the sayd church by the Captaine of the Castle, accompanied with an hundred men addressed in maner aforesaid. Like a lambe lead they hym to sacrifice.

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As he entred into the Abbey Church doore, there was a poore man lying, vexed with great infirmities,MarginaliaM. Wysehart casteth his purse to a poore man. askyng of his almes: to whom he flang his purse. And when he came before the Lorde Cardinall, by and by the Suppriour of the Abbeg, calledMarginaliaThe sermon of Ioh. Wynrime. Dane Iohn Wynryme, stoode vp in the Pulpit, and made a sermon to all the Congregation there then assembled, takyng his matter out of the. xiij. Chapter of Mathewe  

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The parable of the wheat and the tares: Matthew 13:24-30.

, Whose Sermon was diuided into foure principal partes.

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The first part was a short and briefe declaration of the Euangelist.

The second part, of the interpretation of the good seede. And because he called the word of God the good seede, and heresie the euyll seede, he declared what heresie was, and how it should be knowen: which he defined on this maner.MarginaliaHeresie defined. Heresie is a false opinion defended with pertinacie, clearely repugnyng the worde of God.

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The third part of his sermon, was the cause of heresie within that Realme, and all other Realmes.MarginaliaThe cause of heresie. The cause of heresie (quoth he) is the ignoraunce of them whiche haue the cures of mens soules, to whom it necessaryly belongeth to haue the true vnderstandyng of the woorde of God, that they maye be able to wynne agayne the false Doctours of heresies with the sworde of the spirite, whiche is the worde of God, and not onely to wynne agayne, but also to ouercome them, as sayth Paul  

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Titus 1:7.

: MarginaliaTit. 1.A Bishop must be faultles, as becōmeth the minister of God, not stubburne, not angry, no drūkard, no fighter, not geuen to filthy luker, but harberous, one that loueth goodnes, sober minded, righteous,

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holy
RRR. ij.