where the Canons abode their commyng,MarginaliaTestwoode in daunger of hys life. one of the Canons men drue hys dagger at Testwood, and would haue bene vppon hym, but M. Warde with his men resisted, and gat Testwood into the Chapter house, causing the seruing men to be called in, and sharpely rebuked of their maisters, who straytly commaunded them vppon payne of leesing their seruice, and further displeasure, not to touch him, nor to geue hym an euyl worde. Nowe Testwood being alone, in the Chapter house with the Canons and M. Warde was gently intreated & the matter so pacified, that Testwood might quietly come and goe to the Church, and do his duetie as he had done before.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaAn other cause of Testwoods trouble. VPon a Relique Sonday
Relic Sunday is the third Sunday after Midsummer day and thus falls in mid-July.
A rochet is a white linen vestment; this one was putatively worn by Archbishop Thomas Becket. Since Becket's shrine was destroyed on Henry VIII's orders, in 1538, this would suggest that this incident took place before then.
St Martin, a fourth century bishop of Tours, was famous for sharing his cloak with a beggar. John Schorne was a fourteenth-century rector of North Marston, who was popularly venerated as a saint. His body was moved to Windsor in 1478, where it was an extremely popular pilgrimage site. Schorne was credited with trapping the devil in a boot during an exorcism and his boots were credited with the power to heal gout.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaM. Francklen Deane of Windsore. IN the dayes of M. Franklen, who succeded D. Sampson in the Deanrye of Windsore, there was on a time set vp at the Queere doore, a certaine foolishe printed paper in meter, all to the prayse and commendation of our Lady,MarginaliaBlasphemie and Idolatry to our Ladye. ascribyng vnto her our Iustification, our saluatiō, our redemption, the forgeuenes of sinnes. &c. to the great derogation of Christe. Which paper one of the Canons called maister Magnus (as it was reported) caused to be set vp in despite of Testwood and hys sect. When Testwood saw this paper, he pluckt it downe secretely. The next day after was an other set vp in the same place. Then Testwood commyng into the Churche, and seeyng an other paper set vp, and also the Deane commyng a litle way of, made haste to be in at the queere doore, while the Deane stayd to take holy water,MarginaliaTestwoode taketh downe the blasphemous paper. and reachyng vp his hande as he went, pluckte away the paper with hym. The Deane being come to his stall, called Testwod vnto hym and said, that he marueyled greatly how he durst be so bolde to take down that paper in his presence. Testwood answeared againe, that he marueiled much more, that his mastership would suffer such a blasphemous paper to be set vp, beseeching hym not to be offended with that he had done, for he would stand vnto it. So M. Deane being a timerous man, made no more ado wt him. After this were no mo papers set vp, but poore Testwood was eaten & drunken among thē at euery meale, and an heretique he was, and woulde roste a fagot for this geare one day.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaM. Magnus magnus idololatra. Now maister Magnus being sore offended with Testwoode for pluckyng downe his papers, to be reuenged on hym, deuised with the Deane and the rest of the Canons, to sende their letters to D. Chamber, one of their brethren, and the kings Phisition who lay (for the most part) at the Court, to see what he would do against Testwood.MarginaliaConspiracie of the Priestes of windsore agaynste Testwood Which letters being made, were sent with speede. But what soeuer the cause was, whether he durst not meddle for feare of Cromwell, or what els I cannot tell, their sute came to none effecte. Then wyst they not what to do, but determined to let the matter sleepe, tyll S.Georges feast,
I.e., 23 April.
Now in the meane tyme there chaunced a pretye storie betweene one Robert Philips, Gentleman of the kings Chappel and Testwood. Which storie, though it was but a mery pranke of a singyng man, yet it greeued his aduersarie wonderfully. The matter was this. Robert Philips was so notable a singyng man (wherein he gloried) that wheresoeuer he came, the best and longest song, with most counteruerses in it, should be set vp at his commyng. And so his chaūce being now to be at Windsore, agaynst his cōming to the Antheme, a long songue was set vp, called Lauda viui.MarginaliaA blasphemous Antheme, calling the virgin Marye our sauiour and redeemer. In the which song there was one coūteruerse toward thend that began on this wise: O redemptrix & saluatrix. Whiche verse of all other, Robert Philips would sing, because he knewe that Testwood could not abide that ditty. Now Testwood knowing his mynd wel enough, ioyned wt hym at the other part:MarginaliaA mery contention betweene Rob. Philips of the kinges chappell and Testwoode, about O Redemptrix, and Non Redemptrix. and when he hearde Robert Philips begyn to fetch his floorishe with O redemptrix & saluatrix, repeating the same one in an others necke, Testwood was as quicke on the other side to answeare hym agayne with Non redemptrix, nec saluatrix, and so striuyng togethers with O and Non, who should haue the maistry, they made an ende of the verse. Whereat was good laughyng in sleeues of some, but Robert Philips with other of Testwoodes enemies were sore offended.
[Back to Top]Within 14. dayes after this, the Lordes of the Garter (as their custome is yearly to doe) came to Wyndsore to keepe Saint Georges Feast: at whiche Feast the Duke of Northfolke was President:MarginaliaTestwoode complayned of to the olde Duke of Northfolke. vnto whom the Deane and Canons made a greeuous complaynt on Testwoode. Who beyng called before the Duke, he shooke hym vp and all to reuiled hym, as though hee would haue sent hym to hangyng by and by. Yet neuerthelesse Testwoode so behaued hymselfe to the Duke, that in the ende hee let him go, without any farther molestyng of hym, to the great discomfort of the Deane and Canons.
[Back to Top]Here haue ye heard the causes whiche moued Testwoodes enemyes to seeke his destruction, and could not attaine their purpose, till that wicked Aman Doctour London came as shall be shewed in the proces followyng.
MarginaliaFilmers trouble beginneth. ABout the yeare of our Lord. 1541. after all the orders of superstitions and beggyng Friers were suppressed and put downe, there chaunced oneMarginaliaFryer Melster Vicar of Windsore. Sir Thomas Melster, which had bene a Frier before, and chaunged his Friers coate (but not his Friers hart) to be Vicare of Wyndsore. This Priest on a tyme made a Sermon to his Parishioners, in the whiche he declared so many fond and Frierish tales,MarginaliaOur Lady spouting milke in S. Bernardes eyes. as that our Lady should hold out her brestes to S. Barnard and spoute her milke in to his eyes
The reference is to St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153); the story of the Virgin Mary squirting her milk into his eyes was a well-known legend.
Now was there one in the towne, called William Symons a Lawyer (as is aforesayd) who hearyng that Filmer had bene with the Priest, & reproued him for his Sermon, tooke pepper in the nose
William Simonds (or Symonds), was a very influential figure, being at various times MP and also mayor of Windsor.
John Salcot, alias Capon, was the bishop of Bangor from 1534-9. Owing to the poverty of this see, he was allowed to retain the abbacy of Hyde. This meant that while bishop of Bangor, Salcot was actually living in Winchester diocese, not far from Windsor. He was being consulted because he was a bishop in the vicinity, but he had no formal jurisdiction over either the town or castle of Windsor. Filmer's encounter with Salcot must have taken place before Salcot was made bishop of Salisbury in 1539.
[Back to Top]This word is being used with its sixteenth-century meaning of 'blameless'.
Now Filmer hearing how Symons went about to put him to a foyle, consulted with his frends what was best to do: who concluded to drawe out certaine notes of the vicars sermon, & to prepare thē selues to be at Salisbury as soone as Symons, or before hym, if it might be possible. Thus both the parties being in a readynes, it chaunced them to set foorth of Windsore all in one daye. But by reason the Priest (beyng an impotent
I.e., weak, debilitated.