Marginalia1555. Aprill.our knees, we departed, I not fully determinyng what to do, but takyng my leaue w^t my frēd, sayd I doubted not but God (accordyng as our prayer and trust was) would geue me such wisedome and counsayle, as should be most to hys honour and glory, the profite of my neighbours and brethren in the worlde, and obtainyng of myne eternall saluation by Christ in heauen.

This done, I returned to my mothers house agayne, where had bene diuers of M. Bartons seruaunts seekyng after me: who when they could not finde me, straitly charged MarginaliaMarshes brethren charged to seeke hym.my brother and William Marsh to seeke me that night, and to bring me to Smethehilles the next day: who beyng so charged were gone to seeke me in Adderton, or elswhere I know not. Thus intendyng afore to haue bene all night with my mother, but then cōsideryng that my tarying there would disquyet her with her houshold, I departed from thence, and went beyond Deane Church, and there taryed all night with an old frend of myne, takyng ill rest, and consultyng much with my selfe of my trouble.

So at my first awakyng, MarginaliaThe meruailous prouidence of God in resoluing G. Marsh not to flye, but to tary.one came to me from a faythfull frend of myne with letters, which I neuer read nor yet looked on, who sayd this: My frendes aduice was that I should in no wise flye, but abyde and boldly confesse the faith of Iesus Christ. At whose woordes I was so confirmed and established in my conscience, that from thenceforth I consulted no more, whether was better to flye or to tary, but was at a poynt with my selfe that I would not flye, but go to Maister Barton, who did seeke for me, and there present my selfe, and patiently beare such crosse, as it should please God to lay vpon my shoulders. Wherupon my mynde and conscience afore beyng much vnquieted and troubled, was now mery and in quyet estate.

So betymes in the mornyng I arose, and after I had sayd the English Letany (as my custome was) with other prayers kneelyng on my knees by my frendes bed side, I prepared my selfe to goe toward Smethehilles: and as I was goyng thether ward, MarginaliaG. Marsh tooke his leaue of hys frendes.I went into the houses of Harry Widdowes, of my mother in law, of Raffe Yeton, and of the wife of Thomas Richardson, desiryng them to pray for me, and haue me commended to all my frendes, and to comfort my mother, and be good to my litle children for (as I supposed) they should not see my face any more, before the last day: & so tooke my leaue of thē not without teares shed on both parties, and came to Smethehilles about ix. of the clocke, and presented my selfe afore M. Bartō:MarginaliaG. Marsh of hys owne voluntary mynde offereth himselfe to his enemies. who shewed me a letter from the Earle of Darby, wherein hee was commaunded to send me with others to Lathum.

Wherupon he charged my brother and William Marsh, to bryng and deliuer me the next day, by x. of the clocke before the sayd Earle or his counsaile. I made earnest sute with other speciall frendes, whiche I had there at the same tyme, to M. Barton, that he would take some one of them or them all bound by recognisaunce or otherwise, for myne appearyng before the sayd Earle or his sayd counsaile, that my brother & William Marsh might be at home, because it was the chiefest tyme of seedyng, & their ploughes could not go if they were not at home: but nothing could be obtayned.

So we went to my mothers, and there I dyned and shifted part of my clothes, and so praying, MarginaliaG. Marsh taketh his leaue of his mother.tooke my leaue of my mother, the wife of Richard Marsh, & both their householdes, they and I both weepyng, & so departed from them, and went toward Lathum, and were all night a myle and a halfe on this side Lathum. So the next day whiche was Wednesday, we arose, prayd, and came to Lathum betymes, & taryed there till foure of the clocke at after noone.

Thē was I called by Roger Mekynson, to come to my Lord and his counsaile,MarginaliaG. Marsh brought before the Earle of Darby. & so I was brought into the chamber of presence, where was present Syr William Nores, Syr Pierce Alee, Maister Shereburne the Parson of Grapenhall, maister More, with others. Where when I had taryed a litle while, my Lord turned him toward me, and asked what was my name. I aunswered, Marsh.

Then he asked whether I was one of those that sowed euill seede and dissension amongest the people. Which thyng I denyed, desiryng to know myne accusers, and what could bee layd agaynst me: but that could I not know.

Then sayd he, he would with his counsaile examine me themselues,MarginaliaG. Marsh examined before the Earle of Darby. and asked me whether I was a Priest. I said no. Then he asked me, what had bene my liuyng? I aunswered, I was Minister, serued a Cure, & taught a schole. Then sayd my Lord to his counsaile, this is a wonderfull thyng. Afore he sayd he was no Priest, and now he confesseth himselfe to be one. I aunswered, by the lawes now vsed in this Realme (as farre as I do know) I am none.

Then they asked me who gaue me orders, or whether I had taken any at all? I aunswered, I receiued orders of the Byshops of London and Lyncolne.

Then sayd they one to an other, those bee of these new

heretyckes, and asked me what acquaintance I had with them? I aunswered, I neuer sawe them, but at the tyme when I receiued orders.

They asked me howe long I had ben Curate, and whether I had ministred with a good conscience? I aunswered I had ben Curat but one yeare, and had ministred with a good conscience, I thanked God, and if þ^e lawes of the Realme would haue suffered me, I woulde haue ministred styll: and if þ^e lawes at any tyme here after would suffer me to minister after that sort, I would minister agayne.

Whereat they murmured: and the person of Grapnall sayd: MarginaliaThe blasphemous mouth of the parson of Grapnall.thys last Communion was the most diuelyshe thing that euer was deuised. Then they asked me what my beliefe was?

I aunswered, I beleued in God the Father, the Sonne, and thþ^ee holy Ghost, according as the Scriptures of the olde and new testament do teach and according as the. iiij. Symboles, or Creedes, that is to wyt, the Creede commonly called Apostolorum, the Creede of Nice Councell, of Athanasius, and of Austen, and Ambrose do teach.

And after a fewe wordes, the parson of Grapnall sayd: but what is thy beliefe in the Sacrament of the aultar?

MarginaliaG. Marshes beliefe in the sacrament.I aunswered, I beleued that whosoeuer, accordyng to Christes institution, dyd receaue the holye Sacrament of Christes body and bloud, dyd eate and drynke Christes body and bloud with all the benefites of his death and resurrection to their eternall saluation: for Christ (sayd I) is euer present with his sacrament.

Then asked they me, whether the bread and wyne, by the vertue of the woordes pronounced of the Priest, were chaunged in to the fleshe and bloud of Christ, and that the sacrament, whether it were receiued or reserued, was the very body of Christ?

Whereunto I made aunswere, I knew no further then I had shewed already. MarginaliaG. Marsh loth to answere to the question of transubstantiationFor my knowledge is vnperfect (said I): desiryng thē not to aske me, such hard & vnprofitable questions, whereby to bryng my body into daunger of death, & to sucke my bloud. Whereat they were not a little offended, saying they were no bloudsuccours, and intended nothyng to me but to make me a good Christian man.

So after many other questions, whiche I auoyded as well as I could, remembryng the saying of Paule Foolish and vnlearned questions auoyde, knowing they do but ingender strife: my Lorde cōmaunded me to come to þ^e boord, and gaue me pen and incke in my hand MarginaliaG. Marsh commaunded by the Earle of Darby to write his answeres.and commaunded me to write mine answeres to the questions of the Sacrament aboue named: & I wrote as I had aunswered before. Wherat he being much offended, cōmaunded me to wryte a more direct aunswer, saying, I should not chuse but do it.

Then I tooke the pen and wrote, that further I knewe not. Whereat he beyng sore greeued, after many threatnynges, sayde I shoulde bee put to shamefull death lyke a traytor, with such other lyke woordes, and sometimes geuyng me fayre wordes, if I woulde turne and be conformable as other were, how glad he would bee.

In conclusion, after much adoe, MarginaliaThe Earle of Darby commaundeth G. Marsh into prison.he commaunded me to Ward into a cold Windy stone house, where was litle roume where I lay two nightes without any bed, sauyng a fewe great canues tentclothes, and that done, I hadde a payre of sheetes, but no woollen clothes, & so cōtinued tyll Palmsonday, occupying my selfe aswell as I coulde in meditation prayer, and study, for no man could be suffered to come to me but my keeper twyse a day when he brought me meate and dryncke.

¶ An other examination of G. Marshe before the Earle of Darby.  

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18 March 1554.

ON Palme sonday at after dinner I was sent for to my Lord and his counsell (sauyng Syr William Nores, & Syr Pierce Alee were not then present in place) amongest whom was sir Iohn Berā, and the Vicar of Prescot. So they examined me yet once agayn of the sacrament. And after I had communed aparte with the Vicar of Prescot a good space cōcernyng that matter, he returned to my Lorde and his Councell with me, saying: MarginaliaMarsh agayne examined about the sacrament.that aunswer whiche I had made before, and then dyd make (as it is aboue wrytten) was sufficient for a beginner, and as one which did not professe a perfect knowledge in that matter, vntyll such time as I had learned further.MarginaliaMarsh keepeth himselfe yet close in the Sacrament. Wherewith the Earle was very wel pleased, saying hee doubted not, but by the meanes and helpe of the Vicar of Prescot I woulde be conformable in other thinges. So after many fayre wordes hee commaunded I should haue a bed, with fyre, and libertye to go amongest his seruantes, so that I would do no harme with my communication amongest them.  

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Because the earl of Derby believed that Marsh might recant; Marsh was confined in easier conditions.

And so after much other communication, I departed, much more troubled in my spirit then afore, because I had