Marginalia1555. Marchnot with more boldnes confessed Christ, but in such sort, as mine aduersaries therby thought they shoulde preuayle agaynst me:MarginaliaMarsh troubled in his conscience for being no more bolde touching the Sacrament. wherat I was much greued: For hetherto I went about as much as in me lay, to ryd my self out of their handes, if by any meanes, without open denying of Christ and his word that could be done.

This considered, MarginaliaMarsh prayeth for more boldnes.I cryed more earnestly vnto God by prayer, desiryng him to strengthen me with his holy spirite, with boldnes to confesse him: and to deliuer me from their intising wordes, and that I were not spoiled through their Philosophy and deceitfull vanitie after the traditions of mē and ordinaunces of the world, and not after Christ.

MarginaliaMarsh agayne examined before the Byshops Chaplens.And so after a day or two I was sent for to þ^e Vicar of Prescot, and the Parson of Grapnall: where MarginaliaTalke about the Masse.our most communication was concernyng the Masse: and he asked what offended me in the Masse: I aunswered the whole Masse dyd offend me, MarginaliaAllegations against the Masse.first because it was in a straunge language, whereby the people were not edified, cōtrary to S. Paules doctrine. 1. Cor. 14. and because of the manifold and intolerable abuses & errours contained therin, contrary to Christes Priesthode and sacrifice.

Then they asked me in what place therof, and I named certaine places: whiche places they went about with gentle and farre sought  

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I.e., far-fetched or implausible.

I aunswered, I dyd vnderstande thē as they did purport, and as their owne bookes did comment and glose vpō them.

They sayd, MarginaliaSacrificium Missæ quid sit.Sacrificium or Oblatio did not in the Masse signifie any thyng els, then either a Sacrifice of prayse and thankesgeuyng,MarginaliaSacrifice of the Masse, expounded by the Papistes to be nothing els but the Sacrifice only of thankesgeuing. or els a memoriall of a sacrifice or oblation. So they caused a Masse booke to be sent for, and shewed me where in some places of the Masse was wrytten Sacrificium laudis. Whereto I aunswered, that it followed not therfore that in all places it signified a sacrifice or oblation of prayse or thankesgeuyng: and although it dyd, yet was not a sacrifice of prayse or thankesgeuyng to bee offered for the sinnes of the people, for that dyd Christ by hys owne Passion once offer on the Crosse: where the wordes of the Masse were that the Priest did offer an oblation and sacrifice for the sinnes and offences both of hymselfe and of the people: for them that were dead, and for the saluation of the liuyng: and that the commixtion of the body and bloud of Christ was health both of body and soule.

The Vicare aunswered, that was to bee vnderstand of the commixtion of Christes body and bloude with hys Church or people. So after much exhortation vnto me, that I should bee conformable to the true Catholicke Churche (which as they ment, was the Romish Church) I departed, not consentyng vnto them.

So within a day or twayne came to me Maister More bringyng with him certaine Articles,MarginaliaThe Articles of D. Cromes recantatiō brought to G. Marshe. whereunto Doctour Crome had consented and subscribed in the presence of certaine witnesses in the dayes of kyng Henry the eight and willed me to read them ouer, and asked me whether I would consent and subscribe vnto those Articles: and after communication had of one or two of the sayd Articles, I confessed playnly I would in no wise consent and subscribe to those Articles, for then I did against myne owne conscience: and so he departed.

So within a short space after, which was on Sherethursday, the sayd Parson and Vicar sent for me agayne, saying, my Lord would be at a short poynt with me: for if I would not consent and subscribe vnto. iiij. Articles drawen out of the Articles aforesayd, I must go to prison straight wayes.Marginalia4. Popishe Articles for Marsh to subscribe vnto.

Marginalia1. Masse.The first was, whether the Masse nowe vsed in the Church of Englād, was according to Christes institutiō, & with fayth, reuerence, and deuotion to bee heard and seene?

Marginalia2. Transubstantiation.The second, whether the almighty by the wordes pronounced by the Priest, did chaunge the bread and wyne after the woordes of consecration, into the body and bloud of Christ, whether it were receaued or reserued?

Marginalia3. Receauing in one kind.Thirdly, whether the lay people ought to receaue but vnder the forme of bread onely, and that the one kynde was sufficient for them?

Marginalia4 Confession.Fourthly, whether cōfession to the Priest nowe vsed in England were godly and necessary?

These foure questions or articles they deliuered me in writyng, and bad me goe to my chamber and subscribe my aunsweres with myne owne hand, and come agayne. So within one halfe houre, I came to them agayne, and deliuered them the questions with myne aunsweres. MarginaliaG. Marsh denyeth the Articles.The first I denyed. To the second I aunswered, as I did to my Lord afore, & as is aboue written. To the third I aūswered that the lay people by Christes institution ought to receaue vnder both kyndes, and that it sufficeth not thē to receaue vnder the one kinde onely. Fourthly, that though confessiō auricular were a commodious meane to instruct the rude

people, yet was it not necessary nor commaunded of God.

They much exhorted me then to leaue myne opinions, saying I was much deceaued, vnderstandyng the Scriptures amisse, MarginaliaG. Marsh exhorted to the Catholicke Church.and much counselled me to follow the Catholicke Churche of Christ, and to do as other did. I aunswered, my fayth in Christ conceaued by his holy word I neither could nor would deny, alter nor chaunge, for any liuyng creature what soeuer hee were, desiryng them to speake to my Lord that duryng my lyfe and imprisonment, my poore frēdes might be suffered to releue me with necessary things accordyng to their powers,  

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I.e., to supply Marsh with food, clothing, bed linen, money and other necessities.

Vpon one of the Easter holy dayes MarginaliaM. Sherburne and M. More examiners of G. Marsh.maister Shereburne and M. More sent for me perswadyng me much to leaue myne opinions: saying all the bryngers vp and fauorers of that Religion had euill lucke, and were either put to death or in prison, and in daunger of lyfe. Agayne, the fauorers of the Religion now vsed had wonderous good lucke, and prosperitie in all thynges: with many other worldly reasons of mās wisedome, for as for the Scriptures, Maister Shereburne confessed him selfe ignoraunt.

I aunswered that MarginaliaGods truth is not to be estemed by prosperitie or aduersitie.I beleued and leaned onely to the Scriptures, not iudgyng thynges by prosperitie or aduersitie: but they earnestly aduised me to refuse myne opinions, and not to let for any worldly shame.

I aunswered that that whiche I did, I did not for the auoydyng of any worldly shame, saying: my soule and lyfe were dearer to me then the auoydyng of any worldly shame: neither yet did I it for any vayne prayse of the world, but in the reuerent feare of God.

Then Maister More questioned with me of receauyng the Sacrament vnder the one kynde. I sayd Christes institution was playne that all men should drinke of the cup. Then he told me of the xxiiij. of Luke, and the xx. of the Actes, MarginaliaChristes breaking of bread. Luke. 24. proueth not the receauing vnder one kynde.where was but mention of breakyng of bread onely: wherof he gathered, that they receiued the Sacrament but vnder one kynde.

That I denyed, saying: those places either did not speake of the celebration of the Lordes Supper, or els vnder the name of breakyng bread, was signified and ment the receiuing of the Sacramēt, both of the body and bloud of Christ, accordyng to his institution. So after much communicatiō of that matter, M. Shereburne said it was great pitie that I beyng a wel fauored young man, and one that might haue good liuyng and doe good, would so foolishly cast my selfe away stickyng so hard to such foolish opinions.

I aunswered as afore I had done to my Lord and to his counsell, that MarginaliaG. Marshe forsaketh kindred and all together, to sticke to Christ.my lyfe, mother, children, brethren, sisters, and frendes, with other delites of lyfe, were as deare and sweete vnto me as vnto any other man, and that I would be as loth to lose them, as an other would, if I might holde them with good conscience, and without the ignominy of Christ: and seyng I could not do that, my trust was that God would strēgthen me with his holy spirite to lose them all for his sake: for I take my selfe (sayd I) for a sheepe appointed to be slayne, patiently to suffer what Crosse so euer it shall please my mercyfull father to lay on me. And so after I had desired them that if I were committed to prison my frendes might be suffered to relieue me, they departed.

M. More afore this brought vnto me MarginaliaAlphonsus booke brought to G. Marsh.a booke of one Alphonsus a Spanish Frier, of all heresies wherewith the Churche of Rome, which hee called Christes true Church, had bene troubled since Christes tyme, willing me to read and take counsell of that booke: and appoynted me a place, where this authour did write agaynst them that say, the lay people ought to receiue vnder both kyndes.

This authour I perceiued dyd vehemently write agaynst Luther, Melancthon, Pellican & other Germaines of this our tyme, in all pointes defending þ^e blasphemous abuses and enormities of the Romishe Church, condemnyng as detestable heresies, what soeuer was written, taught, or beleued contrary to the same, vsing for his strongest and surest Argumentes, the consent, agreement, and determinatiō of the Romish Churche. So within a few dayes Maister More came to me agayne, asking me how I liked the booke. MarginaliaMarshes iudgement of Alphonsus booke.I sayd the authour of the booke dyd in all poyntes beyng a Papist, allowe the rites and abuses of the Romish Church, and shewed him further, that this authour without authoritie, and contrary both to the Scriptures & old Doctours, did condemne for heresie, the lay people receiuyng of this Sacrament vnder both kyndes, where as this authour witnesseth his owne selfe, þ^t Christes Church ix. hundred yeares after Christ vsed the contrary.

So in conclusion he rebuked me, saying I was vnlearned, and erred from the Catholicke fayth, stubburne, and