there was none such, MarginaliaThomas Hussey commeth to Bradford.hee entred into the house, and tooke acquaintance of Iohn Bradford saying, that he would common and speake with hym the next mornyng for olde acquaintance.
STC 3477 adds that Hussey and Bradford were both in the 1544 expedition to France and that they were both at the siege of Montreuil (sig. B1r).
Marginalia1555. Iuly.The next morning about. vij. of the clocke, this gentleman came into the chamber wherein Iohn Bradford dyd lye, and beyng with hym, he began a long Oration, how that of loue and old acquaintance he came vnto him to speake that which he would further vtter. MarginaliaCounsell of M. Hussey geuen to Bradford.You dyd (sayd he) so wonderfully behaue your selfe before the Lorde Chauncellour and other Byshops yesterday, that euen the veriest enemyes you haue, dyd see that they haue no matter agaynst you: and therefore I aduise you (speakyng as though it came of his owne good will without makyng any other man priuy, or any other procuryng hym, as he sayd) this day (for anone you shall be called before them agayne) to desyre a tyme, and men to conferre withall, so shall all men thinke a wonderfull wysedome, grauitie, and godlynes in you: and by this meanes you shall escape present daunger, which els is nearer then you beware of. MarginaliaBradford refuseth to require respite.To this Iohn Bradford aunswered: I neither can nor will make any such request. For then shall I giue occasion to the people and to all other to thinke that I doubt of the Doctrine whiche I confesse: the which thinge I do not, for therof I am most assured, and therfore I wyll geue no such offence.
Bradford is worried that if he asked for time to consider his position, other protestants would think that he had recanted and be disheartened.
As they were thus talking, the chamber doore was vnlocked and MarginaliaD. Seton commeth to Maister Bradford.Doctour Seton came in, who when hee sawe Maister Hussey: what Syr (quoth he) are you come before me? O Lord, sayd Bradford in his hart to God, goeth the matter thus? MarginaliaHussey taken with a lye.This man tolde mee, no man knew of his commyng: Lorde geue mee grace to remember thy Lesson, Cauete ab hominibus illis.
Cauete ab hominibus illis. Beware of those men. &c.
MarginaliaCounsell of D. Seton geuen to M. Bradford.Seton. Doctor Seton after some bytalke of Bradfords age, of his countrey and such lyke, began a gay
Specious, plausible [OED].
Brad. To this Iohn Bradford briefly aunswered as he dyd before to Maister Hussey.
Seton. With this aunswere neither the Doctour nor Gentleman being cōtented, after many perswasions, M. Doctour sayd: MarginaliaThe flattering commendation of D. Seton to M. Bradford.I haue heard much good talke of you, and euen yesternight a Gentleman made report of you at the Lorde Chauncellors table, that ye were able to perswade as much as any that hee knew. And I (though I neuer heard you preach, & to my knowledge neuer dyd I se you before yester day) yet me thought your modesty was such, your behauiour and talke so without malice and impacience, that I would be sory ye shoulde doe worse then my selfe. And I tell you further, I doe perceiue my Lorde Chauncellor hath a fantasie towardes you: wherfore be not so obstinate but desire respite, and some learned man to conferre withall &c.
[Back to Top]Brad. But Iohn Bradford kept still one aunswere: MarginaliaM. Bradford refuseth to aske respite to conferre vpon his doctrine.I can not, nor I will not so offend the people. I doubt not, but am most certaine of the doctrine I haue taught.
Seton. Here maister Doctour waxed hote, and called Bradford arrogant, proud, vainglorious, and spake lyke a Prelate.
I.e., spoke arrogantly.
Brad. But Bradford aunswered, beware of iudging, lest ye condemne your selfe. But styll Maister Doctour Seton vrged hym, shewing hym how mercyfull my Lorde Chauncellour was, and howe charitably they entertayned hym.
Brad. MarginaliaLittle iustice, lesse loue appeareth in the Bishop of Winchest.I neuer sawe any iustice, much lesse loue, I speake for my part (quoth Bradford) in my Lord Chauncellor. Long haue I ben vniustly imprisoned, and handled in the same vncharitably, & now my Lord hath no iust matter agaynst me.
This talke serued not the Doctors purpose: wherefore he went from matter to matter, from thys poynt to þt poynt. Bradford styll gaue hym the hearyng, and aunswered not: for hee perceaued that they both dyd come but to fish for some such thinges as might make a shew that my Lord Chauncellor had iustly kept him in prison.
[Back to Top]When all their talke tooke no such effect as they woulde or looked for. Maister Hussey asked Bradford: wyll ye not admit conference,
I.e., speak privately and unofficially.
MarginaliaM. Bradford refuseth againe to admit conference but vpon conditions.Brad. Conference, if it had bene offered before the lawe had bene made or if it were offered, so that I might be at libertie to conferre, and as sure, as he with whom I shoulde
conferre, then it were somthing: but els I see not to what other purpose conference shoulde bee offered, but to deferre that which will come at the length, and the lingeryng may geue more offence, then doe good. Howbeit, if my Lord shall make such an offer of his owne motion, I will not refuse to conferre with whome so euer he shall appoint.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaD. Seton rayleth agaynst Maister Bradford.Maister Doctour hearyng this, called Bradford arrogant, proud, and whatsoeuer pleased hym.
Then Bradford perceiuyng by them, that he should shortly be called for, besought them both to geue hym leaue to talke with God, and to begge wisdome and grace of hym: for (quoth hee) otherwise I am helples: and so they with much ado departed. Then Bradford went to God and made his prayers, whiche the Lorde of his goodnes dyd graciously accept in his neede, praised therfore be hys holy name. Shortly after they were gone, Bradford was lead to the foresayd church, and there taryed vncalled for, tyll a. xi. of the clocke, that is, till Maister Saunders was excommunicated.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe last examination of M. Bradford.AFter the excommunication of Laurence Saunders, Iohn Bradford was called in, and beyng brought in before the Lord Chauncellour and other the Byshops there sittyng, the Lord Chauncellour began to speake thus in effect: MarginaliaThe effect of Winchesters talke with M. Bradford.that Bradford being now eftsoones come before them would answere with modestie and humilitie, and conforme hym selfe to the Catholicke Church with them and so yet he might finde mercy, because they would be loth to vse extremitie. Therfore he concluded with an exhortation, that Bradford would recant his doctrine.
[Back to Top]After the Lord Chauncelour had ended hys long Oration, Bradford began to speake thus: As yesterday I besought your honours to set in your sight the Maiestie and presence of God to follow hym, which seeketh not to subuert þe simple by subtile questiōs: MarginaliaM. Bradfordes aunswere to Winchester.so I humbly besech euery one of you to do this day: for that you know well inough that giltles bloud will cry for vengeaunce. And this I pray not your Lordships to doe as one that taketh vpon me to condemne you vtterly herein, but that ye might be more admonished to do that which none doth so much as hee should do: For our nature is so much corrupt, that we are very obliuious and forgetfull of God. Agayne, as yesterday I pretended mine oth and othes agaynst the Byshop of Rome, that I shoulde neuer consent to the practising of any iurisdiction for him or on his behalfe in the Realme of England: so do I agayne this day, lest I should be periured. And last of all, as yesterday the aunsweres I made were by protestation and sauyng myne oth, so I woulde your honours should knowe that mine aunsweres shall bee this day: and this I doe, that when death (whiche I looke for at your handes) shall come, I may not be troubled with the giltenes of periurye.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaWinchester replyeth agayne to Bradford with a lye.L. Chaun. At which wordes the Lord Chauncellour was wroth, and sayd, that they had geuen hym respite to deliberate tyll this day, whether he would recant his errours of the blessed Sacrament, which yesterday (quoth he) before vs you vttered.
Brad. My Lord, you gaue me no tyme of any such deliberation, neither dyd I speake any thyng of the Sacrament which you dyd disallow. For when I had declared a presēce of Christ to be there to fayth, you went frō that matter to purge your selfe that you were not cruell, and so went to dinner
L. Chaun. What? I perceaue we must begyn all agayne with thee. Did not I yesterday tell thee plainely that thou madest a conscience where none should bee? MarginaliaThe othe agaynst the B. of Rome, whether it be lawfull, or vnlawfull.Did not I make it plaine that the oth agaynst the Byshop of Rome was an vnlawfull oth?
[Back to Top]Brad. No in dede my Lorde: You sayd so, but you proued it not yet, nor neuer can do.
L. Chaun. Oh Lord God, what a fellowe art thou? Thou wouldest go about to bryng into the peoples heades, that we, all the Lordes of the parlament house, the Knightes and Burgesses, and all the whole realme be periured. Oh what an heresie is this? Here good people you may se what a sēseles hereticke this felow is. MarginaliaWinchesters similitude in no poynt lyke.If I shoulde make an oth I would neuer helpe my brother nor lend hym mony in hys neede, were this a good aunswere to tel my neighbour desiryng my helpe, that I had made an oth to the contrary, O that I could not do it?
[Back to Top]MarginaliaWinchesters similitude refuted.Brad. Oh my Lorde, discerne betwixt othes that be agaynst charity and fayth, and othes that be accordyng to fayth and charity, as this is agaynst the byshop of Rome.
Chaun. Here the Lord Chauncellour made much ado, and a long time was spent about othes, which were good