Marginalia1555. Iuly.an interrogation: the exhortation, that Bradford would obey this church: the interrogatiō, whether Bradford could shew any such succession for the demonstratiō of his Church (for so he called it) which he followed.

MarginaliaBradfordes aunswere to M. Harpesfieldes oration.Bradford. Vnto this his long Oration Bradford made this short aunswere: my memory is euill, so that I can not aunswere particularly your Oration.

Therefore I wil generally do it, thinkyng, because your Oration is rather to perswade then to proue, that a small aunswere will serue. If Christ or his Apostles beyng here on earth had bene required by the Prelates of the Churche then to haue made a demonstration of that Church by succession of such hygh Priestes as had approued the doctrine which he taught, I thinke that Christ would haue done as I do: that is, haue alledged þ^t which vpholdeth the Church, euen the veritie, þ^e word of God taught and beleued, MarginaliaOutward descent of ministers maketh not the true church: but the truth of Gods word maketh true ministers.not by the high Priestes, which of long tyme had persecuted it, but by the Prophetes and other good simple men, whiche perchaunce were counted for heretickes of the Church: MarginaliaThe true church not tied to succession, but to Gods word.which Church was not tyed to succession, but to the word of God. And this to thinke, S. Peter geueth me occasion, when he sayth that as it went in the Church before Christes commyng, so shall it go in the Churche after his commyng: but then the pillers of the Church were persecutors of the true Church: therfore the like we must looke for now.

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Harps. I can gather and proue succession in Hierusalem of the hygh Priestes from Aarons time.

MarginaliaThe true succession of priestes, and the succession of true Priestes, are two thinges.Bradford. I graunt, but not such succession as allowed the truth.

Harps. Why? did they not all allow Moses law?

Bradford. Yes, and kept it, as touchyng the Bookes thereof, as you do the Bible, and holy Scriptures. MarginaliaThe Iewes corrupt the law, as the Papistes do the scriptures.But the true interpretation and meanyng of it they did corrupt, as you haue done & doe, and therefore the persecution which they sturred vp agaynst the Prophetes and Christ, was not for the law, but for the interpretation of it. For they taught as you doe now, that wee must fetch the interpretation of the Scriptures at your handes.MarginaliaA comparisō betwen the old pharisies, and our new papistes. But to make an ende, death I looke dayly for, yea hourely, and I thinke my tyme be but very short. Therefore I had neede to spende as much tyme with God as I can whilest I haue it, for hys helpe and comfort, and therefore I pray you beare with me that I do not now particularly and in moe wordes aūswere your long talke. If I saw death not so neare me as it is, I would thē weigh euery peece of your Oratiō, if you would geue me the summe of it, and I would aunswere accordingly: but because I dare not, nor I will not leaue of lookyng & preparyng for that which is at hand, I shall desire you to hold me excused, because I do as I do, and I hartely thanke you for your gentle good will. I shall hartely pray God our father to geue you the same light and lyfe I do wish to my selfe: and so Bradford began to aryse vp.

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Harps. But then began Maister Archdeacon to tell hym that hee was in a very perilous case, and that he was sory to see him so setled.MarginaliaBolde confidence and hope vpon Gods word and promise, semeth strange among them which are not exercised in mortification. As for death, whether it be nigh or farre of I know not, neither forceth it, so that you did dye well.

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Brad. I doubt not in this case, but that I shall dye well: for as I hope & am certaine my death shall please the Lord, so I trust I shal dye chearefully to the cōfort of his childrē.

Harps. But what if you be deceiued?

Bradford. What if you should say the Sunne did not shine now? (and the Sunne did shine through the windowe where they sat.)

Harps. Well, I am sory to see you so secure & carelesse.

Bradford. In deede I am more carnally secure and carelesse then I should be: God make mee more vigilant. But in this case I can not bee to secure, for I am most assured that I am in the truth.

Harpsfield. That are ye not: for you are out of the Catholicke Church.

Bradford. No, though you haue excommunicate me out of your Churche, yet am I in the Catholicke Churche of Christ, and am, and by Gods grace shalbe a childe and an obedient childe of it for euer. I hope Christ will haue no lesse care for me, then hee had for the blynde man excommunicated of the Synagoge: and further I am sure that the necessarie Articles of the fayth, I meane the twelue Articles of the Creede, I confesse and beleue with that whiche you call the holy Church, MarginaliaTransubstantiation free to beleue or not to beleue many hundreth yeares after Christ.so that euen your Church hath taken somethyng to much vpon her to excommunicate me for that, whiche by the testimonie of my Lorde of Duresme in hys booke of the Sacrament lately put forth,  

was free many an hundred yeare after Christ, to beleue or not beleue.

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Harps. What is that?

Brad. Transubstantiation.

Harps. Why? ye are not condemned therfore onely.

Brad. For that, and because I deny that wicked men do receiue Christes body.

Harpsfield. You agree not with vs in þ^e presence, nor in any thyng els.

Brad. Howe you beleue you knowe: for my part I confesse a presence of whole Christ God and man, to the fayth of the receiuer.

Harpsfield. Nay, you must beleue a reall presence in the Sacrament.

Brad. In the Sacrament? MarginaliaChrist not included really in the Sacrament.Nay, I will not shutte hym in, nor tye him to it, otherwise then fayth seeth and perceiueth. If I should include Christ really present in the Sacrament, or tye him to it otherwise then to the fayth of the receyuer, then the wicked men should receiue him, which I do not nor will by Gods grace, beleue.

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Harpsfield. More pity: But a man may easely perceyue, you make no presence at all, and therfore you agree not therin with vs.

Brad. I confesse a presence, and a true presence, MarginaliaChrists body present to the fayth of the receauer.but to the fayth of the receiuer.

What (quoth one that stoode by) of Christes very body which dyed for vs.

Brad. Yea euen of whole Christ God and man, to feede the fayth of him that receiueth it.

Harps. Why? this is nothing els but to exclude þ^e omnipotencie of God, and all kynde of miracle in the Sacrament.

Brad. I do not exclude his omnipotencie, MarginaliaNone denyeth omnipotencye more then the Papistes, which say, that Christes body can not be in the sacrament vnlesse the substance of bread be away.but you do it rather: for I beleue that Christ can accomplishe his promise, the substaunce of bread and wyne beyng there, as well as the accidentes,  

which you beleue not. When we come to the Sacrament, we come not to feede our bodyes, and therefore wee haue but a little peece of bread, but we come to feede our soules with Christ by fayth, which the wicked doe want, and MarginaliaArgument who so receaue the body of Christ, do receiue the fruite and grace of lyfe: no wicked do receaue fruite and grace of lyfe. Ergo, no wicked men receiue the body of Christ.therefore they receaue nothing but Panem domini as Iudas did, and not Panem Dominum as þ^e other Apostles did.

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Harps. The wicked do receiue the very body of Christ, but not the grace of his body.

Brad. They receyue not the body. For Christes body is no dead carcase: he that receiueth it receiueth the spirite, which is not without grace I trow.  

Harps. Well, you haue very many errours. You count þ^e Masse for abomination, and yet S. Ambrose sayd Masse: and so he read out of a booke written a sentence of S. Ambrose to proue it.

Brad. Why Syr, the Masse as it is now, was nothing so in S. Ambrose time.MarginaliaMasse in S. Ambrose time. Was not the most part of the Canō made sithen by Gregory and Scolasticus?

Harps. In deede a great peece of it was made, as ye say, by Gregory: but Scolasticus was before Saint Ambrose tyme.MarginaliaThat is false, for Scolasticus was not before Saint Ambrose tyme.

Brad. I weene not: howbeit I will not contend. S. Gregory sayth, that the Apostels sayd Masse without the Canon, onely with the Lordes prayer.

Harps. You say true: for the Canon is not the greatest part of the Masse, MarginaliaThe chiefe parts of the Popish Masse.the greatest part is the sacrifice, eleuation, transubstantiation, and adoration.

Brad. I can away with none of those.

Harps. No, I thinke the same: but yet Hoc facite, telleth plainely the sacrifice of the Church.

Brad You confound Sacrifices, not discerning betwixt the sacrifice of the Church, and for the Church. MarginaliaSacrifice of the Church: Sacrifice for the Church.The sacrifice of the Church is no propiciatory sacrifice, but a gratulatory sacrifice.  

And as for Hoc facite,   is not referred to any sacrifising, but to the whole action of takyng, eatyng. &c.

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Harps. You speake not learnedly now: MarginaliaNote this doctrine good reader.for Christ made his supper onely to the twelue Apostles, not admittyng his mother or any of the seuenty Disciples to it. Nowe the Apostels do signifie the Priestes.

Brad. I thinke that you speake as you would men should vnderstand it: for els you would not keepe þ^e cup away from the Laitye. We haue great cause to thanke you, that you will geue vs of your bread. For I perceiue you order the matter so, as though Christ had not commaunded it to his whole church.

Harps. Then Harpsfield would haue proued Eleuation  

by a place of Basilius.

Brad. I haue read the place which semeth to make nothing for eleuation:MarginaliaEleuation was not brought in indeed before the tyme of Pope Honorius. 3.but be it as it is, this is no tyme for me to scan the doubtfull places of the doctors with you. I haue bene in prison long without bookes and all necessaries for study, & now death draweth nye, and I by your leaue must nowe leaue of, to prepare for him.

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Harpsfield. If I could do you good, I would be right glade eyther in soule or body. For you are in a perilous case both wayes.

Brad. Syr I thanke you for your good will: My case is as it is. I thanke God it was neuer so wel with me: for death to me shall be life.

Creswel. It were best for you to desire maister Archdeacon that hee woulde make sute for you, that you myght