Marginalia1. Cor. 11. and there he read how that he was giltie, whiche made no difference of the Lordes body.

Marginalia1555. Iuly.Brad. Yea, but therewith he sayth: He that eateth of the bread: callyng it bread still, and that after consecration (as ye call it) as in the x. to the Corinthians he sayth: Marginalia1. Cor. 10.The bread which we breake. &c.

Alphon. Oh, how ignoraunt are ye, which knowe not that thinges after their cōuersiō doe reteine þ^e same names which they had before, as MarginaliaConuersion is mentioned in turning Moses rod: so is it not in the Sacrament.Moses rod: and callyng for a Bible, after he had found the place, he began to triumphe: but Bradford cooled him quickly, saying:

Brad. Syr, there is mention made of the cōuersion as well, as that the same appeared to the sense.MarginaliaMoyses rod was sene to be turned so is not the Sacrament. But here ye can not finde it so. Find me one word how the bread is conuerted, & I will then say ye bryng some matter that maketh for you.

Alphon. At these wordes the Frier was troubled, and at lēgth he sayd, how that Bradford hanged on his own sense.

Brad. No, that do I not: for I will bryng you forth the fathers of the Church. 800. yeares after Christ, to confirme this which I speake.

Alphon. No you haue the Church agaynst you.

Brad. I haue not Christes Church agaynst me.

Alphon. Yes that you haue. What is the Church?

Brad. Christes wife the chayre and seate of vertue.

Alphon. Is she visible?

MarginaliaThe church is visible, but to them that haue spirituall eyes.Brad. Yea that she is to them that will put on the spectacles of Gods word to looke on her.

Alphon. This Church hath defined the contrary, and that I will proue by all the good Fathers from Christes Ascēsion euen for. 800. yeares at the least continually.

Bradford. What will ye so proue? Transubstantiation?

Alphon. Yea, that the bread is turned into Christes body.

Brad. You speake more then ye can do.

Alphon. That do I not.

Brad. Then will I geue place.

Alphon. Will ye beleue?

Brad. Belief is Gods gift: therfore can not I promise: but I tell you that I will geue place: and I hope I shal beleue his truth alwayes, so good is he to me in Christ my sauiour.

Alphon. Here the Frier founde MarginaliaThe Papistes holde that the acte of beleuing is in mans power.a great fault with Bradford that he made no difference betwixt habitus, and actus: as though actus which he called credulitie, had bene in our power. But this he let passe, & came agayne askyng Bradford, if he could proue it, as he sayd, whether he would geue place.

Bradford. Yea that I will. Then called he for paper, pen and inke, to write, and then sayd I: what and if that I proue by the testimonie of the Fathers, that continually for. viij. hundred yeares after Christ at the least, they dyd beleue that the substaūce of bread doth remaine in the Sacramēt? what will you do?

Alphon. I will geue place.

Brad. Then write you here that you will geue place if I so proue, & I will write that I will geue place if you so proue: because ye are the auncient, ye shall haue the preeminence.

Here the Frier fumed marueilously, and sayd: MarginaliaThe fryer refuseth to abide trial with Bradford.I came not to learne at thee. Are not here witnesses? (meanyng the two Priestes) be not they sufficient? But the man was so chafed, that if Bradford had not passed ouer this matter of writyng, the Frier would haue fallen to playne scoldyng.

Confes. At the length the kinges Confessour asked Bradford what the second question was?

Brad. That wicked men receiue not Christes body in the Sacrament, as S. Augustine speaketh of Iudas, that hee reciued Panem Domini, but not Panem Dominum.

Alphon. S. Augustine sayth not so.

Brad. MarginaliaThe fryer againe proued a lyer.Yes that doth he. So they arose and talked no more of that matter. Thus wēt they away, without bidding Bradford farewell.MarginaliaThe friers depart in a heate from M. Bradford.

A Priest. After they were gone, one of the Priestes came, & willed Bradford not to be so obstinate.

Brad. Syr, be not you so waueryng: in all the scripture cā not you finde me, non est panis.

Priest. Yes that I can in fiue places.

Brad. Then I will eate your booke. MarginaliaA priest put to a foyle.So the booke was opened, but no place found: and he went his way smilyng. God helpe vs.

¶ Talke betwene Maister Bradford and Doctour Weston, and others.  

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This examination was first printed STC 3477, sigs. H5v-I1v and then reprinted in the 1570 edition of the Acts and Monuments.

MarginaliaConference betwene M Bradford, and Doct. Weston.IT followed after this, vppon the. xxj. of the moneth of March, that by meanes of one of the Earle of Darbyes men, there came to the Counter to dynner one M. Collier, once Warden of Manchester, and the sayd seruaunt of the Earle of Darby, of whom Maister Bradford learned that Doctour Weston Deane of Westminster would bee with hym in the after noone about two of the clocke. At dynner tyme, whē the said Warden did discōmēd king Edward,

& went about to set foorth the authority of þ^e Pope, which Bradford withstode, defending the kynges fayth, that it was catholicke, and that the authority of the Byshoppe of Romes supremacy was vsurped, bryngyng foorth MarginaliaThe name of supreme head is the forerunner to Antichrist. Gregor.the testimony of Gregory, which affirmeth the name of supreame head, to be a title of the forerunner to Antichrist: a woman prisoner was brought in, wherupon the said Bradford tooke occasiō to ryse frō þ^e table, and so went to his prisō chamber to beg of God grace, and helpe therein continuing there stil vntill he was called downe to speake with maister Weston, which was then come in.

Maister Bradford then being called downe, so soone as hee was entred into the hall, MarginaliaD. Weston commeth to M. Bradford.Maister Weston very gently tooke him by the hand, & asked how hee dyd, with such other talke. At length hee willed auoydance of the chamber: So they all went out, saue Maister Wston him selfe, maister Colliar, þ^e Earle of Darbyes seruaunt, the Subdeane of Westminster, the Keeper Maister Clayden, and the person of the church where the Counter is.

Now then hee began with M. Bradford, to tell howe that he was often minded to haue come vnto hym, being therto desired of the Earle of Darby: and, quoth he, after that I perceiued by his mā, that you could be contented rather to speake with mee, then any others: I could not but come to do you good, if I can, for hurt you be sure I will not.

Bradford. Syr quoth Maister Bradford, when I perceyued by the report of my Lords seruaunt: that you dyd beare me good wil, more (as hee sayd) then any other of your sort, I tolde him then, that therfore I could be better contēt and more willyng to talke with you, if you should come vnto me. This dyd I say, quoth he: otherwise I desired not your commyng.

West. Well quoth he: now I am come to talke with you: but before we shall enter into any talke, certayne principles we must agree vpon, which shall be this dayes worke.

MarginaliaD. Weston lessons such as he did neuer follow hym selfe.First, quoth he, I shall desire you to put away all MarginaliaVayne glory.vaine glory, and not hold any thinge for the praise of the world.

Brad. Syr, S. Augustine maketh that in dede a peece of the definitiō of an hereticke, which if I cannot put away cleane (for I thyncke there will a spice of it remaine in vs, as long as this flesh liueth) yet I promise you by the grace of God, þ^t I purpose not to yeld to it. God I hope will neuer suffer it to beare rule in them that striue there against, and desire all the dregges of it vtterly to be driuen out of vs.

West. I am glad to heare you say so, although in deede I thinke you do not so much esteme it as others do.

Secondly, I would desire you that you will put awaye MarginaliaSingularitie.singularitie in your iudgement and opinions.

Brad. Syr, God forbyd that I shoulde sticke to anye singularytye or priuate iudgement in Gods religion. Hetherto I haue not desired it, neyther doe, nor mynde at any time to hold any other doctrine then is publick and catholicke, vnderstanding catholicke as good men doe: according to Gods word.

West. Very wel: this is a good dayes worke, I hope to do you good: & therfore now thirdly, MarginaliaWeston willeth M. Bradford to put downe in writing the chiefe ground of his fayth.I shal pray you to wryte me Capita  

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Literally 'heads', i.e., the chief points.

Brad. Sir I will wryt to you the groundes I leane to In this matter. As for death, if it come welcōe be it: this which you requyre of me: shall be no great let to me therin.

West. You knowe þ^t Saint Augustine was a Manichean  

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Manicheanism was a religion founded by Manes (c. AD 215-275) in Persia. It spread to Egypt by the end of the third century and across North Africa during the fourth century. Augustine was a Manichean for nine years before his conversion to Christianity.

Brad. Sir because I will not flatter you: I woulde you should flatly know, that I am euen setled in the religion wherefore I am condemned.

West. Yea, but if it bee not the truth, and if you see euident matter to the contrary, wil not you then giue place.

Brad. God forbid, but that I shoulde alwayes geue place to the truth.

West. I would haue you to pray so.

Brad. So I do, and that he will more and more confirme me in it, as I thanke God he hath done and doth.

West. Yea, but pray with a condition, if you be in it.

Brad. No Syr, I can not pray so, because I am settled and assured of his truth.

Well, quoth weston, as þ^e learned Bishop answered S. Augustines mother, that though she was obstinate, yet the teares of such a mother coulde not but winne her sonne: so (quod hee) I hope your prayers. (For then Bradfords eyes did shewe that hee hadde wept in prayer) canne not but bee heard of God, though not as you would yet, as best shall please God. Do you not, quoth hee, remember the hystory hereof?