prison, to my Lord.MarginaliaM. Glouer brought agayne before the Byshop.Before whom when I came and sawe none but his officers, chaplaynes, and seruauntes, except it were an old Priest, I was partly amazed and lifted vp my hart to God for his mercyfull helpe and assistaunce.
Marginalia1555. Septemb.My Lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment. I gaue him no aunswere touchyng that questiō. MarginaliaReasoning betweene M. Glouer and the Byshop.He proceeded to perswade me to bee a mēber of his Church, which had cōtinued so many yeares. As for our church (as he called it) it was not knowen, he sayd, but lately in K. Edwardes tyme.
[Back to Top]I professe my selfe to be a member of that Church (sayd I) that is builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophetes, Iesus Christ beyng the head corner stone: and so alledged the place of S. Paule to the Ephes. MarginaliaThe true Church is alvvayes builded vp on the doctrine of the Apostles: vvhiche though it appeare not alvvayes alyke in outward sight, the fault is in the tyme, not in the Church. Tymes do altar, and vvith the tymes the outvvard face of the Church may altar somtymes appearing more, somtymes lesse, sometymes very litle, sometymes nothyng at all, according as the persecution is. Neuertheles, the truth of the Churche abydeth alvvayes one. Neyther doth it goe by number of men but by soundnes of truth. Many agreeing in one may make an vnitye: but the veritie of the vvoorde maketh the Church vvhether it be in fevv or in many.And this Church hath bene frō the begynnyng (sayd I) though it beare no glorious shewe before the world, beyng euer, for the most parte, vnder the Crosse and affliction, contemned, despised, and persecuted. My Lord on the other side, contended that they were the Church.
[Back to Top]Glouer. So cried all the Clergy agaynst the Prophetes of Hierusalem, saying: Templum Domini, templum Domini,
Templum Domini, templum Domini The Churche, the church. &c. Templum Domini templum Domini templum Domini est.
Byshop. And alwayes when I was about to speake any thyng, my Lord cryed, hold thy peace, hold thy peace: I commaunde thee by the vertue of obedience, to hold thy peace, callyng me a proude arrogaunt hereticke.
Glouer. I willed my Lord to burthen me with some specialties, and then to cōuince me with some Scriptures and good learnyng.
Then my Lorde began to moue certaine questions. I refused to aunswere him in corners, requiryng that I might make my aunswere openly. He sayd I should aunswere him there. I stode with him vpon that poynt vntill he sayd I should to prison agayne, and there haue neither meate nor drinke till I had aunswered him.
[Back to Top]Then I lifted vp my hart to God, þt I might stand & agree with the doctrine of his most holy word.
Byshop. The first question was this: MarginaliaThe first question.how many Sacramentes Christ instituted to bee vsed in the Church?
Glouer. The Sacrament of Baptisme, said I, and the Sacrament that he instituted at his last Supper.
Bysh. No more sayd he?
Glo. To all those that declare a true and vnfayned repentaunce, a sure hope, trust, and confidence in the death of Christ, to such Ministers (I graūt) that they haue authoritie to pronounce by the power of Gods word, the remission of sinnes.MarginaliaPower by Gods word in the ministery to remitte sinnes.
Here interruptyng me he would needes beare me in hand that I called this a Sacrament. I would not greatly contend with him in that poynte, because that matter was of no great waight or importaunce: although he in so doyng, did me wrong for I called it not a Sacrament.
MarginaliaSecond question.Hee asked me further whether I allowed their confession.
I sayd no.
MarginaliaThird question.Byshop. Then hee woulde knowe my mynde what I thought of the presence of Christes body in the Sacrament.
Glouer. I aunswered that their Masse was neither Sacrifice nor Sacrament, because (sayd I) you haue taken away the true institution, which when you restore agayne, I will tell you my iudgement concernyng Christes body in the Sacrament.
And thus much did this woorthy Martyr of GOD leaue behynde him by his owne hand in writyng concernyng the manner of his vsing and entreating in prison, and also of his conflictes had with the Byshoppe and hys Chauncellour. Moe examinations he had (no doubt) with the Byshoppe in the publicke Consistory, when hee was brought foorth to be condemned, whiche also he would haue left vnto vs, if either length of lyfe, or laysure of tyme, or hast of execution had permitted him to finishe that he intended:
This more cautious declaration replaced a more sweeping statement in the 1563 edition that Glover wrote nothing in prison besides the letter to his wife. Bull, however, had found another letter of Robert Glover to his family (Letters of the Martyrs, pp. 542-43).
The authorities did not waste time with Glover; he was condemned on 30 August 1555 (PRO C/85/64, fo. 12r) and burned on 20 September 1555.
It is interesting that Foxe was able to find records for Cornelius Bungay, who was executed along with Glover, but not for Glover himself.
Onely this whiche I could learne by relation of one Austen Bernher
Bernher was the amanuensis and confidante of Hugh Latimer, the uncle of Robert Glover's wife Mary. Bernher was undoubtedly Foxe's source for this story.
late of al spirituall consolation, felt in him selfe no aptnes nor willyngnes, but rather a heauines and dulnes of spirite,MarginaliaRob. Glouer destitute for a tyme of the Lordes comfort.full of much discomfort to beare that bitter Crosse of Martyrdome ready now to be layd vpon him.
Wherupon he fearyng in him selfe, lest the Lord had vtterly withdrawne his wonted fauour from him, made hys mone to this Austen his frend aboue remembred, signifiyng vnto him, how earnestly he had prayed day and night vnto the Lord, and yet could receaue no motion nor sense of any comfort from him.
Vnto whom the sayd Austen aunsweryng agayne, willed and desired him paciently to wayte the Lords pleasure and how soeuer his present feelyng was, yet seyng his cause was iust and true, he exhorted him constantly to sticke to the same, and to play the man, MarginaliaThe Lord for a tyme may wythdraw his comfortes, but at length he visiteth agayne his seruauntes.nothing misdoubtyng but the Lord in his good time would visite him, and satisfie his desire with plenty of consolatiō, whereof (he sayd) he was right certayne and sure, and therfore desired him, when soeuer any such feelyng of Gods heauenly mercies should begyn to touch his hart, that then he would shew some signification therof, wherby he might witnes with him þe same, and so departed from hym.
[Back to Top]The next day, when the time came of his Martyrdome, as he was goyng to the place and was now come to the sight of þe stake, although al the night before praying for strength and courage he could feele none, sodenly he was so mightely replenished with Gods holy comfort and heauenly ioyes, that he cryed out clapping his handes to Austen, and saying in these woordes: Austen, he is come, he is come, &c.MarginaliaRob. Glouer receaueth agayne comfort of the Lord. and that with such ioy and alacritie, as one seemyng rather to be risen from some deadly daunger, to liberty of life, then as one passing out of the world by any paynes of Death. Such was the chaunge of the meruelous workyng of the Lordes hand vpon that good man.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaCornelius Bongey, Martyr.IN the same fier with him was burned also Cornelius Bongey a Capper of Couentry, and condemned by the sayd Radulph Byshop of Couentry and Lichfield. As concernyng the Articles which were to hym obiected, the effect therof was this.
MarginaliaArticles obiected to Cornelius Bongey.
BL, Harley 421, fo. 80r-v is the original of the articles charged against Bungay. The version Foxe printed is accurate; unfortunately there is no surviving copy of Bungay's answers to the articles.
Secondly, that by Baptisme synnes be not washed away, because he sayd that the washyng of the fleshe purgeth the flesh outwardly, and not the soule.
Thirdly, that there be in the Church onely two Sacramentes, that is, Baptisme, and the Lordes Supper.
Fourthly: that in the Sacrament of their popish aulter, was not the real body and bloud of Christ, but the substance of bread & wyne there remayning stil, because S. Paul calleth it bread and wyne. &c.
Fiftly, that he within the compasse of the sayd yeares and time, did holde, mayntayne and defend, that the Pope is not the head of the visible church here in earth. &c.
Sixtly, that he was of the dioces and iurisdiction of the Bishop of Couentry and Lichfield. &c.
Seuenthly, that the premises are true, manifest, and notorious, and that vpon the same there hath ben and is a publicke voyce and fame, as well in the places aboue rehearsed, as in other quarters also about. &c.
MarginaliaHis aunsweres to the Articles.Vnto the which articles he aunsweryng agayne, to the first he graunted, and to euery part therof, meaning after the Popishe maner of absolution.
The second he graunted first, after reuoked the same.
To the thyrd also he graunted, addyng withall, that in scripture there be no more conteyned.
To the fourth, touching the sacrament, he graunted and to euery part therof.
To the fift concernyng the Pope, likewise.
Also to the sixt he graunted and likewise to the seuenth.
Vpon these articles and his aunsweres to the same, the sayd Radulph the Bishop read the sentence, and so committed him also after the condemnation of Maister Robert Glouer, to the seculer power.
Thus thys foresayd Cornelius falsely condemned by the Byshop before mencioned, suffered at the same stake with the Christian Martyr Maister Robert Glouer at Couentry, about the. xx. day of September.