[View a larger version]

MarginaliaIohn Glouer and William Glouer after their death condemned and cast out for heretickes.NOw that we haue discoursed the story of Maister Robert Glouer, somethyng also would bee touched of his other two brethren Iohn and William Glouer. Who albeit they were not called to finishe their course by like kynde of Martyrdome in the fier, as the other dyd: yet because for their constaunt profession of Gods Gospell vnto the latter ende, they were exempted after their death, & cast out of the same Church, as the other was, I thought them not vnworthy therfore in the story to bee ioyned together, whiche in one cause and the same profession were not sundered one from the other.

[Back to Top]

And first concerning Maister Iohn Glouer the eldest brother, what inward stormes and agonies hee sustained by the ghostly enemy, partly ye heard before described: now what hys bodely enemyes wrought agaynst hym, remaineth to be declared. Whose rage and malice, although God so restrained, that they could litle preuaile against him so long as his life endured, yet after his decease, hauyng power vppon him, what they did ye shall now vnderstand.

[Back to Top]

After the Martyrdome of Maister Robert Glouer, although Iohn Glouer seyng his brother to bee apprehended for him, had small ioye of his lyfe for the great sorrow of his hart, wherewith hee was sore oppressed, and would gladly haue put him selfe in his brothers steede, if frendes had not otherwise perswaded with him, shewyng that in so doyng he might intangle him selfe, but should doe his brother no good. He thus in great care and vexation endured: yet notwithstandyng, rubbyng out as well as he could, tyll at length about þ^e latter end of Queene Mary MarginaliaA new search made for Iohn Glouer.there was a new search made for the sayd Iohn Glouer.

[Back to Top]

Whereupon the Sheriffes with their vnder Officers and seruaunts beyng sent to seeke him, came into his house, where he and his wife were. It chaunced as he was in his chamber by him selfe, the Officers brustyng into the house, and searchyng other rowmes, came to the Chamber doore where this Iohn Glouer was. Who beyng within, and holdyng the latch softly wyth hys hand, perceiued and heard the Officers buskelyng about the doore, amongest whom one of the sayd Officers hauyng the stryng in hys hand, was ready to draw and plucke at the same.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaThe prouydence of God agayne in sauing Iohn Glouer.In the meane tyme an other commyng by (whose voyce hee heard and knewe) bad them come away, saying they had bene there before. Whereupō they departing thence, went to searche other corners of þ^e house, where they founde

MarginaliaAgnes Glouer wyfe of Iohn Glouer apprehended.Agnes Glouer his wife, who beyng had to Lichfield, and there examined before the Byshop, at length after much a do, was constrayned to geue place to their tyranny.  

Iohn Glouer in the meane time, partly for care of his wife, partly through cold taken in the woods where he did lye, tooke an Agew,   wherupon not long after he left this life, which the cruel Papistes so long had sought for.

[Back to Top]

Thus by the mighty protectiō of the almighty Lord, how Iohn Glouer was deliuered and defended from the handes of the persecuting enemies duryng al the tyme of his life, ye haue heard. Now what befell after his death both to him and to William his brother, it is not vnworthy to be remembred. Who after that he was dead, and buried in þ^e Churchyard without Priest or Clerke, MarginaliaD. Dracas not suffering Iohn Glouer to be buried in the Churchyearde.D. Dracot then Chauncellour. vi. weekes after sent for the person of the Towne and demaunded how it chaunced that he was there buried. The Person aunswered that he was then sicke, and knewe not of it. Then the Chauncellour commaunded the person to go home and to cause the body of the sayd Iohn Glouer to be taken vp, and to be cast ouer the wall into the hie way: The Parson agayne answered, that he had ben sixe weekes in the earth and so smelled that none was able to abide þ^e sauour of him. Wel quoth D. Dracot, then take this bill and pronounce him in the pulpit a damned soule,MarginaliaIohn Glouer after his death iudged of D. Dracot to be a damned soule. and a tweluemoneth after take vp his bones (for then the flesh will bee consumed) and cast them ouer the wall, that cartes and horses may tread vpon them, and then wil I come and hallow agayn that place in the churchyarde where he was buried. MarginaliaTestimony of this story.Recorded by the Parson of the towne who told the same to Hugh Burrowes dwelling at Fynden in Darbishiere, and to M. Rob. Glouers wyfe, by whose credible information we receaued the same.  

[Back to Top]

Not much vnlike vsage was practised also by these Catholicke children of the mother Church vppon the body of Williā the third brother. MarginaliaThe maner of handling the body of William Glouer after his death.Whō, after it had pleased almighty God, about þ^e same seasō to cal out of this vale of miserie, the good disposed people of the Towne of Weme in Shropshyre, where hee dyed, brought the body vnto the Parishe Church, entendyng there to haue it buried. But one MarginaliaBernard a Popish Curate of Weme.Bernard, beyng then Curate of the sayd Church (and is yet as I heare say to this day) to stoppe the buriall therof, rode to the Byshop named Raufe Bayne, to certifie him of þ^e matter, and to haue his aduise therin. In the meane time, the body lying there a whole daye, in the night time one Rich. Morice a Taylour would haue enterred him. But then came MarginaliaIohn Thorlyne agaynst the burying of W. Glouers brother.Iohn Thorlyne of Weme with other moe, and would not suffer the body to be buried: expressing to vs the contrary example of good Toby, for as he was religious in buriyng the dead so thys man putteth religion in not buriyng the dead: so that after it had layne there two dayes and one night, commeth the foresayd Bernerd the Curate with the Bishops letter: the contentes of which letter beyng copied out worde for word here followeth.  

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaThe letter of Raufe Bayne B. of Chester, for the not burying of W. Glouers body.VNderstandyng that one Glouer an hereticke is dead in the Parish of Weme, which Glouer hath for al the time of my beyng in thys countrey ben knowen for a rebellion agaynst our holy fayth and Religion, a contemner of the holye Sacramentes and ceremonies vsed in holye Church, and hath separate him selfe from the holy Cōmunion of all good Christian men, nor neuer required to be reconciled to our mother holy Church, nor in his last dayes dyd not call for his ghostly father, but dyed without all rites belongyng to a Christian man: I thought it good not onely to commaunde the Curate of Weme that hee shoulde not be buried in Christian mans buriall, but also will and commaunde all the parishe of Weme that no man procure, help, nor speake to haue him buried in holy groūd: but I do charge and commaunde the Churche Wardens of weme in speciall, and al the parish of the same that they assiste the sayd Curate in defendyng and lettyng, and procuring that he be not buried neyther in the Church nor within the wanybles  

of the Churchyard, and likewise I charge those that brought the body to the place, to cary it away agayne, and that at their charge: as they will aunswere at their peril. At Ecclesch. this vi. of September. an. 1558.

[Back to Top]

By your Ordinary Radulph Couen-
try and Lichfield.  

By þ^e vertue of this foresayd letter so it fel out, that they which brought the corps thether, were fayne at their owne charges to cary it backe agayne. MarginaliaThe dead corpes of William Glouer dragged with horse into the field.But for so much as the body was corrupted, and smelt so strongly that vnneth any man might come nere it, they were forced to draw it with horses vnto a brome field,  

and there was he buryed.

[Back to Top]