MarginaliaAnno. 1556. Ianuary.weth, but altogether came of them. O the craftie subtiltie of Sathan in his members. MarginaliaA good warning to all faithfull christians not to fall into the crafty handes of þ^e Papistes.Let euerie man that God shall deliuer into their handes, take good heede, and cleaue fast to Christ: for they will leaue no corner of his conscience vnsought, but will attempt all gilefull and subtile meanes to corrupt hym, to fall both from God and his truthe. But yet let no manne dispaire of Gods helpe: for Peter did fall and rise againe. And Dauid saith: A righteous man though he fall, he shall not be cast awaie: for the Lord vpholdeth hym with his hand. For I for my part haue felt my infirmities, and yet haue I founde Gods present helpe and comfort in tyme of neede, I thanke hym therfore.

[Back to Top]

The night after I had subscribed, I was sore greeued, and for sorrow of conscience could not sleepe. For in the deliueraunce of my body out of bondes, whiche I might haue had, I could finde no ioye nor comforte, but still was in my conscience tormented more and more, beyng assured by Gods spirit and his word, that I through euill counsell and aduisement had done amisse. And both with disquietnes of mynde and with my other cruell handelyng, I was sickely, liyng vpon the ground when the keeper came: and so I desired hym to pray Doctor Harpsefield to come to mee, and so he did.

[Back to Top]

And when he came, and the Register with hym, I told hym that I was not well at ease, but especiallie I tolde hym I was greeued very muche in my conscience and mynd because I had subscribed. MarginaliaCōfort agaynst despaire.MarginaliaTho. Whittell repenteth his recantation.And I sayde that my conscience had so accused me, through the uist iudgment of God and his worde, that I had felt hell in my conscience, and Sathan readie to deuour me: and therfore I pray you M. Harpsfield (said I) let me haue the bill againe, for I will not stande to it. So hee gentlye commaunded it to be fetched, and gaue it mee, and suffred me to pull out my name, wherof I was right glad whē I had so done, although death should folow. And hereby I had experience of Gods prouidenceMarginaliaExperience of Gods prouidence suffering his people to fall, but not to be lost. and mercye towardes me, who trieth his people, and suffereth them to fall, but not to be lost: for in the middest of this temptation and trouble hee gaue me warnynge of my deede, and also deliuered mee, his name be praised for euermore, Amen.

[Back to Top]

Neither deuill nor cruell tyraunt can plucke anie of Christes sheepe out of his hande. Of the whiche flocke of Christes sheepe I truste vndoubtedly I am one by meanes of his death and bloudsheddyng, whiche shall at the last day stand at his right hand, and receiue with other his blessed benediction. And nowe beyng condemned to dye, my conscience and mynde, MarginaliaPeace of conscience a great treasure.I prayse God, is quiet in Christ,and I by his grace am verie well willyng and content to geue ouer this bodye to the death for the testimony of his truth and pure religiō, against Antichrist and all his false religion and doctrine. They that report otherwise of me, speake not truely. And as for Fountayne, I saw not hym all that while.

[Back to Top]

By me Thomas whittell Minister.

¶ Concernyng the troubled mynde of this Godlie man, and the tearyng of his name out of the bill, herefolloweth the report of the same, written in the letters both of the said Harpsfielde, and also of Iohnson the Register, beyng then present there at, and reporters of the same vnto the Bishop, as in their letters hereto annexed is to be seene.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaA letter of M. Harpsfield declaring howe Tho. Whittell rent hys subscription out of the Byshops Register.PLeaseth your good Lordship to vnderstande, that yesterday I dined with my Lorde of Exceter, Who sone after my first commyng vnto hym, asked mee what newes. I aunswered none but good, that I had heard. No saith he? Why, it is a rumor in the Citie, that to morrowe the Queenes grace will take her iorney towardes the kyng. I aunswered, that I thought it not to be any whit true, but an inuention of Heretickes: yea and further saith he, there is report made abroad of my Lord our Master, that he is in discomfort, and therefore will suffer no manne to come vnto hym. When I heard thus muche, I began to laugh, and declare how vntrue this report was, so that my Lorde (who before was very sad) afterward knowyng the truth, reioyced much to heare that all was wel with your Lordship, and desired me to do my hartie commendations to your Lordship.

[Back to Top]

One of my Lord of Penbrokes retinue a very handsom man, and as farre as I can yet learne Catholicke, is a suter to your Lordship to haue licence to erect a schole: and

the order, whiche hee entendeth to vse, is conteined in this printed paper, whiche I send herein inclosed to your Lordship. I would be gladde for my Lorde of Pembrokes sake that he vnderstode, that vpō my motion your Lordship were content he should teache as he intendeth. Maister Iohnson and I haue traueled with the Priest, and he hath subscribed his name to this draught which is herein inclosed, and hath promised he will stand to the same before your Lordship.

[Back to Top]

When I had written thus muche, sodeinly came tidynges to me that Iordanis conuersus est retrorsum.  

MarginaliaHe meaneth of the returne agayne of Tho. Whittell. Cluney commyng to the Priest, founde hym liyng prostrate, and gronying as though he shoulde haue dyed forthwith. Then Cluney tooke hym vp, and set him vpon a stoole, and came to me and told mee of this reuell. It chaunced that M. Iohnson was with me, and we went to this fonde Hereticke and founde hym liyng all along, holdyng his handes vp, and looking hypocritically towardes heauen. I caused Thomas More and Cluney to set hym on the stoole, and with much ado at length he told me that Sathan had bene with hym in the night, and told hym that he was damned, and weping he praied M. Iohnson & me to see the bill wherunto he subscribed, and when he saw it, he tare out his name è libro, scilicet viuētium.   Me thinketh by him he wil needes burne a Fagot, neither is there any other likelihode of the young woman.MarginaliaThis young woman was Ioane Warrē, otherwise named Ioane Lashford, who was burned also with þ^e same Whittell.I haue enquired of the twoo persons whiche sue to haue a licence to eate flesh. And the woman of Christe Churche is in deede very much diseased, and hath bene long diseased, and she and her husband both Catholike. Of the other yet I can learne nothyng. Thus Iesus euermore preserue youre good Lordshippe, and my mistres your Lordships sister, with all yours. This present Saterday.

[Back to Top]

Your Lordships most bounden seruaunt
Iohn Harpesfield.

MarginaliaAn other letter of Iohnson touching the sayd Tho. Whittell.MY bounden duety premised, pleaseth your Lordshyp to vnderstand that this last Friday in the after none, Maister Archdeacon of London did diligently trauaile with Sir Thomas Whittell. I being present, and perceiuing his cōformity, as outwardly appeared, deuised a submission, and hee beyng content therwith did subscribe the same. But now this Saterday mornyng Master Archdeacon and I, vpon Cluneyes report, declaryng that he fayned him self to be extracted of his senses, went vnto hym, to whom he declared that Sathan in the night tyme appeared vnto hym, & said that he was damned, for that he had done against his conscience in subscribing the sayde submission, with other like wordes. &c. And then Maister Archedeacon at his earnest request, deliuered vnto hym the submission. And thereupon the said Whittell did tear out his subscription, made in the foote of the same, as your Lordship shall perceiue by the submission sent nowe vnto your Lordship by Master Archdeacon: wherewith the said Whittell was somwhat quieted.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaTouching Ioane Lashford.And as touching Ioane Lashford, Master Archdeacon did likewise trauaill with her, and shewing her Sir Thomas submission, which I red vnto her two times, demanded if she could be content to make the like submission, and she desired respite vntill this morning. And beeyng now eftsones demaunded, in likewise, saieth that she will not make anie thing in writing, nor put anie signe therevnto. Master Archdeacon and I entende this after noone to examine the saide Sir Thomas vppon Articles: for as yet there doth appeare nothing in writing against hym, as knoweth almightie GOD, who preserue your good Lordship in prosperitie long with honor to endure. From London this Saterday.

[Back to Top]

By your Lordships daily bedesman, and
bounden seruaunt, Robert Iohnsonne.

MarginaliaThe last examination of Tho. Whittell.COncernyng the wordes and aunsweres of the sayde Thomas Whittell at his laste examination before the bishop, vpon the. xiiij. day of Ianuarye, the yeare aboue expressed, Boner with his other fellowe Bonerlinges sitting in his Consistory at after none, first called forth Thomas Whittell, with whom he began in effect as followeth: Because ye be a Priest (saith hee) as I and other Bishops here bee, and did receaue the order of Priesthode after the rite and forme of the ca-

[Back to Top]