MarginaliaAnno. 1556. Ianuary.tholike churche, ye shall not thinke but I will minister iustice as well vnto you, as to other. And then the said Boner in further communication did charge hym: that when in times past he had said Masse accordyng to the order then vsed, the same Whittel now of late had railed and spoken against the same, saiyng that it was Idolatry and abomination. Wherunto Thomas whittell aunsweryng againe said, that at such tyme as he so said Masse, he was then ignoraunt. &c. addyng moreouer that MarginaliaEleuation of the Sacrament cause of Idolatry.the eleuation of the Sacrament at the Masse geueth occasion of idolatrie to them that be ignoraunt and vnlearned.

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After this the Bishop makyng hast to the Articles (whiche in all his examinations euer he harped vpon) came to this article: MarginaliaB. Boners argument. He was baptised in the faith of the Catholicke church: Ergo, he was baptised in the fayth of Rome.That thou wast in tymes past baptised in the faith of the catholicke church.

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To this the said Whittell inferred againe: I was baptised in the faith of the catholicke church, although I did forsake the church of Rome. And ye my Lord do call these heresies that be no heresies, and doe charge me therwith as heresies, and ye ground your self vpon that religion which is not agreable to Gods word. &c.

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Then the said victorious souldiour and seruaunt of our Sauiour, constant in the verity receiued and professed, was againe admonished, and with perswasions entreated by the Bishop: who because he would not agree vnto the same, the Bishoppe forthwith proceeded, first to his actuall degradation, that is, MarginaliaTho. Whittell degraded.to vnpriest him of all his priestly trinkets, and clarkly habite. The order and maner of whiche their popishe and most vaine degradation, before in the story of bishop Hoper page. 1435. is to be seene. Then Whittell in the middest of the ceremonies, when hee sawe them so busye in disgrading hym after their father the Popes Pontificall fashiō, said vnto them: Paul and Titus had not so much adoe with their Priestes & Bishops. And farther, speaking to the Bishop, he said vnto hym: MarginaliaWhittels words to B. Boner.My Lorde, your religion standeth most with the churche of Rome, and not with the catholicke church of Christ.

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The bishop after this, accordyng to his accustomed and formall proceedings, assaied hym yet againe with wordes, rather then with substantiall argumentes, to conforme hym to his religion. Who then deniyng so to do, said: As for your religion I can not be perswaded that it is accordyng to Gods word.

The bishop then asked what fault he founde in the administration of the Sacrament of the Aultar.

Whittell aunswered and saide, MarginaliaCauses why the administration of the Popish sacrament is to bee reproued.it is not vsed according to Christes institution, in that it is priuately, and not openly done: and also for that it is ministred but in one kinde to the lay people, which is against Christes ordinaunce. Farther, Christ commaunded it not to be eleuated nor adored: For the adoration and eleuation cannot be approued by Scripture.

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Well, quoth Boner, my Lords here and other learned menne haue shewed great learnyng for thy conuersion: wherefore if thou wilt yet returne to the faith and religion of the catholike Churche, I will receiue thee therunto, and not commit thee to the secular power. &c. To make short, Whittell strenthened with the grace of the Lord, stoode strong and vnmoueable in that hee had affirmed. Wherefore the sentence beyng redde, the next daye followyng hee was committed to the secular power, and so in fewe dayes after brought to the fire with þ^e other sixe aforenamed, sealyng vp the testimony of his doctrine with his bloud, whiche he willingly and cherefully gaue for the witnes of the truth.

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MarginaliaA letter of Tho. Whittell writen to Iohn Careles.THe peace of God in Christ be with you continually dearely beloued brother in Christ, with the assistaunce of Gods grace and holy spirit, to the working & performyng of those thinges whiche maie comfort and edifie his church (as ye dayly doe) to the glorie of his name, and the increase of your ioy and solace of soule in this life, and also your reward in heauen with Christ our Captain, whose faithfull Souldiours ye are in the life to come, Amen.

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I haue greatly reioyced (my deare hart) with thankes to GOD for you, since I haue heard of your faith and loue which you bare towards God and his Sainctes, with a moste godlye ardent zeale to the veritie of Christes doctrine and religion which I haue heard by

the report of many, but specially by þ^e declaring of that valiant captaine in Christes church, that stout Champion in Gods cause, that Spectacle to the worlde, I meane our good brother Philpot, who now lieth vnder the Aulter, and sweetely enioyeth the promised reward.  

And speciallye I and my condemned fellowes geue thankes to God for your louing and comfortable letter in the deepenes of our trouble (after the flesh) sent vnto vs to the consolation of vs all, but most speciallye to me moste synfull miser on myne one behalfe, but happie, I hope, through Gods louyng kindnes in Christe shewed vnto mee: who suffered me to fainte and faile through humane infirmity, by the workyng of the Archenemy in his sworne Soldiours the Bishops and Priestes:MarginaliaHis iudgemēt and experience of Popish prelates. In whom so liuely appeareth the verie visage and shape of Sathan, that a man (if it were not preiudice to Gods woorde) might well affirme them to bee deuils incarnate, as I by experience doe speake. Wherfore, who so shall for conscience matters come in their handes, had neede of the wilines of the Serpent to saue his head, though it be with the wounding of his body, and to take diligent heede howe he consenteth to their wicked writings, or setteth his hand to their conueiances.

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Sore did thei assault mee and craftely tempt mee to their wicked waies, or at least to a denegation of my faith and true opinions, though it were but by colour and dissimulation. And (alas) somethyng they did preuaile. Not that I did any thyng at all lyke their opinions and false papisticall religion, or els doubted of the truth wherein I stande, but onely the infirmitie of the fleshe beguiled me, desiryng libertie by an vnlawfull meanes: God laye it not to my charge at that daie, and so I hartely desire you to praie. Howbeit vncertaine I am whether more profite came thereby: profite to me, in that God suffered Sathan to buffet me by his foresaid minister of mischiefe, shewyng me myne infirmitie, that I shoulde not boast nor reioyce in my selfe but onely in the Lorde, who when he had led me to hell in my conscience through the respecte of his fearefull iudgementes against mee for my fearfulnes, mistrust, & craftie clokyng in such spirituall and weightie matters (in the whiche myne agony and distresse, I found thys old verse true, Non patitur Iudum fama, fides, oculus  

) yet he brought mee from thence againe to the magnifiyng of his name, suspectyng of fleshe and bloude, and consolation of myne owne soule, or elles that I might feele disprofite in offendyng the congregation of God, whiche peraduenture will rather adiudge my fall to come of doubtfulnes in my doctrine and religion, then of humane imbecilitie.

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Well, of the importune burden of a troubled conscience for deniyng or dissemblyng the knowe veritie,MarginaliaThe burden of a troubled conscience. I by experience could say very much more, which perhaps I will declare by writyng, to the wardyng of other, if god graunt time: For now am I and my fellowes ready to go hence euen for Christes cause: Gods name be praised who hath hetherto called vs. Pray, I pray you that we may ende our course with ioy, and at your appoynted tyme you shall come after. But as the Lorde hath kept you, so will he preserue your life still, to the intent you should labour (as you do) to appease & conuince these vngodlye contentions and controuersies, which now do to much raigne, brawling about termes to no edificatiō. God is dishonored, the church disquieted, and occasion to speake euill of the gospel ministred to our aduersaries. But such is the subtilty of sathan, that whom he cannot win with grosse idolatrie in open religion, then he seeketh to corrupt and deceiue in opinions, in a priuate profession. But here I will abruptly leaue, lest with my rude and simple veyne I shoulde be tedious to you, desyryng you (my louyng brother) if it shall not seeme greeuous vnto you, to write vnto me and my fellowes yet once againe, if you haue leasure, and we tyme to the same.

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Prouide me M. Philpots. ix. examinatiōs for a frēd of myne,MarginaliaHe writeth for the examinations of M. Philpot. and I shall paie you therefore,  

by the leaue of almighty God our heauenly Father, who correcteth all his deare children in this worlde, that they shoulde not be damned with the worlde, and trieth the faithe of hys Sainctes through many tribulatiōs, that beyng found constant to the end, he may crowne his owne giftes in them, and in heauen highly rewarde them: Whether I trust to go before, looking for you to follow (my faithfull friend) that we may sing perpetual praise to our louing Lord god for victory ouer Satā and sinne, woon

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