MarginaliaAnno. 1556. Ianuary.to certifie M. Goodman of the truthe of his former demaunde. Howbeit (to some of the counsell) they semed very hainous woordes, yea, treason they would haue made them, if the Lawe would haue suffered. MarginaliaM. Greene examined by the counsell of his faithe.Whiche when they coulde not doe (and beyng yet very loth to let any suche depart frely, whom they suspected to be a fauourer of the Gospell) they then examined hym vpon his faithe in religion, but vpon what pointes, it is not certainly knowen.

[Back to Top]

Neuerthelesse (as it seemeth) his aunsweres were suche, as little pleased them (especially the annointed sort) and therefore after they had long detained hym in prison, as well in the Tower of London, as elswhere, they sent hym at last vnto Boner Bishop of London, to be ordered accordyng to his Ecclesiasticall lawe: as appeareth by their letters sente vnto the Bishop, with the said prisoner also: wherein it maie appeare that MarginaliaIohn Bourne a stirrer of persecution.sir Iohn Bourne (then Secretary to the Queene) was a chief stirrer in suche cases, yea, and an entiser of others of the counsell: who otherwise (if for feare they durste) would haue been content to haue let suche matters alone. The lord forgiue thē their weakenes (if it be his good pleasure) and giue thē true repentaunce, Amen.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaA letter from the Counsell to Boner.AFter our right hartye commendations to your good Lordshyp, we send to the same herewith, the body of one Bartlet Greene, who hath of good time remained in the Tower for his obstinate standyng in matters agaynst the Catholicke Religion, whom the Kyng and Queenes Maiesties pleasures are (because hee is of your Lordshyps Dioces) ye shall cause to bee ordred according to the lawes in such cases prouided. And thus we byd your goodshyp hartly farewell. From S. Iames the xj. of Nouember. 1555.

[Back to Top]

Your good Lordshyps louyng frendes.

Winchester. Penbroke. Tho. Ely.

William Haward. Iohn Bourne. Thom. Wharton.

MarginaliaPost script.
I Syr Iohn Bourne will wayt vpon your Lordship, and
signifie further of the King and Queenes
Maiesties pleasures herein.

Now that ye maie the better vnderstande, the certaintie of his handelyng, after this his commyng vnto Boners custodie, I haue thought it good to put forth his own letter, containyng at large the discourse of the same. Whiche letter he wrote, and did meane to haue sente vnto Master Philpot, but was preuented, belike either by Philpottes death, or els (and rather) by the wilie watchyng of his keper: for it came (by what meanes I knowe not certainly) vnto the Bishops handes, and beyng deliuered vnto his Register, was found in one of his bookes of recorde. The copie whereof here followeth.

[Back to Top]

THat which was lackyng in talke (through my default) at your beyng here, I haue supplied by writyng in your absence, now at the length getting some opportunity and leasure. The 17. day of Nouemb. being brought hether by twoo of the clocke at after noone, MarginaliaM. Grene presented before B. Boner.I was presented before my Lord of London and other twoo Byshops, Maister Deane, M. Roper, M. Welch, Doct. Harpsfield Archdeacon of London, and other twoo or three, all sittyng at one table. There were also present Doct. Dale, M. George Mordāt, M. Dee.MarginaliaM. Dee was yet vnder band of recognisance for the good obeieing & forth commyng till Christmas next after.Then, after the Bishop of London had reade vnto hymself the letter that come frō the Counsell hee speake with mo wordes, but (as I remember) to this effect: that the cause of their assemblie was, to heare mine examination, whereunto he had authoritie by the Counsell, and had prouided M. Welch and an other, whose name I know not (but well I remember, though he obteined it not, yet desired, he my Lord, that I might heare the Counsels letters) to be there

[Back to Top]

if any matters of the cōmon law should arise, to discusse them. he intreated my Lord to determine all controuersies of Scriptures: and as for the Ciuill law, he and Doct. Dale should take it on them.

Wherefore he demaunded of me the cause of myne imprisonment. I sayd that the occasion of mine apprehension was a letter whiche I wrote to one Christofer Goodman, wherein (certifying hym of such newes as happened heere) amongest the rest, I wrote that there were certaine printed papers of questions scattered abroad. Wherupon, being suspected to be priuy vnto the deuising or publishyng of the same, MarginaliaM. Grene cōmitted firste to the Fleete, and vpon what occasion.I was committed to the Fleete: but sithens heard I nothing therof, after the Commissioners had receaued my submission. The summe whereof was: that as I was sure there neyther could be any true witnes, nor probable coniecture agaynst me in that behalfe: so refused I no punishment, if they of their consciences would iudge me priuy to the deuising, printing, or publishyng of those questions. But my Lord affirmyng that there was an other cause of myne imprisonment sithens, demaunded if I had not after, sith I was committed vnto the Fleete, spoken or written somewhat agaynst the naturall presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the aultar.

[Back to Top]

Then desired I his Lordshyp to bee good vnto me, trustyng that he would put me to aunswere to no newe matters, except I were first discharged of the old. And when I stode long on that, M. Welch aunswered that it was procured that I should so do, right well. For albeit I were imprisoned for treason, if duryng the tyme of endurance I had maintained heresie, that were no sufficiēt allegation against the Ordinary: neither, whether I were before him acquitted or condemned, should it take away the former fault. Then my Lord affirmyng that I was not brought before him but for heresie, & the other Gentleman saying that doubtles I was discharged of my former matter, my desire was, that I might be charged according to the order of the law, to heare my accusers.

[Back to Top]

Then Doct. Chadsey was sent for, MarginaliaD. Chadsey witnesseth againste M. Grene.who reported that in the presence of M. Mosley and the Lieutenant of the Tower, I spake agaynste the reall presence and the sacrifice of the Masse, and that I affirmed that their Church was the Church of Antichrist.

MarginaliaTalke betwen M. Grene and the commissioners.Is not this true, quoth my Lord? I sayd yea. Will you continue therin, quoth he? Yea sayd I. Wilt thou then maintaine it by learning, sayd he? Therein, quoth I, I should shew my selfe to haue litle witte, knowyng myne owne youth and ignoraunce, if I would take on me to maintayne any controuersie agaynst so many graue and learned men. But my cōscience was satisfied in the truth, which was sufficient to my saluation.

[Back to Top]

Roper. Conscience? (quoth M. Roper) so shall euery Iew and Turke be saued.

We had hereafter much talke to no purpose, and especially on my part, who felt in my selfe, through colde and open ayre much dulnes of wit and memory. At the length, I was asked what conscience was: and I sayed, the certifying of the truth.

M. Welch. With that M. Welch rose vp, desiring leaue to talke with me alone. So he takyng me aside into an other chamber, said, MarginaliaPerswasion of M. Welche to M. Grene.that he was sorie for my trouble, and would gladly see me at libertie: he maruailed, that I beeyng a yonge manne, would stande against al the learned men of the realme, yea, and contrary to the whole determination of the catholicke Churche from Christes time, in a matter wherein I could haue no greate learnyng. I oughte not to thynke myne owne witte better then all mennes, but should beleue them that wer learned. I promise you (quod he) I haue reade all Peter Martyrs booke,  

and Cranmers,   and all the reste of them, and haue conferred them with the contrary, as Rossensis,   and the Bishoppe of Winchester.   &c. and could not perceiue, but that there was one continuall truthe, whiche from the beginnyng had been maintained: and those that at any tyme seuered from this vnitie, were aunswered and aunswered again. This was the summe of his tale, whiche lacked neither witte nor eloquence.

[Back to Top]

M. Grene. Then spake I. MarginaliaAunswere of M. Grene to M. Welche.For asmuche as it pleaseth your maistership to vse me so familiarly (for he so behaued hym self towardes me, as though I had been his equall) I shal open my minde frely vnto you, desiryng you for to take it in good worthe. MarginaliaModestie of M. Grene.I consider my youth, lacke of wit & learnyng, whiche would God it were but a little vnder the opinion that some men haue of me. But God is not bounde to tyme, witte, or knowledge, but rather choseth infirma mundi, vt confunderet fortia.  

Neither cā

[Back to Top]