MarginaliaAnno. 1556. Ianuary.gree in veritie of the true doctrine of Christ, and was knowen by the true administration of his sacraments,
Feck. Whereupon Fecknam saied, that he would proue the Churche whereof he was, MarginaliaDisagrement noted amongst professors of the Gospell, by Fecknam.to be neuer agreeyng in doctrine, but alwaies to haue been in controuersie in their religiō. For (said he) Luther and Zwinglius, could neuer agree in their writynges or saiynges, nor Oecolampadius with Carolostadius, nor Carolostadius with either Zwinglius or Luther. &c. for Luther, writyng vpon the Sacramente of the aultar, saied: that in hoc pane vel sub hoc pane corpus domini accipimus:
in hoc pane vel sub hoc pane corpus domini accipimus Not translated. in this bread or under this bread we receive the body of the Lord sub signo panis corpus domini accipimus. Not translated. under the sign of bread we receive the body of the Lord.
Grene. Then M. Grene proued their opinions of the Sacramente to bee one in effecte, beyng rightly weighed: MarginaliaThe Gospellers in wordes seeme to dissent, but in effect do agree with the word.and though their woordes did not sounde all one, yet they meant one thing, and their opinions were all one, as he proued by diuers other examples.
[Back to Top]Feckn. Then Fecknam desired hym that he would not so wilfully caste hym self awaie, but to bee rather conformable to reason, and that my Lorde Bishoppe there presente, would bee good vnto hym, and would graunt hym respite (if he would demaūde it) for a fortnight, or three weekes, and that he should choose any learned manne whom he would, and should goe with hym home to his house, and that he whom he would choose, would willyngly take the paines to reade and conferre the Doctors with hym, and open the Doctors myndes and meanynges vnto hym.
[Back to Top]Boner. Then Boner said, that he was proude and an obstinate boye, and therefore he badde Fecknam to hold his peace, MarginaliaBoner forbiddeth M. Grene to be called Master.and to call hym no more M. Grene: for (saied he) you ought not to call an hereticke maister.
Pendle. After this, Doctour Pendleton alledged to hym this text out of the. xxij. of Luke: Ex hoc non māducabo illud, donec impleatur in regno Dei.
Ex hoc non manducabo illud, donec impleatur in regno Dei Not translated. will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. ex hoc non manducabo illud donec impleatur in regno Dei. [Accurate citation.]
Grene. Then Grene aunswered and saied, that this was spoken by anticipation, as one of their owne Bishops (whiche is now dead) did saie.
Pendle. Then Doctour Pendleton saied, that that was no sufficient discharge, nor no sufficient aunswere for hym in this case: for (saied he) it is wel knowen that that BishopMarginaliaThis Byshop belike was the Byshop of Winchest. was of a cōtrary opinion to you, and that he died a good christian man.
Grene. To whiche woordes Grene saied: I doe not call hym to witnesse in this case, as though he were a sufficient manne, to proue my saiyng to bee true in this matter: but I do alledge hym againste you, as Paule did the scripture, whiche he found grauen in the aultar of the Atheniens against them selues, ignoto Deo.
ignoto deo Not translated. (to?) an unknown God
These with many other woordes, were betwene them, whiche I doe ouerpasse, because it were to longe to stande vpon recitall of euery thyng. Laste of all the Bishop asked hym if he would recant. He saied naye, he would not. But my lorde (saied he) in old tyme there, were no menne put to death for their conscience, vntill suche tyme as Bishops founde the meanes to make it death, to beleue contrarie to them: but excommunicationMarginaliaIn the old time excommunication was the greatest penaltie in matters of fayth and cōscience. (my Lorde) was the greatest penaltie, whiche men had for their conscience: yea, in so muche that S. Augustine wrote, and commaunded that no man should be put to death for his opinion.
[Back to Top]Boner. Then Boner said, that when S. Augustine sawe, what inconueniences followed of that commaundement, he wrote again to the Temporall rulers, commaundyng them to punishe their bodies also.
Grene. But, saied Grene, he bad not put them to death.
Boner. He bad punishe them, quod Boner.
Grene. Yea, saied Grene, but not put thē to death.
Bo. That thei should be punished, quod Boner again. This talke ended, he asked Grene if he would recante, and retourne to their Romishe mother. Whiche when he denied,MarginaliaSentēce geuen agaynst M. Grene. the Bishoppe pronounced the sentence diffinitiue againste hym, and so committed hym to the Sheriffes of London, who caused hym to be carried
[Back to Top]to Newgate.
And as he was goyng thether, there met hym twoo gentlemen, beyng bothe his especiall frendes, mindyng belike to comforte this their persecuted brother: but at their metyng, their louyng and frendly hartes (not able any longer to hide them selues) were manifested by the aboundaunce of their pitifull teares. To whom, when Grene sawe them, he saied in these or like woordes: MarginaliaThe wordes of Master Grene to his friendes by þe way going to Newgate.Ah my freindes, is this your comforte ye are come to giue me, in this my occasion of heauinesse? Must I, who neded to haue comforte ministred to me, become nowe a comforter of you? And thus declaryng his moste quiet and peaceable mynde and conscience, he chearefully spake to them and others, vntlll he came to the prison doore, into the whiche he ioyfully entered, and there remained alwaies either in praier (whereunto he muche gaue hym self) or els in some other godlie meditations and exercises, vnto the xxvij. daie of Ianuary, when he with his other aboue mentioned brethren wente moste chearefully vnto the place of their tormentes, often repeatyng, as well by the waie, as also at the stake, these Latine verses followyng.
[Back to Top]
Christe Deus, sine te spes est mihi nulla salutis,
Te duce vera sequor, te duce falsa nego.
In Englishe thus.
O Christ my God, sure hope of health,
besides thee haue I none:
The truthe I loue, and falsehoode hate,
by thee my guide alone.
MarginaliaVerses of M. Grene written in his friendes booke.Duryng the tyme of his imprisonmente in Newegate, diuers of his freindes had accesse vnto hym, to whom he gaue sundrie godlie exhortations: wherewith they were not onely well contented, but for better remembraunce, aswel of the same his instructions, as also of his owne good and godlie persone, they desired hym to write somwhat in their bookes, whiche request he willyngly graunted, as in maner here ensueth.
[Back to Top]
Behold thy self by me, suche one was I, as thou:
And thou in time shalt be, euen dust as I am now.
Bartlet Grene.
My resting roode is found, vain hope and hap adew:
Lout whō you list wt change, death shall me rid frō you.
Bartlet Grene.
Emonges other diuers and singular good vertues of this good manne, especially in hym was to be noted suche a modest nature, so humbly thinkyng of hymself, as in fewe men is to be founde, euer deiectyng hym self vnder that was in him, and euer seming to be lesse then he was, so that nothyng lesse he could abide, then to heare of his praise or commendation:MarginaliaThe singular modesty, and humble nature of M. Grene. as well declareth not onely his letter written to M. Philpot, wherin he doeth earnestly expostulate with hym, for sclaunderyng him with praise of his wit and learnyng, and other manifolde vertues of greate excellencie, but also by his owne speache and aunsweres in his examinatiō wherein he casteth frō hym all knowledge of learnyng and cunnyng, when notwithstandyng he had more in hym, then to any mennes eyes did appeare.
[Back to Top]So great and admirable was this gift of modesty grafted in the nature of hym, so farre abhorryng from all pride and arrogancie, that as he could not abide any thyng that was spoken to his aduauncemente or praise: so neither did there appeare in hym any shewe of bragge in those thinges wherein he might iustly glory, whiche were his punishmentes and sufferynges for the cause and quarell of Christ. For when he was beaten and scourged with roddes by Bishop Boner (whiche scarse any man would beleue,
Foxe is scandalized because Green's status as a gentleman should have exempted him from being beaten.
Moreouer, to this rare and maidenlie modestie in hym, MarginaliaThe pitifull nature of M. Grene.was also adioyned the like nature of mercie and pitifull compassion: whiche affectiō though it semed to be little regarded of some, yet in my minde is there no other thing wrought in nature, wherin man resembleth more truely the Image of the high maiestie of almigh-
[Back to Top]