MarginaliaAnno, 1556. Ianuary.proofe to be laid to his charge: but much more vniust is it, that a man should be constrained perforce to accuse himselfe. Neuertheles these persons also, after much altercation, at length (conditionally, that their fayth geuen before to the colledge, were not impeched therby) were contented to be sworne.
[Back to Top]Three dayes long lasted the Inquisition there. This was now the third day of their commyng, and it was thought that the case of Bucer and Phagius was delaid longer then neded. For they looked to haue had much altercatiō and busines about the matter. MarginaliaThe consultation of the masters vpon the takyng vp of M. Bucer.Now, forasmuch as þe present state of the case required good deliberation and aduisement, the Vicechauncelor and the Maisters of the Colledges assembled at the common schooles, where euery man gaue his verdite what he thought mete to be done in this matter of Bucer. After much debatyng, they agreed altogether in this determination: that forasmuch as Martin Bucer whiles hee liued, had not onely sowed pernicious and erroneous doctrine among them, but also had himselfe beene a sectary and famous hereticke erring from the Catholicke church, and geuing others occasion to fall from the same likewise: a supplication should be made to the lord Commissioners, in the name of the whole Vniuersitie, that his dead carkas might forthwith be digged vp (for so it was nedefull to be done) MarginaliaInquisition to bee made of Mart. Bucers doctrine.to the intent that inquisition might bee made as touching hys doctrine, the which beyng brought in examination, if it were not found to be good and wholesome, the lawe might proceede against him: MarginaliaMart. Bucers buriall against the holy Canō lawes.for it was against the rule of the holy Canons, that his body should be buried in christen buriall. Yea, and besides that it was to the open derogation of gods honour, and the violating of his holy lawes, with the great perill of many mens soules, and the offence of the faithfull, especially in so difficult and contagious a tyme as that was. MarginaliaCauses why Martin Bucer & Paulus Phagius bodies ought to bee taken vp.Wherefore it was not to be suffered, that they, which vtterly dissented from all other men in the trade of their liuyng, lawes, and customes, should haue any part with them in honour of buriall. And therefore the glory of God first and before all thinges ought to be defended, the infamie (which through this thing riseth on them) with al spede put away, no roume at all left vnto those persons to rest in, who euen in the same places where they lay, were iniurious and noyesome to the very elementes, but the place ought to be purged, and all thinges so ordered as might be to the satisfying of the consciences of the weake. In executing wherof, so notable an example ought to be geuen to all men, that no man hereafter should be so bolde to attempt the like.
[Back to Top]They gaue the same verdicte by common assent vpō Phagius also. Vnto this writing they annexed an other, MarginaliaAndrew Perne Vicechauncellour, made factor for the Vniuersitie in the case of M. Bucer & Phagius.by the whiche they lawfully authorised Andrewe Perne the Vicechauncelor, to be the commō factor for the Vniuersity. He was a man meetest for the purpose, both for the office that he bare, MarginaliaM. Christophersons testimony of Perne.and also because that by the testimonie of Chrystopherson hee was demed to be most catholicke of all others.
This hostile description of Andrew Perne comes from the Historia vera andfrom Golding's Briefe treatise (sig. D4r); Foxe was merely repeating it. However, it is interesting that while Foxe concealed the identities of other prominent peopleinvolved in the exhumation of Bucer and Phagius's bodies, he made few attempts to protect Perne's reputation. One reason for this may have been Perne's continuing and barely disquised loyalty to catholicism. It also true that Edmund Grindal - and possibly Foxe himself - bitterly resented Perne's role in the posthumous degradation of Bucer. (See Patrick Collinson, 'Perne the Turncoat: An Elizabethan Reputation' in Elizabethan Essays [London: 1994], pp. 190-91).
[Back to Top]But this glose was soone found out. For the Commissioners had geuen the Vicechauncelor instructions in writyng before. But peraduenture they thought by this meanes to remoue the enuy of this acte from themselues.
Thus the Vicechauncelor came vnto the Commissioners according to appointmēt made the day before, about vij. of the clocke in the morning. He had scarce declared the cause of his commyng, but that he had not onely obteyned his sute, but also euen at the very same tyme receiued the sentence of condemnation, for taking vp Bucer and Phagius, MarginaliaThe sentence of condemnatiō against Martin Bucer, and Paulus Phagius, copied out by the Datarie.faire copied out by Ormanet Datary himselfe. This was to be confirmed by the consent of the degrees of the Vniuersitie. Wherupon a solmne conuocation called congregatio regentium & non regentiū
congregatio regentium & non regentium
Not translated.
a gathering of rulers and non rulers
the grace asked, which was this: MarginaliaGrace asked in the congregatiō for the takyng vp of Martin Bucer.Pleaseth it you that M. Bucer for the heresies now recited, and many other by him written, preached, and taught, wherein he dyed without repentaunce, and was buried in christen buriall, maye be exhumate and taken vp agayne, &c. After this grace eftsoones beyng graunted, then was the sentence of condemnation drawen by the Datary, openly red, and immediatly an other grace asked, that the same might be signed with the common seale. The whiche request was very lightly and easily obteyned. And it was no meruayle. For nowe after the death of King Edward, since the tyme that the gouernement of the Realme came to the hande of Queene Mary, all suche persons beyng driuen awaye as had reiected the Romishe religion (in whom well nye alonely rested whatsoeuer wit and learning was in the whole Vniuersitie besides) suche a sort of raskalles were put in their roumes, that all places nowe swarmed with vnlearned & vnnurtured Chapleins. To whom nothing was greater pleasure, then to cause all men to speake sclaunder and reproch of Bucer. There were diuers yet lefte among them, that spake agaynste their demaundes. But they (because, as it commonly commeth to passe, that might ouercommeth right) coulde nothing auaile. For this is a common custome in all such matters and ordinances, that loke what the greater number decreeth, is published in the name of all: and that which the better part disallowed, seemeth as though no man at all disallowed it.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaIanuary. 14.The next day beyng the 14. of Ianuary,
This account of the celebrations at King's College on 14 January was added in 1570 and probably came from official accounts of the visitation. Foxe may havedecided to include this material in an effort to highlight the ceremonial of the catholics and implicitly criticise those who sought to retain 'popish' ceremonies and vestments in the Elizabethan church.
[Back to Top]To the signing wherof a cōgregatiō was eftsoones called of all the Graduates of the Vniuersitie agaynst the next day,MarginaliaIanuary. 15. which there beyng red ouer, a new grace again was asked and graūted for settyng to the seale. Then were the Graduates dismissed with commaūdement to resort forthwith to S. Mary church, whether the Commissioners also repayred. When they had taken their places, MarginaliaD. Haruie presenteth a Mandate from the Cardinall.Doct. Haruy presented to them before all the company, a new commission to make enquest vpon heresie, then newly sent from the Cardinal, which was red immediatly by Vincent of Noally, Ormanets Clarke. This done, Doct. Perne (who as ye heard, was factour for the Vniuersitie) exhibited to the Commissioners in the name of the Vniuersitie, the sentence of the foresayd condemnation. The copie and tenour wherof, hereafter (God willing) shall folow. This condemnation beyng openly red, MarginaliaD. Perne maketh petition that Bucer and Phagius maie bee cited to the Courte.then Doctour Perne aforesayd desired to send out processe to cite Bucer & Phagius to appeare, or any other that would take vpon them to pleade their cause, and to stand to the order of the Court agaynst the next Monday: to the intent that whē they had exhibited them selues, the
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