Marginalia1557. Iune.yea God is the same God that he was then. He is no older, nor lesse in power, as some count hym in wondring at his workes. Now to the matter.

MarginaliaFalse surmises agaynst Richard Woodman.After I was deliuered, the Papistes sayd that I had consented to them, wherof they made them selues glad: the which was the least part of my thought (I prayse God therefore) as they well perceiued, and knewe the contrary within a while. For I went from Parish to Parish, and talked with them, to the number of thirteene or fourteene, and that of the chiefest in all the Countrey: and I angred them so, MarginaliaWoodman complayned of to Syr Iohn Gage Lord Chamberlayne.that they with the Commissioners complained on me to my lord Chamberlaine that was then to the Queen, Syr Iohn Gage, shewing hym that I baptised chyldren, and marryed folkes, with many such lyes, to bring me into their handes agayne. Then the Commissioners sent out certaine Citatiōs to bring me to the Court. MarginaliaWarrantes sent out to attache Woodman.My L. Chāberlaine had directed out foure or fiue warrants for me, that if I had come there, I should haue ben attached and sent to prison straight way. Which was not Gods wyl: for I had warnyng of their laying awayt for me, and came not there, but sent my deputie, & he brought me word that the Bayliffes waited for me there: but they mist of their pray for that time: wherupon they were displeased.

[Back to Top]

Then within three dayes after, my lord sent three of his men to take me, whose names were, Deane, Ieffrey, and Fraunces. I being at plough with my folkes,MarginaliaL. Chamberlaine sendeth to take Woodman at his plough. right in the way as they were commyng to my house, least mistrusting them of all other, came to them and spake to them, asking them howe they dyd. And they said, MarginaliaWoodman arrested.they arrested me in the King and Queenes name, and that I must go with them to their Master the Lord Chamberlaine. MarginaliaFeare comming vpon Woodman at his first taking.Which wordes made my fleshe to tremble and quake because of that sodain. But I aunsweared them, that I would goe with them. Yet I desired them that they would go to my house with me, that I might breake my fast & put on some other geere, And they said, I should. MarginaliaWoodman comforted in hys spirite after his feare.Then I remembred my selfe, saying in my hart: Why am I thus afrayd? they can lay no euyl to my charge. If they kil me for wel doing, I may think my selfe happy. I remēbred how I was contented gladly before to dye in that quarel, and so had continued euer since: and should I now feare to dye? God forbyd that I should, for then were al my labour in vaine.

[Back to Top]

So by and by I was perswaded, I prayse God, considering it was but the frailtie of my flesh, which was loth to forgoe my wyfe and chyldren and goodes: for I sawe nothing but present death before myne eyes. And as soone as I was perswaded in my mynd to dye, I had no regard of nothing in this world, but was as meery and glad and ioyful, I prayse God, as euer I was. This bataile lasted not a quarter of an houre, but it was sharper then death it selfe for the tyme, I dare say.

[Back to Top]

So when I had my breakfast, MarginaliaWoodmā asketh for their warrant.I desired them to shewe me their warrāt, thinking therby I shold haue seen wherfore I was arested: to the intēt that I might the better answer for my selfe, when I came before their Maister. And one of them answeared, they had not their warrant there. Which wordes made me astonied: MarginaliaHow God worketh for his seruauntes.and it was put in my mynde by God, that I neede not to go with them, vnles they had their warrant. Then said I to them, that is marueile that you wyll come to take a man without a warrant. MarginaliaThe vnorderly doinges of the Papistes in attaching men without any warrant.I seemeth to me that you come of your own mynd, to get thanke of your maister, for in deede I heard say (said I) that there was 4. or 5. warrants out for me, but they were called in againe, because I had certified my Lord and the Commissary by a letter that I sent to the Commissaryes court, that I was not faulty in that they laid to my charge, which was, for baptising of children, & marying of folkes: the which I neuer did, for I was neuer Minister appoynted to doo any such thing: wherfore set your harts at rest: MarginaliaWoodman refuseth to goe with them, vnlesse they shew their warrant.I wyl not go w^t you (said I) vnles you wyl cary me by force. & if you wil do so, at your own aduētures. And so I rose frō the boord, & stepped into my chāber, meanyng to go frō them if I could, possibe seeing God had made þ^e way so opē for me. I meant to play Peters part w^t thē, but God would not it should be so, but sent a feare amongest them, that as soone as I was gon into my chamber, ere euer I coulde come out againe, they were gone out of my house.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaGods great worke, how the persecutors which came to take Woodman, went away without him.When I saw that, I knewe it was Gods doing to set me at libertie once againe. Yet I was compelled to speake to them, and said: If you haue a warrant, I desire you for Gods sake, to shew it me, and I wyll go with you with all my hart: if not, I desire you to depart in Gods peace and the kings: for surely I wyll not go with you without the order of the law: for I haue ben too simple in such thynges already. For before I was sent to Prison first, I went to the Iustices to two Sessions, without any warrāt or cōmaundement, but had word by one of their men, & I went gently to thē, and they sent me to prison, and kept me there

[Back to Top]

almost a yeare and three quarters, without al right or equitie, as it is openly knowen, not hearyng my cause iustly debated. And it semeth to me that I should be thus euil handled, and therfore I wyl not go to none of them al henceforth without the extremitie of the law.

Then one of them answeared me, and said: we haue not the warrant here, but it is at home at my house: the worst is you can but make vs fetche it. Then I said: Fetch it, if you wyll, but if you come in my house before you haue it, at your owne aduenture. MarginaliaWoodman escapeth the handes of his takers.So I shut my doore, and went my way out of the other doore. So they got helpe to watch my house, while one of them fet the Constable and many moe, thinking to haue had me in my house, and to haue taken me in my house, and carryed me away with a Licence: but I was gone before, as God would haue it. Notwithstanding they sought euery corner of my house, but could not preuaile. I mistrusted they would search it againe that night, and kept me abroade, MarginaliaWoodmans house agayne searched for hym.and in deede there came seuen of his men and the Constable, and searched my house.

[Back to Top]

And when they saw that they could not meet with me, they were ready to rent their coates, that I had scaped thē so, knowing they should haue such a checke of their maister. When I heard that they had sought so for me againe, I perceiuyng that they were greedy of their pray, came home, and my wife told me al things.

[Back to Top]

Then I supposed that they would lay all the Countrey for me and the sea coast, because I should not go ouer, and then I thought that they would not mistrust that I would dare be nigh home. So I told my wife that I would make my lodging in a wood not past a flight shot from my house, as I dyd in deede, euen vnder a tree, & there had my Bible, my pen & myne ynke, and other necessaries, MarginaliaWoodman lodged vj. weekes in a woode.& there cōtinued a 6. or. 7. weekes, my wife bringing me meat daily as I had need. Yea I thought my self blessed of God, that I was counted worthy to lye in the woods for the name of Christ. Then there came word into the countrey, that I was seene and spoken to in Flaunders: whernpon they left laying awayte for me, MarginaliaAll the countrye and sea coastes layde for Woodman.for they had layd all the Countrey for me, and the sea coast from Portesmouth to Douer, euen as God put in my mind they would.

[Back to Top]

So when all was husht, I went abroad among our frends and brethren, and at length I went beyond the Sea both into Flaunders and in Fraunce: but I thought euery day seuen yeare or euer I were at home agayne. So I came home againe as soone as it was possible. I was there but three weekes, but as soone as I was come home, and it once knowē among Baals priestes, they could not abide it, but procured out warrātes against me, causing my house to be searched somtymes twise in a weeke. This continued frō Saint Iames tyde to the first Sonday in Lent. Otherwhile I went priuily, otherwhile openly, otherwhile I wēt from home a fortnight or three weekes, otherwhile I was at home a moneth or fiue weekes together, liuyng there most commonly and openly, doyng such workes as I had to doo: and yet all myne enimies could lay no handes on me, tyll the houre was full come: and then by the voyce of the countrey, and by manifest proofes, MarginaliaWoodman deliuered by his owne brother into his enemies handes.mine owne brother as concernyng the flesh, deliuered me into their hands, by that he knew that I was at home.

[Back to Top]

For my father & he had as much of my goods in their hands, as I might haue. lvi. li. for by the yeare cleare, and therunto prayed. It was a Lordship and a honor & halfe a honor, that I had deliuered into their handes, MarginaliaAuri sacra fames quid non mortalia cogis pectora? Virgil.  

to paye my debtes, and the rest to remayne to my wyfe & chyldren. But they had reported that it would not pay my debtes: which greeued me sore. For it was two hundred pounds better then the debtes came too. Which caused me to speake to some of my frendes, that they would speake to them to come to some reckenyng with me, and to take all such money againe of me, as they were charged with, and to deliuer me such writings and writs, as they had of myne, againe, or to whō I would appoynt them.

[Back to Top]

So it was agreed betwixt my Father and me, that I should haue it againe, and the day was appoynted, that the reckenyng should be made and sent to me that same day that I was taken, my brother supposing that I shoulde haue put hym out of most of all his occupying, that he was in: for it was all myne in a manner that he occupyed, as all þ^e countrey can & doo wel know. MarginaliaBrother bewrayeth the brother.Wheron (as it is reported) he told one Gradillar my next neighbour, and he told some of M. Gages men, or to M. Gage hym self: and so he sent to his brother, and his brother sent twelue of his men (he beyng Sheriffe) in the night before I was taken, & lay in þ^e bushes not farre frō my house, tyl about ix. of þ^e clocke, euen the houre that was appoynted amongest them selues: for about the same tyme they thought to haue had me within my house.

[Back to Top]

They had taken a man of myne and two of my chyldren