1583 Edition | Book 8 | Page 1037 
CloseB.A. Cambridge 1503-4; M.A. 1508; B.D. 1519-20; a fellow of God's House (reformed as Christ's in 1505) [Venn & Venn
Fowke kept company with Latimer and Barnes and others who were influenced by Thomas Bilney. 1570, p. 1152; 1576, p. 986; 1583, p. 1013.
Closeof Durham; B.A., 1514-15; M.A. 1517; B.D. 1523-24; fellow of Pembroke (1515) and the Lady Margaret reader in divinity (1524). [Venn & Venn
George Stafford disputed with Robert Barnes for his BTh at Cambridge. 1563, p. 601; 1570, p. 1364; 1576, p. 1164; 1583, p. 1192.
Hugh Latimer heard of Humphrey Monmouth from George Stafford at Cambridge and made use of his story in his sermons. 1570, p. 1134; 1576, p. 970; 1583, p. 997.
George Stafford visited a priest with plague, Henry Conjurer, to convert him. He succeeded, but himself contracted plague and died. Latimer had formerly preached against Stafford and barred his students from hearing him, but was grateful that he was able to ask Stafford's forgiveness before he died. 1570, p. 1152; 1576, p. 986; 1583, p. 1013.
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ClosePriest converted by George Stafford
Henry Conjurer was ill with plague. Stafford came to convert him, succeeded, but himself succumbed to plague and died. 1570, p. 1152; 1576, p. 986; 1583, p. 1013.
Close(c. 1485 - 1555) [ODNB]
of Thirkeson, Leicestershire; BA Cambridge 1511; MA 1514; BTh 1524
Bishop of Worcester (1535 - 39); preacher; martyr
While at Cambridge, Thomas Bilney converted to a reformed religion and convinced others there, including Thomas Arthur and Hugh Latimer, who was crosskeeper at the time. 1563, p. 461; 1570, pp. 1134-35; 1576, p. 972; 1583, p. 998.
Elizabeth Barton prophesied that if the king divorced Queen Catherine and married Anne Boleyn, he would not reign more than a month thereafter. Through the efforts of Cranmer, Cromwell and Latimer, she was condemned and executed with some of her supporters. 1570, p. 1199; 1576, p. 1026; 1583, pp. 1054-55.
[Back to Top]George Stafford visited a priest with plague, Henry Conjurer, to convert him. He succeeded, but himself contracted plague and died. Latimer had formerly preached against Stafford and barred his students from hearing him, but was grateful that he was able to ask Stafford's forgiveness before he died. 1570, p. 1152; 1576, p. 986; 1583, p. 1013.
[Back to Top]Queen Anne had Hugh Latimer placed in the bishopric of Worcester and Nicholas Shaxton in the bishopric of Salisbury. 1570, p. 1233; 1576, p. 1055; 1583, p. 1082.
Latimer preached about Bilney's remorse over his abjuration in sermons before King Edward and the duchess of Suffolk. He credited Bilney with his own conversion. 1570, p. 1146; 1576, p. 981; 1583, p. 1008.
Latimer used Humphrey Monmouth in his sermons as an example of a godly rich man showing Christian patience. 1570, p. 1134; 1576, p. 970; 1583, p. 997.
In his examination, James Bainham said that only Edward Crome and Hugh Latimer had preached the word of God sincerely and purely. 1570, p. 1169; 1576, p. 1000; 1583, p. 1027.
John Tyrel was charged in London in 1532 with holding heretical opinions. When asked how he came to hold these opinions, he said he had heard Hugh Latimer preach the same. 1570, p. 1189; 1576, p. 1018; 1583, p. 1046.
Latimer was one of the subscribers to the Bishops' Book. 1570, p. 1211; 1576, p. 1037; 1583, p. 1064.
At the burning of John Forest, Hugh Latimer read out the charges and urged him to repent. 1563, p. 571; 1570, p. 1254; 1576, p. 1074; 1583, p. 1100.
Melancthon wrote a letter to Henry VIII against the Six Articles. In it he complained of the imprisonment of Hugh Latimer, Edward Crome and Nicholas Shaxton. 1570, p. 1341; 1576, p. 1144; 1583, p. 1173.
Latimer attended a synod in 1537 with other bishops and learned men and with Thomas Cromwell as vicar-general. Latimer opposed retaining the seven sacraments. 1563, p. 594; 1570, p. 1351; 1576, p. 1153; 1583, p. 1182.
Anne Askew became very ill and was in great pain during her second examination. She asked to see Hugh Latimer, but was refused. 1563, p. 683; 1570, p. 1417; 1576, p. 1208; 1583, p. 1238.
CloseB.A. Cambridge 1514-15; M.A. 1518; B.D. 1523-24; D.D. 1537-38); fellow of Pembroke (1515), preacher (1522), rector of Saltwood, Kent (1538-40) and vicar of Lydd (1538-40) [Venn & Venn
Thixtill kept company with Latimer and Barnes and others who were influenced by Thomas Bilney. 1570, p. 1152; 1576, p. 986; 1583, p. 1013.
Close(c. 1495 - 1540) [ODNB]
Religious reformer; martyr of King's Lynn, Norfolk.
Augustinian friar; scholar of Cambridge and Louvain; prior of Augustinians, Cambridge; B.D. Cambridge 1522-23 ; BTh 1523
Arrested in 1526, abjured. Escaped to Wittenberg and became a good friend of Martin Luther; returned in 1531-32 and 1534; became royal chaplain in 1535
Robert Barnes went from Louvain to Cambridge. He became prior and master of the house of the Augustinians. 1563, p. 589; 1570, p. 1363; 1576, p. 1163; 1583, p. 1192.
Barnes was converted at Cambridge by Thomas Bilney, Thomas Arthur and others. 1563, p. 482.
Barnes preached his first sermon after his conversion at St Edward's church, Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and was immediately accused of heresy by two fellows of King's Hall. His supporters met frequently at the White Horse tavern. 1563, p. 601; 1570, p. 1364; 1576, p. 1164; 1583, p. 1192.
Barnes was supported at Cambridge by William Paget and Gardiner. 1563, p. 509; 1570, p. 1198; 1576, p. 1026; 1583, p. 1054.
Robert Barnes often visited Bury Abbey to see his friend Edmund Rougham, who had been his fellow student at Louvain. While there, Barnes, Lawrence Maxwell and John Stacy converted Richard Bayfield. Bayfield was imprisoned in the abbey, whipped and stocked. Barnes and Edmund Rougham eventually secured his release, and he went with Barnes to Cambridge. 1563, p. 484; 1570, p. 1161; 1576, p. 993; 1583, p. 1021.
[Back to Top]Barnes preached repentance and had his books burned. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 32; 1583, p. 32.
Barnes was arrested and taken to London, where he was examined by Cardinal Wolsey. At the urging of Stephen Gardiner and Edward Fox, he abjured. 1563, pp. 601-02; 1570, pp. 1364-65; 1576, pp. 1164-65; 1583, pp. 1192-93.
Thomas Wolsey charged Barnes with heresy and made him bear a faggot. 1570, p. 1129; 1576, p. 967; 1583, p. 993.
Barnes performed his penance with four Stilliard men. He was then imprisoned in the Fleet for half a year. Afterwards he was committed to the Augustinian house in London as a free prisoner. Further complaints to the cardinal resulted in an order that Barnes be sent to Northampton to be burnt. 1563, p. 602; 1570, p. 1365; 1576, p. 1164; 1583, p. 1193.
[Back to Top]In Northampton Barnes left a suicide note and a pile of clothes on the river-bank and fled to London, from whence he escaped to Antwerp. 1563, p. 602; 1570, p. 1365; 1576, p. 1164; 1583, p. 1193.
From Antwerp Barnes went to Germany and found favour with Luther, Melancthon, Bugenhagen, Justus Jonas, Hegendorph, Aepinus, the duke of Saxony and the king of Denmark. 1563, p. 603; 1570, p. 1366; 1576, p. 1165; 1583, p. 1194.
The king of Denmark sent Barnes as ambassador to Henry VIII with a delegation from Luebeck. Barnes flourished during the time that Anne Boleyn was queen. 1563, p. 603; 1570, p. 1366; 1576, p. 1165; 1583, p. 1194.
John Lambert attended a sermon preached by John Taylor at St Peter's in London in 1538. Lambert put ten articles to him questioning transubstantiation. Taylor conferred with Robert Barnes, who persuaded Taylor to put the matter to Archbishop Cranmer. Cranmer called Lambert into open court, where he was made to defend his cause. 1563, pp. 532-33; 1570, pp. 1280-81; 1576, p. 1095; 1583, p. 1121.
[Back to Top]Barnes and William Barlow informed Thomas Cromwell of the arrest of Thomas Frebarne for obtaining pork in Lent for his pregnant wife and asked him to send for the mayor. 1570, p. 1354; 1576, p. 1156; 1583, p. 1185.
Robert Barnes was sent on an embassy to the duke of Cleves by Henry VIII to help negotiate his marriage with Anne of Cleves. 1563, p. 603; 1570, p. 1366; 1576, p. 1165; 1583, p. 1194.
After the fall of Cromwell and Stephen Gardiner's return from France, Barnes and other preachers were arrested. He was examined, and he, Garrard and Jerome were appointed to preach sermons. Gardiner was present at Barnes' sermon, and Barnes was sent for and imprisoned in the Tower. 1563, p. 603; 1570, p. 1366; 1576, p. 1165; 1583, p. 1194.
[Back to Top]Stephen Gardiner complained to the king about the sermon of Robert Barnes preached during Lent at Paul's Cross. He disputed with Barnes, and Richard Coxe and Thomas Robinson acted as arbiters. 1570, p. 1371; 1576, p. 1169; 1583, p. 1198.
King Henry commanded that Robert Barnes, Thomas Garrard and William Jerome recant the doctrine they had been preaching. 1570, p. 1371; 1576, p. 1170; 1583, p. 1198.
Barnes first recanted in his sermon and then continued the sermon contrary to his recantation. 1570, p. 1371; 1576, p. 1170; 1583, p. 1198.
Barnes, Garrard and Jerome were committed to the Tower. They were brought together to Smithfield and burnt. 1563, pp. 611-12; 1570, pp. 1371-72; 1576, p. 1170-71; 1583, p. 1199-1200.
Barnes was one of the authors whose books were banned by the proclamation of 1546. 1563, p. 676; 1570, p. 1427; 1576, p. 1216; 1583, p. 1246.
Close(d. 1531) [ODNB]
Gentleman of Gray's Inn; religious controversialist; wrote Supplication for the Beggars
Fish, having played the part of Cardinal Wolsey in John Roo's play, was forced to go overseas to join Tyndale. While there, he wrote his book, which was then sent to Anne Boleyn. She showed the book to the king, who offered Fish his protection. Fish died of the plague. 1563, pp. 448-49; 1570, pp. 1152-53; 1576, pp. 986-87; 1583, p. 1014.
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Close(c. 1495 - 1531) [Fines; ODNB]
Proctor of Cambridge; evangelical reformer; martyr burnt at Norwich
While at Cambridge, Bilney converted to a reformed religion and convinced others there, including Thomas Arthur and Hugh Latimer. Bilney and Arthur left the university, going about teaching and preaching. Cardinal Wolsey had them imprisoned in 1527. 1563, pp. 461, 481; 1570, pp. 1134-35; 1576, p. 972; 1583, p. 998.
[Back to Top]John Lambert was converted at Cambridge by Thomas Bilney. 1563, pp. 482, 527; 1570, p. 1255; 1576, p. 1075; 1583, p. 1101.
Bilney was well acquainted with Thomas Benet. 1570, p. 1180; 1576, p. 1009; 1583, p. 1037.
Bilney preached repentance and had his books burned. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 32; 1583, p. 32.
Thomas Wolsey, William Warham, Cuthbert Tunstall, John Fisher, Nicholas West, John Veysey, John Longland, John Clerk and Henry Standish took part in the examination of Thomas Bilney and Thomas Arthur in 1527-28. 1563, pp. 461-78; 1570, pp. 1134-46; 1576, pp. 971-81; 1583, pp. 998-1008.
Thomas Bilney wrote five letters to Tunstall. 1563, pp. 465-73; 1570, pp. 1140-47; 1576, pp. 977-81; 1583, pp. 1003-08.
Thomas Bilney and John Brusyerd entered into a dialogue on images in Ipswich around the time of Bilney's examination. 1563, pp. 474-79; 1570, pp. 1138-40; 1576, pp. 975-76; 1583, pp. 1001-03.
Bilney initially refused to recant and asked to introduce witnesses; this request was refused by the bishop of London because it was too late in the proceedings. Bilney was given two nights to consult with his friends, and they persuaded him to abjure. 1563, p. 479; 1570, p. 1140; 1576, p. 977; 1583, p. 1003.
[Back to Top]Thomas Wolsey forced Thomas Arthur, Thomas Bilney, Geoffrey Lome and Thomas Garrard to abjure for speaking against the authority of the pope. 1570, p. 1129; 1576, p. 967; 1583, p. 994.
Bilney was sentenced to bear a faggot at Paul's Cross and to imprisonment at the pleasure of Cardinal Wolsey. 1563, p. 479; 1570, p. 1140; 1576, p. 977; 1583, p. 1003.
For two years Bilney repented of his abjuration. He moved to Norfolk and preached openly. He was arrested when he gave books to an anchoress he had converted in Norwich. Richard Nix obtained a writ for his burning. 1570, p. 1146; 1576, p. 981; 1583, p. 1008.
Lawrence Staple was charged in London in 1531 for, among other things, receiving four copies of Tyndale's New Testament from Bilney. 1570, p. 1187; 1576, p. 1015; 1583, p. 1043.
Edmund Peerson presented a list of charges against Richard Bayfield in 1531, especially concerning Bayfield's praise for Thomas Arthur and Thomas Bilney. 1570, p. 1191; 1576, p. 1020; 1583, p. 1048.
Bilney was arrested by the sheriff, Thomas Necton, his good friend. He was examined and condemned by Thomas Pelles. The night before his burning, his friends found him cheerful and enjoying his dinner. He put his finger into the candle flame several times to test the heat. He was burnt the next day at Lollards' Pit in Norwich. 1563, pp. 482-83; 1570, pp. 1150-51; 1576, pp. 984-85; 1583, p. 1012.
[Back to Top]Michael Lobley was charged in London in 1531 for, among other things, saying that Bilney was a good man. 1570, p. 1189; 1576, p. 1017; 1583, p. 1046.
CloseB.A. Cambridge 1507-8; M.A. 1511; B.D. 1522-23; D.D. 1525-26); fellow Corpus Christi (1508); vicar of Madingley, Cambridgeshire (1525); rector of Land beach (1528)
William Sowode kept company with Latimer and Barnes and others who were influenced by Thomas Bilney. 1570, p. 1152; 1576, p. 986; 1583, p. 1013.
Close(d. 1546) [Emden]
B.A. Cambridge 1497-98; M.A. 1501; B.D. 1508-9; DD 1512-13; rector of Winterton, Norfolk (1513 - 45); friend of Thomas Bilney, whom he attended at the stake in Norwich in 1531; one of the reforming group of graduates who met at the White Horse, Cambridge
Thomas Bilney chose William Warner to accompany him to the stake and be with him during his burning. 1570, p. 1151; 1576, p. 985; 1583, p. 1013.
CloseNorfolk
OS grid ref: TG 495 195
I shall feele, yet shortly after shall my ship be in the hauē: as I doubt not therof by the grace of God, desiring you to help me wt your prayers to the same effect. MarginaliaTho. Bilney going to hys death.And so he going forth in the streetes, geuing much almes by the way, by the handes of one of his frendes, & accompanyed with one D. Warner Doct. of Duinity and parson of Wintertō, whom he did chuse as his olde acquayntaunce, to be with him for his ghostly comfort: came at the last, to the place of execution, and ascended downe from the hill to the same, apparelled in a lay mans gowne with his sleues hanging downe, & his armes out, his heare being pitiously mangled at his degradation
ClosePart of the ritual for degrading priests was the bloodying of the head.
MarginaliaThe wordes of Tho. Bylney at the stake.Good people, I am come hyther to dye, and borne I was to liue vnder that condition, naturally to dye againe, and that ye might testify that I depart out of this present life as a true Christian man in a right beliefe towardes almighty God, I will rehearse vnto you in a fast fayth, the Articles of my Creede, and then began to rehearse them in order as they be in the common Creede, with oft eleuating his eyes and handes to almighty God, and at the Article of Christes incarnatiō hauing a litle meditation in himselfe, & comming to the word Crucified, he humbly bowed himselfe and made great reuerence, and then proceeding in the Articles and comming to these wordes, I beleue the Catholicke Church, there he paused and spake these wordes: Good people I must here confesse to haue offended the Church in preaching once agaynst the prohibition of the same, at a poore Cure belonging to Trinity hall in Cambrige where I was felow, MarginaliaTho. Bilney put to death preaching, being thereūto desired.earnestly intreated thereunto by the Curate and other good people of the parish,
CloseThis refers to St Edward King and Martyr (the chapel of Trinity Hall).
CloseThis may refer to Bilney's prohibition from preaching by Bishop West of Ely. On 23 July 1525 he had been licensed to preach in the diocese, but this was revoked by the bishop after Bilney was first charged and tried for heresy by Wolsey in 1527.
This once done, he put of his gowne, and went to the stake, and kneelyng vpon a litle ledge comming out of the stake, wheron he should afterward stand to be better sene, he made his priuate prayer wt such earnest eleuation of his eyes and handes to heauen, and in so good quiet behauior, that he seemed not much to cōsider the terror of his death, and ended at the last, his priuate prayers with the 143. Psalme beginning MarginaliaTho. Bilney praying at the stake. Psal. 143.Domine exaudi orationem meam, auribus percipe obsecrationem meam. &c.
ClosePsalm 143.1
ClosePsalm 143.2
After that, he turned himselfe to the officers, asking thē if they were ready, and they answered, yea. Whereupon he put of his iacket and doublet and stoode in his hose & shirt, and went vnto the stake, standing vpon that ledge, and the chayne was cast about him, and standing theron, MarginaliaD. Warner taking his farewell of Tho. Bilney.the sayd D. Warner came to him to bid him farewell, which spake but few wordes for weeping. Vpon whom the sayd Tho. Bilney did most gently smile, & inclined his body to speak to him a few wordes of thankes, and the last were these: MarginaliaThe wordes of Tho. Bilney to Doct. Warner.O Maister Doctor, Pasce gregem tuum, Pasce gregem tuum, vt cum venerit Dominus, inueniat te sic facientem. That is, Feede your flocke, feede your flocke, that when the Lord commeth, he may finde you so doing, and farewell good M. Doctour, and pray for me, and so he departed without any answere, sobbing and weeping.
[Back to Top]And while he thus stood vpon the ledge at the stake, certayne Friers, Doctours and Priors of theyr houses beyng there present (as they were vncharitably and malitiously present at his examination and degradation. &c.) came to him and sayd: MarginaliaThe Fryers desire Bilny to speake for them.O M. Bilney the people be perswaded that we be the causers of your death, and that we haue procured the same, and thereupon it is like that they will withdraw theyr charitable almes from vs al, except you declare your charity towards vs and discharge vs of the matter. Wher-vpon the sayd Tho. Bilney spake with a loud voyce to the people, and sayd: I pray you
CloseA paraphrase of Luke 23.34.
Then the officers put reed and Fagots about hys body and set fire on the reed, which made a very great flame, which sparcled and deformed the visour of his face, he holding vp his handes and knocking vpon his brest, cryingsometimes Iesus, sometimes Credo. Which flame was blowne away frō him by the violence of the winde, which was that day & 2. or 3. dayes before notable great, in which it was sayd that the fieldes were maruellously plagued by the losse of corne: MarginaliaThe pacient death & Martirdome of M. Bilney.and so for a litle pause, he stoode without flame, the flame departing & recoursing thrise ere the wood tooke strength to be the sharper to consume him: and thē he gaue vp the ghost, and his body being withered bowed downeward vpon the chayne. Thē one of the officers with his halbard smite out the staple in the stake behinde him, & suffered his body to fall into the bottome of the fire, laying wood on it, and so he was consumed.
[Back to Top]Thus haue ye (good readers) the true history, & Martyrdome of this good man, that is, of blessed Saint BilneyMarginaliaSaint Bilney. (as M. Latimer doth call him)
CloseLatimer uses such phraseology at least twice in his sermons. In his 'Seventh sermon before Edward the sixth (1549)', the phrase 'that blessed martyr of God' appears, while in his 'First sermon on the Lord's Prayer, 1552', Latimer says '… or rather Saint Bilney, that suffered death for God's word sake.' [See, Sermons and Remains of Hugh Latimer, sometime bishop of Worcester, martyr, 1555, 2 vols., ed. by George E Corrie (Cambridge, 1844), 1, pp. 222 and 334 respectively].
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CloseThe story of George Stratford, appearing for the first time in the 1570 edition of the martyrology, followed on and reinforced the revised material that Foxe had introduced that year upon Thomas Bilney. Stratford's conversion and martyrdom was presented as additional proof of the efficacity of Bilney's message. The text of Simon Fish's famous, and virulently anti-clerical 'Supplication of Beggars' had been printed in the 1563 edition of the martyrology as 'A certaine Libell or boke intituled the Supplycation of beggers throwen and scattered at the procession in Westminster vpon Candelmas day…' - i.e. 2 February 1529 (1563, pp. 445-448). When it came to the 1570 edition, Foxe tucked it in, with evident embarrassment, after the Stratford narrative: 'before the tyme of M. Bilney, and the fall of the Cardinall, I should haue placed the story of Symon Fish with the booke called the Supplication of beggars […]' but by placing it where he did, he was able to recover the forward momentum of his reformation narrative. The theme of the 'Supplication' was (as Foxe put it) 'the reformation of many thinges, especially of the Clergy'. Fish had written it during his second exile in Antwerp. The sixteen-page pamphlet accused the church of almost everything - from avarice to treason. The printer of the subversive pamphlet was most likely to have been Johannes Grapheus of Antwerp. From Antwerp the 'Supplication' was smuggled into England, penetrating the country's borders despite its prohibition. It was dedicated to Henry VIII.
[Back to Top]Andrew ChibiUniversity of Leicester
AS the death of this Godly Bilney did much good in Northfolke where he was burnt: so his diligēt trauel, in teaching and exhorting other, and example of life correspondent to his doctrine, left no small fruite behinde him in Cambridge,MarginaliaM. Bilney the cheife conuerter or Apostle of Cambridge. beyng a great meanes of framing that Vniuersity, & drawing diuers vnto Christ. By reason of whō, and partly also of an other called M. Stafford, the word of God begā there most luckely to spread, and many toward wittes to florish. In the company of whom was M. Latimer, D. Barnes, D. Thistell of Penbroke hall, M. Fooke of Benet Colledge, and M. Soude of the same Colledge, D. Warner aboue mentioned, with diuers other moe.
[Back to Top]This M. Stafford was then the publicke reader of the Diuinity lecture in that Vniuersity. Who, as he was an earnest professour of Christes Gospell: so was he as diligēt a folower of that which he professed, as by this exāple here folowing may appeare.
MarginaliaThe notable zeale of M. Stafforde, in sauing a damnable Priest.For as the plague was then sore in Cambridge, and amongest other a certaine Priest called Syr Henry Coniurer
CloseThis refers to events of 1528 when the famous magician was in the town, and was used to illustrate Stafford's attention to his duties as a priest. Thomas Becon, chaplain to Cranmer, notes that Stafford set out to convert this man - resulting in the burning of his books - but that Stafford caught the plague and died before the effort was completed. See Writings of the Rev. Thomas Becon, chaplain to archbishop Cranmer, and prebendary of Canterbury, ed. by William M Engles (Philadelphia, 1890), p. 7.
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CloseThis repeats the details of his death. I can find no mention of Stafford in the letters of Ridley.
MarginaliaM. Latimer asketh M. Stafford forgeuenes.Concerning which M. Stafford, this moreouer is to be noted how that M. Latimer being yet a feruent and a zealous Papist, standing in the Schooles when M. Stafford read, bad the Scholers not to heare him: and also preaching agaynst him, exhorted the people, not to beleue hym, and yet the sayd Latimer confessed himselfe, that he gaue thankes to God, that he asked him forgeuenesse before hee departed.
CloseStafford and Latimer had an initially stormy relationship as Stafford lectured on the Bible from study of the original languages (influenced by Erasmus) while Latimer was opposed to this, thinking students should study the schoolmen and glosses, as was more traditional. See Hugh Latimer, 'Seventh sermon on the Lord's Prayer, 1552', in Sermons and Remains of Hugh Latimer, sometime bishop of Worcester, martyr, 1555, 2 vols., ed. by George E Corrie (Cambridge, 1844), 1, pp. 440-1.
[Back to Top]And thus much by the way of good M. Stafford, who for his constant and godly aduenture in such a cause, may seeme not vnworthy to goe with blessed Bilney, in the fellowship of holy and blessed Martyrs.
BEfore the time of M. Bilney, and the fall of the Cardinall, I should haue placed the story of Simō Fish with the booke called the Supplication of Beggars,MarginaliaM Symon Fishe, author of the booke, called the supplication of Beggars. declaring how and by what meanes it came to the kynges hand, and what effect therof folowed after, in the reformation of many thinges, especially of the Clergy. But the missing of a few yeares in this matter, breaketh no great square in our story, though it be now entred here which shold haue come in sixe yeares before. The maner and circumstaunce of the matter is this:
[Back to Top]After that the light of the gospell working mightely in Germany, began to spread his beames here also in England, great styrre & alteration folowed in the harts of many: so that colored hipocrisy, and false doctrine, & paynted holynes began to be espyed more and more by the reading of Gods word. The authority of the Bishop of Rome, and þe glory of his Cardinals was not so high, but such as had
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