course of people resorted, some of good will, some for seruice sake, and some (as the maner is) to gaze and looke. Great preparation of all parties was there throughout the whole Citie, as in such cases is accustomed, and all places were filled with mirth and gladnes. In this great assembly of the whole kingdome, William Gardiner, who, albeit he did not greatly esteeme such kind of spectacles, yet being assured through the fame and report thereof, was there also, comming thether early in the morning, to the intent he might haue the more oportunitie and better place to behold and see.

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MarginaliaA Popishe celebration of a mariage.The houre being come, they flocked into the church with great solemnitie and pompe: the King first, and then euery estate in order. The greater persons, the more ceremonies were about them. After all things were set in order, they went forward to the celebrating of their Masse: for that alone serueth for all purposes. The Cardinall did execute, with much singing and orgaine playing.  

The people stood with great deuotion and silence, praying, looking, kneeling, and knocking, their mindes being fully bent and set, as it is the maner, vppon the externall sacramente. How greeuously these things did pricke and mooue this yong mans minde, it can not be expressed, partly to beholde the miserable absurditie of those things, and partly to see the folly of the common people: and not only of the common people, but specially to see the King himself and his Councell, with so many sage and wise men (as they seemed) to be seduced with like Idolatry as the common people were:MarginaliaThe Godly zeale of W. Gardiner in seing the Idolatry of the people and the great disworship of God. In so much that it lacked very little, but that he woulde euen that present day haue done some notable thing in the Kings sight and presence, but that the great prease and throng that was about him, letted that he could not come vnto the altar. What neede many words? when the ceremonies were ended, he commeth home very sad and heauy in his minde: in so much that all his fellowes marueiled greatly at him: Who albeit vpon diuers coniectures they conceiued the cause of his sadnes, notwithstanding they did not fully vnderstand that those matters so much troubled his godly mind: neither yet did he declare it vnto any man, but seeking solitarines & secret places falling downe prostrate before God, with manifold teares bewayled the neglecting of his dutie, deliberating with himselfe how he might reuoke that people from their impietie and superstition.

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MarginaliaWilliam Gardiner cleareth his bookes of accomptes.In this deliberation and aduise his minde being fully setled, and thinking that the matter ought not to be any longer differred, he renounced the world, making vp all his accompts so exactly (as well of that whiche was due vnto him, as that whiche he ought vnto others) that no man coulde iustly aske so muche as one farthing. MarginaliaWilliam Gardiner continuing in watching and prayer.Which thyng done, he continued night and day in prayer calling vppon God, and continuall meditation of the Scriptures, that scarsely he would take any meate by day, or slepe by night, or that most, aboue an houre or two of rest in the night, as Pendigrace his felow companion both at bed and boord, being yet aliue, can testifie.  

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MarginaliaWilliam Gardiners aduised preparation to the accomplishment of his purpose.The Sonday came again to be celebrate  

either wyth like pompe & solemnitie, or not much lesse, wheras the sayd William was present earely in the morning, very cleanely apparelled   euen of purpose, that he might stand neare the altar without repulse. Within a while after commeth the King with all his Nobles. Then Gardiner setteth hymselfe as neare the alter as he might, hauing a Testament in his hand, the which he diligently read vpon, and prayed, vntill the time was come that he had appointed to worke his feate. MarginaliaThe Cardinall at his Masse.The Masse began, which was then solemnised by a Cardinall.   Yet he sate still. He which said Masse, proceeded, he consecrated, sacrificed, lifted vp on high, shewed his God vnto the people, all the people gaue great reuerence, and as yet he stirred nothing. At the last they came vnto that place of the Masse, whereas they vse to take the ceremoniall Hoste, and tosse it too and fro round about the Chalice, making certaine circles and semicircles. Then the sayd William Gardiner not being able to suffer any longer, ranne speedily vnto the Cardinall: and (which is vncredible to be spoken) euen in the presence of the King and all his Nobles and Citizens, MarginaliaWilliam Gardiner plucketh the Cardinals Idoll out of his hands at Masse as he was leaping about the Chalice.with the one hande he snatched away the cake from the Priest, and trode vnder hys feete, and with the other hand ouerthrew the chalice.   Thys matter at the first made them all abashed, but by and by there rose a great tumult, and the people began to cry out. The Nobles and the common people ranne together, amongst whome, one drawing out his dagger, gaue him a great wounde in the shoulder,MarginaliaWilliam Gardiner wounded with a dagger. and as he was aboute to strike him againe to haue slaine him, the King twise commaunded to haue him saued.   So by that meanes they absteined from murther.

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MarginaliaWilliam Gardiner brought before the king.After the tumult was ceased, he was brought vnto theKing: by whome he was demaunded what countryman he was, and how he durst be so bold to worke such a contumely against his Maiestie, and the Sacramentes of the Church? He answered:  

MarginaliaThe oration of William Gardiner before the king.Most noble King, I am not ashamed of my Countrey, which am an Englishman both by birth and religion, and am come hether only for traffike of Marchaundise. And when I saw in this famous assembly so great Idolatry committed, my conscience neither ought neither could any longer suffer, but that I must needes do that which you haue seene me presently do. Whiche thyng (most noble Prince) was not done nor thought of me for any contumely or reproche of your presence, but onely for this purpose (as before God I do clearely confesse) to seeke the only saluation of this people.

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MarginaliaThe suspition of the Portugales vpon the facte of W. Gardiner.When they heard that he was an Englishman, and called to remembraunce how the Religion was restored by K. Edward, they were by and by brought in suspition, that he had bene suborned by Englishmen thus to do, to mocke and deride their religion. Wherefore they were the more earnest vpon him to knowe who was the author and procurer that he should commit that act. MarginaliaThe answer of William Gardiner to the false suspition of the Portugalls.Vnto whome he answered, desiring them that they would conceiue no suche suspition of him, for so much as he was not moued thereunto by any man, but only by his owne conscience. For otherwise there was no man vnder the heauen, for whose sake he would haue put himselfe into so manifest daunger: but that he ought this seruice first vnto God, and secondarily vnto their saluation: wherefore if he had done anye thing which were displeasaunt vnto them, they ought to impute it vnto no man, but vnto themselues, which so vnreuer?tly vsed the holy Supper of the Lord vnto so great Idolatry, not without great ignominie vnto the Church, violation of the Sacraments, and the perill of their owne soules, without they repented.

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Whilest that he spake these with many other thynges more vnto this effect very grauely and stoutly, the bloud ran aboundantly out of the wounde, so that he was ready to faint. Whereupon Surgeons were sent for, whereby he might be cured if it were possible, and be reserued for further examination, and more greeuous torment. For they were fully perswaded that this deede had diuers abbettors and setters on: which was the cause that all the other englishmen also in the same citie came into suspition, and were commaunded to safe custody. MarginaliaPendigrace bedfellow to W. Gardiner imprisoned vpon suspition.Amongst whome, Pendigrace, because he was his bedfellow, was greeuously tormented and examined more then the residue, and scarcely was deliuered after two yeares imprisonment. The other were much sooner set at libertie at the intercession of a certaine Duke.  

Notwithstanding their suspition coulde not yet be satisfied, MarginaliaWilliam Gardiners chamber searched.but they came vnto his chamber to seeke if there were any letters, to vnderstand and find out the author of this enterprise. And when as they coulde finde nothing there, they came againe vnto him being greeuously wounded, with tormentes to extort of him the author of this fact, and to accuse him as gilty of most greeuous heresie. Of both whiche pointes, with suche dexteritie as hee could, he cleered himselfe. Wherein, albeit he spake in the Spanish   tong well, yet he vsed the Latin tong much more exactly.  

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But they not being therewith satisfied, added another straunge kynde of torment, which (as I suppose) passeth the Bull of Phalaris.MarginaliaThe Bull of Phaleris a certaine tyranne was a kinde of torment made of Brasse lyke a Bull with fire vnder it to torment such as were put into it, and make them to roare like a Bull. Because there shoulde no kynde of extreme crueltie be left vnassayed,  

they caused a linnen cloth to be sowd round like a ball, the which they wyth violence put downe his throate vnto the bottome of hys stomacke, tied with a small string which they held in their hands, and when it was downe, they pulled it vp agayne with violence, so plucking it too and fro through the meate pipe, in suche sorte, as with much lesse griefe they might haue ridde him out of his life at once.

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Thus as the last, when all tormentes and tormenters were weeried, and that it did nothing at all preuaile to go this way to worke, they asked him whether he did not repent his wicked and seditious deede. As touching the deede, aunswered, that it was so farre off that he did repent,MarginaliaWilliam Gardiner not repenting his fact. that if it were to do againe, he thought he should do the same. But as touching the maner of the deede, he was not a little sory that it was done in the Kings presence to the disquietnes of his minde. Howbeit, that was not to be imputed vnto him, which neither enterprised or thought vpon any such matter, but rather to be ascribed vnto the King, in that he hauing power, woulde not prohibite so great Idolatry vsed among his people. This he spake with great feruencie.

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After they had vsed all kynde of torments, and saw that there could nothing more be gathered of him, and also that through his woundes and paynes he could not long liue, they brought him three dayes after to execution. And first