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Bewdley [Yewley]

Worcestershire

OS grid ref: SO 785 755

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Tredington

Warwickshire

OS grid ref: SP 255 435

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Worcester

NGR: NGR: SO 855 554

A city and county of itself, having exclusive jurisdiction, locally in the county of Worcester, of which it is the capital. Seat of the Bishopric of Worcester. 111 miles north west by west from London. The City comprises the parishes of St Alban, All Saints, St Andrew, St Clement, St Helen, St Martin, St Nicholas, St Peter and St Swithin. All in the Archdeaconry and diocese of Worcester. St Alban is a discharged rectory in the patronage of the Bishop; All Saints is a discharged rectory in the patronage of the Crown; St Andrew is a discharged vicarage in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter; St Clement is a discharged rectory in the same patronage; St Helen is a discharged rectory in the patronage of the Bishop; St Nicholas is a discharged rectory in the patronage of the Bishop; St Martin is a rectory in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter; St Peter is a vicarage in the same patronage; and St Swithin is a discharged rectory in the same patronage.

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English information from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of England (S. Lewis & Co: London, 1831)

Welsh information taken from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales(Lewis & Co: London, 1840)

The reason for the use of these works of reference is that they present the jurisdictional and ecclesiastical position as it was before the major Victorian changes. The descriptions therefore approximate to those applying in the sixteenth century, after the major changes of 1535-42. Except for the physical locations, which have not changed, the reader should not therefore take these references as being accurate in the twenty-first century.

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Iohn Badby a lay man, of the sayd Diaces of Worcester, appearing personally, before the reuerend father in Christ and Lord, Lord Thomas, by the grace of God Byshop of Worcester, sitting in þ^e said Chappell for chiefe Iudge, was detected of and vpon the crime of heresie, being heretically taught, & openly maintayned by the foresayd Iohn Badby. that is, that the Sacrament of the body of Christ, consecrated by the Priest vpon the aulter, is not the true body of Christ, by the vertue of the wordes of the Sacrament. MarginaliaThe Sacrament of Christes body.But that after the Sacramentall words spoken by the Priest to make the body of Christ: the materiall bread doth remaine vpon the aulter as in the beginning, neither is it turned into the very body of Christ after the Sacramental words spoken of the Priest. Which Iohn Badby, being examined and diligently demanded by the foresaid reuerēd father cōcerningthe premisses, in the end did answere: that it was unpossible that any Priest should make the body of Christ, & that he beleued firmely that no Priest could make the body of Christ by such words Sacramentally spoken in such sort. And also he said expressely, that he would neuer while he liued beleue, that any Priest could make the body of Christ sacramentally, vnlesse that first he saw manifestlie the like body of Christ to be handled in the hands of the priest vpon the aulter, in his corporall forme. And furthermore he sayd, that Iohn Rakier of Bristoll had so much power & authoritie to make the like body of Christ, as any priest had. Moreouer he said, that whē Christ sat at supper with his disciples: he had not his body in his hand, to the intent to distribute it to his disciples: and he said expresly, that he did not this thing. And also he spake many other words teaching & fortifieng the heresie in the same place, both greeuous, and also out of order, and borrible to the eares of the hearers, sounding against the Catholicke faith.

Upon which occasion, the same reuerend father admonished and requested the said Iohn Badby oftentimes, and very instantlie to charity: for somuch as he would willinglie that he should haue forsaken such heresie and opinion, holden, taught, and mainteined by him, in such sort against the Sacrament, to renounce and vtterly abiure them, and to beleeue other things which the holy mother of Church doth beleeue. And he informed the said Iohn on that behalfe both gentlie, and also laudably. Yet the said Iohn Badby, although he were admonished and requested both often and instantlie by the said reuerend father: said and answered expresselie, that he would neuer beleeue otherwise then before he had said, taught, and answered. Wherevpon, the foresaid reuerend father Bishop of Worcester, seeing, vnderstanding, and perceiuing the foresaid Iohn Badby to maintaine and fortifie the said heresie, MarginaliaI can not blame ye that ye are so angry, for it was not for your profite.being stubborne, and proceeding in the same stubbornes: pronounced the said Iohn to be before this time conuicted of such an heresie, and that he hath bin, and is an hereticke, and in the end declared it in these words.

MarginaliaThe sentēce of the b. of Worcester against Iohn Badby.In the name of God, Amen. We Thomas Bishop of Worcester, do accuse thee Iohn Badby being a lay man of our Dioces, of an vpon the crime of heresie before vs, sitting for cheese iudge, being oftentimes confessed and conuicted of and vpon that, that thou hast taught and openly affirmed, as hetherto thou doest teach, boldly affirme, and defend: that the Sacrament of the body of Christ, consecrated vpon the aulter by the Priest, is not the true body of Christ: But after the Sacramental words to make the body of Christ by vertue of the said Sacramentall words pronounced, to haue bin in the crime of heresie: and we do pronounce thee, both to haue bene, and to be an hereticke, and do declare it finallie by these writings.

These things were dont accordinly as is aboue written and are recited in the yeare, indiction, popedome, moneth, day and place aforesaid, being present the same time, MarginaliaA table of monkes and friers about the condemnation of Iohn Badby. Iohn Malune Prior of the Cathedrall Church of Worcester, Iohn Dudle Mōke, and Iohn Haule the supprior of the said Church, Thomas Penings of the order of the Carmelites, Thomas Fekenham of the order of the preaching Friers, William Pomfret of the order of the Minorites, being professors and maisters in diuinitie, William Hailes, Gualter of London, Iohn Swippedew beeing publique Notaries, and William Beauchampe and Thomas Gerbris being Knights,MarginaliaQuare fremuerunt gentes. Psal. 2.Richard Wish of Tredington, Thomas Wilbe of Dembury, Iohn Weston of Yewley, being parsons of Churches, and Thomas Baleinges, the maister of Saint Wolstone in Worcester, and also Henry Haggely, Iohn Penerell, Thomas Trogmorton and William Wasseborne Esquires of the Dioces of Worcester and Norwich,MarginaliaScribes with Pharises.and many other worshipfull and honest men being witnesses and called speciallye to the things aforesaid.

And I Iohn Chew Clerke, of the Dioces of Bath and Welles, and by the authoritie apostolicall, publique Nota rie of the said Bishop" haue in testimonie of the premisses, put my hand & seale to the examination, interrogatiō, monition, and aunswere of the same Iohn Badby, and to hsi obstinancie: & also to the procedings of al and singular other doings as is aforesaid, which against him before the sayd bishop were handled & done, in the yeare, indiction, popedome, moneth, day, and place aforesaid, which with the forenamed witnesses was personally present: and þ^e same, euen as I heard them and saw them to be done (being occupied with other matters) caused them to be written and published, and into this publique forme haue complied the same. I the foresayd Notary am also priuie, vnto the words and examinations interlined betweene seauen or eight lines of þ^e beginning of this instrument, which lines I also the foresaide Notary doe approoue and make good.

And I Walter London Clerke, of the Dioces of Worcester, and by the authoritie Apostolicall, publique Notarie to all and singular the foresaid things as afore by the foresaid Notary is recited, & in the yeare, indiction, popedome, moneth, day, and place aforesaid were handled and done, being with other the fore recited witnesses personally present: and to all & euery of the same (as I saw & heard them to be done, being thereunto faithfully desired and required.) In testimony of the premisses, haue signed & subscribed according to þ^e accustomed maner, Hæc ex Reg. Cant.

MarginaliaThe aunswere of Iohn Badby to the articles.And when the articles, in the foresaid instrument contained, were by the Archbishop of Canterbury publiquely and vulgarly read and approued: he publiquely cōfessed & affirmed, that he had both said and mainteined the same. And then the Archbishop to conuince the cōstant purpose of the said Iohn Badby, commanded the same articles againe to be read, informing and exhorting him that thereby he might be brought the sooner to the Religion that he was of. And furthermore, the said Archbyshop sayd and affirmed there openly to the same Iohn: that he would (if he would liue according to the doctrine of Christ) gage his soule for him at the iudgement day. And after that againe he caused those articles in the said instrument expressed, to be read by the foresaid Phillip Badby aunswered. As touching the first article concerning the body of Christ, he expresly sayd, that after þ^e consecration at the aulter, there remaineth materiall bread, & the same bread which was before: notwithstāding (said he) it is a signe or sacrament of the liuing God.

Also, wen the second article was expounded vnto him, that it is impossible for anie Priest &c. To this article he answered and said, that it could not sinke into his minde that the words are to be taken as they litterallie lie, vnles he should denie the incarnation of Christ.

Also, being examined of the third Article concerning Iacke Raker, he said: That if Iacke Raker were a man of good liuing, and did loue and feare God, that he hath as much power so to do, as hath the Priest: and said furhter, that he hath heard it spoken of some doctors of diuinitie, that if he should receiue any such consecrated bread, he were worthy to be damned, & were damned in so doing.

MarginaliaThe substance of bread not chaunged in the Sacrament.Furthermore he sayd that he would beleue the omnipotent God in trinitie, and said moreouer that if euery hoste being consecrated at the aulter were the Lords body, that then there be 20000. gods in England. But he beleeued (he said) in one God omnipotent, which thing the foresaid Archb. of Cant. denied not.

And when the other conclusion was expounded. That Christ sitting with his Disciples at supper, &c. to this he answered and said that he would greatly maruell: that if anie man had a loafe of bread, and should breake the same and giue to enery man a mouthfull, that the same loafe should afterwards be whole.

When all these things were thus finished, and that all the said conclusions were often red in the vulgar tong: the foresaid Archb. demaunded of him, whether he would renounce and forsake his opiniōs and such like conclusions or not, and adhere to the doctrine of Christ and Catholicke faith? He answered, that according to that he had sayd before, he would adhere and stand to those words, which before he had made answere vnto. MarginaliaThe cōstancy of Iohn Badby before the Archb.Then the Archb. oftentimes required the said Iohn in the bowels of Iesu Christ that he would foresake those opinions and conclusions, and that hencefoorth he would cleaue to the christian faith: which thing to do in the audience of all the lords and others that were present, he expresly denied and refused.

After all this, when the foresayd Archbishop of Cant. & the Bishop of London had consulted together, to what safe keping the said Iohn Badby (vntill the Wednesdaie next) might be committed: It was cōcluded, that he shold