I. judicialiter factas, nefandum et intollerabilem errorem, hæ- BOOK resin damnatam et scandalosam opinionem subscriptam, juri divino et fidei catholicæ obviantem, contrariam et repugnantem; viz. That you believe, that the Word was made flesh in the Virgin's belly; but that Christ took flesh of the Virgin, you believe not; because the flesh of the Virgin, being the outward man, was sinfully gotten and born in sin; but the Word, by the consent of the inward man of the Virgin, was made flesh; manutenuisse: quem quidem errorem, hæresin damnatam et scandalosam opinionem, juri divino et fidei catholicæ obviantem, contrariam et repugnantem, &c. Idcirco nos Thomas archiep. &c. te Joannam Bocher, alias Joannam de Kente prædictam de meritis, culpis, obstinaciis et contumaciis, &c. de et super horrendo hæreticæ privitatis reatu confessam, ad ecclesiæ unitatem redire nolentem, hæreticam opinionem credentem, præmissorum prætextu fuisse et esse, cum animi dolore et cordis amaritudine judicamus, teq; ex nunc tanquam pertinacem et obstinatam hæreticam, judicio sive curiæ seculari ad omnem juris effectum, qui exinde sequi debeat, aut poterit, relinquendam fore decernimus et declaramus, et sic per præsentes de facto relinquimus; teq; Joannam Bocher, alias Joannam de Kent, memoratam hæreticam, pertinacem, in majoris excommunicationis sententiam occasione præmissorum incidisse et incurrisse, necnon excommunicatam fuisse et esse, etiam sententialiter et definitive pronunciamus et declaramus, per hanc nostram sententiam definitivam, quam ferimus et promulgamus in his scriptis. Lecta fuit hæc sententia per prænominatos, reverendum, &c. Sermo factus domino regi contra Joannam Bocher, alias dictam, Joannam de Kent pro brachio seculari. ILLUSTRISSIMO et invictissimo in Christo principi, domino nostro Edwardo Sexto, Dei gratia Angliæ, &c. Thomas permissione divina Cantuarien. &c. Thomas Smith et commissarii prædicti et inquisitores vestræ celsitudinis, per literas vestras regias patentes, dat. 12 Aprilis, anno regni vestri tertio, sufficienter et legitime deputati honorem et perpetuam fœlicitatem in eo, per quam reges regnant et princi II. PART pes dominantur. Vestræ regiæ celsitudini, tenore præsentum significamus, quod nos adversus quandam, Joannam Bocher alias Joannam de Kent dictam, subditam vestram de et super nefando crimine hæreseos ac detestanda anabaptistarum secta apud bonos et graves enormiter defamatam, et super reatu earundem nobis detectam, delatam et denuntiatam, rite et legitime juxta literarum vestrarum regiarum commissionalium exigentiam, et tenorem procedentes, eandem Joannam, per nos examinatam, comperimus et invenimus errores, hæreses et damnatas opiniones pertinaciter animo indurato sæpenumero manutenuisse, defendisse et in eisdem permansisse, et ab eisdem nullo modo resipuisse, nec resipiscere curasse; sed ad sanctæ matris ecclesiæ gremium redire penitus neglexisse: ideo, cum animi amaritudine et cordis dolore, eandem Joannam, sæpius monitam et per nos ad ecclesiæ unitatem redire hortatam, salutaribus nostris monitis parere omnino spernentem, de et cum consensu collegarum nostrorum, tanquam ovem morbidam a grege Domini (no alios viros subditos sua contagione inficiat) ejiciendam et eliminandam fore decrevimus, ipsamq; Joannam occasione iniquitatis suæ inveteratæ, hæreticam ac hæreticis opinionibus credentem, mediante nostra sententia definitiva, pronunciavimus et decrevimus. Cum igitur sancta mater ecclesia non habeat, quod ulterius facere et exequi debeat, in hac parte vestræ regiæ sublimitati et brachio vestro seculari dictam hæreticam et relapsam relinquimus, condigna animadversione plectendam. In cujus rei testimonium, nos Thomas archiep. &c. commissarius vester humillimus supradictus, de consensu collegarum nostrorum, hic se subscribentium, sigillum nostrum archiepiscopale præsentibus apponi fecimus. Datum ultimo die mensis Aprilis, anno Dom. 1549. et regni vestri fœlicissimi anno tertio. Folio 178. After this followeth the process, and sentence of condemnation of one George van Parre a Dutch-man, for obstinately maintaining the like opinions; together with a petition imploring the execution thereof, and the assistance of the secular power, conform to the tenour of that above-written, bearing date the 6th of April, anno Dom. BOOK 1551. The judges and commissioners of this process, were Thomas arch-bishop of Canterbury, Nicholas bishop of London, William May, Griffin Leyson, John Oliver, Miles Coverdale, Richard Lyell, John Gosnold, and Christopher Nevison. His heresy that he believeth, is, That God the Father is only God and that Christ is not very God, is non-heresie. And being ask'd, by an interpreter, Whether he would abjure the said opinion? He answered, No. Number 36. A letter from the protector to sir Philip Hobbey, concerning the rebellions at home. B. 12. I. KNOWING that all such as be ambassadors abroad, are Cotton lib. not only desirous of news, for the love they bear to their Galba. own country naturally, desiring often to hear of the estate of it, but also to confirm and confute such rumors as be spread in the parts where they lie, we have thought good to impart what sith our last letters hath chanced. The Devonshire men are well chastised and appeased; three other of their captains have voluntarily come in, and simply submitted themselves to sir Thomas Pomery kt. Wise and Harrice, who before were fled, and could not be found; and the country cometh in daily to my lord privy-seal, by 100 and 1000, to crave their pardon, and be put in some sure hope of grace. Burry, and some one or two more of their blind guides, that escaped from the sword, have attempted, in the mean season, to stir up Somersetshire, and have gotten them band or camp; but they are sent after, and we trust by this, they have as they deserve. The earl of Warwick lieth near to the rebels in Norfolk, which faint now, and would have grace gladly, so that all might be pardoned, Ket, and the other arch-traitors. The number upon that is at a stay, and they daily shrink so fast away, that there is great hope that they will leave their captains destitute II. PART and alone, to receive their worthy reward; the which is the thing we most desire, to spare, as much as may be, the effusion of blood, and that namely of our own nation. In Yorkshire a commotion was attempted the week last past; but the gentlemen were so soon upon them, and so forwardly, that it was straight suppressed; and with weeping eyes, the rest upon their knees, they wholly together desired the gentlemen to obtain their pardons; the which the king's majesty hath so granted unto them, as may stand with his highness honour: so that for the inner parts (thanks be to the Almighty God) the case standeth in good points. The causes and pretences of these uproars and risings, are divers and uncertain, and so full of variety almost in every camp, (as they call them) that it is hard to write what it is; as ye know, is like to be of people without head and rule, and that would have that they wot not what: some crieth, Pluck down inclosures and parks, some for their commons; others pretend the religion; a number would rule another while, and direct things as gentlemen have done; and indeed all have conceived a wonderful hate against gentlemen, and taketh them all as their enemies. The ruffians among them, and the souldiers, which be the chief doers, look for spoil. So that it seemeth no other thing but a plague and a fury amongst the vilest and worst sort of men: for except only Devonshire and Cornwal, and they not past two or three, in all other places not one gentleman, or man of reputation was ever amongst them, but against their wills, and as prisoners. In Norfolk, gentlemen, and all servingmen, for their sakes, are as ill handled as may be; but this broil is well asswaged, and in a manner at a point shortly to be fully ended, with the grace of God. On the other part of the seas, we have not so good news; for the French king taking now his time, and occasions of this rebellion within the realm, is come into Bullingnois, with a great number of horsemen and footmen, himself in person: and, as we are advertised, of the letters of the 24th of this present, from Ambletue or Newhaven, the Almain camp, or Almain hill, a piece appertaining to the said Am I. bletue, was that day delivered to the French, by traiterous BOOK consent of the camp; their variance falling out, or feigned, between the captain and the souldiers, so that they are now besieged very near, and in a manner round. Howbeit they write, that they trust the piece it self of Newhaven will be well enough defended, God assisting them, who be in as good and stout a courage as any men may be, and as desirous to win honour, and give a good account of their charge Thus we bid you heartily farewel. August 24, 1549. Number 37. A letter of Bonner's after he was deprived. An original. The first part of this letter, is the recommending the bearer, that they might find a good marriage for him. -The pears were so well accepted in every place, where I had so many thanks for my distribution, that I intend, by God's grace, to send down to you your frail again, to have an eching, either of more pears, or else of puddings, &c. ye do know what, &c. doth mean, by that Italian. Proverb, Dio me guarda da furia di villani, da conscientia di preti, da chi odi due messe nel giorno, da quasibuglie di medici da &c. di notarii, da chi jura per la conscientia mia. I do not write to sir John Burne, nor to my lady, for any thing, their conscience is not overlarge; and the like is in Mr. Hornvale, and also my old acquaintance John Badger. But if amongst you I have no puddings, then must I say, as Messer, our priest of the hospital, said to his mad horse, in our last journey to Hostia, Al diavolo, al diavolo, ai tutti diavolli. Our Lord preserve you, and all yours, with desire to be recommended to all. Festo Omnium Sanctorum, in the marshalsea. Your loving and assured old acquaintance, To my dear beloved friend, the worshipful Richard Lechmore. |