Gage. Well, I will sende for you on Fridaye or Saterday, at the farthest, For to morrowe I must ride foorth of towne. And I would faine here your talke.
wood. Sir, I would be very glad you should here our talke alway. And I truste in God you shall heare me say nothing, but the woorde of god shalbe my warrant. So maister Gage toke his leaue & wēt his way to his lodging, which was right in my waie, as I went vnto prisone warde againe, and when we came without my Lord Mountagues gates, there we mette wt one Hode of Buxted, a Smith. Then said mayster Gage.
[Back to Top]Gage. Woodman, I had forgot one thing, þt Hode hath brought me in remembraunce of, as soone as I saw him. for he heard when the tale was tolde me.
Gage. Hode, did not you here when Smithe of Framfield tolde me that he saw Woodman abrode in the citie at libertie?
Hode. Yes forsooth, that I did.
Gage. yea surely and I was verye glad. for I had wel hoped you had bene cōformable. But I heard other wise afterwarde again, that you had leaue of the keper to goe abrode & speake openly in the stretes, as you went vp & down.
vvood. In deede so the Marshall tolde me to day. But in dede I was neuer abrode, since I came to prison, but when I was sente for, and in dede, that same time I was abrode with my keper, comming frō the Bishop. And as I was comming, euen not farre from the Marshalsey, I sawe goodman Smith stand in a Wane, vnlading of Chese. And I asked him howe he dyd euen as I went by, and neuer stayed for the matter, and therupon it did rise. So I departed from them, with my keper, to the Marshalsey again, where I now am mery I praise god therfore, as a shepe appointed to be slaine.
[Back to Top]Woodman.
I Was fet from the Marshalsey to the said Bishops and priestes, sittinge in S. Georges Churche in Southwark by one of the Marshals men, & one of the sheriffes men. When I came before them, & hadde done my duty to them, as nigh as I could: then saide the Bishop of Winchester.
vvinchest. What is your name?
wood. My name is Richard Woodmā forsoth.
vvinchest. Ah woodman, you were taken and apprehended for Heresie,
This was incorrect, as Woodman will point out, he was arrested for interrupting a priest giving a sermon.
Bishop White mistakenly assumed that because Woodman was released, he must have recanted. Actually Woodman was released because of a technicality.
wood. Forsoth, his name is sir Edward Gage
vvinchest. well, you were apprehended for heresye, and being at maister Gages thre wekes or more, ye were gentlye entreated there: hee and other gentlemen perswading with you dyuers times, little preuayled. Then you appealed to the Bishoppe of Chichester that now is. The sheriffe like a woorshipfull man sent you to him, and he hath trauelled with you, and other also, and can do no good with you, wherevppon we haue sent for you.
[Back to Top]wood. Then I spake to him. for I thoughte he woulde bee longe, or euer he made an end. I thoughte he was a yeare a tellynge of those lyes, that he told there against me already. yea I kepte silence from good woordes. but it was greate payne and griefe vnto me, as (Dauyd said:) At length the fyre was so kindled within my hearte, that I coulde not chuse but speake with my tounge: for I feared least anye of the companye shoulde haue departed, or euer I hadde aunswered to his lyes, and so the gospell to haue bene slaundered by my long silence keping. So I spake with my tounge, I praise god therefore, and sayde: my lorde, I praye you let me now aunswere for my self. For it is time.
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