he was sicke. So when he came home agayne, he sent me to the Byshoppe, and I haue talked with hym twyse already, and I am sure hee can fynde no faulte in me if he saye iustlye: and yet I knowe not wherfore I was sent to pryson. for I was not giltie of that whiche was layde to my charge, that I had baptysed chyldren, the whiche I neuer did as God knoweth. wherefore I haue muche wronge to bee thus handled.

D. Lang. In deede, it hath beene reported that you haue christened chyldren, and that you christened your owne chylde: but since I harde saye you wold not haue the chyld christened, whiche is a damnable waye, if you denie baptisme: and they sayde, your childe was not christened in fourtenight or three weakes after it was borne, and then the chiefest of the parysh wer fayne to fetche it out of your house against your wyl. wherfore you wrote rayling wordes against the priest and them, for theyr good wyll, the which declareth that you allow not baptising of chyldren: and if the chylde had died, it had beene damned, because it was not christened, and you should haue been damned bycause you were the lette therof.

wood. What abhominable lies haue you told? be you not ashamed to speake such words as you haue done? First you said I christened mine owne childe, and by and by you sayde I denied baptising of children, and that my chyld was a fourthnight or three wekes olde or it were baptised. what abominable lies be these? I neither baptised my childe my selfe, neyher helde against the baptising of it, but did most gladly allowe it: for it was baptised assone as it was borne, and I was glad thereof. 

Commentary    Close

Woodman is concerned here to maintain that, even though he was an active preacher, despite being a layman, he did not administer the sacraments.

Lang. I pray you who baptised it? some vnthrift of your prouiding.

wood. Nay surely, the mydwyfe baptised it.

Lang. But it was your mynde that it should be so.

wood. Nay sure, I was not nyghe home by almoste xx. myles, nor I heard not of it that my wyfe was brought in bedde foure dayes after the childe was christened. for it was not lyke to lyue: & therfore þ^e midwyfe baptiset it.

Lang. Would you haue had it to churche, to haue been christened, if it had not been christened?

wood. That is no matter what I woulde haue done. I am sure you can not denye but it is sufficiently done, if the mydwyfe do it, and I hold not against the doyng of it, neyther did I it my selfe as you sayd I dyd.

Lang. Wherfore were you displeased with them that fet it to churche?

wood. Fyrst, tell me whether the chyld were not truly baptysed by the mydwyfe?

Lang. Yes, it was truly baptysed, if she baptised it in the name of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holy ghost.

wood. Yes that I am sure shee didde, and you graunt that was sufficiēt: and the cause that I blamed them for, was because they did more to it then neede was, by your owne sayinge. yea they fet it out of my house without my leaue, the whiche was not well done.

Lang. They hadde it to churche to confyrme that was done. yea but that was more then nedes. but God forgeue them if it be his wil. But let that matter passe. But I would you shold not saye that I hold against the baptysing of chyldren. for I doe not, I take God to record: but doe allowe it to be moste necessary if it be truly vsed. But me thought you spake woordes euen now þ^t were vncomly to be spoken. If a chylde dye and be not baptised, it is damned. Howe thynke you? be all damned that receyue not the outwarde signe of baptisme?

Lang. yea that they be.

wood. Howe proue you that?

Lang. Goe sayeth Christe, and baptyse in the name of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holy Ghost, and he that beleueth, and is baptised, shalbe saued: and he that beleueth not, shalbe damned. These be the wordes of Christ whiche are my warrant.

wood. Then by your saying baptysing bryngeth fayth, and all that be baptysed in the water shalbe saued, shall they? how saye you?

Lang. yea, that they shall: if they die before they come to discretion they shalbe saued euery one of them, and all that be not baptised shalbe damned euery one of them.

wood. Then my spirite was moued with hym to reproue hym sharpely, because I hadde manifest scriptures fresh in my mynde against his saying: then sayd I.

O Lord God, howe dare you speake suche blasphemy against God and his worde, as you doe? howe dare you for your lyfe to take vpon you to preache and teache the people, and vnderstand not what you say? for I protest before God you vnderstand not the scriptures, but as farre as naturall reason can comprehende. for if you did, you woulde bee ashamed to speake as you doe.

Lang. Wherein haue I spoken amisse? take hede, you haue a toye in your head wyll make you dispayer. I dare saye you can not tel what you saye. wherfore reproue you me as you do?

wood. Because you blaspheme God, and for dispayryng take hede to your selfe. for I can not see but you be out of your wytte already: and as for me, I prayse God I can tell what I saye, and what you haue sayde, that which shall tourne to your shame, if you wil talke the scriptures with me.