And this Bland was a man so litle borne for his own commoditye, 

that no part of his lyfe was separated from the common and publike vtility of al men. For his firste doinges were there imployed to the bringing vp of children in learning and vertue. Vnder whom were trained diuers towardly younge men, whych euen at this present do handsomly florish: in the number of whom is MarginaliaMaister Blād scholmaster to D. Sandes. B. of Worcester.D. Sandes,  a man of such learning and worthynes, as may wel beseme a scholer meete for suche a scholemaister, whom I here gladly name, for his singular giftes of vertue and erudition. After thys he comming to the ministery in the churche of God, or rather being called therto, was inflamed with incredible desire to profite the congregation, which may appeare by this thing: that where as he was cast into Caunterbury pryson, for the preaching of the Gospell, and delyuered once or twyse from thence, at the sute of his frendes: yet would he nedes preach the Gospel agayne, as sone as he was deliuered. Whereupon, he beyng the third time imprysoned, MarginaliaMaister Bland offered by his frendes to be deliuerd refused.when hys frendes yet once agayne would haue found the meanes to haue deliuered him, if he would haue promised to abstayn from preaching:  he stoode in it earnestlye, that he would admit no suche condicion, notablye wel expressing vnto vs the maner and example of an Apostle, which we reade in the Apostle Paule: Who shal separat vs from the loue of Christ? tribulation, or anguishe, or hunger, or nakednes, or daunger, or persecution, or the sworde? &c. But to expresse the whole lyfe & doinges of this godlye martyr, seyng we haue his owne testimonye concerning the same: it shalbe best to referre the Reader to his owne reporte in his owne letters and declaration cōcerning þ^e same, as here foloweth to be sene, fyrst beginning with his letter wrytten to his father, and so forth orderly, touchyng the whole proces of his doinges.

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DEarely beloued father in Christ Iesu, I thanke you for your gentle letters. And to satiffy your mynde, as concerning the troubles whereof ye haue hearde, these shall bothe declare vnto al my vexations that haue chaunced me synce ye were wyth me, and also synce I receyued your last letters. God keepe you euer.

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Your sonne Bland.

FIrst, the thirde daye of September, beyng Sondaye, after seruice ended, and or I had put of my surplise, Iohn Austen came to the table (cōmonlye called the Lordes table) 

and laide both his handes vpon it, saying: who set this here agayne? (Nowe they saye they tooke the table downe, the sonday before, which I knew not, neyther do I know who set it vp a-

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gayn.) 

The Clarke   answered, that he knewe not. Then Austen sayd: he is a knaue that set it here. I was then going downe the churche, marueiling what he ment, and sayd: Good mā Austen, the Quenes highnes hath set forth a proclamation, that ye may moue no sedition. And or I could speake any more, he said: thou art a knaue. And I sayd: wel goodman Austē, that I haue sayd, I haue sayd. By Gods soule quod hee, thou art a verye knaue. Then my clerke spake to him: but what, I am not sure. But he said, ye are both heretick knaues, and haue deceiued vs with this fashion to longe, and if he saye anye seruice here againe, I wyll lay þ^e table on his face: and in that rage with other toke vp the table, and layd it on a chest in the Chauncell, and sette the trestles by it.   Wherefore I rode by and by to master Isaac, and shewed him the cause, both how seditiously he had spoken, and performed it with a like dede. Maister Isaac directed a warrant to the Constable or Bosholder,   which was incontinently serued, so that he was brought before hym the same night, and was bounde by Recognisance, wyth Sureties, to appeare, yf hee were called. But we agreed so wel them, that it was neuer called: for þ^e table was brought downe, and I was permitted as before.  

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The. xxvi. day of Nouember, being Sonday, Richard Austen, & his brother Thomas came to the foresaid table, after the Communion was done, and as I was going by, then Richarde sayde vnto me: Maister Person, we haue to speake to you. And I sayde, what is your wyl? And he sayd, you knowe that you tooke downe the Tabernacle or selyng, wher in the roode dyd hang, and such other things: we would knowe what receompence you wyll make vs. For the Quenes procedinges ar (as you know) that such must vp agayne. 

Quod I, I know no such procedinges as yet: and as for al that I dyd, I dyd it by commaundemēt. No sayd Thomas Austen: ye wyl not knowe the Quenes procedinges. Yes sayde I, I refuse not to know them.   Then sayd Rychard, ye are againste the Queenes procedinges: for you sayd that there are abhominable vses and deuelishnes in the Masse. Goodman Austen said I, if I so said, I wyl say it agayne, & God willing, stand to the proofe of it. Maisters all quod Richarde Austen, beare recorde of these woordes, and went his way. Quod Thomas Austen, thou wylt as sone eate this booke, as stand to them. No quod I, not so soone. Tell vs quod he, what that deuilyshnes is, that is in the Masse? I haue oftē preached it vnto you sayde I, and ye haue not beleued it, nor borne it away, nor wyll now neyther, though I shoulde tel you. Thou, quod he, hast tolde vs alwayes lyke an heretike, as thou art. Nowe ye lye goodmā Austen, quod, I by your leaue.

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