Richard Spurge. Thomas Spurge. George Ambrose. Iohn Cauell.

Whether this supplication was exhibited vnto the Lorde Chauncelor or not, it is not certeinly knowen: founde it is recorded in the Registers booke, and it semeth by all likelyhood that it was deliuered: for not lōg after (the 16. daye of Ianuary) Syr Rychard Read knight, then one of the officers of the court of þ^e Chaūcerie, was sent vnto the Marshalsea, to examin these foure prysoners. And therfore beginnyng first with Rychard Spurge vppon certein demaundes, receiued his aunsweres, the effecte whereof was, that he with others were complayned vpon, by the persone of Bockyng, vnto the Lorde Riche, 

for that they came not vnto their paryshe churche of Bockinge, where they inhabited. And thereupon was by the said Lorde Riche, sent vnto the late Lorde Chauncelor, about the xxii. daye of Marche last past. viz. An. 1555. And farther sayd, that he came not to churche sythens the first alteration of the Englyshe seruice into Latyn, Christmas daye was then a tweluemoneth only excepte, and that, because he mislyked both the same & the masse also, as not consonaunt and agreing with Gods holy worde. Moreouer, he required that he myght not be any more examined vpō that matter, vnlesse it pleased the MarginaliaD. Heath lord Chaūcelor.Lord Chaūcelor that then was, to know his faith therin, whiche to hym he would willingly vtter.

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Thomas Spurge being then next examined, made the same aunswer in effect that the other had done: confessing that he absented hym selfe from the churche because the woorde of God was not there truly taughte, not the Sacramentes of Christe duelye mynistred, in suche sorte as was prescribed by the same woorde. And at last being examined of his beliefe concernyng their Sacrament of the altar, sayde: that if anye could accuse hym thereof, he wold then make aunswere as God had geuen hym knowledge therein.

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The lyke aunwere made George Ambrose, adding farther, that after he had redde the late Byshop of Wynchesters booke, intituled De vera obedientia, with Boners preface thereunto annexed, inueying bothe against the autoritie of the Byshop of Rome, he did muche lesse set by their doinges then before.

Iohn Cauel agreing in other matters with them, sayde: that the cause why he did forbeare the commyng to the churche was, that the persone there had preached two contrarie doctrines. For first in a sermon that he made at the Quenes first entrie to the crown, he did exhort the people to beleue the Gospell: for it was the truthe, and if they did not beleue it, they shuld be damned.

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But in a seconde sermon, he preached that the Testament was false in fourtie places. whiche cōtrarietie in him was a cause amōgst other, of his absenting from the churche.

About the fourth daie of Marche next after, was Robert Drakes also examined, who was persone of Thundersley in Essex, and had ther remayned the space of three yeares. He was first made Deacō by that godly martyr Doctor Taylor of Hadley, at the commaundement of the moste reuerent father and constant martyr Thomas Cranmer, 

late Archbyshop of Caunterbury. And within one yeare after (being the third yeare of the reigne of that most vertuous prince kyng Edwarde) he was by the sayd Archebishop and Doctor Nicholas Ridley B. of Lōdō, created & admitted minister of gods most holy word & sacraments, not after þ^e order then in force, but after such order as was after stablished, & was presented vnto the sayd benefice of Thundersley by the Lorde Riche, at the sute of maister Caustō, and maister Treherone.   He was yet, now notwithstanding sent vp by the same Lord Rych, with the other before mentioned: and at his comming to the Byshop of Wynchester was by him demaūded, whether he would cōforme him self like a subiect to the lawes of this realme thē in force. To the which he sayd, he would abide all lawes that stoode with the lawes of God: and thereupon was cōmitted to pryson, where he and the reste aboue named haue remayned euer sythens.

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As for any examination of William Tyms before he came to Boner, we find none. But thus muche he confesseth in his aunswere to the eight article obiected vnto him by Boner, that he was sent vp by the Iustices of peace in Essex, as the Lord Riche and others, vnto the late byshop of Wynchester, and by him was committed to pryson in the kynges Benche.

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After these examinations thus had before syr Richard Read, the Lorde Chauncelor caused them all to be sent vnto the byshop of London, that he might in his accustomed maner proceade against them, whiche thing was not long prolonged. for the xxi. daye of Marche he caused them to be brought before him in his palace at London, and ther enquired of thē their faith vpon the sacrament of the altar, to whom they aunswered, that the body of Christe was not in the sacramēt of the altar really and corporally after the woordes of consecration spoken by the priest, by the whiche opinion they haue ben of long tyme, some later, some soner, euen as God of his mercie did call them vnto the knowledge of the Gospell. Then the Byshops Chapleyns began to reason with them, but with no great autorities either of the scriptures or of the auncient fathers, ye maye bee sure, as other their large conferences with the learned doe already declare.

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