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 þe 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,
One thing that this account reveals in a clear, albeit desultory way, is that Lord Rich was, in Edward VI's reign, a patron of evangelical clergy in southern Essex. For a discussion of this, see Brett Usher's article in the forthcoming John Foxe at Home and Abroad, ed. David Loades.
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.
[Back to Top]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.
[Back to Top]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,
It is striking that someone at such a humble level of the church would have come to the archbishop's attention; Tyms must have been recommended to Cranmer, possibly by Rowland Taylor, possibly by Lord Rich.
Bartholomew Traheron's sponsorship of Tyms is noteworthy. Traheron was a leading evangelical but he was based in Oxford. Someone must have recommended Tyms to him. The sponsorship of Thomas Causton, a gentleman from Essex, executed for heresy in 1555 is also striking.
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.
[Back to Top]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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