It is no maruell though the Quene bee sicke seing there be such coniurers in so priuy corners. But now I trust hee shall coniure no more, and so brought him and his wyfe from Shoe lane through Flete strete into Paules Church yearde, with the Constable, the Bedel and. ii. other following them, til they wer entred into Darbysheres house, who was Byshop Boners Chauncellor. And after the Constable and they had talked with Darbyshere, he came fourthe and walked in his yarde, saying these words. What is your name? William Liuing. What, are you a priest? yea. Is this your wyfe þt is come with you? That she is. Wher wer you made priest? At Obourne. In what Byshops dayes? By the Byshop of Lincolne that was king Henries gostly father in Cardinal Wolsyes time. You are a schismatike and a traytor. I woulde be sory that were true. I am certayne I neuer was traytor, but alwayes haue taught obedience, according to the tenor of Gods word: and when tumults & schismes haue bene stirred, I haue preached gods word, and swaged them, as in the time of king Edwarde. What, you are a schismaticke. You be not in the vnitye of the Catholike churche. For you praye not as the Church of Rome doth. You pray in English. We are certayne we be in the true Churche.
[Back to Top]Liuing. There be that douteth thereof, for so much as there is but one true church.
Darby. Wel, you wyl learne against I talke with you again to knowe þe church of Rome, and to be a member therof.
Liuing. If the church of Rome be of that church, then am I a member therof. For I knowe no other church but that wherof that onely is the head, and member therof I am certayne I am.
Darby. Well Cluny, take him with thee to the Cole house. Then called he Cluny agayn and spake secretly to him, what I know not. Then sayd Cluny: wilt hou not come? and so plucte me awaye violently and brought mee to his owne house in pater noster Rowe where he robbed me of my purse, my gyrdle, and my psalter, and a newe testament of Geneua, and then hee brought mee to the Cole house to put me in the stockes, saying: put in both your legges & your handes also. And excepte you fyne with me, I wyl put a collor about your necke. What is the fyne, quod I? Forty shilinges, quod he. I am neuer able to paye it. Then sayd he, you haue frendes that be able. I denied, and so he put both my legges into the stocks til supper time, which was. vi. of the clocke, and then a cosen of my wyfes brought me meate, who seing me so syt, sayd: I wyll geue you forty pence, and let hym goo at liberty, and he toke her mony, and presently let me furth in her sight, to eate my supper.
[Back to Top]And at. vii. of the clocke hee put mee into the stockes agayne, and so I remayned tyl two of the clocke the next day, and so he let me furth till nighte.
The thursday folowing at after noone was I called to the Lollardes tower, and there put in the stockes, hauinge the fauour to put my leg in that hole that Maister Iohn Philpots leg was in, and so lay al that night, no bodye comming to me, either with meate or drinke. At a. xi. of the clocke on the Fridaye, Clunye came to me with meate, and let me forth, and about one of the clocke he brought me to Darbyshieres house, who drewe foorth a scrole of names, and asked me if I knew any of them. I said I knew none of them, but Foster. And so I kneeled downe vpon my knees, and praied him that he would not enquire thereof any farther. And with that came forth two godly women, which said: Maister Darbyshiere, it is inough, and so became sureties for me, and paied to Cluny. xv. s. for my fees, and bad me go wyth them.
[Back to Top]DArbishire. Ah syrra, I see by your gown you be one of the Sisters.
Iulian. I weare not my gowne for sisterhod, neither for nunnery, but to kepe me warme.
Darby. Nunne? No I dare say you be none. Is that man youre husband?
Iulian. Yea.
Darby. He is a priest.
Iulian. No, he sayth no Masse.
Darby. What then? He is a priest. Howe darest thou marry him? Then he shewed mee a role of certaine names of Citizens. To whom I answered, I knewe none of them. Then said he: you shalbe made to know them. Thē sayd I: do no other but iustice and righte. For the day wyl come that you shal answer for it.
[Back to Top]Darby. Why woman, thinkest thou not that I haue a soule?
Iulian. Yes, I knowe you haue a soule: but whether it bee to saluation or damnation, I cannot tell.
Darby. Ho Cluny, haue her to the Lollardes tower. And so hee tooke me, and caried me to his house, where was one Dale, a Promotor, which saide to me: Alas good woman, wherefore be you here? What is that to you, said I? You be not ashamed quoth Dale to tel where fore you came hyther. No quoth I, that I am not. For it is for Christes testament. Christes testament quoth he? it is the diuels testamēt. Oh Lord, quoth I. God forbyd that any man should spake anye suche woorde. Well, wel quoth he: you shalbe ordered wel inough. you care not for burning quoth he. by Gods bloud there must bee some other meanes founde for
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